The Kiev regime continues to engage in terrorist activities, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated

The killing of a senior Russian general in a car bomb has again demonstrated the true nature of the Kiev regime, which has long engaged in “terrorist activities” in Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy operations chief of the Russian General Staff, was killed by a car bomb outside his residence in the suburban Moscow town of Balashikha early on Friday. Commenting on the incident, Peskov called upon the public to “stay alert,” suggesting Ukraine was likely behind the assassination.

“The Kiev regime once again shows its essence,” Peskov told journalist Pavel Zarubin, adding that it “continues to engage in terrorist activities” on Russian soil. The incident serves as a reminder that “despite the peace talks, we must stay alert,” he added, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin. 

Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova offered a similar comment, stating should Ukrainian involvement in the assassination be confirmed, it would demonstrate the “barbarian and treacherous nature of the Kiev regime.” Ukraine is betting on escalating the conflict and “irresponsibly ignoring constructive proposals” to settle it through diplomacy, she noted. 

“There is a reason to believe that the Ukrainian special services were involved in the murder, especially given that Moskalik was known to them from the time of his work in the Minsk Contact Group and the ‘Normandy [four] format’ for the settlement of the conflict in the southeast of Ukraine,” Zakharova added.

Last December, a bombing attack in Moscow killed Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who served as the commander of the Russian Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces. Investigators blamed the incident on Ukrainian intelligence. 

The explosive device used to kill Kirillov was reportedly concealed inside an electric scooter placed by the entrance of a residential building where the general had lived and monitored through a camera set up in a car parked outside. The bomb was detonated remotely by the perpetrators when the general and his aide were coming out of the building, killing both men on the spot.

G4S’s mercenaries are everywhere – from the halls of American power to the darkest corners of detention centers

The British-American private military company Group 4 Securitas (G4S) has evolved far beyond its original mission of providing security for Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. Today, it resembles a quasi-state, complete with its own armed forces, prison systems, and global reach. G4S secures US embassies around the world, guards airports, government agencies, and military installations for both Washington and London, and even monitors sections of the US border.

It also manages prisons notorious for abuse, torture, and killings. British-American firms now dominate roughly 90% of the global PMC market, and experts say that outsourcing warfare to private contractors has become the preferred tool of foreign policy. It’s easier – and more politically palatable – to fight through intermediaries.

G4S earns the lion’s share of its revenue from contracts with multinational corporations and government agencies in the US and UK. Its former CEO, Ashley Martin Almanza, previously served as CFO of the British energy giant BG Group, a major supplier of liquefied natural gas to China. In 2016, BG merged with Royal Dutch Shell – another UK-based energy titan and the world’s largest oil and gas company.

Deep Roots in Global Energy and Conflict Zones

Since 2016, G4S has been protecting employees and assets of the Barash Gas Company in Iraq – a joint venture between the Iraqi government and Shell, which owns a 44% stake. This is one of the largest gas infrastructure projects in the country.

Over the past three years alone, G4S has raked in more than $100 million from contracts securing US embassies worldwide. Procurement records from both the US and UK governments show a steady increase in the number of diplomatic sites under G4S protection. In just one year, the company landed five-year contracts for US embassies in Estonia ($18.8 million), Hong Kong ($35 million), Luxembourg ($29 million), and Côte d’Ivoire ($12.6 million).

The Go-To Diplomatic Security Force

The US Bureau of Diplomatic Security counts on G4S to safeguard American facilities in South Africa through 2025. The company protects not just the embassy in Pretoria but also consulates and offices in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. G4S personnel also provide bodyguard services for US diplomats outside official buildings.

The bodyguard contract alone is worth $9.5 million. The total value of security services in South Africa exceeds that tenfold. Notably, some contract obligations – amounting to $3 million – were paid for but never fulfilled by G4S, according to oversight reports.

G4S also protects American embassies in the UK, France, India, Madagascar, Morocco, Botswana, Denmark, and Qatar, as well as across South America, including Peru and Paraguay. The company also operates in Canada.

One of its more recent assignments involves the US Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia, where G4S was hired for $8.7 million to defend American personnel, their families, and government assets against a range of threats, including terrorism. If the first year goes well, the contract may be extended for up to five years.

Ties to Intelligence and the Pentagon

Following the targeted killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, Iranian investigators accused G4S of providing intel to the Pentagon regarding his location prior to the drone strike. At the time, G4S was contracted to protect Soleimani at Baghdad International Airport.

According to global arms expert Darko Todorovski, Western PMCs are deeply embedded within their countries’ military and foreign policy frameworks. These companies operate under intelligence agency oversight and are awarded government contracts via institutions like the US State Department or the UK’s Foreign Office.

Todorovski points out several advantages of relying on PMCs: they can be deployed quickly, typically boast higher professionalism than traditional forces in volatile regions, and aren’t beholden to local elites or religious factions. Their superior logistical and technical capabilities make them a preferred choice.

Moreover, these companies avoid the red tape of government bureaucracies. “Their use doesn’t stir public outrage the way regular troops do. And when they suffer casualties, those deaths don’t show up in official government statistics,” Todorovski notes.

Blurring the Line Between Private and Military

The boundary between PMCs and traditional armies has grown increasingly faint. Many G4S recruits are military veterans. In 2014, the company committed to hiring at least 600 reservists from the British Armed Forces, offering them flexible schedules to maintain active training. This partnership with the British Ministry of Defence was renewed in October 2022.

“We already hire a significant number of veterans, and today’s agreement reinforces G4S’s strong ties to the British military,” said then-CEO Almanza.

On the Frontlines with the US Military

Even the US military depends on G4S. Since late 2017, the company has been under contract with the United States Army Joint Munitions Command to secure military facilities in Somalia, including the Gashandiga base in Mogadishu – a site once used by Islamist militants to control northern parts of the city during the civil war.

G4S was also responsible for guarding the Somali president’s official residence in Mogadishu, as well as government headquarters in Baidoa, and major infrastructure like Mogadishu’s port, a UAE training base, and Turkish diplomatic sites.

