Japanese PM Ishiba calls for ceasefire and just peace for Ukraine
Ishiba took part in the meeting on Tuesday night Japan time.
The Japanese prime minister told other leaders that he welcomes the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.
He added that the meeting helped build a common understanding about the direction of future negotiations, which will be led by the United States and involve Ukraine.
Ishiba also argued it would be important to firmly maintain territorial integrity and that attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force should never be allowed.
The leaders acknowledged that they will continue to work closely toward realizing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
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Japan Today
7 minutes ago
- Japan Today
Trump says no ground troops, but maybe air support, to back Ukraine peace deal
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy walk during a meeting, amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 18, 2025. REUTERS/Al Drago/File Photo By Andrea Shalal, Tom Balmforth and Anastasiia Malenko U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States would not put troops on the ground in Ukraine but might provide air support as part of a deal to end Russia's war in the country. A day after Trump pledged security guarantees to help end the war at an extraordinary White House summit, the path to peace remained uncertain as the U.S. and allies prepared to work out what military support for Ukraine might include. "When it comes to security, Europeans are willing to put people on the ground. We're willing to help them with things, especially, probably, ... by air," Trump said in an interview with the Fox News "Fox & Friends" program. He did not elaborate. Following Monday's meeting, Russia launched its biggest air assault in more than a month on Ukraine, and Trump conceded that Russian President Vladimir Putin might not want to make a deal after all. "We're going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks," he said. The nature of U.S. military aid for Ukraine under a peace deal was unclear. Air support could take many forms such as missile defense systems or fighter jets enforcing a no-fly zone. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed U.S. air support was "an option and a possibility," but like Trump did not provide any details. "The President has definitively stated U.S. boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies," she said at a news briefing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the White House talks as a "major step forward" towards ending Europe's deadliest conflict in 80 years and setting up a trilateral meeting with Putin and Trump in the coming weeks. Zelenskiy's warm rapport with Trump contrasted sharply with their disastrous Oval Office meeting in February. Analysts say more than 1 million people have been killed or wounded in the conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. RUSSIAN ATTACKS Russia launched 270 drones and 10 missiles in an overnight attack on Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said. The energy ministry said the strikes caused big fires at energy facilities in the central Poltava region, home to Ukraine's only oil refinery. However, Russia also returned the bodies of 1,000 dead Ukrainian soldiers on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said. Moscow received 19 bodies of its own soldiers in return, according to the state-run TASS news agency. Ukraine's allies held talks in the so-called Coalition of the Willing format on Tuesday, discussing additional sanctions to crank up the pressure on Russia. The grouping has also agreed that planning teams will meet U.S. counterparts in the coming days to develop security guarantees for Ukraine. NATO military leaders were expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine, with U.S. General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expected to attend virtually, officials told Reuters. "We are now actively working at all levels on the specifics, on what the architecture of the guarantees will look like, with all members of the Coalition of the Willing, and very concretely with the United States," Zelenskyy said on social media 'TIPTOEING AROUND TRUMP' Although Trump said on Monday Putin asked for a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy, the Kremlin has made no explicit commitment. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow did not reject any format for Ukraine peace talks but any meeting of national leaders "must be prepared with utmost thoroughness". Putin has said Russia will not tolerate troops from the NATO alliance in Ukraine. He has also shown no sign of backing down from demands for territory, including land not under Russia's military control, following his summit with Trump on Friday in Alaska. Neil Melvin, a director at the International Security at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, said Russia could drag out the war while trying to deflect U.S. pressure with a protracted peace negotiation. Melvin said both Ukraine and its European allies on one side and Russia on another were striving "not to present themselves to Trump as the obstacle to his peace process," Melvin said. "They're all tiptoeing around Trump" to avoid any blame, he said, adding that Trump's statements on security guarantees were "so vague it's very hard to take it seriously". © Thomson Reuters 2025.
