.
Europe
Poland
15 May 2025 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has accused Romanian presidential candidate Simion of pro-Russian interference in his country’s affairs after the right-winger spoke at a Silesian rally to support opposition Conservative (PiS) candidate Nawrocki ahead of Poland’s vote for its own new president on May 18. The Romanian politician replied by posting a 2010 photograph of the Polish leader making a friendly gesture towards Russian president Putin in the aftermath of the Smolensk air disaster that led to the death of PiS-supporting Polish president Kaczyński and 95 other officials and staff. In this photo is Putin's man in Poland. The whole of Europe knows it. Nobody believes your lies and hypocrisy anymore, Donald!, Simion wrote on May 13, 2025. The Romanian candidate attended a rally for Nawrocki on May 13 in Zabrze, where a local recall referendum earlier this month resulted in voters removing the Tusk-allied mayor from office. Simion told the Zabrze audience that the unelected European authorities tried to steal the elections in Romania, but the Romanian people stood against it - stood for freedom, just as you Poles once stood against communism. Simion, the candidate of the Romanian right-wing party AUR, is a member of the European Conservative Reformists in the European Parliament, of which PiS and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party are also members. Speaking on Polish government controlled broadcaster Radio Trójka, PiS MP Fogiel criticised Tusk for his attack on Simion, saying that it was against Poland’s interests to argue with allies. 'Tusk has in the past made out that Trump is a Russian spy and that ended with the Polish PM being debarred from entry to the White House. Now he wants to get into conflict with a potential president and ally in Romania', he said. (Source: Brussels Signal - Belgium)
European Commission
15-May-2025 The European Commission is urging the EU countries to speed up visa procedures in a bid to attract U.S. researchers, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Zaharieva said yesterday. She noted that EU research ministers are scheduled to meet on May 23 to discuss strategies for attracting U.S.-based scientists seeking to leave the country in light of Trump administration's ongoing budget cuts to science and research. A survey published by the British scientific journal Nature in late March revealed that approximately 75 percent of surveyed U.S. scientists were considering leaving the country as the current U.S. administration has disrupted their future career plans. Europe and Canada ranked among the most favored destinations. Last week, the commission announced the launch of a half-billion-euro research incentive program for 2025-2027, aimed at drawing top-tier scientific talent globally. (Source: CGTN - China)
European Union
15.05.2025 'The ongoing war in Ukraine had prompted European countries to increase their defense spending. Rheinmetall, which produces Leopard 2 tanks and is Europe’s largest ammunition producer, saw its stock surge more than 1,400% since the start of the war in Ukraine. Its market value surpassed $78.4 billion' - greater than that of the region’s largest carmaker Volkswagen. Excluded from the Ukraine peace talks, European leaders initiated a strategic defense framework for the bloc. 'European defense stocks rose as Trump urged NATO allies to boost military investments'. "Companies in the EU’s defense index have already seen a five-day decline in shares prior to the restart of Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in Türkiye. The STOXX Europe Aerospace and Defense index declined about 2% in the last five days. Shares of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall fell roughly 9% to €1,592 ($1,784), down from a peak of $1,954 on May 9. The five-day drop was 3.25%". "Other defense firms are also seeing declines. Over the last five days, shares of Sweden’s Saab dropped 6.15%, France’s Thales 5%, Italy’s Leonardo SpA 5%, Germany’s Hensoldt 4%, and the UK's BAE Systems about 2%". In contrast, France’s Safran and the UK’s Rolls-Royce each gained about 1%, while Airbus shares remained mostly flat. "US and Asian defense firms’ shares also declined. Most notably, Lockheed Martin, the US-based maker of the F-35 fighter jet, lost 2.51%". (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Russia
15/05/2025 US President Trump and Russian President Putin indicated they would not attend what could be the first direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in three years today, with the Kremlin sending instead a group of experienced technocrats. The US delegation to Turkey included Secretary of State Rubio and senior envoys Witkoff and Kellogg. While the Kyiv leader was on his way to Turkey late yesterday, a Ukrainian official said, he had said he would take part in the talks only if Putin attended. Direct talks between negotiators from Ukraine and Russia last took place in Istanbul in March 2022, a month after Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in what he calls a “special military operation” to root out neo-Nazis. (Source: France 24)
Ukraine
May 15, 2025 U.S. President Trump said today that there would be no progress toward peace in Ukraine until he meets with Russian leader Putin, as much-hyped Moscow-Kyiv talks in Turkey turned into a huge nothingburger. “Look, nothing is gonna happen until Putin and I get together,” Trump told on board Air Force One en route to the United Arab Emirates. “And he wasn’t gonna go … He wasn’t going if I wasn’t there”. „But we are gonna have to get it solved because too many people are dying.’ Zelenskyy arrived in Turkey, Putin refused to attend and instead sent a lower-level delegation. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov belittled Zelenskyy and said that any kind of pause in the conflict will be used to rearm Ukraine. Moscow has once again dismissed a ceasefire, and not backed down on any of its original war goals from the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, notably including Ukraine disarming, dropping its NATO aspirations and reinstating dominance of Russian language, church and culture in its society. ’The Russian chair in Turkey is de facto empty. Because it makes little difference whether Mr. Nobody, sent by Putin, and his insignificant colleagues sit in their chairs or not. They are not the ones making decisions. And the person who does - Putin - is either afraid to come or does not take the U.S.