Latest news with #foreignMinistry
Fox News
2 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Russia, China, North Korea condemn Trump's $175 billion Golden Dome missile shield
The U.S.'s chief adversaries, Russia, North Korea and China, all of which are nuclear-armed nations, have condemned President Donald Trump's space-based defensive plan he dubbed the "Golden Dome" as "dangerous" and a threat to global stability. The president discussed his $175 billion plan, which will use satellites and other technologies to detect and intercept a missile strike "even if they are launched from other sides of the world," Trump said last week. The defensive plan, though it is believed to be years away before being fully operational despite Trump's three-year goal mark, sparked stiff backlash from the U.S.'s top competitors, who took direct aim at what they called Trump's "arrogance." North Korea's foreign ministry, whose leader shared an uncommonly cordial relationship with Trump during his first term, called it the equivalent of an "outer space nuclear war scenario" that supports the administration's strategy for "uni-polar domination." According to local media outlets, the ministry on Tuesday said it was a "typical product of 'America first', the height of self-righteousness, arrogance, high-handed and arbitrary practice." The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News' Digital's questions regarding the reactions to the plan, intended to resemble Israel's "Iron Dome" defensive capability. But the North Korean foreign ministry claimed the defensive strategy was actually an "attempt to militarize outer space" and "preemptively attain military superiority in an all-round way." Similarly, on Tuesday, Russian foreign minister Maria Zakharova said the strategy would undermine the basis of strategic stability by creating a global missile defense system, reported Reuters. But her comments were not the first time Moscow aligned its condemnation of the "Golden Dome" as it issued a joint statement with China earlier this month after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for formal talks in Russia. The duo called the plan "deeply destabilizing" and claimed it erodes the "inseparable interrelationship between strategic offensive arms and strategic defensive arms." They also argued that it would turn "outer space into an environment for placing weapons and an arena for armed confrontation." Russia has remained relatively muted in its response following Trump's Oval Office discussion on the Golden Dome, which came just two days after Trump held a two-hour phone call with Putin. But China reiterated its objection to the plan, and following Trump's announcement on it, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said last week, "The project will heighten the risk of turning space into a war zone and creating a space arms race, and shake the international security and arms control system." Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has rejected the claims that the plan could be viewed as an "offensive" strategy and told Fox News Digital, "All we care about is protecting the homeland."
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine ramps up calls for ‘pressure' on Russia as talks end with no ceasefire
Russia and Ukraine's first direct talks in three years began Friday with hopes as dim as the gray Istanbul skies. And while the weather brightened as the talks went on, the prospects for peace did not. In the end a large prisoner swap (one of many in this war) and two discussion topics for future talks – a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, and the contours of a ceasefire – were the only deliverables, as the press pack at Istanbul's Dolmabahçe Palace thinned out and the sun sank over the Bosphorus. The issue of a ceasefire is where the intractable differences are clearest. Russia, by proposing these talks last weekend, had managed to sidestep an ultimatum from Ukraine and its allies to sign up to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face major new sanctions. Ukraine, meanwhile, was 'ready to have a ceasefire agreed today,' Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesman, Heorhii Tykhyi, told reporters in a hastily arranged briefing late Friday afternoon, suggesting this wasn't achievable because Russia's low-level delegation 'probably has (a) limited mandate.' Yet that is not the only obstacle. Russia's delegation made clear Friday, a Turkish official told CNN, that an unconditional ceasefire was not on the table, and if Ukraine wanted the guns to fall silent it would have to withdraw from territory Russia does not yet occupy in the four regions (Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson) that Russia attempted to illegally annex in 2022. Not a new demand, but one which is both unacceptable to Kyiv and led US Vice President JD Vance to state earlier this month that Russia was 'asking for too much' in its requirements to end the war. As the diplomatic cars slipped through Istanbul's crowded streets, US frustration seemed to mount. After US officials met with both sides soon before their direct talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio left Istanbul with a scathing assessment of their prospects. 'We came because we were told that there might be a direct engagement between the Russians and the Ukrainians; that was originally the plan,' he told reporters. 'That was not to be the case, or, if it is, it's not at the levels we had hoped it would be at.' And so, the Ukrainian side moved quickly to control the narrative. Barely had the delegations emerged in Istanbul before Zelensky, at a summit in Albania, convened a call with US President Donald Trump and key European allies. 'Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps to bring real peace,' Zelensky wrote on social media after the call. But he also made it clear that it was not just Ukraine that must act, adding 'if the Russians reject a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings, tough sanctions must follow.' Ukrainian officials in Istanbul took a similar tone. 'The tentative success of today's negotiations is still to be consolidated,' First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya told reporters later in the afternoon. 'That means that the pressure on the Russian Federation must continue.' There was also a clear effort to emphasize the positives. 'If we managed to agree on 1,000 for 1,000 exchange we think this was already worth it' said Tykhyi, the foreign ministry spokesman, referring to an agreed prisoner swap. 'This is a great achievement by the Ukrainian delegation.' Yet in a week where Russia has again rejected a ceasefire, ignored calls to send top-level officials to talks, and come to the table with demands that the US has already deemed unacceptable, there is still no sign of increased pressure from the US. Instead, Trump promised Friday to meet with Putin 'as soon as we can set it up,' having previously claimed 'nothing's going to happen (on Ukraine) until Putin and I get together.' And so, the official Russian assessment from its chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, kept it simple. 'We are satisfied with the outcome and ready to continue our contacts.'
