Shoukry, Lavrov Meet in Moscow, Discuss Cooperation, Int’l Developments

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry shake hands during a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, January 31, 2023. (Reuters)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry shake hands during a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, January 31, 2023. (Reuters)
TT
20

Shoukry, Lavrov Meet in Moscow, Discuss Cooperation, Int’l Developments

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry shake hands during a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, January 31, 2023. (Reuters)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry shake hands during a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, January 31, 2023. (Reuters)

Egypt and Russia stressed on Tuesday the importance of developing bilateral relations between their countries at all levels.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Moscow for talks on regional and international issues, notably the Ukrainian crisis.

At a joint press conference, Shoukry said the talks focused on the common goal of developing Egyptian-Russian relations for the best interests of their people and achieving economic growth.

He said their discussions tackled regional and international affairs, including the developments in the Palestinian territories, Libya and Syria.

For his part, Lavrov said: “Views were exchanged on regional and international issues, and an emphasis was placed on the need to continue close cooperation at the United Nations and other international arenas.”

On Ukraine, he stated that the Russian army had taken all necessary measures to prevent the West from achieving their plans in Ukraine.

He added that Moscow was open to serious proposals for a full and comprehensive settlement to the conflict.

Moreover, he revealed that Shoukry delivered to him a message from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the issue, stressing that Russia was currently assessing Egypt’s “balanced” approach to the war in Ukraine.

The message, he revealed, urged Russia to “stop its actions in Ukraine in order for negotiations to succeed.”

Shoukry stressed that Egypt, along with the whole international community, are keen on seeing an end to the war in Ukraine.

Egypt has been exerting political and diplomatic efforts to help end the conflict in a way that meets the interests of all parties, added the FM.

Blinken had met with Shoukry on Monday during a visit to Cairo.

On regional developments, Shoukry said Cairo was coordinating with Moscow to advance the settlement in the Palestinian territories and work towards implementing the two-state solution.



France Says it Obtains Palestinian Reform Pledge ahead of Conference

France's President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks during the presentation of the European Ocean Pact during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which gathers leaders, researchers and activists to discuss how to protect marine life, in Nice, France, June 9, 2025. Laurent Cipriani/Pool via REUTERS/ File Photo
France's President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks during the presentation of the European Ocean Pact during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which gathers leaders, researchers and activists to discuss how to protect marine life, in Nice, France, June 9, 2025. Laurent Cipriani/Pool via REUTERS/ File Photo
TT
20

France Says it Obtains Palestinian Reform Pledge ahead of Conference

France's President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks during the presentation of the European Ocean Pact during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which gathers leaders, researchers and activists to discuss how to protect marine life, in Nice, France, June 9, 2025. Laurent Cipriani/Pool via REUTERS/ File Photo
France's President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks during the presentation of the European Ocean Pact during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which gathers leaders, researchers and activists to discuss how to protect marine life, in Nice, France, June 9, 2025. Laurent Cipriani/Pool via REUTERS/ File Photo

France said on Tuesday it had obtained new commitments from the Palestinian Authority to reform, ahead of a conference next week at which Paris could become the most prominent Western power to back recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

President Emmanuel Macron has received a letter from Mahmoud Abbas in which the Palestinian president condemns the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack against Israel, calls on all hostages to be released and pledges further reforms, the Elysee said, Reuters reported.

Abbas, 89, has headed the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority since the death of veteran leader Yasser Arafat in 2004.

The letter to Macron, who is working on organizing an international conference with Saudi Arabia to discuss recognition of Palestine, contains "unprecedented" pledges, Macron's office said, without elaborating.

"Hamas will no longer rule Gaza and must hand over its weapons and military capabilities to the Palestinian Security Forces, which will oversee their removal outside the Occupied Palestinian territory, with Arab and international support," the French leader's office quoted Abbas as having written in the letter.

Israel has said it will not accept any role for the PA in Gaza after the war and has denounced countries that consider recognizing Palestinian independence, which it says would reward Hamas for its attacks.

French officials have said Macron is leaning towards recognizing a Palestinian state ahead of the UN conference which France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting from June 17-20.