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Finland’s foreign minister says Ukraine ‘is now holding the cards’ as Russia signals talks

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EXCLUSIVE: Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said Ukraine has gained new leverage against Russia, arguing that Moscow’s renewed talk of negotiations comes as Kyiv has strengthened itself militarily, politically and diplomatically.

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Valtonen’s comments carry particular weight because Finland is one of NATO’s newest members and now sits on the alliance’s longest border with Russia. Finland joined NATO in April 2023 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ending decades of military nonalignment and transforming the country into a frontline state in Europe’s security posture.

«Ukraine certainly is now holding the cards,» Valtonen told Fox News Digital Monday in an interview at the United Nations headquarters in New York. «They have strengthened themselves immensely over the course of the past three, four months, both militarily and politically, diplomatically. And I think this opens a great window of opportunity for actually advancing the peace talks.»

UKRAINE MAKES FASTEST GAINS IN YEARS AS RUSSIA TALKS STALL, EXPLOITING CRACKS IN KREMLIN COMMAND

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Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen at the United Nations headquarters in New York, June 8, 2026. (Efrat Lachter/ Fox News Digital)

Her assessment comes as Reuters reported that Ukraine’s top military commander said Ukrainian forces had recaptured more than 600 square kilometers, or roughly 230 square miles, of territory so far in 2026, a shift after years of slow Russian gains. It also follows renewed diplomatic activity, including Zelenskyy’s stated willingness to halt fighting along current lines as a path to talks and Putin’s public rejection of a direct meeting for now.

Finland shares a roughly 820-mile border with Russia, making it one of the alliance’s most strategically exposed members.

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Valtonen said Moscow has shown little willingness to make concessions and argued that the responsibility for ending the war remains with the Kremlin.

«So far, Russia hasn’t been willing to make any concessions, and essentially Russia could end the war today if they wanted to, because it was their war in the first place,» she said. «So I’m hopeful that this could be the right time to relaunch those talks.»

Peace efforts remain stalled over the same core divide that has shaped the war for years: Ukraine has called for a ceasefire and negotiations without surrendering territory, while Russia has continued to demand control over occupied Ukrainian regions. Putin said in early June there was «no point» in meeting Zelenskyy for now and repeated Moscow’s broader war aims.

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Asked about U.S.-led efforts to negotiate an end to the war, Valtonen praised Washington’s role but stressed that Ukraine alone must decide whether to accept any concessions, including on territory.

«I think the U.S. involvement in this entire process has been a very good one, and it’s important that the U.S. stays engaged, because at the end of the day, it’s about freedom, it’s the future of not only Europe, but also of global peace,» she said.

ZELENSKYY SAYS US WILL ONLY GUARANTEE UKRAINE’S SECURITY IF KYIV AGREES TO GIVE UP DONBAS

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Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte standing together at the White House

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte prepare to depart after a group photo at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 18, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Valtonen said Europe also needs to be part of the process because Russia’s war directly affects the continent’s security architecture.

She said any serious negotiations would require Russia to accept a full ceasefire.

«First and foremost, we would need Russia at the table willing to end the war,» Valtonen said. «And that would need to happen through a full ceasefire, because only that would open the possibility for true negotiations.»

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Valtonen also credited President Donald Trump with pushing European allies to increase defense spending, saying the pressure had moved the continent in the right direction after years of imbalance inside NATO.

Finland has moved aggressively to increase defense spending. Helsinki plans to raise defense spending to 3.2% of GDP by 2030, up from 2.5% in 2025, Reuters reported in April. 

WHY NATO’S DEFENSE SPENDING IMBALANCE LASTED FOR DECADES

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Senior border guard officer Juho Pellinen looking at fence marking Finland Russia border near Pelkola crossing

Senior border guard officer Juho Pellinen looks at a fence marking the boundary between Finland and Russia near the Pelkola border crossing in Imatra, Finland, on Nov. 18, 2022. (Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also praised Finland and Sweden Tuesday during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, saying the two newest NATO members had strengthened the alliance by bringing «their own defense industry» and «advanced technologies.» 

He called them «a great partner» and «an extraordinary partner.»

Valtonen said Finland’s approach is shaped by its own history with Moscow.

