Politics
Diplomacy, politics, peace talks and other news at the national and international levels/
Blinken says North Korean involvement in Ukraine requires 'firm response'
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the involvement of North Korean troops in the war in Ukraine "demands, and will get, a firm response," without elaborating. Speaking to reporters beside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, he
Trump's election could complicate IMF cooperation with Ukraine, sources warn
The International Monetary Fund's (IMF)'s $15.6 billion program with Ukraine — spanning from 2023 to 2027 — has been progressing smoothly so far, but it may face challenges following Donald Trump's re-election, RBC Ukraine reported, citing unnamed government sources. One source warned that the
EU foreign policy nominee calls for direct use of Russian assets to fund Ukraine recovery
Kaja Kallas, the former Estonian prime minister and current nominee for high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, has proposed using the $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraine's reconstruction, Bloomberg reported. During her confirmation hearing, Kallas emphasized Ukraine'
Ukraine refines 'victory plan' pitch with eye on US military and economic ties in Trump administration
Ukraine is refining its "victory plan" to align with the incoming Trump administration, with a focus on business opportunities, military support, and access to natural resources, the Financial Times reported. Two of the ideas laid out in President Volodymyr Zelensky's plan were built with Trump in
Kremlin denies reports that Putin talked with Trump last week
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday denied reports that Russia's President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump had spoken recently. On Sunday, The Washington Post first reported that Putin and Trump spoke last week, citing unnamed sources. The newspaper said that Trump told Putin not to
Trump told Putin not to escalate in Ukraine, sources say
US President-elect Donald Trump told Russian President Vladimir Putin not to escalate the war in Ukraine and reminded him of the sizeable US military presence in Europe, The Washington Post reported, citing unnamed sources. Trump made the comments on Thursday in his first phone call with Putin after the
Zelensky was 'somewhat reassured' after call with Trump, sources say
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was "somewhat reassured" by a recent conversation with US President-Elect Donald Trump, news website Axios reported, citing unnamed sources. It also reported that during the 25-minute conversation on Wednesday last week, shortly after the election, Trump passed the phone to billionaire Elon
Zelensky calls on businesses to help shape Ukraine's economic strategy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invited businesses to take part in the development of an "internal strengthening plan for Ukraine," with a focus on economic growth as a key component. Speaking on Thursday at the 10th Kyiv International Economic Forum, Zelensky said the plan is about internal resilience and
Zelensky rejects talk of ceasefire without 'clear security guarantees'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the notion of calling a ceasefire without giving his country security guarantees, adding that any quick end to the war would require major concessions that he is unwilling to make. “Talk of a ceasefire is dangerous when there are no security guarantees for Ukraine – clear,
Putin says he's open to dialogue but Ukraine must remain neutral
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his reelection to the US presidency and said he is ready for dialogue on the war in Ukraine but insisted that the neighboring country must remain neutral as a condition for any peace agreement.
Global media ask what Trump presidency might mean for Ukraine in wake of historic election
Dozens of influential media outlets, from CNN and NBC to BBC and The Guardian, ran pieces on Wednesday wondering how Donald Trump's reelection as US president would affect the war in Ukraine. CNN argued that, with Trump as US president, Ukraine will might have to adapt to a
Zelensky congratulates Trump, says he appreciates his 'peace through strength' approach
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Donald Trump on his reelection as US president, saying he appreciated Trump's commitment to the "peace through strength" approach in global affairs. "This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer," Zelensky wrote in
Study of international arms control treaties says adherence 'largely intact' despite Russian invasion
While the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 contributed to the erosion of international arms control treaties, violations have provoked diplomatic responses and attracted international attention in an encouraging sign, according to a 32-page paper by researchers from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). The reaction may serve to
EC hopes to open talks on 'fundamentals' with Ukraine 'as soon as possible' in 2025
The European Commission said on Wednesday that it aims to open talks "as soon as possible" next year on "fundamentals," one of the six main areas, or "clusters," up for negotiation as the country seeks to join the European Union. "The steady increase
