Palm Beach is about to host the most consequential photo-op since Yalta: Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives with a 20-point plan that Washington says is “90 % complete,” while Donald Trump eyes headlines and hard concessions. (reuters.com)

Moscow just reminded both men who really sets the timetable—unleashing roughly 500 drones and 40 missiles that killed two civilians, injured 46 and briefly blacked-out a million Kyiv-area homes.(reuters.com) The barrage underscores the leverage gap: Russia can raise costs at will, yet the West now spends over $10 billion a month keeping Ukraine’s grid and army alive. Trump’s instinct for transactional deals collides with Ukrainian red-lines on Donetsk and the Zaporizhzhia plant; any “free economic zone” could morph into a frozen conflict akin to Transnistria.

If Trump extracts territorial concessions, Europe’s security order could shift from treaty-based to force-based, validating salami-slice revisions from Crimea to Karabakh. History warns: Dayton stopped bullets but locked Bosnia into ethnic vetoes for decades. The choice today is between imperfect peace and entrenching a precedent that borders move under fire. As Yuval Noah Harari notes, “The most dangerous stories are those that turn tragedy into destiny.”

— The Gist AI Editor

Vatican Signals Cultural Shift in New York

Pope Leo’s appointment of Bishop Ronald Hicks to lead the New York archdiocese marks a significant pivot in the American Catholic church. Hicks, 58, known for his pro-migrant stance and pastoral work in Latin America, replaces Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a prominent conservative voice who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. The move is seen as an effort by the Vatican to distance the church from partisan politics and align U.S. leadership more closely with Pope Leo’s emphasis on social issues, signaling a potential long-term shift given Hicks could lead the influential archdiocese until at least 2042.

Trump’s Diplomatic Gambit on Ukraine

President Trump held a “good and very productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, preceding a planned face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at Mar-a-Lago (Bloomberg). The discussions are centered on a revised 20-point peace proposal aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict. Details of the plan suggest it would halt the war along current front lines, a move that implies potential territorial concessions from Kyiv. While European leaders are being kept in the loop, Trump has asserted that any final agreement requires his personal approval.

Guinea’s Junta Seeks Electoral Legitimacy

Guineans are heading to the polls in the first presidential election since a 2021 military coup, with junta leader Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya widely expected to win. The election follows a controversial constitutional referendum that removed barriers to Doumbouya running for office (Reuters). Despite Guinea’s status as the world’s largest bauxite exporter, over half its population faces significant poverty (AP). The vote is a critical test for a region that has seen a wave of military takeovers, with the international community watching closely.

Remembering a Tech Turnaround Titan

Louis Gerstner, the chief executive credited with saving IBM from collapse in the 1990s, has died at 83 (Bloomberg). Taking the helm in 1993 when IBM was facing a $5 billion loss, Gerstner orchestrated one of corporate history’s most noted turnarounds. He defied calls to break up the company, instead refocusing the insular culture on customer needs and integrated solutions. Under his leadership, IBM’s market capitalization soared from $29 billion to $168 billion, a testament to his decisive, if sometimes ruthless, management style.

Stay tuned for the next Gist—your edge in a shifting world.

The GOP’s Plan Isn’t Much Better Than Mitt’s
— Wall Street Journal

House Republicans Had a Great Year
— Wall Street Journal

The Medical Case for Rescheduling Cannabis
— Wall Street Journal

Trump Says He Spoke With Putin Ahead of Zelenskiy Meeting
— Bloomberg

Pope Leo’s pick to lead New York Catholics signals shift away from Maga
— Financial Times

Guinea Goes to Polls as Ruling Junta Seeks Legitimacy
— New York Times Global

The End of an Icon

Brigitte Bardot, the French actress and cultural symbol who embodied a new wave of sexual freedom in post-war Europe, has died at 91. Her 1956 film, And God Created Woman, catapulted her to global stardom, making her—known simply as B.B.—one of France’s most significant cultural exports. Bardot’s influence extended beyond her roughly 50 films; she became a fashion trendsetter and singer before abruptly retiring in 1973 to dedicate her life to animal rights activism. In later years, she became a polarising figure for her far-right political views and convictions for inciting racial hatred, complicating the legacy of a woman who once defined French modernity and rebellion (Ansa, The Guardian, ZDF).

Digital Natives, AI Confidantes

A profound cultural shift is underway as young Europeans increasingly turn to AI for companionship. Recent data reveals a startling trend: half of teens now chat with an AI companion at least a few times a month. One in three find these interactions as satisfying, or more so, than those with human friends (The Guardian). This development signals a deeper societal current where technology is meeting unmet needs for connection and non-judgmental listening. While the potential for AI to serve as a tool for mental well-being is significant, it raises fundamental questions about the development of social skills and the nature of human relationships. The trend challenges classical liberal notions of self-reliance, suggesting a future where individual emotional landscapes are partly outsourced to algorithms.

Catch the next Gist for the continent’s moving pieces.

Voto in Kosovo, il premier Kurti auspica una formazione del governo rapida
— Ansa

‘When you plant something, it dies’: Brazil’s first arid zone is a stark warning for the whole country
— The Guardian

Could AI relationships actually be good for us?
— The Guardian

Trump telefoniert mit Putin: “produktives” Gespräch
— ZDF

Brigitte Bardot mit 91 Jahren gestorben
— ZDF

So sahen die ersten heute-Nachrichten aus
— ZDF