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Georgian Airways Announces Controversial Plan For Transit Flights For Russians Via Tbilisi
Georgian Airways plans to launch transit flights for Russians via Tbilisi to several destinations in Europe, a move likely to raise the ire of Washington and Brussels, which have banned Russian airlines from entering their airspace as they look to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The airline's founder, Tamaz Gaiashvili, told Russian media outlet RTVI television on May 25 that flights from Moscow to five European destinations -- Milan, Paris, Vienna, Larnaca, and Thessaloniki -- via Tbilisi will start in mid-June.
Flights between the Georgian capital and Russia resumed earlier this month after Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted a ban on air travel between the two countries implemented four years ago after a wave of anti-Kremlin protests in the Caucasus nation. Russians have looked to skirt the sanctions by flying through cities such as Istanbul, Dubai, Yerevan, and Belgrade to destinations they can no longer reach directly from home.
Putin also signed a decree also allowing Georgian nationals to enter Russia without visas starting from May 15, unless they are coming to work in Russia for more than 90 days.
The two countries have had no formal diplomatic ties since Russia routed Tbilisi's forces in a brief war in 2008 that ended with Tbilisi losing control over its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Georgia's government has not joined international sanctions against Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but the country also has voted in favor of all international resolutions condemning Russia’s aggression. It has also provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid and taken in thousands of war refugees.
At the same time, the Black Sea country of 3.7 million has been a top destination for Russians fleeing the partial mobilization that Putin announced in September 2022 and the worsening general crackdown in Russia.
The allowance of flights from Russia has sparked protests in Tbilisi, led by President Salome Zurabishvili, who has criticized the government for its warming relations with Moscow.
Georgian Airways, based in Tbilisi, earlier this week said it had banned Zurabishvili from using its services because of her calls for a boycott of the airline.
The EU has said it "regrets" the resumption of flights to Georgia, which "raises concerns in terms of Georgia's EU path."
Gaiashvili admitted there are still issues to be ironed out over the transit of passengers through the airport given it has no proper facilities to monitor and process such an operation.
He said that the number of passengers coming from Russia to Tbilisi remains small and that flights are only about 40 percent capacity.
"Our expectations were different," Gaiashvili said.
With reporting by RTVI
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Navalny Ally Volkov Says Father's House Raided In Russia By FSB
Russian law enforcement officers raided the Yekaterinburg residence of Mikhail Volkov, the father of prominent opposition politician Leonid Volkov, a key ally of late Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny.
Leonid Volkov said the April 3 search was conducted under the guise of an investigation into the alleged financing of an extremist organization, namely the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), an organization founded by Navalny that was classified as extremist by the Russian government in 2021.
Authorities allege that 69-year-old Mikhail Volkov, a renowned mathematics professor, gave money to the FBK, known for its investigations into high-level corruption in what appears to be the latest escalation in the Russian government’s crackdown on dissent.
Leonid Volkov, who now lives in exile in an undisclosed European country, said officers from the FSB security service confiscated electronic devices from his father’s home.
The searches are "revenge for the work I have been doing, am doing, and do not intend to stop," he said.
Hours later, Volkov said on Telegram that his father was detained for interrogation and released later but ordered not to leave the city as a criminal case was officially launched against him.
The younger Volkov said earlier that his father, a distinguished mathematics professor, was dismissed from his position at the Ural Federal University in February 2025.
No reason was given for the dismissal, which Leonid Volkov said was an attempt to pile pressure on his family.
The April 3 raid and interrogation are the latest of several similar actions by Russian authorities on the families of opposition leaders who have fled the country.
In 2021, the father of Ivan Zhdanov, another prominent associate of Navalny and a former director of the FBK, was convicted of corruption, charges which he denies and his supporters call politically motivated.
Like Leonid Volkov, Zhdanov went into self-imposed exile to escape persecution from Russian authorities.
The Anti-Corruption Foundation, founded in 2011 by Aleksei Navalny, has been at the forefront of investigating corruption within Russia’s political elite.
The organization’s detailed reports have not only uncovered vast wealth amassed by high-ranking officials but also drawn significant attention and concern both domestically and internationally.
The Russian government designation of the FBK as an extremist organization meant its activities were banned and anyone connected to it -- including journalists who covered his court hearings -- could face criminal charges.
Human rights organizations have widely condemned this designation as an attempt to stifle one of the country’s most vocal anti-corruption movements.
Navalny died in February last year in a remote Russian prison while serving a 19-year prison term on charges many said were retribution for his pursuit of corruption around President Vladimir Putin.
- By RFE/RL
Hundreds Mourn At Farewell For Four US Soldiers Who Died In Lithuania
Hundreds of Lithuanians gathered in Vilnius on April 3 to honor four American soldiers who died during a training exercise in Lithuania, as a procession carrying their coffins passed through the city's Cathedral Square.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausada, who attended the ceremony, expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers and said the recovery operations, supported by international cooperation, were "the best proof of NATO's invincibility."
“Their readiness to be with us, as they say, in a difficult neighborhood, is the best proof of who our friends are today," Nauseda told reporters.
Defense Minister Davile Sakaliene and the archbishop of Vilnius were among those present at the ceremony.
Sakaliene emphasized that the joint rescue efforts by soldiers from Lithuania, the United States, Germany, Poland, and Estonia demonstrated "unity" in times of crisis.
"We consider US soldiers in Lithuania as our own. The farewell ceremony once again demonstrated our society's solidarity, respect, and gratitude to the Americans," the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said in a post on Facebook.
The last US soldier missing in Lithuania was found dead on April 1, ending a massive weeklong search for the four service members whose armored vehicle was pulled from a swampy training area, the US military said.
The bodies of the first three soldiers from the US Army's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle had been retrieved on March 31.
The soldiers were on a tactical training exercise when they went missing.
US Major General Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, earlier expressed thanks to everyone who contributed to the recovery operation.
"We cannot thank our allies and fellow service members enough, especially Lithuanians, who spared no resource in support of this mission," he said.
Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 US troops stationed in the Baltic nation on a rotational basis.
During Visit By Israel's Netanyahu, Hungary Announces It Will Withdraw From ICC
Hungary announced it is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC) as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Budapest for his first trip to Europe since an ICC arrest warrant was issued for him by over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky met Netanyahu at the Budapest airport at around 2:30 a.m. before acknowledging the Israeli leader's arrival in a post on Facebook.
Hours later, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, was quoted by the state news agency MTI as saying the government was moving to pull out of The Hague-based court, confirming what diplomatic sources inside Hungary told RFE/RL earlier this week.
Orban followed that by saying during a news conference with Netanyahu that "recent ICC decisions show that it has become a political instrument" as witnessed "most clearly by the decisions on Israel."
"We are exiting the ICC," he added.
Even before the announcement, Netanyahu was virtually certain he would not be detained during his four-day visit.
As a signatory to The Hague court, Hungary has an obligation to arrest him, but its domestic legal situation is complicated and has given the government enough wiggle room to welcome him.
Since the court has no police force of its own, it has no way to enforce its rulings and relies on states to comply.
The process of leaving the ICC is expected to take up to a year as parliament must approve such a move.
"The Hungarian justice minister will hand over to the national parliament the paperwork on our termination of cooperation with the court," Orban said.
Orban publicly extended an invitation to Netanyahu in November shortly after the ICC issued the warrant, and has called the ICC warrant “Brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable.”
"I will guarantee him, if he comes, that the judgment of the ICC will have no effect in Hungary," Orban said.
What Are The Political Reasons?
Orban has closely aligned himself with Netanyahu and with US President Donald Trump, who has also criticized the court's warrant. Neither the US nor Israel are parties to the ICC.
Trump issued sanctions against the ICC last month, criticizing as "baseless" its arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The indictment says Netanyahu is "allegedly responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare and of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024."
What's The Legal Position?
Other countries have defied the court's arrest warrants in the past, and even German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on April 3 he could "not imagine" an arrest warrant being executed against Netanyahu if he were to visit Germany.
"It is not for states to unilaterally determine the soundness of the court's legal decisions," court spokesman Fadi El-Abdallah told RFE/RL, adding it was a "legal obligation to the court" to enforce them.
This view was endorsed by two senior lawyers who spoke to RFE/RL.
"If Mr. Netanyahu visits a state party like Hungary or Germany and is not arrested, this state violates its obligations under the Rome Statute of the ICC," said Kai Ambos, professor of criminal and international law at Germany's Goettingen University.
"The nonexecution of ICC arrest warrants undermines the court's legitimacy," said Ambos, who serves as a war crimes judge at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, an international court set up for crimes committed during the 1990s Kosovo conflict.
Tamas Adany, an associate professor of international law in Hungary, agreed with this but also pointed to a nuance.
"Globally speaking, there are countries where, whenever they ratify an international treaty, it becomes part of the law of the land," he said.
"Most other countries, where the typical language of multilateral treaties is not an official language…rely on a process called promulgation" to make an international obligation part of national law, he said.
Hungary ratified the Rome Statute in 2001 under the first Orban government. But it has never carried out the second step, which basically amounts to incorporating the statute into the country's own national legal code.
"The question is hard because Hungary is under a legal obligation from the perspective of international law to comply with this. But Hungarian national law does not make it possible for the authorities [to do so]," Adany said.
This reasoning has also been used by the Hungarian authorities.
