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EU's Ashton Says Nagorno-Karabakh Elections Illegal
Ashton said in a statement that the vote "should not prejudice the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict" and urged all parties to redouble efforts to find a negotiated solution to the conflict.
Backed by Armenia, ethnic Armenian separatists seized control of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan in the early 1990s in a war that left around 30,000 people dead.
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a cease-fire in their conflict over the region more than a decade ago, but the enclave remains a disputed territory.
compiled from agency reports
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Romanian President Iohannis Steps Down Amid Crisis Over Scrapped Election
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said he is resigning from his position amid an effort by the opposition to have him impeached after he stayed in power following the Constitutional Court's annulment of the presidential election in which right-wing, pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round.
Iohannis said on February 10 that he was stepping down and will leave office on February 12.
Ovidiu Voicu, executive director of the Center for Public Innovation, told RFE/RL's Romanian Service that efforts to impeach Iohannis would have had no chance of getting the required votes in parliament anyway.
However, the ruling coalition "pushed" Iohannis to resign so that they could present it as a gesture to "calm the country down and bring peace and stability."
Senate leader Ilie Bolojan will succeed Iohannis on an interim basis once lawmakers approve his resignation.
The new presidential vote is planned for May 4, with a possible run-off vote scheduled for May 18.
The Constitutional Court had asked Iohannis to stay on after his term ended in mid-December because of the annulment.
The Constitutional Court canceled the election two days before the second round was to be held between Georgescu and pro-European centrist candidate Elena Lasconi.
It cited state documents that allegedly showed Georgescu, who ran as an independent candidate, had benefitted from an unfair social media campaign likely orchestrated by Russia. Moscow denies interfering in the election.
- By RFE/RL
Germany's Scholz Reiterates Refusal To Send Taurus Missiles To Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz again ruled out sending long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, opposing actions that would "deliver destructive weapons" deep inside of Russia, and hitting out at his conservative political rival, who has expressed more openness to delivering such weapons to Kyiv.
"I do not think it is right to deliver destructive weapons deep into the Russian hinterland," Scholz said on February 9 during a 90-minute televised debate ahead of national elections in two weeks.
"That is, I believe, exactly the kind of step not to make if you carry responsibility for Germany," he added.
Friedrich Merz, whose conservative CDU/CSU alliance is leading in the polls against Scholz’s center-left SPD, said he has "always been very clear" regarding his position on sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
"I have always said the delivery of cruise missiles must be decided in the European Union. The United States delivers, France delivers, Britain delivers; we should also have delivered," Merz said.
Merz told German media in October that he would approve delivery to Kyiv of the missiles -- which have a range of some 500 kilometers -- under certain conditions.
If Russian strikes on Ukraine "don't stop, then the first step is this: Lift the range restriction [on current Ukraine missile launchings]. And the second step is that we deliver the Taurus," he said.
That way, he added, Russian President Vladimir Putin "has it in his hands how far he wants to escalate this war further."
Germany's DW reported in July that Merz spoke in favor of Berlin aiding Kyiv to protect against Russian aggression and supply it with combat aircraft.
"I believe that we should help Ukraine at least restore sovereignty over its own airspace," he was quoted as saying.
Although Scholz has been reluctant to send Kyiv heavy weaponry, Berlin trails only Washington in the amount of support provided to Ukraine. Scholz has insisted that it is essential to secure the "sovereignty of Ukraine and [ensure] that it will not be forced to submit to a dictated peace."
In November, Scholz attacked the final declaration of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro for not plainly stating that Russia was responsible for the war in Ukraine, even as he restated his opposition to sending long-range missiles to Kyiv.
"In my view, supplying cruise missiles would be a mistake for many reasons," he said at the time -- including the danger that it would bring Germany closer to direct conflict with Russia.
Domestically, Scholz, seeking a bounce-back in the polls ahead of the February 23 election, accused Merz of seeking support from the far-right Alternative for Deutschland (Germany) or AfD, which would break the taboo against the mainstream parties in the country cooperating with the party.
Following World War II, Germany has done "very well in the past decades when the democratic parties agreed not to cooperate with the extreme right," Scholz said.
Merz underlined that his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Bavarian CSU allies would not cooperate or rule with the virulently anti-immigration AfD.
"I want to make it clear here once again that we will not do that," Merz said. “There are no similarities between the AfD and the [CDU/CSU]."
The CDU/CSU alliance, which is polling at about 30 percent, has itself pressed for tougher immigration policies in an effort to draw voters away from the AfD, which is polling at around 20 percent.
Scholz said Merz's proposal to reject all migrants at Germany's borders "contradicts European law."
Scholz’s Social Democrats and the Greens each are at around 15-18 percent support ahead of the vote for the next parliament, or Bundestag.
ING bank analyst Carsten Brzeski wrote that the debate likely ended in a draw and -- though heated at times -- was relatively "well-behaved," which could leave open the possibility of a "grand coalition" involving the CDU and other groups in an effort to shut out the AfD, which has been accused of having ties to Russia.
Initial public opinion polls also scored the two politicians' performances in the debate as roughly equal.
Scholz and Merz are scheduled to meet again in a head-to-head debate on February 19.
They are also scheduled meet in a four-way debate on February 16 with AfD's Alice Weidel and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck from the Greens.
With reporting by dpa and AFP
- By RFE/RL
Trump Talked To Putin About Ukraine War But Details Remain Unclear
U.S. President Donald Trump said he has spoken to Russia's Vladimir Putin and that he believes "we are making progress" in ending the war in Ukraine, raising fears in Kyiv that it was being sidelined in the process.
Speaking to reporters on February 9 aboard Air Force One as he traveled to the Super Bowl, the American football championship game, in New Orleans, Trump confirmed reports he had spoken with Putin, but he declined to specify whether the talks took place before or after he was inaugurated on January 20.
"I've had it. Let's just say I've had it [a conversation with Putin]...And I expect to have many more conversations. We have to get that war ended," Trump told reporters on February 9 aboard Air Force One as he traveled to the Super Bowl, the American football championship game, in New Orleans.
"If we are talking, I don’t want to tell you about the conversations. I do believe we're making progress. We want to stop the Ukraine-Russia war," he added.
He also said his administration was in contact with Ukrainian officials, without being specific.
"We're talking to both sides," he said.
That did little to assuage fears in Kyiv over talks between Moscow and Washington taking place without Ukraine's direct participation.
"It's essential to understand that when we talk about the principle of 'nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,' we mean that decisions shouldn't be made without Ukraine's participation," Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian MP and the chair of the parliamentary committee on foreign policy and interparliamentary relations, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian service.
"Putin doesn't want negotiations, and he wants to decide Ukraine's fate without Ukraine's participation. He hopes that the United States and Russia will agree on Ukraine's fate, and Ukraine will become part of Russia's sphere of influence."
The Kremlin on February 10 reiterated its statement from the previous day that it could neither confirm nor deny whether Putin and Trump had spoken.
Trump's remarks come ahead of what could be a major week in diplomacy related to the Russia-Ukraine war in which both sides have suffered massive losses since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of February 24, 2022.
The lead White House envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference, which opens on February 14.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is also expected to attend the conference and meet with Zelenskyy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are scheduled to be in Munich.
Trump has promised to end the war but has not set out yet in public how he would do so.
In an interview published on February 8 by The New York Post, Trump first said he had spoken to Putin, but he did not indicate when the conversation occurred or give further details.
Earlier on February 10, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told state media that Moscow had not received any proposals serious enough to warrant talks, without being specific.
Trump, meanwhile, said on February 7 that he is likely to meet with Zelenskyy soon as U.S. efforts to end the war gather force. He gave no details, but said the meeting could be held in Washington as "I'm not going to Kyiv."
Zelenskyy has voiced confidence that Trump can pressure Putin into ending the war.
