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E3 considers seizing frozen Russian assets in ceasefire negotiations: FT

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russian Central Bank

While Berlin and Paris had previously resisted full asset confiscation, they are now engaging in talks with European and G7 partners about potential mechanisms to use the funds.

A proposal discussed by French officials suggests seizing the assets if Moscow violates a future ceasefire agreement, ensuring security guarantees for Kyiv.

Diplomatic activity has intensified in recent weeks, with France and the U.K. leading efforts to draft a European peace plan.

These discussions gained momentum after U.S. President Donald Trump launched direct negotiations with Russia aimed at ending the war. Since 2022, G7 nations have frozen roughly 300 billion euro ($310 billion) in Russian central bank assets, with the majority—around 190 billion euro ($200 billion) —held in Belgium’s Euroclear.

Currently, only the interest generated by these funds is being used to back a $50 billion loan package for Ukraine, while the principal remains untouched.

Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic states have long pushed for the full confiscation of these assets, but major European capitals had resisted over concerns about international legal precedents and financial stability.

The European Central Bank had warned that such a move could undermine confidence in the euro as a reserve currency, given that most of the frozen assets are euro-denominated.

However, shifting political dynamics appear to be changing the debate.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently told Trump that immediate seizure would not align with international law but suggested the assets could be part of post-war negotiations.

Meanwhile, Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has signaled openness to asset seizure and is coordinating with outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz ahead of an EU summit.

In the U.K., Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that London is examining ways to deploy the funds, noting that while profits from Russian sovereign assets are already being used to support Ukraine, the fate of the principal remains complex.

Russia says ready to facilitate US-Iran negotiations

By
IFP Media Wire
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Kremlin

US President Donald Trump expressed interest in talking to Iran about those issues, both in his phone call to Putin in February and via representatives at the high-level US-Russian meeting in Riyadh just days later, the news agency wrote, citing anonymous officials.

“Russia believes that the United States and Iran should resolve all problems through negotiations,” Peskov told Bloomberg when asked about such contact.

Moscow “is ready to do everything in its power to achieve this,” he added.

The American leader returned to his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran last month. Trump’s executive order said that Washington would ramp up sanctions on Tehran, aiming to disrupt “its nuclear program, conventional missile deployment, and network of regional proxy groups”.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has stressed the country is building up its defenses, citing regular threats from US ally Israel.

“The Israeli regime keeps threatening Iran with military action while the West continues to blame Iran for its defense capability. This is outrageous & irrational,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated last week.

Given that Israel is “addicted to aggression and lawless behavior,” it is “responsible and essential to maximize our defense capabilities,” he stressed.

Israel and the West have long seen Iran’s uranium enrichment activities as a secret attempt to develop nuclear weapons – allegations that Tehran has repeatedly denied.

While Trump has touted harsher sanctions, he has also signaled that he is interested in signing a “verified nuclear peace agreement” with Tehran.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has stressed that talks with the US are unlikely to bear fruit, citing the prior nuclear deal Trump unilaterally left during his first presidency.

Pentagon denies halting cyber operations against Moscow: Bloomberg

By
IFP Media Wire
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Pentagon

The Record previously reported that U.S. Cyber Command was ordered to suspend offensive cyber and information operations against Moscow. The news coincided with President Donald Trump’s efforts to negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine under terms that critics argue favor Moscow.

Cybersecurity experts had warned that such a move would benefit one of America’s most persistent cyber adversaries, potentially weakening U.S. leverage in both cyber and conventional military operations.

Russian hacker groups have engaged in various forms of cyber warfare throughout the full-scale war, including cyberattacks against Ukraine, hacks of civilian infrastructure in Europe, and interference in foreign elections.

But according to a source quoted by Bloomberg, Hegseth did not cancel or suspend cyber operations against Russia. Nor has he issued any orders to reverse this priority, the source said.

The U.S. Cyber Command oversees 135 teams of “cyber mission forces.”

The units involved in offensive operations are cyber combat mission teams, according to Bloomberg.

US weighs lifting sanctions on Russia: Reuters

By
IFP Media Wire
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Trump Putin

The tentative plans would align with US President Donald Trump’s efforts to improve diplomatic and economic relations with Moscow and to facilitate an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

The proposed sanctions relief could include specific Russian entities and individuals, including some business leaders, according to the outlet. The list will be discussed with Russian representatives in the coming days as part of the administration’s broad talks with Moscow on repairing ties, the sources told Reuters.

