On December 29, 2024, Ahmed Al Sharaa, the new leader of Syria, expressed in an interview with Al Arabiya his intent to rebuild relations with Russia and urged the incoming U.S. administration under President Donald Trump to lift sanctions imposed on Syria. Al Sharaa stated that these sanctions were a result of the actions of the previous regime led by Bashar al-Assad, and he emphasized the need for a new political process, which could take up to four years to organize elections.
In Venezuela, the government reaffirmed that the detention of Argentine gendarme Nahuel Gallo is illegal. Following statements from the regime's Attorney General Tarek William Saab, officials announced that legal professionals are working to clarify the situation, and an international joint statement demanding Gallo’s immediate release is expected soon.
Poland is preparing to increase its electricity exports to Ukraine in response to potential disruptions from Slovakia. According to Bloomberg, Polish officials indicated readiness to boost domestic electricity production to offset any shortages in Ukraine's energy system if Slovakia follows through on its threats to halt electricity supplies. This development comes amid ongoing disputes regarding the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine.