International

Zelensky urges ‘Molotov cocktail’ sanctions on Russia

AFP

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky asked the West to impose “Molotov cocktail” sanctions on Moscow, including a ban on Russian gas, and appealed for more weapons as he addressed Finnish MPs.

Scolding “those who are making us wait, wait for the things that we need badly, wait for the means of protecting our lives,” Zelensky called on Western leaders to impose a “sanctions cocktail” against Russia that “would be remembered just like Molotov cocktails”.

Molotov cocktails are improvised incendiary devices popularised by the Finns in their war against the Soviet Union during World War II.

The name of the bottles filled with flammable substances like gasoline or alcohol was chosen to denigrate then Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov, the architect of the non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

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Representatives of the 27 members of the EU on Thursday agreed to a fifth round of sanctions on Moscow, including an embargo on Russian coal and closing European ports to Russian ships.

But Kyiv is asking for more, especially sanctions targeting oil and gas.

“How much longer can Europe ignore the introduction of embargo against oil supplies from Russia? How much longer?” Zelensky asked, adding that Russian banks should be isolated from the international banking system.

Zelensky also made numerous references to the Winter War (1939-1940), during which Finland put up a fierce fight against a Soviet invasion.

“The war of Russia against Ukraine is decisive not only for the future of our country and our nation, but all those who have a common border with Russia. Just like you 83 years ago, Ukraine has the bravery to defend itself,” Zelensky told the Finnish parliament via video link.

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His speech coincided with several Finnish security incidents.

On Friday morning, a Russian government plane, an IL-96-300, violated Finnish airspace for three minutes off the country’s southern coast.

The websites of the ministries of defence and foreign affairs were also inaccessible Friday morning.

International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.

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International

U.S. lowers travel advisory for much of Venezuela but keeps high-risk zones under warning

The U.S. Department of State announced on Thursday that it has lowered its travel advisory for much of Venezuela to Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”), reflecting what it described as improved security conditions in parts of the country.

However, the agency will maintain the highest Level 4 warning (“Do Not Travel”) for several regions, including the states of Táchira, Amazonas, Apure, Aragua and Guárico, as well as rural areas of Bolívar, citing ongoing risks such as crime, kidnapping and terrorism.

The updated advisory marks a shift from December, when the United States raised the alert for Venezuela to Level 4 nationwide, warning of severe security threats.

Despite the partial downgrade, U.S. authorities continue to urge caution, emphasizing that conditions remain volatile in certain areas and that travelers should carefully assess risks before planning any trips to the country.

International

EU lawmakers move to ban AI tools that generate non-consensual nude images

Members of the European Parliament are pushing to ban across the bloc artificial intelligence services that allow users to digitally “undress” people without their consent.

The proposal, adopted on Wednesday at committee level, aims to prohibit applications that generate non-consensual explicit images. Irish lawmaker Michael McNamara, one of the sponsors, said the measure seeks to stop tools that “have caused significant harm for the benefit of a few.”

Dutch MEP Kim van Sparrentak welcomed the move, calling it “a major victory, especially for women and children in Europe.”

The amendment, part of broader EU legislation on artificial intelligence, was approved by the Parliament’s civil liberties and internal market committees. It specifically targets systems that use AI to create or manipulate sexually explicit or intimate images resembling identifiable individuals without their consent.

The proposal will be put to a full vote in the European Parliament on March 26. If adopted, lawmakers and European Union member states will need to agree on a final version before it can take effect.

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Separately, representatives of the 27 EU countries recently backed a Franco-Spanish amendment seeking to ban AI services used to generate non-consensual sexual images or child sexual abuse material.

The initiative follows controversy surrounding a feature introduced in Grok, developed by xAI, which allowed users to create simulated nude images from real photos. The tool sparked widespread criticism and prompted an EU investigation.

In response, xAI restricted image generation features in mid-January to paying subscribers and stated it blocks the creation of sexualized images in jurisdictions where such content is illegal.