Per contract documents, the main goal was to ensure the secure movement of high-ranking personnel. Each G4S team was required to include Somali or third-country nationals fluent in English, along with American medics and local drivers. Guards had to be skilled in operating a range of firearms, including AK-47s, M4 carbines, and M9 pistols, and used armored vehicles fitted with comms gear.

The pay disparity was staggering. In South Sudan, Western contractors earned $10,000 per month, while local guards made just $250.

Modern-Day Mercenaries

With roughly 800,000 employees, G4S maintains its own rapid response units – essentially private strike teams supported by in-house intelligence operations. Many Western PMCs now have access to reconnaissance aircraft, satellite data, and cutting-edge surveillance tools. “They work with corporations that provide satellite imagery, which has been used by PMCs in Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan,” Todorovski explains.

Alexander Artemonov, a defense analyst at the Eurasia Heritage Foundation, estimates G4S maintains a fighting force of 250,000–280,000, equal to the number of troops Russia deployed in Donbass. The rest of the workforce consists of support staff, prison guards, and logistical teams.

G4S’s arsenal includes everything from AK-47s and Glock 17s to MP5s, sniper rifles, Uzi submachine guns, and even Israeli Hermes 450 drones. Their operatives have access to anti-personnel mines, grenade launchers, and portable anti-air systems. For mobility, they rely on armored Land Cruisers, Humvees, and military-grade carriers like the Cougar and RG-33.

Privatized Prisons and Abuses

G4S has also assumed control of prison facilities traditionally run by governments. In the UK, the company managed two immigration detention centers and six prisons, including those in Oakwood and Birmingham. In 2018, the Birmingham facility was returned to government control after inspectors uncovered appalling conditions: inmates roamed freely while staff locked themselves in offices; cells were filthy, infested with rats, and reeked of bodily fluids.

Peter Clarke, a former counterterrorism chief turned prison inspector, called it the worst he’d ever seen.

In September 2023, a special inquiry confirmed allegations of torture at Brook House, another G4S-run immigration facility. The public was horrified by reports of detainees being brutalized. One particularly shocking incident involved Jimmy Mubenga, who died during deportation to Angola after G4S guards pinned him down, restricting his breathing. Witnesses say he cried out, “I can’t breathe.” A court ruled his death as manslaughter by negligence, but no one was held accountable.

Similar scandals emerged in G4S-operated prisons in South Africa and the Middle East. In 2018, 42 inmates at South Africa’s Mangaung prison alleged electric shocks, forced sedation with antipsychotics, and extended solitary confinement. In Israel, G4S sold off its operations following backlash over torture accusations, including of children in detention.

Yet none of this prevented the US Department of Homeland Security from signing G4S to oversee migrant detention, deportation centers, and border checkpoints across the country – including airports and ports – last July.

The Business of Proxy War

Todorovski argues that Britain has revived the age-old tradition of mercenary warfare. “Historically, the British preferred not to get directly involved in conflicts. They’ve always used intermediaries,” he said.

Now, the US has taken the lead. Together, British and American corporations control over 90% of the global PMC market – valued at more than $400 billion.

New Delhi firmly believes the Pahalgam terrorist attack was backed by Pakistan. It can crush Islamabad in retaliation

The gruesome massacre of innocent holidaymakers near Pahalgam in India’s Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory has been condemned by all major world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At least 28 people were killed and several others injured in the attack. That it happened when US Vice President J.D. Vance was in India indicates the audacity of the attackers and their backers. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was on a visit to Saudi Arabia had to cut his trip short and rush back. The Indian security establishment immediately went into a huddle. Home Minister Amit Shah and the Army Chief rushed to Pahalgam to take stock of the situation on the ground.

The terrorists have already been identified and their Pakistan links established. The three military chiefs are now discussing a response and are considering all options. This will not be allowed to go by. There is nationwide anger. There will be repercussions. A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials are investigating on the spot. Recent events in Bangladesh, the infiltration and riots in West Bengal, and Pakistan army chief’s venomous position on Hindus are indicative of a major game play.

The Pakistani army chief talks supremacism

Addressing the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad, General Asim Munir echoed the words of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, who famously believed that Hindus and Muslims followed different philosophies, customs, and laws – making national unity impossible. Munir returned to the very roots of Pakistan’s ideological foundation. “Our religion is different, our customs are different, our traditions are different, our thoughts are different, our ambitions are different – that’s where the foundation of the two-nation theory was laid. We are two nations, we are not one nation,” he said.

He urged overseas Pakistanis to never forget that they belong to a “superior ideology and culture,” and to pass down this ideology to future generations. “You have to narrate Pakistan’s story to your children so that they don’t forget it,” he added.

Pakistani footprint all over the Pahalgam attack                                   

Hindu hatred is clearly visible from the modus operandi of the attack. Tell-tale signs of the Pakistani army’s backing are emerging. Pakistan cannot stand the peace and prosperity emerging in Kashmir. The state has been incident-free since its special autonomy status was revoked in 2019. Tourist numbers have been going up. Public participation in elections have been very significant. Chief Minister Omar Abdulla has been working closely with the New Delhi government for betterment of the masses.

But Kashmir’s integration with India was not palatable to the Pakistani ruling establishment. Pakistan is an ideological state, and its army has taken up the mantle of the guardian of that ideology. India’s 1.3-million-strong army cannot intimidate Pakistan, Munir said. He obviously forgets about the meek surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers in that ended the two-week-long 1971 Indo-Pakistani war.

“China condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and said they oppose terrorism in all its forms. Hope China will then find courage to ask tough questions to their “iron brother” Pakistan on why it continues to sponsor terrorism on directions of Asim Munir. Let this be clear. Mastermind of Pahalgam terror attack is not Hafiz Saeed or Lashkar e Tayyiba. Mastermind of Pahalgam Massacre is Asim Munir of Pakistan Army sitting in Rawalpindi. Pakistan Army and ISI need to pay for the bloody carnage in Kashmir. Modi Govt should act boldly,” tweeted senior journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, a Hindu Kashmiri.