"Thanks to former President Janos Ader, we had the sense to never make it part of domestic law," government spokesman Gergely Gulyassaid on March 13.
Yet Adany said the law was not entirely clear on this point, because Netanyahu is accused of crimes that have been considered part of customary international law since the 1940s.
"I'm very positive that those parts of the Rome Statute, which are considered by a majority of states to be customary international law in nature, should be enforced in Hungary even without a formal promulgation," he said.
Is Hungary Alone?
Gulyas pointed to another reason for not arresting Netanyahu. When the court warrant was issued, Germany offered an ambiguous response.
"I find it hard to imagine that we would make arrests on this basis," government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said, adding that legal questions had to be clarified about the warrant.
Then, in January, Christian Democrat leader Friedrich Merz said he would find "ways and means" to invite Netanyahu to Germany. Merz's party subsequently won federal elections, and he is now preparing to take office as the country's next chancellor.
Gulyas, the Hungarian government spokesman, seized on this.
"Since a country of Germany's size and power thinks that it must disregard its own domestic law because the decision of the International Criminal Court is so absurd, what is the point of the whole thing?" he said.
What Would Be The Consequences?
Merz's comments were hugely controversial in Germany.
Ambos said there could be "sanctions" for not carrying out an arrest warrant, imposed by the ICC's Assembly of State Parties, which is responsible for various court matters, including the election of judges and prosecutors and setting its budget.
"Such a situation just arose with regard to Vladimir Putin's visit and nonarrest in Mongolia," he added, referring to the Russian president's visit there in September.
Putin is wanted for the war crime of abducting children from Russian-occupied Ukraine.
"The consequence for Hungary is that we may possibly lose our voting rights in the Assembly of States Parties," Adany said, adding there could be a "judicial investigation into this conduct of Hungary."
The political fallout might be quite limited.
Hungary is already highly isolated within the European Union, where it has been accused of democratic backsliding and curtailing media freedom. Its pro-Russia positions have also led to diplomatic problems.
"I'm absolutely positive that the arrest is not going to happen," Adany said. "Netanyahu is going to travel home safely."
- By RFE/RL
Rubio Reiterates US Commitment To NATO At Foreign Ministers Meeting In Brussels
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration is committed to remaining in the NATO and urged the military alliance's 32 members to pledge to increase spending to strengthen its defense capabilities.
Speaking as he arrived at a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Rubio said the United States was "as active as it has ever been" in the alliance as he sought to allay ally concerns that US President Donald Trump is undercutting transatlantic relations.
"President Trump's made clear he supports NATO. We're going to remain in NATO," Rubio said before entering the meeting.
"We do want to leave here with an understanding that we are on a pathway, a realistic pathway, to every single one of the members committed and fulfilling a promise to reach up to 5 percent of spending. That includes the US."
Ahead of the meeting, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also tried to tamp down fears over Trump's commitment to the alliance, saying in his mind the US's dedication to NATO "is absolutely clear."
"I know there has been some tough language. I know that there have been allies, for example, on this side of the pond being worried about the long-term commitment of the US to NATO," Rutte said on April 2.
"I'm absolutely convinced this alliance is there to stay with the US. Their commitment is absolutely clear," he added.
NATO allies have been determined to present a united front to counter Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but the European allies feel their efforts have been marginalized.
In search of a quick cease-fire deal, Washington has suggested Ukraine might have to make territorial concessions and taken step to restart a dialogue with Russia.
Rubio is expected to be confronted with questions from allies who are alarmed, angered, and confused by the Trump administration's moves to mend ties with Russia and its rhetorical attacks on longtime transatlantic partners.
Based on what they have seen and heard since Trump took office in January, European officials have expressed deep concerns about the future US role in the alliance.
Rubio likely also will be pressed to explain Trump's stated desire to make NATO ally Canada the 51st state and his push to annex Greenland, which is autonomous within the Kingdom of Denmark, another NATO ally.
NATO leaders in June were expected to decide whether to raise the defense spending target for each individual member from its current minimum of 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
The Trump administration has previously floated the idea of a 5 percent of GDP spending minimum, while Rutte has been pushing for every ally to commit to spending at least 3.7 percent of GDP on defense as quickly as possible.
Some European allies will be reluctant to commit too much on defense too soon given they are struggling with low growth and ballooning budget deficits.
Trump's announcement of stiff tariffs on almost every country around the world -- which EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic on April 3 called "unjustified" -- have exacerbated fears that economic growth could slow even further.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha will also attend the NATO meeting and is expected to provide an update on the situation on the battlefield in the war against Russia.
While Ukraine's membership in NATO is off the table for now, most European allies are keen to at least get assurances that US weapons will continue to go to Ukraine and that NATO's training mission for Ukrainian soldiers continues to operate.
However, the United States is no longer chairing the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, known as the Ramstein group, which coordinates military support for Kyiv. The United Kingdom chaired the last meeting of the group in February, and the next one tentatively scheduled for April 11 could be co-chaired by the UK and France.
Head Of Russian Wealth Fund In Washington For Talks With Trump's Middle East Envoy -- Reports
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev has arrived in Washington to meet with US officials as part of President Donald Trump’s push to press for a cease-fire in the war in Ukraine, US media reports said on April 2.
Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), was to meet with US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, according to the reports. Reuters quoted two US officials as saying that Witkoff invited Dmitriev to the United States last week.
Dmitriev is the high-ranking Russian official to visit Washington on state business since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The White House has not confirmed the visit, but the officials quoted by Reuters said the White House directed the State Department to issue a short-term license for Dmitriev to enter to the country. The envoy would otherwise not have been allowed in because he is under US sanctions, the officials said.
"Whatever your politics -- dialogue between the US and Russia matters. It’s about building a more secure, more prosperous world for everyone," Dmitriev said on X in a post that included an image of a jetliner reaching the US East Coast.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed earlier reports by Reuters and CNN that Dmitriev's visit might occur this week.
"Yes, I confirm. This visit may be possible. We are continuing to talk to the Americans. I will not give more concrete [details]," Peskov said.
Dmitriev is to discuss strengthening relations between the United States and Russia during his talks with Witkoff, according to CNN.
Trump, who recently expressed frustration with the pace of cease-fire talks and with Russian President Vladimir Putin, mentioned the war on April 2 at the end of a speech announcing sweeping tariffs against EU countries, Canada, Mexico, and other US trading partners.
Trump again vowed to bring an end to the war and said he believes the United States is "being given good cooperation by Russia and by Ukraine” in the negotiation process.
Dmitriev may be key in repairing relations between Moscow and Washington, which have sunk to the lowest level since the depths of the Cold War. The Russian envoy played a role in early contacts with the United States when Trump was elected president the first time in 2016.
Dmitriev recently has mentioned a host of initiatives that Russia and the United States could work on together, including rare earth mineral mining, energy, the Arctic, and space.
Prominent Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza noted that Dmitriev is not a diplomat and said his arrival in Washington and apparent talks with Witkoff were “very illustrative” of the direction that the negotiations are taking.
“Judging by the personalities of these two interlocutors they are not going to talk about people. They are not going to talk about peace. The are not going to talk about the future of Ukraine,” Kara-Murza said on CNN on April 2.
“They are going to talk about money. They are going to talk about profits. They are going to talk about rare earth minerals,” he added.
He said the RDIF – the Russian sovereign wealth fund – “is a shadowy government agency that is very unpublic" through which billions of dollars flow.
He noted that recently a major investigation published by the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), the organization set up by Kremlin critic and opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, who died suspiciously just over a year ago in a Russian prison, alleged that Dmitriev is involved in extensive corruption.
Kara-Murza also noted that comments made by Witkoff in a recent interview with former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson on his social media-based program showed that the US envoy is not seeing Putin for who he really is.
Witkoff said that Putin had been “enormously gracious” when he recently met him at the Kremlin, adding that he doesn't regard Putin as a "bad guy.” The war and "all the ingredients that led up to it" make for a "complicated situation," Witkoff told Carlson. “It’s never just one person, right?”
Kara-Murza, who had been serving a 25-year prison sentence in Russia when he was released in a prisoner exchange in August, said Putin is hardly "someone whom we know nothing about" but a politician who has launched attacks on other countries, slammed political opponents in jail, or allegedly ordered them killed.
“I think it’s completely unacceptable to see senior officials of the United States administration acting as propagandists for the Kremlin and whitewashing all the crimes that Vladimir Putin has committed both against our own people in Russia, against the people of Ukraine, and against the people of so many other countries around the world," Kara-Murza said.
He rebutted Witkoff's comment that conflict is "never about one person," saying that often in history it has been.
“It was about Adolf Hitler. It was about Josef Stalin. Now it is about Vladimir Putin,” he said.
With reporting by Reuters and CNN
- By RFE/RL
Trump Signs Order Imposing 10 Percent Baseline Reciprocal Tariffs, 20 Percent On Imports From EU
US President Donald Trump on April 2 announced reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, including 20 percent on goods from the European Union, in a move some experts fear will set off a trade war and cause the world's economy to tank.
Trump called it America's "liberation day," saying it will "forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America's destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to make America wealthy again."
Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Trump said he would impose a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports to the United States and higher duties on imports from dozens of countries around the world.
After railing about how the United States for decades had been "looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered by nations near and far and by friend and foe alike," Trump held up a chart that listed reciprocal tariffs. They included 20 percent on goods from the European Union, 34 percent on Chinese goods, 46 percent on Japanese products, 32 percent on Taiwanese imports, and 25 percent on South Korean imports.
