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CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, DC, next week, according to three sources familiar with the planning. Asked Wednesday whether Harris will meet with Zelensky next week, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby suggested she might if the opportunity presented itself. “I know she has met with President Zelensky face-to-face on a couple of occasions, and I know she’s spoken to him on the phone. Earlier Wednesday, former President Donald Trump said he’ll “probably” meet with Zelensky when he travels to the US next week. Trump spoke on the phone with Zelensky in July, but a meeting between the two leaders would mark their first in-person interaction since Trump left the White House.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Volodymyr Zelensky, Harris, Zelensky, John Kirby, “, ” Kirby, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, he’ll “, Trump Organizations: CNN, National Security, United, United Arab Emirates, White, Zelensky Locations: Washington ,, Russia, Ukraine, United Arab, Sudan

☆ Washington and Seoul discussing new deal on cost sharing for US troops in South Korea ahead of a potential Trump election victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The negotiations over the Special Measures Agreement, known as the SMA, strained the US-South Korea alliance during the Trump administration. Former President Donald Trump demanded Seoul pay up to 400% more for the presence of the 28,500 US troops in the country during negotiations over the current agreement. Under the current agreement, South Korea pays about $1 billion annually, representing an increase of about 13.9% over previous SMAs. Earlier this year, Trump said that he did not think the South Korea is paying enough based on the last agreement. One complication is that a deal will have to be approved by South Korea’s national assembly — which is dominated by the opposition party to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Persons: —, Trump, Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un’s, Joe Biden, ” Trump, Yoon Suk, “, ”, David Maxwell Organizations: CNN, Seoul, South, State Department, ROK, South Korean Ministry of Foreign, Biden, Defense Department, Biden Administration, US, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Trump Locations: Washington, Seoul, South Korea, North Korea, Korea

☆ Blinken heads to Egypt but not Israel with prospects for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal bleak
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

This is the first time since the October 7 attacks that Blinken has visited the Middle East without visiting Israel. The top US diplomat typically uses the visits to Israel to press the Israeli government on the critical issues surrounding the war, including the hostage and ceasefire deal. However, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frequently rebuffed the administration in the hours and days following those meetings. The last time Blinken visited Israel, he said that Netanyahu had agreed to the “bridging proposal” meant to close to close the remaining gaps with Hamas. Blinken said earlier this month that “it’s incumbent on both parties” – Israel and Hamas – “to get to yes” on the “remaining issues” related to a ceasefire and hostage deal.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Badr Abdelatty, Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, ” Thomas, ”, Bill Burns, – Netanyahu, ” –, – “, Sinwar, Hassan Nasrallah, Biden, we’ll, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, Israel, State Department, Egyptian Foreign, United Nations, Hamas, Biden, Egyptian, Qatari, Security Locations: Egypt, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Qatar, Washington, ” – Israel, Lebanese

☆ Biden administration expected to unveil new evidence of RT’s key role in Russian intelligence operations globally
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Biden administration is expected on Friday to announce a major effort to blunt the global influence of RT and expose what it says is the Russian state media network’s key role in the Kremlin’s global intelligence and influence operations, according to a senior administration official and three other sources familiar with the matter. A key finding from the new US intelligence is that, for more than a year, the Russian government has quietly embedded an intelligence-gathering unit within RT that is focused on influence operations globally, one of the sources familiar said. That activity has been part of US officials described as a big expansion of RT’s role as an arm and mouthpiece of the Kremlin abroad. The activity goes beyond propaganda and covert influence operations to even include military procurement, the source said. The US believes RT propaganda and disinformation has been key to generating pro-Russia reactions to the Ukraine war globally, the senior administration official said.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, “, –, RT, Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, State Department, Kremlin, of Justice, UN, Assembly, US Department of Justice, US, European Union, Saharan Africa RT, Huawei Locations: Russian, Russia, America, Ukraine

CNN —Pressure is building on President Joe Biden, including from within his own party, to loosen the restrictions on Ukraine’s use of US-provided weapons to strike deep inside Russia. On Tuesday, the bipartisan congressional Ukraine caucus called on Biden to allow Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia with the long-range weapons. A group of key House Republican also urged Biden to ease the restrictions in a letter on Monday. On Tuesday, asked if the US will lift the restrictions, Biden answered, “we’re working that out right now.”Two US officials later told CNN that the Biden administration is not anticipating any policy changes when it comes to lifting restrictions. Asked about Trump’s comments, Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, also downplayed them.

Persons: Joe Biden, Democratic Sen, Jeanne Shaheen, Biden, Ben Cardin, Vladimir Putin’s, ”, Cardin, Antony Blinken, Volodymyr Zelensky, David Lammy, Leon Neal, Zelensky, Blinken, “, we’ll, ” Blinken, Andrii Sybiha, it’s, We’ve, Putin, Donald Trump, we’re Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Wednesday, Biden Administration, Ukrainian Armed Forces, New Hampshire Democrat, Foreign Relations, Committee, Armed Services Committee, Republicans, ” Democratic, Maryland Democrat, British, Getty, Kyiv Wednesday, Ukrainian, Biden, Republican, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, ”, U.S, United States, Maryland, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Eastern Poland, Iranian, Iran, Washington, American, United States of America

☆ Russian ship suspected of delivering Iranian ballistic missiles seen at Caspian Sea port
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Tim Lister | Gianluca Mezzofiore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A Russian cargo ship suspected of carrying Iranian ballistic missiles for Moscow’s war against Ukraine was seen at a Russian port on the Caspian Sea a week ago, satellite imagery shared with CNN shows. The ship had previously been in the Iranian port of Amirabad on August 29, according to ship tracking data. Period.”The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires, Shahriar Amouzegar, this week following the reports of ballistic missiles being sent to Russia. By September 6, it had left the Russian port for another voyage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has frequently appealed to Kyiv’s allies for greater latitude in using Western missiles against targets inside Russia.

Persons: “, ”, Antony Blinken, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Shahriar, Amouzegar, Blinken, Sergei Shoigu, Ababil, ” Blinken, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Keir Starmer, Victoria Butenko, Natasha Bertrand, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, Maxar Technologies, US Treasury, Russian Ministry of Defense, Treasury, Russia, Iranian Fatah, Islamic, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Washington, Iran, US, Russian Defense, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Western, UK Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Olya, Port Olya, Astrakhan ., Amirabad, Iran, Russia, London, Iranian, Islamic Republic, France, Germany, Washington, Astrakhan, The, United States

☆ Senior Republicans urge Biden to lift restrictions on Ukraine hitting targets deep inside Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —A group of key House Republicans have written to President Joe Biden urging him to lift the restrictions on the use of US-provided long-range weapons systems and allow Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russia. The UK is also considering whether to allow Ukraine to strike deeper inside Russia with its own long-range system, the Storm Shadow. “No change to policy,” one senior administration official said, adding that there is currently no openness to lifting restrictions. Last month, senior Ukrainians presented US officials with targets they would like to strike in Russia during a visit to Washington. But the Ukrainians say there are weapons productions facilities that would be within reach of the ATACMS inside Russia that are worthy military targets, a source familiar with the Ukrainians position told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Antony Blinken’s, Biden, Blinken, David Lammy, Keir Starmer, “, Michael McCaul, Michael Turner, Mike Rogers, Ken Calvert, Thomas Kean, Richard Hudson, “ Biden, Harris, Donald Trump, Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, ”, ” Blinken, “ It’s, Zelensky, ” John Kirby, It’s, CNN’s MJ Lee Organizations: CNN, Republicans, British, UK, House Foreign, House Intelligence, House Armed Services, House, Helsinki, Republican, Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Ukraine “, Ukraine, Russian, US National Security Council Locations: Kyiv, Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Washington, London, U.S, Germany, Russia’s Kursk, Iranian, Crimea

