International

The United States urges Ukraine to “lower the tone” and accept Trump’s proposal on its minerals

White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Thursday that the Ukrainian government needs to “lower the tone” after the tense cross of insults between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.

“They have to lower the tone, analyze the situation well and sign that agreement,” Waltz said on Thursday in an interview with the conservative Fox News network.

Zelenski revealed on Wednesday, for the first time at a press conference, that last week the United States proposed to Ukraine to cede 50% of its natural resources to Washington, especially minerals and rare earths key for technological development, as compensation for the past aid to Kiev, without guarantees of future assistance.

According to the Ukrainian president, the agreement does not include any commitment that the US will continue to support Ukraine, which has led his government not to sign it.

In addition, Waltz considered “unacceptable” Kiev’s refusal to accept the mining pact and his criticism of the way Trump is conducting peace talks.

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“We have presented Ukrainians with an incredible and historic opportunity: that the United States invests in Ukraine, boosts its economy, its natural resources and becomes a partner for its future in a sustainable way. This would be the best security guarantee they could expect, much more than another shipment of ammunition,” he said.

Zelenski meets this Thursday in Ukraine with the US special envoy for war, Keith Kellogg, in a meeting whose conclusions could be key.

Relations between Washington and Kiev are going through a particularly delicate moment after Trump and Zelenski exchanged insults, with the American calling the Ukrainian “dictator” and accusing the US president of living in a bubble of “disinformation” from Russia.

US Vice President J.D. Vance also intervened in the controversy by warning yesterday in statements to The Daily Mail that publicly criticizing Trump would only harm Zelenski.

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International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”