عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

France Says it Does Not Understand Why Trump Blames Ukraine for War

French politician Sophie Primas speaks at the National Assembly in Paris, France, November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo
French politician Sophie Primas speaks at the National Assembly in Paris, France, November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo
TT
TT

France Says it Does Not Understand Why Trump Blames Ukraine for War

French politician Sophie Primas speaks at the National Assembly in Paris, France, November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo
French politician Sophie Primas speaks at the National Assembly in Paris, France, November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo

France does not understand why US President Donald Trump has suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was to blame for Russia's invasion of his country and the resulting war, a French government spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"We don't understand the logic very well," spokesperson Sophie Primas told reporters, describing "the diverse, varied and often incomprehensible comments by President Trump".

She said Trump had made a number of comments on Ukraine over the past few days without consulting his European allies.

Trump, in comments to reporters on Tuesday, said: "You've been there for three years," referring to concerns that Ukraine had been excluded from talks between Russia and the United States. "You should've never started it. You could have made a deal."

Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War Two began in 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a "special military operation" in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to have an informal meeting on Ukraine with some European leaders and NATO ally Canada at 4 p.m. (1500 GMT), following a similar meeting with Britain, Italy, Germany, Spain, the EU, Denmark and the Netherlands on Monday.

Ahead of Wednesday's talks, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that, while there was not complete agreement in the European Union on how to move forward, countries had nevertheless managed to accomplish a lot within the EU framework. He said it was important for backers of Ukraine to do everything possible to put Kyiv in a strong position.

Sounding a note of caution, he added:

"Everyone seems to believe that Russia wants to negotiate peace. I don't feel sure at all on that point. So we need to keep a cool head and continue to support Ukraine."

Most Viewed

 
 
World

Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Faces Foreign Aid Shortfall of up to 50 billion Euros Next Year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. File Photo/The AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. File Photo/The AP
TT
TT

Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Faces Foreign Aid Shortfall of up to 50 billion Euros Next Year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. File Photo/The AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. File Photo/The AP

Ukraine is facing a foreign aid shortfall of 45-50 billion euros ($53-59 billion) in 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday, Reuters reported.

He added that if Kyiv did not receive a first tranche of a loan secured by Russian assets by next spring, it would have to significantly cut drone production.

Speaking in Brussels as EU leaders were set to take a decision on Moscow's seized sovereign wealth, Zelenskiy said this would mean that Ukraine would have far fewer drones than Russia, and would not be able to conduct long-range strikes on Russian energy facilities.

World

China Says Arms Trade With Cambodia, Thailand Unrelated to Border Conflict

Flags flutter at an entrance of Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone in Rayong province, east of Bangkok, Thailand, April 7, 2016. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom
Flags flutter at an entrance of Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone in Rayong province, east of Bangkok, Thailand, April 7, 2016. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom
TT
TT

China Says Arms Trade With Cambodia, Thailand Unrelated to Border Conflict

Flags flutter at an entrance of Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone in Rayong province, east of Bangkok, Thailand, April 7, 2016. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom
Flags flutter at an entrance of Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone in Rayong province, east of Bangkok, Thailand, April 7, 2016. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

China said on Thursday its arms trade with Thailand and Cambodia is unrelated to the current conflict between the Southeast Asian neighbours, with which Beijing has close ties.

"We hope relevant parties will refrain from making subjective speculation and malicious hype," the Chinese Defense Ministry said in response to reports that Thai troops seized Chinese-made weapons from Cambodian positions as border clashes between the two nations reignited, Reuters reported.

Beijing hopes the two countries can reach a ceasefire as soon as possible, the ministry said, adding that China will continue to advocate for peace and talks.

Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia resumed this month and have killed more than 40 people and displaced over half a million in both countries.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in separate calls with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts on Thursday, also called for an immediate ceasefire and criticised "false information" that he said was aimed at smearing China's ties with the two countries.

"As a friend and close neighbour of both Cambodia and Thailand, China least wants to see the two sides engage in armed conflict, and is deeply saddened by civilian casualties caused by the clashes," the Foreign Ministry quoted Wang as saying.

China will continue to play a constructive role in facilitating peace, Wang said, urging both countries to protect the safety of Chinese projects and personnel.

Beijing last week warned Chinese citizens to leave border areas after media reports of injuries.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday a special envoy for Asian affairs would be visiting Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday to conduct mediation.

World

UK Police Arrest Pro-Palestinian Protesters as Authorities Toughen Hate Speech Law Enforcement

Police officers carry a protester during a protest to support Palestine Action in London, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/ Joanna Chan)
Police officers carry a protester during a protest to support Palestine Action in London, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/ Joanna Chan)
TT
TT

UK Police Arrest Pro-Palestinian Protesters as Authorities Toughen Hate Speech Law Enforcement

Police officers carry a protester during a protest to support Palestine Action in London, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/ Joanna Chan)
Police officers carry a protester during a protest to support Palestine Action in London, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/ Joanna Chan)

Police in London arrested two people who called for “intifada” during a pro-Palestinian protest, which followed a decision by authorities to toughen enforcement of hate speech laws after a deadly attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia.

The arrests Wednesday came hours after police in London and Manchester, England, announced a crackdown on protesters using slogans such as “globalize the intifada.” The Arabic word intifada is generally translated as “uprising.”

While pro-Palestinian demonstrators say the slogan describes the worldwide protests against the war in Gaza, Jewish leaders say it inflames tensions and encourages attacks on Jews, including the attack that killed 15 people on Sunday at Bondi Beach in Sydney, The Associated Press said.

London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley and Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson said they decided to take a tougher stance after Bondi Beach and an Oct. 2 attack on a Manchester synagogue that left two people dead.

“We know communities are concerned about placards and chants such as `globalize the intifada,’ and those using it at future protest or in a targeted way should expect the Met and GMP to take action,” they said in a joint statement released Wednesday. “Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed — words have meaning and consequence.”

In the hours before Wednesday night’s demonstration in support of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group that was banned as a terrorist organization earlier this year, London police warned protesters to be aware of the earlier announcement.

Two protesters were arrested for “racially aggravated public order offenses” after they shouted slogans calling for intifada during the protest outside the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday night, the Metropolitan Police Service said on social media. A third person was arrested for trying to interfere with the initial arrests.

The term “intifada” is used to describe two major Palestinian uprisings against Israeli policy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the first beginning in 1987 and the second beginning in 2000. During the recent conflict in Gaza, the slogan “globalize the intifada” has been widely used by pro-Palestinian protesters around the world.

The debate over such language comes after antisemitic hate crime and online abuse soared in Britain following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the Israeli military campaign in Gaza that followed.

Around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage during the initial attack on Israel. More than 70,660 Palestinians have been killed during the ensuing Israeli campaign in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry.