Hungary ready to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks, foreign minister says
Hungary is ready to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Thursday, after reports that Budapest is the White House’s preferred venue for a possible summit with Presidents Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Reuters reported.
Szijjarto dismissed claims that Trump called Prime Minister Viktor Orban about Ukraine’s EU bid, insisting “there was no such call.” The White House confirmed the two leaders spoke Monday about Ukraine’s accession talks and the option of Budapest hosting negotiations.
Netherlands sending 300 troops, Patriot missile systems to Poland
Netherlands will send 300 troops and Patriot air defense systems to Poland to bolster NATO’s eastern flank and secure supply routes to Ukraine, Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said Wednesday. He stressed the forces will operate only in Poland, not Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported.
The announcement came after a suspected Russian drone struck eastern Poland, causing damage but no casualties. Warsaw called it a provocation.
Germany has also deployed Eurofighter jets and troops to Poland and Romania, with some jets responding to Russian air strikes near Ukraine this week, according to Al Jazeera.
Europe must shoulder ‘lion’s share’ of Ukraine’s security, Vance says
US Vice President JD Vance said European countries will have to shoulder the “lion’s share” of guaranteeing Ukraine’s security in the event of a deal to end Russia’s war in the country, arguing that the United States cannot “carry the burden” alone.
In an interview with Fox News, Vance stressed that Washington is open to supporting efforts to end the war but expects Europe to play the central role. He said President Donald Trump shares this view, making clear that no commitments will be made until negotiations show what is needed to stop the fighting.
Vance added that progress has been made, with Russians and Ukrainians now discussing practical steps to halt the war, though the final outcome remains uncertain, Fox News reported.
Xi Jinping makes rare visit to Tibet as 60 years of Chinese rule celebrated
President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to Lhasa to mark six decades of Beijing’s control over Tibet. He called for building a “modern socialist Tibet” and urged Tibetan Buddhism to align with socialist values, Al Jazeera reported.
China occupied Tibet in 1951 and established the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965, though many Tibetans maintain they were historically independent. The region remains highly restricted to outsiders.
Xi’s visit came as Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to India, underscoring Tibet’s strategic importance along the border and amid concerns over China’s major hydropower projects on the plateau, according to Al Jazeera.