-led peace effort seriously,’ said a Ukrainian diplomatic official. ’Still, we are considering sending someone at the appropriate level to at least hear what these people have to say and whether they are able to decide at least anything. If they are willing to have a serious conversion, we may engage in it. Otherwise, we will have the right to conclude that this is a Russian charade, not meaningful work for peace,’ the official added. After a meeting with Turkish President Erdoğan in Ankara, Zelenskyy said he was sending a delegation, led by Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov, to talk to the Russians and Americans in Istanbul. Zelenskyy is going to European Political Community summit in Tirana with Erdoğan tomorrow. We will not recognize all occupied territories as Russian, Zelenskyy said. We want sanctions from Europe and United States as a minimum, Zelenskyy added. Prior to the planned negotiations, the Russian army attacked Ukraine with 145 drones, injuring dozens of people, and continued to grind forward on the enormous battlefield in the country’s east. Russians are getting ready to continue their offensive in Ukraine while pushing for negotiations, and that’s a normal practice, let’s be honest, Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence told yesterday in Kyiv. ’Talks do not mean a solution.’ And Kremlin troops are already eyeing a new region - Ukraine’s eastern industrial stronghold of Dnipro. We have to deal with the enemy that wants to destroy our entire state, Budanov added. (Source: Politico - headquarters in U.S., owned by a German company)
Asia
Iran
(Thursday, 15 May 2025) US President Trump says that Iran has "sort of" agreed to the terms of a nuclear deal with the United States. He described the latest talks between the two countries, which ended on Sunday, as "very serious negotiations" for "long-term peace". The US has insisted that Iran must scrap its uranium enrichment to prevent the country developing nuclear weapons - though Iran insists its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful. "We're not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran," Trump said after a meeting in Doha, Qatar, with business leaders, on the second stop of his multi-day Gulf tour. "I think we're getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this. Earlier, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Shamkhani, said that Tehran was willing to accept far-reaching curbs on its nuclear programme. He told that Iran would give up stockpiles of highly enriched uranium as part of a deal in which the US lifts sanctions. The latest talks over Tehran's nuclear programme finished on Sunday, with both sides agreeing to meet again. US Middle East Envoy Witkoff said they were encouraging, while Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi described them as "difficult but useful". Trump previously warned of possible military action against Iran's nuclear facilities if the fresh set of talks, which began in April, did not succeed. A senior US official said the latest discussions lasted more than three hours, adding: "Agreement was reached to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)
Kazakhstan
15 May 2025 Opinion: The Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks need multiple platforms for negotiations. While Turkey sought to maintain balanced relations throughout the conflict, its provision of military support to Ukraine, including drones, complicated its image as a neutral party. Despite these complexities, as a NATO member with significant energy partnerships with Russia, Turkey serves as a crucial intermediary. Furthermore, its active role in initiatives like the Black Sea Grain Agreement reinforced its credibility in international diplomacy. Turkey’s continued involvement, therefore, benefits not only the peace process but also its own economic and strategic interests. Kazakhstan is also well-positioned to contribute to the peace negotiations. Kazakhstan’s shared history with Russia and Ukraine as former Soviet republics has shaped mutual economic and security frameworks, rooted in decades of centralized governance and cooperation. The continued use of the Russian language as one medium of communication across these nations underscores intertwined cultural and historical links. Kazakhstan’s relationship with Russia spans centuries, marked by alliances, trade, and cultural exchange, further deepening ties beyond the Soviet era. In recent years, Kazakhstan has diversified its alliances through its multi-vector foreign policy. It has forged strong relationships with China, the U.S., the EU and organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) while cultivating robust economic ties. Its energy sector has attracted major foreign investors such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell. By hosting peace talks and global summits, Kazakhstan has established itself as a neutral mediator, balancing traditional ties with Russia while expanding its global influence. President Tokayev hosted pivotal talks in Almaty in 2024 between Armenia and Azerbaijan, addressing over three decades of conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Kazakhstan also played a key role in facilitating the 2018 agreement on the Caspian Sea’s legal status, which resolved disputes over resources and territorial boundaries. The country hosted multiple rounds of Syrian peace talks starting in Astana in 2017, bringing together the Syrian government, opposition groups, and international stakeholders, including Russia and Turkey. Similarly, it provided a platform for the Iran nuclear talks in 2013 and supported the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Additionally, Kazakhstan hosted the 2010 OSCE Summit that led to the adoption of the Astana Declaration. This reaffirmed the Helsinki Principles on peace, security, and cooperation from Vancouver to Vladivostok. It represented a critical collective commitment to territorial integrity, sovereignty, and human rights since the dissolution of the USSR, promoting lasting geopolitical cooperation. Kazakhstan’s foreign policy has adhered to the principles of the UN Charter, including respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful dispute resolution. Kazakhstan’s neutrality has faced challenges during the Ukraine-Russia conflict. By refusing to recognize separatist regions in Ukraine, Kazakhstan affirmed its opposition to unilateral border changes through force. Simultaneously, it engaged with both Kyiv and Moscow, ensuring open channels of communication to mitigate tensions. By offering its capital, Astana, as a neutral venue for diplomatic talks, Kazakhstan has continually emphasized the importance of diplomacy and mutual respect in resolving conflicts. Kazakhstan exemplifies how middle powers can contribute constructively to global peace and security in a multipolar world. (Source: The Times of Central Asia - Kyrgyzstan)