In an interview with British broadcaster ITV on February 7, Zelenskyy said talks between Ukraine and Russia are possible, but only if the West doesn't abandon Kyiv.
"If I had the understanding that America and Europe would not abandon us, and that they would support us and give us security guarantees, then I would be ready for any format of negotiations," Zelenskyy said.
Trump several times has said he was planning to meet with Putin for talks on ending the conflict, although no specifics have been discussed publicly.
Hard-line Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, head of the parliament's international affairs committee, was quoted by state media as saying preparations for a Trump-Putin meeting were at "an advanced stage" and that it could occur in February or March, although the Kremlin has not confirmed the report.
Putin has said he was open to discussing a deal with Trump but ruled out making any major territorial concessions and insists that Kyiv abandon ambitions to join NATO.
With reporting by Reuters
- By RFE/RL
Trump Set To Announce New Tariffs, Further Widening Global Trade War
President Donald Trump said he will on February 10 announce 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum products entering the United States, threatening to further ignite the trade war that has shaken markets worldwide.
"Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25 percent tariff," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl -- the American football championship considered the country's biggest sports event.
Government and industry statistics show that Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and South Korea are the biggest sources of U.S. steel imports. Canada supplies nearly 80 percent of U.S. imports of aluminum.
Trump also told reporters he would on either February 11 or 12 "probably" unveil "reciprocal tariffs" on countries that already have levied duties on U.S. products.
"If they are charging us 130 percent and we're charging them nothing, it's not going to stay that way," Trump said.
Trump did not offer further details on his plans, although he said aluminum products would be included in the tariffs as well.
Experts have said the tariffs could roil the world economy. They also have pointed out that U.S. consumers would actually pay the tariffs in the form of higher prices for imports.
On February 3, Trump warned Americans they may face economic "pain" because of the trade tariffs he had announced over the previous weekend on Canada, Mexico, and China -- the top three U.S. trading partners.
He later stated tariffs on Canada and Mexico would be paused for 30 days after he said the leaders of the two countries pledged stronger border measures to stop migrant crossings and illicit drugs.
Trump has also said placing tariffs on foreign goods will help bring production of such items back to the United States.
The U.S. president has also threatened tariffs on goods from the European Union, saying they would "definitely happen" and "pretty soon." He also suggested Britain could be the target of tariffs.
Trump has long complained about the EU's 10 percent tariffs on U.S. autos when the U.S. rate on European cars is 2.5 percent, although rates vary depending on the vehicles.
French President Emmanuel Macron on February 9 said U.S. tariffs on Europe would increase inflation in the United States and told CNN that Trump should not focus his attention on America's allies within the EU.
"Is the European Union your first problem? No, I don't think so. Your first problem is China, so you should focus on the first problem," he said.
"It means if you put tariffs on a lot of sectors, it will increase the costs and create inflation in the U.S. Is it what your people want? I'm not so sure," he said.
Stock markets worldwide tumbled after Trump initially announced tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China, but they rallied after he expressed willingness to negotiate on the levies.
With reporting by AP and Reuters
Kurti's Party Leads Kosovo Parliamentary Vote, But Falling Short Of Majority
PRISTINA -- Prime Minister Albin Kurti's ruling Self-Determination Movement (LVV) looks set to win the most votes in Kosovo's parliamentary elections, although it appears the party will fall short of a majority -- possibly opening the door for the opposition to form a government in the small, pro-West Balkan nation.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) late on February 9 said that, with 73 percent of ballots counted, LVV had 42 percent of the vote, in line with prevote polls indicating a result under 50 percent.
It was followed by Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) with 22.8 percent, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) with 17.9 percent, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and partner NISMA with 7.6 percent.
The Serbian List had 2.98 percent. A special panel in Kosovo on December 25 overturned a decision by the election commission that had barred the country's largest ethnic-Serbian party from participating in the elections due to its strong links with Belgrade.
Polls closed at 7 p.m. About 42 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots for the 120-seat parliament, according to election officials.
Although the overall outcome remained unclear, Kurti declared victory for his party and its partners, the Guxo Party and Alternativa, following the vote.
"The elections were free, democratic, and fair,” he told a Pristina news conference.
"I thank the voters of LVV and our winning coalition. We are in first place, and this is a confirmation of our good and progressive governance. Our winning coalition will form the new government," he said without providing his projected voting figures.
"We don't have the official results yet, but the preliminary ones show that even if the second and third place parties combine their votes, they still don't match [LVV]," he added.
Lumir Abdixhiku, leader of LDK -- a former ruling party -- said the group's total of around 18 percent was disappointing but that "it is an outcome we respect, and I take responsibility for this result." Nevertheless, he rejected the idea of him resigning as party chairman.
Official final results could be delayed as the CEC experienced intermittent difficulties with its website reporting figures. President Vjosa Osmani said she was confident that despite a "software failure," the integrity of the electoral process would be ensured.
Dritero Arifi, a political science professor at the University for Business and Technology (UBT) in Pristina, said Kurti could face a difficult task to form a government.
“Even though [LVV] is the winner, they suffered quite a decline [in support]," he told RFE/RL, referring to the party's showing of 50.28 percent in 2021.
"This shows the citizens' distrust toward the ruling party. There will be a major battle over how the government is formed."
He said it was not clear if Kurti will be able to quickly put together a coalition or if the country will suffer through "several months" of negotiations and uncertainty.
"There is a lot of uncertainty. [The LVV] is a party that does not shift from its initial positions and will have a hard time relinquishing power."
Some 1.97 million citizens were registered to vote in the country that has long been allied with the United States but which has frayed those ties with recent policies that Washington sees as fomenting tensions with its ethnic-Serb minority.
Kurti’s left-wing LVV was favored to win the election but was not seen able to garner enough votes to govern on its own. That left open the possibility the other three contenders could join ranks if Kurti fails to form a Cabinet.
An opposition coalition could alter Kosovo's relations with the West and potentially step up peace talks with rival Serbia. Kurti's opponents for the prime minister's post have expressed the need to maintain and deepen U.S. ties, insisting they are crucial for Kosovo's future.
Kurti has also stated his desires to remain closely tied to the United States, despite recent disagreements.
Pristina has sought to reestablish authority in northern Kosovo, where most of the ethnic Serbs live and have attempted to maintain parallel governance structures with Belgrade's support.
Kurti has insisted the actions were necessary to ensure the rule of law in the north and that they were in line with the country's constitution.
The elections could also shape relations with the European Union.
Kosovo’s EU application, submitted in 2022, has been stalled ever since, as it needs a consensus of support among the 27 members. The biggest hurdle is the five EU countries -- Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain -- that do not recognize Kosovo's independence.
Kosovo's relations with Washington and Brussels are centered around the EU-facilitated dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, which began in 2011 and aims to normalize relations between the two neighbors and rivals.
Kosovo was an autonomous region of Serbia until an armed uprising in 1998-99 by the ethnic Albanian majority population triggered a bloody crackdown by Belgrade. A NATO bombing campaign to force Serbia’s troops out of Kosovo ended the war.
Since Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Belgrade, which Serbia and several other nations still reject, there have been ongoing tensions between the two neighboring countries.
A NATO-led KFOR protection force has been deployed in Kosovo since 1999 to help maintain the peace.
Adrian Shtuni, a Washington-based security expert, praised the smooth running of Kosovo's election and told RFE/RL it should stand as an example to other countries in the region, saying it reflects the "consolidation of democracy" in the country.
But he cautioned that the relatively low voter turnout stood as "a message to politicians in Kosovo [that] the people are tired of aggressive rhetoric and clashes."
Trump Tells New York Post He's Spoken With Putin About Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump said he's spoken with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, reportedly discussing ways to resolve Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is nearing its third anniversary.
In an interview published on February 8 by The New York Post, Trump did not indicate when the conversation occurred or give further details as to the content of their talks. The Post said the interview was conducted on February 7 while Trump was traveling on Air Force One, the presidential plane.
