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UN Security Council Adopts Neutral US Stance on War in Ukraine

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 24: Members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council listen as Ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea, chargé d’affaires ad interim of the United States, speaks during a meeting on Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters on February 24, 2025 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/AFP
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 24: Members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council listen as Ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea, chargé d’affaires ad interim of the United States, speaks during a meeting on Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters on February 24, 2025 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/AFP
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UN Security Council Adopts Neutral US Stance on War in Ukraine

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 24: Members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council listen as Ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea, chargé d’affaires ad interim of the United States, speaks during a meeting on Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters on February 24, 2025 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/AFP
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 24: Members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council listen as Ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea, chargé d’affaires ad interim of the United States, speaks during a meeting on Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters on February 24, 2025 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/AFP

The United Nations Security Council on Monday adopted a US-drafted resolution on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that takes a neutral position on the conflict as US President Donald Trump seeks to broker an end to the war.
The short resolution reflects Trump's upending of US policy on Ukraine after taking office last month and his more conciliatory stance towards Russia, Reuters reported. In contrast, former president Joe Biden's administration led efforts at the United Nations to support Ukraine throughout the war.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia acknowledged "constructive changes" in the US position on the conflict. He told the council the resolution was "not an ideal one," but "a starting point for future efforts towards peaceful settlement."
The 15-member UN Security Council had been deadlocked throughout the war and unable to take any action because Russia holds a veto.
But the 193-member General Assembly has repeatedly supported Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in line with the UN Charter.
The US failed earlier on Monday to convince the General Assembly to pass the same three-paragraph resolution adopted by the Security Council.
The resolution mourns the loss of life in the "Russia-Ukraine conflict", reiterates the UN's purpose is to maintain international peace and security and peacefully settle disputes, and urges a swift end to the conflict and a lasting peace.
Security Council resolutions are considered binding, while General Assembly resolutions are not. However, General Assembly resolutions carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the war.
The Security Council adopted the US resolution with 10 votes in favor, while France, Britain, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia abstained. Russia voted in favor after failing to amend it and vetoing European bids to add language supporting Ukraine.
"This resolution puts us on the path to peace. It is a first step, but a crucial one – one of which we should all be proud," acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the council. "Now we must use it to build a peaceful future for Ukraine, Russia and the international community."

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World

US Strikes Iran after Attacks on Ships in Strait of Hormuz

Smoke rises at an unknown location following what US Central Command says is a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday in this still image taken from video released July 7, 2026. US Central Command/Handout via REUTERS
Smoke rises at an unknown location following what US Central Command says is a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday in this still image taken from video released July 7, 2026. US Central Command/Handout via REUTERS
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US Strikes Iran after Attacks on Ships in Strait of Hormuz

Smoke rises at an unknown location following what US Central Command says is a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday in this still image taken from video released July 7, 2026. US Central Command/Handout via REUTERS
Smoke rises at an unknown location following what US Central Command says is a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday in this still image taken from video released July 7, 2026. US Central Command/Handout via REUTERS

The US military attacked Iran early Wednesday after it said Tehran struck three ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The attacks on shipping and the resulting strikes came during the dayslong funeral for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed Feb. 28 in the war’s first moments at age 86.

The funeral, which ends Thursday, had been thought to be a period of lower tensions — though mourners have repeatedly called for the killings of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Negotiations to reach a final deal had been due to start after Khamenei’s burial and focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. But the new attacks threw that into question.

The US military’s Central Command said American forces launched the strikes “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.”

It said it hit Iranian targets including air defense systems, radars and over 60 small boats used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Those boats have been key in harassing ships in the strait.

The US military remains “postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed,” it added, saying this round of attacks had ended.

Iran acknowledged the strikes, but offered no word on any losses. Iranian state media reported the sound of explosions in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm and Sirik.

World

Trump Berates NATO, Praises Erdogan as Summit Starts

US President Donald Trump walks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a formal arrival at the Bestepe Presidential Compound at the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump walks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a formal arrival at the Bestepe Presidential Compound at the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Reuters)
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Trump Berates NATO, Praises Erdogan as Summit Starts

US President Donald Trump walks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a formal arrival at the Bestepe Presidential Compound at the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump walks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a formal arrival at the Bestepe Presidential Compound at the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump praised his "chemistry" with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he arrived in Ankara for a NATO summit Tuesday, while hitting out at European allies for their response to his war in Iran.

Trump was greeted personally by Erdogan on the tarmac as he descended from Air Force One, before being escorted through the empty streets of the Turkish capital by a guard of riders on white horses.

The summit comes at a fraught time for the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance, as Trump has lashed out at allies and Washington steps back from Europe.

"I was very disappointed with NATO," Trump said, sitting next to Erdogan at the Turkish leader's vast presidential palace.

"Frankly, if it (the summit) weren't held in Türkiye, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader, a very strong person, it's possible that I wouldn't have attended."

