TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces unveiled plans for “punitive operations” against the Zionist regime, saying the counterattacks that Iran has carried out so far were merely aimed at deterrence.
In a video message released on Tuesday night, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi warned the Zionist regime to brace itself for a punishment for its act of aggression against Iran.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces unveiled plans for “punitive operations” against the Zionist regime, saying the counterattacks that Iran has carried out so far were merely aimed at deterrence.
In a video message released on Tuesday night, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi warned the Zionist regime to brace itself for a punishment for its act of aggression against Iran.
The top commander said the military operations that Iran has carried out so far were only warnings with the purpose of deterrence, adding that the punitive operations against the Zionist regime will kick off soon.
He also issued an evacuation warning, calling on the residents of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly the people in Tel Aviv and Haifa, to leave those regions to save their lives and not sacrifice themselves for the animal desires of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The great Iranian nation has never caved in to any aggression throughout history, he emphasized, saying Iran will once again stand against the barbaric Israeli attack and inflict a punishment on the Zionist regime for its criminal acts.
Ref : Tasnim News Agency
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces unveiled plans for “punitive operations” against the Zionist regime, saying the counterattacks that Iran has carried out so far were merely aimed at deterrence.
In a video message released on Tuesday night, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi warned the Zionist regime to brace itself for a punishment for its act of aggression against Iran.
The top commander said the military operations that Iran has carried out so far were only warnings with the purpose of deterrence, adding that the punitive operations against the Zionist regime will kick off soon.
He also issued an evacuation warning, calling on the residents of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly the people in Tel Aviv and Haifa, to leave those regions to save their lives and not sacrifice themselves for the animal desires of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The great Iranian nation has never caved in to any aggression throughout history, he emphasized, saying Iran will once again stand against the barbaric Israeli attack and inflict a punishment on the Zionist regime for its criminal acts.
Ref : Tasnim News Agency
White House officials said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump has met with members of his National Security Council. He is weighing whether to get more deeply involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, and he is posting aggressive messages on social media.
Trump wrote that the US knows where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding but doesn't want him killed "for now." He urged Iran's "unconditional surrender" in the fighting that broke out last Friday.
White House officials said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump has met with members of his National Security Council. He is weighing whether to get more deeply involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, and he is posting aggressive messages on social media.
Trump wrote that the US knows where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding but doesn't want him killed "for now." He urged Iran's "unconditional surrender" in the fighting that broke out last Friday.
The council meeting comes after Trump cut short his trip to the Group of 7 nations summit in Canada.
US news site Axios quotes sources as saying he is considering a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. He is reportedly focused on the uranium enrichment complex believed to be located about 80 meters underground in Fordow, central Iran. The US possesses so-called "bunker buster" bombs that might be able to damage the facility. Trump may use them as leverage to get Iran to cut a deal.
Ref - Axios
White House officials said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump has met with members of his National Security Council. He is weighing whether to get more deeply involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, and he is posting aggressive messages on social media.
Trump wrote that the US knows where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding but doesn't want him killed "for now." He urged Iran's "unconditional surrender" in the fighting that broke out last Friday.
The council meeting comes after Trump cut short his trip to the Group of 7 nations summit in Canada.
US news site Axios quotes sources as saying he is considering a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. He is reportedly focused on the uranium enrichment complex believed to be located about 80 meters underground in Fordow, central Iran. The US possesses so-called "bunker buster" bombs that might be able to damage the facility. Trump may use them as leverage to get Iran to cut a deal.
Ref - Axios
Thailand is currently seeking a seat at the China-led BRICS, and its plan has just received approval from Indonesia, a newcomer in the group.
Thailand is currently seeking a seat at the China-led BRICS, and its plan has just received approval from Indonesia, a newcomer in the group.
President Prabowo Subianto has jetted off to Bangkok for high-level talks with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Indonesia is the latest newcomer to the BRICS grouping and even managed to secure full membership within less than three months. Its ASEAN neighbor Thailand wants to follow in its footsteps -- something that Prabowo has taken note of. "Indonesia fully supports Thailand’s efforts to be a BRICS member. We will facilitate [Thailand] in this regard,” Prabowo said in a statement.
