President Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday to discuss a plan to end the war with Russia. The big development is that the U.S. offered up to a 15-year security guarantee at the end of the war. Trump told reporters, “I do believe that we have the makings of a deal that’s good for Ukraine, good for everybody,” and added that “And I’m also calling Putin back after the meeting. “Trump praised the 20-point plan, stating there is “a great economic benefit” to Ukraine. President Trump also said both Zelenskyy and Putin are willing to end the war. Obviously, if Ukraine and Russia agree to a ceasefire, the stock market should have a relief rally, since some uncertainty is being removed.Russia has extended its ban on gasoline exports through February to conserve fuel for domestic supplies. This ban also includes diesel, marine fuel, and other refined products that have been disrupted by the fighting with Ukraine. If there is an incentive for Russia to end the fighting with Ukraine, its domestic energy infrastructure is likely a big one. In the end, both sides lose in wars, so hopefully that is now becoming increasingly obvious to both Russia and Ukraine.Europe remains furious that it has been largely excluded from the peace negotiations, even though both Trump and Zelenskyy called European leaders after their meeting at Mar-a-Lago. Further adding to tensions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio banned five European Union (EU) officials from traveling to the U.S. for their censorship efforts. As an example, Thierry Breton, the former EU commissioner for digital policy, has been banned. Breton was one of the architects of the notorious Digital Service Act that has infuriated many technology companies. Rubio and the Trump Administration are striving to stop censorship, especially as it pertains to U.S. technology companies.There is no doubt that the Trump Administration is striving to separate somewhat from the EU, since the shared Western values that used to make the U.S. and Europe allies have been fractured as many European countries, including Britain, promote censorship. The fact that many large European cities are now dominated by immigrants that do not share “Western values” and this change is also being used by the Trump Administration to dismiss the EU polices that are changing many major European cities.The Trump Administration has instead decided to pivot and exert its influence in Latin America, where it has a Naval blockade on Venezuela. If the U.S. can oust Venezuelan President Maduro, it may ensure low crude oil prices for decades if major U.S. energy companies join Chevron and help significantly boost Venezuelan crude oil production. President Trump recently announced that the U.S. military knocked out a “big facility” in Venezuela, which is apparently the first attack on land in connection with the ongoing drug war. Specifically, Trump said, “They have a big plant or a big facility where the ships come from,” and added, “Two nights ago, we knocked that out.”The National Association of Homebuilders announced that existing home sales rose 3.3% in November, which is providing hope that the weakness in the housing market may be finding firmer footing. Fixed mortgage rates have dropped to 6.3% to 6.4%, which may be stimulating home sales. If housing can find firmer footing, it will definitely help shore up GDP growth.