UNITED NATIONS: Hope is “just barely” alive in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, a senior UN official said Thursday, denouncing the recent “brutal surge in largescale Russian attacks” against Ukraine.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council that the “cautious hope” she expressed a month ago has diminished in the face of recent aggressions.
“According to Ukrainian officials, with 355 drones, Monday’s attack was the largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion,” DiCarlo said, adding: “This topped the previous record from the night before.”
Despite no declaration of a ceasefire, DiCarlo praised diplomatic efforts in Istanbul on May 16 when Ukrainian and Russian delegations met, saying “it is encouraging that the sides have reportedly agreed to continue the process.”
Russia’s deadly invasion began in February 2022.
“The massive wave of attacks over the weekend is a stark warning of how quickly this war can reach new destructive levels. Further escalation would not only aggravate the devastating toll on civilians but also endanger the already challenging peace efforts,” DiCarlo said.
“The hope that the parties will be able to sit down and negotiate is still alive, but just barely,” DiCarlo said.
The US representative added that prolonging the war was not in anyone’s best interest.
“If Russia makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war, the United States will have to consider stepping back from our negotiation efforts to end this conflict,” said John Kelley, acting US alternate representative.
“Additional sanctions on Russia are still on the table.”
The Kremlin said Thursday that it was awaiting Kiev’s response to its proposal for new talks in Istanbul next Monday.
Ukraine, which accuses Russia of buying time, seeks Moscow’s conditions before any meeting.
“Serious, demonstrable and good faith efforts are needed — now — to get back on the road that could lead to a just peace. A full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire is such an effort, if only an initial one,” DiCarlo said.
According to the UN, a “just peace” respects sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
“A peace process will not be easy, and it will take time. But it must not wait. The people of Ukraine, especially, cannot wait.”
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Russia-Ukraine talks ‘barely’ alive, says United Nations official
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Russia-Ukraine talks ‘barely’ alive, says United Nations official
- “Cautious hope” for truce diminished in face of recent “brutal surge in largescale Russian attack, says official
- Russia launched its largest drone attack Monday on Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion
Trump administration restricts 2 Honduran election officials’ visas over special vote count
TEGUCIGALPA: The Trump administration restricted visas for two leftist Honduran election officials, citing interference in the Central American country’s special vote count.
The US State Department said in a statement Friday it revoked the visa of Mario Morazán, a magistrate of the Electoral Justice Tribunal, and denied a visa application from Marlon Ochoa, a member of the National Electoral Council. Both belong to the leftist ruling LIBRE, or Liberty and Refoundation, party.
“The United States will not tolerate actions that undermine our national security and our region’s stability,” the statement said. “We will consider all appropriate measures to deter those impeding the vote count in Honduras.”
Nearly 20 days after the elections were held, Hondurans still do not know the results of the presidential race. Due to the narrow margin between the two leading candidates, electoral officials have carried out a special revision of 2,792 ballot boxes that show alleged inconsistencies and errors. Officials began the special vote count on Thursday after more than a week of the count being paralyzed.
With 99.85 percent of the vote counted so far, conservative candidate Nasry Asfura of the National Party — whom US President Donald Trump had backed in the lead-up to the election, fueling accusations of election intervention by his opponents — is narrowly leading with 40.24 percent of the vote. Fellow conservative Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party followed with 39.64 percent.
In a distant third place is the ruling party’s candidate, Rixi Moncada of Liberty and Refoundation, with 19.12 percent of the vote. Moncada has not recognized the results.
This is the latest example of the Trump administration weighing in on Honduran affairs throughout the election. Over the past year in office, it has wielded its power in Latin America more aggressively than most US governments in recent history. Trump has openly offered support and funds to right-wing allies, while applying punishing pressure to adversaries, often on the left.
Trump had also pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, sentenced last year to 45 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation by a US court.
The US State Department said in a statement Friday it revoked the visa of Mario Morazán, a magistrate of the Electoral Justice Tribunal, and denied a visa application from Marlon Ochoa, a member of the National Electoral Council. Both belong to the leftist ruling LIBRE, or Liberty and Refoundation, party.
“The United States will not tolerate actions that undermine our national security and our region’s stability,” the statement said. “We will consider all appropriate measures to deter those impeding the vote count in Honduras.”
Nearly 20 days after the elections were held, Hondurans still do not know the results of the presidential race. Due to the narrow margin between the two leading candidates, electoral officials have carried out a special revision of 2,792 ballot boxes that show alleged inconsistencies and errors. Officials began the special vote count on Thursday after more than a week of the count being paralyzed.
With 99.85 percent of the vote counted so far, conservative candidate Nasry Asfura of the National Party — whom US President Donald Trump had backed in the lead-up to the election, fueling accusations of election intervention by his opponents — is narrowly leading with 40.24 percent of the vote. Fellow conservative Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party followed with 39.64 percent.
In a distant third place is the ruling party’s candidate, Rixi Moncada of Liberty and Refoundation, with 19.12 percent of the vote. Moncada has not recognized the results.
This is the latest example of the Trump administration weighing in on Honduran affairs throughout the election. Over the past year in office, it has wielded its power in Latin America more aggressively than most US governments in recent history. Trump has openly offered support and funds to right-wing allies, while applying punishing pressure to adversaries, often on the left.
Trump had also pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, sentenced last year to 45 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation by a US court.
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