However, it remains unclear what concessions or actions Washington might seek in exchange. The White House, State Department, Treasury Department, and the Russian embassy in Washington have not commented so far.

The reported decision follows a series of diplomatic engagements between the US and Russia. On February 12, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call, beginning discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. Subsequently, high-level meetings have taken place in Saudi Arabia and Türkiye between US and Russian officials.

At the Saudi meeting, the US delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, explored avenues for economic cooperation, including potential joint ventures in the energy and technology sectors. The talks also addressed the possibility of restoring embassy staffing levels to improve diplomatic communications.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who lead the Russian delegation, described the meeting in Riyadh as a first step toward rebuilding relations, stressing that Moscow and Washington need to “clean up the legacy” left by the Joe Biden administration. Lavrov said that a swift appointment of ambassadors in Washington and Moscow would be an important step toward restoring full-scale cooperation.

Trump has maintained throughout that sanctions relief would not precede a formal peace agreement. He has stated that any easing of restrictions would be contingent upon concrete steps toward ending the conflict in Ukraine.

Putin has welcomed efforts with the US on the diplomatic front and expressed Moscow’s willingness to resolve the Ukraine conflict through peaceful means. He stressed Russia’s goal of establishing an international system that fairly considers the interests of all parties, ensuring a lasting and indivisible security framework for Europe and the world. Such a system would prevent some nations from securing their safety at the expense of others, including Russia.

Israeli military kills Palestinian in Jenin amid ongoing offensive in West Bank

By
IFP Media Wire
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Israel Palestine

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement that the Israeli army handed over to its medical teams “a martyr in his twenties in the Eastern neighborhood of Jenin.”

Eyewitnesses told Anadolu that a large number of Israeli forces, escorted by bulldozers, broke into the eastern neighborhood of Jenin at dawn on Tuesday.

Armed clashes between the Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters, along with sounds of explosions, were reported in the area, the witnesses also said.

They added that the Israeli bulldozers embarked on destroying infrastructure in the neighborhood, including razing of roads.

The Israeli army has been conducting operations in the northern West Bank since Jan. 21, killing at least 65 people and displacing thousands.

Palestinian authorities have warned that the continued military offensive is part of a broader plan by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to annex the West Bank and declare sovereignty over it, which could officially mark the end of the two-state solution.

The raids were the latest in the military escalation in the West Bank, where at least 928 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 injured in attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers since the start of the onslaught against the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The International Court of Justice declared in July last year that Israel’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories is “unlawful,” demanding the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

US halts financing new weapons sales to Ukraine: WSJ

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russia Ukraine War Weapons Arms

In an article, the publication said that Washington “has stopped financing new weapons sales to Ukraine and is considering freezing weapons shipments from US stockpiles.”

Soon after assuming office in January, President Donald Trump suspended all foreign aid, including military aid, except to Israel and Egypt, pending a review.

Meanwhile, Axios claimed that Trump will conduct a meeting on the Ukraine conflict, “including a possible suspension of US military aid.” According to the media outlet, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and several other senior officials are expected to take part.

The Washington Post, citing an anonymous senior US official, carried a similar report on Monday, saying that Trump would hold a meeting later in the day to “discuss whether to end military assistance to Ukraine.”

The newspaper claimed that aside from stopping arms and equipment deliveries to Kiev, the termination of intelligence sharing and training for Ukrainian troops and pilots is also under consideration.

On Sunday, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky predicted that a peace agreement between his country and Russia “is still very, very far away.” He also expressed confidence that despite his acrimonious exchange with Trump and Vance at the White House on Friday, “Ukraine has a strong enough partnership with the United States of America” to keep the aid flowing.

Commenting on the Ukrainian leader’s remarks on his Truth Social platform, President Trump described them as the “worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy.” He further warned that “America will not put up with it for much longer,” adding that Zelensky “doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing.”

Speaking to Fox News after the weekend, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz hinted that the “American people’s patience is not unlimited, their wallets are not unlimited, and our stockpiles and munitions are not unlimited.”

The official described Zelensky as the “problem” due to his refusal to “talk peace.”

“Time is not on his side. Time is not on the side of just forever continuing this conflict,” Waltz stated.

In an interview with the same outlet on Sunday, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the Ukrainian leader had been told in no uncertain terms during Friday’s meeting with Trump that further financial support would be contingent on Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate peace with Russia.