More than a dozen other countries, including Britain, India, Brazil, and Switzerland, also were listed. In each case, he said the US tariffs could have been much steeper, but he opted for "kind reciprocal" tariffs that are half those charged by US trading partners.
Trump said the tariffs imposed by other countries and "colossal trade barriers" had in many cases closed markets around the world to US-manufactured and US-grown agricultural products and had contributed to big trade deficits and a ballooning national debt.
Trump said countries that want access to the US market will now have to "pay for the privilege," adding that he campaigned on the policy throughout last year's presidential race "and today that promise…was kept."
Outside economists have warned that tariffs could slow the global economy, raise the risk of recession, and increase annual living costs for the average US family by thousands of dollars.
British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves was among the first to respond to Trump's announcement, saying, "Trade wars are no good for anyone," while the European Auto Suppliers Association said the 25 percent tariff on vehicles "is misguided and harmful," including for people in the United States.
"Placing tariffs on imports of autos risks damaging the competitiveness and export readiness of an industry that relies on integrated international supply chains and markets for its success," the association said in a statement.
The move marks the rejection of "the rules-based global trade order" and a "turning away from the basis for global value creation and corresponding growth and prosperity in many regions of the world," said Hildegard Mueller, president of the German auto industry association VDA.
But Trump said the tariffs will benefit American farmers, skilled laborers, autoworkers, and the improve the overall economy. He said many major corporations have already pledged to bring manufacturing back to US shores.
"Jobs and factories will come roaring back into our country, and you see it happening already. We will supercharge our domestic industrial base," he said. "We will pry open foreign markets and break down foreign trade barriers and ultimately more production at home will mean stronger competition and lower prices for consumers."
Asian stock markets were lower in early trading on April 3 after Stephen Miran, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, acknowledged there will be "short-term bumps" caused by the tariffs.
"But what the president is focused on is a long-term transformation and improvement in the durability, sustainability, and fairness of the American economy with respect to the rest of the world," Miran told Fox Business.
Trump has already imposed 20 percent duties on all imports from China and 25 percent duties on steel and aluminum and extended them to nearly $150 billion worth of other key products used in manufacturing.
Trump said the tariffs he announced on April 2 would take effect starting on April 3. The White House said a separate set of tariffs on auto imports that Trump announced last week also will take effect starting on April 3.
Tariff concerns have already slowed manufacturing activity across the globe. Financial markets have been volatile in recent days as investors awaited the announcement. US stocks have erased nearly $5 trillion of value since February.
With reporting by Reuters and AP
'No Positive Signs From Russia,' Says Kallas As Cease-Fire Talks Drag On
STRASBOURG, France -- European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says there have been “no positive signs from Russia” in ongoing cease-fire negotiations over Ukraine, and that Moscow is “just playing games.”
She made the remarks in an exclusive interview with RFE/RL on the sidelines of a European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg on April 2.
Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have been locked in negotiations for a month in an effort to end the three-year full-scale war.
While partial cease-fire agreements have been reached -- covering energy infrastructure and traffic on the Black Sea -- Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities continue on a daily basis.
Watch the full Interview With Kaja Kallas:
Asked whether she believes a full cease-fire can be achieved by April 20 -- a target date floated by Finnish President Alexander Stubb during a recent visit to US President Donald Trump in Florida -- the former Estonian prime minister stressed that pressure must be placed on Moscow.
“I think it could be very good to set them a clear deadline when they have to answer, what is their standing, and to really show some goodwill that they also want peace,” she said. “It's clear that the Ukrainians want it.”
Not Talking With Russia Yet
This week, Kirill Dmitriev, a senior Kremlin adviser and head of a major state-backed investment fund, is expected to visit Washington for talks with US officials on Ukraine and bilateral relations, the Kremlin said.
Dmitriev's reported visit comes as Washington and Moscow move to repair relations following years of spiraling tensions that predate Russia's February 2022 all-out invasion of Ukraine.
When asked whether the EU should also engage directly with Dmitriev, Kallas said any discussions must center around Kyiv.
“For Ukraine, Ukraine has to negotiate with Russia,” she said. “It can't be done by anybody else, because it's about Ukraine and it can't be without Ukraine.”
So far, the European Union and its 27 member states have been sidelined from the talks. Pressed on whether the bloc or any of its member states were ready to talk directly with the Kremlin, Kallas emphasized that Europe must be part of any long-term settlement.
“When it comes to negotiations about Ukraine, then clearly Europe must be around that table because it also concerns us what is the result of this,” she said. “And any deal can't work without the implementation of the Europeans.”
Transatlantic Trade War?
Kallas, who took over as the EU high representative in late 2024, will later this week attend the NATO ministerial in Brussels together with the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The meeting comes at a time of rising transatlantic trade tensions.
On April 2, Washington imposed a 25 percent tariff on all car imports, following steel and aluminum levies introduced in March.
Brussels is preparing a response, expected later in April, which is likely to include penalties targeting big US tech companies.
Kallas, however, was keen to play down the latest rift, saying that, despite a lot of rhetoric on the subject, European negotiators still “don't really know what is exactly coming.”
“There are the statements we see, but what are the real actions?” she said. “What I want to stress is that there are no winners in trade wars. I mean it raises the prices and in the end the consumers get to pay for these products at a higher price and this is not wise, so I still hope that we are not starting this trade war.”
New Format For Serbia-Kosovo Dialogue?
On April 7–8, Kallas will visit Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Montenegro -- her first trip to the Western Balkans since taking office. A visit to Serbia is also likely in May.
Asked about the recent wave of anti-government protests in Serbian cities -- sparked by the deadly collapse of a newly renovated train station roof in Novi Sad which has fueled public anger over corruption and government mismanagement – Kallas suggested such demonstrations were normal in democratic societies.
“It is democracy,” she said. “I mean we have it in our EU member states that people get tired of governments, and they protest. That shows that democracy is working.”
The EU has led the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo since 2011, aiming to normalize relations between them.
Kallas’s predecessor, Josep Borrell, last met with the leaders of the two Balkan countries in September 2023 but failed to strike a final agreement.
While Kallas has named Danish diplomat Peter Sorensen as her special envoy for the talks, no high-level meetings have yet been convened, and she hinted that a new approach may be needed.
“It seems a bit that the dialogue is a bit stuck, because the parties just are complaining about each other,” she said. “I think we have to keep the end goal in mind -- the normalization of their relationship, so that they can both proceed on their European path. So maybe it's the dialogue, or maybe it is another tool. I'm willing to look into it, and I will do so together with the [Sorensen] in the coming days.”
Kremlin Says Putin's Key Investment Adviser May Visit Washington This Week
Kirill Dmitriev, a senior Kremlin adviser and head of a major state-backed investment fund, was expected to visit Washington this week for talks with US officials on Ukraine and bilateral relations, the Kremlin said.
Dmitriev's reported visit comes as Washington and Moscow move to repair relations following years of spiraling tensions that predate Russia's February 2022 all-out invasion of Ukraine.
Dmitriev, who heads the Russian Direct Investment Fund, has assumed a more prominent role in negotiations with US officials in recent months. He recently met with White House envoy Steve Witkoff when the latter traveled to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin and others.
Speaking to reporters on April 2, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed reports by Reuters and CNN that Dmitriev's visit might occur this week.
"Yes, I confirm. This visit may be possible. We are continuing to talk to the Americans. I will not give more concrete (details)," Peskov said.
In a post to X, responding to another report about the visit, Dmitriev said "maybe.
CNN and Reuters, quoting unnamed officials, said Dmitriev would meet with Witkoff. Reuters said the meeting would reportedly take place on April 2.
CNN said a special visa had to be granted to Dmitriev because he is under US sanctions.
Earlier on April 2, Putin signed an order allowing a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs to sell stocks of major Russian companies that had been frozen since Russia invaded, The Moscow Times reported. Ukraine in February 2022. The US investment bank had to sell the stock to companies preselected by the Kremlin.
Both countries have been touting steps to mend relations, which began to deteriorate in 2012 during the presidency of Barack Obama and then markedly worsened following the Ukraine invasion.
Trump has made ending Russia’s more-than-three-year assault on Ukraine one of his top foreign policy priorities.
In contrast to his predecessor, Joe Biden, who refused to engage with Moscow, Trump’s administration has done just that, holding at least two phone calls with Putin and dispatching top advisers, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to Saudi Arabia last month to open negotiations.
However, last week Trump lashed out at Putin and threatened Russia with new tariffs on oil products if Moscow blocks his cease-fire initiatives.
During a phone interview with NBC News on March 30, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Putin called for a transitional government to be put in place in Ukraine, which could effectively push out current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Dmitriev was at the talks in Saudi Arabia, focused not only on resolving the war but more broadly on restoring US-Russian relations.
Considered a close ally of Putin, he is seen as a key player in talks on reviving investment between the two countries amid reports of talks over joint rare earth metals projects.
- By RFE/RL
US House Panel Backs Tougher Iran Measures, But Divisions Persist
US lawmakers and experts at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing underscored a rare bipartisan consensus -- preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons as a top priority.
However, divisions remain over how far Washington should go in applying pressure versus pursuing diplomacy.
Republican lawmakers strongly supported the Donald Trump administration’s decision to reinstate the “maximum pressure” campaign that defined his Iran policy during his first term as US president.
“The maximum pressure campaign devastated Iran’s economy and denied it critical resources. A nuclear Iran is not an option,” Subcommittee Chairman Mike Lawler (Republican-New York) said on April 1.
Democratic lawmakers also acknowledged the threat posed by Iran but stressed the importance of diplomacy.
“There is bipartisan understanding of the danger posed by Iran as the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism. We must combine pressure with diplomatic engagement,” Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (Democratic-New York) said.
Three expert witnesses provided testimony on the challenges posed by Iran and the potential consequences of US strategies.
Norman Roule, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned that Iran is advancing its nuclear program and could produce a weapon within months if left unchecked.
“Iran is closer than ever to producing a nuclear weapon,” Roule warned, adding that military strikes could only delay its program. He called for a comprehensive approach that combines sanctions, military readiness, and diplomacy.
Claire Jungman of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) highlighted the economic toll that sanctions have taken on the country, noting that its economy remains fragile due to inflation and currency devaluation.
She stressed the importance of targeting Iran’s oil trade with China in violation of US sanctions and leveraging its economic vulnerabilities to weaken its support for regional proxies like the US-designated Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.
Dana Stroul of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy noted that military strikes could escalate into broader conflict and urged Washington to pair pressure tactics with robust diplomacy.
She added that “the pillars of Iran’s security strategy”, including its nuclear program, proxy network, and arsenal of missiles and drones, are “more vulnerable today than ever.”
Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if it fails to reach a deal with Washington. Tehran has dismissed the threat, describing it as an “affront” to peace and security.
Iran last week delivered a formal response to Trump’s letter proposing direct talks to reach a new nuclear deal. Tehran has dismissed direct negotiations as long as the “maximum pressure” campaign is in effect.
Axios reports that the White House is “seriously considering” Iran’s proposal for indirect talks while boosting its military presence in the Middle East.
Addressing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Committee Chairman Brian Mast (Republican-Florida) said Trump “will work with you to peacefully end” Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
“Or, President Trump will destroy your nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program. You get to choose the remedy,” he said.
Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, but there are growing calls in Iran to weaponize it as a form of deterrence against the United States and Israel.
Later on April 2, the Trump administration announced sanctions against individuals and companies it claims are helping the Iranian-backed Houthis, a rebel group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.
The Houthis, formally known as the Ansarallah movement, seized power in Yemen in 2014 by toppling the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed government. The Trump administration last month launched strikes against Houthis rebels, who have been target shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial transportation corridor.
The Trump administration sanctioned two Russia-based Afghan brothers who assisted an Iran-based financier l in orchestrating shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain from Crimea to Yemen.
It also blocked eight digital asset wallets used by the Houthis to transfer funds associated with the group’s activities.
Ukraine's Partners To Discuss Foreign Troop Deployment, Zelenskyy Says
Western military leaders will discuss the possible deployment of troops to Ukraine who would monitor a potential cease-fire in the conflict with Russian and be part of the country’s new security structure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
“This is our starting point: the Ukrainian army must be strong enough, and on this foundation, the entire security architecture is built,” Zelenskyy said. “A meeting will take place in just a few days -- on Friday (April 4) -- with representatives of our partner states -- these will be military representatives.”
Zelenskyy met in Kyiv on April 1 with outgoing German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, saying that a "narrow circle of countries" is willing to send contingents.
The Ukrainian leader told a joint news conference with Baerbock that he was awaiting "more concrete" answers from allies on their readiness to participate.
France and Britain have expressed a willingness to send troops as part of a so-called coalition of the willing to monitor a potential cease-fire. But Russia has strongly opposed any deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine.
In his video address, Zelenskyy also said Ukraine has now shared “all the necessary information regarding Russia’s violations in the energy sector” with its US partners. He said there were strikes on April 1 in Kherson, including a Russian drone that targeted an energy facility and equipment “entirely deliberately and purposefully” and part of the city was left without electricity.
“We insist that every such violation must be documented and receive a response from our partners,” he said. “It is precisely these small details that add up to Russia’s major delays in the diplomatic process."
Zelenskyy referred to an agreement between Kyiv and Moscow not to strike each other's energy facilities. The agreement was announced by the White House on March 25 along with a cease-fire to allow navigation on the Black Sea.
Kyiv said the agreement on energy facilities would take effect immediately. Moscow, however, has said it would follow the partial lifting of sanctions pertaining to Russian companies and banks involved in the international food trade.
A day after her visit to Kyiv, Baerbock arrived in Moldova for a two-day visit to meet with President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Dorin Recean.
"Peace that is negotiated over the heads of Europeans -- or even over the heads of Ukrainians -- is not peace," she told RFE/RL's Moldovan Service at a news conference in Chisinau on April 2.
Baerbock also reiterated the position that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, along with French and British leaders, had previously expressed at the "coalition of the willing" summit -- that sanctions against Russia "will not be lifted without peace."
"Just before I arrived, there was another attack on the energy infrastructure...The Russian side had supposedly indicated that they would no longer target energy facilities -- in fact, the exact opposite happened," Baerbock said.
Germany announced a commitment to an additional 130 million euros ($140 million) in humanitarian aid and stabilization funds during Baerbock’s visit. The package will bring German assistance since the start of the Russian invasion to Ukraine to 7 billion euros, he said.
Zelenskyy thanked Germany for ensuring that its support for Ukraine remains predictable and systematic. The stability of support is one of the key factors in defending against Russian aggression, he said.
"It is the interruptions in supplies, disagreements between partners, and all signs of instability that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is highly counting on,” he said.
Russian troops launched a massive drone strike on Kharkiv on the night of April 1. Mayor Ihor Terekhov said 13 Shahed drones hit in the city, and at least eight people were injured.
"The consequences included the fire of two industrial buildings, and more than 10 private sector houses were damaged nearby," Terekhov said.
A Russian strike earlier on April 1 in the Zaporizhzhya region hit civilian infrastructure, killing one person, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said.
- By RFE/RL
US Military Orders Second Aircraft Carrier Group To Middle East
The US military has announced a second aircraft carrier group will deploy to the Middle East to respond to regional threats to stability as US forces continue to hit Iran-linked Huthi fighters in Yemen from its ships in the Red Sea.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on April 1 that the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson will join the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in the Middle East "to continue promoting regional stability, deter aggression, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region."
The Carl Vinson has been ordered to arrive from the Indo-Pacific following completion of a scheduled exercise, Parnell said without saying when it would get there.
The announcement comes as US forces hit Huthi fighters in Yemen with near-daily air strikes in a campaign aimed at ending the threat they pose to civilian shipping and military vessels in the region.
"The United States and its partners remain committed to regional security in the CENTCOM AOR (area of responsibility) and are prepared to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict in the region," Parnell said. CENTCOM is the US military command responsible for the region.
Parnell added that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth continues to make clear that “should Iran or its proxies threaten American personnel and interests in the region, the United States will take decisive action to defend our people.”
The Huthis, which the United States has designated as a terrorist group, began targeting shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after the start of the Gaza war in 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.
Huthi attacks have prevented ships from passing through the Suez Canal, forcing many companies to send their goods on a costly detour around the tip of southern Africa that takes considerably longer.
President Donald Trump vowed on March 31 that strikes on the Huthis will continue until they are no longer a threat to shipping.
"The choice for the Huthis is clear: Stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Huthis and their sponsors in Iran," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
Trump added that the Huthis had been "decimated" by "relentless" strikes since large-scale air strikes began on March 15, saying that US forces "hit them every day and night -- Harder and harder."
The large-scale air strikes began after Trump warned the Huthis that "hell will rain down upon you" if they did not stop their extremist actions, including missile launches against Israel.
Trump has also said that "there will be bombing" if Iran does not reach a deal on its nuclear program.
Huthi officials said at least 12 civilians were killed and another nine injured in the US attacks, but the claims could not be independently confirmed. The officials vowed revenge without specifying how it would carry it out.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on March 16 said the attacks were “a message to Iran” to stop supporting the Huthis, and Hegseth said Iran "is on notice" that Huthi attacks on American ships, aircraft, and troops will not be tolerated.
With reporting by AFP
EU Lawmakers Debate Support For RFE/RL Amid US Funding Freeze
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has emphasized the “need to protect Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL),” warning that "if we don’t, we hand a gift to autocrats the world over."
Her remarks came during a debate in the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg on April 1 that focused on safeguarding access to democratic media, including RFE/RL.
The debate was initiated in response to an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on March 14, which reduced the size of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the body overseeing RFE/RL.
Shortly afterward, Kari Lake, a senior adviser to the USAGM CEO, issued a letter stating that the Congress-approved grant funding the broadcaster had been terminated.
While the grant termination has since been rescinded, the USAGM has not sent any of the congressionally appropriated funds, prompting RFE/RL to furlough some of its staff on April 1.
Kos, speaking on behalf of the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, said that “the European Union needs to be a refuge for independent media, including from Russia and Belarus, so they can continue their work; holding their political and business elites to account and exposing corruption.”
While the commissioner refrained from speaking about the potential of the EU stepping in to fund the media organization, several members of the European Parliament did mention the idea.
Stormy Discussion
Sebastiao Bugalho, a Portuguese member of the largest group in the chamber, the center-right European People’s Party, said that “we will pay the price and shoulder the burden.”
