live Zelenskyy says Russia hit six energy targets despite ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling t...
Ukraine’s parliament has ratified a landmark minerals and economic partnership agreement with the United States, aiming to bolster bilateral cooperation and unlock investment potential, while navigating regional conflict dynamics and future reconstruction plans.
Ukraine’s parliament has approved a significant minerals and economic partnership agreement with the United States, aiming to enhance bilateral cooperation in critical sectors and lay the groundwork for long-term investment and recovery efforts.
On Thursday, 338 lawmakers voted in favor of ratifying the agreement, with no votes against. While some deputies expressed concern over limited details in the deal - particularly regarding the governance of a planned investment fund and its financial mechanisms - officials reassured that specifics would be outlined in upcoming supplements.
First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko described the agreement as the foundation for a new model of engagement with a key strategic partner. “This document is not merely a legal construct - it is the foundation of a new model of interaction with a key strategic partner,” she wrote on social media.
The deal, signed in Washington last month, grants the U.S. preferential access to future Ukrainian minerals projects and includes the establishment of an investment fund to support Ukraine’s recovery over the next decade. Officials have said the fund will become operational in the coming weeks and its effectiveness will depend on continued U.S. involvement.
Some lawmakers voiced caution about transparency and long-term impacts, though government representatives stressed that Ukraine would maintain control over its strategic resources and reconstruction priorities.
The agreement also follows months of challenging negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian officials. While not tied directly to military aid, Kyiv views the deal as an avenue to advance dialogue on defense support and broader economic integration, including Ukraine’s long-term goal of joining the European Union.
The ratification comes as discussions over potential ceasefire arrangements continue. Ukraine has signaled its openness to a temporary 30-day truce proposed by Washington, whereas Russia has offered a three-day ceasefire from May 8 to 10. These proposals are part of broader, ongoing efforts to ease tensions, although significant gaps remain between negotiating parties.
Ukrainian officials emphasize that the minerals agreement aligns with the country’s strategic interests. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the final version as an improvement over earlier drafts, which some lawmakers had previously criticized for being too one-sided. The deal does not require Ukraine to return previous aid, and it includes a U.S. statement recognizing Ukraine’s EU aspirations.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited a newly opened defence museum displaying weapons developed under his leadership, including an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers are set to discuss measures to tackle transboundary haze during preparatory meetings ahead of the ASEAN summit in November, as forest and land fires in Indonesia continue to affect air quality across the region, the Philippines said on Tuesday.
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.
Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the United Kingdom believes Iran was likely behind an alleged plot connected to RAF Fairford, a military airbase in Gloucestershire in England that has played a role in U.S. operations against Iran, escalating tensions between London and Tehran.
Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has accused the Trump administration of using federal law enforcement for political purposes after authorities searched her Washington-area home as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
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