Ukraine, US to hold talks in Switzerland on Trump’s plan to end war

Ukrainian and US officials will soon meet in Switzerland to discuss Washington’s plan for ending the war with Russia, Kyiv said Saturday, as it seeks to fix the draft that heeds to some of Moscow’s hardline demands.US President Donald Trump gave Ukraine less than a week to approve the 28-point plan to end the nearly four-year conflict, which would see the invaded country cede territory, cut its army, and pledge to never join NATO. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s European allies, who were not included in drafting the agreement, said the plan requires “additional work” as they scrambled at the G20 summit in South Africa to come up with a counter-offer to beef up Kyiv’s positions. “In the coming days, consultations will take place with partners regarding the steps needed to end the war,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said, after he issued a decree stating Ukraine’s team for the talks, which will be led by his top aide, Andriy Yermak.”Our representatives know how to defend Ukraine’s national interests and what is necessary to prevent Russia from launching a third invasion,” Zelensky added. Security officials from France, Britain and Germany will also join the talks on Sunday morning in Geneva, sources at the G20 summit said. Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s security council secretary who’s also on board for the talks, earlier also indicated Switzerland as a location for the deliberations. “This is another stage of the dialogue that has been ongoing in recent days and is primarily aimed at aligning our vision for the next steps,” added Umerov, formerly a defence minister. He previously led a few rounds of negotiations with Russia in Turkey, which only yielded prisoner exchanges and bodies repatriations. Zelensky’s decree also said the negotiations will include “representatives of the Russian Federation.” There was no immediate confirmation from Russia whether it would join the talks. – More work needed -The unilateral US plan to end the war in Ukraine “is a basis which will require additional work”, Western leaders gathered in South Africa for a G20 summit said Saturday.”We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force. We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack,” the leaders of key European countries as well as Canada and Japan said in a joint statement.France’s Emmanuel Macron earlier sent a sombre message to the gathering, saying “the G20 may be coming to the end of a cycle,” adding that the grouping was struggling to resolve major crises around the world, referring to the unilateral US plan for resolving the Ukraine war. Britain, Germany and France emerged as key Ukraine backers, providing it with crucial military and financial support, especially after the US sponsorship waned after Trump’s return to office.- Difficult choice -Zelensky said Friday in an address to the nation that Ukraine faces one of the most challenging moments in its history, adding that he would propose alternatives to Trump’s proposal.”The pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner,” Zelensky said in his address, referring to a possible break with Washington.Russian President Vladimir Putin said the blueprint could “lay the foundation” for a final peace settlement, but threatened more land seizures if Ukraine walked away from negotiations.Better equipped and larger in numbers, the Russian army is slowly but steadily gaining ground across the lengthy front line.Ukrainians are meanwhile facing one of the toughest winters since the war began, after Moscow carried out a brutal bombing campaign against energy infrastructure. This comes as a sweeping corruption probe that unveiled graft in the energy sector was unravelling in Kyiv, sparking public outcry.    

