Israel Claims Destruction Of Two Iranian F-14; Tehran Counters With 'F-35 Downed' Claim
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India Today
39 minutes ago
- India Today
Deal or disaster? How Trump-Putin closed-door meet might end
The world's attention is fixed on the Alaska Summit, where US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will meet behind closed doors on Friday. Putin, the typically composed leader known for his sharp, measured remarks, will command attention as always. But it's Trump who has observers on edge. The unpredictable, self-promoting president often strays from his stated agenda when meeting global leaders. History is full of instances where Trump's meetings with key world leaders have ended in of the most notorious was his White House encounter with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which nearly devolved into a verbal clash on the global stage. His summit with another unpredictable leader, Kim Jong Un, also proved to be a diplomatic as Trump is set to meet Putin this Friday in America's biggest, coldest state, the political chill is sharper than the Alaskan air. The meeting with Putin comes at a time of heightened global tension, with Washington and Moscow already at odds over Ukraine. The world, especially the US' Western allies — the European Union and the UK — are seemingly anxious about where this conversation could lead. Trump will reportedly debrief Ukraine and the European Union after his meeting with Putin, according to British daily The Guardian. Here are three key reasons why the Trump-Putin meeting has the world on edge:1. TRUMP'S HISTORY OF SIDING WITH PUTINIn 2018, during their Helsinki Summit, Donald Trump met privately with Vladimir Putin for over two hours, with only interpreters present. What followed remains one of the most controversial moments of his beside Putin at a joint press conference, Trump publicly cast doubt on US intelligence findings that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential said he saw "no reason why" Russia would be involved, effectively siding with Putin over the assessments of the CIA, FBI, and statement triggered bipartisan outrage in the US, with even some Republican leaders calling it a many in Washington, the incident reinforced perceptions that Trump harbours a peculiar admiration for Putin, often appearing more trusting of the Russian leader than of his own security apparatus. This track record is why US domestic circles are deeply uneasy about another one-on-one meeting between the two.2. TRUMP'S NOBEL DREAM RISKS REWARDING RUSSIAOne of the most contentious possibilities on the table is a "land swap" in Ukraine, a proposal that could see Trump backing terms which reward Russia's invasion by ceding occupied territories, bypassing both Kyiv and key European fixation on securing a legacy-defining "deal" with Putin is fuelled by many frustrations. The war continues to grind on despite his earlier boasts of being able to end it Moscow nor Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have shown any willingness to concede. This comes amid the fact that Trump is not even subtle about his greed for the Nobel Peace Prize, a goal that appears to be shaping his diplomatic impatience and potential for reckless concessions, with little oversight, risk tilting toward Russia and undermining Ukraine's this happens, it could destabilise NATO unity and weaken Western credibility.3. RUSSIA'S ARCTIC DEALS COULD SPLIT THE WESTRussia, in February, offered the Trump administration a deal granting US access to Russian natural resources and joint projects in the Arctic, a move that could sideline the EU and the UK, deepening rifts within the Western alliance, according to The Kyiv proposal was reported by The Moscow Times on February 18, citing Kirill Dmitriev, a member of the Russian delegation, during the talks in Saudi Riyadh, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the highest-level contact between the two nations since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Discussions reportedly included energy cooperation, with Moscow suggesting that American oil companies could return to Russia and join Arctic claimed US firms had once run "very successful businesses" in the country and could regain access if relations offer came as Kyiv rejected a US-proposed memorandum on Ukraine's natural resources, arguing it lacked concrete security guarantees. Zelenskyy had said Ukraine was open to investment but needs stronger pitch also includes expectations that Washington will unfreeze Russian state assets, valued at about $6 billion in the US, and potentially ease sanctions – conditions Rubio hinted could be considered in a broader peace European allies, however, such a deal raises fears of US-Russia cooperation at their expense, potentially fracturing the united sanctions front and giving Moscow a strategic foothold in the resource-rich Trump takes the Russian bait, viewing it through his "everything is a deal" lens, it could deliver a serious blow to the West's united front against Moscow.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Middle east tensions: Netanyahu's 'greater Israel' comments spark criticism; Arab nations slam 'delusional claims'