☆ US imposes new sanctions on Iran’s main airline over Tehran supplying missiles to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The United States imposed new sanctions on Iran’s main airline as three key European allies announced they will move to do the same in response to Tehran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Russia has now received shipments of these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine,” Blinken said alongside his British counterpart, David Lammy. “It adds to their capacity, and it fuels the war,” Blinken said of the new Iranian missiles Russia now has. “Anyone who proves assistance to Russia … is perpetuating the war, is perpetuating the conflict,” he added. Lammy described it as the “first joint visit of this kind for well over a decade.”CNN previously reported that the shipment of the Iranian missiles had arrived in Russia.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ”, Blinken, ” “, Russia …, we’ve, ” Blinken, David Lammy, “, Lammy Organizations: CNN, Iran Air, Iran, Treasury Department, Ukraine, ” CNN Locations: United States, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Iran, Europe, Tehran, North Korea, China, Kyiv

Washington CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris has met more than 150 world leaders since becoming vice president. Still, Harris has not always been the first phone call for foreign leaders or officials looking to get a line into the White House. UkraineA month after Russia invaded Ukraine, Harris was dispatched to NATO’s eastern flank on a reassurance mission – one that also came with some sensitive diplomatic smoothing-over. For a foreign policy novice with aspirations for higher office, the war in Ukraine was a rigorous introduction to wartime diplomacy. She has vowed to continue to support Ukraine and impose costs on Russia,” an aide to the vice president said.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, ”, Biden, Harris ’, Harris, she’s, Donald Trump, –, Dana Bash, “, Dana, haven’t, —, Israel Harris, Netanyahu, Israel –, ” Harris, Harris “, Israel ”, Xi Jinping, Phil Gordon, Rebecca Lissner, Dean Lieberman, Antony Blinken, ” Lieberman, Volodymyr Zelensky, Nancy McEldowney, ” McEldowney, don’t, Jake Sullivan, John Kerry, Emmanuel Macron, Biden –, – Harris Organizations: Washington CNN —, Israeli, Democratic, Republicans, CNN, Biden, White, Israel, White House, American, United Nations General Assembly, UN, ”, Aboard Air Force, NATO, Munich Security Conference, “, Munich Security, Ukraine, Rue Coquilliere Locations: Afghanistan, Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, United States, New York, Washington , DC, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Port, Prince, Haiti, Russia, Poland, Warsaw, Washington, Romania, Munich, France, Paris, White, Rue

☆ Biden celebrates prisoner deal and importance of allies in key moment for his legacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Biden also had multiple conversations about the deal with his German counterpart Olaf Scholz, including when the chancellor visited the Oval Office in February. Convicted Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov, who was jailed in Germany, was critical to getting Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a deal. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!” Trump said. “Why didn’t he do it when he was president?” Biden said before turning to leave the room. A senior administration official defended the release of Krasikov as part of the deal.

Persons: Russia –, Joe Biden, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Kamala Harris, Biden, Donald Trump’s, Harris, “, ” Biden, ” Trump, ”, They’re, Olaf Scholz, Vadim Krasikov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, CNN’s Steve Contorno, Trump, Gershkovich, Whelan, Scholz, Krasikov, Paul, Evan, Alsu, Vladimir, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Alsu Kurmasheva, CNN’s MJ Lee, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, Ivana Kottasova, Alex Marquardt, Betsy Klein, Donald Judd, Sam Fossum, Steve Contorno, Kit Maher, Jeff Zeleny Organizations: CNN, Russia, Wall Street, NATO, Slovenian, HOME, WE, White, Munich, Conference, “ Locations: United States of America, Russia, Israel, Ukraine, Germany, Ohio, Berlin, American, Russian

The Russian officials took the proposal back to Moscow. It was a remarkably swift conclusion to years of painstaking negotiations between the US and more than half a dozen countries. Key to the deal was President Biden’s ability to persuade German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to release Krasikov, the Russian prisoner most keenly sought by Putin. Officials worked quietly throughout this year to get the German government to agree to release Krasikov — including entreaties from both Biden and Harris. President Biden sent a letter to Scholz in April, and the Germans at last agreed to release Krasikov in early June.

Persons: CNN —, Vadim Krasikov, who’d, who’s, Vladimir Putin, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Bill Burns, Gershkovich, Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Kurmasheva, Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Serdar Ozsoy, Biden’s, Olaf Scholz, Putin, Krasikov, Brittney Griner, Burns, –, Viktor Bout, Alexey Navalny, Brendan Smialowski, Antony Blinken, James Rubin, Blinken, Annalena Baerbock, Jake Sullivan, Harris, Scholz, “ Chancellor Scholz, “, Jake, ‘, ’, Sullivan, Navalny, Paul, Evan, ”, Ronald Wittek, Kara, Robert Golob, Kurmasheva’s, Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, Carstens, Jeff Flake, ” Flake, Flake, ” Sullivan Organizations: CNN, CIA, Wall Street, White, Base Andrews, Aircraft, Ankara Esenboga Airport, US Marine, WNBA, State Department, National Security Council, Krasikov, Getty, German, National, Biden, Munich, Conference, US, Munich Security, Aspen Security, Street, Hostage Affairs Locations: Eastern, Russia, Russian, Berlin, Moscow, American, Turkey, Ankara, Chechen, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Washington , DC, AFP, Germany, ”, Munich, Washington, Slovenian, Mordovia, “

CNN —A large-scale prisoner swap between the US and Russia is under way, according to a source familiar, and it is expected to include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan and a number of Americans. The parties have agreed to a prisoner transfer and the prisoners are expected to be in the care of US officials, according to a senior administration official. The deal would end a nightmare that lasted more than five years for Whelan and more than a year for Gershkovich. The former US Marine was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges he vehemently denies. In April of that year, Moscow exchanged former US Marine Trevor Reed for Russian citizen and convicted drug trafficker Konstantin Yaroshenko.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Whelan, Gershkovich, Whelan –, –, ” It’s, Trevor Reed, Konstantin Yaroshenko, Brittney Griner, Viktor Bout Organizations: CNN, Wall Street, Gershkovich, US State Department, Marine, Russian Locations: Russia, Moscow, Washington, Yekaterinburg, Irish, Mordovia, Russian

For a time, Donald Trump would have made for an unlikely headliner at a cryptocurrency confab. As president, Trump declared bitcoin “not money” and criticized it as “highly volatile and based on thin air.” He cautioned that crypto assets helped facilitate illegal underground markets. “We have only one real currency in the USA, and it is stronger than ever,” Trump wrote on Twitter in 2019. Despite cryptocurrency’s troubling recent history and his own past reservations, Trump has fully embraced the hype and hopes of the nascent industry. The industry, in turn, has embraced Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, bitcoin “, ”, ” Trump, Nashville —, Read Organizations: Twitter, United States, Biden Locations: USA, Nashville, United States, Wisconsin

☆ Blinken meets China’s top diplomat in Laos as global giants keep communication lines open
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Nectar Gan | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as China’s increasingly assertive moves in the South China Sea and threats toward Taiwan, have in recent years soured the Washington-Beijing relationship. In contrast, both Putin and Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov have been greeted in Beijing multiple times since the invasion. against a backdrop of increasingly violent clashes between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea. “We are pleased to take note of the successful resupply today of the Second Thomas Shoal, which is the product of an agreement reached between the Philippines and China,” Blinken said. His running mate JD Vance has advocated halting military aid to Ukraine in favor of focusing on Taiwan’s defense.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Wang Yi, Joe Biden’s, China’s, Xi Jinping’s, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Wang, Dmytro Kuleba, Beijing “, ”, Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Kuleba, Lavrov, Russia …, “, ” Lavrov, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, Beijing’s, Shoal, Thomas, ” Blinken, Biden, Donald Trump, JD Vance, Kamala Harris Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United, Foreign, ASEAN, Laos –, North American Aerospace Defense Command, NATO, Ukraine, European Union, Ukrainian Foreign, South China, Republican, Democratic Locations: Hong Kong, China, Laos, Asia, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Mongolia, Ukraine, South, Taiwan, Washington, Beijing, Alaska, Russia, Moscow, Russia’s, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Manila, South China