Aside from the possible BRICS expansion, Prabowo also revealed a plan to increase bilateral trade. As expected, Prabowo offered a partnership involving Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara. A transcript of Sinawatra’s statement showed that the Thai leader did not speak of her country’s BRICS candidacy. Even so, Shinawatra agreed that the two countries should further take their bilateral economic ties to greater heights -- particularly for halal and agricultural products.
Russia, one of the BRICS founding members, late last year informed Thailand that the bloc had agreed to accept Bangkok as a “partner country” starting in January 2025. Earlier this month, the Thai government reported to have sought Russia’s backing to become a full member, according to media reports. Malaysia is another ASEAN nation that has become a BRICS partner country.
Indonesia had only applied for BRICS after Prabowo assumed power in October. In January, its current chair, Brazil, announced that the group had given its green light to make Indonesia a full member. BRICS is an informal group of emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- hence the acronym. BRICS later expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and, most recently, Indonesia. As a group, BRICS mainly engages in areas such as trade, finance, among others. A country has to meet a list of criteria before it can be part of the BRICS club. Memberships are only open to UN members. Candidates must also maintain good diplomatic ties with all BRICS economies and must refrain from adopting sanctions without authorization from the UN Security Council.
Official government statistics showed that Indonesia-Thailand trade totaled $17.4 billion in 2024. Jakarta posted a $2 billion deficit when doing commerce with Thailand that year. However, Indonesia managed to turn the tables by booking a $484.8 million surplus in the first three months of 2025.
Ref : Jakarta Globe
Thailand is currently seeking a seat at the China-led BRICS, and its plan has just received approval from Indonesia, a newcomer in the group.
President Prabowo Subianto has jetted off to Bangkok for high-level talks with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Indonesia is the latest newcomer to the BRICS grouping and even managed to secure full membership within less than three months. Its ASEAN neighbor Thailand wants to follow in its footsteps -- something that Prabowo has taken note of. "Indonesia fully supports Thailand’s efforts to be a BRICS member. We will facilitate [Thailand] in this regard,” Prabowo said in a statement.
Aside from the possible BRICS expansion, Prabowo also revealed a plan to increase bilateral trade. As expected, Prabowo offered a partnership involving Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara. A transcript of Sinawatra’s statement showed that the Thai leader did not speak of her country’s BRICS candidacy. Even so, Shinawatra agreed that the two countries should further take their bilateral economic ties to greater heights -- particularly for halal and agricultural products.
Russia, one of the BRICS founding members, late last year informed Thailand that the bloc had agreed to accept Bangkok as a “partner country” starting in January 2025. Earlier this month, the Thai government reported to have sought Russia’s backing to become a full member, according to media reports. Malaysia is another ASEAN nation that has become a BRICS partner country.
Indonesia had only applied for BRICS after Prabowo assumed power in October. In January, its current chair, Brazil, announced that the group had given its green light to make Indonesia a full member. BRICS is an informal group of emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- hence the acronym. BRICS later expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and, most recently, Indonesia. As a group, BRICS mainly engages in areas such as trade, finance, among others. A country has to meet a list of criteria before it can be part of the BRICS club. Memberships are only open to UN members. Candidates must also maintain good diplomatic ties with all BRICS economies and must refrain from adopting sanctions without authorization from the UN Security Council.
Official government statistics showed that Indonesia-Thailand trade totaled $17.4 billion in 2024. Jakarta posted a $2 billion deficit when doing commerce with Thailand that year. However, Indonesia managed to turn the tables by booking a $484.8 million surplus in the first three months of 2025.
Ref : Jakarta Globe
US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine over the phone on Monday. Both leaders said their conversation went well, but no major progress was made on negotiations to reach peace.
US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine over the phone on Monday. Both leaders said their conversation went well, but no major progress was made on negotiations to reach peace.
Putin said the conversation was frank and productive. He says a temporary ceasefire is possible, if relevant agreements can be reached. Putin said "We have agreed with the president of the United States that Russia is ready and will continue to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a potential future peace treaty."
