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Former Hamas hostage briefs UN Security Council on the 'pure hell' that was captivity in Gaza
UNITED NATIONS – Former Hamas hostage Noa Argamani briefed the U.N. Security Council on her experience in Hamas captivity and made a plea for all the hostages to be released from "pure hell."
"Being here today is a miracle, but I’m here to tell you we have no time," Argamani told the Security Council. She spoke about witnessing horrors, not receiving medical care and being held in dire conditions.
A video of Argamani’s kidnapping from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, 2023, went viral as she was forced on to a motorcycle by Hamas terrorists and dragged into Gaza.
"I believe that you all, the international community, must understand that the hostages are in hell."
Argamani, who spent eight months in Hamas captivity before being rescued by Israeli soldiers, said the hostages feel as though they have been "abandoned by the world."
ISRAEL RESCUES 4 HOSTAGES KIDNAPPED BY HAMAS: 'WE ARE OVERJOYED'
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon praised Argamani’s "bravery and dignity," telling the council, "Noa Argamani is not just a witness or a victim of Hamas' cruelty, she is a survivor."
Even after Argamani told her story, which many on the council acknowledged was harrowing, much of the U.N. Security Council’s session was focused on Israel’s actions throughout the war in Gaza. Several speakers offered brief acknowledgments of Argamani’s testimony before launching into criticisms of Israel.
Danon told the press, "Unfortunately, we don't have high expectations of the council. The very fact that since Oct. 7, they were not able to pass a resolution about the hostages, about the atrocities of Oct. 7, it speaks for itself."
However, the ambassador thanked the U.S., the U.K., Greece and France for discussing the hostages and the brutal murders of the Bibas family.
During her briefing, Argamani made a plea for the release of her partner, Avinatan Or, who was also kidnapped at the Nova music festival and who remains captive in Gaza.
"Until Avinatan returns, my heart is in captivity," Argamani told the Security Council.
Israel and Hamas entered a ceasefire agreement in January and are in Phase One in which 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be exchanged for the remaining hostages. However, Israel delayed its most recent release of prisoners in protest of Hamas’ treatment of the hostages, including forcing them to participate in ceremonies.
Trump says minerals deal has been 'pretty much' negotiated with Zelenskyy, meeting slated for Friday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to a draft of a minerals deal with the White House, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday.
Trump told reporters that the Ukrainian leader plans to travel to D.C. on Friday to meet with him after the officials agreed to the terms of the deal, which was first reported by Reuters. The U.S. president added that the two leaders are "just in the process of negotiating."
"We've pretty much negotiated our deal on earth [minerals] and various other things," Trump said. "We'll be looking…. general security for Ukraine later on. I don't think that's going to be a problem. There are a lot of people that want to do it, and I spoke with Russia about it. They didn't seem to have a problem with it. So I think they understand they're not going back. And once we do this, they're not going back."
The pact, which would involve giving the U.S. access to natural resources in exchange for America’s support of Ukraine amid its war with Russia, was days in the making. Trump said on Friday that his administration was "pretty close" to striking a deal, and on Monday, he hinted that a meeting between him and Zelenskyy was imminent.
TRUMP SAYS DEAL WITH UKRAINE FOR US ACCESS TO ITS RARE EARTH MINERALS IS ‘PRETTY CLOSE’
"It'll be a deal with rare earths and various other things. And, he would like to come, as I understand it, here to sign it. And that would be great with me," Trump said. "I think they then have to get it approved by their council or whoever might approve it, but I'm sure that will happen."
Since his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump has prioritized recouping the cost of U.S. aid to Ukraine by gaining access to Ukrainian resources, including titanium, iron and uranium. U.S. aid to the war-torn country has totaled tens of billions of dollars since February 2022.
That commitment has led to tension between him and Zelenskyy, and Trump ridiculed the politician as a "modestly successful comedian" in a Truth Social post last week.
"A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left," Trump’s post reads. "In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only ‘TRUMP,’ and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the ‘gravy train’ going."
"I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues….."
TRUMP SET TO MEET WITH WORLD LEADERS IN DC DURING BUSY WEEK AS RUSSIA-UKRAINE PEACE TALKS CONTINUE
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously lauded the potential pact in a Sunday interview on "Sunday Morning Futures."
"The first part of this is a partnership between Ukraine and the U.S. that involves strategic minerals, energy and state-owned enterprises, where we set up a partnership, and we are only looking forward," Bessent said.
"We make money if the Ukrainian people make money, and I believe that with the United States of America, our businesses are willing to come in and provide capital that we can accelerate the Ukrainian growth trajectory and take in substantial monies for the U.S. taxpayers and get the Ukrainian economy on a great growth trajectory."
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was open to cooperating with the U.S. if Trump signals interest in mining minerals in Russia and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
"Russia is one of the undisputed leaders in terms of reserves of these rare and rare-earth metals," Putin said during an interview on Russian state television. "These are quite capital-intensive investments, capital-intensive projects. We would be happy to work together with any foreign partners, including American ones."
Reuters and Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley, Brooke Singman and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
Zelenskyy agrees to tentative Trump minerals deal, plans to visit DC later this week: report
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reportedly agreed to a draft of a minerals deal with the White House on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian leader plans to travel to D.C. on Friday to meet with President Donald Trump after the officials agreed to the terms of the deal, Reuters reported on Tuesday. The agreement would allow for U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously lauded the potential pact in a Sunday interview on "Sunday Morning Futures."
"The first part of this is a partnership between Ukraine and the U.S. that involves strategic minerals, energy and state-owned enterprises, where we set up a partnership, and we are only looking forward," Bessent said.
"We make money if the Ukrainian people make money, and I believe that with the United States of America, our businesses are willing to come in and provide capital that we can accelerate the Ukrainian growth trajectory and take in substantial monies for the U.S. taxpayers and get the Ukrainian economy on a great growth trajectory."
TRUMP SAYS DEAL WITH UKRAINE FOR US ACCESS TO ITS RARE EARTH MINERALS IS ‘PRETTY CLOSE’
This breaking news story is still developing. Check back with us for updates.
Reuters contributed to this report.
NATO nation Poland scrambles air defenses as Russia strikes western Ukraine
NATO ally Poland on Tuesday deployed "military aviation" to its skies in response to strikes Russia launched at Ukrainian towns near the war-torn nation’s western borders.
Warsaw’s Operational Command confirmed in a post on X that Polish airspace was not violated in the attacks and that the long-range Russian strikes had ceased by Tuesday afternoon, though it is not the first time a NATO nation has had to scramble warplanes to counter Russian threats in recent weeks.
