Israel-Iran war: Did Pakistan threaten a nuclear bomb against Israel?
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France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Zelensky returns to site of stunning Oval Office shouting match
At the February 28 meeting, Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelensky on live television, accusing him of being ungrateful for US aid provided since Russia's invasion three years prior, and pressing for quick negotiations to end the war. The hostile confrontation marked a turning point in Kyiv-Washington relations, which had been warm under former president Joe Biden, and raised fears that Trump would cut off US military support. The scene quickly devolved at the end of a long question-and-answer session with the press. Vance accused Zelensky of being "disrespectful" and displaying ingratitude for Trump's diplomatic efforts, after the Ukrainian leader expressed skepticism that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be trusted given his repeated violations of earlier agreements. As Zelensky defended his position in his non-native English, Trump was enraged by the Ukrainian leader's suggestion that while the United States was currently far from the fighting, "you will feel it in the future" if they appeased Putin. "You don't know that. You don't know that. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel," railed Trump, before adding: "You're not in a good position. You don't have the cards right now." As tempers flared, Vance demanded Zelensky thank the United States for the billions provided to Kyiv in military aid. "Have you said 'thank you' once?" he asked. When Zelensky attempted to respond, he was silenced by Trump. "No, no. You've done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble," said Trump, cutting Zelensky off. The Ukrainian leader left the White House shortly after, without signing a mineral rights deal that was a key reason for his visit. In the ensuing days, the United States temporarily cut off military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, heightening European fears that Trump would side with Putin in trying to end the conflict. Shifting tides Much water has since flowed under the bridge, however. Trump, who has in the past expressed his admiration for Putin, began to lose patience with the Russian leader, as Moscow kept up its military offensive even as US special envoy Steve Witkoff engaged in feverish diplomacy to achieve a ceasefire. In April, Trump met with Zelensky at the Vatican, and accused Putin of "tapping me along" without delivering on promises. Days later, Ukraine and the United States finally signed a minerals deal, which Trump had earlier referred to as compensation for US aid. The two leaders also met face-to-face in June on the sidelines of the NATO summit at The Hague. On Friday, Trump met with Putin in Alaska to discuss the Ukrainian conflict, promising to run any proposals by both Ukraine and its European allies before agreeing to a deal. Shortly after the Putin summit, Trump invited Zelensky to the Oval Office. Perhaps wary of the contours of the previous diplomatic dust-up, Zelensky quickly said he was "grateful for the invitation." European leaders will join Zelensky in Washington on Monday, seeking above all else to prevent another Oval Office meltdown -- but also to coordinate on the path toward peace negotiations, especially on how to prevent any future Russian invasion. On the latter front, the Trump administration says it is now open to providing Ukraine security guarantees, a shift hailed Sunday by Ukrainian and European leaders. Zelensky is expected to first meet one-on-one with Trump, before they are joined by European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, a European government source said.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Euronews
Five people killed as Russia continues to pummel Ukrainian cities
Five people were killed and 11 others were injured as Russia continues to pummel Ukrainian cities, despite Friday's Alaska Summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, in which they came to an 'understanding' on ending the war. Ukraine's Air Forces say the Kremlin launched a ballistic missile and a barrage of more than 60 Iranian-made Shahed drones and decoy drones overnight into Sunday. Ukrainian air defence personnel say Kyiv has successfully shot down or suppressed over 40 drones aerially, which were targeting various positions, mainly civilian, in the country's north and east. Five people were killed in Donetsk in the eastern Donbas region as Russia intensifies it offensive in the region. Two people were killed in Russian shelling of Raihorodok, another two were killed in Sviatohorivka and another civilian was killed in Kostiantynivka. At least four others were injured across the region over the past day according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. The Donbas has been the flashpoint of Russian attacks since Moscow's first invasion of 2014 and then Russia's full-out war since February 2022. More than 30 settlements were targeted in Kherson as Russian forces carried out drone and artillery strikes. Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin says two people were injured in the strikes. Two houses and a vehicle were also damaged in the attacks. Five others were injured in attacks on Kharkiv, which targeted several villages with an array of missiles, drones and guided bombs. At least five people were injured in the shelling and were transferred to local hospitals to receive treatment. Many homes sustained damage in those attacks across areas like Vilshany, Prykolotne and Nova Kozacha. Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syrniehubov says all of the targets Moscow struck were civilian in nature. The attacks come as global pressure mounts on Russia to end its invasion, well into its fourth year, and come to the negotiating table. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to participate in a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The conference, taking place via video link, comes on the eve of Zelenskyy's trip to Washington. On Monday, Zelenskyy is set to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump in the White House to discuss the latest in the ongoing peace efforts. It's the Ukrainian leader's first visit to the White House since February, a meeting in the Oval Office which ended in controversy as Trump and Vice President JD Vance proceeded to berate Zelenskyy in front of reporters. Zelenskyy's visit, announced on Saturday, comes just days after Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska, which produced no ceasefire agreement, but according to both leaders, brought an understanding of what Russia requires to end its assault. Trump says he wants to arrange a trilateral summit between himself, Putin and Zelenskyy, in what would be the warring leaders' first face-to-face meeting, to 'finally end this war'.
Euronews
5 days ago
- Euronews
Iran's president criticises Netanyahu's pledge to help in water crisis
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's offer to help the country deal with its water crisis, saying he should first address the situation in Gaza. Pezeshkian's response came as Netanyahu addressed Iranians in a video message on Tuesday, pledging that Israel would help solve the country's severe water shortages once Iran is 'free' from the current government, according to Israeli media. 'A regime that deprives people of Gaza of water and food says it will bring water to Iran? A mirage, nothing more,' Pezeshkian said on X. The Iranian president also doubled down on the comments during a cabinet meeting in Tehran, saying that 'those with a deceptive appearance are falsely claiming compassion for the people of Iran." 'First, look at the difficult situation of Gaza and defenceless people, especially children who are struggling ... because of hunger, lack of access to potable water and medicine, and because of a siege by the brutal regime.' The remarks mark a return to political spats that follow Israel's waves of airstrikes on Iran in June, targeting nuclear facilities, top military commanders and nuclear scientists. Water and power issues persist On Wednesday, authorities in Iran ordered government offices and banks across much of the country to close as surging summer temperatures and the worsening water crisis strain the power grid. The closure is the second this summer announced by state television, according to media reports. As temperatures across the capital Tehran have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, authorities urged residents to avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours and conserve water and energy. Iran produces some 62,000 megawatts of electric energy per hour at its peak, but needs about 80,000 megawatts to meet its needs. Experts warn that the two-hour electrical outages that Tehran and other cities currently face every other day could soon extend to four hours. On Sunday, reports say Pezeshkian told a group of officials that 'we do not have water; we do not have water under our feet and we do not have water behind our dams, so you tell me, what do we do? Someone comes and tells me, 'What do I have to do?' Pezeshkian said that Iran is in 'a serious and unimaginable crisis' and added that his administration is in touch with experts who are trying to find a solution to the problem.
