Latest news with #UNSecurityCouncil.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Putin, Macron discuss Iran, Ukraine in 1st phone call in nearly 3 years
Russian President Vladimir Putin had a "substantial" phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Iran-Israel conflict and Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, the first such exchange between the two leaders since September 2022. France and Russia are both permanent members of the UN Security Council.(AFP) In Paris, Macron's office said the call lasted two hours and that the French leader had called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and the start of negotiations on ending the conflict. A French diplomatic source said Macron had talked to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before and after his call with Putin to brief him on the talks. Macron also talked to US President Donald Trump about the exchange. According to the Kremlin press service, Putin said it was necessary to respect Iran's right to the peaceful development of nuclear energy as well as its continued compliance with its obligations under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. The French president's office said Macron, who sees the Iranian nuclear threat as sufficiently serious to justify the involvement of all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, had also stressed the need for Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran's parliament approved a bill last month to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog, after Israel and the United States bombed Iran's nuclear sites, aiming to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran has denied seeking one. Macron "expressed his determination to seek a diplomatic solution that would lead to a lasting and rigorous resolution of the nuclear issue, the question of Iran's missiles, and its role in the region," his office said, adding that the two leaders had decided to "coordinate" their efforts. France and Russia are both permanent members of the UN Security Council. 'NEW TERRITORIAL REALITIES' On Ukraine, Putin reiterated his position to Macron that the war was "a direct consequence of the West's policy," which he said had "ignored Russia's security interests" over the past few years. Any possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine should have a "comprehensive and long-term character" and be based on "new territorial realities," the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying. Putin has previously said Ukraine must accept Russia's annexation of swaths of its territory as part of any peace deal. Macron has said Ukraine alone should decide on whether or not to accept territorial concessions. During Tuesday's call, Macron's office said, "the president emphasised France's unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." Macron and Putin aim to continue their discussions on Ukraine and Iran, the French president's office said. Macron and Putin held regular discussions around the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which was criticised by some European allies, with Macron also visiting Putin in Russia shortly before the invasion in February 2022.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ukraine captures Chinese nationals fighting for Russia, says Zelensky
Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals who were fighting for the Russian army in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, President Volodymyr Zelensky has Ukrainian president said intelligence suggested the number of Chinese soldiers in Russia's army is "much higher than two".Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Chinese troops fighting on Ukrainian territory "puts into question China's declared stance for peace" and added that their envoy in Kyiv has been summoned for an marks the first official allegation that China is supplying Russia with manpower for its war in Ukraine. There has been no immediate response to the claims from Moscow or Beijing. In a statement on social media platform X, Zelensky said the soldiers were captured in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region with identification documents, including bank cards which had "personal data" on forces fought six Chinese soldiers and took two of them prisoner, he post was accompanied by a video showing one of the alleged Chinese captives in handcuffs, speaking Mandarin Chinese and apparently describing a recent battle."We have information suggesting that there are many more Chinese citizens in the occupier's units than just these two," he said."Russia's involvement of China, along with other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to do anything but end the war," he called for a response "from the United States, Europe, and all those around the world who want peace".An investigation is under way and the captives are currently in the custody of Ukraine's security service, he foreign minister said that he had summoned China's charge d'affaires in Kyiv to "demand an explanation".Writing on X, Andrii Sybiha said: "We strongly condemn Russia's involvement of Chinese citizens in its war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as their participation in combat against Ukrainian forces."He added: "Chinese citizens fighting as part of Russia's invasion army in Ukraine puts into question China's declared stance for peace and undermines Beijing's credibility as a responsible permanent member of the UN Security Council."French newspaper Le Monde has previously reported that it identified around 40 accounts on TikTok's sister app, Douyin - which is only available in China - belonging to Chinese individuals who claim to have signed up with the Russian Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid Russia's war effort against Ukraine, according to Kyiv and Western officials. One of Russia's chief advantages in the war is numbers. There have been reports of Moscow using "meat grinder" tactics to throw huge numbers of soldiers at the front lines and incrementally improve their President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukraine's territory, mostly in the east.
Arab News
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
UN warns of last chance for two-state Israeli-Palestinian solution
UNITED NATIONS: The Middle East is undergoing changes that could represent the last chance for the long-sought goal of a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a UN official said Kaag, the UN envoy for the peace process in the region, also warned against calls for Israel to annex the occupied West Bank.'The Middle East today is undergoing rapid transformation — its scope and impact remain uncertain, but it also presents a historic opportunity,' Kaag told the UN Security Council.'The people of the region can emerge from this period with peace, security, and dignity. However, this may be our last chance to achieve the two-state solution,' said said Israeli settlement building in the West Bank, Israeli military operations in this occupied territory 'and continued calls for annexation, present an existential threat to the prospect of a viable and independent Palestinian State and thereby the two-state solution.'Kaag called on Hamas and Israel to agree on the second phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza war and avoid a resumption of international community must ensure that Gaza — which President Donald Trump wants to put under US control, displacing its entire population — must be part of a future Palestinian state joining it with the West Bank and east Jerusalem, she said.'Palestinian civilians must be able to resume their lives, to rebuild, and to construct their future in Gaza,' said Kaag.