Turkey
Thursday 15 May 2025 Zelenskyy has landed in Turkey's capital Ankara 'for ceasefire talks with the country's President Erdogan". /video/ (Source: Sky News - United Kingdom)
15 May 2025 Foreign ministry spokeswoman, Zakharova, announced the talks, which are due to take place in Istanbul, have been pushed back until this afternoon at Turkey’s initiative. US president Trump said he was not surprised Russian president Putin will be a no-show for anticipated peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey this week. I didn't think it was possible for Putin to go if I'm not there, Mr Trump said as he took part in a business roundtable with executives in Doha on the third day of his visit to the Middle East. Mr Trump earlier this week floated potentially attending himself. But the US president noted today that secretary of state Rubio was already in the country for meetings with Nato counterparts. (Source: LBC - United Kingdom)
May 15, 2025 A proposed trilateral summit between U.S. President Trump, Zelensky, and Russian President Putin to end the war in Ukraine has collapsed after Putin declined to attend. Trump and Zelensky both decided not to travel to Istanbul, Türkiye, where peace talks were scheduled for May 15, citing Putin’s absence. According to a U.S. official quoted yesterday, President Trump canceled his visit after Putin announced a delegation that did not include himself. The U.S. will still participate in the peace talks. Secretary of State Rubio, along with special envoys Witkoff and Kellogg, will attend negotiations in Istanbul to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. Rubio arrived in Antalya, Türkiye, on May 14 to attend an informal NATO foreign ministers' meeting, where he held talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha to discuss ending the war and increasing defense spending among Western allies. Rubio is expected to conclude his NATO meetings today and join the peace talks in Istanbul tomorrow, coordinating with Witkoff and Kellogg. As a result, initial Ukraine-Russia discussions will begin today, with U.S. officials joining the following day. The framework for the discussions is expected to be based on proposals made by Ukraine during the 2022 Istanbul talks. At the time, Ukrainian presidential adviser Podolyak suggested a 15-year negotiation period regarding the status of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and direct talks between Putin and Zelensky on the Donbas region controlled by pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine also proposed adopting a neutral status, renouncing foreign military bases and troop deployments, and receiving security guarantees from countries like Israel, Türkiye, and France. Medinsky, a presidential aide, who lead Russia’s delegation to Istanbul confirmed at the time that Ukraine had submitted a formal proposal declaring itself a non-aligned, non-nuclear state. The proposal included a ban on all weapons of mass destruction, including biochemical arms, a prohibition on foreign troops and bases in Ukraine, and a requirement for consent from security guarantor countries before conducting military exercises. Ukraine also suggested dropping efforts to reclaim Crimea by force, excluding the pro-Russian Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) from international security guarantees, and signaling a potential withdrawal of its bid to join the European Union, according to Medinsky. (Source: Asiatoday- South Korea)
North America
United States
(Thursday), May 15, 2025 President Trump today said he would skip Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul and downplayed Russian President Putin’s decision not to attend. Speaking at a business roundtable with executives in Doha as part of a four-day tour of the region, Trump said he wasn’t going because of scheduling conflicts. "I actually said, why would he go if I’m not going?" Trump said. "I didn't think it was possible for Putin to go if I'm not there." But he noted during the business roundtable that Secretary of State Rubio was already in Istanbul for meetings with NATO counterparts. Trump's special envoy, Witkoff, also plans to be in Istanbul tomorrow for the anticipated Russia-Ukraine talks. Putin was the first to propose restarting direct peace talks today with Ukraine in the Turkish city that straddles Asia and Europe. Zelenskyy challenged the Kremlin leader to meet in Turkey in person. Speaking in Doha, Trump said the Russia-Ukraine war "has to stop." 'We spent $350 billion there – just handed. Nobody even knows where the money is. There’s no accounting. There’s no one. It’s just give him money,' Trump said, referring to Zelenskyy. 'I have to hand it to him. I think he’s the greatest salesman, maybe in history. Every time he came to the United States, he’d walk away with $100 billion. That’s a good salesman, right?’ Trump said. "Last time he didn’t do as well. He only got $60 billion.' Zelenskyy last visited the White House in February. The two leaders last met on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral last month. Later today, Trump will visit a U.S. installation in Qatar at the center of American involvement in the Middle East. He has used his four-day visit to Gulf states to reject the ’interventionism’ of America's past in the region. (Source: Fox News; „The Associated Press contributed” = U.S.)
.5 5 15 117:39
