Ukrainian strikes on 10 Russian oil refineries have disrupted at least 17% of the country’s refining capacity, equivalent to 1.1 million barrels per day, Reuters reported on Aug. 25, citing its own calculations. Kyiv has targeted dozens of refineries, oil depots, and military-industrial sites since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 to…
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has dismissed claims in the Georgian media that the UK is allegedly training Georgian activists in Lithuania ahead of the country’s local elections on October 4 as “a coordinated information attack”. The online outlet Prime Time, described by Georgia’s opposition as pro-government, first published the claims on August 18 – less…
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is at a “point where words fail” and urged stronger international action following an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Turkish media reports. “From now on, different actions and measures need to be taken, and the international community needs to…
German Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union Friedrich Merz is looking at nominating European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for German president in 2027, Der Spiegel magazine said, citing government sources. Although this move would hurt Germany’s position within the European Union, it would make it possible for the Christian Democrats…
EU countries will discuss further steps to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets in the West, as well as a 19th package of anti-Russian sanctions, this week, the European Politico edition reported. According to a letter from the Danish EU presidency seen by Politico, a meeting of heads of the Union’s foreign policy departments…
Russia and Ukraine on Sunday exchanged 146 prisoners of conflict from each side, the Russian Defense Ministry said, Reuters reports. Ukraine returned eight residents of Russia’s Kursk region. The area was briefly seized by Ukraine in a surprise attack in August 2024, before Russian forces recaptured it earlier this year. The Russian servicemen…
French President Emmanuel Macron has held a phone conversation with President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Macron posted on his social media account. “I have just spoken with the President of Kazakhstan. Following my visit to Kazakhstan in November 2023 and President Tokayev’s state visit to France in November last year, we discussed…
US President Trump said he plans to go out on patrol with the Metropolitan Police Department and National Guard troops around Washington, D.C., on Thursday night amid a federal crackdown on crime, The Hill reports. “I’m going to be going out tonight, I think, with the police and with the military, of course. So…
The U.N. human rights chief on Friday (August 22) said that the emergence of famine in northern Gaza is the “direct result of actions taken by the Israeli government” and said that deaths from starvation might amount to a war crime, Reuters reports. “The famine declared today in Gaza Governorate by the Integrated Food…
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that he had spoken with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the two leaders coordinating their positions on the war in Ukraine, Reuters reports. Macron added that on trade issues, the two leaders agreed to strengthen economic exchanges and strategic partnerships. Նյութերը գեներացվում են տարբեր կայքերից արհեստական…
Russia has launched 574 drones and 40 missiles on Ukraine in one of the heaviest bombardments in weeks, Ukrainian officials say, BBC reports. One person was killed in a drone and missile strike on the western city of Lviv, while 15 others were reported wounded in an attack on the south-western Transcarpathia region. …
China told Afghanistan on Wednesday that Beijing was keen on exploring and mining minerals in Afghanistan and wanted Kabul to formally join its Belt and Road Initiative, the Afghan Taliban foreign ministry said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Kabul and held talks with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the ministry…
The US administration will paint sections of its border wall with Mexico black in an effort to deter illegal crossings, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. Noem announced the measure during a visit to Santa Teresa on New Mexico’s southern border, stressing that the order came directly from President Donald Trump. “That is…
United States President Donald Trump has ruled out sending US troops to Ukraine to guarantee its security in the event of an agreement to end Russia’s war in the country, Al Jazeera reports. Asked during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday what assurances he could provide that US troops would not be deployed…
After meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin. It lasted about 40 minutes, said Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. According to him, the US president informed Putin about the talks held at the White House with the Ukrainian President and leaders of a number…
The U.S. special envoy to Lebanon said Monday that his team would discuss the long-term cessation of hostilities with Israel, after Beirut endorsed a U.S.-backed plan for the Hezbollah militant group to disarm, AP reports. Tom Barrack, following a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, also said Washington would seek an economic proposal for…
Ukraine is negotiating a deal with Azerbaijan to import gas from the South Caucasus country this year, Kyiv’s energy minister said on Monday. “We are currently in talks. Azerbaijan is interested in this,” Svitlana Hrynchuk told Ukrainian outlet RBC-Ukraine. Ukraine imported test volumes of gas from Azerbaijan earlier this year as it seeks…
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska has given new momentum to efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Writing on X, Erdogan stated that Ankara welcomes the efforts of Moscow and Washington in this direction. He expressed hope that further…
French President Emmanuel Macron has reflected on his discussions with European leaders and the Ukrainian President regarding the Putin-Trump meeting in Alaska. “Coordination meeting this morning with President Trump, President Zelensky, and my European partners following the meeting between President Trump and President Putin in Alaska. At the conclusion of this meeting, we…
U.S. President Donald Trump urged agreement acceptance, stating that whether a ceasefire agreement for the Ukraine war is possible depends on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump emphasized again in an exclusive interview with Fox News shortly after the U.S.-Russia summit held in Anchorage, Alaska, that “it depends on Zelensky to finalize the agreement,” adding,…
According to Fox News, U.S. President Donald Trump has departed for Alaska aboard Air Force One from Andrews Air Force Base to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House Press Office reports that the American delegation accompanying Trump includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick,…
Zarmik Poghikyan, the Lurer correspondent in Syria, reports on the aftermath of the fires that broke out in Kessab. Vast forest areas near several settlements in the region have been reduced to ashes due to the fires. Fruit orchards adjacent to the forests have also burned. Fortunately, there have been no human casualties, but the…
Syria has welcomed the initialing of the “historic” Armenian-Azerbaijani peace agreement in Washington, the Syrian foreign ministry has said, lauding the US for making it possible. In a statement, the Syrian foreign ministry said the accords will contribute to the establishment of peace and security in the South Caucasus and strengthen the principle of…
Reuters. The Kurdish YPG militia, which spearheads the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), should abide by its integration agreement with the Syrian government, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday (August 13). NATO member Turkey has been one of Syria’s main foreign allies after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad last year. The…
Roskomnadzor has announced a “partial restriction” on calls made through the Telegram and WhatsApp messaging platforms, according to RIA Novosti. The agency explained the decision as necessary “to counter criminals, based on materials from law enforcement agencies.” “According to law enforcement and numerous citizen complaints, the foreign messengers Telegram and WhatsApp have become the…
Boris Ruge, Assistant NATO Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, held a meeting with Armenian and Azerbaijani ambassadors at the alliance. “On behalf of NATO I congratulated the Ambassadors of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the historic meeting facilitated by the US Government in Washington. NATO welcomes this breakthrough and will continue to…
IAEA’s deputy director general and head of the Department of Safeguards Massimo Aparo has held talks in Tehran with Iranian officials and left the Iranian capital on Monday afternoon, IRNA reports. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said about Aparo’s visit to Tehran that “he left Tehran after holding…
In a coordinated diplomatic effort ahead of the talks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has organized an online meeting between Zelensky and key European leaders. The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Kyiv time on Aug. 13, The Kyiv Independent reports. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will take part in the calls with…
US President Donald Trump is considering deploying up to 1,000 National Guard troops to D.C. and could make the announcement as early as Monday, one defense official and two U.S. officials confirmed on Sunday night, NBC Washington reports. Trump has vowed to “stop violent crime” in D.C. and posted on Truth Social multiple times…
Greece welcomes the announced agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a significant step towards ending decades of conflict in South Caucasus, Embassy of Armenia to Greece reports. “We commend both sides and the US Administration for making progress towards the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan possible. The signing and ratification of…
