North Korea deployed approximately 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February, continuing its support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, according to South Korea’s latest assessment South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported on Thursday that North Korea has also been supplying Russia with missiles, artillery, and ammunition and may increase its weapons shipments depending on the evolving war. While Russia and Ukraine recently agreed to a limited ceasefire, both nations have accused each other of breaching it. Japan China and South Korea discuss trilateral cooperation The military supplies North Korea has sent to Russia include a substantial quantity of short-range ballistic missiles, 170mm self-propelled howitzers, and around 220 units of 240mm multiple rocket launchers. In total, North Korea has dispatched roughly 11,000 troops to take part in the conflict in Ukraine—its first large-scale military involvement since the Korean War (1950–53). The Joint Chiefs estimate that about 4,000 of those troops have either been killed or injured. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service had previously attributed the high casualty rate among North Korean forces to their struggle in adapting to drones and other modern warfare tactics. Additionally, their Russian commanders’ reliance on crude military strategies—such as sending North Korean troops into battle without adequate rear-fire support—has further contributed to their losses, according to a January briefing to lawmakers. Despite this, Ukrainian military and intelligence officials believe that North Korean troops are gaining vital battlefield experience and have played a crucial role in Russia’s strategy of overwhelming Ukrainian forces by deploying large numbers of soldiers, particularly in the battle for Kursk. This assessment from South Korea follows a recent meeting in Pyongyang between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian security official Sergei Shoigu, where Kim reaffirmed his unwavering support for Russia’s war effort. State media reports indicate that Kim and Shoigu also reaffirmed their commitment to a major mutual defence treaty signed last year. On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told Russian media that discussions were ongoing regarding a potential visit by Kim to Moscow, though no specific date had been set. “We always discuss the possibility of exchange visits with all our partners. We are constantly making preparations,” Rudenko told RIA Novosti. North Korea fires several ballistic missiles after the US and South Korea began military drills Kim Unveils New Military Drones Kim’s military assistance to Russia has raised concerns that North Korea may receive advanced Russian technology in return, potentially boosting the capabilities of its nuclear-armed forces. Experts suggest that aircraft and drones could be among the technologies North Korea seeks to acquire from Russia. On Thursday, North Korean state media reported that Kim had recently observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones, calling for their mass production. Over the past several months, Kim has increasingly emphasised drone development, and these tests mark the latest demonstration of North Korea’s advancing military capabilities. Photos published by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed Kim monitoring a large reconnaissance drone resembling the U.S.-made RQ-4B Global Hawk, first unveiled during a military exhibition in 2023. Other images depicted Kim inside what appeared to be an airborne early warning aircraft, similar in design to the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail. Additional photos showed explosive drones crashing into military vehicles, which were used as targets. KCNA stated that the reconnaissance drone successfully demonstrated its ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially enhancing North Korea’s intelligence-gathering and threat-neutralisation capabilities. The report also claimed that the newly developed explosive drones are designed for various attack missions and incorporate unspecified artificial intelligence technology. Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones' performance and approved an expansion of production, stressing that both drones and AI should be prioritised in modernising his armed forces, according to KCNA. The report stated that the tests were conducted during Kim’s visits to a drone technology facility and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. This follows previous demonstrations of explosive drones, which Kim inspected in August and November last year. When asked about the early warning aircraft unveiled by North Korean state media, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said the North likely modified an existing plane for this purpose, possibly incorporating Russian components. However, he noted that the aircraft’s operational effectiveness remains unproven. “As seen in the released images, the aircraft appears quite cumbersome, and we assess that it would likely be vulnerable to interception,” Lee said during a briefing, without providing further details.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's promise not to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure was "very much at odds with reality" following a series of drone strikes across the country overnight. Just before Zelenskyy spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, the Ukrainian leader expressed his anticipation to hear more about Trump's recent phone call with Putin regarding a potential limited ceasefire and discuss subsequent steps. Tens of thousands rally in Rome in support of Europe amid defense spending debate "Even last night, after Putin's conversation with Trump, when Putin claimed to have ordered a halt to strikes on Ukrainian energy, 150 drones were launched, including on energy facilities," Zelenskyy said during a press conference in Helsinki with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Russia responded by claiming it had stopped targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities and accused Kyiv of attacking equipment near one of its pipelines. “We unfortunately see that there is no reciprocity from the Kyiv regime,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Despite Putin’s refusal to agree to a full 30-day ceasefire in discussions with Trump, he pledged to immediately halt attacks on Ukraine’s power grid. The White House described the call between Trump and Putin as the first step toward a "movement to peace," with hopes for a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full end to the conflict. However, there was no sign that Putin had softened his stance on the conditions for peace, which are strongly opposed by Kyiv. The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, stated that Putin's demands during the call amounted to “Ukrainian capitulation.” “Putin is attempting to hold the temporary ceasefire proposal hostage to extract preemptive concessions before formal peace talks,” the Institute said in an analysis of the call. Stubb called the talks between Trump and Putin a positive development but emphasized that Russia needed to end its aggression. "There are only two ways to respond to the U.S. president's proposal: yes or no—no buts, no conditions," Stubb said. “Ukraine accepted a ceasefire without any conditions. If Russia refuses, we must increase our support for Ukraine and intensify pressure on Russia to return to the negotiating table.” White House national security adviser Mike Waltz stated on social media that he and his Russian counterpart, Yuri Ushakov, agreed on a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to focus on implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire secured by Trump. It was unclear who would attend the talks in Riyadh or if Ukrainian officials would be involved. Following the lengthy phone conversation between Trump and Putin on Tuesday, air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv, followed by explosions as residents sought shelter. Despite efforts to defend against the attack, several strikes hit civilian infrastructure, including two hospitals, a railway, and over 20 houses, according to Zelenskyy. Russian drones were reported over Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy regions. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its military launched seven drones at power facilities in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region, but these were shot down after receiving Putin’s order to avoid targeting energy infrastructure. Moscow accused Ukraine of targeting its energy facility in the Krasnodar region, bordering the Crimean Peninsula, hours after the Putin-Trump talks. The ministry said three drones targeted oil transfer equipment, causing a fire and loss of pressure in one oil tank. "It is clear that this is another provocation fabricated by Kyiv to sabotage President Trump’s peace initiatives," the ministry stated. Russia and Ukraine trade overnight aerial attacks after Putin sets out conditions for ceasefire Russia also claimed its air defences intercepted 57 Ukrainian drones over the Azov Sea and various Russian regions, including Kursk, Bryansk, Oryol, and Tula. Zelenskyy stated that "words of a ceasefire" were not enough. "If the Russians don’t hit our facilities, we certainly won’t hit theirs," he said. Zelenskyy rejected Putin’s key condition that Western nations halt military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine. He argued that such an action would endanger lives by leaving citizens unaware of incoming airstrikes and prolong the war. “I don’t think anyone should make concessions in helping Ukraine; instead, aid to Ukraine should be increased,” Zelenskyy said. “This would signal that Ukraine is ready for any surprises from Russia.” Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, called Putin’s rejection of the ceasefire unsurprising, noting that it was unwise for Putin to express it directly to President Trump, who has made ending the war a top priority. “What we now have is a rivalry between Kyiv and Moscow to persuade Trump that the other side is preventing him from achieving his goal of ending the war,” Gould-Davies said. Zelenskyy noted that one of the most challenging issues in future negotiations would be territorial concessions. "For us, the red line is recognizing the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian," he said. “We will not agree to that.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged global leaders to maintain pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to support a ceasefire in Ukraine. US resumes military aid as Ukraine signals ceasefire possibility Speaking on Saturday at the opening of a virtual meeting of what he calls the “coalition of the willing,” Starmer stated that Putin will “sooner or later” have to “come to the table.” Ukraine says it is open to a 30-day ceasefire; US resumes military aid and intelligence sharing The discussion is set to explore ways countries can provide military and financial assistance to Ukraine while also assessing support for any potential future peacekeeping mission.

