US Shouldn't Let Iran Ceasefire Go to Waste
US actions over the past few days may have strengthened its hand. Over the weekend, American forces rained down bunker-busting bombs and Tomahawk missiles on Iran's three main nuclear installations at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow, causing 'extremely severe damage,' according to the Defense Department. Although Iran could have relocated uranium stockpiles and centrifuges, those sites themselves may now be unusable. US forces took no fire and suffered no casualties.
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Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The difference between a Ukraine ceasefire and peace deal explained - and why it matters
Experts believe a ceasefire is a crucial foundation of longer-lasting peace in Ukraine, but Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin appear eager to skip this step. After his meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week, Donald Trump appeared to back away from his demand for a ceasefire in Ukraine before any further progress could be made. Following around two-and-a-half hours of talks, the US leader said a deal had not been reached, but gave some indication of what could happen next in a post on his Truth Social platform. "It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up," he said. His remarks appeared to be in line with the position of Moscow, which says it wants a full settlement, rather than a pause, and caused concern among Ukraine and its allies, "We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation," Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X. Meanwhile some international relations experts have expressed scepticism of a peace deal coming before a ceasefire, warning that this could be a "ploy" by Russia to continue the war. What is a ceasefire? Ceasefires are "designed to keep violence at bay for a designated period of time", according to the Better World Campaign, which works to build a stronger relationship between the US and the UN. They are "generally binding, but often fleeting", the organisation added, but "ideally create space for parties to negotiate potential solutions to conflict". Medecins San Frontieres said ceasefires "do not reflect a juridical end to the state of war", rather, they are a "military decision that responds to strategic objectives: gathering forces, evaluating the opponent's authority and chain of command, or carrying out negotiations". "There is always a risk that relief operations negotiated in the context of a cease-fire may be used as a 'bargaining chip' by the parties to the conflict, so as to obtain political or military compromises or to test the good faith of the adverse party or its ability to control its own troops or a given territory," it added. What is a peace deal? A peace treaty is a "legal agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, which formally ends a state of war between the two parties," the American Bar Association said. They are "often the culmination of international peace discussions, and seek permanent resolutions by establishing conditions for peace", it added. It is different to a surrender, "in which one party agrees to give up arms; or a ceasefire, in which parties agree to suspend hostilities temporarily", or an armistice agreement, "in which parties agree to stop hostilities, but do not agree to long term conditions for peace". The association also makes a distinction between a peace treaty and peace agreement, which are "often negotiated between warring parties within one nation". Why does it matter? Former US ambassador to Cape Verde, and senior fellow at the Fletcher School of Tufts University, Donald Heflin suggested that a ceasefire is a crucial step towards longer-lasting peace. Speaking to Yahoo News, he said skipping to a peace deal "will not work". "A permanent peace deal always involves a million details, and negotiations can take months or even years," he said. "On a ceasefire, you stop the killing, the two armies freeze in place. With a permanent deal, you must agree on what territory the two parties will each end up with, which is much more contentious. "A major pitfall is that while a permanent deal is being worked out, the killing continues. "This whole idea is a diplomatic ploy by the Russians. They look like they want peace, but in reality they have the military advantage, and want the war to continue." Paul B. Stares, director of the Centre for Preventive Action at the Council on Foreign Relations, said that understanding of how a ceasefire agreement could "ease security concerns of both parties" could "help facilitate an agreement when the moment is ripe". He said it should "serve as the foundation for a permanent and comprehensive settlement of the conflict". Unlike ceasefires, Stares said that peace treaties are "often difficult to achieve in the short term", despite Moscow and Washington appearing to be pushing to skip ahead to this final step. What could happen in Ukraine? The prospect of rushing towards a peace deal with no ceasefire first is causing great concern among Ukraine and European allies. In a post on X, Zelensky wrote: "We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation. "If they lack the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes, it may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater – peaceful coexistence with its neighbours for decades." Serhiy Leshchenko, an adviser to president Zelensky, said: 'Our vision is a ceasefire first, and then everything else. 