Category: Azer News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has imposed sanctions on 95 individuals and 70 legal entities, most of whom are Russian citizens and residents.

According to Azernews, citing the RBK-Ukraine Telegram channel, the decision was approved by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. The restrictions target companies and executives linked to the Russian military-industrial complex.

The sanctions apply in particular to entities operating in communications, radio-electronic warfare, microelectronics, as well as the chemical, metallurgical, mining, and fuel and energy sectors.

‘The purpose of these sanctions is to complicate the activities of the Russian military-industrial complex and limit the production of weapons for the war against Ukraine,’ the report said.

Ukraine is also working to synchronize these measures with its international partners. Some of the restrictions may be incorporated into the European Union’s upcoming twentieth package of sanctions.

Developments in Venezuela, where the United States is reportedly conducting a special operation targeting President Nicolas Maduro, could push global oil prices higher, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

According to Azernews, Orban made the remarks in a post on his Facebook page, noting that the Hungarian government had already held urgent consultations with the country’s energy companies.

‘We have consulted with key players in the energy sector to protect the country from the consequences of the Venezuelan crisis that could lead to a rise in oil prices. The Hungarian government is working on this,’ Orban wrote.

The prime minister avoided commenting on the political aspects of the US operation in Venezuela, adding that no Hungarian citizens were harmed in the course of the events.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a U.S. delegation on January 4, Azernews reports.

The delegation included Markwayne Mullin, a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican Senator from Oklahoma; Jason Smith, a member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of House Committee on Ways and Means, Republican from Missouri; Ronny Jackson, a member of the House of Representatives, Republican from Texas; and Jimmy Panetta, a member of the House of Representatives and House Committee on Ways and Means; Democrat from California.

Expressing their gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the reception, the delegates said that the development processes they witnessed in Baku made a deep impression on them.

The delegates conveyed their congratulations to the head of state on the achievements attained in Washington regarding the advancement of the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the congratulations.

Describing the agreements reached as historic, the head of state particularly emphasized U.S. President Donald Trump’s role in this matter. President Ilham Aliyev underscored that Azerbaijan would continue its efforts to advance the regional peace agenda. Noting that trade relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have already been established, the head of state emphasized that Azerbaijani oil products are exported to Armenia, adding that wheat from Kazakhstan and Russia is exported to Armenia via the territory of Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his hope that the TRIPP corridor would create new opportunities in terms of regional transport connectivity.

The head of state said that the unjust Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act does not correspond to the essence of the current development of relations between the two countries. President Ilham Aliyev hailed the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend the enforcement of Section 907, expressing hope that members of Congress would continue their efforts to completely abolish it.

During the meeting, the sides hailed the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the U.S., noting that there are ample opportunities for expanding cooperation in political, economic, energy, defense and defense industry, education, information technologies, artificial intelligence and other domains.

They also exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation between the two countries’ legislative authorities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has imposed sanctions on 95 individuals and 70 legal entities, most of whom are Russian citizens and residents.

According to Azernews, citing the RBK-Ukraine Telegram channel, the decision was approved by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. The restrictions target companies and executives linked to the Russian military-industrial complex.

The sanctions apply in particular to entities operating in communications, radio-electronic warfare, microelectronics, as well as the chemical, metallurgical, mining, and fuel and energy sectors.

‘The purpose of these sanctions is to complicate the activities of the Russian military-industrial complex and limit the production of weapons for the war against Ukraine,’ the report said.

Ukraine is also working to synchronize these measures with its international partners. Some of the restrictions may be incorporated into the European Union’s upcoming twentieth package of sanctions.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Saturday that while Spain did not recognise Nicolas Maduro’s government, it will also not recognise the US military intervention in Venezuela, arguing it violates international law and threatens regional stability, Azernews reports.

“Spain did not recognise Maduro’s regime. But neither will it recognise an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region towards a future of uncertainty and warmongering,” Sanchez said on X.

He also called for de-escalation and dialogue to resolve the crisis.

A transition in Venezuela following the US capture of President Nicolas Maduro must be peaceful and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people, Anadolu Agency reported citing France’s president, Azernews reports.

“The upcoming transition must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people,” Emmanuel Macron wrote on the US social media company X, accusing Maduro of “trampling on fundamental freedoms.”

Saying that Maduro “gravely undermined” the dignity of his own people,” he added that the Venezuelan people can only rejoice after Maduro’s capture by the US.

Macron said he hopes opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia swiftly ensures this transition.

“I am currently exchanging with our partners in the region. France is fully mobilized and vigilant, including to ensure the safety of its nationals during these uncertain times,” he added.

US President Donald Trump later confirmed a “large scale” strike, adding that President Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the country.”

The attacks came after months of growing US pressure on Maduro, who Washington accuses of being involved in drug trafficking. The Venezuelan leader had denied the claims and voiced readiness for talks.

Elon Musk’s satellite network company Starlink Services LLC announced it will provide free broadband internet service to Venezuela through February 3, Azernews reports.

The decision follows a United States military operation that resulted in the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from the country.

Amid risks of high uncertainty and instability in Venezuela, Starlink said it intends to ensure continued connectivity.

The company was not officially authorized to operate in the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that he will hold a new meeting with US President Donald Trump at the end of January to discuss Ukraine’s peace plan, Azernews reports.

Speaking at a briefing, Zelensky said the meeting would take place after consultations among European leaders, during which key security-related documents are expected to be finalized. According to him, the discussions will cover a wide range of issues, with particular focus on security guarantees for Ukraine and the country’s post-war restoration.

Zelensky also noted that meetings with Donald Trump’s team are planned to take place in Paris ahead of the leaders’ talks.

‘The meetings may last one or two days. Everything will depend on the progress of the work. After that, I believe we will prepare for a broad leadership meeting in the United States. We would like all of this to happen by the end of January,’ the Ukrainian president said.

It should be recalled that on December 28, Presidents Zelensky and Trump met in Florida. Following the talks, both leaders commented on the outcomes, with the US president stating that some progress had been made on the Donbas issue, while noting that a final decision had not yet been reached, though the sides were close to an agreement.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday that its forces had “taken control” of the village of Podoli in the Kharkiv region, Azernews reports.

“As a result of active operations, units of the Zapad group of forces have taken control of the village of Podoli in the Kharkiv region,” the ministry said on Telegram.

A week before, according to the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov Russian troops shelled six settlements in the Kharkiv region, injuring four people.

In the city of Chuhuiv, a 65-year-old woman was injured as a result of Russian shelling. In the village of Tsupivka of the Derhachi community, a 50-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman were injured. In the settlement of Velykyi Burluk, a 65-year-old woman was injured.

According to Syniehubov, the enemy used various types of weapons against the Kharkiv region: one glide bomb (KAB); four Geran-2 type UAVs; five FPV drones; and one UAV (type being determined). Civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged or destroyed.

In Bohodukhiv district, a car (village of Petrivka), two private houses, and power lines (village of Baranivka) were damaged. In Kupiansk district, five private houses and a civilian enterprise were damaged (settlement of Velykyi Burluk). In Izium district, a private house and a car were damaged (village of Pidvysoke).

China’s Foreign Ministry urged the United States on Sunday to “immediately” release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and resolve the situation in Venezuela through dialogue and negotiation, Azernews reports.

“China expresses grave concern over the US forcibly seizing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taking them out of the country. The US’s move is in clear violation of international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson added.

The ministry said in a statement on its website that Washington should “ensure the personal safety” of Maduro and his wife and “stop toppling the government of Venezuela.”

The South American country’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice appointed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as acting president following Maduro’s abduction.