Arab nations have critised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over remarks apparently endorsing the idea of an expanded 'Greater Israel', warning that such comments threaten their sovereignty at a particularly volatile moment for the Middle East. The term refers to a biblical interpretation of Israel's borders during the reign of King Solomon, stretching beyond the current Palestinian territories of Gaza and the occupied West Bank to include parts of present-day Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Ultra-nationalist Israelis have called for these areas to be occupied. When asked on Tuesday by i24NEWS interviewer Sharon Gal whether he supported such a 'vision' for a Greater Israel, Netanyahu replied 'absolutely', adding, 'If you ask me what I think, we're there.' He then spoke about the founding of Israel and the 'great mission' of ensuring its survival. Neighbouring Jordan condemned the comments on Wednesday as a 'dangerous and provocative escalation' and 'a threat to the sovereignty of states'. A spokesman for its foreign ministry rejected what he called Netanyahu's 'inflammatory' rhetoric and 'delusional claims'. Egypt had also 'requested clarification on this matter', describing it as amounting to a 'rejection of the option of peace in the region'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo The remarks come amid a 22-month war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, which has repeatedly spilled over into the wider region, fuelling tensions and drawing frequent Arab condemnation. On Thursday, Iraq's foreign ministry said Netanyahu's words showed Israel's 'expansionist ambitions' and were 'a clear provocation to the sovereignty of countries'. Gaza mediator Qatar also condemned the comments, calling them 'absurd' and 'inflammatory'. The suggestion of an enlarged Israel comes as far-right members of Netanyahu's cabinet press for the conquest of Gaza and the annexation of the West Bank, where the government recently approved a wave of new settlements deemed illegal under international law. Saudi Arabia on Wednesday voiced 'its total rejection of the ideas and plans for colonisation and expansion adopted by the Israeli occupation authorities', reaffirming 'the historical and legal right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state'. In February, Netanyahu caused anger among Arab states when, in a television interview, he suggested a Palestinian state could be set up on Saudi land. During Tuesday's interview, he also renewed calls to 'allow' Palestinians to leave Gaza, telling i24NEWS, 'We are not pushing them out, but we are allowing them to leave.' Previous suggestions to resettle Gazans outside the war-ravaged territory, including from US president Donald Trump, have sparked fears of displacement among Palestinians and drawn condemnation from the international community.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Nothing, no one to recognise': Israel minister's West Bank remark casts shadow on Palestinian state's future
Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday announced a new settlement construction in the Israel-occupied West Bank, which would effectively cut the territory into two parts. The announcement comes as many countries have said that they would recognise Palestine as a state in September. Israeli finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a map of an area near the settlement of Maale Adumim, a land corridor known as E1, outside Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank.(AFP) 'This reality finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise,' said minister Bezalel Smotrich. Palestinians and rights groups worry that if the West Bank is cut into two separate parts, then their plan for a future Palestinian state would be disrupted. Smotrich warned that "anyone who tries today to recognise a Palestinian state — will receive an answer from us (Israel) on the ground". Smotrich also informed that the development plan of E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, is expected to receive its final approval next week. The plan, which has been under consideration for over two decades, was frozen due to pressure from the previous US administrations. However, on Thursday, the Israeli minister praised US President Donald Trump and US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, as "true friends of Israel as we have never had before". The E1 development plan includes thousands of apartments for the expansion of Maale Adumim settlement, Smotrich said. While some bureaucratic steps are still pending, the infrastructure work could begin in the next few months if the process moves quickly, and the construction of homes could also begin in about one year. However, rights groups were quick to condemn the plan. The Peace Now group called it "deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution", which is "guaranteeing many more years of bloodshed". The Palestinian Authority and Arab countries recently condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement from Tuesday, where he said that he was "very" attached to the vision of a Greater Israel. Earlier this week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that his country will formally recognise a Palestinian state, a move similar to that of France, Britain and Canada. "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," Albanese said after a Cabinet meeting. Late in July, Canada joined hands with France and the UK and declared that it would recognise the state of Palestine in September. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that there was "no room for delay". Trump had reacted curtly to Canada's move and said that the country's decision would make it "very hard" for the US to make a trade deal with them. France and the UK's move to recognise a Palestinian state sparked a shift in the stance G7 countries have taken towards the Palestinian struggle. Israel and the US condemned France and the UK for their move, labelling their decision as a "reward for terror and Hamas".
