Russia announced on Friday that its forces had recaptured another settlement in the Kursk region previously held by Ukraine, while Ukraine reported on the same day that it had repelled 22 Russian attacks in the region, according to official statements from both sides.
The Russian Defense Ministry specified in a statement that its forces had reclaimed the settlement of Goncharovka in Kursk. The ministry also reported that Russia has regained control of 28 settlements in western Kursk over the past week.
In addition, the Ukrainian armed forces have lost more than 260 service members, five armored personnel carriers, two combat armored vehicles, four artillery pieces, two mortars, and three UAV control points on the frontlines in Kursk over the past 24 hours, according to the ministry.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported Friday that its forces had repelled 22 Russian attacks in the Kursk region.
On the same day, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service stated that since Thursday, border forces had detected a Russian assault unit attempting to re-enter Sumy, a Ukrainian region bordering Russia's Kursk region. Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted the Russian unit in Sumy, resulting in 15 Russian soldiers killed and more than 10 wounded, forcing the unit to retreat.
Russia claims control of another settlement in Kursk, Ukraine reports repelling multiple attacks
The two-state solution is the only path to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, former Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said in an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Guangzhou, southern China’s Guangdong Province.
The two-state solution refers to a proposed framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, aiming to establish two independent states -- Israel and Palestine -- coexisting in peace and security.
"I believe the core of the conflict is the fact that we have people -- the Palestinians -- that have suffered for almost eight decades, and that are probably the only people in the world today that are under siege, being attacked, being killed. I don't see any other solution other than giving them their own state with 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as their capital, which was what was presented in the Arab Summit 22 years ago in 2002. And the 22 Arab countries were ready to sign a peace treaty based on that condition that the Palestinians will have their own state, their own dignity, their own homeland. And this has not happened since," Diab said in the interview aired on Friday.
Resolving the Palestinian question and achieving lasting peace in the Middle East requires the concerted efforts of the entire international community, including major powers like China, Diab noted.
"It's about global balance of power. So, China, being a major player at the global level, can contribute towards a peace resolution, and they have done that before. But everybody needs an end to this conflict, and the only way to end this conflict is to create a Palestinian state for Palestinians. The two-state solution -- I think, it's only fair -- to have Palestinians have their own state and determine their own future without dictation by anybody," he said.
The former Lebanese leader highlighted China's long-standing ties with Lebanon and the Middle East, emphasizing its proactive and fair role in regional affairs. He noted China's historical connections with the region and its potential contribution to achieving a political resolution, including the widely discussed two-state solution.
"China has always been a friend to Lebanon and a friend to the Middle East. There are Lebanese-Chinese ties from a long time ago at the trade level and so on. And yes, China is playing a proactive role even at the political level. China, as a fair player, would, in my mind, be conducive to reaching the political solution and the two-state solution that everybody talks about," Diab said.
Two-state solution only way to resolve Palestine-Israel conflict: former Lebanese PM