Former President Donald Trump acknowledged on Friday that his claim of resolving the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours was meant to be “a little bit sarcastic.” During an interview for the television program Full Measure, Trump was questioned about the pledge he had repeatedly made during his campaign. At the time, he insisted he could broker peace between Russia and Ukraine even before taking office. “Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that," Trump explained in a preview clip ahead of the episode’s airing on Sunday. “What I really mean is that I want to see it settled, and I think I’ll be successful.” US resumes military aid as Ukraine signals ceasefire possibility This marks a rare acknowledgment from Trump, who is known for making bold claims. During a CNN town hall in May 2023, Trump had stated, “They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I’ll have that done — I’ll have that done in 24 hours.” Similarly, in a September debate with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, he declared, “That is a war that’s dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president. If I win, when I’m president-elect, I’ll speak to one, I’ll speak to the other, and I’ll bring them together.” Trump frequently repeated this assertion while campaigning. Meanwhile, his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow this week for discussions on a U.S.-proposed ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted. When asked in the interview how he would proceed if Russian President Vladimir Putin refused a ceasefire, Trump responded- “That would be bad news for the world because so many people are dying. But I think, I think he’s going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well, and I think he’s going to agree.”  

On Monday, President Donald Trump ordered a temporary suspension of US military assistance to Ukraine, aiming to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into negotiations to bring the war with Russia to a close, reports AP. This decision follows a tense Oval Office meeting last week, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticised Zelenskyy for what they saw as a lack of appreciation for the more than $180 billion in military aid the US has provided since Russia’s invasion three years ago. A White House official stated that Trump’s priority is securing a peace agreement and that he expects Zelenskyy to be fully committed to this objective. The official further explained that aid was being “paused and reviewed” to ensure it serves a constructive purpose. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official confirmed that this measure will remain in place until Trump determines Ukraine has demonstrated a firm commitment to peace talks with Russia. This suspension of military support echoes Trump’s earlier move five years ago when he withheld congressionally approved aid to Ukraine while attempting to pressure Zelenskyy into opening an investigation into then-presidential candidate Joe Biden—an episode that led to Trump’s first impeachment. How Zelensky’s outfit choice may have sparked Oval Office dispute During his 2024 campaign, Trump promised to bring the war in Ukraine to a swift resolution, at times even claiming he could accomplish this within a day. He has increasingly expressed frustration with Zelenskyy’s handling of the war while maintaining his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has long admired, can be relied upon to uphold a truce if one is reached. Earlier on Monday, Trump rebuked Zelenskyy for suggesting that the war’s end remains “very, very far away.” Zelenskyy had made the remark while trying to frame the US-Ukraine relationship in a positive light following last week’s White House meeting. “This is the worst possible statement from Zelenskyy, and America won’t tolerate it much longer!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform in response to Zelenskyy’s Sunday night comments to reporters. Later in the day, during a White House event, Trump referenced Zelenskyy’s remarks, warning that the Ukrainian leader “better not be right about that.” Zelenskyy later took to social media to clarify his stance. While he did not directly address Trump’s criticism, he emphasised the importance of pursuing meaningful diplomacy to bring the war to an end as soon as possible. “We need real peace, and no one wants it more than Ukrainians because the war is devastating our cities and towns,” Zelenskyy stated. “We are losing our people. We must stop this war and ensure security.” Last week’s discussions between Trump administration officials and Ukrainian representatives were expected to finalise an agreement allowing the US access to Ukraine’s critical mineral resources as partial repayment for the extensive military aid provided since the war began. The White House had promoted the agreement as a long-term effort to strengthen US-Ukraine relations. Ukrainians back Zelenskyy as defender after Oval incident During an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News Monday evening, Vice President Vance criticised European allies for failing to push Zelenskyy toward a resolution. “Too many of our European friends encourage him,” Vance said. “They tell him he’s a freedom fighter, that he should keep fighting indefinitely. But fight indefinitely with what? With whose money, whose weapons, and whose lives?” Democrats strongly condemned Trump’s decision to halt aid, calling it reckless and dangerous. Representative Brendan Boyle, a Pennsylvania Democrat and co-chair of the Congressional EU Caucus, described the move as “reckless, indefensible, and a direct threat to our national security.” Since the war’s outset, the Biden administration had provided over $66.5 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, with approximately $3.85 billion in approved funding still available for additional weapons shipments. This remaining sum had not been affected by the broader foreign aid freeze imposed by Trump upon taking office. “This aid was passed by Congress with bipartisan support—both Republicans and Democrats understood that standing with Ukraine means standing for democracy and against Putin’s aggression,” Boyle said in a statement. “Yet Trump, who has repeatedly praised Putin and undermined our allies, is now using critical military support as a political bargaining chip.” Representative Dan Goldman, a Democrat who previously served as counsel in Trump’s first impeachment inquiry, characterised the aid suspension as “another extortion” of Zelenskyy. “This is the opposite of peace through strength,” Goldman stated. “Instead, it’s yet another attempt to strong-arm Zelenskyy by unlawfully withholding aid to force him into a minerals deal.” Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said Zelenskyy’s stance during last Friday’s Oval Office talks raised doubts about whether the US could continue working with him. “The key question is: Is he personally and politically ready to guide his country toward ending the conflict?” Waltz said Monday on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom. “And is he willing to make the necessary compromises?” Concerns over the future of US-Ukraine relations have been compounded by remarks from prominent Trump allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Lindsey Graham, suggesting that the relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy is increasingly untenable. Angela Stent, a former national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia, noted that Putin is unlikely to rush into peace talks while divisions between Trump and Zelenskyy, as well as between the US and Europe, persist. “Putin believes Russia is winning,” said Stent, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “And he thinks that over time, divisions in the West will only deepen.” Despite the aid suspension, Trump indicated on Monday that he still sees potential in the economic agreement with Ukraine, describing it as “a great deal.” He added that he intends to discuss the matter further during his Tuesday address to Congress. Meanwhile, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said he spoke with Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, on Monday about resuming talks on the minerals deal. Key Republican senators had also expressed optimism about restoring US-Ukraine relations before the aid suspension was announced. “We need to bring down the tension,” said Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, “and work toward an agreement that benefits both the US economy and the Ukrainian people.” Senator Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican and Trump ally, said he believes both Trump and Zelenskyy can “move forward.” “Finalising the minerals deal is the first step,” Mullin said. “After that, Zelenskyy has to be realistic about what a peace agreement looks like.”

The top diplomats from Russia and the U.S. met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to begin talks on improving ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat down with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh. The meeting marks another pivotal step by the Trump administration to reverse U.S. policy on isolating Russia and is meant to pave the way for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. US, Ukrainian officials head to Saudi Arabia as talks loom on ending Russia's war Trump earlier this month upended U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia by saying he and Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the war. Ukrainian officials aren’t taking part in the meeting, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that his country won’t accept the outcome if Kyiv doesn’t take part. Rubio was accompanied by national security adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, while Lavrov sat next to Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and national security adviser Musaed al Alban joined for the start of the meeting but were expected to leave early in the talks. Ushakov said the talks would be “purely bilateral” and would not include Ukrainian officials. The talks mark a significant expansion of U.S.-Russian contacts nearly three years into a war that has seen ties fall to the lowest level in decades. US defense chief suggests Ukraine should abandon hope of winning all territory back from Russia Lavrov and then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked briefly on the sidelines of a G-20 meeting in India nearly two years ago, and in the fall of 2022, U.S. and Russian spymasters met in Turkey amid Washington’s concerns that Moscow could resort to nuclear weapons amid battlefield setbacks. The recent U.S. diplomatic blitz on the war has sent Kyiv and key allies scrambling to ensure a seat at the table amid concerns that Washington and Moscow could press ahead with a deal that won’t be favorable to them. France called an emergency meeting of European Union countries and the U.K. on Monday to decide how to respond. Ahead of the talks, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund who the Kremlin said might join the meeting, underscored the importance of the meeting in comments to The Associated Press. “Good U.S.