Kellogg’s idea on division zones in Ukraine may lead to new escalation — Russia’s diplomat
It is one of the options for freezing the conflict, Rodion Miroshnik said .


#MOSCOW, April 12. US Presidential Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg’s idea to divide Ukraine into zones of control between European countries and Russia, following the example of post-war Berlin, is one of the options for freezing the conflict and could lead to a new escalation, but at a different level, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large, said on Saturday.

"By keeping the militarization zone there and the formation of radicalized elements is one of the options of freezing, which may be later implemented through a new level of escalation," Miroshnik said during a live broadcast on the Soloviev Live TV channel.

"Therefore, this toxic hotspot upholds these options of occupation," Miroshnik continued. "By preserving the influence on this territory, including the military one, without creating a demilitarized zone in the area raises serious concerns for the near future."

"The period of time for [the Kiev regime] to heal its wounds may be very short indeed - they gathered, analyzed the previous experience, prepared themselves, pumped tens of thousands of troops through Great Britain again and deployed them to the battlefront once again."

The Times reported earlier citing Kellogg that Ukraine could be divided into control zones between European countries and Russia like Berlin after the Second World War. UK and French troops could adopt zones of control in Ukraine’s west, forming a "reassurance force" for allegedly preventing the resumption of combat operations whereas Russia could control the east of the country. Between the European and Russian troops would be Ukrainian forces, and a demilitarized zone could be implemented along existing lines of control, Kellogg added.

Kellogg later denied this information stating on his page on X social media: "The Times article misrepresents what I said. I was speaking of a post-cease fire resiliency force in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty. In discussions of partitioning, I was referencing areas or zones of responsibility for an allied force (without US troops). I was not referring to a partitioning of Ukraine."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on March 12 that the presence of NATO troops under any flag and in any capacity on Ukrainian soil is a threat to Russia, adding that Moscow would not accept this under any circumstances.

#Tehran, Washington to hold second round of talks in Oman on April 19 — Iran’s top diplomat
According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, next week, the two negotiating teams may embark on discussions toward "a general framework of a future deal".

A second round of negotiations between #Tehran and Washington will take place in Oman on April 19, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced.

The two sides agreed "to hold a second round of talks next Saturday. <...> Everything will take place at the same level and in Oman again, even as [the site of talks] may be somewhat different," Araghchi told Iran’s state broadcaster in an interview.

According to Iran’s top diplomat, next week, the two negotiating teams may embark on discussions toward "a general framework of a future deal."

Earlier on Saturday, #Oman hosted indirect talks between Iranian and US negotiators on resolving the situation around Iran’s nuclear program. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Araghchi, while special envoy Witkoff represented the United States. The Islamic republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting had been held in a constructive atmosphere.

US duties against #China increased to 145% — #CNBC According to the source, 125% import duties in respect of #Chinese products announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday do not account the 20% tariff set earlier by the US leader for allegedly insufficient efforts of Canadian, Mexican and Chinese governments in combating fentanyl spread.

Total US duties in respect of Chinese goods currently amount to 145%, CNBC television said, citing a US official.

According to him, 125% import duties in respect of Chinese products announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday do not account the 20% tariff set earlier by the US leader for allegedly insufficient efforts of Canadian, Mexican and Chinese governments in combating fentanyl spread. Thus the total duty on Chinese goods equals 145%.

The tariff war has recently started between the United States and China, with the increase in tariffs from both sides.

#Western countries know nothing about democracy — #Lukashenko
"No matter how much the Americans, the French, and others try to pretend otherwise, they’re not just spreading propaganda – it goes beyond that," the Belarusian leader stressed.

No matter how much the Americans and the French pretend, they have no democracy - only pure totalitarianism, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview with the Mir broadcaster.

Lukashenko praised Mir journalists for their objective reporting on events in other countries, noting their commitment to presenting unbiased facts.

"I appreciate that. It's something that is increasingly rare in today’s world. There’s a real lack of objective journalism," he said. "No matter how much the Americans, the French, and others try to pretend otherwise, they’re not just spreading propaganda – it goes beyond that. This isn’t democracy; it’s totalitarianism. Just remember how they used to present themselves to us," the Belarusian president concluded.

France could recognise Palestinian state ‘in June’: Macron

Not long ago, the 2025 election seemed like Pierre Poilievre’s to lose.

