Diplomacy, politics, peace talks and other news at the national and international levels/
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday to a 30-day pause in attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure facilities, the White House and the Kremlin said. The two leaders also agreed that the technical negotiations on the implementation of
South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha held a telephone conversation on Monday to discuss South Korea's support for Ukraine, end-of-war negotiations, and the handling of North Korean prisoners of war. Cho reaffirmed South Korea'
US President Donald Trump said he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. "I'll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work's been done over the weekend. We want to see if
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow agrees with the US ceasefire proposal for Ukraine but that a number of details need to be clarified before the fighting stops, as quoted by Reuters. "We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities. The idea itself is correct, and
Steve Witkoff, the US envoy assigned to the Ukraine-Russia war, landed in Moscow on Thursday to press talks for a ceasefire, after securing Ukraine's agreement, the Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing "aviation services." The reported arrival comes after Witkoff joined a delegation in Jeddah
US President Donald Trump has made it clear to his aides that he wants President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to show willingness to make concessions in peace negotiations, such as giving up territory to Russia, unnamed US officials told NBC. Signing of the proposed minerals deal alone won't
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is prepared to stretch EU rules to the "breaking point" to guarantee Ukraine's access to the Single Market, The Telegraph reported, citing a senior EU official. While the EU would decide which sectors to open and which to restrict,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ahead of talks between Ukrainian and US officials later in the week. "Next Monday, I have a visit planned to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with the
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would soon decide whether to strip about 240,000 Ukrainians who fled Ukraine due to the war with Russia of their legal status. "We're not looking to hurt anybody, we're certainly not looking to hurt them, and
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky participated on Thursday in a meeting of the European Council in Brussels where he presented what he called "necessary steps for peace." Firstly, Zelensky argued, "Everyone needs to make sure that Russia, as the sole source of this war, accepts the
France and the UK are working to finalize a peace plan with Ukraine, potentially "in days," to present to the US, while also fostering stronger ties between the US and Ukraine ahead of a possible trip to Washington, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed diplomats. "We'
CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed on Wednesday that the US has paused intelligence-sharing with Ukraine following a halt earlier this week of all US military aid to the war-torn country. In an interview with Fox Business, Ratcliffe said that US President Donald Trump "had a real question
The US and Ukraine plan to move ahead with signing a proposed deal to jointly develop Ukraine's minerals resources, Reuters reported, citing four unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The sources, however, cautioned that the deal had not yet been signed and the situation remained fluid, Reuters reported.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday unveiled a five-part "Rearm Europe" plan to mobilize €800 billion to enhance Europe's defense capabilities and provide military aid to Kyiv. Firstly, she proposed a new financial instrument worth €150 billion to provide EU member states