While Russia has long employed a brutal campaign of aerial bombardments to hit Ukraine, including long-range strikes, the last attacks came one day after a U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 bomber reportedly flew from the U.K. to Estonia before circling back by way of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland — all of which border Russia, Ukraine or both.
'TRUMP EFFECT' ON DISPLAY AS UK'S STARMER BOOSTS DEFENSE SPENDING ON EVE OF US VISIT
Reports suggested the bomber, which was flanked by F-35s and F-A18 fighter jets, flew over the Estonian capital city of Tallin to mark Estonia’s Independence Day, though it also coincided with the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air force on Tuesday said on Telegram that Russia had fired some 213 drones and seven missiles into Ukraine. Six of the missiles and 133 drones were reportedly shot down.
The attack also came just days after Russia launched its largest-ever drone strike against Ukraine, firing 267 UAV’s across Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Poland said it "is constantly monitoring the situation in the territory of Ukraine and remains in constant readiness to ensure the security of Polish airspace."
Warsaw also pledged an additional $210 million in military aid to Ukraine on Tuesday, its 46th military aid package since the invasion began, bringing its support to roughly $4 billion in aid.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz did not confirm what arms would be included in the package, though he did note it will encompass training for troops.
US VOTES AGAINST CONDEMNING RUSSIA FOR UKRAINE WAR AS TRUMP ADMIN CHASES PEACE DEAL
"We will train the Ukrainian military," the minister said, reported the Kyiv Independent. "Out of 80-90,000 soldiers trained by the EU countries, Poland has trained about a third – 28,000 soldiers."
Western leaders and allied nations, like Japan and Turkey, on Monday descended upon Kyiv for a summit in support of Ukraine on the third anniversary of the start of the war.
According to a post on X by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, "Over 40 leaders of states, institutions, and international organizations, both in person and online, have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and Ukrainians."
"New aid packages have been announced: weapons, air defense systems, financial and humanitarian assistance, investments in defense production, and sanctions against the aggressor," he added.
Zelenskyy’s post was accompanied by the flags of 36 other nations who were represented at the summit, and notably, the American flag was not listed, highlighting the divisions that have erupted between Kyiv and Washington since the Trump administration re-entered the White House.
Though special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. General Keith Kellogg, was in Ukraine last week and met with Zelenskyy, it does not appear any American representative was present for the summit.
The only other NATO nations not to attend the summit were Portugal, North Macedonia and Hungary, while non-NATO nations like Austria, Ireland and Malta were present.
"Our unity with all who value freedom and life remains unshakable," Zelenskyy said. "Support for Ukraine does not stop, and together we are bringing closer the day when true peace for Ukraine will be restored. We thank everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people."
Pope Francis in critical but stable condition, has CT scan, Vatican says
Pope Francis remains in critical but stable condition after undergoing a CT scan on Tuesday, the Vatican announced.
Vatican officials say the pope, 88, returned to work in the evening, making a phone call to the parish priest of Gaza. He also expressed gratitude for "all the people of God who have gathered to pray for his health in recent days."
"The Holy Father’s condition remains critical, but stable. No acute respiratory episodes have occurred and the hemodynamic parameters continue to be stable," the Vatican said in a statement, translated from Italian.
"In the evening, he underwent a scheduled control CT scan for radiological monitoring of bilateral pneumonia. The prognosis remains reserved. In the morning, after receiving the Eucharist, he resumed work," the statement continued.
POPE FRANCIS SHARES WRITTEN MESSAGE WHILE CONTINUING HOSPITALIZATION
Francis was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently the onset of pneumonia in both lungs.
Late Sunday, doctors said blood tests revealed "early, slight kidney insufficiency" but that it remained under control. The doctors said Francis remained in critical condition but had not experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday evening.
POPE FRANCIS HAD PEACEFUL NIGHT'S REST AT HOSPITAL FOLLOWING RESPIRATORY CRISIS, VATICAN SAYS
Francis, who had part of one lung removed when he was younger, was receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen, and received two blood transfusions on Sunday to increase hemoglobin levels. Doctors said his prognosis was guarded.
The pope was alert and responsive on Sunday and attended Mass.
Francis' condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease, doctors said. The main threat to Francis, doctors warned, is sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can arise as a complication of pneumonia.
Tuesday is Francis' 11th day in the hospital, exceeding the longest hospitalization of his papacy. He spent 10 days at Gemelli Hospital in 2021 after he had 13 inches of his colon removed.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan said Sunday in New York that the Catholic faithful were united "at the bedside of a dying father," an acknowledgment of Francis' short time left that church leaders in Rome have not said publicly.
Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this report.
'Trump effect' on display as UK's Starmer boosts defense spending on eve of US visit
The United Kingdom took steps on Tuesday to ramp up its defense spending ahead of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s meeting with President Donald Trump this week.
Starmer said that in the face of continued Russian aggression against Ukraine and, by extension, Europe, the UK will increase its defense spending to 2.5% of its gross domestic value, up from the 2.3% it currently spends – an increase that amounts to £13.4 billion, or nearly $17 billion more each year on defense.
In addition, Starmer said the UK will continue to increase its defense spending goal to reach 3% of its GDP during the next Parliament, which, barring any snap election, will begin after 2029.
GERMANY’S NEW CONSERVATIVE LEADER LOOKS TO ‘ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE’ FROM US
Starmer’s announcement not only comes two days ahead of his planned visit with Trump in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, but as European leaders are increasingly calling for drastic increases in defense spending to decrease their reliance on the U.S. and counter Russia.
"At moments like these in our past, Britain has stood up to be counted [on]. It has come together, and it has demonstrated strength," Starmer said in an address to Parliament. "That is what the security of our country needs now, and it is what this government will deliver."
Starmer’s push to increase defense spending was not met with approval by all UK lawmakers.
Some took issue with how the prime minister found the funds to support his spending increases, as it will mean cutting overseas support for development aid from 0.5% of the UK's gross domestic product to 0.3% over the next two years.
Member of Parliament (MP) Charolette Cane told Starmer that while she backed the UK’s continued support of Ukraine, she said cutting international aid that helps bring stability to vulnerable populations was "hugely short-sided."
UKRAINE ENTERS FOURTH YEAR OF WAR WITH RUSSIA: ‘CLOSER TO THE BEGINNING THAN WE ARE TO THE END’
"Helping communities be stable and secure reduces the risk of war and unrest," she argued in the House of Commons following the prime minister’s announcement. However, Starmer argued it was a decision he had to make to avoid getting into a battle over how the UK would meet this spending increase.
"I’m certainly not pretending it’s a decision I wanted to make as prime minister," Starmer said in response. "It’s a decision that I’m driven to make because of the security and safety of our country and our continent."
