German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in Washington for talks with Donald Trump, stressed that Ukraine should not have to accept any more territorial concessions. during his conversation with the president of the United States. He said he also stressed the need to continue supporting Ukraine, which last week marked the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. “We all want this war to end as soon as possible. But Ukraine has to preserve its territory and its security interests,” Merz said at the beginning of his third visit to the Oval Office. He told reporters he thought Trump got the point across after showing him a map of the war-torn country.
Triumph Merz said negotiating an agreement to end the war between Russia and Ukraine remained “very high” on his list of priorities.and said he believed the United States had enough ammunition to fight Iran and sell it to Europe for use in Ukraine.
Merz also urged Trump to pressure Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine. “Russia is buying time here and, in doing so, is also acting against the will of the American president. In today’s talks I have asked to increase pressure on Moscow,” the German chancellor told reporters. The United States, Russia and Ukraine are participating in trilateral talks aimed at securing a peace agreement. Merz, however, said that only a pact supported by Europe could be lasting. “We are not willing to accept an agreement that is negotiated above our heads,” he said.
A suspected Russian “shadow fleet” tanker seized by Belgium is being held on 10 million euro ($12 million) bail, after inspections revealed violations, Brussels said on Tuesday. The Ethera, which Belgium says is part of a flotilla of aging ships that Moscow uses to avoid Western sanctions, was seized by Belgian special forces in the North Sea on Sunday. Investigations carried out after his arrival at the port of Zeebrugge confirmed that he was sailing under a false Guinean flag, the Belgian government said. In total, inspectors found 45 violations, including technical defects, which led to the ship’s confiscation, he added. The tanker’s Russian captain and his crew of 20 were ordered to remain on board. “The ship will only leave the port once it meets the regulations and the deposit has been paid,” said Belgian Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke. Russia has previously described the seizure of its oil tankers and other vessels carrying its cargoes as acts of piracy.
The United States has deployed a low-cost combat drone inspired by the Iranian Shahed in Iran, as pushes to speed up weapons programs because the war in Ukraine. The Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Strike System (Lucas) drone was deployed just eight months after its unveiling at the Pentagon. Defense officials said the compressed schedule reflected lessons learned from watching the drone war in Ukraine, where both sides have employed thousands of low-cost unmanned systems.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the Druzhba pipeline, which is at the center of a dispute with Hungary and Slovakia. and has delayed approval of a €90 billion EU loan to Kyiv. A commission spokesman said the two leaders had discussed the matter during a call but could not share any details of the conversation. Previously, von der Leyen said on
