This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.
I'm Julia McFarlane and at 16 hours GMT on Wednesday the 3rd of December,
these are our main stories.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says the EU has reached a deal to end Russian gas imports by 2027.
Talks in Moscow between President Putin and US negotiators failed to lead to any breakthroughs.
But the Kremlin says it's wrong to suggest the president has rejected peace.
And President Macron of France has arrived in China,
where he's expected to urge President Xi to do more to end the war in Ukraine.
Also in this podcast, the crisis over conscripting ultra-orthodox Jews into the Israeli army.
After two years of war, the country is increasingly divided.
I don't think however religious you are should be an excuse not to go and serve your country.
If you're born here,
I find it quite ridiculous how you want to exempt yourself just
because you want to study Torah all day.
Russia has been funding its war in Ukraine largely through its export of oil and gas.
And despite their support for Ukraine,
European countries are still a significant market for Russian energy.
Now a provisional agreement has been reached between the European Council and the European Parliament to phase out imports of Russian gas.
The President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, says it's the dawn of a new era.
Today is indeed a historic day for our union.