OSLO — Norway Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said on Wednesday that the country will start the process of donating six F-16 fighters to Ukraine this year, aiming to boost Kyiv’s ability to defend itself against attacks from the air during its ongoing conflict against Russia. The Norwegian government had decided last year to donate the F-16s to Ukraine as part of a multinational collaboration, led by Denmark, the Netherlands and the USA. Store had announced the decision on Ukraine’s...

UNITED NATIONS – Security Council is scheduled to take up on Tuesday Russia’s bombing of a children’s hospital in Ukraine that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned as “particularly shocking”. Ukraine’s largest children’s health facility was among the places hit by a barrage of about 40 Russian missiles across the country on Monday. Russia, which is the president of the Council for this month, will preside over the meeting called at the request of three permanent members, the US, Britain, and...

New Delhi — As Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia enters Day 2, the US has said this was a significant move and that as India engages with Russia, Washington would urge it to make clear that any resolution to the conflict in Ukraine needs to respect the UN Charter and its territorial integrity and sovereignty. US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller during a media briefing said, “Prime Minister Modi, like Prime Minister Orban, recently met with President...

STUTTGART — Belgium are through to the round of 16 at UEFA EURO 2024 after finishing as Group E runners-up with a 0-0 draw with Ukraine, whose hopes of progress ended with the goalless ending here on Wednesday night. Both teams made a nervy start at the Stuttgart Arena, with plenty at stake in the group as all four teams began the evening level on three points apiece. Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne created the first clear chance of the...

Seoul — North Korea on Monday criticised the US for its military support of Ukraine and supported Russia’s actions as a “legitimate act of self-defence,” underscoring the growing military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. “If the rulers of the US persist in recklessly pushing their war machine into Ukraine for a proxy war against Russia, it will inevitably provoke a stronger response from Russia,” Pak Jong Chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea,...

DUSSELDORF (GERMANY) — Ukraine had to dig deep in their second game of the Euro 2024 Group Stage as the side fought back from being 1-0 down in the first half and went on to win 2-1 at the Merkur Spiel Arena here on Friday. Slovakia continued their impressive performance which saw them defeat Belgium in their opening fixtures and came close to scoring in the 10th minute of the game had it not been for a quick reflex save...

SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday expressed “full support” for Russia’s war in Ukraine and pledged to strengthen strategic cooperation with Moscow as he held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang amid deepening concerns about their military cooperation. Kim said relations between the two countries are “entering a new period of prosperity”, as he praised Russia’s role in the global strategic balance and vowed to “strengthen strategic cooperation” with Moscow, according to the Russian...

OBBUERGEN — Nearly 80 countries called Sunday for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia’s two-year war, though some key developing nations at a Swiss conference did not join in. The way forward for diplomacy remains unclear. The joint communique capped a two-day conference marked by the absence of Russia, which was not invited. Many attendees expressed hope that Russia might join in on a road map to peace in the...

VIENNA — The final declaration of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland was approved by 80 of the 93 participating states at the close of the two-day event on Sunday. Countries that did not sign include six states from the G20 group of the world’s most important economic powers — Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, India and Indonesia, according to a list published by the Swiss hosts. Armenia, Bahrain, Thailand, Libya, the United Arab Emirates, Colombia and the Vatican...

VIENNA — Not all participants at the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland are expected to sign the final declaration, although more because of the wording than an actual lack of support, according to Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Diplomatic subtleties in the writing aside, the basic common position would not be affected, Nehammer said on Sunday on the sidelines of the event at the Burgenstock mountain hotel resort near Lucerne. “That’s why I’m not so worried if not everyone signs now,”...