☆ Trump meeting with Netanyahu for first time since departing White House
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Alayna Treene | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, the first such meeting between the two men since Trump left the White House more than three years ago. Trump, who often claims he was the most pro-Israel president in modern history, once touted his close, personal relationship with Netanyahu. Netanyahu called Trump the greatest friend Israel has ever had and heralded him for “unequivocally” standing by Israel during Trump’s tenure as commander in chief. In posting that engagement with Abbas, Trump was trying to “strike a balance” going into the meeting, Bahbah said, adding that he hopes Trump will come out of the Netanyahu meeting calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. “At the table, the most important question is asking the prime minister what he needs to win.

Persons: Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Harris, ”, Abraham, Israel, Biden, “, ” Trump, Axios, Qasem Soleimani, Netanyahu “, —, Keith Kellogg, he’s, Bishara Bahbah, Mahmoud Abbas, Bibi Netanyahu, Abbas, Bahbah, Lee Zeldin, ” Zeldin, Viktor Orbán, David Cameron, Andrzej Duda, Taro Aso, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, The Trump Organizations: CNN, Israeli, White, Trump’s, Democratic, Trump, Hamas, Israel, Fox News, Abraham Accords, Biden, Republican, Jewish Republican, Hungarian, British, Japanese, Saudi Crown Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Middle East, North Africa, Trump, Gaza, Arizona, Mar, New York

CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris’ office on Friday is rejecting a suggestion from a senior Israeli official that the vice president’s remarks on Thursday that forcefully criticized Israel’s conduct in its war against Hamas could have made a ceasefire deal harder to reach. But the vice president’s office on Friday sought to clarify that her message to Netanyahu behind closed doors mirrored that of Biden. For example, Harris’s aides have been advocates for sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank, one source said. “Harris and her office threw us a lifeline early on,” Dr. James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute. She wanted to know what she could do to be responsive to our concerns.”Correction: This story has been updated to correct Kamala Harris' party affiliation.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Israel’s, ”, Harris, ” Harris, Netanyahu, Biden, “, Harris’s, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir –, “ She’s, Harris ’, “ Harris, Dr, James Zogby, CNN’s Tim Lister, Tamar Michaelis Organizations: CNN, The, Democratic, Israel, West Bank, National Security, Biden, Arab American Institute Locations: The Times, Israel, Gaza

In brief remarks before the meeting, Netanyahu mentioned how the two men have known each other for four decades. Biden also participated in a meeting with Netanyahu that includes families of American hostages in Gaza - a separate setting where he could apply firm pressure on Netanyahu to finalize the ceasefire agreement. After their meeting with the president and Netanyahu, some family members struck an optimistic tone on the prospects of a deal being reached soon. “We got absolute commitment from President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu that they understand the urgency of this moment now. However, as CNN reported this week, US and Israeli officials have voiced increased optimism about the prospects of an agreement.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “, ” Biden’s, ” Biden, ”, Biden, Siegel, Alexander, Chen, Naftali, Goldberg, Jonathan Dekel, –, ” Netanyahu, Kamala Harris, Harris, Nathan Howard TPX, Nathan Howard, Israel, Donald Trump, Trump, CNN’s Sam Fossum Organizations: Washington CNN, Israeli, CNN, Jewish, State, ” Biden reminisced, Biden, United, Prime, Central Kitchen, US, Democratic, Eisenhower, REUTERS, Trump, Networks Locations: Washington ,, Irish, American, Israel, Gaza, America, Washington , DC, Palm Beach , Florida

☆ Optimism increases about prospects for a Gaza ceasefire deal, but families of hostages remain concerned ahead of Netanyahu’s address to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Alex Marquardt | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