G20 threatened by geopolitical fractures, leaders warn

The G20’s role in fixing economic crises is threatened by geopolitical fractures, leaders warned Saturday at a summit in South Africa boycotted by the United States.European leaders attending the G20 summit — the first held in Africa — huddled on its sidelines to push back at a unilateral plan by US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war in Ukraine on terms favouring Russia.In a joint statement issued with Canada and Japan, they said Trump’s plan needs “additional work” and some of its points required “the consent of EU and NATO members”.Speaking at the opening of the summit, one of the statement’s signatories, French President Emmanuel Macron said: “We are struggling to resolve major crises together around this table.”He warned that, given fissures in international cooperation, “the G20 may be coming to the end of a cycle”.”There’s no doubt, the road ahead is tough,” agreed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer — who also signed the statement — adding: “We need to find ways to play a constructive role again today in the face of the world challenges.”Chinese Premier Li Qiang said “unilateralism and protectionism are rampant” and “many people are pondering what exactly is happening to global solidarity”.But the summit’s host, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, downplayed Trump’s absence and argued the G20 remained key for international cooperation.”The G20 underscores the value of the relevance of multilateralism. It recognises that the challenges that we face can only be resolved through cooperation, collaboration and partnership,” Ramaphosa said.The G20 comprises 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union, and accounts for 85 percent of the world’s GDP and two-thirds of its population.- ‘Just’ peace in Ukraine -The Johannesburg summit was undermined by the American boycott, and China’s Li stood in for an absent President Xi Jinping, while Russia sent a Kremlin official, Maxim Oreshkin, instead of President Vladimir Putin, who is wanted under an International Criminal Court warrant. The leaders present adopted a G20 summit declaration early in their meeting that covered climate, energy, debt sustainability and a critical-minerals pact — along with a joint call for a “just” peace in Ukraine,  the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and the “Occupied Palestinian Territory”.Argentina’s Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno — standing in for absent President Javier Milei, a Trump ally — objected to “how certain geopolitical issues are framed in the document”, specifically the Israel-Palestinian conflict. But Ramaphosa said that did not block the declaration’s adoption by the participants, who also included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.As soon as the opening ceremony was over, Starmer, Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rushed into a meeting to discuss Trump’s plan for Ukraine, and were soon joined by other leaders from Europe, Australia, Canada and Japan, an EU official said.After the meeting all of them, except Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, issued a statement calling the US plan a “draft” with some “important elements” but that it “will require additional work”.”Borders must not be changed by force,” they said, adding they were “also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack”.European Council President Antonio Costa said on X the leaders of all 27 EU nations would hold a follow-up meeting on Monday, on the sidelines of a European Union-African Union summit in Angola. Several sources at the G20 summit, speaking on condition of anonymity, said security officials from Britain, France and Germany would meet US counterparts on Sunday in Switzerland, where US-Ukraine talks were to be held.Trump has said he wants Kyiv to accept his 28-point proposals — which involve ceding territory to Russia and cutting the size of Ukraine’s military — by Thursday.- Next G20 summit in US -While the United States skipped the Johannesburg summit because it said it viewed its priorities — including on trade and on climate — as running counter to its policies, it still intended to take up the G20 baton for the next gathering.Trump plans to stage that summit in 2026 at a Florida golf club he owns.Washington has said it will send the US charge d’affaires from its embassy in South Africa only for the handover ceremony on Sunday.

G20 threatened by geopolitical fractures, leaders warnSat, 22 Nov 2025 15:23:35 GMT

The G20’s role in fixing economic crises is threatened by geopolitical fractures, leaders warned Saturday at a summit in South Africa boycotted by the United States.European leaders attending the G20 summit — the first held in Africa — huddled on its sidelines to push back at a unilateral plan by US President Donald Trump aimed …

G20 threatened by geopolitical fractures, leaders warnSat, 22 Nov 2025 15:23:35 GMT Read More »

G20 threatened by geopolitical fractures, leaders warn

The G20’s role in fixing economic crises is threatened by geopolitical fractures, leaders warned Saturday at a summit in South Africa boycotted by the United States.European leaders attending the G20 summit — the first held in Africa — huddled on its sidelines to push back at a unilateral plan by US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war in Ukraine on terms favouring Russia.In a joint statement issued with Canada and Japan, they said Trump’s plan needs “additional work” and some of its points required “the consent of EU and NATO members”.Speaking at the opening of the summit, one of the statement’s signatories, French President Emmanuel Macron said: “We are struggling to resolve major crises together around this table.”He warned that, given fissures in international cooperation, “the G20 may be coming to the end of a cycle”.”There’s no doubt, the road ahead is tough,” agreed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer — who also signed the statement — adding: “We need to find ways to play a constructive role again today in the face of the world challenges.”Chinese Premier Li Qiang said “unilateralism and protectionism are rampant” and “many people are pondering what exactly is happening to global solidarity”.But the summit’s host, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, downplayed Trump’s absence and argued the G20 remained key for international cooperation.”The G20 underscores the value of the relevance of multilateralism. It recognises that the challenges that we face can only be resolved through cooperation, collaboration and partnership,” Ramaphosa said.The G20 comprises 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union, and accounts for 85 percent of the world’s GDP and two-thirds of its population.- ‘Just’ peace in Ukraine -The Johannesburg summit was undermined by the American boycott, and China’s Li stood in for an absent President Xi Jinping, while Russia sent a Kremlin official, Maxim Oreshkin, instead of President Vladimir Putin, who is wanted under an International Criminal Court warrant. The leaders present adopted a G20 summit declaration early in their meeting that covered climate, energy, debt sustainability and a critical-minerals pact — along with a joint call for a “just” peace in Ukraine,  the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and the “Occupied Palestinian Territory”.Argentina’s Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno — standing in for absent President Javier Milei, a Trump ally — objected to “how certain geopolitical issues are framed in the document”, specifically the Israel-Palestinian conflict. But Ramaphosa said that did not block the declaration’s adoption by the participants, who also included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.As soon as the opening ceremony was over, Starmer, Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rushed into a meeting to discuss Trump’s plan for Ukraine, and were soon joined by other leaders from Europe, Australia, Canada and Japan, an EU official said.After the meeting all of them, except Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, issued a statement calling the US plan a “draft” with some “important elements” but that it “will require additional work”.”Borders must not be changed by force,” they said, adding they were “also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack”.European Council President Antonio Costa said on X the leaders of all 27 EU nations would hold a follow-up meeting on Monday, on the sidelines of a European Union-African Union summit in Angola. Several sources at the G20 summit, speaking on condition of anonymity, said security officials from Britain, France and Germany would meet US counterparts on Sunday in Switzerland, where US-Ukraine talks were to be held.Trump has said he wants Kyiv to accept his 28-point proposals — which involve ceding territory to Russia and cutting the size of Ukraine’s military — by Thursday.- Next G20 summit in US -While the United States skipped the Johannesburg summit because it said it viewed its priorities — including on trade and on climate — as running counter to its policies, it still intended to take up the G20 baton for the next gathering.Trump plans to stage that summit in 2026 at a Florida golf club he owns.Washington has said it will send the US charge d’affaires from its embassy in South Africa only for the handover ceremony on Sunday.

Aftershocks rock Bangladesh as quake death toll rises to 10

Two minor tremors hit Bangladesh on Saturday, a day after a powerful earthquake struck outside the capital Dhaka and killed at least 10 people.A 3.3-magnitude jolt was recorded in Narshingdi district, east of Dhaka, in the morning, followed by a 4.3-magnitude quake that struck the capital around 6:00 pm (1200 GMT), according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.Dhaka resident Tasnuba Sharmin Sharna, 32, said her children started screaming as the furniture in their apartment began shaking.”We are praying to God for mercy,” Sharna told AFP.Friday’s deadly earthquake was felt in Dhaka and neighbouring districts, causing widespread destruction.Updating earlier tolls from the 5.5-magnitude quake, disaster management official Ishtiaqe Ahmed told AFP that “the number of casualties has reached 10, while a few hundreds were injured”.There were no immediate reports of casualties on Saturday, but the aftershocks — which are common after major earthquakes — have added to fears of an even greater disaster.”I don’t feel safe yet, as there was another jolt this morning… Maybe we are next,” said Shahnaj Parvin, 44, who lives near the epicentre of Friday’s earthquake and told AFP she had never experienced such a tremor.Cracks have developed in dozens of houses in her area, she said.”I was hanging my children’s clothes on the washing line when the tremor struck,” added Parvin.”I held onto a mahogany tree, and when I returned home, I found my glassware broken.”The government has activated Bangladesh’s emergency operation centre to assess the scale of the damage and to coordinate relief and rescue operations.Rubayet Kabir of the Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation and Research Center said Bangladesh’s geography makes the country of 170 million people prone to quakes.”That’s why we experience earthquakes quite frequently, though they are not as strong as the one” on Friday, he told AFP.”Some small tremors are expected after any major earthquake,” Kabir said.”There has been no massive earthquake in the last 100 years or more, but Bangladesh has been vulnerable for quite some time.”

L’Ukraine va entamer des “consultations” en Suisse avec les Américains sur un “futur accord de paix” avec Moscou

L’Ukraine va mener prochainement des pourparlers en Suisse avec les Etats-Unis pour discuter du plan de Donald Trump pour mettre fin à la guerre avec la Russie, a annoncé samedi un haut responsable ukrainien.”Dans les prochains jours, nous lancerons en Suisse des consultations entre de hauts responsables ukrainiens et américains sur les paramètres possibles d’un …

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L’élue de la droite américaine Greene démissionne du Congrès après sa rupture avec Trump

La parlementaire américaine Marjorie Taylor Greene, figure de la droite radicale et qui fut un soutien indéfectible de Donald Trump, a annoncé vendredi soir sa démission de la Chambre des représentants, après la rupture du président avec celle qui a dénoncé sa gestion du scandale sexuel Epstein.Une décision aussitôt qualifiée de “bonne nouvelle” par Donald …

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Après dix mois d’errance, des réfugiés à Tulkarem attendent de rentrer chez eux

Plusieurs mois après avoir été forcé de quitter un camp de réfugiés de Tulkarem, en Cisjordanie occupée, le Palestinien Hakam Irhil ignore s’il pourra un jour y retourner, une opération militaire lancée en janvier par l’armée israélienne étant toujours en cours.Hakam Irhil, 41 ans, affirme que sa maison a été démolie pendant l’opération “Iron Wall” …

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Le budget rejeté à la quasi-unanimité mais le gouvernement croit encore à un accord

Un compromis est-il encore possible sur le budget de l’Etat après son rejet à la quasi-unanimité par l’Assemblée nationale ? Le gouvernement répond par l’affirmative samedi tandis que des options alternatives pour assurer la continuité des finances publiques en l’absence d’accord sont de plus en plus évoquées.Fait inédit dans la Ve République, la quasi-totalité de l’Assemblée s’est opposée dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi au projet de budget de l’Etat, un vote sans surprise mais qui augure mal de son adoption avant la fin de l’année.S’il a fustigé sur les réseaux sociaux la “stratégie destructrice” du RN et de LFI, le ministre de l’Economie Roland Lescure s’est pourtant dit convaincu “qu’un compromis peut se construire”.Un avis partagé par la ministre des Comptes publics Amélie de Montchalin qui assure qu’elle ne cédera pas “à la résignation” et que “des consensus peuvent aboutir”.Après 125 heures de débats parfois houleux sur la fiscalité du patrimoine, ou celle des grandes entreprises, 404 députés ont rejeté la partie “recettes” du texte (un pour, 84 abstentions), emportant ainsi l’ensemble du projet de loi, sans même étudier la partie “dépenses”.Les groupes de gauche et le RN ont voté contre, ceux du camp gouvernemental se sont divisés entre votes contre et abstentions. Seul à voter pour, le député du groupe centriste Liot Harold Huwart (Eure-et-Loir).L’Assemblée avait déjà rejeté en 2024 le budget de l’État, de manière inédite sous la Ve République. Mais c’est une première qu’il le soit avec une telle ampleur.Le camp gouvernemental a largement invoqué les mesures fiscales votées par les oppositions – “des horreurs économiques”, selon Paul Midy (Renaissance) – pour justifier son absence de soutien au texte de l’exécutif. Le Premier ministre Sébastien Lecornu a lui pointé vendredi des “coups tactiques des extrêmes qui rendent la copie insincère”.Le PS, qui a accepté de ne pas censurer le Premier ministre en échange de la suspension de la réforme des retraites et d’un abandon du 49.3, espérait que les débats permettent d’arracher une mesure de justice fiscale, “taxe Zucman” ou succédané.Des propositions repoussées. Et la taxe sur les holdings proposée par le gouvernement a même été édulcorée à l’initiative de la droite. Les socialistes avaient aussi arraché le vote d’un Impôt sur la fortune improductive, à l’écriture bancale.- “Le compte n’y est pas” -Les députés ont en outre adopté une hausse de deux milliards d’euros de la surtaxe sur les bénéfices des grandes entreprises, un doublement de la taxe sur les géants du numérique, ou encore le plafonnement de certaines niches fiscales.Mais “le compte n’y est pas”, a lancé Boris Vallaud (PS), estimant les “recettes” insuffisantes pour “effacer” des économies irritantes sur les politiques publiques. Le PS continuera toutefois à “chercher le compromis”, a promis le socialiste, dont l’attitude a été fustigée sur X par le leader de LFI Jean-Luc Mélenchon. “Incohérents et bordélisateurs, même la macronie et les socialistes n’ont pas défendu leur œuvre”, a-t-il écrit, appelant à “en finir avec une présidence de faillites”. Pour sa part, Marine Le Pen a estimé sur le même réseau social que le vote des députés “ne peut avoir qu’une conclusion : la démission du gouvernement et la dissolution afin que le peuple se choisisse une majorité d’alternance”.Le budget va désormais être examiné par le Sénat, qui devrait en débattre dans l’hémicycle dès jeudi, en repartant du projet initial du gouvernement.Son adoption par le Parlement apparaît désormais comme une gageure, en termes de délai – avant la fin de l’année -, comme en termes de majorité pour le voter. Le rapporteur général du budget Philippe Juvin (LR) suggère au gouvernement de recourir finalement à l’article 49.3 de la Constitution, pour faire passer un budget avant le 31 décembre. Le pari étant qu’il serait plus facile pour le PS de ne pas censurer le gouvernement que de voter pour un budget de compromis, traditionnel marqueur de l’appartenance à une majorité.Le gouvernement peut aussi faire adopter une “loi spéciale”, sorte de reconduction du budget 2025 qui permettrait de percevoir les impôts existants, avant de reprendre les débats parlementaires en début d’année.C’est l’hypothèse la “plus probable”, a estimé samedi matin sur France 2 Eric Coquerel, président de la commission des finances de l’Assemblée nationale.Un scénario également privilégié par plusieurs cadres du camp gouvernemental, mais Sébastien Lecornu a estimé encore vendredi que ce n’était “pas la solution”.Le gouvernement écarte aussi a priori l’hypothèse des ordonnances, ces textes qui permettent à l’exécutif d’imposer des mesures sans passer par le Parlement. Elles n’ont jamais été utilisées pour un projet de budget depuis le début de la Ve République.sl-are-sac-hr/arz/swi