Latest news with #GermanChancellor
Bloomberg
12-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Slovakia Seeks Deal on Russian Gas and Sanctions by Tuesday
Slovakia aims to reach a solution on guarantees against the impact of a planned halt in Russian gas imports — a condition for backing the European Union's 18th sanctions package against Moscow — by Tuesday, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Saturday. Fico said he discussed the issue with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday morning, describing the talks as 'extremely tough.'
Bloomberg
12-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Slovakia Seeks Solution on Russian Gas and Sanctions by Tuesday
Slovakia aims to reach a solution on guarantees against the impact of a planned halt in Russian gas imports — a condition for backing the European Union's 18th sanctions package against Moscow — by Tuesday, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Saturday. Fico discussed the issue with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday morning, the Slovakian premier told reporters in Bratislava, characterizing the talks as 'extremely tough.'
Arab News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Iran-Israel war could have ‘harmful' migration impact on Europe, Erdogan warns
ISTANBUL: The Iran-Israel air war could spark a surge in migration that could harm Europe and the region, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Friday. Israel, saying Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon, launched a massive wave of strikes a week ago, triggering an immediate retaliation. 'The spiral of violence triggered by Israel's attacks could harm the region and Europe in terms of migration and the possibility of nuclear leakage,' his office quoted him as saying in a phone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Erdogan said the solution to the nuclear disagreements with Iran was 'through negotiations.' He said the violence had 'raised the threat to regional security to the highest level' and Turkiye was 'making efforts to end the conflict.' Despite the escalating confrontation, a Turkish defense ministry source said Thursday there had been 'no increase' in numbers crossing from Iran. The Turkish authorities have not released any figures. AFP correspondents at the main Kapikoy border crossing near the eastern Turkish city of Van reported seeing several hundred people crossing in both directions, with a customs official saying the numbers were 'nothing unusual.' During a visit to the frontier on Wednesday, Defense Minister Yasar Guler said 'security measures at our borders have been increased.'
Al Bawaba
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Trump threats and Israeli strikes fuel fears of imminent war on Iran over nuclear program
Published June 17th, 2025 - 03:47 GMT Huckabee, who compared Trump to President Harry Truman, who ordered the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and urged Trump to follow 'divine inspiration' in confronting Iran. ALBAWABA- Rising tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran have escalated into what analysts warn could become a nuclear flashpoint. U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his firm stance against Iran's nuclear ambitions, stating that 'the United States is taking the necessary steps' to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Vice President Mike Johnson added that Trump 'may take additional measures to end uranium enrichment,' suggesting that dramatic military options remain on the table. According to the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, Israel has already destroyed several uranium enrichment facilities in Iran and will continue its campaign to dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure fully. The German Chancellor echoed Israel's view, stating that if Iran 'does not back down,' the 'complete destruction of its nuclear program is on the agenda.' However, the Chancellor also admitted that 'Israel cannot destroy Iran's nuclear program alone.' These developments follow Trump's dramatic departure from the G7 summit in Canada, where he refused to sign a joint de-escalation statement and instead warned Tehran residents to evacuate, hinting at 'unprecedented measures.' This same day, Trump posted a letter on Truth Social from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who compared Trump to President Harry Truman, who ordered the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and urged Trump to follow 'divine inspiration' in confronting Iran. Huckabee, a prominent evangelical Christian and staunch pro-Israel figure, has previously declared that there is 'no such thing as Palestine' and fully supports the annexation of the West Bank. In the letter, Huckabee urged Trump to remain steadfast, saying, 'I am not advising you, I am encouraging you.' The ambassador emphasized that Trump is on a 'divine mission' and 'capable of historic decisions.' Donald J. Trump Truth Social 06.17.25 08:49 AM EST From Mike Huckabee, a Pastor, Politician, Ambassador, and Great Person! — Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 17, 2025 Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark threat, warning that 'what happened to Hezbollah will be nothing compared to what's coming for Iran.' Also Read Israeli strike causes damage at Iranian hospital He even floated the possibility of assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a goal he described as a 40-year-old dream. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also declared the war 'existential,' signaling that Israel will press on 'to the end,' regardless of international law. Observers now believe the focus of this military escalation has shifted far beyond Iran's nuclear capabilities. Instead, the West, backed by NATO allies and led by the U.S., appears determined to curb Iranian regional influence, weaken China's growing partnerships in the Middle East, and solidify Israel's supremacy in the region. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ukraine says hit by record drone salvo after Trump rebukes Putin