"He wants to see people stop dying," Trump was quoted as saying.
"Every day people are dying. This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to end this damn thing," he said, adding that he "better not say" when asked how many times the two leaders had spoken.
“I always had a good relationship with Putin," he said.
RFE/RL sent an e-mail to the White House seeking confirmation of the report but did not receive an immediate response.
In Moscow, however, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested it was possible the two men had spoken and that he had been made aware of it.
"As the administration in Washington carries out its work, many different types of communications emerge, and these communications are conducted through various channels," Peskov told reporters on February 9.
"Of course, against the backdrop of these many communications, I personally may not know something or be unaware of something. Therefore, in this case, I cannot confirm nor deny it."
Even before taking office on January 20, Trump vowed to bring an end to the conflict, which has killed or wounded more than 1 million soldiers on both sides, according to Western estimates.
Trump's top national-security aides have publicly indicated that U.S. officials would seek to both coerce and induce Moscow and Kyiv to come to the bargaining table for cease-fire talks.
When asked on NBC's Meet The Press on February 9 about Trump's claim to have spoken with Putin, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz did not directly answer the question, but he did say there is a need to "get all sides of the table and end this war."
He added that the United States needs to "recoup" its costs in Ukraine by partnering with Ukraine "in terms of their rare earths, their natural resources, and their oil and gas."
The lead White House envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference, which opens on February 14.
Trump, meanwhile, said on February 7 that he is likely to meet with Zelenskyy next week, as U.S. efforts to end the war in Ukraine gather force. He gave no details, but said the meeting could be held in Washington as "I'm not going to Kyiv."
Trump and members of his administration have provided few details about any specific proposal for ending the war, but Kellogg said recently that both sides would have to "give a little bit," meaning make compromises.
In Kyiv, meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have watched warily as pressure builds for talks between Moscow and Kyiv, most likely with U.S. oversight.
Until recently, Putin had said he considered Zelenskyy to be a illegitimate president and would not negotiate with him, though he has since softened that stance.
The report of the interview comes ahead of an expected meeting between U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Zelenskyy during the Munich Security Conference.
Zelenskyy has voiced confidence that Trump can pressure Putin into ending the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
In an interview with British broadcaster ITV on February 7, Zelenskyy said talks between Ukraine and Russia are possible, but only if the West doesn't abandon Kyiv.
"If I had the understanding that America and Europe would not abandon us, and that they would support us and give us security guarantees, then I would be ready for any format of negotiations," Zelenskyy said.
In a separate part of the interview with the New York Post, Trump said he would "like a deal done with Iran" over its nuclear program to avoid an escalation of tensions with Tehran.
Trump refused to give any details on what any deal with Iran would look like.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 7 dismissed the prospect of nuclear talks with the United States, insisting that negotiations would not address Iran's problems.
Days earlier, Trump had talked of making a deal where Iranians could "get on" with their lives.
On February 4, Trump signed an order to restore his "maximum economic pressure" policy on Iran aimed at hurting its oil exports and slowing its nuclear program, which Tehran claims is for civilian purposes.
- By RFE/RL
Iran Says Ready To Negotiate With U.S., But Not Under 'Maximum Pressure'
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said his country is ready to negotiate with Washington regarding its nuclear program and related sanctions, but he said talks couldn’t take place under President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” strategy.
"The lifting of sanctions requires negotiations, but not within the framework of a 'maximum pressure' policy, because it would not be a negotiation but a form of surrender," Araqchi said on social media.
"Iran does not want to negotiate with a country that is simultaneously imposing new sanctions," he said.
Trump on February 4 signed an order to restore his "maximum economic pressure" policy on Iran aimed at hurting its oil exports and slowing its nuclear program.
He ordered the Treasury Department to impose the pressure through sanctions and enforcement mechanisms on individuals and entities that violate existing sanctions.
He also directed the Treasury and State Departments to implement a campaign aimed at "driving Iran's oil exports to zero."
As he signed the memo, Trump described it as very tough but also said he was open to a deal with Iran and expressed a willingness to talk to the Iranian leadership.
"With me, it's very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump added.
A landmark deal with world powers in 2015 restricted Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
But Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement during his first term and reimposed sanctions in 2018, leading Tehran to accelerate its uranium enrichment and limit international inspections of its nuclear sites.
When he pulled out of the nuclear deal, Trump said Tehran was not living up to the spirit of the deal and was continuing attempts to develop nuclear weapons. He also accused Iran of supporting extremist violence in the region, which Tehran denied.
Araqchi said that “Iran has already made abundantly clear that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop, or acquire any nuclear weapons."
He added it was “not difficult to reach practical assurances that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, provided that objective guarantees are also provided that hostile measures against Iran -- including economic pressures and sanctions -- will be effectively terminated.”
A day earlier, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the prospect of nuclear talks with the United States, insisting that negotiations would not address Iran's problems days after Trump talked of making a deal where Iranians could "get on" with their lives.
"The reality that we must understand is that negotiating with America has no effect in resolving the country's problems," Khamenei said on February 7 in an annual address to Iranian Air Force officers.
The latest comments come as several thousand Iranians from across Europe rallied in Paris on February 8, urging world leaders to put more pressure on Iran’s ruling clerics.
"Instead of appeasing the mullahs, [the world] should stand side by side with the Iranian people," Maryam Radjavi, president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, told the rally.
The council is the political wing of the People's Mujahedin of Iran, which Tehran regards as a "terrorist" organization.
"The Iranian region will fall like the Syrian regime fell -- at a speed that no one would have predicted," Riad al-Asaad, a former Syrian rebel leader, told the gathering by a video link.
Tehran has been accused by international organizations, Western leaders, and activists of rights violations, most recently linked to massive street protests that erupted across Iran in 2022 following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who was arrested for allegedly violating the hijab law.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, and AFP
- By RFE/RL
North Korea's Kim Vows Continued Support For Russia's Military Amid Heavy Losses
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on February 8 vowed to maintain his country's support for Russia in its war against Ukraine and threatened to bolster his nuclear forces to counter U.S. military cooperation with Japan and South Korea in the region.
"The army and people of [North Korea] will invariably support and encourage the just cause of the Russian Army and people to defend their sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity in keeping with the spirit of the treaty on the comprehensive strategic partnership between [North Korea] and Russia," Kim was quoted by state media as saying.
Western leaders and Ukrainian officials say North Korea has since last fall sent an estimated 11,000 troops to fight alongside of Kremlin troops, mainly in the Russian region of Kursk.
Their current status is uncertain, with some intelligence sources saying many of the troops have been rotated out of the front lines after suffering horrific losses in fighting against Ukrainian forces.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 8 said Russia's "cooperation with North Korea will continue to expand."
Zelenskyy has publicly accused Russia and North Korea of trying to cover up evidence of the deployments by issuing fake papers to North Korean soldiers identifying them as Russian citizens.
The Kremlin and Pyongyang have not commented directly on the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia or the reported high losses.
Kim, speaking at the Defense Ministry to mark the country’s Army Day, also threatened to build up his nuclear forces and use other "countermeasures" as he blasted the military cooperation between the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
Pyongyang "does not want unnecessary tension of the regional situation but will take sustained countermeasures to ensure the regional military balance," Kim said.
Kim said U.S. involvement in the region -- including deployment of nuclear assets, war maneuvers, and ties to the Japanese and South Korean militaries -- would lead to a military imbalance in the region and endanger the security situation, state-run KCNA reported.
The report said Kim "clarified once again the unshakable policy of more highly developing the nuclear forces" after U.S. President Donald Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House on February 7 and expressed concerns about North Korea's nuclear program.
North Korean state media assailed South Korea's recent military activity with the United States and warned that any aggressive action would be met forcefully.
"Anyone could easily guess how we would take the fact that they carried out war exercises that were more intense than ever before at a time when diplomacy schedules were being canceled due to political turmoil," KCNA said.