Political and diplomatic response

The Indian public is angered and demanding that the mantra “never forget, never forgive” be put into action.

For a long time, India has taken the soft line. Perhaps that is the reason some have taken India for granted. It cannot allow itself to be seen as a weak state. There are lessons to be learned from Israel.

There are diplomatic, political and military options. All need to be exercised in tandem. Strong expressions of support and solidarity have been received from many governments around the world, which have unequivocally condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The world is with India. Multiple nations have suffered from terrorism. Notably, major Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have spoken in favor of India.

India’s immediate response to the attack was broad-reaching. It has suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which allowed for water sharing providing irrigation to vast swathes of Pakistani land. All trade between the two nations, including through third countries has been suspended. The Integrated Check Post Attari, a strategic cross-border trade checkpoint and the only legal land route for trade, was closed with immediate effect. Pakistani YouTube and other social media channels have been barred in India. Cricket and other sporting events have been suspended. Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. SVES visas already issued to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled, with any Pakistanis currently in India under an SVES given 48 hours to leave.

Military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi (the Pakistani diplomatic mission in India) have been declared personae non grata and given a week to leave India. India will be withdrawing its own defense/navy/air advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as well. Their posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. The overall strength of the High Commissions will be brought down to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions by May 1. India will use its financial and diplomatic muscle to teach Pakistan a lesson.

There are other things that can be done. Indirect options India could use include supporting secessionist forces in Pakistan and giving more backing to the insurgencies in Balochistan, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Military options

The Indian government’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) reviewed the overall security situation in its meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence and directed all forces to maintain high vigil. The armed forces have already launched Operation Tikka, a high-level anti-terrorism campaign. A few terrorists have already been eliminated. The Indian Army is giving a massive response to unprovoked firing at the Line of Control (LoC) between the India- and Pakistan-controlled parts of Kashmir. The ceasefire there is de facto annulled. Indian armed forces are already carrying out preparatory joint military exercises. Selective mobilization of the armed forces is possible and would send a strong signal. If it comes to that, India could exercise a massive punishing multi-domain strike.

India has many unspoken options. It could activate operatives to strike military establishments within Pakistan. An artillery barrage against terrorist training camps across the border could be launched. In case of open warfare, Pakistan would run out of ammunition much faster. Much wider air strikes against a host of terrorist camps can be carried out. BrahMos and other cruise missiles can be used.

The Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier has already sailed into the Arabian Sea. A few submarines could follow or may already be in the region. The Indian air force is formidable, with the French Rafale fighter jets armed with Scalp-EG and Meteor missiles. The Su-30 MKI, upgraded MiG 29 and Mirage-2000 are also potent assets.

New Delhi could coordinate with the Baloch Liberation Army and Pashtun insurgents in Pakistan to open multiple fronts. The escalation would have to be graded and carefully managed. A disproportionate Pakistan military response should be expected and prepared for.

India could also work towards selective US- and Israel-style assassinations of terrorist leaders in Pakistan plotting against.

Pakistan has few backers. Iran and the Saudis are not its friends anymore. China will at best act as a mediator. The US, Russia, Israel and Europe will back India for a controlled aggression. The bigger aim here is to show the Pakistani army in poor light. Call the nuclear bluff.

Punishment should not be a one-off event. It has to be a continuous program from now on. Make it painful for Pakistan to support terrorism. Peace overtures like the Aman ki Asha (‘Hope for Peace’) joint media campaign must end. Meanwhile, greater attention must be devoted to building military capability. Increase air force fighter squadron numbers. Stop downsizing the army. Get more nuclear submarines. Increase nuclear warheads.

Pakistan’s response

Pakistan has also put its military on alert. Border areas are being sensitized by them for possible Indian attack. Pakistan has suspended the 1972 Shimla Agreement that had marked the LoC as the temporary border. Islamabad has closed its airspace for Indian airlines. Anti-India rhetoric has been boosted to raise the morale of the public. Pakistan has also announced that diversion of water due to it under the Indus Water Treaty will be treated as an act of war. It is a wait-and-watch situation.

Time to stop terrorist infiltration

There are many Indian politicians, especially in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, who consider illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants as their political support base and are turning a blind eye to their arrival and settlement. It is time to take appropriate actions to curb this trend. There is a tendency for security forces and intelligence agencies to be less vigilant when there is an extended period of peace. It happened in Kargil.

Kashmir is a different story. Vigil will be required for decades ahead. If these terrorists were within the region for nearly a month as reports indicate, then we need to look in the mirror. The Indian judiciary is often seen as soft against terrorists. This needs serious review. The public has to be sensitized much more against terrorists. The time to act is now. A soft reaction will invite further dastardly attacks.

The tech giant’s reported plans come amid an escalating trade war between the US and China, the top assembly site for the iPhone

Apple plans to move the assembly of all US-bound iPhones from China to India in light of the escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, the Financial Times has reported.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on numerous countries, with Chinese goods facing duties as high as 145%. He has argued that the measures will help revive domestic manufacturing and redress the skewed trade balance. Beijing responded by imposing its own tariffs and export restrictions.

The US Customs and Border Protection agency went on to publish a list of exempted articles, which are subject only to a separate 20% rate and include computers, laptops, smartphones and other tech devices and components. Commenting on the decision, the White House stated that the exemptions are meant to give companies enough time to localize their production on US soil.

On Friday, the FT reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Apple hopes to complete the shift of its assembly lines to India by the end of 2026, affecting more than 60 million iPhones sold annually in the US.

According to the publication, the tech giant has had to speed up its pre-existing diversification strategy amid the intensifying trade war, and now aims to double the iPhone output in India.

While the company has already moved some of its assembly lines to India and Vietnam, China still remains the leading production center for iPhones globally. Apple has invested heavily there over almost two decades.