For the families of the hostages held more than nine months in Gaza, there is no time to wait. The Israeli prime minister wants to meet with Biden before the Israeli delegation formally transmits its response to the mediators, the source said. US officials have been sensitive to the Knesset recess as they remain convinced that politics are at play for Netanyahu back in Israel. US officials believe it is possible that Israelis are seeking to put maximum pressure on Hamas ahead of a deal. US and Egyptian officials have begun preparing the flood of humanitarian aid that would enter Gaza if a ceasefire deal goes into effect.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Netanyahu, “ It’s, ”, Netanyahu ‘, ’ Aviva Siegel, Keith, Netanyahu “, They’ve, I’ve, Siegel, “, Jon Polin, Hersh Goldberg, Biden’s, Donald Trump, Harris, Netanyahu doesn’t, Jonathan Dekel, Chen, Sagui Dekel, Satan, ” Netanyahu, Daniel Neutra, Omer, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, There’s, Israel, –, Jake Sullivan, ” Blinken, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, Democratic, Monday, US State Department, Government, Biden, UN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Washington, Rafah, Egyptian, el, Arish

☆ Blinken says Iran’s nuclear weapon breakout time is probably down to 1-2 weeks
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said that Iran’s breakout time – the amount of time needed to produce enough weapons grade material for a nuclear weapon – “is now probably one or two weeks” as Tehran has continued to develop its nuclear program. “Iran, because the nuclear agreement was thrown out, instead of being at least a year away from having the breakout capacity of producing fissile material for a nuclear weapon, is now probably one or two weeks away from doing that,” he said. Blinken said the policy of the US is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and that the administration would prefer to stop that from happening through diplomacy. The State Department also said that there is no anticipation that the recent election in Iran will change the country’s behavior. “We have no expectations that this election will lead to a fundamental change in Iran’s direction or its policies,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said earlier this month.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ”, “, Blinken, Biden, Trump, Matthew Miller, it’s, that’s Organizations: CNN, Aspen Security, US Defense Department, US, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, UN, State Department, The State Department, ”, “ Locations: Tehran, Iran, “ Iran, “

☆ Trump says he had ‘a very good phone call’ with Zelensky, discussed Russia-Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump said he “had a very good phone call” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. It also comes amid concerns in Europe about what Trump’s policy toward the Russia-Ukraine war would be if he were to win the presidential election in November. “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and I had a very good phone call earlier today. Trump and Zelensky also have their own history. Last week, when Zelensky was in the US, he said that “everyone is waiting for November,” including Putin.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump, Zelenskyy, ” Trump, Zelensky, ” “, ”, ” Zelensky, Russia –, Joe Biden, Hunter, Putin, Biden, Kylie Atwood, Mariya Knight Organizations: CNN, White, Republican, Republican National Convention, Kyiv, NATO, Trump, White House, Ukraine Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Pennsylvania, American, Kyiv, Washington

☆ NATO allies are discussing reclaiming some Chinese-owned infrastructure in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Kayla Tausche | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —NATO officials are discussing taking action to reclaim some Chinese-owned infrastructure projects in Europe should a wider conflict with Russia break out in the east of the continent, three officials involved in the discussions told CNN. A decade ago, when Europe was still crawling out of the economic crater caused by the global financial crisis, the promise of infrastructure funding from Chinese-owned investment firms seemed like a major windfall. The fear, according to one US official, is that Beijing could use the infrastructure it owns in Europe to provide material assistance to Russia if the conflict were to expand. The discussions reflect an increasing focus on China by the NATO alliance. A NATO official said that if a war erupted, the infrastructure “would almost certainly be nationalized, or nations would temporarily assume operating control, under emergency security measures.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Kishida, ” Blinken, Jens Stoltenberg, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: CNN, NATO, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Initiative, Helsinki Shipyard –, US, Ukraine, European Union Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Beijing, China, NATO, Eastern Europe, Baltic, Finland, Canada, Japan, East Asia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, France, Washington

“It’s not like Biden’s inner circle didn’t know this,” one Democratic strategist close to the White House said of the extent of the president’s recent decline. “Expect a drip, drip, drip,” said one former Biden White House official. “Blinders are off and everyone is aware,” one source close to the White House told CNN. “He’s declined,” one House Democratic lawmaker who attended the gala told CNN. She wields influence in the White House and campaign, and sits in on some of the president’s political meetings.

