Author: Steven Sahiounie

The Polish population is demonstrating against Ukraine’s NATO accession amid acceptance from heavyweight members. Nearly half of the Polish population opposes immediate NATO membership for Ukraine, a survey has indicated. Officials in Kiev have insisted on being rapidly accepted into the military bloc, although heavyweight members such as the US and Germany have expressed their reservations. An IBRiS poll conducted for the Rzeczpospolita newspaper reveals that 47.7% oppose Ukraine’s current NATO membership. The remaining 60% expressed no preference, while another 40% supported immediate membership. In a speech on Monday, Polish President Andrzej Duda argued that it is difficult to envision European security without Ukraine…

The Ukrainian leader is expected to meet with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the summit Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has arrived in Lithuania to take part in the NATO summit. His plane was shown landing at the Vilnius international airport in a live broadcast by Lithuania’s LRT television. Zelensky arrived onboard the Polish presidential plane, which departed from Rzeszow, Poland, near the Ukrainian border. Zelensky is expected to meet with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the summit. Source: Tass

In his opening remarks, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg promised to increase practical and political support for Ukraine to bring it closer to the alliance A two-day NATO summit has kicked off in the Lithuanian capital city of Vilnius. Sweden is present as an invited partner and Finland is taking part as a full-fledged member. In his opening remarks, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg promised to increase practical and political support for Ukraine to bring it closer to the alliance. He also said that the summit will take steps to strengthen the alliance’s efforts in defense and deterrence and usher…

According to Dmitry Peskov, the event is vehemently anti-Russian in nature with the country being perceived as an enemy and adversary NATO countries consider Russia their enemy, so at the Vilnius summit that kicked off on Tuesday, the discussion will have a generally hostile attitude toward Russia, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. “This is about the summit of an alliance which is vehemently anti-Russian in nature; Russia is also perceived by them (the alliance’s members – TASS) as an enemy, as an adversary, and the discussions will be held precisely in this spirit,” the Kremlin official said. “We are…

Sergey Lavrov stressed that after a short period of trade turnover falling due to the coronavirus infection the upward trend resumed climbing by more than 45% Russia and Oman intend to speed up the consideration of the issue on creation of a two-sided intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a press conference following the talks with his Omani counterpart Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi on Tuesday. “Today we discussed the possibility of speeding up the consideration of the issue on creation of an intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation,” he said.…

Given the current situation and the Ukrainian counteroffensive, France “decided to increase deliveries of weapons and equipment to enable the Ukrainians to have the capacity to strike deeply,” the French leader added Paris intends to supply Kiev with long-range missiles, French President Emmanuel Macron said upon arriving at a NATO summit in Vilnius on Tuesday. “We made a decision to supply new missiles [to Ukraine] which allow to deliver strikes over great distances,” he said. Given the current situation and the Ukrainian counteroffensive, France “decided to increase deliveries of weapons and equipment to enable the Ukrainians to have the capacity…

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announces that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to promptly submit the NATO accession protocol for Sweden to the Turkish parliament for ratification. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to promptly submit the NATO accession protocol for Sweden to the Turkish parliament for ratification, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Following a constructive meeting with President Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson, Stoltenberg announced the positive outcome, emphasizing Erdogan’s commitment to advancing the protocol. “I have just had a constructive meeting with President Erdogan and [Swedish] Prime Minister Kristersson. I am glad…

Beijing calls on Washington to take concrete steps to respond to China’s major concerns in economic relations between the two sides. Following the conclusion of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s Beijing visit, China, on Monday, called on the United States to take “practical action” concerning its “major concerns” about sanctions against Chinese firms. Yellen stated that her discussions with top Chinese officials have contributed to putting ties on “surer footing” between the two largest economies, AFP reported. While there was no breakthrough, both parties deemed the meetings as “productive” and agreed to maintain channels of communication open “at all levels” for economic discussions. But…

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says discrediting the Palestinian Authority in the eyes of the Palestinian people is an Israeli strategy. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned what it called the “false and misleading” claims made by Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding his alleged commitment to preserving the Palestinian Authority from collapse. In an official statement, the Ministry described these claims as being part of a broader strategy by the Israeli government to undermine and weaken the Palestinian Authority while attempting to obscure its own role in dismantling the authority and eroding its credibility in…

Just hours prior to a summit where the EU had hoped to finalize Sweden’s accession, the US says that Turkey’s membership application and process is a matter between the EU and Turkey. The United States maintains its support for Turkey’s bid to join the EU, however, has turned its attention towards Sweden’s move to join NATO, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said Monday. “The US has always supported Turkey’s EU membership aspirations and continues to do so. Turkey’s membership application and process is a matter between the EU and Turkey. Our focus is on Sweden, which is ready…