Germany will "do everything" to make sure the damaged Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia will not resume deliveries of natural gas to Europe, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday.

The Kremlin on Wednesday rebuffed a call by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a three-way summit with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as Kyiv seeks to force Moscow to halt its three-year-long invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday urged NATO to invite Kyiv to a summit of the alliance in June, warning that excluding his country would be a victory for Russia.

"If Ukraine is not present at the NATO summit, it will be a victory for Putin, but not over Ukraine, but over NATO. Therefore, the decision lies with our partners," Zelensky told a press conference alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Iran on Wednesday said it may consider allowing U.S. inspectors with the United Nations nuclear watchdog to inspect its facilities if a deal is reached with the United States.

Iran has long been accused by Western powers of seeking to develop nuclear weapons -- a claim Tehran has consistently denied, insisting its nuclear program is solely for peaceful, civilian purposes.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday accused Russia of stalling peace talks and said Moscow did not want to halt its three-year invasion.

Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said in a speech that the country's post-war reconstruction had 'just begun', calling on his people to unite.

Gaza rescuers said sixteen people were killed Wednesday in Israeli strikes across the besieged Palestinian territory where Israel intensified its operations this month.

Iran has executed a man convicted of spying for Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, the judiciary said on Wednesday.

The U.N. on Wednesday condemned a U.S.-backed aid system in Gaza after 47 people were injured during a chaotic food distribution, where the Israeli military said it did not open fire at crowds.