Putin also stressed Moscow's conventional claims, saying the main thing is to eliminate the root causes of the crisis. Trump said the two-hour talk went very well and claimed that Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire. But he later told reporters that there is a limit to how far he can push Moscow and Kyiv toward peace.
Trump said:" This is not my war. This is not war. I mean, we got ourselves entangled in something that we shouldn't have been involved in. Trump also said it would be great to hold ceasefire talks at the Vatican as it would add extra significance to the proceedings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that he's waiting to hear from Moscow on starting ceasefire talks.
Zelenskyy said: "We need to see the Russian proposal first, then we can put together our thoughts. If we cannot support their proposal, we want an opportunity to discuss with President Trump."
Zelenskyy added that he wants the US, Ukraine, Russia, and European countries to meet for talks in Turkey, the Vatican or Switzerland in the near future.
Source: NHK World
US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine over the phone on Monday. Both leaders said their conversation went well, but no major progress was made on negotiations to reach peace.
Putin said the conversation was frank and productive. He says a temporary ceasefire is possible, if relevant agreements can be reached. Putin said "We have agreed with the president of the United States that Russia is ready and will continue to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a potential future peace treaty."
Putin also stressed Moscow's conventional claims, saying the main thing is to eliminate the root causes of the crisis. Trump said the two-hour talk went very well and claimed that Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire. But he later told reporters that there is a limit to how far he can push Moscow and Kyiv toward peace.
Trump said:" This is not my war. This is not war. I mean, we got ourselves entangled in something that we shouldn't have been involved in. Trump also said it would be great to hold ceasefire talks at the Vatican as it would add extra significance to the proceedings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that he's waiting to hear from Moscow on starting ceasefire talks.
Zelenskyy said: "We need to see the Russian proposal first, then we can put together our thoughts. If we cannot support their proposal, we want an opportunity to discuss with President Trump."
Zelenskyy added that he wants the US, Ukraine, Russia, and European countries to meet for talks in Turkey, the Vatican or Switzerland in the near future.
Source: NHK World
GAZA is at “critical risk of famine”, with 22 per cent of the population facing an imminent humanitarian “catastrophe” after more than two months of an aid blockade by Israel, a food security monitor warned Monday.
Gaza’s entire population of around 2.4 million people is at risk of a food crisis “or worse” by September, the UN- and NGO-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said in a report.
GAZA is at “critical risk of famine”, with 22 per cent of the population facing an imminent humanitarian “catastrophe” after more than two months of an aid blockade by Israel, a food security monitor warned Monday.
Gaza’s entire population of around 2.4 million people is at risk of a food crisis “or worse” by September, the UN- and NGO-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said in a report.
“Nineteen months into the conflict, the Gaza Strip is still confronted with a critical risk of famine,” the IPC said. It said there had been a “major deterioration” in the food security situation since its last assessment in October 2024.
“Goods indispensable for people’s survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks. The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million people — one in five — facing starvation,” it said.
The consortium, which has developed a five-level famine warning system, found that from 1 April to 10 May, 244,000 people in Gaza were in the most critical food security situation — level five, or “catastrophe/famine”.
It classified another 925,000 as level four, or “emergency”.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization warned that Gaza faced “imminent risk of famine”, saying agriculture was “on the brink of total collapse”.
It called for the “immediate” lifting of the blockade, saying aid like animal feed and veterinary supplies was urgently needed to maintain precious production of items such as milk and eggs, often the ast remaining food. Israel, which launched its Gaza offensive after the 7 October 2023 attacks led by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, imposed its current aid blockade on 2 March.
Last week, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans to expand the military operation, including the “conquest” of Gaza and the displacement of its population. — AFP
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
GAZA is at “critical risk of famine”, with 22 per cent of the population facing an imminent humanitarian “catastrophe” after more than two months of an aid blockade by Israel, a food security monitor warned Monday.
Gaza’s entire population of around 2.4 million people is at risk of a food crisis “or worse” by September, the UN- and NGO-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said in a report.
“Nineteen months into the conflict, the Gaza Strip is still confronted with a critical risk of famine,” the IPC said. It said there had been a “major deterioration” in the food security situation since its last assessment in October 2024.
“Goods indispensable for people’s survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks. The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million people — one in five — facing starvation,” it said.
The consortium, which has developed a five-level famine warning system, found that from 1 April to 10 May, 244,000 people in Gaza were in the most critical food security situation — level five, or “catastrophe/famine”.
It classified another 925,000 as level four, or “emergency”.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization warned that Gaza faced “imminent risk of famine”, saying agriculture was “on the brink of total collapse”.
It called for the “immediate” lifting of the blockade, saying aid like animal feed and veterinary supplies was urgently needed to maintain precious production of items such as milk and eggs, often the ast remaining food. Israel, which launched its Gaza offensive after the 7 October 2023 attacks led by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, imposed its current aid blockade on 2 March.
Last week, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans to expand the military operation, including the “conquest” of Gaza and the displacement of its population. — AFP
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
The United States has disclosed that it has been holding direct talks with the Islamist group Hamas over the release of US hostages detained in the Gaza Strip. This is a highly unusual move as Washington regards Hamas as a terrorist organization. US news site Axios and other media outlets on Wednesday quoted sources as saying that Adam Boehler, serving as US envoy for hostage affairs, held meetings with Hamas officials in recent weeks in Doha.
The United States has disclosed that it has been holding direct talks with the Islamist group Hamas over the release of US hostages detained in the Gaza Strip. This is a highly unusual move as Washington regards Hamas as a terrorist organization. US news site Axios and other media outlets on Wednesday quoted sources as saying that Adam Boehler, serving as US envoy for hostage affairs, held meetings with Hamas officials in recent weeks in Doha.
Five US nationals are believed to be still detained in Gaza. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed in a news conference that talks are ongoing.
She went on to say that dialogue and talks with people around the world is a good faith effort by Trump to do what is right for the American people.
The US has long avoided direct negotiations with Hamas, which it designated as a terrorist organization in 1997.
Hamas also told Middle Eastern media that talks had been held with Boehler. It said the request to hold talks came from the US side.
Source: NHK World
The United States has disclosed that it has been holding direct talks with the Islamist group Hamas over the release of US hostages detained in the Gaza Strip. This is a highly unusual move as Washington regards Hamas as a terrorist organization. US news site Axios and other media outlets on Wednesday quoted sources as saying that Adam Boehler, serving as US envoy for hostage affairs, held meetings with Hamas officials in recent weeks in Doha.
Five US nationals are believed to be still detained in Gaza. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed in a news conference that talks are ongoing.
She went on to say that dialogue and talks with people around the world is a good faith effort by Trump to do what is right for the American people.
The US has long avoided direct negotiations with Hamas, which it designated as a terrorist organization in 1997.
Hamas also told Middle Eastern media that talks had been held with Boehler. It said the request to hold talks came from the US side.
Source: NHK World
US President Donald Trump said his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, plans to travel to Washington later this week to sign a minerals deal.
Zelenskyy is reportedly planning to meet Trump in the White House on Friday after officials agreed on the terms of the draft deal. The US aims to jointly develop Ukraine's mineral resources.
Ukraine has previously stated that it seeks security guarantees from the US as part of the deal.
US President Donald Trump said his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, plans to travel to Washington later this week to sign a minerals deal.
Zelenskyy is reportedly planning to meet Trump in the White House on Friday after officials agreed on the terms of the draft deal. The US aims to jointly develop Ukraine's mineral resources.
Ukraine has previously stated that it seeks security guarantees from the US as part of the deal.
According to a senior Ukrainian official who spoke to the AFP news agency, while the draft mentions "security," it does not specify the US role.
However, Trump mentioned that "some form" of peacekeeping troops will be necessary for Ukraine.
Source: DW
US President Donald Trump said his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, plans to travel to Washington later this week to sign a minerals deal.
Zelenskyy is reportedly planning to meet Trump in the White House on Friday after officials agreed on the terms of the draft deal. The US aims to jointly develop Ukraine's mineral resources.
Ukraine has previously stated that it seeks security guarantees from the US as part of the deal.
According to a senior Ukrainian official who spoke to the AFP news agency, while the draft mentions "security," it does not specify the US role.
However, Trump mentioned that "some form" of peacekeeping troops will be necessary for Ukraine.
