International
Borrell: the EU will support Ukraine until Putin decides to stop the war
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union (EU), Josep Borrell, said on Sunday that the Twenty-seven will support Ukraine “until (Vladimir) Putin decides to stop the war,” something that will not happen “soon,” but will probably have to wait for the elections in the United States to know the future of the conflict.
In a panel of the special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which started today in Riyadh and lasts until tomorrow, Borrell reiterated the EU’s commitment to support Ukraine in the war against Russia regardless of the budgetary investment that this represents.
“We will continue to support the people in Ukraine (…) There are those who ask how much money we will spend on the war. We pledged to support Ukraine to resist until Putin decides to stop the war, but I don’t think it will happen soon,” said the top representative in EU Security Policy.
In his speech, Borrell recalled that “Putin began the war” and pointed out that the Russian president “will wait for the United States elections” to consider the future or the possibility of ending the conflict that began a little more than two years ago.
Regarding the length of the war between Russia and Ukraine in time, he showed his concern that something similar will happen in the Middle East and referred to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, another example of “a war between two parties for the same territory where the only solution is to share.”
And he asks “not to open Pandora’s box of new wars” in the face of the growth of international tensions resulting from the new world order.
Borrell summarized the changes that international relations have undergone in recent years, in which he went from talking about east-west and north-south blocks, to talking about “north, south, east and west.”
“There is no clear understanding of what the world is like today. Competition is fine, but the problem is not to compete, but confrontation and there is more confrontation because there are more poles and fewer rules. Power has been redistributed, there are more actors and fewer rules. That’s why there is disorder,” he explained to the audience.
According to Borrell, the main consequence of this new world order is a redistribution of powers that has changed the relationship of forces and many of it have been directed towards Asia, while the “north and west has decreased in importance” while countries such as Saudi Arabia and China grow.
In this sense, he pointed out that “war is not only with bombs, but with narratives” and stressed the importance of geography to establish relations and alliances, sometimes relationships of dependency that are used against the partners themselves.
“Today we need more cooperation (…) We have to respect the existing rules and change those that do not adapt to today’s world. Many things work because there is a gap between what we have to do and what we do,” he added.
Borrell admitted that there is something true in the caricature they make of the European Union: dependence on Russian gas (which went from 45% to 10% since the outbreak of the war), on the security of NATO led by the United States and on trade with China.
But it was clear that that is going to change: “We have to adapt to the new world. Being more responsible with one’s own security and resources (…) New countries have shown an incredible capacity for technological innovation. More union in Europe to survive in a world of giants and take into account the priorities of others” for self-development.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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