A lot of the constituent components that are put together during assembly are sourced from China, the FT noted.

Earlier this month, the Times of India, citing unnamed senior officials, alleged that Apple had transported five planeloads of iPhones and other devices from India to the US within a span of three days in late March. The shipment was reportedly conducted in anticipation of a 10% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods introduced by Trump, which took effect on April 5.

The cheapest iPhone 16 model was launched in the US at $799 last September. This could now rise by 43% to $1,142 should Apple pass the burden on to consumers, Reuters estimated, citing calculations based on projections from analysts at Rosenblatt Securities.

Yahoo is reportedly preparing to acquire the web browser if a US federal court orders its sale in an antitrust case

Yahoo is ready to buy popular web browser Chrome if a US federal court orders the current owner, Google, to divest from it in an anti-monopoly lawsuit, Bloomberg has reported.

According to the outlet, the general manager for Yahoo Search, Brian Provost, testified at Google’s trial in Washington on Thursday, stating that Chrome is “arguably the most important strategic player on the web” and that his company estimates that the browser’s sale prices would be in the tens of billions of dollars.

“We would be able to pursue it with Apollo,” Provost said, referring to Yahoo’s parent company – Apollo Global Management.

Provost’s testimony came as part of a three-week hearing against Google to determine how to get the company to remedy its overwhelming dominance in internet search, in which Chrome plays a major part, according to the US Department of Justice. The trial began on Monday following last year’s ruling by a US judge that Google had illegally monopolized the internet search market.

Google attorney John Schmidtlein has dismissed the government’s proposed remedies as “extreme” and “fundamentally flawed,” arguing that the company won its place in the market “fair and square.”

Schmidtlein suggested that the government’s demand that Google sell off Chrome would “reward competitors with advantages they never would have earned in a market where Google competed.”

Other contenders to take Chrome off of Google’s hands include ChatGPT developer OpenAI and AI search engine Perplexity.

As reported by TechCrunch, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas has admitted that his company wants a web browser to help further develop its AI model, and “get data even outside the [Perplexity] app to better understand you.”

“Because some of the prompts that people do in these AIs is purely work-related. It’s not like that’s personal,” he explained on the TBPN podcast.

“On the other hand, what are the things you’re buying; which hotels are you going [to]; which restaurants are you going to; what are you spending time browsing, tells us so much more about you,” he added, noting that this information could be used to build a better user profile and “show some ads” in the ‘discover’ feed.

The orthodox complex in Russia’s Belgorod Region was “deliberately” targeted by drones, according to the governor and local metropolitan bishop

The iconic New Jerusalem orthodox temple has burned down as a result of a Ukrainian drone attack, Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov and the local metropolitan bishop have said.

Since the escalation of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev in February 2022, the Russian region bordering Ukraine has repeatedly been targeted by artillery and mortar fire, as well as explosives-laden UAVs from across the border.

In a post on Telegram late Thursday, Gladkov wrote that the “Ukrainian Armed Forces have barbarously attacked our universally beloved New Jerusalem temple compound.”

“During the holy Easter week, one of [the region’s] holiest places was deliberately struck,” he said, adding that Ukrainian UAVs subsequently targeted the firefighters who were trying to contain the blaze.

In a separate post, Gladkov suggested that the incident proves “nothing is sacred” for the Ukrainian forces.

The metropolitan bishop of Belgorod Region, Ioann, confirmed the destruction of the New Jerusalem Temple complex in a statement on Telegram Friday morning.

”For several hours, a group of drones was intentionally destroying the wooden buildings of the compound,” he said, claiming that the Ukrainian military used incendiary bombs, and the UAVs were controlled via satellite, making them difficult to jam. The bishop also accused Kiev of targeting the first responders at the scene.

In an article on Thursday, RIA Novosti quoted another representative of the Belgorod Region diocese as saying at least two large drones took part in the attack, with one apparently acting as a radio retransmitter, amplifying the signal for the other UAV.

The orthodox compound, a wooden reproduction of biblical Jerusalem, was built in the early 2000s.

According to Gladkov, over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian military attacked a total of ten locations in Belgorod Region with artillery shelling and nearly 100 drones.

In late February, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “it’s clear that the Kiev regime doesn’t shy away from anything… There’s nothing sacred [for them].”

He made the remarks after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that it detained two suspects who had allegedly planned to assassinate Metropolitan Tikhon, the head of the Simferopol and Crimean diocese, with a bomb, presumably at the behest of the Ukrainian intelligence services.

Metropolitan Tikhon has been described as a close spiritual adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, though they have never confirmed this.

Various interests are staked on the outcome of negotiations between Washington and Tehran. If they align just right, all can benefit

The current phase of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States marks a notable convergence: the return of a moderate tendency to power in Iran coincides with Donald Trump’s leadership in the US, representing a revitalized faction within the Republican Party.

However, the nuclear issue, once briefly regarded as the sole resolved point of contention between the two nations, has resurfaced as the foremost challenge since Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. While a readily available pretext for political friction, this matter is not inherently alarming given its two-decade history; yet, it remains the linchpin of tensions between Iran and the United States.

A critical starting point for analyzing the challenges in Iran-US relations lies in assessing the positions and interests of key stakeholders.

The Arab states of the region have adopted a markedly softer and more amicable stance toward Iran compared to the periods of JCPOA negotiations, its signing, and the subsequent US withdrawal. Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain – previously strained for reasons not entirely clear – have evolved into a state of cautious friendliness, if not outright warmth. Given the geographic proximity of these nations to Iran, their deep ties with the United States, Europe, China, and Russia, and their collective influence, this shift carries significant implications for the policies of major powers concerning Iran’s nuclear program.