Source: DW
After lengthy negotiations, Ukraine has agreed on the terms of a minerals deal with the US, the Financial Times newspaper, Reuters, and AFP news agency reported, citing unnamed officials.
The Trump administration had been pushing Kyiv towards an agreement on the deal, which has been a source of tension between Kyiv and Washington as Trump pursues bilateral talks with Russia on ending the war.
After lengthy negotiations, Ukraine has agreed on the terms of a minerals deal with the US, the Financial Times newspaper, Reuters, and AFP news agency reported, citing unnamed officials.
The Trump administration had been pushing Kyiv towards an agreement on the deal, which has been a source of tension between Kyiv and Washington as Trump pursues bilateral talks with Russia on ending the war.
Bloomberg News reported that the Ukrainian Cabinet on Wednesday is expected to recommend the deal be signed.
Ukraine's Ukrainska Pravda news website, citing a copy of the agreement dated February 24, said the deal "lacked security guarantees" for Ukraine.
A Ukrainian official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the US had dropped unfavorable clauses in the deal, and that "government officials were working on the details."
The official said the removed clauses included the demand that Ukraine provide $500 billion worth of resources.
The deal could be officially signed in Washington on Friday, the official added.
Source: DW
After lengthy negotiations, Ukraine has agreed on the terms of a minerals deal with the US, the Financial Times newspaper, Reuters, and AFP news agency reported, citing unnamed officials.
The Trump administration had been pushing Kyiv towards an agreement on the deal, which has been a source of tension between Kyiv and Washington as Trump pursues bilateral talks with Russia on ending the war.
Bloomberg News reported that the Ukrainian Cabinet on Wednesday is expected to recommend the deal be signed.
Ukraine's Ukrainska Pravda news website, citing a copy of the agreement dated February 24, said the deal "lacked security guarantees" for Ukraine.
A Ukrainian official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the US had dropped unfavorable clauses in the deal, and that "government officials were working on the details."
The official said the removed clauses included the demand that Ukraine provide $500 billion worth of resources.
The deal could be officially signed in Washington on Friday, the official added.
Source: DW
February 25, 2025
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin offered the U.S. the opportunity for joint exploration of the country's rare earth metals deposits, as well as the supply of aluminum to the U.S. domestic market, outlining a future economic deal between the two countries.
February 25, 2025
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin offered the U.S. the opportunity for joint exploration of the country's rare earth metals deposits, as well as the supply of aluminum to the U.S. domestic market, outlining a future economic deal between the two countries.
U.S. President Donald Trump earlier said that "major economic development transactions with Russia" would take place. Within two hours of Trump's statement, Putin chaired a meeting with his ministers and economic advisers on rare earth metals.
"We, by the way, would be ready to offer our American partners, and when I say 'partners,' I mean not only administrative and governmental structures but also companies, if they showed interest in joint work," Putin said on state TV after the meeting.
"We undoubtedly have, I want to emphasize, significantly more resources of this kind than Ukraine," Putin added. He mentioned that a potential U.S.-Ukraine deal involving rare earth metals is not a concern for Russia.
He noted that Russian companies could supply up to 2 million tonnes of aluminum to the U.S. market annually if the U.S. market reopens. Russia used to provide around 15% of U.S. aluminum imports before prohibitive duties were introduced in 2023.
Putin suggested that Russia and the U.S. could work jointly on hydropower generation and aluminum production in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region in Siberia, which is the home base for Russia's largest aluminum maker, Rusal.
In a transcript posted by the Kremlin, Putin said rare earths were a priority sector for Russia's economic development and competitiveness.
Putin said the government sought to "boost the potential of the domestic industry" extending from extraction to "manufacture of ready-made high-technology goods."
"Based on the results of the national project, the volume of output of such goods should increase several times over," he said.
Source: asia.nikkei.com
February 25, 2025
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin offered the U.S. the opportunity for joint exploration of the country's rare earth metals deposits, as well as the supply of aluminum to the U.S. domestic market, outlining a future economic deal between the two countries.
U.S. President Donald Trump earlier said that "major economic development transactions with Russia" would take place. Within two hours of Trump's statement, Putin chaired a meeting with his ministers and economic advisers on rare earth metals.
