This is Beirut

Trump, Putin and the Future of Europe: A Deal that Could Redraw the Map

Salam El Zaatari, 11:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Russia Ukraine Europe United States Donald Trump

On August 18, 2025, the White House became the stage for a meeting that may be remembered as a turning point in modern geopolitics. US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a cadre of European leaders gathered to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war. Europe’s top leaders crammed into the Oval Office, listening in silence ...

Residents Protest Against UNIFIL Patrol in Deir Siryan

This is Beirut, 20/08 22:05 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanese Army Europe Hezbollah Israel UN Security Council lebanon UNIFIL

On Wednesday, residents of Deir Siryan, close to Hezbollah, protested after a Finnish UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) patrol reportedly entered private olive groves without being accompanied by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). The incident comes ahead of a vote on the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate, with the UN Security Council ...

Iran Says Europe Has No Right to Extend Deadline for Snapback Sanctions

This is Beirut, 20/08 21:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Abbas Araghchi Iran Europe Sanctions

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday said European powers had no right to trigger snapback sanctions under a moribund 2015 nuclear deal or extend the October deadline to trigger them. His remarks came after Iranian diplomats met in July with counterparts from Germany, France, and Britain, the first such talks since Israel's attack ...

Sweden Moves Iconic Arctic Church Amid Mine Expansion

This is Beirut, 20/08 14:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Culture Europe Art Kiruna

A historic red wooden church considered one of Sweden's most beautiful buildings resumed its slow move across the Arctic town of Kiruna on Wednesday, inching toward its new home to allow Europe's biggest underground mine to expand. Kiruna's entire town center is being relocated because of the giant LKAB iron ore mine that dominates the region, ...

Israel-France Row Flares Over Macron's Move to Recognize Palestinian State

This is Beirut, 20/08 09:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Europe Australia

A row between Israel and France over Paris's plan to recognize a Palestinian state next month escalated to crisis level on Tuesday when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused President Emmanuel Macron of fomenting "antisemitism". The Élysée hit back, calling Netanyahu's allegation "abject" and "erroneous". "This is a time for seriousness ...

Vanished Masterpieces: The Art of the Perfect Crime

Bélinda Ibrahim, 19/08 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Europe Masterpieces Art Heists Mona Lisa Munch

When a masterpiece disappears, a void opens in collective memory. Visitors pause before the empty frame, whispering stories and imagining the audacity of the theft. The moment art slips into shadow, legend takes over. Disappearance grants a fame no peaceful exhibition could ever match. An art theft is never just another crime. It strikes at the ...

The War in Ukraine: Where Things Stand Today

Mario Chartouni, 19/08 17:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Europe Kyiv Russia

More than three years after Russia’s invasion, two recent meetings between US President Donald Trump and his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, have opened the door to the first serious attempt at a settlement. Washington is pushing to revive diplomacy while Moscow continues to hold nearly one-fifth of ...

Ukraine Allies Meet with Hopes of Peace Talks Breakthrough

This is Beirut, 19/08 12:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Europe

Ukraine's allies were meeting on Tuesday to discuss the outcome of fast-moving talks to end the war with Russia, after indications that Volodymyr Zelensky could sit down with Vladimir Putin for a peace summit. Hopes of a breakthrough rose when the Ukrainian president and European leaders met US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, who ...

Zelensky and European Leaders Arrive for High-Stakes White House Talks

This is Beirut, 18/08 20:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Europe Ukraine United States

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders arrived at the White House Monday ahead of high-stakes talks with US President Donald Trump aimed at bridging big differences over a peace deal with Russia. The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Finland, as well as NATO chief Mark Rutte and European Commission chief Ursula ...

Trump-Zelensky: Dialogue Resumes After February Humiliation

Soumia Benmerzoug, 18/08 17:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Europe Ukraine Russia

Last February 28, Zelensky’s visit to Washington ended in fiasco. In what some media dubbed “the ambush office,” Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, berated the Ukrainian leader, accusing him of ingratitude despite tens of billions of dollars in US military aid. The meeting ended abruptly, with Zelensky leaving without a press briefing ...

Zelensky Warns Against 'Rewarding' Russia After Trump Urges Concessions

This is Beirut, 18/08 15:39 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky USA Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said ahead of talks with Donald Trump on Monday that Russia should not be "rewarded" for its invasion, after the US leader pressed Ukraine to make concessions in exchange for peace. The talks, in which European leaders will also take part, follows a Friday summit between Trump and Russian President ...

US Proposed NATO-Style Joint Defense Guarantees for Kyiv

This is Beirut, 16/08 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Ukraine NATO Russia Europe

The US has proposed security guarantees for Ukraine similar to, but separate from, the collective defense agreement between NATO member countries, Italy's premier and a diplomatic source said on Saturday. The suggestion was raised during a call US President Donald Trump held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders on ...

Europe