Inside Germany’s Secret Plan for War With Russia

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Caitlin McCabe (0:18)

As talks to end the war in Ukraine continue, we look at Germany's secret plan, preparing the country for a major conflict with Russia. Plus, President Trump sets his sights on another Latin American country. And why it's bad news that Gen Z shoppers aren't spending big this holiday season.

Quentin Webb (0:36)

Gen Z is already a significant force in the economy, so about 8% of retail spending today. But on top of that, you've got to think that these are people who are primed to become a much bigger part of the retail economy.

Caitlin McCabe (0:48)

It's Monday, December 1st. I'm Caitlin McCabe for The Wall Street Journal, and here is the AM Edition of What's News. The top headlines and business stories moving your world today.

US. Special Envoy Steve Wittkopf and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are headed to Moscow later today as talks to end the war in Ukraine continue to intensify. Both men met with Ukrainian negotiators alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Florida yesterday in a four-hour meeting that both sides called productive. A senior official said the talks covered possible timetables for new elections in Ukraine and the prospect of land swaps between Ukraine and Russia. Still other critical issues remain unresolved, including the nature of security guarantees for Ukraine and whether the Kremlin will continue to demand international recognition of the territories it has seized. Speaking after the meeting, Rubio told reporters the talks were delicate and complicated, with a lot of moving parts.

Marco Rubio (1:53)

We continue to be realistic about how difficult this is, but optimistic, particularly given the fact that as we've made progress, I think there is a shared vision here that this is not just about ending the war, which is very important. It is about securing Ukraine's future, a future that we hope will be more prosperous than it's ever been.

Caitlin McCabe (2:09)

Trump said yesterday that Wittkopf will likely meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin sometime next week, but after more than three years of war, it remains unclear whether Putin is willing to make concessions that would get both sides to agree to peace. Last week, Putin said he was ready for serious discussions, but reiterated demands that Ukraine must withdraw troops from two cities in its eastern Donbass region, including areas not controlled by Russia. The talks for peace come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing increased political pressure at home, with his government reeling from a corruption scandal that forced his right-hand man and top peace negotiator to resign late last week.

In the wake of last week's shooting of two national guards in DC., Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said yesterday that the suspect, 29-year-old Ramanullah Lakinwal, was radicalized since coming to the US from Afghanistan in 2021 There, Lakinwal had worked with the CIA, which made him eligible for a visa. Michelle Hackman, who covers immigration for the Wall Street Journal, says the shooting has triggered the Trump administration to halt all immigration and pending asylum cases for Afghans.

Michelle Hackman (3:26)

The Trump administration is claiming that there wasn't sufficient vetting before they brought people to the United States. Now, we have reported that they were actually looking at a lot of the ideas that they are now implementing as a result of the shooting. They were looking at, let's open all refugee and asylum cases approved under the Biden administration, which, just to give you an idea, is hundreds of thousands of cases. They are now presenting this idea like it's a response to the shooting, but was actually something that was under consideration beforehand. They have said that they are going to re-open all of these refugee and asylum cases. They have paused all applications submitted by Afghans. And then, on top of that, they have said, anyone who is now applying for asylum, we are not deciding any cases, so we are going to leave those people in limbo as well.

Caitlin McCabe (4:15)

Meanwhile, President Trump's focus on Latin America is intensifying with yesterday's election in Honduras. Trump last week endorsed Nasre Tito Asfara, who now holds a narrow lead over a conservative rival after the president said USAID to the impoverished nation hinged on Asfara winning the vote. On Friday, Trump also said he planned to pardon former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was convicted by a New York jury last year and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Prosecutors said that he helped smuggle 400 tons of cocaine to the US and turned Honduras into a narco state. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One yesterday, Trump claimed it was a setup.