"We, by the way, would be ready to offer our American partners, and when I say 'partners,' I mean not only administrative and governmental structures but also companies, if they showed interest in joint work," Putin said on state TV after the meeting.
"We undoubtedly have, I want to emphasize, significantly more resources of this kind than Ukraine," Putin added. He mentioned that a potential U.S.-Ukraine deal involving rare earth metals is not a concern for Russia.
He noted that Russian companies could supply up to 2 million tonnes of aluminum to the U.S. market annually if the U.S. market reopens. Russia used to provide around 15% of U.S. aluminum imports before prohibitive duties were introduced in 2023.
Putin suggested that Russia and the U.S. could work jointly on hydropower generation and aluminum production in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region in Siberia, which is the home base for Russia's largest aluminum maker, Rusal.
In a transcript posted by the Kremlin, Putin said rare earths were a priority sector for Russia's economic development and competitiveness.
Putin said the government sought to "boost the potential of the domestic industry" extending from extraction to "manufacture of ready-made high-technology goods."
"Based on the results of the national project, the volume of output of such goods should increase several times over," he said.
Source: asia.nikkei.com
23 Feb, 2025
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has expressed his readiness to “exchange” his position for NATO membership and step down if it is necessary to achieve peace in Ukraine.
Speaking at the ‘Ukraine. Year 2025’ forum in Kiev on Saturday, Zelensky said he does not intend to remain in power for many years.
23 Feb, 2025
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has expressed his readiness to “exchange” his position for NATO membership and step down if it is necessary to achieve peace in Ukraine.
Speaking at the ‘Ukraine. Year 2025’ forum in Kiev on Saturday, Zelensky said he does not intend to remain in power for many years.
Zelensky confirmed he received the proposed deal, introduced by Washington after the first draft was shot down by Kiev, which involves a sum of $500 billion.
“It became clear that we are talking about a debt, that this is not an investment... If this money goes to the fund, and nothing comes from abroad, then we are paying off the debt,” Zelensky stated.
“We had 100 [billion]. I am not ready to pay off 500 [billion]. And I am not even ready to fix it at the 100 [billion mark], because I will not recognize grants as debts. We should not pay off the debt,” he added.
Paying off amounts such as this would put ten generations of Ukrainians in debt, which means the deal is completely unacceptable, Zelensky said.
Zelensky’s presidential term expired in May 2024; critics have accused the Ukrainian leader of seeking to prolong the hostility in order to cling on power. Moscow has said it does not regard him as a legitimate representative of the country and that he lacks the power to sign any comprehensive peace deal. This week, Trump pointed to Zelensky’s shaky legal position as well, branding him a “dictator without elections” and claiming that he currently has an extremely low approval rating in his country.
ကိုးကား- RT
Photo: RNZ
23 Feb, 2025
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has expressed his readiness to “exchange” his position for NATO membership and step down if it is necessary to achieve peace in Ukraine.
Speaking at the ‘Ukraine. Year 2025’ forum in Kiev on Saturday, Zelensky said he does not intend to remain in power for many years.
Zelensky confirmed he received the proposed deal, introduced by Washington after the first draft was shot down by Kiev, which involves a sum of $500 billion.
“It became clear that we are talking about a debt, that this is not an investment... If this money goes to the fund, and nothing comes from abroad, then we are paying off the debt,” Zelensky stated.
“We had 100 [billion]. I am not ready to pay off 500 [billion]. And I am not even ready to fix it at the 100 [billion mark], because I will not recognize grants as debts. We should not pay off the debt,” he added.
Paying off amounts such as this would put ten generations of Ukrainians in debt, which means the deal is completely unacceptable, Zelensky said.
Zelensky’s presidential term expired in May 2024; critics have accused the Ukrainian leader of seeking to prolong the hostility in order to cling on power. Moscow has said it does not regard him as a legitimate representative of the country and that he lacks the power to sign any comprehensive peace deal. This week, Trump pointed to Zelensky’s shaky legal position as well, branding him a “dictator without elections” and claiming that he currently has an extremely low approval rating in his country.
ကိုးကား- RT
Photo: RNZ