Lithuanian lawmaker Virginijus Sinkevicius from the Greens underlined that “we must ensure that RFE/RL has access to long-term and stable funding, including from the EU.”
Alexandr Vondra, who was a prominent dissident in communist Czechoslovakia and is now a Czech MEP from the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists, said that the radio helped spread information in repressive countries such as Iran, Belarus, and Russia, and called on the European Union to contribute to the station’s finding.
“Let us be open to finance [RFE/RL] also from EU money and find agreement on what form,” he said.
The one-hour debate became rather stormy at times with lawmakers shouting at each other in between speeches.
Several members from populist groups in the Strasbourg chamber spoke against potentially using EU money to finance the broadcaster.
Mary Khan, an MEP from the far-right Alternative for Germany party, said that RFE/RL “can finance itself” and added that “media should not be financed by European institutions.”
Slovak MEP Milan Uhrik, who belongs to the same Europe of Sovereign Nations Group as Khan, said that the EU should instead help farmers in Slovakia battling foot-and-mouth disease among its cattle, adding that “your independent media is the absolute opposite of independent media.”
Julien Sanchez, a French parliamentarian belonging to the Patriots for Europe, another populist right-wing fraction, said that the chamber was “hypocritical” in talking about this situation and “interfering with the situation in the United States.”
The debate will have no resolution to be voted on during this plenary session, which ends on April 3, but this could come at a later stage as several European parliamentary officials told RFE/RL that the house will continue to monitor the situation.
Fourth Missing US Soldier's Body Recovered In Lithuania
The body of a fourth missing US soldier has been recovered near Pabrade, Lithuania, the US Army said in a statement on April 1.
Recovery operations, bolstered by international cooperation and advanced technology, lasted for several days after a military vehicle with four US soldiers aboard sank in a bog area on March 25.
The bodies of the first three soldiers from the US Army's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle had been retrieved a day earlier.
"This past week has been devastating. Today, our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier," said Major General Christopher Norrie, using an affectionate nickname for a US infantryman. "Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them."
The recovery mission had intensified in the last 24 hours with the arrival of specialized personnel and equipment. Rescue dogs and two advanced drone systems, including one equipped with ground-penetrating radar, had operated on the site to enhance search capabilities.
Hundreds of soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division, alongside US Navy divers, Lithuania's armed forces, Polish engineers, Estonian military police, multinational civilian agencies, and technical experts from the US Army Corps of Engineers, were actively engaged in the recovery.
The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of their families.
Investigations into the tragedy are under way. Authorities are examining the circumstances that led to the incident, including the terrain, weather conditions, and the state of the vehicle.
The missing vehicle and troops had triggered a massive multinational rescue effort, and US Major General Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, expressed thanks to everyone who contributed to the recovery operation.
"We cannot thank our Allies and fellow service members enough, especially Lithuanians, who spared no resource in support of this mission," he said. "Together, we delivered on our promise to never leave a fallen comrade."
Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 US troops stationed in the Baltic nation on a rotational basis.
Tate Brothers Under Judicial Supervision For 60 More Days In Romania
The Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) has extended supervision measures for another 60 days against against Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, who are awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
The brothers appeared at DIICOT's headquarters on April 1, where judicial sources confirmed the extension to RFE/RL.
The measures mean the brothers must report once a month, or whenever summoned, to the Voluntari Police Station near Bucharest, which monitors their compliance with their legal restrictions. They also are required to sign procedural documents as part of the process.
The measures have been tweaked and extended several times already, and may be further extended or adjusted as necessary in the future, according to Romanian law.
Andrew Tate, a prominent social media influencer with millions of Facebook followers, has repeatedly declared his innocence.
Shortly after being informed of the extension, the brothers left Romania on a private jet and headed to Dubai.
DIICOT lifted a travel ban on the brothers in February, allowing them to travel to Florida.
Upon their return to Romania on March 24, the brothers complied with the requirement to show up at a police station and sign judicial supervision documents. The governor of Florida later stated that the Tate brothers were "not welcome" in the state.
In Romania, Andrew and Tristan Tate are accused of recruiting women to produce pornographic content under coercion. The charges involve forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, child trafficking, sexual acts with a minor, and money laundering.
Prosecutors allege that the brothers, along with four accomplices, recruited 34 women, transported them to various locations, and forced them to create explicit content, which was then distributed for profit on adult platforms.
The alleged financial gain from these activities includes $2.8 million and 887,000 crypto tokens, the value of which was not specified.
In a separate case, the brothers face charges of forming an organized criminal group and human trafficking. Additionally, Andrew Tate is accused of rape, while Tristan Tate faces accusations of inciting violence.
Beyond Romania, the Tate brothers are also being investigated in the United Kingdom for rape and human trafficking. A British court has confiscated assets worth over 2 million British pounds due to unpaid taxes.
In the United States, they face a civil lawsuit filed by a woman alleging that the brothers tried to coerce her into prostitution in Romania and later defamed her when she reported the incident to Romanian authorities. The brothers have denied all allegations and continue to assert their innocence.
Andrew Tate maintains that being one of the most famous people on the planet naturally attracts scrutiny from every country.
After one of his visits to the Voluntari Police Station, Tate again dismissed the allegations, saying "the charges against us will not have any outcome."
The Tate brothers remain vocal in proclaiming their innocence, expressing confidence that they will ultimately prove the charges baseless.
Dodik Meets With Putin As Visit To Moscow Riles Bosnian Lawmakers
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a surprise visit to Moscow as lawmakers back home warned the nationalist leader was putting Bosnia-Herzegovina's EU drive at risk.
Dodik, who left Bosnia even though he's the target of an international arrest warrant over accusations that he flouted the Balkan country's constitution, posted a video of himself on social media on April 1 in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier along the wall of the Kremlin.
"I start every time I stay here with a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to pay my respects to the 28 million Russians who died in World War II," Dodik said in the video posted on X shortly after he arrived in Moscow.
He provided no agenda for his visit but said he would "be here again on May 9 at the invitation of the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism."
Hours later, Dodik said on the X social network that he had his "26th meeting" with the Russian president, stressing that "Putin knows the details, the overall situation that is happening" in Republika Srpska" and "is interested in everything" that ordinary residents of the entity are concerned about.
Dodik's statement was accompanied with a video showing him shaking hands with Putin before the talks.
"Russia is a very important country for Republika Srpska in the [UN] Security Council, and it has always been objective. Russia is the guarantor of the peace agreement and Putin said that at the meeting," Dodik's statement said, adding that Russia will advocate for the end of the work of international institutions in Republika Srpska.
Dodik, who is the president of Republika Srpska, is currently under US and UK sanctionsfor actions Western governments say are aimed at the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia.
The Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina on March 27 requested the international arrest warrant after Dodik failed to respond to a summons from the Prosecutor-General's Office on suspicion that he committed the criminal offense of attacking the constitutional order of Bosnia. The move came after the court issued a national arrest warrant on March 18.
Bosnian Foreign Minister Elemdin Konakovic warned after meeting OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu on April 1 that Dodik's moves "are trampling the interests of the state," especially Bosnia's path to European Union membership.
Sinirlioglu warned that Dodik's disregard for Bosnia's constitution could lead to serious internal consequences for the country and "also lead to far-reaching consequences for peace and stability in the region."
In his video from Moscow, Dodik spoke of the suffering of Russians and Serbs in the defeat of fascism.
"Some are trying to revise history. It is impossible to do so, but those who want to do so are openly trying to distort historical facts," he said.
"But the historical fact about the suffering of the Russian and Serbian people, and the Jewish people during World War II is simply impossible to change."
Dodik also spoke highly of Putin, whom he has met several times since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and described as "the historic leader of the Russian people."
He added that Putin has welcomed "another counterpart who is important to him in the fight against the globalist elite, and that is [US] President [Donald] Trump."
The Bosnian court requested the international arrest warrant for Dodik and for Nenad Stevandic, speaker of the Republika Srpska Parliament, on suspicion of the same crime -- attacking the constitutional order of Bosnia.
Dodik announced his arrival in Moscow on March 29 but did not provide details.
Republika Srpska in mid-March adopted a draft of a new constitution that would redefine the Serb entity as a state of the Serbian people, grant it the right to self-determination, and establish its own army.
These provisions would be directly in conflict with the Bosnian Constitution and the Dayton peace accords, which established Republika Srpska as one of Bosnia's two entities.
Throughout his tenure as president of Republika Srpska, Dodik has faced criticism for authoritarian tendencies, undermining democratic institutions, and fostering a culture of political patronage.
Supporters argue that he has brought stability and development to the entity, while opponents charge that his leadership has deepened divisions among the country's ethnic communities and eroded the state's institutional integrity.
With reporting by AFP
Germany's Baerbock Warns Of Putin Stalling Tactics During Kyiv Visit
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in Kyiv on a surprise visit, has warned against falling for Russia's stalling tactics in peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
The outgoing German diplomat, on her ninth trip to Ukraine since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, said she believes Kyiv is ready to sign a peace deal amid intensifying negotiations led by the United States.
"Ukraine is ready for an immediate cease-fire. It is Putin who is playing for time, does not want peace, and is continuing his war of aggression, which is a violation of international law," Baerbock said in a statement shared by her ministry.
"He is feigning a willingness to negotiate, but not deviating an inch from his goals," she said.