'If we negotiate before the ceasefire, it creates a big risk for Ukraine. If there is a ceasefire, it opens up space for diplomats.' Ukraine believes a ceasefire would force Putin to negotiate, and that attempting to skip this is a strategy to prolong the war, NPR reported. What happens next in Ukraine remains unclear, but Trump has indicated that he accepts at least some of Russia's demands, having said there will be "no going into Nato by Ukraine" as part of any peace deal. In a post on Truth Social, Trump also said there would be "no getting back" of the Crimean peninsula, although it remains to be seen what happens to the eastern Donbas region, which Russia is understood to be demanding. Zelensky is due to meet Trump in Washington on Monday (18 August), with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish president Alexander Stubb and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni also travelling to the US capital. In a meeting on Sunday, European leaders stressed that no discussions could take place without Kyiv's involvement and clear agreements to safeguard the rest of Ukraine's land. Some called for an immediate ceasefire, with Poland's foreign ministry saying: "You cannot negotiate peace under falling bombs." However, UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer appeared more open to Putin and Trump's strategy when asked if he wants a ceasefire back on the table. "We want to see an end to the killing," his official spokesman said. "If you can bring about an end to the killing and bring about a sustained peace in one go, then all the better.' Read more What time is Trump meeting Zelensky at the White House? (Yahoo News) Trump isn't fighting for peace in Ukraine, he's managing Russia's victory - and Europe is worried (The Independent) Keir Starmer Splits With Donald Trump On Whether Ukraine Should Be Allowed To Join Nato (HuffPost)
CNN
44 minutes ago
- CNN
European Leaders Join Zelensky at Trump Meeting - CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish - Podcast on CNN Podcasts
European Leaders Join Zelensky at Trump Meeting CNN This Morning 45 mins Presidents Trump and Zelensky are about to meet again. It got ugly in February. But this time the Ukrainian leader is bringing cover. What would it take for today's White House meeting to actually end in a peace deal? Also on today's show: Three Republican governors are sending their own National Guard troops into Washington, DC ... California's governor unveils a new congressional map designed to add five more seats in the House for Democrats ... Protesters demanding an end to the war in Gaza and return of the hostages clash with police in Israel ... Hurricane Erin intensifies, threatening millions of Americans ... Is the Trump Administration about to light up the cannabis industry?
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
US envoy nears Lebanon-Israel ceasefire that would disarm Hezbollah terror group
Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy to Lebanon, said Monday that his team would discuss a possible ceasefire agreement with Israel, after Beirut endorsed a U.S.-backed plan for the Hezbollah terrorist group to disarm. Barrack, following a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, also said Washington would seek an economic proposal for post-war reconstruction in the country, after months of shuttle diplomacy between the U.S. and Lebanon. Hezbollah, which the U.S. has officially designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization since 1997, remains Iran's most powerful proxy in the region and has been subject to extensive U.S. sanctions. Barrack is also set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri, who often negotiates on behalf of Hezbollah with Washington. "I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They've taken the first step," said Barrack, who is also the U.S. ambassador to Turkey. "Now what we need is for Israel to comply with that equal handshake." Hezbollah drew intensified pressure during President Donald Trump's first term, when Washington revived enforcement actions against its global finance networks, imposed new sanctions and designated it a Transnational Criminal Organization in 2018. In Trump's second term, the administration has broadened these measures. The Treasury Department announced new sanctions on Hezbollah-linked financiers and front companies, including designations in March and July targeting oil smuggling operations, senior officials and the group's financial arm, Al-Qard Al-Hassan. The State Department has also offered up to $10 million for information disrupting Hezbollah's financial networks and reiterated that Hezbollah must not participate in Lebanon's government. Lebanon's decision last week to support a plan to disarm Hezbollah angered the Iran-backed terrorist group and its allies, who believe Israel's military should first withdraw from the five hilltops in southern Lebanon it has held since the end of its 14-month war with Hezbollah last November and stop launching almost daily airstrikes in the country. Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's secretary-general, has vowed to fight efforts to disarm the group, sowing fears of civil unrest in the country. "This is our nation together. We live in dignity together, and we build its sovereignty together – or Lebanon will have no life if you stand on the other side and try to confront us and eliminate us," Qassem said in a televised speech last week, according to Reuters. Salam, Lebanon's prime minister, said Qassem's remarks "carry a veiled threat of civil war, and no one in Lebanon today wants a civil war, and threatening or hinting at it is completely unacceptable." In the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas terrorists, Hezbollah launched rocket strikes and artillery fire against Israel, prompting Israel to respond with airstrikes. About 14 months of cross-border combat ensued, and Israel increasingly carried out precision strikes targeting Hezbollah commanders and leadership. Large-scale fighting has not resumed since Israel and Hezbollah reached a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement in November 2024, though there have been violations. The Israeli military has said the almost-daily airstrikes in southern Lebanon are intended to weaken Hezbollah's network and offset the terrorist group's efforts to reorganize and rearm. Barrack warned Hezbollah that it will have "missed an opportunity" if it does not back the calls for it to disarm. Aoun and Salam both want to disarm Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups, and have demanded Israel halt its attacks and withdraw from the country. Aoun said he wants to increase funding for Lebanon's cash-strapped military to bolster its capacity. He also wants to raise money from international donors to help rebuild the country. The World Bank estimates that Hezbollah and Israel's war in late 2024 cost $11.1 billion in damages and economic losses as large swaths of southern and eastern Lebanon were battered. The country has faced a crippling economic crisis since 2019.
