Europe – Ukraine
(AFP/Al Arabiya) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed making Ukraine an “associate member” of the EU without voting rights, while Kyiv goes through the lengthy process of joining fully, a letter seen by AFP Thursday said. The plan — first floated by Merz with EU counterparts last month — would see Ukraine’s leader attend the bloc’s summit but not be able to cast a vote. – Germany’s Merz pitches making Ukraine EU ‘associate member’
Iran
(Al Arabiya) Iran has already restarted some of its drone production during the six-week ceasefire that began in early April, CNN reported on Thursday, citing two sources familiar with US intelligence assessments. US intelligence indicated that Iran’s military is rebuilding much faster than initially estimated, the report added, citing four sources. – Iran has restarted some of its drone production during ceasefire: Report
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Iran on Thursday hanged two men convicted of armed rebellion and membership in “separatist terrorist groups,” the latest in a string of executions during the Middle East war. Since the start of the conflict with Israel and the United States in February, Iran has ramped up executions, with many of the convicts hanged over anti-government protests that took place across Iran early this year. – Iran hangs two men for armed rebellion, links to ‘separatists’
Russia – Belarus
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Russia delivered nuclear munitions to field storage facilities in Belarus as part of major nuclear drills, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. The three-day nuclear exercise, which started on Tuesday and is taking place across Russia and Belarus, comes at a time when Moscow is locked in what it says is an existential struggle with the West over Ukraine. “As part of the nuclear forces exercise, nuclear munitions were delivered to the field storage facilities of the missile brigade’s position area in the Republic of Belarus,” the ministry said. – Russia delivers nuclear munitions in Belarus as part of nuclear drills
US – China – Taiwan
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Beijing is holding up a proposed visit by the Pentagon’s under-secretary of defense for policy, Elbridge Colby, as China pressures US President Donald Trump over a $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. Colby discussed a summer visit to Beijing with Chinese officials but China has signaled that it cannot approve a visit until Trump decides how he will proceed with the arms package, the report said, citing people familiar with the talks. – Pentagon official’s China visit in doubt over $14 billion arms package for Taiwan: Report
US – Palestine – UN
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) President Donald Trump’s administration threatened to revoke the visas of the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations if the Palestinian ambassador refuses to end his candidacy for the vice presidency of the UN General Assembly, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters. In a cable dated Wednesday, US diplomats in its embassy in Jerusalem are instructed to deliver the message that Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour’s general assembly bid “fuels tensions,” risks to undermine Trump’s Gaza peace plan and would therefore face consequences from Washington if it went ahead. “To be clear, we will hold the PA responsible if the Palestinian delegation does not withdraw its VPGA candidacy,” the cable, marked sensitive but unclassified, said, referring to the Palestinian Authority which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank. – US reportedly pressuring Palestinian UN envoy to drop General Assembly vice presidency bid
War in Iran
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Iran said on Thursday it was reviewing Washington’s latest position on ending the war after US President Donald Trump suggested he was prepared to wait a few days to “get the right answers” from Tehran but warned of renewed attacks if it did not agree to a deal. “We have received US views and are reviewing them,” Iranian state-run agency Nour News quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying. Pakistan, which hosted peace talks last month and is acting as the conduit for messages between the two sides, continues to mediate between Tehran and Washington, he added, with several rounds of communication having taken place. Pakistan’s interior minister was in Tehran on Wednesday. – Tehran reviewing latest US response as Trump suggests he can wait
War in Ukraine
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Ukraine is ramping up security measures in its regions bordering Belarus, Kyiv said on Thursday, after weeks of warning of a possible fresh attack from Russia’s chief regional ally. Kyiv has sounded the alarm that Russia may use Belarus – a springboard for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine – to stage a new offensive from the north, including towards the capital. – Ukraine boosts border security with Belarus over attack fears