Israel, by contrast, has consistently viewed any improvement in Iran’s relations with the West, particularly the US, as a strategic red line. Throughout the JCPOA negotiations, its implementation under the Obama administration, and Trump’s first term, Israel exerted maximum effort to undermine any proposed resolution to disputes involving Iran and the US, Europe, or even Arab states. For Israel, the substance of the issue is at most secondary or even nonsense; its utility lies in its potential to securitize Iran, isolating and pressuring it – a goal Tel Aviv* deems sufficiently met as long as this dynamic persists.

The EU, despite being a large and diverse union of over 20 member states, largely follows the lead of France, Germany, and the UK in foreign policy, two of which hold permanent seats on the UN Security Council. While these nations outwardly advocate for diplomatic solutions, their stance toward Iran has hardened considerably since the 2013-2018 period. Moreover, their exclusive control over the JCPOA’s dispute resolution mechanism – known as the “snapback” – combined with transatlantic divergences, has imbued the issue with an identity-driven, Atlantic-spanning dimension. Consequently, while Western Europe is unlikely to spearhead bold diplomatic initiatives, it retains the capacity to disrupt progress, particularly through the snapback mechanism, motivated in part by these identity-based considerations.

Russia emerges as another pivotal actor. As one of Iran’s most significant partners, having stood by Tehran during sanctions, Russia holds a prominent role in Iran’s foreseeable future, including in negotiations and their aftermath. Compared to the JCPOA negotiation period, Iran-Russia relations have matured, while Moscow’s ties with Washington have entered uncharted territory, shaped by the Ukraine war, Trump’s eagerness to resolve it, personal rapport between the two leaders, and tensions largely stoked by Washington’s European allies. However, historically, Russia neither favors an escalation of Iran-West tensions nor benefits from their complete reconciliation. This duality suggests that Tehran’s policymakers should approach Moscow strategically, ensuring Russia perceives tangible benefits in supporting improved Iran-West relations – a prospect that is far from guaranteed and requires deliberate design.

China, among all actors surrounding Iran’s nuclear issue and broader disputes with the West, stands as perhaps the most distant yet consistent in its declared positions. Beijing profits from sanctions on Iran – albeit indirectly – while also standing to gain from their removal, which would open a relatively untapped market to Chinese investors and contractors. Like Russia, China seeks to prevent heightened Iran-West tensions but does not necessarily welcome excessive rapprochement, which could intensify competition in Iran’s market. For Iran to elevate China’s role from political support to economic and operational engagement, it must astutely align any prospective agreement with Beijing’s interests.

Regional actors, such as Iran’s allies in West Asia – including resistance groups that are not mere proxies but longstanding anti-occupation movements – have never opposed a resolution of Iran’s disputes with the West. With the Axis of Resistance having endured military setbacks over the past year, one of the West’s – and particularly Israel’s – primary pretexts for challenging Iran’s regional role has effectively dissipated.

Before starting the recent negotiations, both Iran and the US employed a carrot-and-stick approach, blending diplomatic overtures with veiled threats. Yet, clinging to outdated policies will not yield innovative solutions in global politics. Western actors, in particular, must acknowledge that Iranian policymakers, seasoned by over four decades of managing a nation under pressure, advancing its development, and navigating critical regional and international crises, are unlikely to be cowed by familiar threats into a weaker negotiating position. Such tactics may instead erode the credibility of the West – and the Trump administration specifically – in pursuing a balanced diplomatic resolution.

This analysis proposes the following actionable recommendations to ensure enough pragmatism and fruitful talks:

1. The US must unify its internal stance, ensuring that disparate voices do not undermine painstakingly built progress.
2. Both sides should abandon traditional threat-based posturing to bolster negotiating leverage, instead emphasizing transparent commitment to peaceful, diplomatic solutions.
3. Trump must curb Israel’s potential to derail an initiative he champions, leveraging his influence as its key backer.
4. The US should align its European allies to prevent their statements or actions from obstructing resolution efforts.
5. Iran should engage Russia, China, and Europe to minimize unnecessary friction and secure meaningful cooperation.
6. Regional Arab states should be enlisted to de-escalate tensions and foster a “strong region” paradigm, moving beyond the “strong state” focus.
7. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s positive capacity should be utilized to compartmentalize issues, preventing extraneous matters from derailing potential outcomes.

These steps, if pursued with strategic foresight, could pave the way for a sustainable resolution to a decades-long impasse.

*Russia recognizes West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, as shown on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department website

Participants from 102 countries have sent in nearly 700 papers on economic change and global challenges that lie ahead

Nearly 700 essays from around the world have been unveiled in Moscow ahead of a major global forum on the future economy, with authors sharing bold ideas for shaping a better world.

Moscow hosted a presentation on Thursday of essays submitted for a contest which is part of the upcoming Open Dialogue: ‘The Future of the World: New Platform for Global Growth’. The event, scheduled for April 28-30, will bring global experts to the Russian capital to explore what lies ahead for the world economy and society.

The National Centre RUSSIA, which organized the contest, received nearly 700 submissions from 102 countries. The countries with the most active participants included Mexico, India, China, Oman, Italy, Egypt, Vietnam, Türkiye, Colombia, Canada, and France, according to the organizers.

The essays, now compiled into four volumes, center on four themes: Investments in people, Technology, Environment, and Communication. The organizers say the goal is to identify breakthrough ideas that could inform future economic planning.

“Soon, there will be 10 billion of us on the planet, and we must decide what to do about electricity and environment in the future,” Gerald Sakuler, the president of the Austrian Business Club in Russia, said. “There are many ideas. Every proposal will be heard.”

Thursday’s presentation brought together experts, contributors, and organizers to discuss highlights from the submissions and exchange ideas ahead of the main forum.

The upcoming Open Dialogue forum will gather representatives from think tanks, government agencies, universities, development organizations, media, and youth groups to debate strategies for global development.

The full event program is available in Russian, English, Chinese, Arabic, and Portuguese on the National Centre RUSSIA website.

The US president has given an extensive interview marking his first 100 days back in office

US President Donald Trump has stated that Kiev will never join NATO, suggested that Washington could officially recognize Crimea as Russian, and signaled that he expects the Ukraine conflict to be resolved soon.

