International

Zelenski asks to create a European Army so that the United States takes the continent seriously

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked on Saturday for the creation of European Armed Forces to defend the continent of Russia and force the United States to count on Europe when making its geopolitical decisions.

“The time has come to create the Armed Forces of Europe,” said the Ukrainian president at the Munich Security Conference, in which he focused his speech on asking European leaders to make the necessary decisions so that “the future of Europe depends only on Europeans.”

Zelenski also explained that US President Donald Trump did not mention on a single occasion the role of Europe in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia that he promotes during the recent phone call, and said that Europe “must have a chair at the table” in which its future is decided.

“No decision on Ukraine without Ukraine; no decision on Europe without Europe,” said the leader of Kiev in line with what was expressed at the same Munich Conference by many European leaders concerned about the way in which the US has begun to maintain contacts with Russia and Ukraine without asking for the opinion or consulting the European Union (EU) and its member countries.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

The Ukrainian president urged European leaders to form their own unitary army so that the US does not see the continent simply “as a market”, but also “with an ally” that it is obliged to count on.

Zelenski explained, expressly addressing NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, present at the hearing, that the European Army he claims would not be a substitute for the Atlantic Alliance, but a way of equalizing the European contribution to that of the US, a demand that Trump has been making since his first mandate.

The Ukrainian head of state appealed to the unity of the EU to face all these challenges.

“If it’s not Brussels, it will be Moscow. It’s your decision,” he said.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

International

White House says Cuba policy unchanged despite sanctioned fuel shipment

The White House said Monday that it has not changed its policy toward Cuba, despite allowing a sanctioned Russian oil tanker to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds.

U.S. officials emphasized that the decision was made as an exception and does not signal a broader shift in policy.

The administration added that similar decisions would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on humanitarian considerations.

The clarification comes amid ongoing restrictions related to U.S. sanctions policy, which continue to limit trade and financial flows involving Cuba.

International

Spain to grant citizenship to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López

The Spanish government is expected to grant citizenship this Tuesday to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lópezthrough an extraordinary procedure known as “carta de naturaleza.”

The decision will be approved by royal decree, an exceptional legal mechanism used in special cases that require expedited resolution due to specific circumstances.

López has been living in Madrid since 2020, after leaving Venezuela following a prolonged political and legal conflict with the government of Nicolás Maduro.

According to government sources, López currently does not have a valid Venezuelan passport and faces difficulties in having his nationality fully recognized in his home country.

As a result, he applied for Spanish citizenship via a fast-track process at the end of 2025, after previously attempting to obtain it through regular procedures.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

The Spanish government justified the move based on López’s international relevance and foreign policy considerations.

López is the leader of the Voluntad Popular party and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, an initiative launched in 2022 alongside figures such as Garry Kasparov and Masih Alinejad.

International

ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

The U.S. “border czar,” Tom Homan, said Sunday that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain deployed at airports until operations return to “100% normal,” as the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues.

“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

According to acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, at least 460 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown, while daily absenteeism has averaged 11%, exceeding 50% at some airports.

Homan warned that if TSA staffing levels do not recover after the shutdown, ICE agents will continue filling the gap. “ICE is there to support our TSA brothers and sisters. We will remain as long as needed to ensure airport security,” he said.

20260330_renta_mh_728x90

The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

A recent bipartisan Senate proposal to fund DHS without including ICE failed after being blocked by House Republicans, who insist on full funding for the agency.

Amid the deadlock, Trump signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents to address what he called an “emergency situation” and restore order at airports, with payments expected to begin Monday.