Latest news with #Moldova
Associated Press
an hour ago
- General
- Associated Press
Key defender Acerbi turns down Italy call-up ahead of World Cup qualifier vs. Haaland's Norway
FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Key center back Francesco Acerbi turned down a call-up to Italy's national team, leaving the Azzurri without the defender who was expected to mark Erling Haaland during a key World Cup qualifier against Norway. Italy coach Luciano Spalletti revealed Sunday that Acerbi called him after playing for Inter Milan in the Champions League final, which was won 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday. 'He sent me a message saying he wasn't going to take part and I responded and then talked to him by phone,' Spalletti said. 'There are players who deserve to be here just as much as he does.' Italy visits Norway on Friday and then hosts Moldova three days later. 'Whether we go to the World Cup or not depends a lot on how we play in Norway,' Spalletti said. 'We all know it.' Italy has failed to qualify for the last two World Cups. Alessandro Buongiorno, another defender, was sent home injured Sunday and replaced by Luca Ranieri of Fiorentina. ___ AP soccer:
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
‘Looks like Munich 1938': Eastern bloc hits out at US sympathy for Putin's anti-Nato demands
The Trump administration's sympathy for Moscow's anti-Nato demands has been likened to Nazi appeasement as parts of the alliance's eastern bloc warn the US is priming non-members for invasion. Top officials from four Eastern European countries have hit out after Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, appeared to support Vladimir Putin's reported demand to have in writing that Nato will not accept any new members from the region. In an interview with US network ABC News, Mr Kellogg described Putin's latest position as a 'fair' one that was likely to include not just Ukraine but also Georgia and Moldova. His comments prompted the Kremlin on Friday to say they were 'glad' that Putin's opposition to Nato was finally 'being met with understanding' from Washington. A senior Lithuanian official, granted anonymity so they could speak freely, told The Independent that any cooperation between Trump and Putin to block nations who are fearful of Russia from joining Nato would be a dangerous repeat of history. 'It looks like Munich, when great powers decide the fate of small ones,' the official said, referencing the 1938 agreement between Adolf Hitler, the UK, France and Italy that ultimately led to Nazi Germany invading Czechoslovakia. The official added that blocking Moldova and Georgia's Nato membership was a signal to Putin that they would not be defended. It also casts doubt on the alliance's independence, the official said. 'Russia is trying to get what they were looking for in 2022, a buffer zone,' the official added. 'But this zone could soon become part of Russia if the Kremlin sees that nobody is defending them.' Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and six years later began its attempted takeover of Ukraine, initially by illegally annexing Crimea. Moscow has also stationed more than a thousand troops in the Moldovan region of Transnistria, sparking fears that Moldova could be the next target for the Kremlin. Olga Rosca, foreign policy advisor to the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, said Russia is already 'violating our neutrality'. When asked by The Independent if Chisinau was concerned about Kellogg's comments and their ability to join Nato being blocked, Rosca said: 'Moldova is a constitutionally neutral country. This is a position made clear both domestically and internationally. 'The only country violating our neutrality is the Russian Federation, which continues to station troops illegally on our sovereign territory, against our will and in defiance of international law.' Estonian president Alar Karis said the country's position on Nato expansion was clear: 'Every country has the right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraine's future is in Nato.' Jan Lipavsky, foreign minister for the Czech Republic, also hit back at Mr Kellogg's comments late last night. 'Nato expansion is in the interest of Russian security,' he wrote on X. 'There is no war where Russia borders Nato countries. There is war elsewhere.' Their commentary comes ahead of the next round of direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, which the former has proposed takes place in Istanbul next week. However, Ukraine has accused its invader of failing to present a promised draft peace plan ahead of further talks. Mr Kellogg said that the national security advisors of the UK, Germany and France would all attend the talks, however the Starmer government has not yet confirmed this. Russian foreign minister said this week Moscow's key demands included Ukrainian neutrality. European officials have long cautioned that the Russian suggestion that Nato is expanding aggressively eastward is propaganda aimed at justifying its imperialistic ambitions. Putin's attacks on Georgia and Ukraine in 2008 and 2014 came well before either country had serious chances of joining Nato, and the Russian leader's pre-invasion speech in February 2022 made little mention of Kyiv's Nato membership hopes. In March, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha rejected restrictions on joining international alliances and organisations as part of a potential peace deal. Ukraine applied for Nato membership in September 2022, months after Putin ordered the full-scale invasion. The country has not received a formal invitation, as the 32 members have struggled to reach a consensus. While Nato membership looks unlikely in the short term, Kyiv has been clear that if it is left without any security guarantees against Russia, they are at a serious risk of future Kremlin aggression. Moldova does not currently support Nato membership but has been working closely with the alliance for several decades. Last year, a declaration issued at the Nato summit in Washington called on Russia to withdraw all its forces from Moldova.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Russia's concern over NATO's expansion is FAIR, Donald Trump's envoy to Ukraine says