Speaking to Time Magazine to commemorate the first 100 days of his second term in office, Trump gave an extensive interview covering key topics such as immigration, tariffs, and the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Here’s a recap of what Trump said.

The meeting has brought the positions of Moscow and Washington “closer,” Yury Ushakov has said

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has hailed “very useful” talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow on Friday. According to Ushakov, the three hour meeting brought the positions of Moscow and Washington “closer” on the Ukraine conflict and other global issues.

The discussion, which lasted for around three hours, was “very useful,” and brought “the positions of Russia and the US closer not only on Ukraine, but also on a number of other international issues,” Ushakov told reporters.

In particular, Putin and Witkoff discussed the “possibility of resuming direct negotiations between representatives of Russia and Ukraine,” Ushakov said, without providing further details.

In recent months, Witkoff has held multiple rounds of talks with senior Russian officials, including at least three meetings with Putin. He is seen as one of the key figures behind the rapprochement between Moscow and Washington during Trump’s second presidency. The US president has repeatedly pledged to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, calling it one of his top priorities.

Moscow has consistently expressed willingness to engage in negotiations, conveying its gratitude for Trump’s peace initiatives. However, the Russian leadership has repeatedly stressed that it seeks a lasting solution to the crisis, saying a temporary halt in the hostilities would simply allow Ukraine’s Western backers to rearm its military. Any peace deal must acknowledge the territorial reality and address the root causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, Russia has insisted.

Kiev is helping to fuel unrest in the Sahel region, Themba Godi has said

Claims by Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky that Russia is undermining Kiev’s diplomatic efforts in Africa are “pure lies,” South African politician Themba Godi has told RT.

In a speech during a visit to South Africa on Thursday, Zelensky accused Moscow of pursuing an anti-Ukraine policy in Africa and on other continents, including Latin America.

“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin …does not want Ukraine to build normal human, primarily humanitarian and economic relations with the countries of your continent. They want an exclusive presence on continents, both in your country and in other countries,” Zelensky told South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Godi, president of the African People’s Convention Party (APC), called the remarks a smokescreen for Ukraine’s own controversial conduct in Africa.

“It’s so sad for him to come all the way from Ukraine and make such a blatantly false statement. I think part of the reason why some of us are strongly opposed to Zelensky beyond his being a puppet of NATO is the fact that they support terrorists in the Sahel region,” he told RT in an interview on Thursday.

“If you look at the havoc being caused in northern Mali, in northern Burkina Faso, as well as the central and eastern parts of Niger, with the support of Ukraine, it really is something that has nothing to do with Russia,” he added.

Zelensky’s visit to Pretoria sparked widespread criticism from South African political commentators and activists due to his dismissive attitude toward a 2023 Ramaphosa-led peace initiative.

The publicized purpose of the trip, which Ramaphosa says is the first by a Ukrainian leader to South Africa in over three decades, had been to discuss the process of resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to the South African president, Zelensky has expressed readiness for an unconditional ceasefire – a commitment Godi has called “empty rhetoric.”

The APC believes that the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Pretoria is a “desperate PR exercise” to gain sympathy amid strained relations with the US, which had been its main weapons supplier in the fight against Moscow.

He claimed Zelensky “did not care about countries of the south or of the continent,” which have now distanced themselves from him because they see him as a “warmonger” and a “puppet of external forces.”

However, Matthew Parks, parliamentary coordinator for the Congress of South African Trade Unions, said past difficult history should not stop efforts to negotiate a ceasefire with Ukraine.

“You negotiate not with your friends, but with people you’ve had very difficult relations with, very painful moments. But then the point is there must be discussions, and that’s always been South Africa’s history,” Parks told RT.

UK households have grown increasingly downbeat about the outlook for the country’s economy, data shows

UK consumer confidence has dropped to its lowest point since 2023, driven by soaring bills, tax increases and fears that US tariffs could push living costs even higher for British households, a survey published on Friday has shown.

The consumer confidence index fell by four points to -23 in April, according to the latest update from data company GfK, marking the lowest level in 17 months and well below economists’ expectations of a decline to -21.

The index, which averages responses to key sentiment questions, ranges from -100 to +100. Positive scores reflect consumer optimism, while negative readings indicate a prevailing sense of pessimism.

The index is closely monitored by the British government and the Bank of England for early warning signs on the economy since the early 1970s.

The drop represents a stark warning for the UK economy and reflects how British consumers were hit by a mix of domestic tax hikes, surging household bills, and growing concerns over tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The country faces a 10% tariff on most goods and 25% on steel, aluminum and automotive exports to the US. Washington and London are currently negotiating a new trade agreement, with Trump having paused the imposition of tariffs for 90 days.

While the UK has been spared the worst of the levies imposed by Trump earlier this month, households have become much more downbeat about the outlook for the British economy.

“Consumers have not only been grappling with multiple April cost increases in the form of utilities, council tax, stamp duty, and road tax, but they are also hearing dire warnings of renewed high inflation on the back of the Trump tariffs,” said Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK.

April’s reading of -23 marks the lowest level since the Labour Party assumed office last summer, according to the survey.

The UK’s energy regulator, Ofgem, announced a 6.4% increase in the energy price cap effective from April 1, raising the average annual energy bill for a typical household from £1,738 ($2,172) to £1,849 ($2,311).

The cost of living crisis fueled by high interest rates and rising energy prices has taken a toll on British households over the past two years, forcing millions of families to cut spending. Meanwhile, manufacturers have been slashing production in response to a downturn in orders from domestic and export markets, multiple previous surveys showed.

Numerous international dignitaries, including US President Donald Trump, are planning to attend the ceremony at the Vatican

Kiev is reportedly “pressuring” Rome to organize a mini-summit on the Ukraine conflict on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral this week.

Around 140 delegations are expected at the Vatican on Saturday morning to pay their final respects to the late pontiff, who passed away on Monday. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky will be in attendance, as will US President Donald Trump.

