Author: Anadolu Agency

Ahead of a new Russia-US meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday praised Washington’s efforts toward the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov said Russia recognizes Washington’s genuine attempts to understand the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict. “We see that Washington is trying to truly grasp what led to this conflict, and we hope that this analysis will aid efforts toward its resolution,” he said. He emphasized that without a deep understanding of the root causes of the conflict, it is impossible to pursue a meaningful settlement. In contrast, Peskov noted that…

The Chinese and Russian leaders on Monday held a phone call, Chinese state media reported. China’s President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Xinhua News reported. The details of the call, made at the request of Moscow, are awaited. This was the second phone call between the two since US President Donald Trump assumed office last month. The timing of the phone call also coincides with the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war which began in February 2022. The phone call also comes amid a warming up of ties between Moscow and Washington after…

Pope Francis slept well and had a “restful tenth night” in the hospital where he is being treated for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, the Vatican said on Monday. “The night went well; the Pope slept and is resting,” the Vatican said in a brief statement. The latest information on the 88-year-old pontiff comes after he was admitted to the hospital with a breathing problem. His condition was later announced to be “critical.” The Pope has been at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since Feb. 14 and is being treated for double pneumonia. On Sunday, the Vatican issued a statement, saying Pope…

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas said Monday that it will not engage in any new negotiations until Israel honors its obligations under a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. “The resistance will not engage in any new negotiations unless the occupation adheres to the agreement and implements the first-phase obligations,” Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanou said in a statement. “The failure to implement the humanitarian protocol and the delayed release of prisoners…is evidence of the occupation’s intention to disrupt the agreement,” he added. On Saturday, Israel delayed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners from its jails in exchange for six…

India and UK on Monday decided to resume negotiations towards a trade deal, according to a joint statement. The decision came at a meeting in New Delhi between Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal and visiting UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. The sides “agreed to resume negotiations towards a balanced, mutually beneficial and a forward-looking deal that delivers mutual growth and builds on the strengths of the two complementary economies,” the statement said. It added that Goyal and Reynolds directed the negotiators to “work together to resolve the outstanding issues in the agreement to ensure a fair and equitable…

The British premier on Monday reaffirmed the country’s firm support to Ukraine, stressing that Kyiv must be part in peace negotiations “if we want peace to endure.” “We must increase the pressure even further to deliver an enduring peace, not just a pause in the fighting,” Keir Starmer told via video link world leaders gathered in Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of the beginning of Russian war on Ukraine. Starmer said that Russia does not “hold all the cards in this war” because Russia’s economy is in “trouble,” and because they have now “lost the best of their land…

On the third anniversary of Ukraine war on Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged CAN$5 billion (US$3.52 billion) to the beleaguered country from seized Russian assets. In a direct contradiction of US President Donald Trump’s assertion earlier that Ukraine started the war with Russia, Trudeau pointedly told 12 other world leaders assembled at a peace and security summit in Kyiv that Ukraine was not the aggressor. “This is not a conflict Ukraine wanted, provoked or asked for in any way,” Trudeau said at the summit table, according to The Canadian Press. “This is a war started for one reason…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday stressed the importance of NATO membership for securing a “real and lasting peace” in Ukraine in 2025. “We will have no choice but to build NATO in Ukraine if NATO membership remains closed to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in his opening remarks at the “Support Ukraine” summit in Kyiv. “This means securing the necessary funding, military contingents, and defense production to guarantee peace. Can we do this alone? No,” he said. “We must be honest: Ukraine deserves not only EU membership but also the security guarantees that NATO provides,” Zelenskyy added. The summit, held on…

NATO’s secretary general on Monday reiterated the military alliance’s support to Ukraine on the third anniversary of its war with Russia. “NATO will continue to support and stand with Ukraine,” Mark Rutte said on X, emphasizing the “vitality” of ensuring a “just and lasting peace.” Rutte said NATO has been supporting Ukraine “throughout Russia’s brutal war of aggression to keep the flame of freedom burning,” by supplying arms, equipment, and training. “European allies are ready and willing to do their part-including with robust security guarantees and more financial assistance,” he added. As the Ukraine war enters its fourth year, shifting…

The US on Monday sanctioned more than 30 individuals, vessels, and companies accused of facilitating illicit oil sales, as the Trump administration returned to the “maximum pressure” policy on Iran. “Iran continues to rely on a shadowy network of vessels, shippers, and brokers to facilitate its oil sales and fund its destabilizing activities,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, adding that the US will use all available tools to target all suspects of Iran’s oil supply chain. Among those designated is the head of Iran’s National Iranian Oil Company and the Iranian Oil Terminals Company as well as several shipping firms…