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Zelensky accuses Russia of buying time to stall peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Tuesday of delaying peace talks in a bid to pursue its three-year invasion, even as US President Donald Trump pushes for an immediate ceasefire.

Trump spoke by phone on Monday to both Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, while Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul on Friday for their first direct talks on the conflict in more than three years.

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Ortagus says Lebanon has 'more' to do on Hezbollah disarming

Lebanon still has "more" to do in disarming Hezbollah following the war between the Iran-backed group and Israel, Deputy U.S. Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus said Tuesday.

As part of a deal agreed to end 14 months of fighting last November, Hezbollah was to withdraw its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River, while Israel was to pull all its forces from south Lebanon.

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EU formally adopts 17th round of sanctions on Russia

The EU on Tuesday formally adopted a new round of sanctions on Russia targeting its "shadow fleet" of oil tankers and threatened more punishment for Moscow not agreeing a Ukraine truce.

"The EU has approved its 17th sanctions package against Russia, targeting nearly 200 shadow fleet ships," European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X.

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Qatar PM defends plane gift to US as 'exchange between two countries'

Qatar's prime minister on Tuesday rejected criticism of the wealthy Gulf country's offer to U.S. President Trump of a $400 million luxury aircraft to serve as a new Air Force One.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani defended the gift as "an exchange between two countries", adding that he viewed the issue as a "normal thing that happens between allies".

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EU agrees to lift all economic sanctions on Syria

EU countries on Tuesday gave a green light to lifting all economic sanctions on Syria in a bid to help the war-torn country recover after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, diplomats said.

Ambassadors from the EU's 27 member states struck a preliminary agreement for the move, which should be formally unveiled by foreign ministers meeting in Brussels later in the day, diplomats said.

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One killed in Israel's strikes Monday on south Lebanon

At least one person was killed on Monday and three others wounded by Israeli attacks on multiple locations across southern Lebanon, authorities said, despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

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Man extradited by Lebanon held in Denmark for 'seeking drones for Hamas'

A 28-year-old man was remanded in custody in Denmark on Monday on suspicions of purchasing drones to be used in a Hamas "terrorist attack", Danish intelligence said Monday.

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Qatar says Israel attack on Gaza 'undermining any chance at peace'

Qatar's prime minister on Tuesday said Israel's military offensive in Gaza had undermined peace efforts after the release of U.S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander and amid expanded operations in the Palestinian territory.

"When Israeli American soldier Aidan Alexander was released, we thought that moment would open a door to end this tragedy, but the response was a more violent wave of strikes," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.

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Trump gets talks pledge but no Ukraine ceasefire from Putin

Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine would "immediately" start peace talks after he spoke with Vladimir Putin on Monday, despite the Russian leader rebuffing the U.S. president's call for an unconditional truce.

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Despite Netanyahu's announcement, no aid trucks have gone into Gaza

Israel has said it would allow a limited amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza even as its “extensive” new ground operations are underway there. But despite the announcement, no aid had gone in by mid-afternoon Monday.

Aid trucks that were briefly parked on the Israeli side of a border crossing turned back and drove off into Israel. The developments come after a nearly three-month blockade and warnings by global experts of impeding famine.

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