Russian invasion Negotiations
Sources: Putin stands firm – Kremlin does not believe in breakthrough
The Kremlin does not believe that the talks with Ukraine and the United States in the United Arab Emirates will lead to any major breakthroughs. Sources tell Bloomberg.
When representatives from Russia and Ukraine met at the beginning of the year, it was the first time since 2022 that the countries negotiated directly with each other. A new round of talks is to begin on Sunday.
According to the sources, Russia believes that the delegations participating in the meeting only have a mandate to negotiate technical military details. The parties cannot negotiate on territorial issues, which is the major stumbling block.
Putin still demands control over the entire Donbas and is open to freezing the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhia, something he sees as a concession because he believes he has the right to all of eastern Ukraine.
Security around the Baltic Sea
Baltic states want to make border crossings easier
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania intend to create a special “mobility zone” that will make it easier to move freely in the region and move military equipment across borders. The zone will also make it easier for the EU and NATO.
“So that in crisis situations and in the event of a military threat, it is possible to quickly receive allied forces in the Baltic Sea region,” writes the Latvian Ministry of Defense according to the public service company LSM.
Bureaucratic borders must not slow down the defense of NATO’s eastern flank, says Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.
“When there is a crisis, every hour counts.
Political situation in Canada
Canada's opposition leader saved himself in the match
Canada's Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre overcame his biggest challenge since becoming party leader in 2022 last night, writes CTV News.
After taking the stage to the Journey band "Don't stop believing" and giving a fiery speech to his party colleagues, he survived a vote of confidence by a wide margin.
In the closed vote, 87.4 percent of delegates wanted to keep him, despite the internal criticism that has followed after the party lost a superior lead in public opinion last year to an election loss. Global News describes the strong support as a confidence boost for Poilievre.
US attack on Venezuela New regime
Hundreds of political prisoners in Venezuela may be released
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez has proposed a "general amnesty law" in the country, which would mean that hundreds of political prisoners could be released. This is reported by the AP.
- May this law serve to redirect justice in our country, Rodríguez said in a speech at the country's Supreme Court.
If it is passed, the amnesty law would apply retroactively from 1999 to the present, according to Rodríguez. Therefore, opposition politicians, journalists and human rights activists who have been imprisoned since then could be released. Rodríguez clarified that people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, corruption and human rights violations will not be released.
Rodríguez also announced that the Helicoide prison will be closed. Several organizations, including the UN, have found evidence of human rights violations and torture chambers in the prison.
