Trump says ceasefire is on ‘life support’ after calling Iran’s reply a ‘stupid proposal’ - Middle East conflict 11 May
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal as a “stupid proposal,” say...
As Russia signals readiness for fresh peace talks, Ukraine urges immediate delivery of Moscow's memorandum, stressing the need for a productive and result-oriented meeting.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday announced that Russia is prepared to hold the second round of peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2. Speaking via a written statement carried by Russian state media TASS, Lavrov credited the involvement of the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye for helping to create the conditions for the resumption of direct negotiations.
The first round, held on May 16 in Istanbul, led to a mutual prisoner exchange involving 1,000 individuals on each side and resulted in a commitment to prepare position documents for a sustainable resolution. Lavrov noted that Russia has now finalised a memorandum detailing its views on addressing the core causes of the conflict and is prepared to present it during the upcoming talks.
“Our delegation, headed by Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during the second round in Istanbul next Monday, June 2,” Lavrov said, while also thanking Türkiye for facilitating the negotiations.
Ukraine responded promptly to Russia’s proposal, with Defence Minister Rustem Umerov stating that Kyiv is fully prepared for a complete and unconditional ceasefire and expects Russia to share its memorandum ahead of the next meeting.
“We are not against meetings with the Russians and expect their ‘memorandum’ so that the meeting is not empty and can really bring the end of the war closer,” Umerov posted on social media platform X. He added that delays from Moscow had hindered progress, but pressure from international leaders, including President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, helped push the process forward.
Umerov confirmed that Ukraine had already submitted its own position document and urged Russia to fulfil its promise to deliver its memorandum, cautioning against turning the talks into “a destructive one.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed this stance, questioning the need to wait until Monday. “If the Russians have finally elaborated on their 'memorandum'—after ten days of reflections and attacks—it can be passed to us right away,” he said.
He emphasised that any future dialogue must be well-prepared and meaningful. “Only a well-prepared meeting has the potential to produce tangible results,” Sybiha noted.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed Iran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal as a “stupid proposal,” saying Tehran failed to commit to abandoning its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, while warning the fragile ceasefire was on “massive life support”.
Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku has been elected the 142nd head of the Georgian Orthodox Church at a meeting of clergy in Tbilisi following the death of longtime Patriarch Ilia II.
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through mediator Pakistan, according to IRNA. Qatar’s al-Thani also warned Iran against using the Strait of Hormuz as “a pressure tool”.
Afghanistan has signed a five-year gold mining contract with Afghan and Azerbaijani companies in a deal worth more than $20m, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has said.
After years of limited engagement, relations between Syria and the European Union are drawing renewed diplomatic attention as both sides explore cooperation on migration, security and regional stability..
The man accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House gala last month pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron opened France’s first-ever business summit in an English-speaking African nation on Monday (11 May), as Paris seeks to strengthen ties across the continent following a decline in influence in several former French colonies.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attempt a political fightback on Monday (11 May) with a speech promising closer ties with the European Union after Labour suffered heavy local election losses and growing calls for his resignation.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that three Polish nationals and two Moldovan citizens had been released from detention in Belarus and Russia, highlighting what he described as growing diplomatic cooperation with Minsk.
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