-Russia relations are very important for the whole world. Only jointly can Russia and the U.S. address lots of world problems, resolve for global conflicts and offer solutions,” Dmitriev, who said he and his team would focus on economic issues at the talks, told AP. The Saudi-owned satellite channel Al Arabiya, citing the Russian delegation, described Moscow’s priority as “real normalization with Washington.” Diriyah Palace sits across the street from Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. It’s also just next to the Ritz Carlton hotel, which became famous in 2017 after de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman detained other princes and the country’s elite there as part of what the royal court called a crackdown on corruption, that also sidelined any potential challenge to his taking control of the kingdom. Russia releases imprisoned American Marc Fogel in what US calls a step toward the end of Ukraine war Hosting the talks is a major step toward a goal Prince Mohammed has pursued throughout the war — putting the kingdom in the middle of diplomatic negotiations. It has helped in prisoner negotiations and hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for an Arab League summit in the kingdom in 2023. Zelenskyy will likely travel to Saudi Arabia later this week. For Prince Mohammed, once described as a “pariah” by former President Joe Biden over the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, hosting such talks burnish the otherwise-tarnished image the West has for him. Ahead of the summit, the Saudi daily newspaper Okaz described the moment as the “world’s eye on Riyadh.” Writing in the London-based but Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al Awsat, journalist Mishari al-Dhaidi described the summit as “a major step on the international political chess arena, revealing the status of Saudi Arabia and its positive influence for the benefit of the people all the people,” he wrote. the neighboring United Arab Emirates, the prince also has maintained close relations to Russia throughout its war on Ukraine, both through the OPEC+ oil cartel and diplomatically as well. Hosting the summit also balances the harsh criticism recently levied by the kingdom’s tightly controlled media at President Donald Trump over his repeated comments that he wants the U.S. to “own” the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by the Israeli military offensive there since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The Palestinians want Gaza and the West Bank for a future state, something backed by the wider Arab world and nearly all of the international community.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot pledged his support for Ukraine’s plan for ending the 2 1/2-year war with Russia, telling reporters in Kyiv on Saturday that he will work with Ukrainian officials to secure other nations’ backing for the proposal. Unveiled by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week, Kyiv’s so-called “victory plan” hopes to compel Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine through negotiations. The proposal is being considered by Ukraine’s Western partners, whose help is vital for Kyiv to resist its bigger neighbor. A key element would be a formal invitation into NATO, which Western backers have been reluctant to consider until after the war ends. “A Russian victory would be a consecration for the law of the strongest and would push the international order toward chaos,” Barrot said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha. “That is why our exchanges should allow us to make progress on President Zelenskyy’s victory plan and rally the greatest number possible of countries around it.” Barrot also said that France would deliver the first batch of Mirage 2000 combat jets to Ukraine in the first three months of 2025, with Ukrainian pilots and mechanics also trained to fly and maintain them. Since the 2022 invasion, France has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest military, diplomatic and economic supporters in Europe. It is currently training and equipping what will become a full new brigade of Ukrainian soldiers for front-line deployment. “By resisting against the invader with exceptional courage, you are not only fighting for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but you are also holding a front line that separates Europe from Vladimir Putin’s Russia, that separates freedom from oppression,” the French minister said in Kyiv. Russia and Ukraine exchange POWsBarrot’s visit coincided with a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine late Friday night that included 190 POWs traded by the two sides under a deal negotiated by the United Arab Emirates. Among the 95 Ukrainians were 34 Azov fighters who defended Mariupol and the Azovstal steelworks, the fortress-like plant in the now-occupied city of Mariupol where their last-ditch stand became a symbol of resistance against Moscow’s invasion. “Ninety-five of our people are home again. These are the warriors who defended Mariupol and ‘Azovstal,’ as well as the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Kherson regions,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X. The head of the Azov regiment, Denys Prokopenko, said on Facebook that 34 Azov fighters had been returned, but that another 900 remained in Russian captivity. A well-known Ukrainian human rights activist and service member, Maksym Butkevych, was also among the 95 exchanged. His release was announced by the ZMINA Human Rights Center, the organization that he co-founded. The swap follows the repatriation of 501 dead soldiers to Ukraine Friday in what appeared to be the biggest repatriation of war dead since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Most of the soldiers were killed in action in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, mostly around the city of Avdiivka that Russian forces captured in February after a long and grueling battle, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement. Russia also received the bodies of 89 of its soldiers, Russian lawmaker Shamsayil Saraliyev told reporters. Elsewhere, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that it shot down 16 Ukrainian drones over Russia’s Bryansk, Rostov, and Belgorod regions in the early hours of Saturday morning. Local social media channels shared images that appeared to show a blaze at a factory in the Bryansk region specializing in microelectronics. Russian authorities did not confirm the strike.