MP Jim Shannon, on the other hand, looked to remind his fellow parliamentary members that during the Cold War the UK spent 7% of its GPD on defense and called on Starmer to clarify how his discussions with the U.S. had been taking shape.
Starmer said he has held "a number of conversations" with Trump and that U.S.-UK teams are in continual conversations.
"We must reject any false choice between our allies, between one side of the Atlantic or the other. That is against our history – country and party – because it is against our fundamental national interest," he said in a nod to concern that there are increasing divisions between the U.S. and European allies.
"It has survived countless external challenges in the past. We’ve fought wars together, we’re the closest partners in trade, growth and security," he added.
"This week when I meet President Trump I will be clear – I want this relationship to go from strength to strength."
Trapped in Gaza: Residents speak out as Egypt blocks exit, rejects Trump’s relocation plan
As Egypt reportedly rejects President Donald Trump’s resettlement proposal, citing the need to protect the Palestinian cause and its national security while coordinating with Arab leaders on an alternative plan, voices from war-ravaged Gaza say they want out.
Gazans, desperate to escape, told Fox News Digital they support President Donald Trump’s relocation proposal – to turn Gaza into a "Riviera of the Middle East" after emptying it of its more than 2 million Palestinians – though it remains unclear if they would be allowed to return. Many Gazans say they want to leave – if only the borders would open.
"I will be living in tents for 10 years. Egypt was responsible for rebuilding Gaza after past wars – and you can still see some of the rubble from the Israeli military campaign in 2008. I’d rather leave and gain 10 years of life than wait for some plan to be implemented while I live in a tent," said Walid, a 29-year-old from Nuseirat Camp in northern Gaza, told Fox News Digital via WhatsApp in an interview facilitated by the Center for Peace Communications (CPC).
THE HISTORY OF GAZA AMID TRUMP'S PLAN TO REBUILD ENCLAVE
Walid, like many others, said that even before the war, Gazans were trying to leave – not because they wanted to abandon their homeland, but because they saw no future under Hamas rule.
Egypt, which has taken the lead in crafting a three- to four-year reconstruction plan, refuses to accept Palestinian refugees, keeping the Rafah crossing closed while preventing mass movement out of Gaza. Hamas, meanwhile, continues to exert military control while inflicting terror, despite being unable to provide basic governance, making life for civilians unbearable.
A man standing before the rubble of his former home, interviewed and filmed by CPC, explained his desperation, "If I left today, I’d be better off. You want me to live in these ruins? If you brought a cat here, it would run away – let alone a person."
A woman in Gaza, her face blurred, like so many others afraid of speaking up against Hamas, spoke of a suffocating existence, telling CPC, "People feel like prisoners. There's no way to get out. That has created a state of frustration and despair."
One man near Gaza’s coastline, standing against the stark contrast between the sea and the destruction behind him, said: "Three-quarters of those who returned from displacement camps went south again because there are no houses left. I won’t stay here because there will be disease. Our situation is miserable. Anyone who says otherwise is fooling themselves."
Another man, also filmed near the sea by CPC, said, "Forgive my language, but even dogs can’t live in northern Gaza. There’s no water, no electricity, no infrastructure at all."
'LEVEL IT': TRUMP SAYS US WILL 'TAKE OVER' GAZA STRIP, REBUILD IT TO STABILIZE MIDDLE EAST
Joseph Braude, founder of CPC, a nonprofit that supports peace activists seeking freedom from terrorist domination of their societies, said: "Gazans are trapped by Hamas in unlivable conditions. It is unconscionable for anyone to ignore the desperate pleas of the men, women and children who want to voluntarily leave Gaza. These Gazans support President Trump’s call to open the border so they can pursue a better life free of war and destruction. If Hamas opened the border, the world would see a mass exodus comparable to the fall of the Berlin Wall."
With no homes left, no functioning government and no guarantee that war won’t erupt again, some Gazans are daring to voice their support for Trump’s proposal, which would allow them to relocate to other countries, including Egypt and Jordan, at least for the decade-long rebuilding process estimated by U.S. officials. This is despite the dangers of speaking out against Hamas.
Raji Sourani, a leading rights lawyer from Gaza, criticized Trump’s stance in an interview with the Associated Press, "This is the first time in history that a U.S. president speaks publicly and frankly about committing one of the most serious crimes," he said.
Walid dismissed the claim that Trump’s plan amounts to "ethnic cleansing," a phrase widely used in the international media. "Even those who are against the plan know Gaza won’t be empty. The ones pushing this propaganda are the same ones who supported Oct. 7. They try to spread slogans like ‘We are resisting, staying forever.’ But the people who are not involved in politics won’t oppose an idea that could finally end this war for them."
Despite the widespread suffering, Hamas refuses to relinquish control. Mohamad, a displaced father in Gaza City, described a lawless society where Hamas fighters only appear when releasing hostages or suppressing dissent. Like many others, Mohamad is waiting for any corridor to open so he can escape.
"If they open the gate, half of Gaza will leave," he told Fox News Digital. "The other half will stay, but not because they love Hamas. Some will stay because they still have a house, a job, or family members who can’t leave."
As post-war plans for Gaza take shape, Mohamad’s question remains: "If Gazans want to leave, why won’t anyone let them?"
Taiwan coast guard detains Chinese-crewed vessel suspected of cutting undersea cable
Taiwan's coast guard (CGA) detained the Chinese crew of a Togolese-registered vessel suspected of severing an undersea fiber optic cable connecting the islands of Taiwan and Penghu on Tuesday.
The CGA says the vessel, the Hong Tai 168, had been loitering within roughly 925 meters of the cable since 7 p.m. local time on Feb. 22. A coast guard vessel was dispatched to the ship at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, demanding that the vessel leave the area, Taiwan's state-owned media said.
Coast guard officials received confirmation that the Taiwan-Penghu No. 3 undersea cable had been cut at 3 a.m. Tuesday, and they began efforts to detain the ship's Chinese crew. All eight crewmembers were Chinese nationals, according to the coast guard.
Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs confirmed that communications were diverted to other cables following the incident and that there was no disruption to service.
TAIWAN FM HAILS IMPORTANCE OF US RELATIONSHIP, SAYS GROUP VISITS 'CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE AND STABILITY'
The coast guard classified the incident as potential "gray zone" activity by China. The term refers to hostile actions that do not amount to an act of war.
Taiwan's government says it will investigate the incident.
The incident comes roughly a week after Chinese officials expressed frustration with President Donald Trump's administration for removing language on the State Department's website opposing Taiwan's independence.
