logo
Putin and Xi discussed 'rough edges' between G7 leaders at summit, Kremlin says

Putin and Xi discussed 'rough edges' between G7 leaders at summit, Kremlin says

TimesLIVE6 hours ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed in a telephone call on Thursday what they saw as frictions between G7 leaders at this week's summit, the Kremlin said.
At the meeting in Canada, the bloc of wealthy nations struggled to find unity over the war in Ukraine after US President Donald Trump expressed support for Putin and left a day early to tackle the Israel-Iran conflict from Washington.
His departure deprived Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of a chance to meet him and press for more US weapons.
Putin and Xi 'discussed the results of the recent G7 meeting. In particular, they noted the rough edges that emerged in the relations between participants', Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
'It was mentioned that for Zelensky this was by no means the most successful trip abroad.'
In a call lasting about an hour, the Kremlin said Xi and Putin discussed the Israel-Iran crisis, bilateral ties and co-operation in the Brics group, set to hold a summit in Brazil next month, including an initiative for a new Brics investment platform for the Global South.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

West Africa wants deals with Trump but US entry bans a barrier, says Nigerian minister
West Africa wants deals with Trump but US entry bans a barrier, says Nigerian minister

TimesLIVE

time3 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

West Africa wants deals with Trump but US entry bans a barrier, says Nigerian minister

West African nations want to strike deals with the US over energy and rare earth minerals, but the Trump administration's looming expansion of travel bans risks derailing those efforts, Nigeria's foreign minister Yussuf Tuggar said on Wednesday. US President Donald Trump this month implemented full or partial travel bans for foreign nationals from a dozen countries as part of his immigration crackdown. A possible broadening of the restrictions to an additional 36 countries would include nearly all of West Africa. "This would be most unfortunate if it comes to pass, because we are a region of opportunities ready to do deals," said Tuggar, who currently chairs regional bloc Ecowas 's council of foreign ministers. President Trump has upended longstanding trade relations since returning to the White House, using erratic tariff threats and aggressive tactics in a bid to secure better deals from trading partners. As part of an agreement with Beijing, for example, Trump said China will supply the US with magnets and rare-earth minerals critical to the auto and battery industries in exchange for Chinese students' continued access to US universities.

Warren Hammond's Personal View: Geopolitical risk surges as April and June warnings unfold
Warren Hammond's Personal View: Geopolitical risk surges as April and June warnings unfold

The South African

time4 hours ago

  • The South African

Warren Hammond's Personal View: Geopolitical risk surges as April and June warnings unfold

Acts of Violence – The World Is on Edge This Summer. Image: LinkedIn/warren-hammond Home » Warren Hammond's Personal View: Geopolitical risk surges as April and June warnings unfold Acts of Violence – The World Is on Edge This Summer. Image: LinkedIn/warren-hammond On 2nd June, I published a note entitled 'The Personal View: Acts of Violence – The World Is On Edge This Summer.' In it, I warned: 'June and July 2025 will shape up to be two of the most geopolitically intense, heated, combustible months in recent memory… not defined by a single headline, but by a drumbeat of destabilising, violent, and politically consequential events.' This warning is reiterated. All June and all July will see persistent and intense acts of violence, terror, war, and conflict. Since the warning was issued on 2nd June, we've witnessed: – Israeli airstrikes on Iran's Natanz nuclear site– Iranian missile retaliation centred on Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem– Waves of rocket fire in Gaza and southern Lebanon– A mass shooting in Graz, Austria– Riots in Ballymena, Northern Ireland– India–India-Pakistan tensions reignited with border clashes and terror threats– A firebomb attack in Colorado– Casualties in Kherson, Ukraine, from Russian drone strikes– Rising tensions on the Kyrgyz–Tajik border – The UN confirming 118+ attacks on schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure globally Back in mid-April, I published 'The Personal View: The Thucydides Trap, War Cometh.' I stated: 'A rising tide of systemic confrontation is unfolding… This is the Thucydidean Trap, when a rising power threatens an established one, and miscalculation often leads to escalation.' In both notes, I flagged the geopolitical risk escalation and identified the market implications: – Exposure to energy security risk and oil-sensitive names – Tactical positioning away from travel, tourism, shipping, and logistics These weren't just warnings. They were calls to act. Markets are still mispricing the persistent asymmetric volatility ahead. Entering March 2025, my note, 'The Personal View: How to Position Your Portfolio for the Market Turmoil Ahead (2025–2028),' explicitly forecasted a wave of market volatility tied to tariff wars, leadership failure, military escalation, oil shocks, and cyber threats, including the unfolding Iran conflict. This was not a reaction; it was anticipation. The note forecast persistent, structural volatility through 2028. This same framework guided my early February 2020 short call ahead of the COVID crash, and my April 6, 2020, pivot to go long the S&P 500 with a multi-year target of $8,500, a call made amid panic, volatility, and disbelief. The fuse has been lit. June and July 2025 will continue to see the world on fire.. Share your thoughts in the comments below. How are you preparing for this volatile period? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Russia warns US against ‘military intervention' in Iran-Israel war
Russia warns US against ‘military intervention' in Iran-Israel war

The Citizen

time4 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Russia warns US against ‘military intervention' in Iran-Israel war

With Trump considering US military action in Iran, Russia and China step in to urge de-escalation and reject force as a conflict solution. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C) attends a meeting with heads of international news agencies, on the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) at the Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, in Saint Petersburg, on June 18, 2025. The 28th edition of Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) takes place from 18th to 21st of June, 2025, at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre in Saint Petersburg, on June 18, 2025. (Photo by Vyacheslav Prokofiev / POOL / AFP) Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday warned the United States not to take military action against Iran, amid speculation over whether Washington will enter the war alongside Israel. Moscow issued its warning after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a phone call condemned Israeli attacks on Iran and urged a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Israel launched an unprecedented wave of strikes at Iran last week, to which Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks. US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday he was considering whether to join Israel's strikes. 'I may do it, I may not do it,' he said. Russian foreign ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters: 'We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in the situation.' Any US military action 'would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences', she added. ALSO READ: Western media bias: how imperial narratives shape global perceptions Earlier on Thursday, following the leaders' call, the Kremlin said Putin and Xi 'strongly condemn Israel's actions'. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Moscow and Beijing believed the end to the hostilities 'should be achieved exclusively by political and diplomatic means'. 'Mediate your own' Xi told Putin that a ceasefire was the 'top priority' and urged Israel to halt its attacks, Chinese state media reported. 'Promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities is the top priority. Armed force is not the correct way to resolve international disputes,' Xi said, according to China's state news agency Xinhua. 'Parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should cease hostilities as soon as possible to prevent a cyclical escalation and resolutely avoid the spillover of the war,' he added. Putin is pitching himself as a mediator between the warring sides. ALSO READ: Ukraine war 'existential,' Kremlin says, launching revenge strikes Russia is close to Iran, having boosted military ties amid its offensive on Ukraine, but also strives for good relations with Israel. Last week, Putin held phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering himself as a peacemaker. The Kremlin said that Xi had spoken 'in favour of such mediation, since he believes that it could serve to de-escalate the current situation', Ushakov said. But Western leaders, including US President Donald Trump and France's Emmanuel Macron have pushed back against the idea of Putin trying to mediate the conflict amid his own Ukraine offensive. 'He actually offered to help mediate, I said: 'do me a favour, mediate your own',' Trump told reporters on Wednesday about Putin's efforts. 'Let's mediate Russia first, okay? I said, Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first, you can worry about this later.' NOW READ: Russia signals severe retaliation after Ukraine's strikes – By: © Agence France-Presse

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store