With reporting by Reuters
- By RFE/RL
Far-Right Rallies In Budapest As Orban Flexes Nationalist Muscle In Madrid
The streets of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, were tense but calm as thousands of people took part in an annual right-wing event linked to World War II while antifascist demonstrators protested nearby against the global rise of the far right.
The activity on February 8 came as nationalist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban headlined a group of far-right leaders and firebrands at a gathering in Madrid labeled "Make Europe Great Again," praising U.S. President Donald Trump and declaring their movement to now be "mainstream."
It also came as Orban is scheduled to meet party leader Alice Weidel of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party -- which has scored gains in recent German elections -- in Budapest on February 11-12.
The street demonstrations appeared to proceed peacefully – unlike in some previous years when clashes broke out during the so-called Day of Honor events, traditionally set as February 11.
Far-right groups across Europe meet annually in the Hungarian capital to mark a failed attempt by Nazi and Hungarian troops in 1945 to break out of Buda Castle to escape a Soviet siege and reach nearby German lines.
Far-right supporters say the WWII soldiers were "protecting Western Europe against the threat of the Red Army," researcher Hunyadi Bulcsu of the Political Capital think tank told AFP.
But since the attempt was carried out "in the name of Nazi Germany," it cannot be "glorified" in any way, Bulcsu added.
AFP journalists estimated that 4,000 people participated in a "memorial hike" leading away from Buda Castle. Many of the marchers wore far-right markings and some wore Nazi uniforms.
AFP quoted Zsolt – a 33-year-old insurance broker -- as saying he wanted to honor "the heroes...the real Hungarians who defended the city" 80 years ago.
Police watched over the streets, using dogs, drones, and vehicles, as several antifascist demonstrators stood by.
"With the resurgence of fascism in Germany, not to mention Austria, and the whole world heading for a terrible fate," it was important to take to the streets, Julia Zsolnay, a retiree, told AFP
The Hungarian government had warned it would prevent a repeat of what happened in 2023, when clashes broke out between the far-right and leftist protesters.
Orban and his government have been criticized by the West for democratic backsliding and support for right-wing causes throughout Europe.
Meanwhile, Orban looked to press his far-right credentials at the rally in Madrid, sponsored by the nationalist Spanish Vox party and attended by some 2,000 supporters of the right-wing Patriots for Europe bloc in the European Parliament.
Also there were Italian Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini, French National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders of the Dutch PVV party, and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis.
Many of the leaders praised the return of Trump to the U.S. presidency.
"Trump tornado has changed the world in just a few weeks...yesterday we were heretics, today we're mainstream," Orban told the gathering.
Orban's scheduled talks in Budapest on February 11-12 with AfD leader Weidel will likely be meeting of two politicians with similar outlooks.
The AfD, like Orban, seeks to rebuild Europe's relations with Moscow despite Russia's ongoing Ukraine war and has pushed strong anti-immigration policies.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters
- By RFE/RL
Baltic States Cut Ties With Russia's Power Grid Ahead Of EU Switch
The three Baltic states disconnected their electricity systems from Russia's power grid on February 8, the region's operators said.
In doing so, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have severed their link to a Soviet-era electricity transmission grid that connects Russia, Belarus, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
The three EU members are due to join the synchronous grid of Continental Europe -- which includes most European countries, from Portugal in the west to Ukraine and Turkey in the east -- as part of a plan to integrate the countries more closely with the European Union and boost security.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will speak at a ceremony on February 9 to mark the switch to the EU system, her office said on February 7.
"We've reached the goal we for strived for, for so long. We are now in control," Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas told a news conference.
Immediately after disconnecting, Latvian workers used a crane to reach the high-voltage wires in Vilaka, 100 meters from the Russian border, and cut them. They handed out chopped wire as keepsakes to cheering observers.
"We will never use it again. We are moving on," Latvian Energy Minister Kaspars Melnis said.
Plans for the Baltics to decouple from the IPS/UPS transmission grid had been debated for decades, but gained momentum following Moscow's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The grid was the final remaining link to Russia for the three countries, which reemerged as independent nations in the early 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004.
Some 1.6 billion euros ($1.65 billion) have been invested in the project to synchronize the power systems of the Baltic countries and Poland.
With reporting by Reuters and RFE/RL's Russian Service
Pakistan's Opposition Takes To Streets On Anniversary Of Disputed Elections
SWABI, Pakistan -- Pakistani opposition parties, including the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, staged demonstrations on February 8 to mark the first anniversary of the country’s general elections, which triggered widespread allegations of vote-rigging.
The opposition parties are demanding that new elections be held in the country, which the current coalition government made up of Khan’s rivals -- the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) -- have rejected.
WATCH: Pakistani Opposition Rallies In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province
Khan’s PTI and other opposition parties allege that the Pakistani military rigged the February 8, 2024, elections in favor of the ruling PML-N. The allegations have been denied by the PML-N, the military, and the Pakistani Election Commission.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has also rejected the request to void the election, which prompted the United States, Britain, and the European Union to voice concerns about the way the vote was conducted and to urge an investigation.
Other parties participating in the February 8 demonstrations, included the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), PTI and Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-Haqiqi).
Ali Amin Gandapur, a key Khan ally and chief minister of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, repeated the allegations of widespread fraud in a video address to party workers ahead of the so-called “Black Day” demonstrations on February 8.
Caravans of demonstrators from across the province traveled to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swabi district, where thousands gathered to call for Khan’s release.
Ahead of the demonstrations, the federal government in Islamabad and provincial authorities in Balochistan and Punjab enacted measures to restrict public gatherings, citing security concerns.
Scores of PTI members and leaders over the past two years have been targeted for protesting the jailing of Khan and the military's alleged meddling in politics.
Khan last month was sentenced to 14 years in prison on fresh corruption charges in a case he denounced as politically motivated. His wife was also convicted and sentenced to seven years.
The 72-year-old former cricket superstar-turned-politician, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been in jail since August 2023.
- By RFE/RL
Trudeau Among Mourners At Aga Khan Memorial Service In Lisbon
Mourners including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gathered in Lisbon on February 8 to commemorate the Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of the world's Shi'ite Ismaili Muslims, who died in the Portuguese capital at the age of 88 earlier this week.
Mourners at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon included community leaders, Portuguese officials, and foreign dignitaries who arrived to pay their respects to the wealthy philanthropist known for juggling religious matters with his business interests.
Following the announcement of Aga Khan’s death on February 5, Trudeau noted that he had been a “dear” family friend and praised him as “a friend to all Canadians, and to everyone who dreams of a more peaceful world.”
Following the funeral service, the late leader of a multiethnic community scattered across several countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America is to be buried at a private ceremony in Aswan, Egypt on February 9.
The Ismaili Imamat announced on February 5 that his son, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, was named his successor as the hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims.
There are at least 2.5 million Ismailis in the world, with some estimates going as high as 15 million. The largest Ismaili community is in Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan region.
Born Prince Karim al-Husayn Shah in Geneva on December 13, 1936, the Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather in 1957 as the 49th imam of the Ismailis at the age of 21.
He spearheaded international development projects that benefited both Ismailis and many others in some of the poorest regions of Asia and Africa under the auspices of his Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which invested in many fields, including education, health care, rural development, and microfinance, as well as in cultural initiatives.
The projects -- implemented in partnership with governments, organizations, and communities -- provided employment opportunities and economic self-reliance, as well as better education and health care for the very poor.
In media interviews and speeches, the Aga Khan said that one of the "continuing objectives" of his projects was trying to improve people's quality of life and to contribute to the elimination of poverty.
The Muslim leader, who endeavored to present moderate Islam and promote religious tolerance, said assisting the poor by providing them economic opportunities would help prevent extremism.
