UK to Host Baltic, Nordic Leaders to Find New Ways to Isolate Russia

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace speak with members of the crew of HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 air-defense destroyer of the Royal Navy that has undergone a refit, as they visit Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside Britain, March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace speak with members of the crew of HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 air-defense destroyer of the Royal Navy that has undergone a refit, as they visit Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside Britain, March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
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UK to Host Baltic, Nordic Leaders to Find New Ways to Isolate Russia

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace speak with members of the crew of HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 air-defense destroyer of the Royal Navy that has undergone a refit, as they visit Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside Britain, March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace speak with members of the crew of HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 air-defense destroyer of the Royal Navy that has undergone a refit, as they visit Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside Britain, March 10, 2022. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host leaders from countries along Russia's northwestern flank next week to discuss ways they can respond to President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, including finding new ways to isolate Russia's economy.

The leaders from countries in the Joint Expeditionary Force, a British-led grouping made up of Denmark, Estonia, Finland and Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden will meet for talks in London on Tuesday.

The leaders are expected to agree to more military exercises in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea and will discuss the war in Ukraine and energy security, Johnson's office said, Reuters reported.

"European security has been shaken by the attack of Russia on Ukraine, and alongside our partners, we will take action to ensure we emerge stronger and more united than before," Johnson said in a statement.

"Ensuring we are resilient to Putin's threats needs to go beyond our military footing - together alongside our North and Baltic Sea partners we must ensure we are insulated from Russia's interference and impact on our energy supplies, economy and values."

Britain has imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities, promised to phase out Russian oil imports and banned Russian companies from raising debt and equity in its financial center.



Zelenskiy Says 'Moscow will Burn' if Russian Strikes Continue

Ukrayna Devlet Başkanı Volodimir Zelenskiy (EPA)
Ukrayna Devlet Başkanı Volodimir Zelenskiy (EPA)
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Zelenskiy Says 'Moscow will Burn' if Russian Strikes Continue

Ukrayna Devlet Başkanı Volodimir Zelenskiy (EPA)
Ukrayna Devlet Başkanı Volodimir Zelenskiy (EPA)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday heavy drone attacks on Russia were retaliation for a strike that damaged a historic monastery in Kyiv this week, and that "Moscow will burn" if attacks continue.

Scores of drones targeted Moscow overnight, hitting the Russian capital's oil refinery for the second time this week.

"We don't want this war, we never did, and everyone knows it, and our partners know it," Zelenskiy said in a voice message sent to reporters on a WhatsApp group. "But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn."

At least 10 people were killed on Monday across Ukraine in a drone and missile attack that damaged the 1,000-year-old Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, Reuters reported.

Zelenskiy was due to attend a meeting of Ukraine's military allies in Brussels on Thursday. He said the supply of air defences to Ukraine through a NATO programme and the creation of an anti-ballistic missile system by Ukraine and its allies would be discussed at the meeting.

Zelenskiy called on Europe and the United states to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions on Russia's defence and energy sectors and broader economy to force President Vladimir Putin into ending the war.

"Everyone need to put pressure on Putin: Ukrainians, absolutely all the Europeans, Americans, and Russians - it's time to sober up and put pressure on their leader."


Gunfire at Airport in Niger's Capital

General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)
General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)
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Gunfire at Airport in Niger's Capital

General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)
General view of Niamey, the capital of Niger (Reuters)

Gunfire erupted early on Thursday at the airport in Niger's capital, Niamey, residents told AFP, five months after a terrorist attack at the facility.

Niger has been ruled for the past three years by a military junta that has struggled to contain violence blamed on terrorists.

In January, the Diori Hamani international airport in Niamey and a military drone base were targeted in an attack claimed by the ISIS in the Sahel (EIS).

Nigerien armed forces and their Russian allies repelled the strike, which was a rare development since violence had previously been contained to other parts of the vast Sahel country.

"I heard the first shots around 6 o'clock (0500 GMT). The shooting was coming from the airport entrance," a resident told AFP by telephone on Thursday.

He said firing was still ongoing two hours later.

Another resident confirmed the gunfire was coming from the airport entrance, where there is a security checkpoint.

A number of residents said a large military presence had been put in place at the airport.

Twenty assailants were killed and four soldiers wounded in the surprise assault on January 29, which caused damage, authorities said.

The head of the ruling junta, Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power in a coup in July 2023, said on state television "a flaw in the system" had "enabled the attack", whose aim, he said, "was to destroy all of the air capabilities" of the army.

In recent weeks, the authorities have started tearing down thousands of illegally built homes next to Niamey airport.

They alleged the shanty towns had been infiltrated by extremists.

The demolitions affected 26,000 people living in four neighborhoods that occupy nearly a quarter of the airport area, authorities said.

The airport perimeter fence has been extended and more than 350 security cameras installed inside and outside the perimeter.

Niger and its military-ruled allies in west Africa -- Burkina Faso and Mali -- have faced a decade of violence attributed to extremists.

They have moved away from former colonial power France and sought support from other partners.


Switzerland Says Talks Planned for Friday between Iran and US

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP
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Switzerland Says Talks Planned for Friday between Iran and US

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - JUNE 17: US President Donald Trump (C) is joined by (L-R) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as he speaks at a press conference during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP

Initial talks between the United States and Iran are planned at the Buergenstock mountaintop resort in Switzerland on Friday, following ‌the signing ‌of a ceasefire ‌agreement ⁠between Tehran and ⁠Washington, the Swiss government said on Thursday.

"As things stand, the plan is ⁠still for the ‌US ‌and Iran, along with ‌mediators Pakistan ‌and Qatar and other involved countries, to meet tomorrow at ‌Buergenstock for initial negotiations about implementing the ⁠agreement.

"No ⁠further information is currently available regarding the schedule and details of this meeting," the Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement.