Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine and Western nations of rejecting peace agreements from March 2022 talks in Istanbul, aiming for Russia's strategic defeat, asserting that then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Ukraine to continue fighting despite near-finalized terms.

Moving to South Asia, Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus urged former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to avoid making political statements during her stay in India amid concerns over strained relations, and the possibility of her extradition following protests against her 15-year rule.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, families of American hostages held by Hamas are pressing the Biden administration to negotiate directly with the group, bypassing Israel, especially after the body of Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin was found in Gaza.

In related news, Saudi Arabia and India are set to enhance strategic defense cooperation amid shifting geopolitics, as discussed during the sixth India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defense Cooperation meeting in Riyadh.

On the global stage, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan defended his request for arrest warrants for Israeli leaders Netanyahu and Gallant over war crimes allegations, stressing the ICC's commitment to impartial justice and also targeting Hamas leaders in a bid to apply the law equally.

Concluding with Europe, the UK has suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel due to humanitarian law concerns in Gaza and the West Bank, a move signaling Israel's growing diplomatic isolation and facing mixed reactions from British politicians and Jewish groups.