The Aga Khan said that in some of the poorest regions of the world, violence and terrorism "come from poverty" and that "changing the basics of the quality of life and [by] replacing despair with hope" would help stop the situation "from becoming explosive."
He often called on his followers and their leaders not to exclusively help Ismailis but anyone who is in need.
"He was an example for humanity for all around the world. He served all his life for the people, not only for the Ismaili Community, he was not only a symbol for the Ismaili Community," Shahnaz Hussaini, a 34-year-old refugee from Afghanistan, told the Associated Press after the announcement of his death on February 5.
The Aga Khan had seen his Ismaili community and many of his philanthropic projects and properties face difficult challenges in volatile regions around the world.
Most recently, the Tajik government appropriated several major AKDN properties -- including a hotel, a private school, and a city park -- in the restive Gorno-Badakhshan region.
The Aga Khan inherited a vast fortune, and his net worth had been estimated at between $800 million and several billion dollars.
In 2009, Forbes put the Aga Khan among the 15 richest royals in the world. He was known for a jet-setting lifestyle and was the owner of opulent residences, a multimillion-dollar yacht, and aircraft, though he denied he led a "lavish" lifestyle.
He is survived by one daughter, three sons, and several grandchildren.
With reporting by Reuters and AP
- By RFE/RL
Iran's Supreme Leader Hosts Hamas Officials In Tehran As Israeli Hostages Released
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with acting Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya and two other leaders of the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist group in Tehran on February 8, Iranian state media reported.
The reports quoted Khamenei as saying the people of Gaza had defeated Israel and the United States in the recent conflict and photos were posted of Khamenei meeting Hayya, Muhammad Darwish, the head of Hamas's leadership council, and senior Hamas official Nizar Awadallah.
Iran supports Hamas in its war with Israel and views the Palestinian group as a key ally in its broader strategy to oppose Israeli and Western influence in the Middle East.
The West accuses Tehran of fomenting extremist violence in the region through the use of proxies, such as Hamas in Gaza and Lebanon's Hezbollah, also listed as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, and other countries.
The meeting came on the same day that Hamas freed three more Israeli hostages taken in an October 2023 attack on Israel.
Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben-Ami, 56, and Or Levi, 34, were first handed over to the Red Cross and then to the Israeli military. The hostages had been in captivity for 491 days.
Before they were handed over to the Red Cross, the hostages -- looking pale and exhausted -- were paraded on a stage before a crowd in Gaza by Hamas members, a move that Israel condemned.
"The shocking images we saw today will not pass without response," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.
The hospital treating the released hostages said Levy and Sharabi were in a "poor medical condition" and that Ben-Ami was in a "severe nutritional state."
The Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group called the images "disturbing" and show that "we must get them all out."
"Our hearts tremble and our minds struggle to comprehend the sight of Or, who has returned to us in such a devastating state. His face bears witness to the hell he endured during 491 days in the hands of Hamas monsters," a statement by the Levy family stated.
With the latest returns, 73 out of the 251 hostages taken during the October 2023 attack still remain in Gaza. The Israeli military has said 34 of those taken are now dead.
In exchange for the released hostages, Israel is set to free 183 Palestinian prisoners, 18 of whom were sentenced to life in prison.
Israeli authorities on February 8 began the process of this prisoner release, freeing dozens of Palestinians from incarceration.
The truce and the hostage release, agreed on January 15 after months of negotiations, is the first step in a multistage process aimed at ending the 15-month conflict in Gaza.
The conflict broke out when Iran-backed Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages to Gaza.
Israel retaliated by launching a devastating war in the Palestinian enclave that has killed over 46,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.
With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
- By RFE/RL
Trump Order Cuts Aid For South Africa Over Land Law, Genocide Case Against Israel
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. financial assistance to South Africa, the White House said on February 7.
The order cited a law that took effect last year on land expropriation, the country’s genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel, and its move to reinvigorate relations with Iran.
“The United States cannot support the government of South Africa’s commission of rights violations in its country or its undermining United States foreign policy, which poses national security threats to our Nation, our allies, our African partners, and our interests,” Trump's order said.
The order said South Africa’s new law seizes the agricultural property of ethnic minority Afrikaners without compensating them. Afrikaners are mostly white descendants of early Dutch and French settlers.
The order also said the United States will promote the “resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation.”
The United States allocated nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa in 2023, the most recent U.S. government data shows.
Trump has complained about South Africa's land policy, saying that "South Africa is confiscating land" and "certain classes of people" are being treated "very badly." In addition, South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, whom Trump has named as his "efficiency czar," has accused South Africa of having "openly racist ownership laws" and suggested white people were the victims.
The question of land ownership is politically charged in South Africa due to the dispossession of land from blacks during colonialism and apartheid. White landowners still own three-quarters of South Africa's freehold farmland. This contrasts with 4 percent owned by black people, who make up 80 percent of the population, according to the 2017 land audit.
President Cyril Ramaphosa defended South Africa's land policy last week, saying the government had not confiscated any land and the policy was aimed at ensuring equitable public access to land.
"The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution," Ramaphosa said on X.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on February 5 cited the land policy in announcing that he will not attend a Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers meeting later this month in South Africa.
The absence of the United States at the G20 will be a blow to the meeting. Rubio also will miss an opportunity to meet his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as Trump pushes for diplomacy on the Ukraine war.
Washington has also complained about the case brought by South Africa at the ICJ against Israel, accusing the close U.S. ally of genocide over its military assault on Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people.
Israel says it has acted in self-defense following a deadly October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
The order didn't elaborate on South Africa's ties to Iran except to say that they were reinvigorated to develop commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements.
With reporting by Reuters
- By RFE/RL
Zelenskyy Hints At 'Intensive' Talks With Trump, Accuses Putin Of Rebuilding Forces To Continue War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not confirmed that he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump next week but said the coming weeks may be "very intensive in diplomacy."
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Trump said on February 7 that he is likely to meet with Zelenskyy next week. The site of the meeting "could be Washington," he said, adding that he would not be going to Kyiv.
He also said he would "probably" be speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon but did not give a time frame. Zelenskyy said it is important that he and Trump meet in person before the U.S. president meets with Putin.
Zelenskyy did not confirm a meeting with Trump but said diplomacy would be ramping up.
"The coming weeks may be very intensive in diplomacy, and we will do what’s needed to make this time effective and productive. We always appreciate working with President Trump," he said shortly after Trump spoke.
"We're also planning meetings and talks at the teams’ level. Right now Ukrainian and American teams are working out the details. A solid, lasting peace shall become closer."
Zelenskyy on February 8 accused Putin of rebuilding Russia's military capabilities in order to continue the war against Ukraine.
"Intelligence reports confirm that Russia is forming new divisions and developing new military production facilities," Zelenskyy said on X without being specific.
“This means one simple thing -- Putin is preparing not for negotiations, not for peace, but for the continuation of the war -- and not only against Ukraine.
"They are now increasing their army by more than a hundred thousand soldiers,” Zelenskyy wrote, also citing a continued influx of North Korean soldiers.
In his comments earlier at the White House, Trump reiterated that he is interested in tying continued military aid to access to Ukraine's raw materials.
"One of the things we're looking at with President Zelenskyy is having the security of their assets. They have assets underground, rare earth and other things, but primarily rare earth," he said.
"We're looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they're going to secure what we're giving them with their rare earths and other things,” Trump said on February 3.
He said on February 7 that the United States wants "an equal amount of something" in exchange for U.S. support. “We would like them to equalize," Trump said.
More than four dozen minerals, including several types of rare earths, nickel, and lithium, are considered critical to the U.S. economy and national defense. Ukraine has large deposits of uranium, lithium, and titanium.
Ukraine floated the idea of opening its critical minerals to investment by allies last year when it presented its plan to end the war and now suggests it could be open to a deal.
"If we are talking about a deal, then let's do a deal. We are only for it," Zelenskyy said on February 7, emphasizing Ukraine's need for security guarantees from its allies as part of any settlement of the war.
