Latest news with #peace
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Trump tells Zelensky not to attack Moscow
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he told Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky not to target Moscow with military strikes. The statement comes in response to media speculation that he had encouraged Kiev to carry out long-range missile attacks deep into Russia. The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Trump had privately asked Zelensky whether he could hit Moscow and St. Petersburg if Washington supplied long-range weapons. Zelensky reportedly replied that he could. Asked by reporters whether Zelensky ought to fire missiles at Russia's capital, Trump replied 'No, he shouldn't target Moscow.' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused the FT of twisting the president's words, saying it is 'notorious for taking words wildly out of context to get clicks because their paper is dying.' Leavitt insisted that Trump was 'merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing,' stressing that the president was 'working tirelessly to stop the killing and end this war.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also weighed in on the report, noting that 'as a rule, all of this usually turns out to be fake.' He added, however, that 'sometimes there are indeed serious leaks, even in publications we once considered quite respectable.' The FT report followed on Trump's ultimatum to Moscow, in which he threatened to impose 'severe' secondary tariffs on Russia's trade partners if no progress towards peace is made within 50 days. Trump also announced future deliveries of advanced weapons systems to Ukraine, which are to be funded by European NATO members. Since taking office in January, Trump has maintained that he wants the neighboring countries to make peace and has had several phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin that were focused on settling the conflict. Moscow says it remains open to negotiating with Kiev but has yet to receive a response on when new peace talks will take place. The two sides have held two rounds of direct negotiations in Istanbul so far this year, but no breakthroughs were achieved, other than agreements to carry out large-scale prisoner exchanges. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday that EU and NATO leaders have put Trump under 'improper pressure' to adopt a hardline stance on the conflict.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Is New Caledonia's agreement, championed by Macron, a 'new chapter' or a 'betrayal'?
By Doug Dingwall , Jordan Fennell and Johnson Raela , ABC with wires French officials met with New Caledonian representatives in Paris to negotiate an agreement on the territory's status. Photo: AP French President Emmanuel Macron hailed it a historic "new chapter" for New Caledonia, bringing a peaceful end to devastating turmoil that has rocked the Pacific territory. Leaders from New Caledonia, one of Australia's closest neighbours, emerged from marathon talks near Paris on Saturday with a proposal aiming to settle its recent conflict over the question of independence from France. The deal would create a "state of New Caledonia" within France, and a New Caledonian nationality. Emmanuel Macron says he hopes the new chapter will bring peace to New Caledonia. Photo: Reuters / Tom Nicholson Macron called it a "bet on trust", leading to a "peaceful relationship with France". But the draft agreement stops short of granting independence from France, and involves significant compromises from parties on each side of the debate. Observers say regardless of Macron's enthusiasm, the deal faces a long and uncertain path before it can take effect. They also say the proposal has no clear parallels, and will need explaining to the New Caledonian public, set to vote on it in a February referendum. So, how did it get to this point, how would the agreement work, and what needs to happen for it to take effect? Pro- and anti-independence groups, along with French officials, were locked in negotiations for 10 days. They were tasked with reaching a deal settling New Caledonia's future relationship with France. Ever since a majority of New Caledonians rejected independence from France in three referendums - including in a controversial third vote boycotted by pro-independence groups - leaders had not been able to agree on the way forward. Finally, parties resumed talks in February, a milestone that was lauded as an achievement in itself after tensions spilled over into violent unrest last year. Manuel Valls succeeded in bringing pro- and anti-independence groups back together. Photo: AFP / Delphine Mayeur But progress was initially slow, and despite efforts from France's Overseas Minister Manuel Valls to encourage compromise, early talks in New Caledonia didn't lead to an agreement. The discussions then shifted to Bougival, near Paris, this month when Macron convened and parties tried again. Again, it appeared there would be no breakthrough, according to Denise Fisher, former Australian consul-general in New Caledonia. "It looked like everything was