Europe

Easing Syria sanctions on EU’s agenda: Top diplomat

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has announced that easing sanctions on Syria is on the bloc's agenda.

Ukraine ready to return captured North Korean soldiers to Kim or find ‘other ways’: Zelensky

Ukraine is prepared to send captured North Korean soldiers home if the Asian country's leader Kim Jong Un is able to negotiate the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated.

Ukraine claims to have captured of two North Korean soldiers in Kursk

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has claimed that Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region. This marks the first time Kyiv has announced the capture of soldiers from North Korea alive since their entry into the war last autumn.

US says Ukraine, Russia not prepared for peace talks

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has stated that neither Russia nor Ukraine is currently prepared for negotiations to end the war.

Italy FM calls for talks on relaxing Syria’s sanctions

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has held meeting with Syria’s new rulers in Damascus, and urged talks on easing European Union sanctions imposed on the previous government of Bashar al-Assad.

Poll shows Zelensky’s trust rating falls

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's public trust rating in the country has dropped from 90% at the start of the war between Moscow and Kiev in early 2022 to 52% in December 2024.

Azerbaijan names Armenia ‘fascist state, threat to region’

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has called Armenia effectively a "fascist state", claiming that Baku might have no other choice but to "destroy" its neighbor's so-called "fascist ideology".

PM office: Detained Italian journalist in Iran released, on way back home

The office of the Italian prime minister announced Italian journalist Ms. Cecilia Sala detained for several days in Iran has been released an is en route to Italy.

US MPs submit resolution labeling Russia’s war in Ukraine as genocide

A draft resolution to recognize Russia’s war against Ukraine as genocidal was among the first bills submitted to the new US Congress, according to the Congress’ website.

NATO member states should spend 5% of GDP on defence: Trump

US President-elect Donald Trump has stated that NATO members should spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defence, a significant increase from the current 2% target.

Ireland joins genocide case against Israel at ICJ over Gaza war

Ireland has joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel over the Gaza war, the International Court of Justice has announced.

Trump’s Ukraine aide postpones visit to Kyiv until after inauguration: Reuters

The Donald Trump administration's Ukraine peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, has postponed a visit to Kyiv until after the president-elect is inaugurated on Jan. 20, Reuters reported, citing four sources with knowledge of the trip.

Ukrainian military says fends off almost 100 Russian attacks in a day in Kursk Oblast

Ukrainian soldiers repelled 94 Russian ground attacks in Russia's Kursk Oblast over the past day, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported amid escalating hostilities in the region.

France claims Iran nuclear programme nearing ‘point of no return’

French President Emmanuel Macron has raised concern over Tehran’s nuclear programme, describing Iran as the main “strategic and security challenge” for Europeans in the Middle East.

Zelensky says ‘too bad’ Ukraine has no nuclear bombs

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated his regret that Kiev does not possess nuclear weapons to effectively deter Moscow.

German opposition suggests Scholz could meet Putin within weeks

Roderich Kiesewetter, the defense spokesperson for Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has stated that Chancellor Olaf Scholz could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin before Germany's parliamentary elections on Feb. 23.

Britain vulnerable to ballistic missile strikes: Times

The United Kingdom is vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks, and “holes” in the country’s air defenses are causing concerns in London and the rest of NATO, The Times daily has reported, citing defense sources.

Zelensky claims heavy Russian, North Korean losses in Kursk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Russian and North Korean forces suffered significant losses during recent clashes in the Kursk region.

US says supplied ‘a lot of weapons’ to Ukraine ahead of war

Washington supplied “a lot of weapons” to Kiev in the months before the start of war between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed.

US says China may have stopped Russia from using nuclear weapons

China may have talked Russian President Vladimir Putin out of deploying nuclear weapons amid Moscow's war against Kyiv, outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated in an interview with the Financial Times.

French, German top diplomats meet Syria’s de facto rulers in Damascus

The French and German foreign ministers have met Syria’s de facto rulers in Damascus, marking the first trip by top European officials to the Arab country since the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad late last year.

Ukraine claims Russia lost 430k soldiers in 2024

In 2024, the Russian military sustained its highest-ever losses in manpower and equipment since the onset of the war in Ukraine. Kiev has announced that over the course of the year, Ukrainian forces neutralized 430,790 Russian troops.

Putin orders Russian govt., top bank to work with China on AI tech

President Vladimir Putin has directed the Russian government and the state-owned bank Sberbank to develop artificial intelligence (AI) technology partnerships with China, according to instructions published on the Kremlin web portal.

Italy summons Iran envoy over detention of journalist

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Thursday summoned Tehran's ambassador to Rome over the arrest of an Italian journalist in the Iranian capital two weeks ago.

Ukraine’s Navy claims destroyed 37k Russian drones in 2024

Ukrainian naval units have destroyed over 37,000 Russian drones in the year 2024, the European country's Navy has reported.

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