Putin and Xi discussed 'rough edges' between G7 leaders at summit, Kremlin says
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a reception, held on Victory Day marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Putin and Xi discussed 'rough edges' between G7 leaders at summit, Kremlin says
ST PETERSBURG - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed in a telephone call on Thursday what they saw as frictions between G7 leaders at this week's Group of Seven summit, the Kremlin said.
At the meeting in Canada, the bloc of wealthy nations struggled to find unity over the war in Ukraine after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for Putin and left a day early to tackle the Israel-Iran conflict from Washington.
His departure deprived Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of a chance to meet him and press for more U.S. weapons.
Putin and Xi "discussed the results of the recent G7 meeting in Canada. In particular, they noted the well-known rough edges that emerged in the relations between participants," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
"And, by the way, it was mentioned that for Zelenskiy this was by no means the most successful trip abroad."
In a call lasting about an hour, the Kremlin said Xi and Putin discussed the Israel-Iran crisis, bilateral ties and cooperation within the BRICS group, set to hold a summit in Brazil next month, including an initiative for a new BRICS investment platform for the Global South. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
Oil prices settle lower as US sanctions ease fears of escalation in Iran
[HOUSTON] Oil prices settled down on Friday (Jun 20) as the US imposed new Iran-related sanctions, marking a diplomatic approach that fed hopes of a negotiated agreement, a day after US President Donald Trump said he might take two weeks to decide US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict. Brent crude futures settled down US$1.84, or 2.33 per cent, to US$77.01 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude for July, which did not settle on Thursday as it was a US holiday and expires on Friday, was down 21 US cents, or 0.28 per cent, at US$74.93. The more liquid August contract settled at US$73.84. Brent rose 3.6 per cent on the week, while front-month US crude futures increased 2.7 per cent. The Trump administration issued fresh Iran-related sanctions, including on two entities based in Hong Kong, and counter-terrorism-related sanctions, according to a notice posted to the US Treasury Department website. The sanctions target at least 20 entities, five individuals and three vessels, according to the Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'Those sanctions are cutting both ways. They may be part of a broader negotiation approach towards Iran. The fact that they are undertaking this is a signal that they are trying to resolve this outside of conflict,' said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York. Oil prices jumped almost 3 per cent on Thursday after Israel bombed nuclear targets in Iran, while Iran, Opec's third-largest producer, fired missiles and drones at Israel. Neither side showed any sign of backing down in the week-old war. Brent prices retreated after the White House said Trump would decide whether the United States would get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks. 'Although a major escalation is yet to occur, risks to supply from the region remain high, still hinging upon the potential for US involvement,' said Russell Shor, senior market analyst at Israel's UN ambassador said Israel seeks genuine efforts on Iran's nuclear capabilities from Friday's meeting between European and Iranian ministers, not just another round of talks. 'However, while Israel and Iran carry on pounding away at each other, there can always be an unintended action that escalates the conflict and touches upon oil infrastructure,' PVM analyst John Evans said. Iran in the past has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for Middle East oil exports. Oil exports so far have not been disrupted and there is no shortage of supply, said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS. 'The direction of oil prices from here will depend on whether there are supply disruptions,' he said. An escalation of the conflict in such a way that Israel attacks export infrastructure or Iran disrupts shipping through the strait could lead to oil at US$100 a barrel being a reality, said Panmure Liberum analyst Ashley Kelty. Elsewhere, the EU has abandoned its proposal to lower the price cap on Russian oil to US$45, Bloomberg reported. US energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for an eighth week in a row for the first time since September 2023, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by one to 554 in the week to Jun 20, the lowest since November 2021. REUTERS
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
US: Stocks end week mostly lower
