Author: Anadolu Agency

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pressed China on Monday to use its influence to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine, warning that Beijing’s support for Moscow would damage its relations with Europe. During her one-day visit to Beijing, Baerbock held extensive discussions with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, focusing on Ukraine war and ongoing efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to the conflict. “Every permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has a responsibility for peace and security in the world; they must not fuel conflicts that threaten the security of us all with its support,” Baerbock told reporters…

The Kremlin on Monday denied it sent a message to Ukraine through German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who arrived in Kyiv earlier in the day for the first time in over two-and-a-half years. Speaking to reporters in the capital Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia does not have any “expectations” from Scholz’s visit to Kyiv, but it is closely monitoring all contacts that will ensue in the Ukrainian capital. Peskov argued that while Germany continues its policy of “unconditional support” for Ukraine, Moscow assessed the recent phone conversation between Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin with “satisfaction.” “Dialogue, of course,…

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has collected more evidence and information in the past 18 months than it has in the 20 years since it was founded, its chief prosecutor said on Monday. Karim Khan emphasized the court’s recent intense efforts during his address at the 23rd session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the ICC’s Rome Statute. The ICC has received the most evidence and documents in its history in the last year, with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and victims submitting a large number of documents and evidence under Article 15 of the Rome Statute, he noted. Of…

Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has suggested that temporary territorial concessions to Russia could help establish a cease-fire in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict. In an interview with German media outlet Table.Briefings published on Monday, Stoltenberg emphasized that diplomatic negotiations and compromise could pave the way toward a cease-fire agreement. “We need a cease-fire line, and of course ideally this (the Ukrainian part) should include all areas currently under Russian control. But we see that this may not be realistically achievable in the immediate future,” Stoltenberg said. “If the cease-fire line means that Russia continues to control all occupied territories,…

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will travel to Brussels to take part in a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers starting on Tuesday. According to Turkish diplomatic sources, the meeting in the alliance’s headquarters will be held in three sessions. In the first session, which will be attended by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, the crisis in the Middle East and cooperation between NATO and Amman will be discussed. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas are expected to attend the NATO-Ukraine Council session. This session will discuss the latest situation…

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday that recent developments in Syria cannot be attributed solely to external intervention, but rather stem from “unresolved” problems over the past 13 years. Speaking at a news conference alongside his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, who is on an official visit to Türkiye, Fidan said that it was a “mistake” by the Syrian regime to ignore the legitimate demands of the opposition and to fail to engage in the political process. “The reason for the resumption of large-scale conflict in Syria is that the country’s interconnected problems have remained unresolved for more than 13…

Germany on Monday urged Israel to do more to protect civilian lives after a deadly airstrike in North Gaza killed at least 200 people, among them women and children. “We expect the Israeli side to change the conduct of operations in order to protect as many civilians as possible in Gaza,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said at a press briefing in Berlin, pointing to the “shockingly high number of victims” in the enclave. He reiterated that his country was “extremely concerned over the humanitarian situation” in Gaza, while calling for a “swift cease-fire.” At least 200 people were killed…

Armed groups opposing Bashar al-Assad’s regime have captured eight more settlements in the Syrian province of Hama. The opposition forces, engaged in clashes with regime forces for six days, have made significant territorial gains, taking control of regional hub Aleppo, as well as areas south of northwestern Idlib province toward regime-held Hama. After reclaiming most of Aleppo’s city center and all of Idlib province from regime forces, the groups have most recently taken control of eight more settlements, including Al-Jalamah, Al-Zakah, Jubbayn, Tal Meleh, Kirkat, Al-Mughayr, and Al-Mabatan. Also, the anti-regime forces targeted a location near Hama city used by…

The White House said Monday that it is in “active conversations” with Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt over efforts to broker a cease-fire to end Israel’s over year-long war on the besieged Gaza Strip. “Without doubt, 100% of our energy and effort is being put to try to get this, and really the main stumbling block continues to be Hamas. And we believe that as they look at the world right now, they ought to see just how isolated and weakened they are,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. “It’s time for Hamas to come to the table, and…

More than 3,700 Palestinians have been killed or reported missing during 60 days of Israeli military’s operations in northern Gaza, the enclave’s media office said Monday. In a statement, the office accused Israeli forces of conducting an intensive and multifaceted assault by land, sea, and air targeting northern Gaza. Areas affected include Jabalia Camp, Jabalia Town, Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, and surrounding regions. The statement detailed that of the more than 3,700 reported dead or missing, 2,400 bodies have been buried. Additionally, 10,000 others have been injured, and significant numbers detained. The ongoing military operations have obstructed the work of…