Defence

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Wednesday to help mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran, suggesting Moscow could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while assuaging Israeli security concerns, AP reported. Speaking to senior news leaders of international news agencies on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin noted that “it’s a delicate issue,” but added that “in my view, a solution could be found.” Meanwhile, Iran launched a fresh salvo of missiles at Israel on Thursday, with a hospital reported hit, as US President Donald Trump warned he was weighing US military action in the conflict.

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will only be welcome at the dinner for heads of state and government leaders at the Huis ten Bosch Palace during the summit. This is evident from the summit programme, announced on Monday (16 June). In previous years, the Ukrainian head of state was given a much more prominent place in the programme. The United States, under the leadership of president Donald Trump, objected to Zelensky's invitation to this year's summit.

The G7 summit, a gathering of major world leaders meeting at Kananaskis, in the Canadian Rockies, has concluded with a joint leaders statement urging a "de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza". It stopped short of calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The leaders' statement, published as US President Trump left Canada, said Israel had a right to defend itself, and that Iran was a source of terror that should not have a nuclear weapon. According to the BBC, its call for a resolution of the crisis that led to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East amounted to a diplomatic compromise that preserved G7 unity but watered down the statement's impact.

Russia is expanding its military footprint in Africa, delivering sophisticated weaponry to sub-Saharan conflict zones where a Kremlin-controlled armed force is on the rise. Skirting sanctions imposed by Western nations, Moscow is using cargo ships to send tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery and other high-value equipment to West Africa, according to the Associated Press.

US President Donald Trump will attend the NATO summit in The Hague later this month, the White House announced on Tuesday evening (3 June). Trump had previously left it unclear whether he would attend the conference of the Western military alliance in the Netherlands. However, he had informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof (now outgoing) of his attendance, which the Dutch government had previously announced.

The British government has announced plans to increase the size of its fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines. At least twelve next-generation vessels are set to be built.

Israel has accepted a new U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hamas, the White House said on Thursday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Israel “backed and supported” the new proposal. Hamas officials gave the Israeli-approved draft a cool response, but said they wanted to study the proposal more closely before giving a formal answer.