TRUMP MUST DUMP 'ONE CHINA' POLICY AND RECOGNIZE 'FREE' TAIWAN, HOUSE REPUBLICANS SAY
Prior to Trump taking office, the State Department's fact sheet on U.S. relations with Taiwan had previously stated "we do not support Taiwan independence," but the phrase was removed earlier this month and continues to be absent. Chinese officials called on the U.S. to "immediately correct its wrongdoing," on Sunday, arguing it "sends a wrong signal to the Taiwan independence forces."
The State Department noted in a statement to NBC News that the U.S. stance on Taiwanese independence has not changed, however.
The U.S. has long held a delicate stance regarding Taiwan and its relation to the Chinese mainland. It has for decades followed the "One China" policy, in which the U.S. recognizes Beijing as the sole government of China, and acknowledges but does not affirm Beijing's claim to control over Taiwan.
Part of this understanding requires the U.S. to not have any formal diplomatic ties to Taiwan, a policy reflected in the lack of a U.S. embassy on the island.
Nevertheless, the U.S. has funded Taiwan's defense and worked with Western nations to prevent mainland China from taking over. Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly stated that he is open to using military force to conquer the island.
Taiwan, which has its own democratically elected government, maintains that it is its own independent country. Taiwan first became a self-governed island after pro-democracy forces fled there in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong and his Chinese Communist Party.
Putin says Russia is open to economic cooperation with US on rare earth minerals
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow is willing to consider cooperating with the U.S. in mining rare earth minerals both in Russia and parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine.
Putin, in an interview broadcast on Russian state television Monday, emphasized Russia’s vast deposits of rare-earth minerals and their importance for the Russian economy but said his nation needs to do more to capitalize on its resources. He also said he is open to making an energy deal with the U.S.
His comments come as the Trump administration seeks to recoup the cost of aid sent to Ukraine by gaining access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, such as titanium, iron, and uranium, as part of a peace deal.
"Russia is one of the undisputed leaders in terms of reserves of these rare and rare-earth metals," Putin told state media correspondent Pavel Zarubin. "These are quite capital-intensive investments, capital-intensive projects. We would be happy to work together with any foreign partners, including American ones."
Putin said that Russia would be willing to sell about 2 million tons of aluminum to the US market if the US lifted sanctions restricting the import of Russian metals. He said the move could help stabilize prices.
He said that in 2017, Russia supplied about 15% of all American aluminum imports. Today, however, U.S. imports of Russian aluminum have dipped at least threefold due to sanctions.
Putin also said a deal could be reached on Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, which he referred to as "new territories."
"As for the new territories – the same applies: we are ready to attract foreign partners, and our so-called new historical territories, which have returned to the Russian Federation, also have certain reserves there," Putin said. "We are ready to work with our foreign partners, including American ones, there as well."
Putin also said that he is also willing to negotiate with the U.S. on Russian energy.
"There is much to think about here, as well as joint work on rare and rare-earth metals, and in other areas, including, for example, energy," Putin said.
His comments came on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A war that has killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions.
President Donald Trump suggested the war could end within weeks and wants to make a deal on Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.
The president, from the Oval Office Monday, hinted at a potential meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to finalize an agreement for rights to access its natural resources in exchange for the United States billions of dollars in support for the country's war against Russia.
TRUMP SAYS DEAL WITH UKRAINE FOR US ACCESS TO ITS RARE EARTH MINERALS IS ‘PRETTY CLOSE’
"In fact, he may come in this week or next week to sign the agreement, which would be nice, I'd love to meet him. Would meet at the Oval Office," Trump said. "The agreement is being worked on now."
"They are very close to a final deal," said the president, who was meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office on Monday.
Trump said the deal is "very beneficial to their economy," while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added it is "very close."
Trump’s comments come just after he posted on Truth Social that he was in "serious discussions" with Putin about ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
The president on Monday also predicted that the Russia-Ukraine war could end within weeks and that Putin would accept allowing European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal.
Trump administration officials, including White House national security advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, recently with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov to hash out ways to end the conflict.
Ukraine was absent from the negotiations in Saudi Arabia, a move that irked Zelenskyy.
US votes against condemning Russia for Ukraine war as Trump admin chases peace deal
The United States voted against a United Nations resolution laying blame on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and demanding Moscow remove its troops from Ukrainian territory, as the Trump administration is chasing a peace deal between both sides.
Russia and North Korea joined the U.S. in voting against the Europe-backed Ukrainian resolution, which cleared the General Assembly by 93-18 with 65 abstentions.
The U.S. then abstained from voting on its own competing resolution after Europeans, led by France, succeeded in amending it to make clear Russia was the aggressor. That resolution passed 93-8 with 73 abstentions, with Ukraine voting "yes," the U.S. abstaining, and Russia voting "no."
The voting unfolded on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and as Trump was hosting French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington.
US-UKRAINE RIFT BREAKS OUT AT UNITED NATIONS ON 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF WAR
The U.S. then pushed for a vote on its original draft in the more powerful U.N. Security Council, where resolutions are legally binding, and it has veto power along with Russia, China, Britain and France. The vote in the 15-member council was 10-0 with five European countries abstaining – Britain, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia.
President Donald Trump on Monday teased a possible meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.
He also said "a lot of progress has been made" toward ending the war after Macron joined him at the White House for a call with Group of Seven (G7) leaders.
"President Macron is a very special man in my book," Trump told reporters while sitting next to the French president. "We were together. We did it together. And I think a lot of progress has been made. We've had some very good talks with Russia. We've had some very good talks with others and we're trying to get the war ended with Russia and Ukraine."
ISRAEL’S AMBASSADOR SLAMS UN’S SILENCE ON HAMAS: ‘HAS NO RESOLUTIONS’
The U.S.-drafted resolution presented to the U.N. on Monday acknowledged "the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict" and "implores a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia," but never mentioned Moscow’s aggression.
In a surprise move, France proposed three amendments, which added that the conflict was the result of a "full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation." The amendments reaffirmed the assembly’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, and call for peace that respects the U.N. Charter.
Both assembly resolutions were supported by U.S. allies in Asia, including Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, its neighbors Canada and Mexico and European countries, with the exception of Hungary.
U.S. deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea said Monday that multiple previous U.N. resolutions condemning Russia and demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops "have failed to stop the war," which "has now dragged on for far too long and at far too terrible a cost to the people in Ukraine and Russia and beyond."
In the Security Council, Russia used its veto to prevent European amendments to the U.S. resolution.
Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said the U.S. resolution is "a step in the right direction, a common-sense initiative which reflects the will of the new administration in the White House to really contribute to the peaceful settlement in the conflict," according to the Washington Post.
