U.S. and Russian officials concluded more than four hours of talks in Riyadh on Tuesday in their first high-level discussion aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting, closely watched by Kyiv and its European allies, saw Moscow introduce a significant new demand.
Russian negotiator Yuri Ushakov told Interfax that the talks went well and included discussions on conditions for a future meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Ushakov noted that a summit was unlikely to take place as early as next week.
During the session, Russia signalled a hardening of its position. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated from Moscow that preventing Ukraine’s NATO membership is not sufficient. “It is not enough for NATO not to admit Ukraine as a member,” she said, insisting that the alliance must also disavow its 2008 promise at the Bucharest summit that Kyiv would eventually join NATO. Zakharova warned that failing to address this issue could continue to “poison the atmosphere on the European continent.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently argued that NATO membership is essential to secure Kyiv's sovereignty and independence. Meanwhile, European leaders expressed concern that a rushed deal between the United States and Russia might ignore Ukraine’s security interests, reward Russia for its military actions, and leave Moscow with greater leverage in the region.
Critics have pointed out that President Trump’s team appears to have already ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine and questioned the feasibility of Kyiv regaining all of its lost territory. U.S. officials, however, maintain that their position is a realistic acknowledgment of current circumstances.
As talks continue to evolve, Ukrainian officials have reiterated that no agreement can be reached on their behalf without Ukraine’s direct involvement. The international community now awaits further developments as diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict advance.
The British embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed, with services now operating remotely, the government announced Wednesday....
The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing from 75 countries, expanding President Donald Trump’s crackdow...
Denmark has announced an immediate increase in its military presence in Greenland, citing growing security tensions in the Arctic....
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he has been informed the killing of anti-government protesters in Iran has stopped and that planned...
Direct communication between senior U.S. and Iranian officials has broken down as tensions rise over Tehran’s crackdown on protests and fears of U.S...
Armenia has said that the newly inaugurated "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP) will remain a strictly bilateral initiative between Yerevan and Washington for the time being.
Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said a statement issued in Washington marks a significant step towards turning peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan into a lasting, institutionalised reality.
The Trump administration has released a previously classified legal opinion on Tuesday, setting out its justification for the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and U.S. military operations carried out inside Venezuela.
Israel and Arab States have urged the U.S. to delay any potential military action against Iran, warning that such a move could undermine ongoing protests inside the country, according to NBC News.
The Trump administration will suspend all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries beginning 21 January 2026, according to a State Department memo reported by media.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
Apple will use Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) models for its revamped Siri voice assistant later this year, in a multi-year deal that strengthens the tech giants’ partnership and boosts Alphabet’s position in the race against OpenAI.
Israel and Arab States have urged the U.S. to delay any potential military action against Iran, warning that such a move could undermine ongoing protests inside the country, according to NBC News.
Sweden is sending a group of military officers to Greenland at Denmark’s request, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday, as Nordic countries and NATO allies step up coordination around the Arctic territory.
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez said Wednesday that her government will continue releasing prisoners detained under former President Nicolás Maduro, calling it part of a “new political moment” since his ouster by the United States earlier this month.
The U.S. and UK are reducing personnel at Qatar’s Al-Udeid air base as President Donald Trump weighs possible action against Iran over its violent crackdown on protesters.
The United Nations has called on Uganda to lift a nationwide internet blackout ahead of Thursday’s general election, describing the restrictions as “deeply worrying.”
Whole milk is heading back to school cafeterias across the U.S. after President Donald Trump signed a bill overturning Obama-era limits on higher-fat milk options.
NASA is carrying out the first emergency return in International Space Station history after an astronaut aboard Crew-11 suffered a serious medical condition.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment