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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Monday that Ukrainian and US officials will meet this week to explore the possibility of peace talks with Russia.

Speaking alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Zelenskiy said he will consult with US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg on the discussions. He added that while a basic plan for security guarantees is shaping up, further work is needed before confirming whether Russia is willing to participate, Xinhua reported.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said he had begun arranging a potential meeting between Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed opposition to nuclear weapons and pledged to fast-track the Rasht-Astara railway during a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He highlighted multilateral platforms like the EAEU, SCO, and BRICS to strengthen cooperation.

Putin briefed Pezeshkian on his talks with US President Donald Trump, calling the outcome positive for resolving the Ukraine conflict. He noted growing bilateral trade, progress on joint projects including the Bushehr nuclear plant, and reaffirmed Russia’s support for Iran’s uranium enrichment rights, according to Xinhua.

Korean Air has finalized its largest-ever order, worth $50bn, for 103 Boeing aircraft and GE Aerospace engines and servicing. Announced during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Washington, the deal includes $36.2bn for Boeing’s 737 MAX 10, 777-9, and 787 jets, and $13.7bn for GE engines and long-term maintenance, Reuters reported.

CEO Cho Won-tae said about 80 percent of the new planes will replace older aircraft, while supporting expansion into US and Latin American markets. The order will also aid integration with Asiana Airlines, acquired last year. Boeing said the purchase will help Korean Air operate one of the world’s most efficient fleets. US officials praised the deal as a significant boost for aerospace exports and American manufacturing, according to Reuters.

Israeli forces have set up military positions in Rakhlah, a strategic village about 20 km southwest of Damascus, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. According to Xinhua, the posts, established on August 21, overlook three key roads linking the Syrian capital with Lebanon’s Baalbek and Beirut.

The monitor said this gives Israel a major strategic advantage, placing its forces within artillery range of vital highways considered essential supply routes for Hezbollah. It suggested the move is part of Israel’s broader plan to encircle the group.

Syrian authorities have not commented, while Israel’s presence near Damascus signals a sharp escalation, Xinhua reported.

China has urged the United States to stop undermining its cooperation with Latin America, dismissing Washington’s accusations of resource exploitation in the region, according to Xinhua.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that US remarks reflect a “Cold War mentality” and run counter to reality. He stressed that China’s partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean are based on mutual respect, equality, and shared benefit, contributing to local economic and social development.

Guo emphasized that the region is “no one’s backyard” and countries there have the right to choose their own partners. He called on Washington to end its interference and instead support Latin America’s development, Xinhua reported.

Chinese customs screened over 600m travelers and 300m vehicles in the past five years, detecting 180,000 infectious disease cases and intercepting 5.25m potential carriers, officials said Monday.

Deputy Director General Zhao Zenglian highlighted a robust “closed-loop” system linking border checks to home follow-ups.

The measures, refined after China’s zero-COVID policy, aim to prevent imported illnesses while supporting tourism and foreign investment, Reuters reported.

Cambodia’s parliament has passed a law allowing the government to revoke the citizenship of those convicted of treason or conspiring with foreign countries. Approved by the ruling CPP, the measure comes amid a crackdown on opposition figures following the 2017 dissolution of the Cambodian National Rescue Party, Reuters reported.

Over 100 opposition members have faced trials, many in absentia. Prominent exiles include former CNRP leaders Sam Rainsy and Mu Sochua. CPP President Hun Sen defended the law, citing the need to act against nationals “siding with foreign powers.”

German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Monday that Berlin will participate in providing security guarantees for Ukraine alongside European partners, emphasizing that any decisions must be led by Kyiv. Speaking in Ukraine’s capital during his first visit, Klingbeil stressed that strengthening the Ukrainian army and boosting domestic arms production are key to deterring Russian attacks, Reuters reported.

He noted that negotiations must begin with a ceasefire and cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to show willingness for serious peace talks. Klingbeil’s remarks come amid US calls for a quick resolution to the conflict, which Kyiv and its allies fear could favor Russian terms.