US President Donald Trump has threatened Russia with new tariffs on oil products if Moscow blocks his cease-fire initiatives, and Baerbock said a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels this week should reinforce that message
"At the upcoming meeting of NATO foreign ministers, we will make it clear to the American side that we should not engage with Putin's stalling tactics," said Baerbock, who is unlikely to be part of Germany's incoming coalition government.
"Because suggesting peace is not peace," she added.
While Trump raised his ire toward Russia, the Kremlin appeared to brush off concerns the comments would hinder peace talks.
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told journalists on March 31 that Moscow continues to work with Washington on "the implementation of some ideas related to the Ukrainian settlement."
Trump's angry comments were directed solely at Russia.
He also said Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces "big, big problems" if he doesn't sign a key minerals deal with Washington that the two sides have been working on for weeks.
"He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump told reporters on March 30 in reference to the Ukrainian president.
"We made a deal on rare earth. And now he's saying, well you know, I want to renegotiate the deal."
On March 28, the Ukrainian government said it was still considering a draft agreement from the United States on the country's rare earth minerals amid media reports Washington had changed the terms of the deal several times.
Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced at a government meeting that Kyiv was forming its position on the agreement, but lawmakers would only state their stance once there was consensus. Before then, she said, public discussion would be harmful.
Ukraine possesses significant deposits of critical minerals, including rare earths, although their exact size remains uncertain. Rare earth minerals are highly valued for their use in defense technologies, as well as in devices such as computers, smartphones, and batteries.
Ukraine and the United States earlier this month agreed to conclude a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources. Efforts to seal the deal had earlier fallen apart on February 28 after a heated exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House.
Meanwhile, earlier on March 30, Trump said he would impose secondary tariffs of 25-50 percent on all Russian oil if he feels President Vladimir Putin is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump said over the weekend during a phone interview with NBC that he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Putin called for a transitional government to be put in place in Ukraine, which could effectively push out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia's fault -- which it might not be -- but if I think it was Russia's fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia," Trump said.
"That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can't do business in the United States," Trump said. "There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil."
Trump added that the trade measures would be put in place within a month if no cease-fire agreement is reached.
The highly sensitive diplomatic juncture comes after the White House announced on March 25 that both Russia and Ukraine agreed to a cease-fire and to allow navigation in Black Sea, as well an agreement to not strike each other energy facilities.
Kyiv says that it would take effect immediately and Moscow has stated that it would follow the partial lifting of sanctions pertaining to Russian companies and banks involved in the international food trade.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on April 1 accused Russia of again striking energy infrastructure, saying a Russian attack damaged an energy facility in the frontline city of Kherson, cutting power to 45,000 residents.
Russian officials in turn accused Ukraine of using drones to strike electricity substations in part of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhya region in southeast Ukraine and in Russia's southern Belgorod region.
Tougher Tone Toward Putin
The comments by Trump mark a shift from the softer approach the White House had taken toward Russia since the US president made ending the war in Ukraine a top foreign policy priority. They also come after he had previously criticized Zelenskyy, saying he was "sick" of his handling of the war and called him a "dictator without elections."
Trump told NBC that he will speak with Putin during this week.
Amid the US-led diplomatic efforts to reach a cease-fire deal, Russia has been pounding the city of Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Air strikes on the northeastern Ukrainian city early on April 1 injured three people and sparked fires at several industrial buildings and damaged two kindergartens, officials said.
A day earlier, Kyiv accused Moscow of a "war crime" after Russian drones struck a military hospital.
The strike hit Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as part of an attack that also hit a shopping center, apartment blocks, and other targets, killing two people, according to authorities.
The Ukrainian military's general staff accused Russia of "violating the norms of international humanitarian law" in the attack, which they denounced as "deliberate, targeted shelling."
In a report on April 1, the general staff said Russia has lost about 916,770 of its military personnel since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, including 1,540 in the last 24 hours.
The figures were not independently verified.
An analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated in mid-February that at least 172,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and 611,000 wounded, more than half of whom were severely wounded, unable to fight again.
For Ukraine, at least 46,000 soldiers have been killed, and around 380,000 wounded, according to figures cited by Zelenskyy in February, numbers Western experts consider an under accounting of the situation.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Bosnian Serb Leader Visits Moscow Days After Court Requests Arrest Warrant
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik announced on March 31 that he had arrived in Moscow after prosecutors in Bosnia-Herzegovina requested an international arrest warrant over accusations that he flouted the Balkan country's constitution.
Dodik posted a video of himself on social media in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier along the wall of the Kremlin.
"I start every time I stay here with a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to pay my respects to the 28 million Russians who died in World War II," Dodik said in the video posted on X.
He provided no agenda for his visit but said he would "be here again on May 9 at the invitation of the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism."
Dodik, who is the president of Republika Srpska, is currently under US and U.K. sanctions for actions Western governments say are aimed at the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia.
The Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina on March 27 requested the international arrest warrant after Dodik failed to respond to a summons from the Prosecutor-General's Office on suspicion that he committed the criminal offense of attacking the constitutional order of Bosnia. The move came after the court issued a national arrest warrant on March 18.
Dodik spoke in the video of the suffering of Russians and Serbs in the defeat of fascism.
"Some are trying to revise history. It is impossible to do so, but those who want to do so are openly trying to distort historical facts," he said. "But the historical fact about the suffering of the Russian and Serbian people, and the Jewish people during World War II is simply impossible to change."
Dodik also spoke highly of Putin, with whom he has met several times since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and who he said is "the historic leader of the Russian people."
He added Putin has welcomed "another counterpart who is important to him in the fight against the globalist elite, and that is [US] President [Donald] Trump."
The Bosnian court requested the international arrest warrant for Dodik and for Nenad Stevandic, speaker of the Republika Srpska Parliament, on suspicion of the same crime, attacking the constitutional order of Bosnia.
Dodik announced his arrival in Moscow on March 29 but did not provide details. The day before, he gave a statement to Radio Television of the Republika Srpska (RTRS) regarding flooding in Republika Srpska. It was not clear from the video where he was.
Republika Srpska in mid-March adopted a draft of a new constitution that would redefine the Serb entity as a state of the Serbian people, grant it the right to self-determination, and establish its own army.
These provisions would be directly in conflict with the Bosnian Constitution and the Dayton peace accords, which established Republika Srpska as one of Bosnia's two entities.
Throughout his tenure as president of Republika Srpska, Dodik has faced criticism for authoritarian tendencies, undermining democratic institutions, and fostering a culture of political patronage.
Supporters argue that he has brought stability and development to the entity, while opponents charge that his leadership has deepened divisions among the country's ethnic communities and eroded the state's institutional integrity.
With reporting by AFP
- By RFE/RL
French Far-Right Leader Le Pen Convicted Of Graft, Banned From Running For Office
A French court has found far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty in an embezzlement case and banned her from running for office for five years, a ruling that may keep her from participating in the 2027 presidential race in which she is currently the front-runner.
The court on March 31 also sentenced Le Pen, a member of the National Rally party (RN), to a four-year prison sentence, with two of those years to be spent under house arrest and two years suspended.
Eight other current or former RN members -- who, like Le Pen, previously served as European Union parliament members -- as well as 12 assistants for Le Pen and her party were also found guilty of syphoning off EU funds for the benefit of RN, which Le Pen led from 2011 to 2021.
The defendants were not accused of pocketing the funds but rather of illegally using the money intended for EU parliamentary aides to pay RN staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016.
"The investigations also showed that these were not administrative errors...but embezzlement within the framework of a system put in place to reduce the party's costs," Judge Benedicte de Perthuis said in his ruling.
Le Pen, 56, and her co-defendants deny wrongdoing and can appeal the ruling. Her ban on running for office, however, is effective immediately and can only be removed if her appeal is successful.
Le Pen, who was runner-up to President Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 and 2022 elections, is one of the most prominent figures of the European far right and a front-runner in polls for France's 2027 contest. She had said 2027 would be her final run for top office.
During the trial, Le Pen said the prosecutors were seeking her "political death." She left the court hearing before the sentence was announced.
US President Donald Trump called the conviction and prohibition from running in the 2027 a "very big deal."
Trump and LePen have drawn comparisons over their views on immigration and charged rhetoric against minorities.
"I know all about it, and a lot of people thought she wasn't going to be convicted of anything," Trump said.
"But she was banned for running for five years, and she's the leading candidate. That sounds like this country, that sounds very much like this country," Trump said in an apparent reference to legal cases that Trump faced before he took office.
With reporting by Reuters
- By RFE/RL
Three US Soldiers Found Dead In Vehicle Recovered From Lithuanian Bog As Search Continues
The US Army said the bodies of three American soldiers have been found in a military vehicle that was submerged in a bog in Lithuania after it went missing during a training exercise several days ago.
"The soldiers, whose identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, went missing in the early morning hours of March 25 in their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle," US Army Europe and Africa said in a statement.
The armored vehicle was retrieved earlier on March 31, six days after a rescue operation was launched at the Pabrade military training ground near Lithuania's border with Belarus.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said the search continues for a fourth US soldier who was part of the group.
US Army Europe and Africa said the soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
"...the search isn’t finished until everyone is home. Words cannot express our gratitude to those still working around the clock during these extensive search and recovery efforts and your unwavering commitment not to rest until all are found,” Major General Christopher Norrie said.