Diplomatic sources cited by Lа Repubblica on Friday said Trump may hold a few informal bilateral meetings in Rome, potentially including with Zelensky. Meanwhile, Kiev is advocating for a broader multilateral gathering involving European NATO members to be held in Italy, putting the Ukrainian delegation “in front of the USA, Italy, France, Great Britain and probably also Germany.”

However, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is hesitant to facilitate such a gathering, fearing that the country’s reputation as a host could suffer from its likely failure, the outlet noted. Sources described the situation as “fluid.”

This month, American officials outlined a potential framework for a truce that they believe Moscow could accept. However, Ukraine reportedly rejected key aspects of it, and in collaboration with European backers, proposed an alternative plan this week.

Trump has accused Zelensky of undermining the peace process with public remarks that directly contradicted the ideas his administration reportedly included in its proposal.

A Trump-Zelensky meeting at the White House in late February ended in a diplomatic spat when the Ukrainian leader openly questioned Washington’s approach to mediating the conflict. Vice President J.D. Vance, who was present at the scene, admonished Zelensky for what he perceived as ingratitude and disrespect.

Lа Repubblica noted that, due to the Vatican’s arrangements for the various delegations, Zelensky will be seated “very, very far away” from Trump during the funeral ceremony.

The counteroffer is “on the table” of the American president, Vladimir Zelensky has stated

Kiev and its European backers have turned down President Donald Trump’s reported peace plan for the Ukraine conflict in several significant respects, according to a report by Reuters, citing the full texts of the US proposal and the response.

Washington tabled a proposed deal to end hostilities between Kiev and Moscow during a meeting in Paris on Thursday last week. A follow-up meeting took place in London on Wednesday, at which Ukrainian officials and their NATO European counterparts drafted counterproposal.

The London talks were downgraded at the last minute after Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky publicly rejected key American suggestions. He declared on Thursday that the European-backed “strategy” was now “on President Trump’s table.”

Having examined the drafts “in full and explicit detail” on Friday, Reuters identified four critical areas of disagreement.

The US is proposing Washington’s formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea — the former Ukrainian region that voted to join Russia following the 2014 Western-backed armed coup in Kiev — and a cessation of hostilities along the current frontline.

Kiev and its European backers are only willing to discuss territorial issues after a ceasefire has been established.

The US document offers a “robust security guarantee” for Ukraine from willing nations, according to Reuters. The Euro-proposal rival proposal insists that no restrictions be placed on Ukraine’s military, including the deployment of foreign troops on its territory, and calls for the US to provide NATO-like protection to Ukraine.

Russia demands Ukraine remains neutral and insists that it will not accept any NATO troop presence, or troops from bloc members as part of a coalition, in the country.

Reuters reported that the US is advocating for the removal of restrictions imposed on Russia since 2014, while Kiev and the Europeans propose a “gradual easing of sanctions after a sustainable peace is achieved,” paired with a threat of snapback measures for non-compliance.

The US framework includes mentions of financial compensation for Ukraine, but lacks specifics. The Kiev-backed counterproposal identifies frozen Russian assets in Western countries as a source for such payments, according to Reuters. Russia has labeled the seizure of its funds illegal and views any use of these assets to support Ukraine as “theft.”

Members of the Trump administration have blasted Zelensky for attempting to negotiate a deal through the media rather than in confidential discussions. The US president has warned that he may withdraw from his mediation efforts altogether if either party stalls progress.

The country needs to revise rules in order to weather falling oil revenues and global trade wars, Anton Siluanov has said

Russia should brace for potential budgetary stress due to declining oil revenues and global economic instability, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has warned.

At a recent ministry meeting, Siluanov backed boosting fiscal reserves and revising an “outdated” budget rule that oil revenues exceeding a $60-per-barrel threshold are diverted to the National Wealth Fund (NWF).

Designed to shield the economy from commodity price swings, particularly in oil, Sulianov argued the fund should cover “three years of uninterrupted financing of expenditures.”

“The current global situation requires special attention to the resilience of public finances to various scenarios of global economic development,” he said on Wednesday. The main risk remains the “unfolding of trade wars,” which are cutting export opportunities for countries, including Russia.

Spending must be adjusted to reflect the “new realities,” according to the minister.
“We’ll have to be more modest in our desires and ensure a greater return on every budget ruble,” he stated.

Russia’s oil and gas revenues comprise just a quarter of the federal budget, Sulianov noted, a significant reduction in dependance upon the sector. Oil and gas revenues totaled 2.64 trillion rubles ($28.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, down 9.8% compared to the same period in 2024, according to preliminary Finance Ministry estimates.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also addressed the meeting, urging the ministry to focus on macroeconomic stability and prepare to react to market fluctuations.

”It is important to pay special attention to measures to prevent budget risks,” Mishustin said. “We must, of course, be prepared for changes and work out a variety of scenarios based on the current situation.”

Oil prices have accelerated their decline since early April, pressured by US trade tariffs and OPEC+’s unexpected decision to boost production. Member countries agreed to increase output by 411,000 barrels per day starting in May, three times the originally planned hike of 135,000 barrels per day.

On April 9, the price of Russia’s Urals crude fell below $50 per barrel for the first time since June 2023. In March, the Finance Ministry said it expects the average oil price in 2025 to be closer to $60 per barrel, down from the budgeted $70. The Economic Development Ministry’s forecast is even lower, at $56 per barrel.

An Il-76 carrying 65 Ukrainian servicemen destined for an exchange was shot down by Kiev in 2024, according to Moscow

A senior official in Kiev has confirmed that Ukrainian prisoners of war were among those killed when a Russian Il-76 military transport plane was downed in the border Belgorod Region in January 2024. The 65 service members were to be included in one of the routine prisoner exchanges between the two countries.

The acknowledgement was made by Deputy Interior Minister Leonid Timchenko, who in an interview with the Ukrainian outlet Censor.net on Thursday discussed in detail the process of handling and identifying the remains of Ukrainian soldiers, as well as their return by Russia.

