Ukraine pushes EU membership bid as Cyprus takes bloc's presidency
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to advance EU membership discussions and secure stricter sanctions on Russia during a meeting on Wednes...
Hungary’s European Union affairs minister on Monday criticised an EU statement on Venezuela, calling it evidence of “the deep crisis” in the bloc’s foreign policy.
Janos Boka said the statement by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas “clearly exposes the deep crisis of the EU’s common foreign policy” and described it as a “sign of weakness and a fundamental misunderstanding of the transformation of international relations.” He added that the EU “has no real message or strategy” for Venezuela and lacks tools or influence in the region.
Boka said Budapest is taking all necessary steps to protect Hungarian citizens in Venezuela, safeguard energy supplies, and monitor developments on the ground.
In a separate statement, Balazs Orban, political director to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said the EU’s position “undermines the bloc’s international credibility” and criticised it for addressing a situation over which it has “neither meaningful influence nor real leverage.”
Prime Minister Viktor Orban welcomed the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the intervention in the country, saying it could improve global energy markets. “Together with Venezuela, the U.S. will now be able to control an estimated 40-50% of the world’s oil reserves,” he said, calling the development “good news” for Hungary.
The EU statement, supported by 26 member states, had urged calm and restraint, called for respect of international law and human rights, and stressed the importance of a Venezuelan-led, peaceful transition. It said Nicolás Maduro lacks legitimacy as a democratically elected president and underlined the need for dialogue among all parties to reach a negotiated solution. The bloc also demanded the unconditional release of political prisoners and highlighted ongoing EU efforts to protect citizens in Venezuela.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the military operation on Saturday, saying Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured and pledged to assert American control over Venezuela if necessary. Maduro has denied the accusations, while officials in Caracas have called for the couple’s release.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service secretly monitored the telephone communications of former U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, including calls made aboard Air Force One, according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
President Ilham Aliyev said 2025 has politically closed the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, as a Trump-era reset in U.S. ties, new transport corridors and a push into AI, renewables and defence production reshape Azerbaijan’s priorities.
Iran’s chief justice has warned protesters there will be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic”, as rights groups reported a rising death toll during what observers describe as the country’s biggest wave of unrest in three years.
Shares of major U.S. oil and energy companies surged on Monday even as crude prices showed little movement, revealing a growing divergence between energy equities and the underlying commodities market.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to advance EU membership discussions and secure stricter sanctions on Russia during a meeting on Wednesday as Cyprus took over the European Union's rotating presidency.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
Türkiye is considering draft legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 15 from opening social-media accounts, Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş has said.
Türkiye is prepared to “assume responsibility” for the security of the Black Sea once a peace agreement is signed between Russia and Ukraine, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said.
"Change is coming to Iran" according to U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday (6 January). He warned Iran that "if you keep killing your people for wanting a better life, Donald Trump is going to kill you."
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