That’s made the rapid ascension of Mark Carney’s Liberals in public approval polling a source of some frustration across the Conservative-leaning Prairies – and for the first time in years, the notion of Western separation appears to be gaining significant traction in both Alberta and Saskatchewan.

But how likely is Canada to see an actual secession movement, should the Liberals form another government?

In a recent op-ed for the Globe & Mail, Preston Manning, former opposition leader under the Reform Party, argued a vote for Carney is a “vote for the breakup of Canada as we know it.”

Political scientist professor John Soroski, of Edmonton’s MacEwan University, disagrees, suggesting would-be separatists should not hold their breath.

“That’s kind of an imaginary, utopian, optimistic vision,” Soroski said Wednesday, in an interview with CTV’s Your Morning. “I don’t think the numbers are there.”

What’s required for secession?

A survey released by the Angus Reid Institute last weekend found 33 per cent of Saskatchewan residents and 30 per cent of Alberta residents would vote in favour of separation, whether to form their own country or join the United States.

The vast majority of respondents said they would rather remain Canadian, however – a major hurdle for separatists under the secession roadmap set out in the Clarity Act.

That legislation, adopted after Quebec’s failed 1995 separation referendum, requires that a “clear majority” of a province’s residents vote to secede. Only then could the complex negotiations required to disentangle from the federal government even begin.

Lacking majority support doesn’t mean those growing sentiments won’t cause friction for a potential Carney government, however.

“What you’re likely to see is not the departure of Alberta and Saskatchewan from Confederation, but, you know, often quite vigorous and hostile intergovernmental conflict,” said Soroski.
What’s driving separatist frustration?

The Prairie provinces have a long history of flirting with separatism dating back decades, with notable support during the early 1980s while Pierre Trudeau was prime minister.

“We see the ideas around Western separatism ebb and flow with discontent with the national government,” Soroski said. “It’s at a high now.”

The political scientist said current frustrations largely stem from perceptions that Ottawa has had a “very poor track record” when it comes to local priorities, such as embracing pipelines and other energy infrastructure.

While Carney has promised to change course, vowing to make Canada a global “energy superpower,” Soroski said it might be too little, too late for voters in Alberta and Saskatchewan who feel the federal government isn’t responsive enough to their concerns.

“Those are things that could have occurred 10 years ago but did not,” he said.

“There’s always the argument, of course, that the two provinces make up about 18 per cent of the Canadian population – so, you know, it’s reasonable to suggest you’re often not going to get your way, given that we’re a democracy.”
Intergovernmental relations already prickly

Existing frustrations already led Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to introduce the Alberta Sovereignty Act back in 2022. More recently, she issued a list of six demands to Carney that she argued were necessary to avoid a “national unity crisis.”

And those frosty intergovernmental relations haven’t improved over the course of the campaign.

Carney ruffled feathers last weekend poking fun at Smith during a stop in B.C., and she responded by accusing the Liberal leader of fearing “strong Conservative women.”

When asked about Manning’s op-ed, Carney dismissed the warning as “dramatic” – something Soroski argued was a fair shot.

“I think there’s probably some truth to that,” he said.

#Russia determined to discuss return of diplomatic property with US — ambassador
Alexander Darchiev underlined that it is "of critical importance for the restoration of normalcy in the entire bilateral relationship"

The EU is starting the process of imposing sanctions on Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin following his speech in the European Parliament on Wednesday, where he commented on relations with Brussels and Moscow, a Serbian source told TASS.

"We have learned that after today's speech, the EU started the process of putting Mr. Vulin on the sanctions list. The procedure was started today, and it should be completed within a few days," the person said.

According to the source, it is yet unclear exactly what sanctions will be levied.

Earlier on Wednesday, Vulin told the European Parliament that Serbia will never go to war with Russia in exchange for EU membership, according to a copy of his speech obtained by TASS. He said Serbia for 20 years has been fulfilling "every wish and demand" of the EU but was told the bloc will admit Ukraine and Moldova as next members, even though they haven’t yet met a single condition to join.

He also rejected a chance of Serbia imposing sanctions on Russia. Serbia will not "do something so low as imposing sanctions on Russia because of a conflict that could have been avoided if you had just respected the Minsk Agreement."

He also told TASS that Brussels had devised a plan to overthrow Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic with the support of Western intelligence services.

#Canada offering millions in aid in response to Myanmar earthquake

Queen Camilla celebrates anniversary with Italian pizza and ice cream