Fox News’ Morgan Phillips, Alec Schemmel and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
American tourist arrested in Paris after allegedly throwing newborn baby out of hotel window: reports
An American woman was arrested in Paris after she allegedly threw a newborn baby out of a hotel window, according to reports.
The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed the incident, first reported by local outlet Paris Match, with the New York Post on Monday. The child was thrown out of the window earlier that morning.
The fall reportedly took place from a second-floor window. The newborn was given emergency medical care but did not survive.
The hotel is located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, a neighborhood popular with tourists seeking to visit the Père Lachaise Cemetery, where Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Frédéric Chopin and other notable people are buried.
LAW STUDENT KILLED BY ELEPHANT DURING VACATION TO THAILAND: OFFICIALS
The American woman, who is currently detained, was allegedly part of a group of young adults traveling in Europe. The Paris Match described her as being part of a "study trip."
Officials are investigating the case as a possible instance of "pregnancy denial," in which a woman is unaware of her pregnancy or unable to accept it.
Paris' Child Protection Brigade was assigned to the case, which will be investigated as a homicide, according to NEXSTAR.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Paris prosecutor's office for additional comment.
Authorities are actively investigating the incident. No additional details are known at this time.
Israel's ambassador slams UN's silence on Hamas: 'Has no resolutions'
UNITED NATIONS — Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon is demanding the international body break its silence on Hamas’ atrocities not only on Oct. 7, 2023, but in the months since then, as released hostages detail the brutal conditions in which they were held.
"We demand justice for all of them to come back, and the U.N. should pass a resolution condemning Hamas," Danon said while speaking to the press on Monday. "Since October 7 it never happened."
Since the attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, which kicked off the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the U.N .has passed several resolutions regarding Israel, but not one condemning Hamas by name.
"The U.N. has held countless emergency meetings on Israel, it has passed endless resolutions, but when terrorists massacred a baby and a child and then mutilated them, the U.N. has no resolutions to offer," Danon said.
Danon’s demand comes days after Israel received the bodies of Shiri Bibas, Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas and Oded Lifshitz.
ISRAEL'S UN AMBASSADOR SLAMS HAMAS' 'EVIL AND DEPRAVED' DISPLAY OF HOSTAGES' COFFINS
In response to a Fox News Digital request for comment, the U.N. secretary-general's spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said that "even in the absence of such resolution on Hamas, the Secretary-General has clearly and explicitly condemned Hamas terror actions more than 100 times in public speeches or statements since October 7th."
"We have been very clear, including last week in my briefings, that we condemn the parading of bodies and displaying of the coffins of the deceased hostages, including the Bibas family, in the manner it was done by Hamas, which is both abhorrent and appalling," Dujarric added.
When asked to comment on Israel’s assessment of how the Bibas children were killed, Durjarric said, "It is vital that a full accounting be done on how the two children were killed."
The IDF spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said forensic evidence shows that those who murdered the two boys did so "with their bare hands." Danon referenced the brutal murder in his remarks, adding that the perpetrators mutilated the two young boys’ bodies to make it look as though they had been killed in an airstrike, something Hamas claimed in November 2023.
During a memorial for the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz, an emotional Danon said, "This is a grief that will echo throughout Jewish history. We will never forget. We will never forgive."
US-UKRAINE RIFT BREAKS OUT AT UNITED NATIONS ON 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR
The memorial event, which opened with a video montage of the Bibas family before and during the Oct. 7 attacks, also included remarks by Argentina's U.N. Ambassador Francisco Fabián Tropepi.
"We cannot allow these atrocities to be forgotten. We cannot allow those responsible to remain unpunished," Tropepi said. "What happened on October 7 was not just another attack in the history of this conflict, it was an act of terrorism of unprecedented brutality."
The Bibas family held both Israeli and Argentinean citizenship. Argentine President Javier Milei declared two days of mourning for the slain mother and her children.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Milei in a post on X, saying the declaration "should serve as an inspiration to all leaders of the civilized world."
"We will not stop raising our voice until every hostage still in Gaza is brought home, until the terrorists of Hamas are defeated, until the world fully understands the magnitude of horror these people endured," Tropepi said.
State, Treasury Departments reimposes 'maximum pressure' sanctions on Iran’s oil trade
The U.S. State Department and Department of the Treasury reimposed what they describe as "maximum pressure" sanctions on Iran’s "shadowy" oil trade on Monday as tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high after President Donald Trump took office last month.
The State Department designated 16 entities and vessels part of a "network of illicit shipping facilitators" that "obfuscates and deceives its role in loading and transporting Iranian oil for sale to buyers in Asia," spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a written statement.
The State Department, along with the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), are concurrently sanctioning a total of 22 people and identified 13 vessels "as blocked property, across multiple jurisdictions, for their involvement in Iran’s oil industry," the statement said.
Bruce said those involved in the shadowy network have "shipped tens of millions of barrels of crude oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars."
IRAN TESTS TRUMP AS REGIME GENERAL SAYS IT WILL WIPE ISRAEL OFF THE MAP
"Today’s action represents an initial step to realize President Trump’s campaign of maximum pressure on the Iranian regime," she said. "It disrupts efforts by Iran to amass oil revenues to fund terrorists’ activities."
Those facing sanctions include oil brokers in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, tanker operators and managers in India and the People’s Republic of China, the head of Iran’s National Iranian Oil Company, and the Iranian Oil Terminals Company, whose operations help finance Iran’s destabilizing activities, the OFAC said in a statement.
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said the U.S. will continue to identify and go after anyone involved in the illicit network with Iran.
"Iran continues to rely on a shadowy network of vessels, shippers, and brokers to facilitate its oil sales and fund its destabilizing activities," Bessent said in a written statement. "The United States will use all our available tools to target all aspects of Iran’s oil supply chain, and anyone who deals in Iranian oil exposes themselves to significant sanctions risk."
After Trump signed an executive order reinstating the campaign earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said "maximum pressure is a failed experiment, and trying it again will only lead to another failure."
The return of the maximum pressure campaign comes as tensions flare in the Middle East between Iran-backed Hamas and Israel, and Tehran’s icy relationship with Washington under the Trump administration.
The U.S. Department of Justice last year charged the Islamic Republic with an assassination attempt against Trump, presumably in retaliation for the military strike that eliminated IRGC General Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Iran's president, however, denied the claim during an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt in Tehran.
Iranian officials have also pushed back on all U.S. efforts to curtail its nuclear ambitions.
Fox News Digital’s Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.
Daily evening prayers for Pope Francis to be held in St. Peter's Square, Vatican says
Daily evening prayers for the health of Pope Francis will be held at St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced Monday.
The Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, is set to lead the first prayer this evening.
It comes as Pope Francis, 88, spent his 10th day at Rome's Gemelli Hospital for a complex lung infection that has led to the early stages of kidney insufficiency, according to the Vatican.
"The night passed well, the pope slept and is resting," the Vatican said earlier Monday.
POPE FRANCIS RESTING ON DAY 10 IN HOSPITAL
Francis was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently the onset of pneumonia in both lungs.
Late Sunday, doctors said blood tests revealed "early, slight kidney insufficiency" but that it remained under control. The doctors said Francis remained in critical condition but had not experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday evening.
POPE FRANCIS SHARES WRITTEN MESSAGE WHILE CONTINUING HOSPITALIZATION
At the Gemelli hospital, Bishop Claudio GiulioDori presided over an emotional, standing-room-only Mass in the St. John Paul II Chapel – named for the former pope – according to the Associated Press.
Some of the estimated 200 people who attended were in white doctor coats or green surgical scrubs, the AP reported.
"We are very sorry. Pope Francis is a good pope, let’s hope that he makes it. Let us hope," Filomena Ferraro, who was visiting a relative at Gemelli on Monday, told the AP. "We are joining him with our prayers, but what else can we do?"
Fox News’ Landon Mion and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Germany’s new conservative leader looks to ‘achieve independence’ from US
Germany’s chancellor-elect, Friedrich Merz, leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union party, said his "absolute priority" upon taking up the top job will be to secure Europe so that it can "achieve independence" from Washington.
"I would never have thought that I would have to say something like this in a TV show but, after Donald Trump's remarks last week... it is clear that this government does not care much about the fate of Europe," Merz said on Sunday, according to multiple reports.
"My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA," Merz added.
TRUMP CELEBRATES CONSERVATIVE PARTY WIN IN GERMANY
The comments by the incoming chancellor – who has been described as an ardent "Trans-Atlanticist" – are significant because they could signify a major shift from previous post-World War II relations between the U.S. and Europe.
In speaking about the upcoming NATO summit in June, Merz suggested the NATO alliance "in its current form" is in jeopardy and said European nations may "have to establish an independent European defense capability much more quickly," reported the BBC.
Mike Waltz, Trump's national security advisor, reaffirmed the U.S. position on NATO last week, saying, "We fully support our NATO allies. We fully support the Article 5 commitment."
"But it’s time for our European allies to step up," he said, noting the Trump administration’s repeated position in its demand that European countries increase their defense spending.
But concern has also mounted over whether the U.S. will pull troops stationed in Europe, particularly after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said earlier this month that though he has no short-term plans to withdraw troops, NATO allies shouldn’t make the "assumption that America’s presence will last forever."
ON THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE INVASION, EUROPEAN LEADERS SHOW SUPPORT, EXPRESS UNEASE
European leaders over the last few weeks have increasingly demanded a unified answer from the Trump administration on what its strategy is when it comes to Russia.
Concern escalated after Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke last week, followed by a meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart in Saudi Arabia, in which the administration's push to re-establish diplomatic ties was revealed.
Trump's negative comments toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have also prompted international ire and Washington’s position on securing a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is expected to be a major topic of discussion this week as French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer travel to Washington to meet with Trump.
Merz, who appears to be attempting to once again make Germany a top player when it comes to geopolitics, on Monday emphasized his support for Ukraine.
"Three years of Russian war of aggression against [Ukraine]. Three years of war in Europe," he highlighted in X. "For three years, we have been accompanied by the terrible images of destruction and war crimes. Europe remains firmly on the side of Ukraine.
"Now more than ever, we must put Ukraine in a position of strength. For a just peace, the attacked country must be part of peace negotiations," Merz said.
Russian consulate in France targeted with explosive projectiles on 3rd anniversary of Ukraine invasion
Two explosive projectiles reportedly detonated near the Russian consulate in Marseille, France, on Monday – the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A third soda bottle thrown over the perimeter wall of the facility reportedly failed to explode. There were no reports of injuries, and investigators are now analyzing the contents of the incendiary devices, according to Reuters.
"The blasts at the Russian consulate general in Marseille exhibit all the signs of a terrorist attack," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the state-run TASS news agency.
"We demand that the host country take immediate, thorough action to investigate the incident, as well as measures to improve the security of Russia’s foreign facilities," she added.
ON THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE INVASION, EUROPEAN LEADERS SHOW SUPPORT, EXPRESS UNEASE
The motive of the incident is unclear, but it happened on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A lone suspect fled the scene, an official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
UKRAINE ENTERS FOURTH YEAR OF WAR WITH RUSSIA: ‘CLOSER TO THE BEGINNING THAN WE ARE TO THE END’
Photos taken at the scene showed firefighters and first responders gathering outside the entrance of the consulate.
Staff at the facility were kept inside while bomb disposal officers were conducting checks on the devices, Reuters reported.
Multiple protests against Russia’s war in Ukraine have unfolded in Marseille since Putin’s forces invaded the country on Feb. 24, 2022.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Surgeon on trial for allegedly raping, abusing 299 victims, mostly child patients
A former French surgeon accused of raping or sexually abusing 299 victims, mostly children under his care, over the course of nearly three decades is set to stand trial in France on Monday.
Joël Le Scouarnec, now 74, is set to stand trial over four months in Vannes, Brittany. The trial will examine alleged rapes and other abuses committed between 1989 and 2014 against 158 men and 141 women. The alleged victims’ average age was 11.
Le Scouarnec, who will face hundreds of alleged victims during the trial, does not deny the allegations, though he says he doesn't remember everything. Many alleged victims say they have no memory of the assaults, having been unconscious at the time.
The case was brought into the spotlight in 2017 when a 6-year-old neighbor accused Le Scouarnec of touching her over the fence that separated their properties.
FRENCHMAN FOUND GUILTY IN HORRIFIC RAPE TRIAL THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD
Investigators searched his home and uncovered more than 300,000 photos, 650 pedophilic, zoophilic and scatological video files, according to investigation documents.
The investigation further found that the surgeon described himself in his notebooks as a pedophile and revealed details of his actions. Investigators tracked down alleged victims whose names were found written in the notebooks.
Le Scouarnec was convicted in that case in 2020, along with the rape and sexual assault of his two nieces when they were children in the 1980s and 90s, and a 4-year-old patient. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Amélie Lévêque, one of the alleged victims named in the notebooks, was 9 years old at the time of her surgery in 1991. When speaking about the revelations recently, she said she recalled little about the operation, although she remembered "a surgeon who was quite mean" following the procedure, noting that she "cried a lot."
She described being contacted over the discovery of her name in the notebooks.