Advisor to Iran’s Leader deplores Turkey’s diplomatic conduct, warns of Syria’s fragmentation, predicts EU collapse

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Ali Akbar Velayati

His remarks, in an interview with Jam-e Jam, came after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described Iran’s foreign policy as “very dangerous,” claiming its costs outweigh the benefits.

Velayati emphasized Iran’s commitment to mutual respect and non-interference, urging Turkey to avoid actions that undermine historical ties.

Velayati also expressed concern over Syria’s instability, citing the presence of armed groups like Daesh and Kurdish factions, as well as Israeli and US military involvement.

He warned of a potential civil war and criticized Israeli efforts to divide Syria along ethnic and religious lines.

Furthermore, Velayati condemned US President Donald Trump’s proposal to forcibly relocate Gazans, calling it “thoughtless” and unrealistic.

He dismissed Trump’s rhetoric as fear-mongering rather than a practical policy.

Velayati also predicted the collapse of the European Union, citing rising US-Europe tensions over the Ukraine conflict.

He noted that Trump’s alignment with Russia has deepened divisions within Europe, particularly for the UK, which sees itself as the bloc leader.

Turkey ‘false’ statements could affect bilateral ties: Iran

By
IFP Media Wire
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The Iranian Foreign Ministry

Mahmud Heidari, an aide to Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said that the common interests of Iran and Turkey necessitate avoiding “false statements” that could cause tensions in bilateral relations.

Heidari made those remarks as he met with Turkey’s Ambassador to Tehran Hicabi Kırlangıç on Monday, according to a press release by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

“The common interests of both countries and the sensitive conditions in the region necessitate avoiding false statements and unrealistic analyses that could lead to disagreements and tensions in bilateral relations,” the Iranian official said, in reference to remarks last week by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan about Iran’s policies in the West Asia region.

Heidari further noted the continued aggression and expansionism by the Israeli regime is “the biggest threat” to security and stability in the region.

Key Islamic countries, he added, are expected to do their utmost effort to help stop Israeli aggression against the people of Palestine and other regional countries including Syria.

Hicabi Kırlangıç said on his part that Turkey’s stance focuses on maintaining and expanding good relations with Iran.

“We also believe that the two countries should have close cooperation to promote bilateral ties, regional interactions and address the existing threats,” the Turkish ambassador stated.

He also added that he would convey views of the Iranian Foreign Ministry to the Turkish government.

Iranian gov’t congratulates “In the Shadow of the Cypress” animation team for Oscar win

By
IFP Media Wire
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In a post on her social media account on X, Mohajerani hailed the achievement as a significant milestone for Iranian art and cinema.

She wrote, “A great honor for Iranian art and cinema! Congratulations to the creative team behind ‘In the Shadow of the Cypress’ for their brilliance at the Oscars.”

“This success showcases the depth of Iranian culture and art on the global stage. We look forward to more achievements for our country’s cinema,” Mohajerani added.

The 20-minute animated short film, by Iranian directors Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani, follows a retired sea captain who copes with post-traumatic stress disorder while caring for his daughter.

It marks Iran’s third Oscar win, following Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation (2012) and The Salesman (2017).

Time isn’t on Ukraine’s side: US

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Russia Ukraine War

“[Zelensky] is not ready to talk peace at all. Here is the problem, time is not on his side. Time is not on the side of just forever continuing this conflict,” Waltz said on Fox News on Monday.

Zelensky’s visit to the White House last Friday was abruptly cut short after a heated exchange with US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in front of the media.

During the shouting match, the Ukrainian leader again ruled out the possibility of talks with Moscow, demanded security guarantees from Washington, refused to acknowledge that Kiev’s forces are experiencing manpower shortages and implied that Vance could not have known anything about his country’s problems because he’s never been there.

In the aftermath of the tense Oval Office meeting, Waltz suggested that Zelensky’s failure to achieve a desirable outcome had done Ukraine a “real disservice.”

“It was really confounding to us that Zelensky could have left the White House Friday having the US and Ukraine bound together economically for a generation,” he added.

Zelensky was expected to finalize a deal with the US, granting it access to Ukraine’s vast deposits of mineral resources to compensate Washington for past military aid.

Waltz also criticized the ongoing “World War I-style trench warfare” as a costly strategy and underscored Trump’s commitment to ending the conflict.

When pressed by a CNN presenter last Sunday as to whether the White House wanted Zelensky to step down, Waltz clarified that “we need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war.”

In an interview with Breitbart Radio on Saturday, Waltz compared Zelensky to an “ex-girlfriend that wants to argue everything that you said nine years ago, rather than moving the relationship forward.”

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