Egypt's Sisi, Zelensky Again Discuss Ukraine Crisis

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaks during a joint statement with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades after a trilateral summit between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, in Athens, Greece, October 19, 2021. (Reuters)
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaks during a joint statement with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades after a trilateral summit between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, in Athens, Greece, October 19, 2021. (Reuters)
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Egypt's Sisi, Zelensky Again Discuss Ukraine Crisis

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaks during a joint statement with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades after a trilateral summit between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, in Athens, Greece, October 19, 2021. (Reuters)
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaks during a joint statement with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades after a trilateral summit between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, in Athens, Greece, October 19, 2021. (Reuters)

For the second time in a week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a telephone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the developments of the Ukrainian crisis.

“The Ukrainian president reviewed the latest developments in this context, especially with regard to the course of negotiations,” Sisi’s office said.

He emphasized the importance of addressing all means that can lead to calm and a peaceful solution to the conflict. He stressed Egypt's keenness to exert all efforts to that end, whether at the bilateral, regional or international levels.

In March, Egypt had joined 140 other nations in voting in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution calling on Russia to end the fighting and withdraw its military forces from Ukraine.

The vote included five against, while 35 countries abstained.

Egypt said it voted in favor of the resolution in line with its respect for international law and the UN Charter.

However, Cairo said the resolution should not avoid looking into the main reasons behind this crisis, rejecting to the principle of imposing economic sanctions outside the international multilateral system and warning of the economic and social repercussions of this crisis.

Egypt also undelrined the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomatic solutions, as well as efforts that would speed up reaching a political settlement to the crisis in a manner that preserves international security and stability, and ensures that the situation does not escalate or deteriorate.

Less than a week ago, Sisi received a phone call from Zelensky, who briefed him on the latest developments in Ukraine.

Sisi expressed his appreciation for Ukrainian measures to facilitate the exit of Egyptians from Ukraine and to ensure their safety and security.



Palestinian President Urges Hamas to Hand over its Arms

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas waves while walking on the day he holds a leadership meeting in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 23,2025. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas waves while walking on the day he holds a leadership meeting in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 23,2025. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman
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Palestinian President Urges Hamas to Hand over its Arms

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas waves while walking on the day he holds a leadership meeting in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 23,2025. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas waves while walking on the day he holds a leadership meeting in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 23,2025. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Hamas on Wednesday to cede responsibility for the Gaza Strip, hand over its arms to the Palestinian Authority and turn itself into a political party.
Hamas has refused calls in recent months by Israel and the United States to lay down its arms.
Abbas made his remarks in a speech during a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah at which he is expected to name a successor, part of efforts to answer international doubts over the Palestinian Authority's viability at a critical moment for the region.
"Hamas must hand over (its) Gaza responsibilities and hand over its arms to Palestinian Authority and transform into a political party," Reuters quoted Abbas as saying.
Abbas has criticized the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which he said gave Israel a pretext to destroy Gaza. Israel launched its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack.
Hamas, which opposes Abbas' efforts at peacemaking with Israel, has accused him of cracking down against militant factions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It did not immediately comment on Abbas's new remarks.
Abbas urged world leaders to compel Israel to end the war in Gaza, pull put its forces and end the activities of Jewish settlements, adding that there can be no peace until the Palestinians establish a state in the borders that were in place before the 1967 Middle East war.