Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has decided to keep secret information about weapons and military aid being provided to Ukraine. He announced this during a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Germany is among the Western powers providing weapons and military assistance to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.

The German government has not officially disclosed the reason behind the disclosed the reason behind the decision to keep secret information about weapons being supplied to Ukraine. However, sources with knowledge of the matter said it was a measure taken to keep the information secret from Russia. The sources believe the aim is to prevent the Russian military from having the opportunity to take countermeasures by using information about weapons and military aid received by the Ukrainian army.

“Debates about types of weapons and how powerful they are will be hidden from public view under my administration,” Merz told reporters in Kyiv. The war between Russia and Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. Since then, Germany has been continuously providing weapons and military assistance to Ukraine. Germany had previously disclosed information on some of the weapons it was providing to Ukraine. Not all information was made public. However, due to pressure from German citizens and parliament, the German government had begun to disclose all information related to it. But Merz, who took office as Chancellor on May 6, has now announced that he will change that decision.

After taking office, Merz has assured that Germany will continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine. And he said that he would continue to support Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine war. “Germany will continue to provide financial assistance [to Ukraine] without interruption. I hope that you [leaders of other countries] will also continue to act in this way,” Merz said.

During the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian forces have taken control of a large percentage of Ukrainian territory. This includes many towns in the two main regions of eastern Donbas, Luhansk and Donetsk. It also includes some areas of Zaporizhzhia in the south. Russia took control of Crimea, Ukraine’s southernmost region, in 2014.

Ending the Russia-Ukraine war is a presidential promise of US President Donald Trump. Trump, who took office on January 20, said he would end the war on his first day in office. However, that has not been achieved. Informal talks are currently underway between Russia and Ukraine, coordinated by the United States, on ending the war.

Iran and the United States have resumed talks regarding Iran’s nuclear program, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s planned trip to the Middle East. Although both Iran and the US have stated their desire to find a solution through dialogue rather than military confrontation, there are many issues on which neither side is willing to compromise. Oman has mediated three rounds of talks between the US and Iran, and preparations are underway for a fourth round to be held in Muscat.

Iran will be represented in these talks by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The US will be represented by Trump’s special envoy Steve Biegun. Before departing for Oman, Araghchi told the media that Iran’s position is based on strong principles and that he hopes for a positive outcome from these talks.

Biegun said that Iran would not be allowed to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels. He added that if today’s talks do not produce concrete results, an alternative approach may need to be considered. In response, Araghchi stated that Iran will not give up its nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran if a desirable solution is not reached through negotiations. Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates from next Tuesday to Friday.

Iran had also reached an agreement with the US in 2015 to control its nuclear program. However, that agreement was nullified in 2018 during President Trump’s first term. Israel’s powerful Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to put extreme pressure on the US, Israel’s strongest ally, to eliminate Iran’s capability to produce nuclear weapons.

A Qatari team has begun efforts to recover the bodies of American hostages killed by the terrorist group ISIS in Syria about ten years ago. Between 2014 and 2017, when ISIS was at its strongest, parts of Syria and Iraq were under the group’s control. During this period, ISIS brutally killed many hostages and released videos showing these scenes. Among those taken hostage by the group were also captives from Western countries.

The Qatari group has reportedly begun the work of recovering the bodies with some American involvement. Sources say the group has so far found the bodies of three people, but it has not yet been confirmed if these are the bodies of American hostages. It is also unclear how long the search efforts will continue.

The US State Department has not yet commented on this work. The Qatari group’s efforts to recover the bodies of American citizens come as US President Donald Trump prepares to visit some Gulf countries, including Qatar, next week. At this time, Syria’s new transitional government, which has close ties to Qatar, is working to ease sanctions imposed by the US against the country. According to a Syrian source, the Qatari team is first working to find the body of Peter Kassig, an American citizen who was involved in humanitarian aid work. He was brutally killed in Dabiq, an area in northern Syria, in 2014.

In addition, American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff were also killed by ISIS. Their deaths were confirmed in 2014. Kayla Mueller, an American citizen involved in humanitarian aid work, was also killed by the group. Her death was confirmed in 2015. Finding the bodies of American citizens killed by ISIS has been promised by various US administrations in recent years. Previously, the US has made many efforts to find their bodies. As part of this work, US, US government officials operating in Syria have reportedly searched specific areas of the country. It is believed that the bodies of Kassig, Sotloff, and Foley are in one area of Syria. However, Mueller was reportedly held captive in Iraq.