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«Finland obviously has taken the Russian threat extremely seriously because we have the longest border with them,» she said. «We certainly worship our status as the happiest country in the world, i.e. democracy, the rule of law and human rights, which we hold dear as values over anything that Russia could offer.»

She also pointed to Finland’s experience in World War II, when the Soviet Union invaded Finland, as a reminder of why deterrence matters.

«The last time the Soviet Union, i.e. Russia, tried to invade us was during the Second World War,» Valtonen said. «Happily, we were able to fend them off, but of course at the massive cost to the society.»

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«For us, it has been clear that if we invest in our deterrence, then that’s a signal to Russia — do not come here,» she added.

On Iran, Valtonen said Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s March comments, reported by The Guardian, that the conflict was not a NATO matter should not be understood as Europe washing its hands of the crisis.

«I don’t think our president meant that this has nothing to do with European countries or NATO allies,» Valtonen said. «I think what he probably meant more is that NATO obviously is not directly involved as an organization, which is true.»

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EX-NATO AMBASSADOR WARNS US AND ALLIES MUST ‘STOP THE SNIPING’ AND UNITE TO END IRAN CONFLICT

Swedish soldiers standing in formation at Berga naval base during military exercise Aurora 23

Swedish soldiers participate in the military exercise Aurora 23 at Berga naval base outside Stockholm on April 28, 2023. A Swedish parliamentary committee recommended on April 26, 2024, that Sweden increase its military budget by nearly $5 billion through 2030 to strengthen air defense and expand conscription after joining NATO. (Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency)

Her comments came after another weekend escalation in the Iran war, with Tehran launching missiles at Israel and Israel striking military targets in western and central Iran overnight. The flare-up unfolded as the U.S. and its allies continue efforts to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear state and keep pressure on Tehran over threats to Israel and regional shipping.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy choke point, has become a central focus for Western governments after Iranian threats and restrictions on maritime traffic. Reuters reported Monday that the European Union sanctioned Iranian-linked individuals and an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy unit over threats to shipping in the strait.

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«We as individual member states in Europe have definitely been helping the U.S. effort,» Valtonen said. «We don’t want to see Iran as a nuclear state. We know what kind of a threat Iran has projected towards the region, especially toward Israel.»

Valtonen added Finland has also joined efforts led by France and the United Kingdom to keep the Strait of Hormuz open once conditions allow for safe operations in the area.

«It’s so important that such straits are not weaponized by any country around the world,» Valtonen said.

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Asked whether European countries had refused U.S. requests to use bases during the Iran crisis, Valtonen said Finland has no U.S. bases to shut down but argued that most European allies have supported Washington’s requests.

«Finland has been helping the U.S. through so many ways,» she said. «We don’t have any U.S. bases in Finland, so there’s nothing we can shut down.»

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Commander of the Finnish Army Lieutenant General Pasi Valimaki addresses Finnish conscript soldiers after a military exercise at Pori Brigade in Niinisalo, Finland, Dec. 9, 2025. (Anne Kauranen/Reuters)

«But having said this, the vast majority of European countries have said yes to everything that the U.S. has asked during the past couple of months when this war effort has been ongoing, independent of the fact that, of course, we are not directly involved as countries in the war,» she added.

Valtonen said that support demonstrated NATO allies’ willingness to help Washington even when the alliance itself is not formally involved.

«I think that really shows the engagement by NATO allies in this and our willingness to help when the U.S. really needs some assistance,» she said.

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INTERNACIONAL

Guerra en Medio Oriente EN VIVO: EEUU emitió una advertencia mundial para los estadounidenses por las tensiones en Medio Oriente

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El Departamento de Estado indicó que los ciudadanos que se encuentren en la región “deberían extremar las precauciones y la vigilancia, y estar preparados para posibles cancelaciones de vuelos, cierres periódEEUU emitió una advertencia mundial para los estadounidenses por las tensiones en Medio Orienteicos del espacio aéreo y posibles interrupciones en los viajes”

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Estados Unidos realizó su décima noche consecutiva de ataques contra Irán, con explosiones reportadas en distintos puntos del sur del país, entre ellos la isla de Qeshm, Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chabahar, Isfahán y Konarak, según informes preliminares.

