Morning Briefing Europe

Ukraine Peace Plan Faces New Obstacles After Putin Call

Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on Ukraine in this photo supplied by Russian state media in Moscow on Dec. 29.

Photographer: Mikhail Metzel/AFP/Getty Images

Good morning. Vladimir Putin raises an issue in the Ukraine peace talks. Donald Trump uses strong words against Hamas and Iran, but downplays China’s military exercises near Taiwan. And it’s now Sir Idris Elba. Listen to the day’s top stories.