Persons: Joe Biden, George Clooney wasn’t, Biden, “, ”, Barack Obama, Obama, Bill Clinton, “ He’s, –, ’, Camp David, “ It’s, Tom Vilsack –, Andrew Bates, “ Joe Biden, ” Bates, Jens Stoltenberg, Keir Starmer, Jacquelyn Martin, Nancy Pelosi, Lester Holt, Ari Emanuel, Ron Klain, ” Emanuel, Klain, Emanuel, Bates, Brett McGurk, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden’s, Emmanuel Macron, Jill Many, Jill Biden, Chris Kleponis, “ She’s, she’s, Jill Biden’s, Valerie Biden Owens, Jill, Valerie won’t, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Kylie Atwood, Betsy Klein, Arlette Saenz, Phil Mattingly Organizations: CNN, Peacock Theater, Radio City Music Hall, Democrat, White, Democratic, Biden, Camp, Los, “, Biden White House, NATO, British, AP, MSNBC, NBC, White House, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Economic Cooperation, Getty, Democratic Party Locations: Los Angeles, Italy, California, New York, Washington, Las Vegas, Aspen , Colorado, United States, Filoli, Asia, Woodside , California, Wilmington , Delaware, Paris, France, Wilmington, Pennsylvania, AFP

CNN —The Biden administration is allowing a shipment of 500-pound bombs to be sent to Israel, after it was paused more than two months ago, a US official said. The initial decision to halt a shipment of both 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs was due to US concerns about Israel using the heavy munitions – specifically the larger 2,000-pound bombs – in their Rafah operation. One shipment of the 2,000-pound bombs remains on hold. That’s what happened here with the 500-pound bombs since our main concern had been – and remains – the potential use of 2,000-pound bombs in Rafah and elsewhere in Gaza,” the official said. “Because our concern was not about the 500-pound bombs, those are moving forward as part of the usual process,” the official added.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN Locations: Israel, Rafah, Gaza

Diplomats and officials who spoke with CNN said Rutte is seen as a staunch trans-Atlanticist and a consensus builder. “He is really a seasoned political official, and this is essential to keep the cohesion of the alliance,” a European official said. “It was just a very polite, slightly humorous way of dealing Trump, and Trump appreciated it,” Hoekstra recalled to CNN. “We are not there yet, but it is better than when Trump left,” the official told CNN. Biden likes Rutte personally, they get along well, and the US president sees them as sharing the same values, the official told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Mark Rutte, Jens Stoltenberg, Rutte, ”, “ Trump, Pete Hoekstra, ” Hoekstra, ‘ Touche, ’ ”, “, ” Rutte, Stoltenberg, Joe Biden, Biden, “ Rutte, Putin Organizations: CNN, NATO, Dutch, Diplomats, Trump, Kyiv – Locations: Washington, NATO, Russia, Netherlands, European, Europe, Ukraine, China, US, ”

CNN —Ukraine’s path to joining NATO was described as “irreversible” in a draft text of the alliance’s joint communique, three sources familiar told CNN Monday. While many Europeans have emphasized the need for strong language around Ukraine’s eventual future in the alliance, US and German officials had proposed describing a “bridge” to NATO membership for Ukraine. Ruslan Stefanchuk, the chair of Ukraine’s parliament, said at an event Monday that it’s not just about language, but it’s about actually bringing Ukraine closer to NATO. “There is rightly considerable focus on what Allies will say about Ukraine’s membership path in the summit declaration. “I’ll let the Ukrainians speak for themselves, but I think they understand the value of what NATO will be doing for that,” they said.

Persons: Ruslan Stefanchuk, it’s, ” Michael Carpenter, “, “ I’ll, ” Organizations: CNN, NATO, White House, Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine ”, National Security Council Locations: Ukraine, Washington, Kyiv, Moscow, European, Europe, Wiesbaden

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