FRENCH GIRL, 11, FOUND DEAD NEAR SCHOOL, MURDER INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
"That was the beginning of the answers to a lifetime of questions, and then it was the beginning of the descent into hell," Lévêque told public broadcaster France 3. "I felt like I had lost control of everything. I wasn’t crazy, but now I had to face the truth of what had happened."
"I fell into a deep depression. ... My family tried to help, but I felt completely alone," she said.
Le Scouarnec was previously convicted in 2005 of possessing and importing child sexual abuse material and sentenced to four months of suspended prison time. Despite that conviction, he was appointed as a hospital practitioner the following year.
Le Scouarnec faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted in this trial, on top of 15 years he has been serving after being found guilty in 2020 of rape and sexual assault of children.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
On third anniversary of Ukraine invasion, European leaders show support, express unease
On the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, European leaders are showing support for Kyiv, while also expressing unease about the current state of the conflict with President Donald Trump's administration at the negotiating table.
The winner of Germany’s election on Sunday – conservative leader Friedrich Merz – has been a staunch backer of Ukraine.
"More than ever, we must put Ukraine in a position of strength," Merz, whose victory was celebrated by Trump, posted to X on Monday. "For a fair peace, the country that is under attack must be part of peace negotiations."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and some European leaders took issue with Kyiv being left out of talks between U.S. and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia last week geared toward ending the war.
UKRAINE ENTERS FOURTH YEAR OF WAR WITH RUSSIA: ‘CLOSER TO THE BEGINNING THAN WE ARE TO THE END’
A dozen leaders from Europe and Canada were in Ukraine's capital on Monday to mark three years since Russian troops invaded on Feb. 24, 2022.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were among visitors scheduled to attend anniversary events and discuss supporting Ukraine with Zelenskyy.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier – primarily the ceremonial head of state – said "peace and freedom in Europe demand of us that we support Ukraine resolutely."
"Germany stands firmly beside Ukraine, with humanitarian aid, with protection for refugees, with military support," Steinmeier said in the video message, parts of which were aired on Ukrainian television. "And we will not ease up as long as this illegal war lasts." Steinmeier reportedly planned to join a video summit Zelenskyy was holding Monday with leaders of supportive nations.
The anniversary comes amid escalating public tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy.
"I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job," Trump said Sunday.
Trump also dubbed the Ukrainian leader "a dictator without elections," following Zelenskyy's accusation that Trump is living in a Russian-made "disinformation space." In an interview with the Daily Mail, Vice President JD Vance warned that "the idea that Zelenskyy is going to change the president's mind by badmouthing him in public media, everyone who knows the President will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration."
Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton characterized Trump's remarks as "shameful," while former Vice President Mike Pence condemned the president for suggesting that Ukraine was at fault in the war. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy mentioned speaking Sunday with Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Trump had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and then Zelenskyy afterward, last week. Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg arrived in Kyiv last Wednesday to meet with Zelenskyy.
The European Union’s top diplomat insisted Monday that the U.S. cannot seal any peace deal to end the war with Putin without Ukraine or Europe being involved.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also highlighted what she claimed were pro-Russian positions being taken up by the Trump administration.
"You can discuss whatever you want with Putin. But if it comes to Europe or Ukraine, then Ukraine and Europe also have to agree to this deal," Kallas told reporters in Brussels, where she is chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Kallas travels to Washington on Tuesday for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In terms of the U.S. message, she said it was "clear that the Russian narrative is there very strongly represented."
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said Monday that the last few "turbulent weeks" surrounding the push to bring an end to the war had brought European nations "face to face with history."
"Today marks the start of the fourth year of the terrible war. Let us hope that it also marks the beginning of the end," he said.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Europe needs "to make clear to the Russians and everyone else that there are a few things that are completely off the table in these negotiations."
"One is EU membership. It is not Russia who decides on EU membership, it is the European Union who does that. Two is NATO. It is not Russia that decides on NATO membership. It is the alliance itself," he declared.
"We will see a European Ukraine. We will see eventually Ukraine in NATO," Stubb said. "We’ve seen a unified European Union and hopefully a stronger trans-Atlantic alliance in the long run. And on a day like this, I think it’s time to pave the way for a plan for Ukrainian victory."
Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, notably suggested Sunday that Russia was "provoked" ahead of the Ukraine invasion by increasing talks of Kyiv joining NATO.
Czech President Petr Pavel said via remote link that he has "no doubt that the ultimate goal of this aggression has always been to wipe Ukraine as we know it off the map."
"Yet the resilience of the Ukrainian people has proven to be unbreakable," Pavel told the gathering of European leaders in Kyiv. "It deserves not only our admiration, but also our full respect. We all sincerely want peace in Ukraine and for its people, but not a peace at any cost."
Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said Russia does not see any way to resume "dialogue with Europe" after the European Union adopted its 16th round of sanctions against Russia on the third anniversary of the invasion.
The measures include targeting Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet" of ships that it exploits to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and gas, or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain. The EU said 74 vessels were added to its list.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the new sanctions also target "those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, videogame controllers used to pilot drones, banks used to circumvent our sanctions, and propaganda outlets used to spout lies." Asset freezes and travel bans were imposed on 83 officials and entities. More than 2,300 officials and entities have been hit since the invasion began, Putin.
By adding new sanctions, European nations appear to be convinced that the war should continue, Peskov said.
This stands in contrast with searching for ways to resolve "the conflict around Ukraine which is what we are currently doing with the Americans," Peskov said.
Speaking about Russia’s changing relationship with the U.S., Peskov welcomed "attempts by Washington to really understand what was the root cause of this conflict."
The U.N. General Assembly, meanwhile, is expected to vote Monday on dueling resolutions: Ukraine’s European-backed proposal demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from the country and a U.S. call for a swift end to the war that never mentions Moscow’s aggression, the Associated Press reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Pope Francis resting on day 10 in hospital for lung infection that led to early stages of kidney insufficiency
Pope Francis, 88, was resting Monday morning, his 10th day at Rome's Gemelli Hospital for a complex lung infection that led to the early stages of kidney insufficiency, according to the Vatican.
"The night passed well, the pope slept and is resting," the Vatican said in a statement.
It is unclear if he was awake and eating breakfast.
Francis was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and subsequently the onset of pneumonia in both lungs.
POPE FRANCIS SHARES WRITTEN MESSAGE WHILE CONTINUING HOSPITALIZATION
Late Sunday, doctors said blood tests revealed "early, slight kidney insufficiency" but that it remained under control. The doctors said Francis remained in critical condition but had not experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday evening.
Francis, who had part of one lung removed when he was younger, was receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen, and received two blood transfusions on Sunday to increase hemoglobin levels. Doctors said his prognosis was guarded.
