Politics

US Vice President JD Vance warned that America would "walk away" from Ukraine peace negotiations without an agreement, echoing recent US official statements. This announcement came as London talks between the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine and US were downgraded after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff withdrew. The US is prioritizing Moscow talks where Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the fourth time as diplomatic efforts intensify. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky maintained his position demanding "an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire," stating that "stopping the killing is task number one." Vance told reporters in India that the US had presented a "very explicit proposal" to both parties, adding: "It's time for them to either say yes or for the US to walk away from this process. We've engaged in extraordinary diplomacy, of on-the-ground […]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed Iran's nuclear program with visiting Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, the Kremlin announced Tuesday, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding Iran-US nuclear negotiations. Oman has been mediating between Iran and the United States as President Donald Trump seeks an agreement to restrict Iran's nuclear program, which Washington suspects is aimed at developing nuclear weapons – a claim Iran denies. "This topic was touched on... in the context of mediation efforts by Oman," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a Tuesday briefing. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov added that both sides "discussed the progress of negotiations between Iranian and American representatives," according to Interfax. "We will see what the result will be. We maintain close contact with our Iranian colleagues. Where we can, we help," Ushakov was quoted as saying. Trump has […]

Four Dublin local authorities have been collaborating on a proposal to implement a tourist tax on hotel rooms in the capital, but the Government appears unlikely to support the initiative. The proposed tax would generate an estimated €12 million annually by adding a charge to tourists' hotel bills. Local councillors have suggested these funds could be directed toward improving amenities throughout Dublin. However, Minister for Tourism Peter Burke is reportedly not planning to introduce such a tax in the near future, focusing instead on the short-term letting bill as his priority. A Government source indicated that while Ireland provides good value for tourists, it is not considered a low-cost destination, making additional costs potentially problematic for the tourism sector. Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan has also expressed opposition to the idea, stating he would not welcome a tourist tax and […]

The US will abandon efforts to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless clear progress emerges, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end," Rubio stated, adding that the US had "other priorities to focus on." Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has placed various conditions on potential ceasefire terms. Despite the Trump administration's initial confidence in securing a quick agreement, ceasefire attempts have stalled, with Washington attributing blame to both sides. Following discussions with European leaders in Paris on Thursday, Rubio told reporters: "We need to determine very quickly now - and I'm talking about a matter of days - whether or not this is doable." He emphasized, "If it's not going to happen, then we're just going to move […]