La escalada alcanzó a Kuwait, donde el ejército iraní aseguró haber atacado sistemas de misiles HIMARS estadounidenses desplegados en el Camp Arifjan con proyectiles tierra-tierra. Las autoridades kuwaitíes confirmaron que sus defensas antiaéreas fueron activadas para responder a una incursión de misiles y drones iraníes.

La tensión también se trasladó al Estrecho de Ormuz, una de las principales rutas marítimas para el transporte energético mundial. Un carguero informó haber recibido el impacto de un proyectil de origen desconocido a ocho millas náuticas (14,8 kilómetros) al noreste de Limah, Omán, en un nuevo incidente dentro de la zona.

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En paralelo, los hutíes de Yemen anunciaron un bloqueo marítimo contra Arabia Saudita, una medida rechazada de forma categórica por Riad. El gobierno saudita condenó las declaraciones del grupo, que acusa al reino de mantener un cerco sobre Yemen.

Por su parte, Israel informó el inicio de una fase piloto de las denominadas “zonas seguras” en el sur del Líbano, en coordinación con fuerzas militares estadounidenses y libanesas. La iniciativa forma parte de un esquema de control territorial que involucra a tres ejércitos en una de las fronteras más sensibles de Medio Oriente.

A continuación, la cobertura minuto a minuto:

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Jordania interceptó cinco drones iraníes

Jordania afirmó haber neutralizado cinco drones procedentes de Irán, según informó el martes la agencia estatal de noticias del país.

Esta mañana, la Guardia Revolucionaria iraní reivindicó varios ataques contra objetivos militares estadounidenses en Jordania, entre ellos un sistema de radar de defensa antimisiles y un avión F-15.

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El presidente del Líbano se reúne con Donald Trump en Washington para abordar el desarme del grupo terrorista Hezbollah

El encuentro ocurre un día después de que EEUU anunciara el inicio de la implementación de un acuerdo que otorga al ejército libanés el control sobre “zonas piloto” en el sur del pais, áreas ubicadas principalmente fuera de los territorios que Israel ocupó después de que el grupo terrorista involucrara al país en la guerra de Medio Oriente en marzo

El presidente de Líbano, Joseph Aoun (REUTERS)
El presidente de Líbano, Joseph Aoun (REUTERS)

El presidente de Líbano, Joseph Aoun, se reunirá este martes en Washington con su homólogo estadounidense Donald Trump, en medio de la presión internacional para que Beirut avance con el desarme de Hezbollah, una condición clave de Israel para retirar sus tropas del sur del país.

La ASEAN pide la máxima moderación y el cese inmediato de las hostilidades entre Estados Unidos e Irán

Los ministros de Asuntos Exteriores de la ASEAN expresan su “seria preocupación por la rápida evolución de la situación en Medio Oriente”, destacando en concreto la “renovación de las hostilidades entre Estados Unidos y la República Islámica de Irán”.

En un comunicado, el bloque regional advirtió que estas crecientes tensiones “disminuyen las perspectivas de una resolución pacífica a través del diálogo y la diplomacia” y “socavan gravemente los esfuerzos que están realizando los mediadores clave”.

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Los ministros también hicieron un llamamiento a todas las partes implicadas para que “ejerciten la máxima moderación y eviten cualquier acto que pueda agravar aún más la situación”. Instaron a un “cese completo e inmediato de las hostilidades en todos los frentes” y exigieron el “restablecimiento del tránsito seguro, sin obstáculos y continuo de los buques” en rutas comerciales clave como el estrecho de Ormuz.

Los diplomáticos también destacaron las consecuencias económicas más amplias del conflicto, señalando las “implicaciones de las continuas tensiones en Oriente Medio para el comercio regional, la energía y la seguridad alimentaria”.