The missing vehicle and troops triggered a massive recovery effort involving hundreds of Lithuanian, Polish, and US personnel and dozens of vehicles.
Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 US troops stationed in the Baltic nation on a rotational basis.
In the early hours of the rescue operation, several conflicting accounts emerged, including comments from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that the soldiers were dead.
A NATO spokeswoman later walked back those comments.
U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.
Iran Vows Strong Response After 'Bombing' Threat By Trump
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of a "strong" response following a threat by US President Donald Trump that "there will be bombing" if Tehran doesn't agree to talks on its nuclear program as concern grows over escalating rhetoric between the two countries.
Speaking after Trump reiterated his threat of adopting measures ranging from fresh sanctions and tariffs to military action, Khamenei said in a sermon marking Eid Al-Fitr on March 31 that any attack by the United States would "surely receive a strong reciprocal blow."
The Iranian leader, however, added that he did "not really expect mischief from abroad."
The comment suggests Khamenei does not expect an attack but rather sabotage operations like explosions and assassinations, said Damon Golriz, a lecturer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
"He's effectively pointing the finger at Israel here," Golriz told Radio Farda, adding that Trump's remark on Iran and US officials talking was "important."
Switzerland's ambassador to Iran, who represents US interests and acts as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, was summoned on March 31 by Iran's Foreign Ministry to express the regime's determination to respond "decisively and immediately" to any US threat.
Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has consistently said Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons and has previously warned that military action is on the table should Iran reject Trump's outreach.
Iran has long maintained that its program is for peaceful use, but Iranian officials have also threatened to pursue a weapon as tensions amid a growing standoff with the United States over sanctions and renewed bombing in the Gaza Strip following the collapse of a cease-fire in Israel's war against Iran-backed Hamas, which is deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU.
Trump again threatened Iran in an interview with NBC News on March 30 just days after Tehran rejected holding direct talks with Washington over its rapidly expanding nuclear program.
While high-ranking Iranian officials had previously spoken against the idea of holding nuclear talks with the United States, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said specifically on March 30 that Tehran would not enter direct negotiations with Washington, though it is willing to continue talks indirectly in line with an injunction from Khamenei.
"If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said in the NBC interview by phone.
"There's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago," he added.
But Trump also said US and Iranian officials are "talking," without offering details.
Mohammed Ghaedi, a lecturer at George Washington University's department of political science, told Radio Farda that Trump was "saber-rattling" and "exercising brinksmanship."
"I think it highly unlikely that Trump will bomb Iran, not least because he vowed on the presidential campaign trail not to drag the United States into a war," he told Radio Farda.
The latest trading of threats was preceded by a round of diplomacy that failed to bring the sides any closer.
An Emirati delegation delivered a letter to Tehran from Trump proposing nuclear talks with the United States earlier this month, but hours before it arrived Khamenei had already dismissed the prospect of talks with the Trump administration.
The letter gave Tehran a two-month window to decide on holding talks.
Similar comments were made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on March 27 when he said Tehran had sent a formal written response to Trump via Oman that maintained Iran will not hold direct negotiations as long as Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign is in effect.
A report in February by the UN's nuclear watchdog said Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium.
Iran's economy has been reeling from years of sanctions, particularly after Trump in his first term pulled the United States out of a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions.
Tehran is looking to find ways to ease those sanctions or have them removed entirely, but the public rejection of Trump's letter could lead to new pressure from Washington and other powers who are worried about Iran's nuclear program.
With the 2015 nuclear deal set to formally expire in October 2025, world powers that are still part of the pact have just a few months before they lose the ability to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Kian Sharifi, AP, Reuters, and AFP
Trump Threatens Putin With Oil Tariffs, Pressures Zelenskyy On Minerals Deal
US President Donald Trump threatened Russia with new tariffs on oil products if Moscow blocks his cease-fire initiatives, while he also said Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces "big, big problems" if he doesn't sign a key minerals deal with Washington.
"He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump told reporters on March 30 in reference to the Ukrainian president.
"We made a deal on rare earth. And now he's saying, well you know, I want to renegotiate the deal."
"He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that," Trump added.
On March 28, the Ukrainian government said it was still considering a draft agreement from the United States on the country's rare earth minerals amid media reports Washington had changed the terms of the deal several times.
Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced at a government meeting that Kyiv was forming its position on the agreement, but lawmakers would only state their stance once there was consensus. Before then, she said, public discussion would be harmful.
Ukraine possesses significant deposits of critical minerals, including rare earths, although their exact size remains uncertain. Rare earth minerals are highly valued for their use in defense technologies, as well as in devices such as computers, smartphones, and batteries.
Ukraine and the United States earlier this month agreed to conclude a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources. Efforts to seal the deal had earlier fallen apart on February 28 after a heated exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House.
Meanwhile, earlier on March 30, Trump said he would impose secondary tariffs of 25-50 percent on all Russian oil if he feels President Vladimir Putin is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
During a phone interview with NBC news, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Putin called for a transitional government to be put in place in Ukraine, which could effectively push out Zelenskyy.
"If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia's fault -- which it might not be -- but if I think it was Russia's fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia," Trump said.
"That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can't do business in the United States," Trump said. "There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil."
Trump added that the trade measures would be put in place within a month if no cease-fire agreement is reached.
The highly sensitive diplomatic juncture comes after the White House announced on March 25 that both Russia and Ukraine agreed to a cease-fire and to allow navigation in Black Sea, as well an agreement to not strike each other energy facilities.
Kyiv says that it would take effect immediately and Moscow has stated that it would follow the partial lifting of sanctions pertaining to Russian companies and banks involved in the international food trade.
Tougher Tone Toward Putin
The comments by Trump mark a shift from the softer approach the White House had taken toward Russia since the US president made ending the war in Ukraine a top foreign policy priority. They also come after he had previously criticized Zelenskyy, saying he was "sick" of his handling of the war and called him a "dictator without elections."
Trump told NBC that he will speak with Putin during this week.
Meanwhile, in his nightly video address on March 30, Zelenskyy said "Russia's response to the American proposition of unconditional cease-fire are drones, bombs, artillery shelling, ballistic missiles on a daily basis. Putin is demonstrating that he doesn't give a damn about diplomacy."
"What is needed are tougher sanctions against Russia, more air-defense capabilities for Ukraine, and more unity among our partners," Zelenskyy added.
Amid the US-led diplomatic efforts to reach a cease-fire deal, Kyiv accused Moscow of a "war crime" on March 30 after Russian drones struck a military hospital.
The overnight strike hit Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as part of an attack that also hit a shopping center, apartment blocks, and other targets, killing at least two people according to authorities.
The Ukrainian military's general staff accused Russia of "violating the norms of international humanitarian law" in the attack, which they denounced as "deliberate, targeted shelling." They added on March 30 that casualties included soldiers undergoing treatment in the medical center.
An hour before the Kharkiv attack, Zelenskyy said Kyiv expected a strong response from Western countries to the near daily Russian drone attacks on its territory.
"Our partners should clearly understand: These strikes are not just attacks on Ukrainian civilians, but also on all international efforts -- on the very diplomacy we are trying to use to end this war," Zelenskyy said on March 29.
In addition to the attacks on Kharkiv, Ukrainian authorities said that Russia fired a ballistic missile and launched drones as part of a barrage that also hit the cities of Dnipro, Kryviy Rih, and Poltava.
In total, Ukrainian authorities said that the overnight attacks killed at least two people and injured 26 others across the country.
The Ukrainian president added that "for too long," a US proposal for an unconditional cease-fire has been on the table "without a proper response from Russia. That says a lot."
With reporting by Reuters
- By RFE/RL
Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Tops 1,700 As Fears Mount Of Rising Casualties
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has risen to over 1,700, with fears that the number could soar in the coming days.
The 7.7-magnitude quake -- one of the strongest the war-torn country has experienced in a century -- also shook neighboring Thailand, causing damage and fatalities there.
The quake in Myanmar left around 1,700 dead, 3,400 injured, and more than 300 missing as of March 30, the Southeast Asian country’s military government said.
International aid agencies also warn of an expanding humanitarian crisis in the earthquake's aftermath.
"The destruction has been extensive, and humanitarian needs are growing by the hour," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement, warning that there was “an urgent need to stabilize” the situation ahead of the monsoon season before secondary crises emerge.
Rescue workers in Myanmar are continuing to search for possible survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings, and the country’s military leadership has declared a state of emergency across six regions and allowed hundreds of foreign rescue personnel into the country to assist with the quake’s devastating aftermath.
The junta chief, General Min Aung Hlaing, warned that the number of fatalities could go up and his administration faced a challenging situation, state media reported, days after he made a rare call for international assistance.
India, China, and Thailand are among Myanmar's neighbors that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia.
Myanmar’s military government is locked in a fight with insurgents, a situation that could hamper the rescue and relief operation.
The opposition National Unity Government said that anti-junta fighters under its command would pause all offensive military actions for two weeks as of March 30.
Critical Infrastructure Severely Damaged
Across the country of 55 million, critical infrastructure -- including bridges, highways, airports, and railways -- has been severely damaged, hampering humanitarian operations.
The quake comes on top of an already dire situation in a county wracked by a conflict that has battered the economy, displaced over 3.5 million people ,and debilitated the health system.
In some areas near the epicenter in central Myanmar, residents told Reuters that government assistance was scarce, leaving people to fend for themselves.
