US, Russia and Ukraine close in on peace deal to end war
According to Reuters, the United States and Russia are engaged in peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi to end the war in Ukraine. New reports from sources within the Trump administration suggest that Ukraine has agreed to the peace proposal with only “minor details” to settle, hinting at their collaborative 19-point peace plan. However, Russia and Ukraine traded intense missile barrages overnight that could potentially endanger the plan.
Trump, Xi to meet in China in April
President Donald Trump has said he agreed to visit Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April 2026, after a phone call between the two leaders, discussing topics ranging from trade to Taiwan, with Xi emphasizing “‘that Washington and Beijing pursue ties based on “equality, respect, and mutual benefit.’” Trump further announced that he has invited his Chinese counterpart for a state visit to the United States later in 2026.
Six Global Trends in Nuclear Power You Should Know
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Office of Public Information and Communications released a fact sheet identifying six promising trends in the nuclear power industry. Highlights include that the IAEA currently projects global nuclear capacity could double by 2050, and that 63 reactors are currently under construction around the world.
Nuclear tech milestone: China’s supercritical ‘steam-free’ generator connects to grid
According to the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), the country has brought online a ‘first-of-a-kind’ supercritical carbon dioxide power system in southwest China. The project by the Nuclear Power Institute of China and Jigang International Engineering and Technology is expected to lay the foundation for future units.
Two more countries join global pledge to triple nuclear energy by 2050
Rwanda and Senegal joined the global commitment to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. They have united with 31 other countries in endorsing the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy, which was launched two years ago at COP28.
Podcast of the week: Lucas
This week, I listened to the newest episode of The Trialogue, hosted by friend of the Oppenheimer Project, Peter Slezkine. In his newest episode, Peter welcomed Mike Kuiken and Josh Hodges, two commissioners on the congressionally appointed U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, to discuss the recommendations made by the commission in their 2025 annual report and the state of U.S.-China relations broadly. Teetering between congenial and contentious, Peter got down to the brass tacks of their perceptions of China as a “threat” to the United States by offering counterinterpretations of the bilateral relationship.