NATO officials are hoping Trump's strong relationship with the Turkish leader could help smooth over the bad blood caused by the Iran war.

"It's a chemistry that works between us," Trump said.

In a potentially major boost for Erdogan, Trump said Washington would consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, after booting it out of the program in 2019 over Ankara's purchase of a Russian system.

Türkiye has long sought to resolve the question of its readmittance to the F35 program and the lifting of US sanctions that have soured ties and hampered Turkish defense projects -- and has looked to Trump's visit to break the deadlock.

"Mr. Trump has also personally given us his word on this matter," Erdogan said through a translator.

- 'Testing' -

European leaders are aiming to avoid a bust-up with the mercurial US leader that could deal a further blow to NATO's credibility, after Trump repeatedly cast doubt on Washington's commitment to protecting its allies.

But ahead their main session on Wednesday, the US president was clearly still smarting over the restrictions some allies placed on US forces using bases at the start of the Iran conflict.

"I was testing to see whether or not they'd be there, because I've long said that we helped them," he said.

"Italy turned us down, and Germany turned us down, and France turned us down."

Trump also risked reopening another old wound with NATO when he reiterated his stance that Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark".

In a bid to prove to Trump that they are making good on a pledge last year to ramp up defense spending, NATO allies unveiled tens of billions in arms deals ahead of his arrival.

NATO chief Mark Rutte has insisted European countries are "delivering" by bolstering military budgets and moving to take more responsibility for the defense of their continent in the face of Russia.

"These are billions that are invested in our security, boosting our economies and supporting hundreds of thousands of new jobs," Rutte said at a glitzy industry forum.

- Zelensky makes pitch -

While NATO wanted to focus Trump's attention on its surging defense budgets, the stalled US efforts to try to halt the war in Ukraine also rose back up the agenda.

Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the NATO gathering and is expected to meet Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky on the summit sidelines on Wednesday.

"I think they both want to make a deal," Trump said.

"It's too bad it took so long, but I think something's going to come out."

Zelensky for his part urged NATO to step up help for the country's air defenses as it struggles with shortages of crucial interceptors to shoot down Russian missiles.

"Please let more determination and more decisions for air defense be one of the key outcomes of this NATO summit," he said.

The Ukrainian leader also made a new pitch for Kyiv to become a member of the alliance, despite Trump previously shutting the door.

"Do you really believe it would be right to live outside NATO, a country and a people with this level of defensive capability?" Zelensky said.

"Ukraine in NATO is a source of extraordinary defensive capability."

World

Trump Calls Italy’s Meloni a ‘Nice Person’ but Blames Her for Not Helping with Iran

President Donald Trump greets Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. (AP)
President Donald Trump greets Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. (AP)
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Trump Calls Italy’s Meloni a ‘Nice Person’ but Blames Her for Not Helping with Iran

President Donald Trump greets Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. (AP)
President Donald Trump greets Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. (AP)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a "nice person" but criticized her for failing to help in the conflict with Iran, his latest remarks in a diplomatic dispute that is straining bilateral ties.

Meloni was once seen as a close ally of Trump, but the relationship faltered last month when he told Italian TV channel La7 that she had "begged" him to take a photo with her at a G7 summit in France.

She denied the claim and accused him of fabricating the story.

She had criticized ‌him this year ‌for lashing out at Pope Leo over his condemnation of ‌the ⁠Iran war. That, ⁠in turn, prompted a blunt rebuke from the US president, who denounced her for refusing to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said his relationship with Meloni "became a little bad because she refused to help us" with Iran.

"She refused to get involved so it soured my relationship with her a little bit. But I like her. I think she's a nice person, actually. But I think she made a mistake," Trump told reporters in Türkiye where ⁠he was attending a NATO summit.

In March, Italy denied permission ‌for US military aircraft to land at the Sigonella ‌air base in Sicily before heading to the Middle East because Washington had not sought ‌prior authorization from the government in Rome.

The US leader had been asked about a ‌picture he posted on Truth Social at the weekend, showing Meloni looking up at him with the caption "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED", a move that reignited the dispute with the Italian prime minister ahead of the NATO gathering in Ankara they will both attend.

SAY HELLO 'WITH A SMILE'

During the conflict with Iran, ‌Trump lashed out at other European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz who also criticized the war.

Yet, Trump's reprimand was a painful ⁠blow for Meloni, ⁠who had initially tried to forge a close relationship with him leveraging their shared right-wing political outlook. She was the only European leader to attend his inauguration in 2025.

The Italian government chose not to respond to the latest attack on Truth Social, with ministers pledging to avoid fueling tensions that could harm bilateral ties.

"Trump speaks for himself. We have a US president who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We have decided to stop responding to these remarks," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told La Stampa newspaper on Tuesday.

Meloni's office declined to comment on how she would behave when meeting Trump in Ankara.

A source close to her, who declined to be named, ruled out the possibility that she would snub Trump, saying she knew how to handle such situations and could instead greet him "with a smile".