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Europe
European Commission
24.02.2025 'There can be no other solution other than a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the EU foreign policy chief Kallas said today’. Speaking at joint news conference after a meeting of EU-Israel Association Council, she said: We support the Palestinian Authority and its return to Gaza. We support the return of every displaced Palestinian for whom Gaza is their home. She added: When the time comes, the EU will also support Gaza's reconstruction, together with the regional actors. Palestinians must be able to live in Gaza /Photo/ (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
February 24, 2025 European Union’s foreign policy chief Kallas insisted today that the U.S. cannot seal any peace deal to end the war with Putin 'without Ukraine or Europe being involved'. The EU’s top diplomat also highlighted what she claimed were 'pro-Russian positions being taken up by the Trump administration'. ’You can discuss whatever you want with Putin. But if it comes to Europe or Ukraine, then Ukraine and Europe also have to agree to this deal,’ Kallas told reporters in Brussels, where she is chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers. Kallas travels to Washington tomorrow for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio. In terms of the U.S. message, she said it was ’clear that the Russian narrative is there very strongly represented.’ Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Witkoff, notably suggested yesterday that Russia was "provoked" ahead of the Ukraine invasion by increasing talks of Kyiv joining NATO. Putin’s spokesperson, Peskov, said Russia does not see any way to resume ’dialogue with Europe’ after the European Union adopted its 16th round of sanctions against Russia on the third anniversary of the invasion. The measures include targeting Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet" of ships that it exploits to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and gas, or to carry Ukrainian grain. The EU said 74 vessels were added to its list. EU foreign policy chief Kallas said the new sanctions also target ’those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, videogame controllers used to pilot drones, banks used to circumvent our sanctions, and propaganda outlets used to spout lies.’ Asset freezes and travel bans were imposed on 83 officials and entities. More than 2,300 officials and entities have been hit since the invasion began. By adding new sanctions, European nations appear to be convinced that the war should continue, Peskov said. This stands in contrast with searching for ways to resolve "the conflict around Ukraine which is what we are currently doing with the Americans," Peskov said. Speaking about Russia’s changing relationship with the U.S., Peskov welcomed "attempts by Washington to really understand what was the root cause of this conflict." The U.N. General Assembly, meanwhile, is expected to vote today on dueling resolutions: Ukraine’s European-backed proposal demanding 'an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from the country' and a U.S. call for a swift end to the war that never mentions Moscow’s aggression. (Source: Fox News; „The Associated Press contributed to this report” = U.S.).
European Union
February 24, 2025, Monday Billions in new military aid pledged for Ukraine by European and NATO partners. Today, EU foreign ministers convened to discuss the provision of additional military aid to Ukraine, with the potential package amounting to as much as €30 billion. The final figure has not yet been determined. EU leaders are set to deliberate on the matter next week. Due to opposition from some member states, including Hungary, the aid is likely to be structured through individual state contributions rather than an official EU-wide package. During the Support Ukraine forum in Kyiv, Canada has committed additional military aid to Ukraine, including 25 LAV-3 infantry fighting vehicles and four F-16 fighter jet simulators. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that this aid would be supplemented with additional ammunition, equipment, and medical supplies. Canada will also transfer the first installment of its US billion aid package, funded by proceeds from frozen Russian assets. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, attended the anniversary events in Kyiv alongside EU and European leaders. Denmark announced a new - approximately €268 million (2 billion Danish kroner) - aid package for Ukraine, used for ammunition supplies and the development of a brigade-sized Ukrainian force in cooperation with Nordic and Baltic countries. Denmark has pledged 405 million Danish kroner (approximately .8 million) for humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts. Finland has committed €4.5 million to the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU) for 2025-2027, supporting infrastructure reconstruction and basic services. Norway will provide 12.5 billion Norwegian kroner (.1 billion) for humanitarian and energy security support. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was announcing a €1 billion aid package for Kiev. He emphasized Spain's commitment to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts. Spain and Ukraine would collaborate on supporting the Ukrainian diaspora. Sánchez reaffirmed Spain's support for Ukraine's EU accession. Sweden will contribute 1.2 billion Swedish kroner (3 million) for air defence systems as part of a broader .2 billion aid package. From the European Union, Ukraine is set to receive a €3.5 billion financial aid payment in March. European Commission President der Leyen emphasized Europe’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine during this critical time. She ’noted that the EU and its member states have provided a total of €134 billion in support to Ukraine', ’more than any other international partner’. "Reports indicate that the EU continues to spend more on Russian oil and gas than on financial aid to Ukraine, purchased €22 billion worth of fossil fuels from Russia in 2024, surpassing the €19 billion allocated to Kyiv". Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) and the Kiel Institute for World Economics (IfW Kiel) reveal that the continent remains a significant buyer. Russia continues to circumvent sanctions through shadow tanker fleets, with up to half of its tax revenues stemming from oil and gas sales. To address this issue, the EU is actively seeking ’alternative energy sources’, including increased imports from the United States. Meanwhile, Russia’s oil and gas revenue surged by 41% in the first half of 2024, reaching .12 billion, driven by rising oil prices and a depreciating rouble. (Sources: Novinite – Bulgaria; "Radio Liberty; X"= U.S.; Ukrainska Pravda; The Kyiv Independent = Ukraine; The Guardian – United Kingdom)
Russia
24.02.2025 The Chinese and Russian leaders today discussed over phone strengthening strategic cooperation between their countries and Moscow’s recent contacts with Washington, the Kremlin said, describing the conversation as “warm and friendly”. The Chinese side expressed support for the ongoing dialogue between Russia and the United States and its willingness to help find a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian conflict, the statement said. This was the second phone call between the two since US President Trump assumed office last month. Xi echoed the Kremlin saying Russian-Chinese relations are strategic in nature, not subject to external influence and not directed against anyone. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Asia
China
(Monday), February 24, 2025 China says its forces have begun live-fire exercises in the Gulf of Tonkin today, only days after Vietnam announced a new line marking what it considers its territory in the body of water between the two countries. The exercises would be focused on the Beibu Gulf area, closer to the Chinese side of the Gulf of Tonkin, and would run through Thursday evening. In the nearby South China Sea over the Spratly and Paracel Islands and maritime areas China has been been growing aggressive and in October assaulted 10 Vietnamese fishermen near the Paracel Islands, three of whom suffered broken limbs. China's claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, while Indonesia has also figured in violent confrontations with the Chinese coast guard and fishing fleets in the waters around the Natuna Islands. Leaders in Australia and New Zealand also said China should have given more warning before its navy conducted an unusual series of live-fire exercises in the seas between the two countries, forcing flights on Friday and Saturday to divert on short notice. (Source: ABC News / Associated Press = U.S.)
North America
United States
(Monday), February 24, 2025 President Trump welcomed French President Macron to the White House for talks today. He looks to quickly end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Trump is set to hold a meeting Thursday with another key European leader, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Their visits come after Trump shook Europe with repeated criticism of Zelenskyy for failing to negotiate an end to the war and rebuffing a push to sign off on a deal giving the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, which could be used in the American aerospace, medical and tech industries. Trump administration officials say they expect to reach a deal this week that would tie the U.S. and Ukrainian economies closer together. European leaders also were dismayed by Trump's decision to dispatch top aides for preliminary talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia without Ukrainian or European officials at the table. It follows a public spat, with Trump calling Zelenskyy a “dictator” and charging Kyiv with starting the war. Zelenskyy then angered Trump by saying the U.S. president was living in a Russian-made ’disinformation space'. Confronting Trump might not be the best approach, analysts say. Another clash is set to play out at the U.N. today after the U.S. proposed a competing resolution that lacks the same demands as one 'from Ukraine and the European Union for Moscow’s forces to immediately withdraw from the country.' Just over a month into his second term Trump also has made demands for territory - Greenland, Canada, Gaza and the Panama Canal. That complicated dynamic makes this week's task all the more difficult for Macron and Starmer. Trump has shown a considerable measure of respect for the Russian leader. Trump said this month that he would like to see Russia rejoin what is now the Group of Seven major economies. Russia was suspended from the G8 after Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. Macron said he intends to tell Trump that it’s in the joint interest of Americans and Europeans not to show weakness to Putin during U.S.-led negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He also suggested that he'll make the case that how Trump handles Putin could have enormous ramifications for U.S. dealings with China, the United States' most significant economic and military competitor. ’How can you then be credible in the face of China if you’re weak in the face of Putin?,’ Macron said on social media. Trump dismissed Zelenskyy's complaints about Ukraine and Europe not being included in the opening of U.S.-Russia talks, suggesting he's been negotiating “with no cards, and you get sick of it.” Putin, on the other hand, wants to make a deal, Trump argued Friday. “He doesn’t have to make a deal. Because if he wanted, he would get the whole country," Trump added. (Source: Time – magazine based in New York City, U.S.)
24 Feb 2025 An American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi was diverted to Rome after unspecified security concerns were raised. Fighter jets from the Italian Air Force were filmed flying alongside the airliner. /Video/ (Source: Al Jazeera)
Space
Feb 24, 2025 NASA will launch the next crew on an older SpaceX Dragon capsule on March 12, allowing astronauts Wilmore and Williams who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since last September to return to Earth. (Source: Hindustan Times - India, „With inputs from Associated Press” – U.S.)
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