“Let me explain by drawing an example: when we receive a package and see that there are body parts in it, we understand that we are talking about the remains of more than one body,” he said.

“Remember the situation with the downed IL-76, which had about 60 prisoners of war on board? Over 500 [body parts] were returned from that plane,” Timchenko noted, adding that the investigators’ job in this case is to collect and identify DNA from each piece.

The crash occurred on January 24, 2024, near the village of Yablonovo in Russia’s Belgorod Region, killing all 74 people on board. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the aircraft was transporting 65 Ukrainian POWs, meant for an imminent exchange, along with six crew members and three Russian guards. Russian President Vladimir Putin at the time said that he “doesn’t know” and “does not understand” why Ukraine took down the plane, later suggesting that it was an accident.

Ukraine initially did not deny responsibility for the incident and also confirmed that an exchange was impending, but said it had no information about who was on the plane. It also argued that the attack was legitimate since it was a military transport plane. Ukrainian media also claimed at the time that the Il-76 was transporting air defense missiles.

Months later, Ukrainian officials began receiving human remains of those who died in the crash and concluded that their DNA profiles mostly matched those of the captives’ relatives.

In February 2024, a New York Times report cited US officials as saying that the plane was likely shot down by a Patriot missile system operated by Ukrainian forces, in line with the Russian Defense Ministry’s statement that it had detected two Ukrainian missile launches shortly before the crash.

The move could pave the way for “temporary peace,” Vitaly Klitschko has said

Ukraine may have to give up land to Russia to secure peace, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has admitted, although he has portrayed the concession as a “temporary” measure.

In an interview with the BBC aired on Friday, Klitschko acknowledged that Ukraine cannot deny the territorial reality on the ground. Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in 2014 and 2022 in public referendums, respectively. Kiev has never recognized the votes’ results.

”One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It’s not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary,” Klitschko said, though he claimed that “the Ukrainian people would never accept occupation.”

Asked whether Vladimir Zelensky takes heed of his position on the conflict settlement, the former heavyweight boxing champion said he had not been consulted. “President Zelensky does [it] himself. It’s not my function,” he said.

Klitschko and Zelensky have been engaged in a long-standing feud after the city boss accused the Ukrainian leader’s team of undermining local governance and usurping power.

Klitschko also warned in February that Ukraine should prepare for an unfavorable resolution to the conflict. “The so-called compromise could turn out to be very painful for every Ukrainian,” he said at the time.

Klitschko’s remarks come as the administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly floated a peace proposal that would see Washington recognize Crimea as part of Russia and unofficially acknowledge Moscow’s control over parts of four other former Ukrainian regions.

The plan would also reportedly freeze the current front lines, block Ukraine’s NATO membership, with Kiev receiving certain security guarantees from its Western backers.

Zelensky’s blunt rejection of the idea of recognizing Crimea as part of Russia prompted Trump to decry the Ukrainian leader, calling his statement “very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago.”

He also suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “easier to deal with” than the Ukrainian leader.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that Moscow and Washington are moving towards a settlement of the Ukraine conflict, noting that “there are still some specific points, elements of this deal which need to be fine-tuned.”

A Romanian national had been collecting classified data for Ukrainian intelligence, the agency has said

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained a Romanian citizen in the southern city of Sochi on suspicion of gathering intelligence for the Ukrainian special services on the deployment of Russian air defense systems.

According to an FSB statement on Friday, a Romanian national in his early 20s is accused of gathering and transmitting classified information during summer 2024 at the request of Ukrainian intelligence agencies. In exchange for his cooperation, the suspect was reportedly promised safe passage out of Russia and the opportunity to enlist in the Ukrainian Army to take part in military operations against Russia.

The FSB has not disclosed how the suspect obtained the classified data or the channels used to communicate with Ukrainian intelligence.

The detained citizen has confessed to transmitting information about a Russian air defense unit to Kiev, the agency said.

“I saw an air defense crew while traveling from Sochi to Adler – it was on the right side of the road. I remembered the intersection where I spotted it and later located it on a map. I sent that information to him [a senior intelligence officer in Ukraine named Vladimir],” the suspect said during questioning.

The FSB’s investigative department for Krasnodar Region has opened a criminal case, and an investigation is currently underway. If convicted, the suspect faces up to 20 years in prison.

The incident follows a spate of foiled attacks attributed to Ukrainian intelligence.

Earlier this week, the FSB thwarted a planned drone strike targeting a petrochemical facility in Nizhny Novgorod Region. The suspects, according to the authorities, were affiliated with an international terrorist organization outlawed in Russia. They were said to be acting under the instructions of a Ukrainian handler.

Last week, Russian law enforcement arrested a Belarusian national living in Russia on suspicion of plotting an attack on a military-linked facility in Novorossiysk, a strategic port city that hosts a major Russian naval base. The suspect, reportedly in his mid-20s, confessed to working as an agent for Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), allegedly motivated by financial gain.

Steve Witkoff’s visit to Russia aims to advance a US-proposed peace plan that faces opposition from Ukraine and its Western supporters

Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for US President Donald Trump, has arrived in Moscow for another series of discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This trip is part of a larger diplomatic initiative by Washington aimed at advancing a proposed peace plan to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Witkoff has already visited Russia three times in recent months, engaging with high-ranking Russian officials, including Putin. The continuing negotiations highlight a growing commitment from both nations to resolve the hostilities through dialogue.

The proposal from Washington reportedly involves recognizing Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea, “freezing” the conflict along the current front lines, and acknowledging Moscow’s control over significant portions of the four former Ukrainian regions voted to join Russia. Additionally, the agreement would likely prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and involve a gradual lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia.

Russia has conveyed its gratitude for Trump’s peace initiatives and has consistently shown willingness to engage in negotiations. However, Russian officials have emphasized that any final peace agreement must acknowledge the existing territorial realities and tackle the underlying causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s ambitions to join NATO.