just going sour," she said. The talks changed course on Friday afternoon, when pro-independence leaders consulted with their political bureau until the early hours of the morning, before meeting with Valls at 1am. When he convened the rest of the group at 6am on Saturday, a draft agreement was made. That evening, the parties announced the accord in a gilded hall at the Élysée presidential palace in Paris. The 13-page agreement calls for a "state of Caledonia" within the French Republic, which would be enshrined in France's constitution and could be recognised by other nations. It would also establish a "Caledonian nationality", letting residents combine that status with French nationality. The deal calls for an economic and financial recovery pact that would include a renewal of the territory's nickel processing capabilities. A special congress will be held to finalise next steps, which could include more sovereignty for New Caledonia over issues of international affairs, security and justice, according to excerpts published by New Caledonia's public broadcaster. The accord could also eventually allow New Caledonians to change the territory's name, flag and hymn. But it doesn't grant independence to New Caledonia, whose status as a "state" would be inscribed within French laws. While it would give it some measure of autonomy over its foreign affairs, these would have limits stopping it from clashing with France's interests overseas, experts say. One potential clash could be the destination of its vast nickel reserves - which New Caledonia might want to sell within the region, but that France wants to stay within the European Union, Pacific journalist Nic Maclellan said. And under the agreement New Caledonia residents will, in the future, be allowed to vote after living 10 years in the archipelago - one of the primary issues that ignited the territory's civil unrest last year. France still has territories across the Pacific, giving it access to resources like nickel. Photo: ABC News / Jarrod Fankhauser It would differ from deals between other Pacific nations and their former colonial rulers, such as the "free association" agreement that gives Cook Islands broader power over its affairs from New Zealand. But it remained unclear how the arrangement - creating a state within a nation state - would work, Mr Maclellan said. He said there was no clear parallel elsewhere. "There's absolutely no precedent in French law - and this whole deal is framed in French law," he said. Macron - and the parties striking the deal - have been eager to promote it. Valls described it as "intelligent compromise". Emmanuel Tjibaou, New Caledonia's pro-independence member of the French National Assembly and son of the late independence movement leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, said the accord would help "us get out of the spiral of violence". Emmanuel Tjibaou says the proposal negotiated in France will help end violence in New Caledonia. Photo: AFP / Delphine Mayeur He described a ''difficult path'' ahead but one that would allow Kanaks and other Caledonians to move forward together while mending divisions. On the anti-independence side, politician Nicolas Metzdorf called it a compromise born of "demanding dialogue", and described the Caledonian nationality as a "real concession''. In Paris, the proposal will need support from France's National Assembly, which will vote on enshrining the changes in the constitution. And, it will need to pass a referendum in New Caledonia, where the proposal has already met backlash from some quarters. Anti-independence groups have long voiced their opposition to splitting New Caledonia from France. Photo: AFP / Theo Rouby Those who signed the draft agreement admitted during a meeting with Macron on Saturday evening that they were struggling to win over opponents of the deal. New Caledonian journalist Brigitte Whaap said while members of the public were relieved there had been progress and an agreement was proposed, some members of the pro- and anti-independence groups felt differently. "They are the ones who are feeling the most sensitive to it," she said. "They're feeling betrayed, really upset about this situation." Philippe Blaise, the anti-independence first vice-president of Southern Province government, said the agreement "crossed a red line" by recognising a "Caledonian state" and a "distinct nationality", which he said was incompatible with French unity. The draft agreement will need the backing of pro-independence supporters within New Caledonia. Photo: AFP / Delphine Mayeur Some pro-independence activists also took to social media to condemn the deal. Brenda Wanabo-Ipeze, a leader of the pro-independence group CCAT, currently incarcerated in France, said: "This text was signed without us. It does not bind us." Melanie Atapo, president of the pro-independence USTKE union, which represents Kanak people, said she was "surprised" by the agreement and that the signatories should "come back to share with the bases before signing". Joel Kasarerhou, president of civil society group Construire Autrement (Build Differently), called the agreement "stillborn", describing it as "lacking ambition and vision". Kasarerhou said the youth at the heart of the May 2024 uprising had been "forgotten or barely mentioned". He feared another "May 13" - the date the 2024 riots began. The pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) said in a statement on Monday that the agreement included "major advances towards the objective of bringing together, over time, all the elements of sovereignty". "At a difficult time for our country, marked by a deep political, economic and social crisis, we, the group mandated by FLNKS have assumed responsibility," it said. "All the elements set out in the draft agreement will be submitted to our structures for approval, with a view to a collective debate on the next steps to be taken, and to informing the public." Maclellan said political leaders now had to return from Paris and sell the agreement to the public. "To ordinary New Caledonians, there's going to be a lot of questions." -ABC/AFP
Russia Today
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine derailing peace talks
Kiev is derailing peace efforts by rejecting the Istanbul negotiations format, which Moscow still considers viable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. The sides have met for two rounds of direct negotiations in Türkiye this year, rebooting talks that Kiev unilaterally abandoned in 2022 to pursue military victory with Western assistance. At their most recent meeting in June, the delegates exchanged draft proposals outlining visions for a potential peace deal and agreed on further prisoner exchanges. Moscow has since repeatedly confirmed its readiness to continue the negotiations. Speaking at a press briefing following an SCO session in Tianjin, Lavrov rejected Kiev's recent claims that the Istanbul format was limited to humanitarian issues and had exhausted itself. He said such statements reflect a refusal to negotiate and a 'disregard for their own citizens,' recalling Kiev's obstruction of efforts to return the bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers. Moscow proposed holding a third round of talks but has received no response from Kiev. Lavrov noted that Ukraine's delegation is now being reshuffled, with outgoing Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who headed Kiev's team in Istanbul, reportedly set to become ambassador to the US. According to Lavrov, the 2022 Istanbul agreements proved that, despite holding opposing positions, it was possible to agree on settlement principles. However, the UK instructed Kiev not to sign the draft, likely with US backing, effectively bringing diplomatic momentum to a halt. Western countries have instead intensified their military support for Ukraine, supplying long-range weapons with the explicit goal of striking Russian territory and scuttling any prospects for negotiations. Commenting on calls from Kiev and its Western sponsors for an unconditional ceasefire, Lavrov warned that Ukraine could use the pause to regroup and rearm. Moscow has outlined conditions for a truce in its draft memorandum: Ukraine must either pull troops out of Russian territories that Kiev claims or suspend its conscription campaign and receipt of Western arms deliveries. Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia's military operation would continue in line with the president's approved plan, which is aimed at securing the country's national interests and protecting Russians and the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine.
Al Mayadeen
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Trump could bring Netanyahu, Syria's al-Sharaa to normalization talks
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, a senior American Jewish leader who recently met with Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa, suggested that a direct meeting between Syrian and Israeli leaders could materialize if facilitated by US President Donald Trump. Speaking to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), Cooper said, 'I think the only way that would be a quick way is if someone named Donald Trump calls two people, the Israeli prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) and the Syrian president, to come to Washington and sit for a few hours.' 'That could change the picture,' he stated. He added that Trump's continued involvement and promise to help 'rehabilitate' Syria would be essential for any breakthrough. 'Without that, it will go slowly, step by step,' he noted. Cooper confirmed that Syria's new president, whom he described as an 'Islamist,' had nevertheless voiced a vision of national unity and equal rights. 'Sharaa speaks about a future for his country that includes a united Syria with one army and equal rights. If he can do this, this will change the rules of the game,' he said. Read more: 'Israel' in direct, daily contact with new Syrian gov.: Israeli media According to Israeli media outlets, Rabbi Cooper's visit to Damascus included the presentation of several proposals for cooperation between Syria and the Israeli occupation in key sectors such as water management, agriculture, and the issue of missing persons. In a symbolic gesture, Cooper reportedly thanked al-Sharaa for his government's assistance in recovering part of the intelligence archive of infamous Mossad spy Eli Cohen, who was captured and executed in Syria in 1965. Cooper is said to have also requested help in locating Cohen's remains for burial in the occupied territories. Israeli outlets further revealed that al-Sharaa expressed interest in restoring Jewish synagogues and heritage sites in Syria, and did not rule out the possibility of future Jewish pilgrimages to Syrian territory 'at the appropriate time.' While Damascus' overtures are framed by some as diplomatic pragmatism, it is worth noting that they take place even as 'Israel' continues to occupy Syria's Golan Heights, expands its military presence in southern Syria, and carries out regular airstrikes on Syrian territory. Read more: Syrians reject Israeli 'aid' in Quneitra countryside amid IOF raids
Al Mayadeen
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Hamas gives positive response to US-mediated Gaza ceasefire: Reuters
Hamas has submitted a constructive reply to a recently updated ceasefire proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt, signaling the potential for a ceasefire that could end nearly two years of Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian official close to the negotiations confirmed to Reuters that the movement's response was "positive" and could "facilitate reaching a deal." The response follows the unveiling of what US President Donald Trump labeled a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire, an initiative reportedly rooted in the Witkoff Plan and coordinated with Qatar, Egypt, and the US administration. According to Israeli reports, the deal includes phased Israeli military withdrawals, the release of captives and bodies, and a framework for extended negotiations toward a permanent agreement. While "Israel" has not pledged to end its war on Gaza, it has reportedly expressed conditional approval to resume dialogue beyond the initial truce period. Yet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained silent, even as pressure mounts from the international community over his government's ongoing destruction of Gaza's infrastructure and refusal to commit to a full ceasefire. "We have handed the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, our response to the ceasefire proposal," a Hamas official told Reuters. "The Hamas response is positive and I think it should help and facilitate reaching a deal," added another official involved in the talks. The proposed ceasefire would see a phased release of captives held by the resistance, beginning with 8 live captives on the first day and additional releases on days 50 and 60, alongside the return of 18 bodies. In exchange, "Israel" would begin withdrawing its forces from northern and southern Gaza under UN and Red Crescent oversight. Technical teams would work on boundary demarcations, while humanitarian aid would begin flowing immediately. Longer-term arrangements, set to begin on day one of the truce, include defining terms for further prisoner exchanges, negotiating a permanent ceasefire, determining Gaza's future security framework, and establishing international guarantees. Mediators would ensure compliance and could extend the truce if substantial progress is made. Crucially, Hamas has demanded that any agreement must include an end to Israeli aggression, a full military withdrawal from Gaza, and unobstructed humanitarian access, objectives it has described as necessary for justice and Palestinian self-determination. Hamas announced it has completed internal consultations as well as discussions with other Palestinian factions regarding the latest ceasefire proposal from international mediators. The group confirmed that it has submitted its official response, which it described as positive, to the mediators involved. According to the statement, Hamas is ready to immediately engage in serious negotiations on the implementation mechanism of the proposed framework aimed at ending Israeli aggression on Gaza. President Trump confirmed on Friday that the US is waiting for final responses. "We hope it's going to happen," he said. "We want to get the hostages out." Trump is expected to meet Netanyahu in Washington on Monday, though it remains unclear whether the Israeli leadership will endorse the terms, particularly as it continues to demand Hamas's disarmament—an unrealistic condition according to Palestinian officials, given the siege and occupation. Hamas, for its part, has maintained that it is ready to negotiate in good faith and has held internal consultations to ensure its response reflects Palestinian national priorities. "Our goal is to secure an agreement that ends the aggression, ensures the occupation's withdrawal, and delivers urgent humanitarian aid to our people," the movement stated. Read more: Palestinian resistance launch deadly ambushes against Israeli forces As Gaza faces unspeakable devastation and the death toll continues to climb, Hamas's response marks a potential opening—one rooted in a strategic attempt to secure justice and relief for a besieged population.
