Kremlin Says Biden Has Key to End Ukraine Conflict but Doesn’t Use it

A Ukrainian serviceman is seen at a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 26, 2023. (Reuters)
A Ukrainian serviceman is seen at a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 26, 2023. (Reuters)
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Kremlin Says Biden Has Key to End Ukraine Conflict but Doesn’t Use it

A Ukrainian serviceman is seen at a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 26, 2023. (Reuters)
A Ukrainian serviceman is seen at a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 26, 2023. (Reuters)

The Kremlin said on Friday that US President Joe Biden had the key to end the conflict in Ukraine by directing Kyiv, but that Washington had so far not been willing to use it.

"The key to the Kyiv regime is largely in the hands of Washington," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a daily briefing.

"Now we see that the current White House leader ... does not want to use this key. On the contrary, he chooses the path of further pumping weapons into Ukraine," he added.

Moscow has often accused Washington of giving orders to Ukraine and of prolonging the conflict by supplying Kyiv with weapons. The United States says Russia has unleashed a brutal war of choice and can end it by withdrawing its troops.

Tensions between the two sides have plumbed to historic lows over the past year, with the United States announcing this week that it would supply Ukraine with 31 advanced M1 Abrams tanks worth $400 million in a matter of months.

Russia says any Abrams shipments would be a waste of money as they would "burn" just like other tanks in Ukraine.



Israel Ultra-Orthodox Party Threatens Government over Draft Law

Israeli army vehicles transport a group of soldiers and journalists inside the southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP)
Israeli army vehicles transport a group of soldiers and journalists inside the southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP)
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Israel Ultra-Orthodox Party Threatens Government over Draft Law

Israeli army vehicles transport a group of soldiers and journalists inside the southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP)
Israeli army vehicles transport a group of soldiers and journalists inside the southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP)

Israel's ultra-Orthodox Shas party on Monday threatened to bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government by backing a motion for early elections amid a row over military service.

Netanyahu's coalition, one of the most right-wing in Israel's history, is at risk of collapsing over a bill that could reverse the long-standing exemption from the draft for ultra-Orthodox Jews.

The exemption is facing growing pushback as Israel wages war on the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.

Netanyahu is under pressure from within his Likud party to draft more ultra-Orthodox men and impose penalties on draft dodgers -- a red line for Shas.

The party is demanding legislation to permanently exempt its followers from military service and gave Netanyahu two days to find a solution.

"We don't want to bring down a right-wing government, but we've reached our limit," Shas spokesperson Asher Medina told public radio.

"If there's no last-minute solution (on conscription), we'll vote to dissolve the Knesset," he said, referring to the Israeli parliament.

Last week, a Shas source told AFP the party was threatening to quit the coalition unless a solution was reached by Monday.

The opposition is seeking to place a bill to dissolve parliament on Wednesday's plenary agenda, hoping to capitalize on the ultra-Orthodox revolt to topple the government.

Netanyahu's coalition, formed in December 2022, includes Likud, far-right factions and ultra-Orthodox parties. A walkout by the latter would end its majority.

A poll published in March by right-wing daily Israel Hayom found 85 percent of Israeli Jews support changing the conscription law for Haredim.

Forty-one percent backed compulsory military service -- currently 32 months for men -- for all eligible members of the community.