The European Union’s foreign policy chief weighed in on the reports about negotiations between Russia and Ukraine as the war moves toward its ninth month. The bloc’s top diplomat said it is up to Ukraine to decide when to start negotiations with Russia.
Speaking to reporters Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the decision on when to enter negotiations with Russia lies with Ukraine. Borrell’s comments come amidst speculations that the West may urge Kyiv to start talks with Moscow.
“Ukraine will decide what to do. Our duty is to support them,” said Borrell when he arrived at the foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels.
On the same day, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also echoed Borrell’s comments, saying that it is up to Ukraine to decide the terms that are acceptable for negotiations to end the war. Stoltenberg also warned against underestimating Russia even as Ukrainian forces have successfully advanced in key territories.
“We should not make the mistake of underestimating Russia. The Russian armed forces retain significant capabilities, as well as a large number of troops,” Stoltenberg told reporters in a joint news conference with officials from the Dutch government at The Hague.
“The coming months will be difficult. Putin’s aim is to leave Ukraine cold and dark this winter. So we must stay the course,” said Stoltenberg, citing that Ukraine is paying the price when it comes to casualties and damaged infrastructure and that it was up to Kyiv to decide when to negotiate.
During a session of the G20 Summit Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the way for the global economy to recover is to end the war.
A draft declaration by the G20 countries from the summit showed that most of the countries present condemned the war in Ukraine, stressing that it was worsening the flaws in the global economy. The G20 countries also expressed concern about the impact the war has on global food security while calling for central bank independence to make sure they continue their efforts in addressing rising inflation.
The draft declaration has yet to be adopted by the G20 countries.


Bosnian Serb Presidential Rerun Confirms Victory for Dodik Ally Amid Allegations of Irregularities
Taiwan Says Moving 40% of Semiconductor Production to the U.S. Is Impossible
Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters
Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party Wins Thai Election, Signals Shift Toward Political Stability
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday
Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges
Ghislaine Maxwell to Invoke Fifth Amendment at House Oversight Committee Deposition
Israel Approves West Bank Measures Expanding Settler Land Access
Sydney Braces for Pro-Palestine Protests During Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s Visit
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Secures Historic Election Win, Shaking Markets and Regional Politics
Nicaragua Ends Visa-Free Entry for Cubans, Disrupting Key Migration Route to the U.S.
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal
Trump Congratulates Japan’s First Female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi After Historic Election Victory
China Overturns Death Sentence of Canadian Robert Schellenberg, Signaling Thaw in Canada-China Relations
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Iran Nuclear Talks Intensify 