The U.S. Geological Service's predictive modelling estimated Myanmar's death toll could top 10,000 and losses could exceed the country's annual economic output, Reuters reported.
Hospitals in parts of central and northwestern Myanmar, including the second-biggest city, Mandalay, and the capital Naypyitaw, were struggling to cope with an influx of injured people, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said late on March 29.
The quake also shook parts of neighboring Thailand, triggering the collapse of an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok and killing at least 18 people across the capital, according to local authorities.
As of March 30, at least 76 people remained trapped beneath the rubble of the collapsed building, where rescue operations continued for a third day on March 30, using drones and sniffer dogs to hunt for survivors.
With reporting by Reuters
Iran's President Publicly Rejects Trump's Letter Calling For Nuclear Negotiations
Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian publicly rejected holding direct negotiations with Washington over its rapidly expanding nuclear program, which had been proposed in a letter from US President Donald Trump and delivered to Tehran earlier this month.
“Although the possibility of direct negotiations between the two sides has been rejected in this response, it has been emphasized that the path for indirect negotiations remains open,” Pezeshkian said in televised remarks on March 30, referring to Trump’s letter.
While high-ranking Iranian officials had previously spoken against the idea of holding nuclear talks with the United States, Pezeshkian’s comments mark Iran’s first formal rejection of the US call for negotiations.
Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has consistently said that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons and they have previously warned that military action is on the table should Iran reject Trump’s outreach.
Pezeshkian’s remarks now help set the stage for a further rise in tensions between Tehran and Washington over the country’s nuclear program.
Iran has long maintained that its program is for peaceful use, but Iranian officials have also threatened to pursue a weapon as tensions amid a growing standoff with the United States over sanctions and renewed bombing in the Gaza Strip following the collapse of a cease-fire in Israel’s war against Iran-backed Hamas, which is deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU.
A report in February by the UN’s nuclear watchdog said that Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium.
An Emirati delegation delivered a letter to Tehran from Trump proposing nuclear talks with the United States earlier this month, but hours before it arrived Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had already dismissed the prospect of talks with the Trump administration.
Similar comments were made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on March 27 when he said that Tehran had sent a formal written response to Trump via Oman which maintained that Iran will not hold direct negotiations as long as Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign is in effect.
“This official response includes a letter in which our position regarding the current situation and Mr. Trump's letter has been fully explained to the other party,” Araqchi said.
In his televised comments, Pezeshkian offered the most direct acknowledgement yet that Tehran has rejected direct talks, although he left the door open for indirect negotiations with the United States and trust-building efforts.
“We don’t avoid talks; it’s the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far,” Pezeshkian said. “They must prove that they can build trust,” he said, referring to the United States.
Iran’s economy has been reeling from years of sanctions, particularly after Trump, in his first term, pulled the United States out of a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions.
Tehran is looking to find ways to ease those sanctions or have them removed entirely, but the public rejection of Trump’s letter could lead to new pressure from Washington and other powers who are worried about Iran's nuclear program.
More sanctions could also be coming if Tehran doesn't reach an agreement.
With the 2015 nuclear deal set to formally expire in October 2025, world powers that are still part of the pact have only have a few months before they lose the ability to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran.
With reporting by the Associated Press
Trump Threatens Putin With Oil Tariffs If Unable To Reach Ukraine Cease-Fire
US President Donald Trump said that he will impose secondary tariffs of 25 percent to 50 percent on all Russian oil if he feels Moscow is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
During a March 30 phone interview with NBC news, US President Donald Trump said that he was “very angry” and “pissed off” when Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a transitional government to be put in place in Ukraine, which could effectively push out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault -- which it might not be -- but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump said.
“That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States,” Trump said. “There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.”
Trump added that the trade measures would be put in place within a month if no cease-fire agreement is reached.
The highly sensitive diplomatic juncture comes after the White House announced on March 25 that both Russia and Ukraine agreed to a cease-fire and to allow navigation in Black Sea, as well an agreement to not strike each other energy facilities.
Issues persist with implementing the deal.
Kyiv says that it would take effect immediately and Moscow has stated that it would follow the partial lifting of sanctions pertaining to Russian companies and banks involved in the international food trade.
The comments by Trump mark a shift from the softer approach the White House had taken toward Russia since the US president made ending the war in Ukraine a top foreign policy priority. They also come after he had previously criticized Zelenskyy, saying he was “sick” of his handling of the war and called him a "dictator without elections."
Trump told NBC that he will speak with Putin during this week.
Meanwhile, in his nightly video address on March 30, Zelenskyy said that "Russia's response to the American proposition of unconditional cease-fire are drones, bombs, artillery shelling, ballistic missiles on a daily basis; Putin is demonstrating that he doesn't give a damn about diplomacy."
"What is needed are tougher sanctions against Russia, more air-defense capabilities for Ukraine, and more unity among our partners," Zelenskyy added.
Attacks Continue Amid Ukraine Diplomacy
Amid the US-led diplomatic efforts to reach a cease-fire deal, Kyiv accused Moscow of a "war crime" on March 30 after Russian drones struck a military hospital.
The overnight strike hit Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as part of an attack that also hit a shopping center, apartment blocks, and other targets, killing at least two people according to authorities.
The Ukrainian military’s general staff accused Russia of “violating the norms of international humanitarian law” in the attack, which they denounced as “deliberate, targeted shelling." They added on March 30 that casualties included servicemen undergoing treatment in the medical center.
An hour before the Kharkiv attack, Zelenskyy said that Kyiv expected a strong response from Western countries to the near daily Russian drone attacks on its territory.
“Our partners should clearly understand: These strikes are not just attacks on Ukrainian civilians, but also on all international efforts -- on the very diplomacy we are trying to use to end this war," Zelenskyy said on March 29 in his previous video address.
In addition to the attacks on Kharkiv, Ukrainian authorities said that Russia fired a ballistic missile and launched drones as part of a barrage that also hit the cities of Dnipro, Kryviy Rih, and Poltava.
In total, Ukrainian authorities said that the overnight attacks killed at least two people and injured 26 others across the country.
Zelenskyy’s remarks came after a 24-period of intensifying deadly strikes by Russian forces.
The Ukrainian president added that “for too long,” a US proposal for an unconditional cease-fire has been on the table “without a proper response from Russia. That says a lot.”
“Russia is striking at the positions of everyone who wants to end this war. It is impossible to ignore hundreds of Shaheds every night,” he added, referring to Iranian-made drones.
Earlier, a regional governor said a Russian drone attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro late on March 28 killed four people and sparked a large fire in a hotel and restaurant complex as well as at multiple private homes.
Russian forces used more than 20 drones in the strike on Dnipro, which also injured 25. Zelenskyy said a pregnant woman was among the injured.
Pictures and videos posted on social media showed flames and large plumes of smoke in the air. Others showed shattered buildings, the badly damaged upper floors of a high-rise apartment block, and streets strewn with smashed glass and pieces of buildings.
Elsewhere on March 29, at least seven people were injured in a missile strike on Kryviy Rih, Ukraine’s state emergency service said.
- By RFE/RL
American Woman Freed By Taliban, Second Release Of US Hostage In 8 Days
An American woman has been released by the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan after being detained since February, the second freeing of a US citizen in the past eight days.
In a video posted by US President Donald Trump on March 29, Faye Hall said she had been released by the Taliban after being detained in the war-torn country last month.
"I've never been so proud to be an American citizen," Hall said in the video. "Thank you, Mr President…God bless you."
Trump thanked Hall for the comments and added: "So honored with your words!"
Former U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad first announced the release hours earlier on X, saying it had occurred on March 27. He said she was in the care of the Qatari delegation in Kabul.
"American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home," said Khalilzad, who has been part of a US team seeking the release of hostages held by the Taliban.
The development came a week after George Glezmann, 66, was released from detention in Kabul following the first visit by a senior US official to Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in the wake of the withdrawal of international troops in August 2021.
Hall had been detained in February while with a British couple in their 70s, Barbie and Peter Reynolds.
British media said the Reynolds had been operating school projects in Afghanistan for 18 years and had remained in the country despite the Taliban’s return to power.
Reuters quoted a US official as saying Adam Boehler, Washington's special envoy for hostage affairs, had worked with Qatari officials and others to win Hall’s release.
There was no immediate information on the British couple. Their daughter has pleaded for their release, citing health concerns.
Several Americans are still detained in Afghanistan.
Upon his release, Glezmann also thanked Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and others who helped free him.
He told Fox News he was abducted in the streets of Kabul and thrown "into a dungeon with no windows no nothing."
Two other Americans held in Afghanistan were exchanged in late January for a Taliban man imprisoned for life in California on drug and terrorism charges.
Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were swapped for Khan Mohammed, who was sentenced to two life terms in 2008 and was incarcerated in a US prison.
Aid worker Corbett, 40, and Mahmood Habibi, 37 -- who led the Afghan Aviation Authority under the previous Afghan government -- were detained separately in August 2022.
The world community has not recognized the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, although some countries -- including Russia, China, and Turkey -- still maintain embassies in Kabul.
Qatar has also maintained direct contact with the Taliban and has helped broker negotiations for the release of US hostages.
Amid poverty and unrest in the country, the Taliban rulers have made moves to open ties with the rest of the world. Western nations are reluctant to engage with the extremist group amid complaints of widespread human rights violations, especially against girls and women.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, Reuters, AFP, and AP
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