In a startling intervention, Donald Trump 's envoy to the Ukraine has declared that Russia 's long-standing gripes over NATO expansion are fair. Asked by ABC News about a Reuters report that Russia wanted a written pledge over NATO not enlarging eastwards to include Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, retired Keith Kellogg said: 'It's a fair concern.' 'We've said that to us, Ukraine coming into NATO is not on the table, and we're not the only country that says that'. The comment is likely to spark debate, especially among European allies deeply rattled by Moscow 's aggression. Kellogg also claimed that 'four other countries' within NATO also oppose Ukraine's membership, a pointed reference to the alliance's strict rule requiring unanimous approval from all 32 member nations before admitting a new country. The scope of Russia's anxiety doesn't end with Ukraine. 'They're not just talking Ukraine, they're talking the country of Georgia, they're talking Moldova,' Kellogg said. The key Trump confidant and former National Security Adviser added the future of NATO enlargement ultimately rests with Trump. Amid an ongoing diplomatic push to end the bloodshed, Kellogg confirmed that the US is preparing to sit down for peace talks in Istanbul next week, alongside advisers from Germany, France, and the UK. The plan is to merge separate the two memorandums drafted by Ukraine and Russia into a single document. 'When we get into Istanbul next week we'll sit down and talk,' Kellogg confirmed, setting the stage for the high-stakes negotiations. Kellogg said Trump was 'frustrated' with Russia because he had seen 'a level of unreasonableness' from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He scolded Russia for striking Ukrainian cities and said he had told Ukraine to turn up to talks. A conservative estimate of dead and injured in the Ukraine war - from both sides combined - totals 1.2 million, Kellogg said. 'That is a stunning number - this is war on an industrial scale,' Kellogg told ABC. It comes as David Petraeus, a respected former US general and CIA chief, warned that Putin will invade a NATO country if he succeeds in Ukraine. He said Russia could launch an incursion into that Baltic state to test Western resolve or as a precursor to a wider offensive. Mr Petraeus, who headed the CIA after a stellar military career, also criticised US President Donald Trump for repeatedly granting second chances to Putin and took aim at predecessor Joe Biden for failures to adequately arm Ukrainian forces. The CIA chief who led tens of thousands of US, British and other nationality troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan, also called on the UK to withdraw from international accords forbidding the use of cluster munitions on the battlefield. He said that these weapons could prove an essential deterrent. Mr Petraeus stated that Russia's aim was to topple president Volodymyr Zelensky in order to 'install a puppet leader and to control all of Ukraine'. He added: 'Once that's done, you are going to see them focus on one of the Baltic states.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE flights: flydubai expands Europe network with 4 new destinations
Dubai-based carrier flydubai continues to grow its network with the launch of flights to four new destinations on Wednesday. From September this year, flydubai will start flights to Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, and Iași, the third largest city in Romania. From December 2025, the airline will also start flying to Riga, Latvia's capital, and Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania The new destinations will expand flydubai's network to 35 destinations across 20 countries in Europe alone. Flydubai will also become the first UAE carrier to offer direct flights between Dubai and Iași International Airport (IAS) in Romania. 'The expansion of our network reflects our unwavering commitment to opening up underserved markets and stimulating free flows of trade and tourism, and we are pleased to see this happen with the launch of our latest destinations in Europe,' noted flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith. Flydubai's first entry into the Baltic region – with direct services to Riga International Airport (RIX) in Latvia and Vilnius International Airport (VNO) in Lithuania – increases its network to more than 100 destinations. 'Today (May 28), we have built a diverse network of more than 135 destinations, 75 per cent of which are underserved routes from Dubai. With our new services to Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, we look forward to strengthening the UAE's trade and cultural links and supporting Dubai's position as an international aviation hub,' Al Ghaith underlined. Two weekly flights to Chișinău and Iași will operate from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB); while three weekly flights to Vilnius and Riga will depart from Terminal 3. Meanwhile, Emirates will codeshare on all four routes to offer passengers more options for connections through Dubai's international aviation hub. Flights are available to book on flydubai website and app, through its contact centre at (+971) 600 54 44 45, or through travel partners.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Italy recall Acerbi for World Cup qualifiers against Norway, Moldova
May 26 (Reuters) - Italy recalled Francesco Acerbi to their squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Moldova on Monday, with Davide Zappacosta and Riccardo Orsolini also receiving call-ups. Defender Acerbi, who last played for Italy in a 0-0 draw with Ukraine in November 2023, has been a key player for Inter Milan in their run to the Champions League final this year. The 37-year-old will be tasked with stopping striker Erling Haaland from scoring when Italy face Norway, a feat he has achieved twice before in Inter's last two Champions League meetings with Manchester City. Atalanta's Zappacosta also returns for the first time since 2021, while Orsolini, who scored 17 goals for Bologna and inspired them to victory in the Coppa Italia, is back in coach Luciano Spalletti's plans. The attacker was included in the provisional list for last year's European Championship, but has not featured since being cut from the final squad for the tournament. Italy, who last qualified for the World Cup in 2014, are in Group I alongside Norway, Estonia, Israel and Moldova. The four-times World Cup winners travel to Oslo to play Norway on June 6 before hosting Moldova in Reggio Emilia three days later. Squad: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alex Meret, Guglielmo Vicario Defenders: Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Alessandro Buongiorno, Andrea Cambiaso, Diego Coppola, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Federico Dimarco, Matteo Gabbia, Federico Gatti, Destiny Udogie, Davide Zappacosta. Midfielders: Nicolo Barella, Cesare Casadei, Davide Frattesi, Manuel Locatelli, Samuele Ricci, Nicolo Rovella, Sandro Tonali. Forwards: Moise Kean, Lorenzo Lucca, Daniel Maldini, Riccardo Orsolini, Giacomo Raspadori, Mateo Retegui.
