Author: Anadolu Agency

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talked with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday, expressing gratitude for Britain’s continued support and leadership in the face of ongoing security challenges. “I thanked him for all the UK’s support and emphasized that we deeply value Britain’s leadership,” Zelenskyy wrote on X after his phone call with Starmer. He briefed Starmer on his recent discussions with US President Donald Trump and engagements with American officials, highlighting the importance of coordination between Ukrainian, American, European, and global partners to achieve concrete security outcomes. “The security of each nation depends on strengthening our collective security,” Zelenskyy…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that the US does not have a clear plan to end the war in Ukraine, stressing the need for stronger military support and decisive Western action against Russia. “I don’t think that the US has a ready plan to end the war,” Zelensky told reporters in Munich, ahead of his planned talks with US Vice President J.D. Vance on the situation in Ukraine. He also reiterated that if Ukraine is not accepted into NATO, the country must expand its army to 1.5 million soldiers equipped with modern weaponry to ensure national security. Zelensky…

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Friday there is an Arab-supported Egyptian plan that aims to rebuild the Gaza Strip without displacing its Palestinian residents. Safadi made the statement during his meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris on the sidelines of a conference on Syria hosted by France, according to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry. The statement quoted both top diplomats as opposing the relocation of Palestinians, opposing US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza and displace its residents to Jordan, Egypt and elsewhere. The two foreign ministers also discussed efforts to maintain the ceasefire in…

The Spanish foreign minister stressed Friday that Gazans must go back and live in the Gaza Strip, pledging his country will do everything possible to help with the reconstruction of the coastal enclave. “We really want this ceasefire to become permanent, and I am really happy to see that the release of hostages has (been) reinstated again,” Jose Manuel Albares told Anadolu on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in the southeastern German city. Albares noted that a permanent ceasefire is in everyone’s best interests, including Israeli security. “Of course, the Palestinians of Gaza must go back and live…

Egypt reaffirmed on Friday its commitment to presenting a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, adding that Palestinians should remain on their land “without displacement.” Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made these remarks during meetings on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany, which kicked off on Friday and will run until Sunday, according to Egyptian Foreign Ministry statements. Abdelatty held separate meetings with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares, Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide, and European Council President Antonio Costa. During these meetings, Egypt’s top diplomat reaffirmed his country’s commitment to “providing a comprehensive vision for…

The European Commission criticized US President Donald Trump’s proposed “reciprocal” trade policy on Friday, calling it a step in the “wrong direction” and warning that it threatens global economic stability. “The European Commission views President Trump’s proposed ‘reciprocal’ trade policy as a step in the wrong direction,” the commission said in a statement. The statement reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to an “open and predictable” global trading system, arguing that tariffs harm businesses, stifle growth, and fuel inflation. “Tariffs are taxes. By imposing tariffs, the US is taxing its own citizens, raising costs for businesses and increasing economic uncertainty,” it said.…

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday said the alliance’s defense ministers have agreed to put Ukraine in the “best possible position” for any future peace negotiations with Russia. Speaking after a NATO defense ministers’ meeting, Rutte said there was “total agreement” among allies that Ukraine must be empowered in talks rather than being “forced into an agreement” that it does not accept. “We all agree that we need to put Ukraine in the best possible position for negotiations, and we need a durable and lasting peace,” he told reporters. His comments came after US President Donald Trump said peace…

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in London on Thursday to discuss a wide range of global issues, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as trade cooperation and human rights concerns. Following their discussions, Lammy emphasized in a post on X the importance of maintaining a “pragmatic relationship” between the UK and China, as both nations have permanent membership in the UN Security Council. He underscored the need for global influence to be exercised responsibly, particularly in efforts to maintain stability in conflict zones. “We spoke about global stability,…

Nearly 71% of Spaniards believe that US President Donald Trump’s government will negatively affect Spain’s economy, according to a recent survey published on Thursday. The poll was conducted by the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6 on a sample of 4,042 interviews after Trump had already taken office as president of the US and signed dozens of executive orders that shifted Washington’s regional and foreign policies. According to the poll, 70.9% of Spaniards believe Trump’s administration would negatively affect Spain’s economy. The questionnaire also asked about Trump’s Gaza policy and his plan to relocate Palestinians…

The Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) have entered into a significant partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday. The agreement is aimed at strengthening collaboration on central banking matters, the CBRT said in a statement. “In the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding, the two central banks aspire to foster cooperation and carry out technical activities in the field of central banking,” read the statement. The agreement, signed during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Pakistan, represents a key step toward enhanced financial collaboration between the two…