"Strong security always has many elements, and each one matters," he said on X. "Ukraine possesses some of the largest strategic resource reserves in Europe, and protecting Ukraine also means protecting these resources."
Less than 20 percent of Ukraine's mineral resources, including about half its rare earth deposits, are under Russian occupation, Zelenskyy said in an interview with Reuters published on February 7. Moscow could open those resources to North Korea and Iran if it maintains its hold on the territories.
"We need to stop Putin and protect what we have -- a very rich Dnipro region, central Ukraine," he told Reuters.
Zelenskyy is likely to further discuss the idea with allies next week at the Munich Security Conference.
Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, said this week he plans to attend the conference, but denied a report that he will present Trump’s plan for ending the war in Ukraine at the gathering, which starts on February 14.
Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, said he had spoken to Kellogg about the battlefield situation, the safety of Ukrainian civilians, and meetings at the annual security conference. He also said Ukraine is looking forward to Kellogg’s visit later this month.
With reporting by Reuters and dpa
- By RFE/RL
Slovaks Turn Out For Major Protests Against PM Fico
Large crowds of people protested in cities across Slovakia, voicing concerns that Prime Minister Robert Fico is turning the EU member state toward Russia and calling for him to step down.
Tens of thousands turned out on Bratislava's Freedom Square for the second time in two weeks. Participants held up their mobile phone flashlights while chanting "Resign, resign," "Russian agent," and "Slovakia is Europe."
They demanded that any cooperation with Russia be stopped immediately, accusing the prime minister of collaborating with autocrats and attempting to turn Slovakia into an autocracy.
Demonstrations were held in 41 locations in Slovakia, up from 28 two weeks ago, and in 13 cities abroad, the Associated Press cited organizers as saying. News website Dennik estimated the crowd on Freedom Square at up to 45,000.
The street protests were the biggest since 2018, when the killings of an investigative reporter and his fiancee sparked political upheaval that culminated in the collapse of Fico's previous government.
Fico returned to power in 2023, starting his fourth stint as prime minister, and swiftly caused concern among critics that he is undermining democracy and shifting the country closer to Russia as it presses ahead with its war on Ukraine. He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in December.
Fico, who survived an assassination attempt last May, has halted military aid to Ukraine, vocally opposed future membership of Ukraine in NATO, and spoken out against EU sanctions on Russia. Tension increased following his claims that opponents were planning to turn protests into attempts to overthrow the government.
With reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa
- By RFE/RL
Trump Says He Will 'Probably' Meet With Zelenskyy Next Week
U.S. President Donald Trump said he is likely to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week, as U.S. efforts to end the war in Ukraine gather force, and Zelenskyy said it is important that the two meet in person before Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I will probably be meeting with President Zelenskyy next week," Trump said on February 7. He said the site of the meeting "could be Washington," adding that "I'm not going [to Kyiv.]"
Trump has repeatedly vowed to bring a swift end to Russia's war against Ukraine, which later this month enters its fourth year since Putin launched the full-scale invasion of the neighboring country on February 24, 2022. The meeting would be their first since Trump began his new term on January 20.
Trump spoke one week before the start of the February 14-16 Munich Security Conference, where the largest war in Europe since 1945 is certain to be among the main topics of discussion.
Zelenskyy is expected to attend the annual gathering, as is Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg.
Trump again mentioned Ukraine's natural resources, saying he wants "an equal amount of something" in exchange for U.S. support. "We would like them to equalize," he added.
"One of the things we're looking at with President Zelenskyy is having the security of their assets. They have assets underground, rare earth and other things, but primarily rare earth," he said.
Kellogg earlier this week denied a report that the United States will unveil a peace plan for Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference.
Trump and members of his administration have provided few details about any specific proposal for ending the war, but Kellogg said recently that both sides would have to "give a little bit," meaning make compromises.
Zelenskyy said in an interview with Reuters on February 7 said it is "very important" that he and Trump meet before Trump meets with Putin, saying otherwise it will "look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine."
"It is still important for partners to discuss their issues first, and then have a conversation with the enemy," Reuters quoted Zelenskyy as saying. No specific plans for a meeting between Trump and Putin have been announced.
Zelenskyy repeated his call for firm Western security guarantees for Ukraine as a part of any truce or peace deal, and said it is crucial that the West determine a broad strategy before holding talks with Moscow, Reuters reported.
Zelenskyy said that his team has had regular contacts with Kellogg and with Trump's national-security adviser, Michael Waltz.
- By RFE/RL
Khamenei Dismisses Prospect of Iran-U.S. Talks, Calling Them 'Pointless'
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed the prospect of nuclear talks with the United States, insisting that negotiations would not address Iran's problems days after President Donald Trump talked of making a deal where Iranians could "get on" with their lives.
"The reality that we must understand is that negotiating with America has no effect in resolving the country's problems," Khamenei said on February 7 in an annual address to Iranian Air Force officers.
The supreme leader, who has the final say on all state matters, insisted it would "not be intelligent, wise, or honorable" to negotiate with Washington.
His comments come as Iranian officials have for months been signaling Tehran's openness to talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump himself has called for a new nuclear deal with Iran, saying he wants Iran to "peacefully grow and prosper" as long it does not have nuclear weapons.
The Republican president on February 4 brought back the "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran that was the cornerstone of his policy toward the Islamic republic during his first term in office, though Trump also said he would like to start working on a "verified nuclear peace agreement."
In 2018, Trump pulled the United States out of a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. He also reimposed sanctions that had been lifted under the terms of that agreement.
Khamenei pointed to Trump's abrogation of the nuclear deal as evidence that "negotiating with America is pointless."
The Iranian leader's comments have caused a stir on social media, with some saying his remarks effectively rule out talks with the United States. Others argue that he did not issue a formal ban on negotiations with Trump and his comments should not be taken at face value.
Precisely 12 years ago, during his 2013 address to air force officers, Khamenei charged that "negotiating with America will not solve problems."
As he was delivering those comments, Iranian and American officials were preparing to hold another round of secret talks that eventually paved the way for negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Ukraine Marks 6 Months Since Launch Of Kursk Operation
Ukraine has marked six months since it launched an incursion into the Russian region of Kursk that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said "brought the war home for Russians” and could serve as a bargaining chip in any future peace negotiations.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
"Today marks six months of the Kursk operation. With our active operations on Russian territory, we have brought the war home to Russia," Zelenskyy said in in his nightly video address on February 6.
Ukrainian forces launched the incursion on August 6, capturing swaths of territory in the Kursk region, including the town of Sudzha.
Meanwhile, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said on February 7 that Ukrainian forces advanced up to 5 kilometers into the Kursk region, seizing at least one settlement southeast of Sudzha. The report, based on geolocated footage, confirms that Ukrainian troops have taken control of the small hamlet of Kolmakov, while also making advances near the settlements of Cherkasskaya Konopelka and Fanaseyevka.
Pro-Russian military bloggers acknowledged Ukrainian tactical gains, stating that Kyiv's forces had penetrated Russian defensive lines by up to 5 kilometers.
The “Dva Mayora” Telegram channel confirmed that Ukrainian troops were spotted in Fanaseyevka and Cherkasskaya Konopelka, although it claimed that Ukraine failed to achieve its primary objective of reaching the larger village of Ulanok.
The Russian Defense Ministry asserted that all Ukrainian attacks in the Cherkasskaya Konopelka-Ulanok direction were repelled. Moscow has not officially acknowledged the depth of Ukraine’s incursions.
The ministry claimed Ukrainian forces suffered heavy losses, including more than 200 soldiers and dozens of vehicles. The battlefield report could not be verified.
The General Staff of Ukraine's military made brief reference to military activity in the Kursk region in an assessment of fighting on February 6, only saying that five clashes had taken place since the beginning of the day.
