International
Ukraine proposes a three-sto-one Zelenski-Trump-Putin meeting between June 20 and 30
Ukraine proposed this Monday to Russia, at the Istanbul meeting, that a three-way meeting be held between June 20 and 30 with the presidents of Ukraine, the United States and Russia – Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, respectively – to give impetus to peace negotiations.
“This is crucial to advance in the negotiation process,” announced the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, at the end of the meeting held in the Turkish city.
Zelenski’s willingness to meet with Putin was reaffirmed shortly after by the spokesman for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Guerogui Tiji.
“Our president is ready to meet tomorrow. If Putin says he wants to meet tomorrow, President Zelenski will meet with him tomorrow. We don’t have a problem with that. Unfortunately, the problem is on his side,” Tiji said from Istanbul.
Another key issue of the meeting was the Ukrainian request for a 30-day ceasefire to be declared to advance the talks to achieve peace.
According to Umerov, Ukraine will respond within a week to the conditions presented by Russia to declare that truce.
Umerov regretted that Russia had not delivered the documents with its conditions on the ceasefire and on the resolution of the conflict until the same meeting, despite the fact that Kiev had sent its positions to Moscow in advance and demanded that the Russian side do the same so that this Monday’s meeting already produced results.
“Our teams will take a week to review the documents and then we will be able to coordinate the steps to follow,” said the Ukrainian Minister of Defense.
The Russian chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinski, said that he proposed to Ukraine the steps to take to declare a total ceasefire on the front.
“We have delivered a memorandum that has two parts (…) The second includes the steps for a possible and total ceasefire,” Medinski said in his appearance before the press at the end of the talks.
The Russian negotiator assured that this ceasefire plan, which he described as “detailed”, includes two alternatives.
“The Ukrainian part decided to take it and study it. They will study it and answer. We’ll see,” he said.
In addition, Russia also proposed to Ukraine “concrete ceasefires: two-three days in certain sectors of the front (…) so that the commanders can collect the corpses of their soldiers.”
“This will now be dealt with by our military specialists with the Ukrainians,” he said.
Medinski explained that in certain areas the health situation is dangerous and there is “the danger of an epidemic”, so brief truces would allow these bodies to be quickly buried by the enemy.
In fact, he said that the Russians will unilaterally deliver 6,000 corpses of soldiers and officers in their possession.
Today’s meeting comes after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) destroyed more than forty Russian fighter jets this Sunday with a drone attack against the enemy rearguard and the derailment of two trains in Russian border regions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on the phone last night to address the situation in Ukraine.
In the call, Rubio expressed his sincere condolences for “the civilian victims caused by the blaze of the railway infrastructure in the (Russian) regions of Briansk and Kursk on June 1,” according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
For his part, Lavrov said that the competent authorities are carrying out a thorough investigation and that the results will be published soon.
“Those responsible will be identified and punished,” the Russian minister promised.
International
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.
“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.
Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.
Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.
International
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.
Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.
Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.
In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.
While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.
The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.
Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.
International
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.
The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”
However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”
These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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