CNN
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Ukraine ramps up calls for ‘pressure' on Russia as talks end with no ceasefire
Russia and Ukraine's first direct talks in three years began Friday with hopes as dim as the gray Istanbul skies. And while the weather brightened as the talks went on, the prospects for peace did not. In the end a large prisoner swap (one of many in this war) and two discussion topics for future talks – a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, and the contours of a ceasefire – were the only deliverables, as the press pack at Istanbul's Dolmabahçe Palace thinned out and the sun sank over the Bosphorus. The issue of a ceasefire is where the intractable differences are clearest. Russia, by proposing these talks last weekend, had managed to sidestep an ultimatum from Ukraine and its allies to sign up to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face major new sanctions. Ukraine, meanwhile, was 'ready to have a ceasefire agreed today,' Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesman, Heorhii Tykhyi, told reporters in a hastily arranged briefing late Friday afternoon, suggesting this wasn't achievable because Russia's low-level delegation 'probably has (a) limited mandate.' Yet that is not the only obstacle. Russia's delegation made clear Friday, a Turkish official told CNN, that an unconditional ceasefire was not on the table, and if Ukraine wanted the guns to fall silent it would have to withdraw from territory Russia does not yet occupy in the four regions (Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson) that Russia attempted to illegally annex in 2022. Not a new demand, but one which is both unacceptable to Kyiv and led US Vice President JD Vance to state earlier this month that Russia was 'asking for too much' in its requirements to end the war. As the diplomatic cars slipped through Istanbul's crowded streets, US frustration seemed to mount. After US officials met with both sides soon before their direct talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio left Istanbul with a scathing assessment of their prospects. 'We came because we were told that there might be a direct engagement between the Russians and the Ukrainians; that was originally the plan,' he told reporters. 'That was not to be the case, or, if it is, it's not at the levels we had hoped it would be at.' And so, the Ukrainian side moved quickly to control the narrative. Barely had the delegations emerged in Istanbul before Zelensky, at a summit in Albania, convened a call with US President Donald Trump and key European allies. 'Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps to bring real peace,' Zelensky wrote on social media after the call. But he also made it clear that it was not just Ukraine that must act, adding 'if the Russians reject a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings, tough sanctions must follow.' Ukrainian officials in Istanbul took a similar tone. 'The tentative success of today's negotiations is still to be consolidated,' First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya told reporters later in the afternoon. 'That means that the pressure on the Russian Federation must continue.' There was also a clear effort to emphasize the positives. 'If we managed to agree on 1,000 for 1,000 exchange we think this was already worth it' said Tykhyi, the foreign ministry spokesman, referring to an agreed prisoner swap. 'This is a great achievement by the Ukrainian delegation.' Yet in a week where Russia has again rejected a ceasefire, ignored calls to send top-level officials to talks, and come to the table with demands that the US has already deemed unacceptable, there is still no sign of increased pressure from the US. Instead, Trump promised Friday to meet with Putin 'as soon as we can set it up,' having previously claimed 'nothing's going to happen (on Ukraine) until Putin and I get together.' And so, the official Russian assessment from its chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, kept it simple. 'We are satisfied with the outcome and ready to continue our contacts.'
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China expands visa-free travel to 5 Latin American nations after summit with regional bloc
China is expanding visa-free travel to five South American countries, the foreign ministry said on Thursday. Advertisement Starting from June 1, citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay will be allowed to enter China without a visa and stay for up to 30 days for purposes such as tourism, family visits or business. The arrangements will be in force for one year. 'China will continue to pursue high-level opening-up and introduce more measures to further facilitate cross-border exchanges,' foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. 'We also welcome more foreign friends to make full use of visa-free entry and streamlined visa policies – and to come to China to explore and see more, and experience the vibrancy, diversity and warmth of the country.' The announcement followed a meeting of leaders from China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) in Beijing on Tuesday, where President Xi Jinping had pledged to expand visa-free access without naming the states in question. Advertisement Xi described the visa exemptions as a 'first step', pledging to expand the policy in the region 'at proper time'. In recent years Beijing has been increasing its economic and political cooperation with the 33-member bloc in an effort to challenge US influence in the region.
Reuters
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Portugal police arrest crime ring over fraudulent permits for 10,000 foreigners
LISBON, May 8 (Reuters) - Portuguese police have arrested 13 people they believe provided an estimated more than 10,000 foreigners with residence permits and documents allowing them to stay in Portugal and the European Union in exchange for bribes, police said on Thursday. A spokesperson for the Judicial Police force said the bribes paid to the group, which included a foreign ministry employee, a lawyer and several entrepreneurs, averaged 15,000 euros ($16,950) per person. The foreigners paid to obtain bogus labour contracts that allowed them to stay in the country and then get residence permits, open bank accounts and access the social security system. Many of them have since left for other EU member states, police said. Portugal's centre-right government has toughened some immigration rules in the past year, reflecting attempts elsewhere in Europe to fend off the rise of the far-right, and on Saturday vowed to deport 18,000 illegal migrants in the coming months. It was not immediately clear if those who benefited from the illegal scheme counted among those. Still, the country remains relatively open to migrants, particularly from Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa and from Brazil. Many experts argue that growing immigration has stoked economic growth. While anti-immigration sentiment is expected to play a role in an early election on May 18, far-right party Chega has been steady or declining in opinion polls after a surge in the previous election last year. The centre-right Democratic Alliance of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro looks set to win the most votes. ($1 = 0.8850 euros)