Germany and Bangladesh have agreed it is best to end the Russia-Ukraine war and the attack on Gaza. The consensus came when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference 2024 on Saturday (February 17, 2024). "A detailed discussion was held between the Bangladesh Prime Minister and the German Chancellor about ending wars, particularly the Russia-Ukraine war and attack on Gaza," Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said, while briefing media regarding the outcome of the meeting between the two leaders. The meeting between the two leaders was held at Hotel Bayerischer Hof, the conference venue, here, this afternoon. Both the leaders, Bangladesh Premier and the Chancellor of Germany, agreed that none will be benefited through war. At meeting with Zelenskyy PM Hasina calls for ending Russia-Ukraine war Quoting the German Chancellor, Dr Hasan Mahmud said, "The only process of establishing peace is to stop war." The prime minister called upon the German Chancellor to make investment in various sectors of Bangladesh including the IT sector as Germany is advanced in high technology industries.  Mentioning that Bangladesh is establishing 100 economic zones across the country, Sheikh Hasina said,"Germany can invest in Bangladesh." The Prime Minister invited the German Chancellor to visit Bangladesh and he accepted the invitation. Sheikh Hasina recalled the contribution of Germany in rebuilding independent Bangladesh after the Liberation War. The two leaders also discussed exporting more Bangladeshi products to Germany as it is the highest exporting country from Bangladesh to the EU. Bangladesh and India need to increase use of their currencies to boost trade: PM Hasina tells Jaishankar They also talked about sending skilled Bangladeshi manpower to Germany as the country is welcoming skilled labour from around the globe. During the bilateral meeting held after a long time in a very warm environment, Olaf Scholz again congratulated Sheikh Hasina  on her reelection as Bangladesh prime minister for the fifth term and fourth in a row. Earlier in the morning, Germany Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development called on the Bangladesh PM at the Conference venue here. During the meeting, she offered Germany a dedicated place for investment in economic zones being set up across the country. Senior Secretary of Foreign Affairs Masud Bin Momen and Ambassador to Germany Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, were present, among others. Sheikh Hasina arrived in Germany to attend three-day MSC 2024 on February 15 evening.  Read more: PM Hasina meets German Chancellor in Munich, discusses bilateral issues

Vice-President of the European Parliament Nicola Beer has met Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suite in Brussels recently. During the meeting, both sides underscored the urgency to end conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Also read: PM Hasina highlights AL’s struggles to restore democracy in Bangladesh during discussion with European Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen The Prime Minister stated Bangladesh’s position against wars anywhere in the world, highlighting that women and children suffer the most in wars and conflicts. The European Parliament’s Vice-President underscored closer cooperation between the European Parliament and Bangladesh Parliament, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday (October 26, 2023). Also read: Bangladesh can support EU’s efforts to diversify production of pharmaceuticals, vaccines: PM tells EIB President Both sides also discussed women’s empowerment, particularly in politics, education and workforce.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (September 13, 2023) told the parliament that the Bangladesh’s food security remains protected even amid the ongoing international crisis.  “Bangladesh has successfully faced Covid-19 pandemic. The food security remains protected in the country amid the current international crisis as well,” she said. The premier made the remarks while replying to a question from Awami League lawmaker Md Shahiduzzaman Sarkar (Naogaon-2). Earlier, Speaker  Shirin Sharmin Chaudhry presented the question-answer session at the beginning of the day’s business. Despite move to rein in price hike, food inflation rose to 12.54 percent in August: BBS The PM said Bangladesh has already attained food autarky. “The government has been working intensively to maintain our (food) self-sufficiency,” she said. She said the crisis has been created in the global supply chain