[NEW YORK] Wall Street stocks mostly fell on Friday (Jun 20) amid weakness in some semiconductor shares as markets weighed the latest developments in the ongoing war between Iran and Israel. Markets rose after US President Donald Trump's remarks on Thursday on the Middle East, allowing for up to two weeks before possible US military action against Iran. But on Friday afternoon, Trump expressed doubt that European powers would be able to help end the Iran-Israel war, telling reporters, 'Europe is not going to be able to help in this'. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.1 per cent at 42,206.82. But the broad-based S&P 500 shed 0.2 per cent to 5,967.84, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index fell 0.5 per cent to 19,447.41. Analysts pointed to a pullback in some chip companies following a Wall Street Journal report that said the United States could revoke waivers used by some companies to access US technology in China. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Asked about the matter, a Commerce Department spokesperson said that chipmakers will still be able to operate in China. 'The new enforcement mechanisms on chips mirror licensing requirements that apply to other semiconductor companies that export to China and ensure the US has an equal and reciprocal process,' the spokesperson added. Adam Sarhan of 50 Park Investments described the market as on edge in anticipation of new headlines on trade actions or the Middle East. 'We have a situation where tensions in the Middle East missiles are still firing, there's no ceasefire and there's a fear that the US may be involved,' Sarhan said. In light of uncertainty on Iran and other areas, 'investors are de-risking, they are selling stocks ahead of the weekend,' Sarhan said. Fed governor Christopher Waller told CNBC that central banks should 'look through tariff effects on inflation' and focus instead on the underlying trend in price increases. The Fed earlier this week voted to keep interest rates unchanged, as Fed chair Jerome Powell said the central bank could wait to see if Trump's tariffs revive inflation. Among individual companies, Kroger jumped nearly 10 per cent after the supermarket chain raised its sales forecast. However, the company refrained from lifting other projections, saying the macroeconomic environment remains 'uncertain'. CarMax surged 6.6 per cent after reporting a jump in quarterly profits as the company's CEO pointed to a 'very large and fragmented' used car market that 'positions us to continue to drive sales, gain market share and deliver significantly year-over-year earnings growth for years to come'. AFP

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 21, 2025
British foreign minister David Lammy (left) and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot briefing the media in Geneva on June 20, after their talks with Iran's Foreign Minister on Tehran's nuclear programme. PHOTO: AFP While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 21, 2025 Europe-Iran talks yield little at 'perilous' moment There were few signs of progress after European foreign ministers met their Iranian counterpart on June 20 in a bid to prevent conflict in the Middle East from escalating, although all signalled readiness to keep talking, despite major sticking points. The foreign ministers of Germany, Britain, France - known as the E3 - plus the EU, urged Iran to engage with the United States over its contentious nuclear programme even as Tehran has repeatedly insisted it will not open discussions with the Trump administration until Israeli strikes on Iran end. The talks aimed to test Tehran's willingness to negotiate a new nuclear deal despite there being no obvious prospect of Israel ceasing its attacks soon, diplomats said. For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran was ready to consider diplomacy once Israel had ceased its attacks and been held accountable for its actions. READ MORE HERE Trump says he may support Israel-Iran ceasefire President Donald Trump said on June 20 he might support a ceasefire in the week-old aerial conflict between US ally Israel and its regional rival Iran 'depending on the circumstances'. Asked by reporters if he would support a ceasefire while negotiations are ongoing, Mr Trump said: 'I might, depending on the circumstances.' Europe would not be able to help much in the war between Iran and Israel, Mr Trump added. READ MORE HERE US judge orders release of pro-Palestinian activist A US judge ordered on June 20 that Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil be released from immigration custody, a major victory for rights groups that challenged what they called the Trump administration's unlawful targeting of a pro-Palestinian activist. Mr Khalil, a prominent figure in pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's war on Gaza, was arrested by immigration agents in the lobby of his university residence in Manhattan on March 8. President Donald Trump, a Republican, has called the protests anti-Semitic and vowed to deport foreign students who took part, and Mr Khalil became the first target of this policy. READ MORE HERE Russia must not let economy slip into recession, says Putin Russia's economy must under no circumstances slide into recession, President Vladimir Putin told an economic forum on June 20, in a clear instruction to assembled government ministers and central bankers. The Bank of Russia hiked its key interest rate to the highest level since the early 2000s in October, seeking to curb stubbornly high inflation, before cutting it by one percentage point to 20 per cent earlier this month. Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, in a downbeat message to Russia's showcase economic event, said on June 20 that the economy was on the verge of sliding into recession and monetary policy decisions would determine whether it falls into one or not. Pressure on the central bank is mounting. READ MORE HERE Liverpool shatter club record to sign Germany's Wirtz Liverpool have signed Germany's Florian Wirtz from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, the Premier League champions said on June 20, as they smashed their transfer record to seal a deal for the attacking midfielder. Leverkusen will receive a guaranteed amount of £100 million (S$170 million) and a further maximum of £16 million in potential bonuses. That makes the 22-year-old Liverpool's most-expensive signing ever, ahead of Netherlands centre back and captain Virgil van Dijk who joined for £75 million in 2017. READ MORE HERE Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.