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New Diplomacy on the Horizon: U.S. and Russia Push Ahead Without Ukraine

  In a bold shift from previous diplomatic efforts, top U.S. and Russian officials have agreed to advance negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine—even as Ukrainian representatives remain notably absent. High-level talks held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussing the framework for future peace negotiations and steps toward restoring bilateral relations. The Trump administration’s approach, which prioritizes direct engagement with Moscow, marks a departure from longstanding principles that insisted on “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” Critics in Kyiv have voiced strong opposition. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that any agreement reached without Ukraine’s participation would be unacceptable and would undermine the nation’s sovereignty. European leaders echoed these concerns, with several officials labeling the move as a dangerous precedent that could lead to a “dirty deal...

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners Amid Chaotic Hostage Handover

 

In a dramatic turn of events, Israel has delayed the scheduled release of 110 Palestinian prisoners following chaotic scenes during the handover of Israeli hostages by Hamas. The decision came after three Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals were released as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the chaotic conditions under which the hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross. He described the scenes as "shocking" and "horrific," and announced that the release of Palestinian prisoners would be postponed until the safe exit of all Israeli hostages is guaranteed.

The hostages, including 20-year-old Agam Berger, 29-year-old Arbel Yehoud, and 80-year-old Gadi Moses, were surrounded by large crowds of Hamas fighters and onlookers during the handover. Netanyahu's office branded the 110 Palestinian prisoners set to be freed as "terrorists" and emphasized that their release would be delayed until the safety of the remaining hostages could be ensured.

The ceasefire agreement, which went into effect on January 19, has seen the release of 15 hostages so far, with a total of 33 Israeli hostages expected to be freed over several weeks. Talks are ongoing in Egypt to extend the ceasefire, initially set to last six weeks.

The delay in the release of Palestinian prisoners has added another layer of complexity to the already fragile ceasefire agreement. As displaced Palestinians return to their homes in Gaza, many find their neighborhoods reduced to rubble, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

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