Ukraine has said its foothold in Kursk could be a useful bargaining chip in potential peace negotiations with Russia.
"At some point, when the war moves toward a diplomatic resolution, you will see just how important this operation was," Zelenskyy said on X on February 5.
Zelenskyy’s office said a day later that Ukraine is ready to open a humanitarian corridor to let hundreds of Russian civilians living in border areas seized by Ukraine to return to Russian-controlled territory.
More than 1,500 civilians are still living in areas of the Kursk region. Some have become angry at Russian authorities over lost contact with family members believed to be without communication on the other side of the front line.
"We are ready to open a humanitarian corridor from Kursk region to the depths of Russia in response to an official request from the Russian Federation," Zelenskyy’s office said in a statement.
"Apparently, the Russians do not want such a humanitarian corridor, because we have not received a corresponding request from them," the statement said, accusing Moscow of "indifference" to the fate of its own citizens.
Escalating Attacks On Ukrainian Civilians
Since the Ukrainian offensive in Russia’s border regions some 130,000 people have fled the area. Self-exiled Russian political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin told Current Time that, for the first time since World War II, Russia has lost control over its internationally recognized territory to a foreign military force, highlighting the irony of President Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric about "defending Russian lands."
Displaced Russians have expressed growing frustration with the government’s handling of the situation, staging protests and demanding housing, financial aid, and better security measures.
Kyiv says more than 16,000 Russian troops have been killed in battles in the Kursk region over the past six months, with 909 Russian soldiers captured.
The Russian Defense Ministry says Ukraine has suffered 57,000 casualties (killed and wounded) in the same time frame. Both sides have refused to disclose their own losses.
As Ukraine pushes forward in Kursk, Russian forces have escalated attacks on civilian areas, particularly in Ukraine's Sumy Oblast. A Russian missile strike on the Myropil community overnight destroyed a residential apartment building, killing at least two people, with more victims feared trapped under the rubble, local authorities said on February 7.
In general, Ukrainian authorities said, Russia launched 112 drones from multiple locations, including Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo, Bryansk, and Shatalovo. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that 81 drones were successfully shot down over the Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyy, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolayiv, and Odesa regions.
While most drones were intercepted, the Kyiv, Sumy, and Khmelnytskiy regions sustained damage. A fire broke out in the Brovary district in the Kyiv region due to a drone strike on a garage, though no casualties were reported.
Despite mounting civilian casualties, Russia continues to deny targeting civilian infrastructure, claiming its strikes focus on military objectives. However, Ukrainian officials and international watchdogs classify these attacks as war crimes, citing the deliberate targeting of hospitals, schools, energy facilities, and residential buildings.
Also on February 7, Ukrainian presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said Kyiv has high expectations for an upcoming visit from Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special representative for Ukraine and Russia, set to take place after February 11. Yermak stated that Ukraine aims to provide the U.S. administration with a comprehensive assessment of the battlefield situation, mobilization efforts, and military supply needs.
Yermak emphasized the importance of direct U.S.-Ukraine communication, stating that "no peace plans can be made without Ukraine’s involvement."
With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa
- By RFE/RL
Panama Denies Making Deal To Allow Free Transit For U.S. Warships Through Canal
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has denied the U.S. State Department’s claim that his country had reached a deal allowing U.S. warships to transit the Panama Canal for free.
Mulino said he was surprised by the U.S. State Department’s statement on X that U.S. government vessels “can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the U.S. government millions of dollars a year.”
Mulino on February 6 rejected that statement and asked Panama’s ambassador to the United States to dispute it. The ambassador is scheduled to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump on February 7.
Mulino said he had told U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on February 5 that he could neither set the transit fees nor exempt any vessels from paying from them.
The Panama Canal Authority also said it had "not made any adjustments” to the fees.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who met with Mulino and canal administrators and visited the critical trade route earlier this week, said on February 6 from the Dominican Republic that he respects Panama's legal process, but the United States has a treaty obligation to protect the Panama Canal if it comes under attack.
"That treaty obligation would have to be enforced by the armed forces of the United States, particularly the U.S. Navy,” Rubio said. “I find it absurd that we would have to pay fees to transit a zone that we are obligated to protect in a time of conflict.”
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Rubio delivered a message from Trump when he met with Mulino, saying that that China's presence was a threat to the waterway and a violation of the U.S.-Panama treaty.
The treaty calls for the permanent neutrality of the American-built canal.
China's business with the canal is mainly carried out through Hong-Kong based Hutchison Holdings, which operates two ports near the entrances to the waterway under a 25-year concession renewed in 2021.
Rubio last week said under the current status, China could theoretically use the ports to shut down the canal should a conflict break out between the United States and China.
China has denied it plays any role in the operation of the canal and that it respects Panama's control over the waterway.
"Never ever has China interfered," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said last month and added that Beijing recognizes the canal as "a permanently neutral international waterway.”
The Panamanian president said his meeting with Rubio on February 2 was cordial and respectful. He indicated it was possible to review some Chinese businesses in Panama, including the port concession.
Mulino announced after Rubio's visit that Panama would not renew its memorandum of understanding to join China's flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He also announced further steps to cooperate on immigration, a major policy matter with the U.S. administration.
The BRI is Chinese leader Xi Jinping's signature foreign policy initiative, and the globe-spanning infrastructure project has led to hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese investment around the world.
With reporting by AP
- By RFE/RL
Trump's Ukraine Envoy Has 'Thorough Discussion' With Ukrainian Ambassador
The Ukrainian ambassador to the United States held what she said was a “thorough discussion” with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, who has been tasked with finding a resolution to the war in Ukraine.
The meeting on February 6 between Oksana Markarova and Kellogg took place after Kellogg rejected a report that he would present a peace plan for Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference next week.
Markarova said it was her first meeting with Kellogg since his appointment, though the two had met before.
"We held a thorough discussion with the special envoy and his team and my colleagues," Markarova said on Facebook.
Ukraine has been trying to establish close relations with the new administration under Trump, who has said he wants to bring a quick end to the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on February 5 in his nightly video address that Ukraine had been "significantly intensifying" its contacts with the Trump administration, adding that it also has had "quite meaningful contacts with other partners."
Zelenskyy, who will lead Ukraine’s delegation at the Munich Security Conference, said on February 6 that he is certain that there is no official U.S. plan yet, suggesting that any formal plan should be coordinated with Kyiv.
Andriy Yermak, chief of Zelenskyy's office, said the Ukrainian delegation would present the country’s position on ending the war and their views on how “a long and lasting peace” can be achieved.
“It’s necessary that the leaders and the experts in politics who will be in Munich realize that this is momentum,” he told the AP. “That we are very near to really ending this war by a just and lasting peace, but (it’s) necessary to be together [and not give] Russia an opportunity to divide the world, to divide partners.”
Zelenskyy has voiced confidence that Trump can pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into ending the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. He also has said Trump knows Ukraine’s positions, including the things on which there can be no concessions.
Kellogg said last week that Trump has a “solid” strategy to end the war within months. But Trump himself has said little since his inauguration about how he will seek to settle the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin announced on February 5 an increase in contacts with the United States regarding the push to seek a resolution of the war.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was ready to negotiate with Zelenskyy despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's refusal to hold talks with him because his term expired last year.
Zelenskyy has dismissed that notion, saying no election can be held while martial law remains in place.
Kellogg said on February 5 on the conservative U.S. broadcaster Newsmax that Ukraine would reach a point when it would have to hold and election.
"The sign of a healthy democracy is the willingness and the ability to have an election, even in the time of war," he said.
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti on February 6 quoted senior Russian parliamentarian Leonid Slutsky as saying preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump were at an "advanced stage."
Slutsky, head of the State Duma's international affairs committee, said the meeting could take place in February or March.
"It will be about Ukraine, the Middle East and, more generally, issues of world politics and international relations in the near future. I am sure that this meeting will be a milestone," Slutsky said.
With reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa
- By RFE/RL
Trump Signs Order Imposing Sanctions On International Criminal Court
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order slapping sanctions on officials with the International Criminal Court for opening investigations targeting the United States and Israel.
Trump's order said the court in The Hague “has engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.”
The executive order, signed by Trump on February 6, said those actions “set a dangerous precedent, directly endangering current and former United States personnel,” including members of the U.S. military.
The order refers to an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his actions toward Palestinians in Gaza and recent actions by the court that endanger members of the U.S. military.
The order was signed after Netanyahu visited Trump at the White House on February 4. It notes that neither the United States nor Israel are members of the court.
Trump’s order imposes sanctions, including barring ICC officials, employees, and family members from entering the United States and freezes any assets they hold in U.S. jurisdiction. The sanctions also apply to anyone deemed to have helped the court's investigations.
The ICC issued arrest warrants on November 21 for Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif -- who Israel says is dead.
The warrants are for "crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024."
Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people, mostly Israeli citizens, and took hundreds of others hostage. A subsequent Israeli offensive aimed at neutralizing Hamas has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly in the Gaza Strip.
Trump in 2020 during his first administration imposed financial sanctions and a visa ban on the ICC's then-prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and other senior officials and staff. The move came after Bensouda launched an investigation into allegations of war crimes against U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
President Joe Biden lifted the sanctions soon after taking office in 2021.
ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan,Khan later effectively dropped the United States from the Afghan investigation.
With reporting by AFP
U.S. Attorney General Ends Task Force Targeting Assets Of Russian Oligarchs
The U.S. Justice Department is disbanding a program aimed at seizing the assets of Russian oligarchs started after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
A memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi issued on February 6 said the effort, known as Task Force KleptoCapture, will end.
"This policy requires a fundamental change in mindset and approach," Bondi said in the memo.
The program was designed to strain the finances of wealthy associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin and punish people who facilitated sanctions violations.
Bondi said resources now devoted to seizing the assets of oligarchs and enforcing sanctions will be redirected to “the total elimination of Cartels and TCOs” -- an acronym for transnational criminal organizations.
Task Force KleptoCapture was announced on March 2, 2022, just a few weeks after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It brought indictments against aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska and TV tycoon Konstantin Malofeyev for alleged sanctions evasion and seized yachts belonging to oligarchs Suleiman Kerimov and Viktor Vekselberg.
Bondi also ended the Foreign Influence Task Force, which was established in the first administration of President Donald Trump to police disinformation campaigns aimed at sowing discord and undermining democracy.
The task force was dedicated to investigating violations of the law requiring foreign agents to register with U.S. authorities. Bondi said the decision the scale back the policing of foreign interests had been made to "free resources to address more pressing priorities, and end risks of further weaponization and abuses of prosecutorial discretion."
Attorneys assigned to the task force will return to their previous posts. The changes will be in effect for at least 90 days and could be renewed or made permanent, according to the memo.
Some Republicans have accused the government of abusing the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to unfairly target political operatives, such as Paul Manafort, Trump's 2016 campaign manager.
He was indicted as part of a federal probe into Trump's role in Russia's influence campaign during the 2016 U.S. election. Manafort was convicted of several offenses, including acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign principal and lying on FARA documents, but he was ultimately pardoned by Trump.
FARA was also used to pursue Mike Flynn, Trump's first national-security adviser, who lied to the FBI about contacts with Russians.
With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP
Ukraine Welcomes Deliveries Of Mirage, F-16 Fighter Jets To Strengthen Air Defenses
France and the Netherlands delivered fighter jets to Ukraine, giving Kyiv a major boost in its ability to defend Ukrainian airspace amid an almost daily barrage of Russian attacks.
In Paris, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in a post on X on February 6 that an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5 fighters had arrived in Ukraine, while the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said it had also taken possession of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets.
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"The Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received a long-awaited reinforcement - the first French fighters Mirage 2000 and F-16s from the Kingdom of the Netherlands," Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
"These modern fighting machines are already in Ukraine and will soon take on combat missions, strengthening our defense and ability to effectively resist Russian aggression."
Lecornu said in a post on X that with "Ukrainian pilots on board after training for several months in France, they will now help defend the skies over Ukraine."
Paris announced it would deliver Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine in early 2025, armed with air-to-ground missiles and electronic warfare countermeasures.
Ukraine has long sought modern Western fighter jets, especially F-16s and Mirage fighters. In 2023, several allied nations agreed to transfer F-16s to Ukraine with U.S. approval, and the first batch arrived in August 2024.
"This is another step in strengthening Ukraine’s security," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said of the arrival of the planes, which can fly at double the speed of sound.
"With the latest deliveries, we are also continuing to expand our F-16 fleet, with the Netherlands fulfilling its commitments to support this effort," he added.
Israeli aviation expert David Sharp told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service's Donbas.Realities in an interview that the newly acquired jets will replace older Soviet Su-24s and can employ Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles.
They will also be key in short- and medium-range combat missions and "of course, against Shahed drones and cruise missiles."
"As hunters of these, they're better than Soviet planes, which means they can save Ukrainian lives every night," he added.
WATCH: Archive Footage Of Mirage 2000-5 Fighter Jets
The announcement comes as Ukraine looks to blunt widespread Russian air attacks and gains on the front lines as the war approaches its third anniversary on February 24.
At the same time, Kyiv has been taking the offensive where it can to strengthen its position as the West looks to jump-start talks toward a cease-fire and eventual peace agreement.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed on February 6 an overnight drone strike on the Primorsko-Akhtarsk airbase in Russia's Krasnodar region.
According to Ukrainian military officials, the base served as a key location for the storage, preparation, and deployment of Shahed drones and the maintenance of aircraft supporting Russian operations in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions.
Russian Telegram channels and residents of the town of Primorsko-Akhtarsk reported the drone strike, with videos circulating online showing flames near the airfield.
UGC Footage Of The Drone strike In Krasnodar Verified By RFE/RL
The head of the local district confirmed that air defense systems had been activated in response to drone activity.
At the same time, Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses overnight downed 28 Ukrainian drones -- 13 over the Sea of Azov, eight over the Rostov region, six over Krasnodar Krai, and one over Astrakhan.
In another incident, three people were allegedly killed by a Ukrainian drone strike inside Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram that the incident took place near the village of Logachyovka, which has been banned declared off-limits due to ongoing drone attack threat since late October 2022.
- By Current Time
Polish Prosecutors Investigate PM Tusk For Alleged Coup Attempt
The Polish Prosecutor-General's Office has launched an investigation into Prime Minister Donald Tusk after the head of the country's Constitutional Tribunal accused him and other senior ruling party officials of operating as an “organized criminal group” in order to mount a “coup d’etat.”
The move comes after Bogdan Swieczkowski, the chief justice of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal and an ally of the Polish opposition party PiS, said he sent a document to prosecutors outlining moves by the government that disregard court rulings, while also alleging Tusk's government has “unlawfully taken over” public media.
Tusk, whose government has refused to recognize the Constitutional Tribunal that was created under the previous right-wing government, appeared to brush off the allegations, posting a video on social media showing him playing table tennis while claiming he has bigger concerns than the investigation.
"Relax. We have serious things to do now. We will get to it eventually," he said while playing table tennis.
The social media post also has a laughing emoji next to the phrase "coup d'etat."
President Andrzej Duda, who was a candidate for PiS in the 2015 presidential election that brought him to power, blasted the government's actions as "blatant constitutional violations."
But he stopped short of endorsing the coup accusations.
Tusk was elected prime minister in December 2023 after his party, Civic Platform, formed a pro-European coalition government with 248 votes in parliament against 201 from the opposition.
The vote froze PiS out of power even though it had won elections earlier that year, taking just over 35 percent of the total vote.
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