2024-12-31
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Hello, welcome to World Business Report from the BBC World Service.
My name's Ed Butler.
On today's edition, the war between Russia and Ukraine and the prospects for both countries in 2025 as President Joe Biden makes perhaps his last multi billion dollar grant of aid to Ukraine's economy.
Also, we're looking at tariffs today, how U.S.
companies are responding to the prospect of a Trump presidency which might be about to sl higher import duties on goods from around the world.
And we're in Scotland where to some local dismay, parts of the end of year festival Hogmanay have been cancelled.
We got our torchlight tickets, we got the street party tickets.
We're still going to celebrate, but we got to find somewhere to go with a 13 year old or things are already booked so we don't know what to do.
That and the thoughts of other visitors to Scotland later in the programme.
First though, our main story.
Russia and Ukraine have been exchanging at least 300 prisoners.
On Monday, one of the biggest swaps since the war began.
But also of significance was the announcement on Monday of another $6 billion worth in U.S.
aid being sent to Ukraine, a gift from the White House in the form of both military and budgetary assistance.
Joining me to discuss this is Kurt Volker.
He's formerly a U.S.
special representative for Ukraine negotiations during Donald Trump's first presidency.
Before that, a U.S.
ambassador to NATO.