The pope was alert and responsive on Sunday and attended Mass.
Francis' condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease, doctors said. The main threat to Francis, doctors warned, is sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can arise as a complication of pneumonia.
There has been no indication of any onset of sepsis as of Monday morning.
Monday is Francis' 10th day in the hospital, matching the longest hospitalization of his papacy. He spent 10 days at Gemelli Hospital in 2021 after he had 13 inches of his colon removed.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan said Sunday in New York that the Catholic faithful were united "at the bedside of a dying father," an acknowledgment of Francis' short time left that church leaders in Rome have not said publicly.
POPE FRANCIS HAD PEACEFUL NIGHT'S REST AT HOSPITAL FOLLOWING RESPIRATORY CRISIS, VATICAN SAYS
"As our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death," Dolan said in his homily from the pulpit of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Dolan later told reporters he hoped and prayed that Francis would "bounce back."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ukraine enters fourth year of war with Russia: ‘Closer to the beginning than we are to the end’
"We are way closer to the beginning than we are to the end," former CIA Moscow station chief Dan Hoffman said as Ukraine entered a fourth year of war on Monday.
Since the Nov. 5, 2024, re-election of President Donald Trump, the Western world has been scrambling to understand what the future holds for Russia’s war in Ukraine as Washington looks to re-establish ties with Moscow in a move to end the conflict and secure a peace deal.
In the span of a week, Trump held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin; Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov; retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparked international debate by pronouncing that Ukraine would unlikely be permitted to join NATO.
But far from bringing a sense of optimism that an end to the brutal war in Ukraine could be on the horizon, questions erupted across the globe as the geopolitical atmosphere descended into a state of confusion.
"What a ceasefire would look like? I have no idea," Hoffman said, highlighting the numerous and almost indeterminable factors that will shape whether Moscow and Kyiv agree to terms under a deal.
"It’s getting the Russians to stop. That's the key," he explained. "The Russians are intrigued by the idea that they could make a grand bargain with this administration and eliminate the sanctions that are causing so much harm.
"But what hangs over this is Vladimir Putin – he’s a KGB guy. He hates Donald Trump just as much as he hates Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, and every one of us, because the United States is the main enemy," Hoffman explained. "He's going to try to get a great deal.
"Putin's going to try to frame negotiations as if Russia is going toe to toe with the United States, he will want to make it look like Russia got the better of us, to enhance his own image and the Kremlin's [to] throw weight against us globally, including in the MIddle East and Africa," Hoffman explained.
Some of the biggest factors that will be involved in negotiating a ceasefire will be security guarantees for Ukraine, including whether Russia has the right to influence who can be permitted into the alliance.
"Ukraine's NATO membership should not be a negotiation tactic, because we don't want Russia to have, you know, de facto veto power over who joins NATO," Catherine Sendak, director of transatlantic defense and security with the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), said during a discussion on Ukraine on Thursday.
Some nations like Britain and France have said they may be willing to send in troops to serve as a deterring force should a ceasefire be agreed to, though Russian officials have already said NATO forces in Ukraine would be unacceptable to Moscow.
Though even with European forces in Ukraine, it remains unclear in what capacity as a deterring force they would serve.
Questions over whether European forces would help police Ukrainian borders shared with Russia or merely act as air and naval support for Kyiv remain.
Experts involved in the CEPA discussion were unanimous in their agreement that the U.S. should be involved, though the Trump administration has already suggested that not only will the possibility of the U.S. sending in troops to Ukraine not be an option, but it may look to remove American forces currently positioned around Europe.
"Many European nations just have not had any experience in leading a force of that size," said William Monahan, senior fellow with CEPA and former deputy assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs during the previous Trump administration.
UKRAINE WAR 'WILL END SOON' UNDER TRUMP'S LEADERSHIP, US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR VOWS
"Determining where the U.S. could be providing key enablers, I think, would be an essential element of any force, and determining its credibility and deterrence capability," he added.
Putin has made clear that his latest war objective is the ownership of four Ukrainian regions, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which he illegally "annexed" in 2022 but none of which have his forces been able to fully seize.
Zelenskyy has said he will not agree to cede any land to Russia, including Crimea, which Russia has illegally occupied since 2014, but which Hegseth said this month would be an "unrealistic" objective at the negotiating table.
Though some Western experts have argued that Ukraine does not necessarily need to cede land in order to reach a ceasefire agreement.
This proposal suggests that the Ukrainian territory would remain internationally recognized as "occupied" by Russia, which would allow the fighting to stop, though Kyiv and its international partners would then need to attempt to renegotiate land releases at a later time.
What has become clear is the Trump administration’s push for Europe to be more heavily involved in providing military support to Ukraine. But as European nations look to ramp up defense on the continent without Washington’s support, security experts are warning this is changing geopolitical views of the U.S. and its reliability as an ally.
"I think there is a group of European countries now, I think increasingly, including the U.K. potentially, and France, that actually are beginning to see the U.S. as part of the problem," said Sam Green, director of democratic resilience at CEPA and professor of Russian politics at King's College London.
EU WARNS TRUMP AGAINST LETTING PUTIN DIVIDE THE US AND EUROPE: 'LET’S NOT DO HIM THE FAVOR'
Green said European nations may need to come up with their own solution to counter a U.S.-Moscow proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Ultimately, the security experts warned that the increasingly apparent divisions between Washington under the Trump administration and Europe are playing into one of Putin's longtime chief aims.
"I think there's a need to get a coordinated approach that brings in our allies and partners [and] maintains that source of strength," Monahan said. "I think Putin is very happy he has been able to achieve one of his strategic goals, which is create disunion and division among the United States and its allies in the transatlantic relationship."
When asked by Fox News Digital if some of the controversial comments made by Trump, like calling Zelenskyy a dictator, claiming he has low internal approval ratings and seeming to suggest he was to blame for Russia’s illegal invasion, are aiding Putin in his negotiating calculus, Hoffman said, "I don't know what damage, if any, it's causing, but the intelligence community can assess that."
"What Vladimir Putin thinks about the U.S. and Ukraine, about Zelenskyy and Trump going, rhetorically at least, toe to toe in the Octagon against each other – it's not a great look," he added.
"[Putin] thinks he can break Europe. He doesn't think Europe is going to be strong enough without the United States," Hoffman argued. "That's certainly the past. The history during the Soviet-Evil Empire, it was the U.S. strength, our nuclear umbrella, that deterred the Soviet Union from expanding.
"NATO has always been an alliance to deter Russian aggression," he said. "We're nowhere close to knowing how all this is going to play out.
"Right now, you're just hearing a lot of noise," Hoffman cautioned.
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