of different commodities including foods following the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. “In this situation, the government has regularly been taking various steps on national and international levels to ensure food security by facing this crisis,” said Hasina. She said Bangladesh has successfully attained the food autarky thanks to agricultural research, extension, continuous materials support and policy support in the agriculture sector. “Bangladesh has now become a role model on the global stage in case of food security,” she said. Dhaka finds Russian agri commodities competitive on price, but payment issues linger She said the country’s food grains production was 328.96 lakh metric tons in 2008-09 fiscal year, which went up to 477.68 lakh metric tons in 2022-23 fiscal year. Efforts to continue for recognition of 1971 genocide: PM In reply another question from Awami League lawmaker Anwer Hossain Khan (Laxmipur-1), the prime minister said many countries demanded the recognition of genocide committed in their respective countries as International Genocide Day.   Later, the United Nations General Assembly on September 11, 2015 adopted a resolution through discussion to observe December 9 as the International Day for the Prevention of Genocide. “Since December 9 has been observed as the International Day for the Prevention of Genocide, the proposal to observe another International Day on the same issue would not be rational,” she said. She, however, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the Liberation War Museum and some members of the martyrs' families are making efforts to achieve international recognition of the genocide taken place in Bangladesh in 1971. The leader of the House said individuals and organizations working on the genocide are also working to attain the recognition of the genocide. She said international recognition of the 1971 genocide taken place in Bangladesh is as complex and time-consuming as any other genocide in the world. However, it would be easy to get international recognition of genocide by creating the global public opinion in favor of recognizing the genocide committed in Bangladesh. “Efforts will continue on the part of the government in this regard,” she said. Onion prices cross Tk 100 per kg in Dhaka after India imposes extra duty 854km highways made four-lane, 1,131 bridges constructed since 2009: PM Some 854 kilometers of highways have been upgraded to four-lane ones, while 11,434 kilometers of highways have been developed and construction of 1,131 bridges (123,254 meters) has been completed through 431 projects under the Department of Roads And Highways during the three terms of the present government from 2009 to 2023, said the Prime Minister replying to a question of Jatiya Party lawmaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Thakurgaon-3). In the current financial year, she said the works are underway to upgrade some 574km of highways to 4-lane ones, develop 4,634km of highway and construct 750 bridges (64,844 meters) under 131 projects. Sheikh Hasina said the highway development projects completed during her three consecutive tenures from 2009 to June 2023 includes Up-gradation of Dhaka-Chattogram National Highway to 4-lane (Daudkandi-Chattogram Section) project, Joydebpur-Mymensingh Highway Development Project, Joydevpur-Chandra-Tangail-Elenga Highway Project with service lanes on both sides; Jatrabari Intersection-Mawa section of Dhaka- Khulna (N-8) Highway (including Ekuria-Babubazar link road). Read more: Despite move to rein in price hike, food inflation rose to 12.54 percent in August: BBS Among the bridges constructed in the three terms of the government were 2nd Kanchpur Bridge, Meghna Bridge, Gomti Bridge,  Payra Bridge (Lebukhali Setu) over Payra River on Barisal-Patuakhali highway and  Madhumati Bridge constructed over Madhumati River under Cross-Border Road Network Improvement Project (Bangladesh), she added. Proposed investment in economic zones rose to US$ 26 billion: Answering a question from AL lawmaker Md. Mamunur Rashid Kiron (Noakhali-3), the Leader of the House said that the overall proposed investment in the economic zone has now reached USD 26 billion. Besides, 41 companies have started commercial production and 50 industries are under construction in different zones, she said, adding that these industries have produced products worth USD 14.8 billion and exported products worth USD 291 million, creating 50,000 jobs in these industries. Read more: Half of Boro paddy procurement target not achieved yet, Food Minister tells JS