Türkiye and U.S. in ‘intensive’ talks over F-35 jets and sanctions
Türkiye says talks with Washington are continuing over six F-35 fighter jets it purchased but never received, as Ankara pushes for the lifting...
President Donald Trump said he held a “very productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, shortly before hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida for talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine.
“I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 P.M. today, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump is set to host Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, to discuss the U.S. plan to end the nearly four-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy arrived in the U.S. on Saturday following a visit to neighboring Canada. He said discussions with Trump would focus on key unresolved issues, including the future of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Commenting on the phone call, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the conversation lasted about one hour and 15 minutes and was organized at Trump’s initiative to discuss the “current situation in the context of the Ukrainian conflict and the potential for its resolution.”
Ushakov said Putin stressed the importance of continuing dialogue based on understandings reached at the Alaska summit in August and during numerous contacts between their representatives. He added that both presidents agreed that the temporary ceasefire proposed by Ukraine and European countries could prolong the conflict and risk a resumption of hostilities.
The Kremlin aide said that a halt to hostilities “requires, first and foremost, Kyiv to make a bold, responsible political decision, consistent with the ongoing work being carried out through the Russian-American channel.”
Ushakov also noted that Trump “insisted on the need to end the war as quickly as possible, speaking of the impressive prospects for economic cooperation between the United States and both Russia and Ukraine.”
The two leaders agreed to continue efforts within the framework of two specially created working groups focused on security and economic issues, with the terms for their launch expected to be finalised in early January. Ushakov added that Putin and Trump agreed to speak again after the talks between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Russia has claimed further battlefield gains in recent weeks, saying its forces are advancing steadily in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw fully from the Donbas, including areas still under Kyiv’s control, a condition Ukrainian officials have repeatedly rejected.Russia currently controls Crimea, annexed in 2014, and significant parts of eastern and southern Ukraine following its full-scale invasion nearly four years ago.
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for the recent drone and missile strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, vowing to carry out more attacks in the coming days.
The Saudi-led coalition said early Thursday that it intercepted and destroyed a drone over Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
Tens of thousands of students have taken to the streets across Albania to protest rising education costs and corruption, with demonstrations turning violent. Prime Minister Edi Rama has rejected calls to resign, insisting his government will remain in office.
Ukraine is set to restart attacks on Russian oil refineries following a two-day pause, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, amid growing tensions with Washington over energy strikes and U.S. military support.
Britain has announced new military, energy and nuclear-safety support for Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s talks with Prime Minister Andy Burnham in London.
A maritime dispute between Washington and Madrid is escalating after a U.S. federal agency proposed new measures that could affect Spanish shipping companies and a range of exports headed to the American market.
Kenya has confirmed a second case of Ebola, intensifying efforts to prevent the spread of the virus after the country recorded its first-ever infection earlier this month.
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