In a day marked by high-stakes diplomacy and clarifications on sensitive remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged with top United States negotiators in a critical effort to find an end to the war in Ukraine. Concurrently, in India, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani sought to clear the air over his recent comments on the term 'jihad'.
High-Stakes Kremlin Meeting on Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a pivotal meeting with senior US negotiators at the Kremlin on Tuesday, December 3. The delegation included Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. This diplomatic push comes at a crucial juncture as Russian forces continue to press advances on the battlefield.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier emphasised that any proposed peace plan must ensure a permanent end to the conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale offensive in February 2022, rather than just a temporary pause in hostilities. The US-initiated peace roadmap has undergone revisions following consultations with Kyiv and its European allies.
Madani Clarifies 'Jihad' Remarks After Controversy
Back in India, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani issued a clarification on Tuesday regarding his statements on 'jihad'. Madani stated he takes responsibility for any confusion caused and asserted that his words were taken out of their full context and misunderstood.
The clarification came a day after his speech at the National Governing Body meeting in Bhopal sparked controversy. Madani had said that enemies of Islam and Muslims have wrongly made 'jihad' synonymous with abuse, conflict, and violence. He criticised the use of terms like 'Love jihad', 'Land jihad', and 'Taleem Jihad' as insults to the Muslim faith, expressing disappointment that responsible figures in government and media use them without shame.
Other Key Global Developments
In the Middle East, Israeli forensics experts are examining remains handed over by Palestinian militants in Gaza to the Red Cross. Israel believes the remains could be of one of the two hostages still in the territory—an Israeli and a Thai national. The remains were found in Gaza's northern town of Beit Lahiya. Since the US-brokered ceasefire began on October 10, the remains of 26 hostages taken during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, have been returned.
In Peru, presidential hopeful Rafael Belaunde survived a gun attack on his car south of Lima. Gunmen on a motorbike fired shots at his SUV in Cerro Azul, shattering the windscreen. The 50-year-old politician was left with blood stains from cuts caused by broken glass but was not seriously hurt. Police confirmed neither Belaunde nor his driver sustained major injuries.
In the United Kingdom, China's plan for a 'mega' embassy in London faces further delays. A decision on the controversial project, stalled for years over espionage and security concerns near London's financial district, has been postponed to January 20. British authorities stated they need more time to consider security implications raised by the Home and Foreign Offices.