Ukrainian firefighters inspect damage at a private factory's storage facility after an overnight attack in Vasyshcheve. (EPA Images pic) KYIV : Russia fired its biggest ever drone barrage on Ukraine, authorities said Monday, just hours after Donald Trump called Vladimir Putin 'CRAZY' and warned Moscow risked new sanctions if it kept up its deadly bombardment. The US president's efforts to halt the three-year war have failed to extract major concessions from the Kremlin, despite repeated negotiations between officials and several phone calls between him and Russia's president. For three consecutive nights Russia has pummelled Ukraine with large-scale drone attacks, saturating its air defences and killing at least 13 people on Sunday, officials said. Russia fired '355 Shahed-type drones' including decoys, in the largest drone attack of the invasion between Sunday night and early Monday, as well as nine cruise missiles, Ukraine's air force said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that there were 'no longer any range restrictions' on arms supplied by Western allies to Ukraine, allowing Kyiv to attack 'military positions in Russia'. It was not immediately clear which countries had changed their policy however. The Kremlin said any Western decision to lift range limits on arms delivered to Ukraine would be 'dangerous' and 'at odds' with peace efforts. In a rare rebuke of the Russian leader, Trump said on social media late Sunday: 'I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!' 'I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!' Earlier, Trump told reporters he was 'absolutely' considering increasing sanctions on Moscow. 'Critical moment' The Kremlin played down Trump's criticism, saying Putin was taking measures 'necessary to ensure Russia's security'. 'This is a very critical moment, which is fraught with emotional stress for everyone, as well as emotional reactions,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for more sanctions on Moscow. 'Russian strikes are becoming increasingly brazen and large-scale every night,' Zelensky said in his daily address, adding that some 900 drones and missiles were launched on Ukraine in the last three days. 'This makes no military sense, but it is an obvious political choice –- Putin's choice, Russia's choice –- to continue fighting and destroying lives,' he said. Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed cities and spurred the biggest crisis in relations with the West since the Cold War. Kyiv did not report any deaths from the latest drone attack, but said Russian shelling in the last 24 hours had killed a civilian man in the northern Sumy region. Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat warned it was becoming difficult to counter the sheer number of drones Moscow was firing. 'We need rational and cheaper ways to shoot them down,' he told Ukrainian TV. A Ukrainian military source told AFP that Kyiv was 'somehow fighting' with available air defence capabilities and that there was 'no need to panic'. 'To maintain our defence, we need deliveries of Western weapons,' the source said, adding that deliveries of Patriot missiles as well as NASAMS medium range air defence and IRIS-T short range systems were especially important for Ukraine. After today's attack, Zelensky ordered 'a significant increase in the production of interceptor drones' and 'will seek additional funding from our partners for this purpose,' he said in the address, adding that Ukraine will increase funding for missile production as well. Diplomatic efforts Diplomatic efforts to end the war have heightened in recent weeks, with Russian and Ukrainian officials holding direct talks in Istanbul earlier this month for the first time in three years. They each sent back 1,000 people over the weekend in their biggest ever prisoner exchange, while Russia said it was preparing a document outlining its peace terms. Any more potential POW exchanges would depend on talks with Ukraine, Peskov told journalists ahead of Putin's meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, adding that Moscow was still working on a ceasefire memorandum. Putin and Fidan discussed peace efforts after the Istanbul talks, as well as economic and energy cooperation, a Turkish foreign ministry source said. Fidan earlier met with Vladimir Medinsky, Moscow's chief negotiator with Kyiv. Moscow has repeatedly rejected proposals for a 30-day ceasefire from Kyiv and its Western allies, while grinding forward on the front line. Instead, Putin offered to work on a memorandum stating conditions for a ceasefire, sparking critisism from Ukraine of stalling the talks.