The Diplomat
2 hours ago
- The Diplomat
Pakistan-US Counterterrorism Cooperation Takes Big Strides Forward
The U.S. has designated the Balochistan Liberation Army a foreign terrorist organization and included the TTP in the bilateral counterterrorism dialogue. American and Pakistani officials pose for a group photograph during the bilateral Counterterrorism Dialogue, held at Islamabad, Pakistan, on August 12, 2025. The Pakistan-United States defense relationship has entered a promising new phase. On August 11, the U.S. State Department designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a 'foreign terrorist organization.' In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move 'demonstrates the Trump Administration's commitment to countering terrorism.' The BLA, which is responsible for deadly attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan province, was labeled a 'specially designated global terrorist' (SDGT) organization in 2019. With the FTO designation, the militant group now faces a tougher operational environment. BLA members worldwide will come under increased scrutiny, travel restrictions, and financial sanctions in the U.S. and the European Union. They will, therefore, encounter more difficulties in fundraising, recruitment, and cross-border movement. This designation aligns the U.S. more closely with Pakistan's security priorities and could facilitate greater intelligence-sharing and coordinated efforts to dismantle the BLA's networks. The growing bilateral partnership is likely driven by high-level meetings and efforts to fight militant threats in the region. This is highly important from Pakistan's perspective as it will impact the country's security, economic progress, and global reputation. Foremost among the high-level meetings driving the security cooperation is Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir's visits to the United States. He has visited the U.S. twice in recent months, in June and August, which reflects a renewed commitment to strengthening military and strategic ties with Washington. On August 10, Munir attended the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) change-of-command ceremony and held high-level discussions with U.S. military and political leaders. This visit built on earlier meetings, including a notable lunch with U.S. President Donald Trump in June. Munir's interactions seem focused on pushing cooperation in the fields of counterterrorism, trade, and regional stability. His efforts have added a 'new dimension' to Pakistan-U.S. ties and have served to shift relations from an era of coldness that followed the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan four years ago to a new partnership based on shared security goals. The bilateral relationship is not just confined to leadership-level statements but is being followed up with delegation-level talks. Many ideas emerging from this dialogue are at the implementation phase. On August 12, Pakistan and the United States conducted a joint Counterterrorism Dialogue to deepen cooperation in the area. The Counterterrorism Dialogue was co-chaired by Pakistan's Special Secretary to the United Nations, Nabeel Munir, and U.S. Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Gregory D. LoGerfo. It emphasized joint efforts to combat militant groups like BLA, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This is the first time in a long time that bilateral dialogue between the U.S. and Pakistan included discussion of militant groups like the BLA and TTP that Pakistan perceives as national security threats. For Pakistan, these developments are highly impactful. The BLA's terrorist designation and the resulting global pressure on its members will strengthen Pakistan's efforts against terrorism, especially in Balochistan and along the Afghan border. Moreover, the expected increase in U.S. support could improve Pakistan's counterterrorism capabilities through better training, technology, and intelligence. However, Pakistan must carefully manage this partnership to maintain its strategic autonomy and balance relations with the U.S., China, and regional powers like Iran. The strengthened Pakistan-U.S. relationship could boost Pakistan's role as a regional stabilizer amid Middle Eastern tensions and ongoing rivalries with India. The evolving Pakistan-U.S. defense relationship, which is marked by high-level engagements and counterterrorism cooperation, provides Pakistan with a chance to bolster its security. However, the cooperation, even after all expressions of interest from both sides, may not grow to the level that existed when U.S. troops were stationed in Afghanistan. Still, it is good news for Pakistan as it has been trying to win Washington's support for its counterterrorism efforts, citing them as a threat to the global community. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently told a visiting U.S. delegation that Islamabad 'stands as a wall between terrorism and the rest of the world.' He urged the international community to extend full cooperation to Pakistan, stressing that groups like the TTP are a global threat. In a notable statement on Pakistan's Independence Day, Rubio expressed strong appreciation for Pakistan's efforts in counterterrorism and commerce. The BLA's designation as a terrorist group and the inclusion of the TTP in the Pakistan-U.S. counterterrorism dialogue show that Pakistan has been able to convince Washington that these groups are a mutual security concern. Going forward, Pakistan needs to navigate its emerging partnership with the U.S. strategically, ensuring it develops into more than just transactional cooperation. It is only then that Pakistan can truly reap the benefits of this cooperation, especially in terms of counterterrorism gains.
NHK
2 hours ago
- NHK
Japanese PM Ishiba calls for ceasefire and just peace for Ukraine
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has stressed the importance of realizing a ceasefire and a just and lasting peace for Ukraine at an online meeting with European leaders and others. Ishiba took part in the meeting on Tuesday night Japan time. The Japanese prime minister told other leaders that he welcomes the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington. He added that the meeting helped build a common understanding about the direction of future negotiations, which will be led by the United States and involve Ukraine. Ishiba also argued it would be important to firmly maintain territorial integrity and that attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force should never be allowed. The leaders acknowledged that they will continue to work closely toward realizing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
