Turkic states unite at Ankara disinformation forum
Senior officials and media leaders from Turkic states met in Ankara on 18-19 December, 2025 to strengthen cooperation against disinformation and deepe...
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stated that Europe will not support any peace process that excludes Ukraine or calls for its demilitarisation, stressing that Europe’s involvement is crucial for any meaningful negotiations.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked on Sunday that Europeans will not support any peace process that excludes Kyiv or calls for Ukraine’s demilitarisation.
"Ukraine must remain a democratic, sovereign nation—no decisions can be made over their heads. We as Europeans will not allow that," Scholz stated during a televised debate ahead of the 23 February elections.
Scholz confirmed that European leaders would convene in Paris on Monday to discuss the ongoing Ukraine conflict and respond to the anticipated US-Russia peace talks. He emphasised that Ukraine requires a strong military to defend itself from potential future attacks and firmly rejected Moscow’s demands for Ukraine’s permanent neutrality and disarmament.
The Chancellor highlighted that Europe, as Ukraine’s key supporter, must be part of any peace negotiations. “It won’t work without us. We have provided more support for Ukraine from Europe than the US,” he noted, stressing that any security guarantees should involve European contributions.
Scholz’s remarks come after US President Donald Trump’s decision to initiate direct peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, leaving European leaders out of the process.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth informed European counterparts last week that, should troops be deployed to Ukraine under a peace deal, they would not be part of a NATO mission and would be excluded from Article 5 protections. Hegseth also reiterated that no US forces would be sent to Ukraine as part of any security arrangement.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States has suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after a deadly shooting at Brown University.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, December 20.
Senior officials and media leaders from Turkic states met in Ankara on 18-19 December, 2025 to strengthen cooperation against disinformation and deepen coordination in the information sphere.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 21st of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least 10 people have been killed and 10 wounded after gunmen opened fire at a bar in a township west of Johannesburg, police said on Sunday, in the second mass shooting in South Africa this month.
Japan and five Central Asian nations have unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening critical minerals supply chains and fostering broader regional cooperation, following their first summit in Tokyo on Saturday.
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, December 20.
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