Oil prices hit four year high: Latest news on the Middle East conflict on 9 March
Global oil prices reached a four year high on Monday (9 March), surpassing $...
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted key developments in the ongoing peace efforts to end the war in Ukraine, stressing the importance of a robust peacekeeping force and the alignment between Ukraine, Europe, and the United States.
Following a significant meeting of European Union leaders in Berlin, von der Leyen expressed optimism about the progress made in the peace talks.
"It was a good meeting tonight in Berlin because we are seeing real and concrete progress," she said, emphasising that the alignment of efforts between Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S. was instrumental in moving forward with the goal of achieving a just and lasting peace.
Von der Leyen outlined that the first step toward peace is a lasting ceasefire, which requires sustained pressure on Russia to bring it to the negotiating table.
"The path to get there is known," she said, noting that the Europe Union would continue to increase the costs of Russia’s war, including through new sanctions and immobilising Russian assets within the EU.
A key part of the peace strategy, according to von der Leyen, is the establishment of robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine.
"Peace requires these security guarantees," she stated, welcoming the United States' consideration to provide military support to Ukraine.
She also acknowledged Europe’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s armed forces to protect its sovereignty and deter future aggression.
Von der Leyen's comments come as European leaders back U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators working toward an agreement to end the nearly four-year conflict.
She stressed that with the right security guarantees in place, the road to peace can be secured, preserving Ukraine’s territorial integrity and ensuring long-term stability in the region.
Her statement underscores Europe's continued commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defence and sovereignty as they work toward a peace deal that addresses the broader security needs of the country.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
Norwegian police are searching for a suspect after an explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo on 8 March caused minor damage but no injuries, in what authorities say may have been a deliberate attack linked to the Middle East crisis.
An explosion damaged a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège early on Monday (9 March) in what authorities said was an antisemitic attack that caused damage but no injuries.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers will meet on Monday to discuss a global rise in oil prices and a joint release of oil from emergency reserves coordinated by the International Energy Agency, the Financial Times reports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 9th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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