El régimen de Irán lanzó nuevos ataques contra instalaciones militares de EEUU en Jordania, Kuwait y Bahréin

El ejército iraní informó que sus fuerzas alcanzaron sistemas de defensa aérea, instalaciones de radar y edificios administrativos utilizados por Washington en los tres países del Golfo, horas después de una nueva ronda de bombardeos estadounidenses contra objetivos iraníes

El régimen de Irán lanzó nuevos ataques contra instalaciones militares de EEUU en Jordania, Kuwait y Bahréin (REUTERS)
El régimen de Irán lanzó nuevos ataques contra instalaciones militares de EEUU en Jordania, Kuwait y Bahréin (REUTERS)

Irán atacó este martes instalaciones militares estadounidenses en Jordania, Kuwait y Bahréin y advirtió que lanzará ofensivas “más decisivas y potentes” contra Estados Unidos, en una nueva escalada del conflicto en Medio Oriente que también amenaza con extenderse al Mar Rojo tras el anuncio de los rebeldes hutíes de Yemen de bloquear los puertos de Arabia Saudita.

¿Qué significa el bloqueo marítimo de los hutíes para Arabia Saudita?

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El bloqueo naval anunciado sobre el estrecho de Bab el-Mandeb implica que Arabia Saudita perdería una de sus principales rutas de exportación de petróleo hacia el este de Asia, lo que podría afectar de forma considerable sus ingresos por ventas de crudo.

Según el planteo expuesto, la medida también impediría que buques comerciales con destino a Arabia Saudita transiten por ese paso marítimo. Cualquier embarcación que intente exportar mercancías al reino o realizar operaciones comerciales a través de Bab el-Mandeb sería detenida y obligada a retroceder.

En este contexto, la principal incertidumbre gira en torno a la respuesta que adoptará Arabia Saudita. El gobierno saudí podría optar por una reacción militar o intentar resolver la situación mediante negociaciones.

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Mientras tanto, una delegación de los hutíes permanece en Omán para mantener conversaciones con funcionarios saudíes. No obstante, el grupo terrorista advirtió que, si Arabia Saudita decide intervenir militarmente, las instalaciones de Saudi Aramco figurarán entre los posibles objetivos de sus ataques.

Los precios del petróleo bajan en medio de informes sobre esfuerzos de mediación entre Estados Unidos e Irán

Según Reuters, los precios del petróleo han caído tras los informes sobre los esfuerzos de mediación entre Estados Unidos e Irán, incluso cuando ambos países lanzaron nuevos ataques y los hutíes de Yemen amenazaron con imponer un bloqueo naval a Arabia Saudí.

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Los futuros del crudo Brent cayeron 35 centavos, o un 0,4 por ciento, hasta los 88,87 dólares por barril a las 00:52 GMT, mientras que el crudo West Texas Intermediate (WTI) estadounidense para entrega en septiembre se mantuvo estable en 82,47 dólares por barril.

Irán reivindicó nuevos ataques contra objetivos militares estadounidenses en Kuwait

La Guardia Revolucionaria Islámica ha emitido un segundo comunicado en el que reivindica ataques adicionales contra objetivos militares estadounidenses en Kuwait.

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En un comunicado difundido por la agencia de noticias Tasnim, la Guardia Revolucionaria Islámica afirmó que sus fuerzas atacaron un radar de alerta temprana, un sistema de radar de defensa antimisiles, un radar FPS-117, un sistema de defensa Patriot y un sistema de comunicación por satélite de defensa aérea en la base Ahmed Al-Jaber.

El grupo añadió que la operación tenía como objetivo despejar la cobertura de radar en la región antes de nuevos ataques con misiles y drones.

Estados Unidos emitió una advertencia mundial para los estadounidenses por las tensiones en Medio Oriente

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El Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos ha aconsejado a los estadounidenses de todo el mundo que extremen las precauciones, debido al aumento de las tensiones en Oriente Medio y al riesgo de una mayor escalada.

Según el comunicado, los estadounidenses que se encuentren actualmente en Medio Oriente, en particular, “deberían extremar las precauciones y extremar la vigilancia, y estar preparados para posibles cancelaciones de vuelos, cierres periódicos del espacio aéreo y posibles interrupciones en los viajes”.

También instó a los estadounidenses que viven fuera de Medio Oriente a que reconsideren sus viajes a la región o a través de ella.

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El departamento advirtió que Irán y los grupos que apoyan a Teherán podrían atacar intereses estadounidenses, instalaciones diplomáticas o lugares relacionados con ciudadanos estadounidenses en el extranjero.

Estados Unidos desvió siete buques comerciales en el mar Arábigo para garantizar el bloqueo sobre los puertos iraníes

El Comando Central informó que también dejó fuera de servicio una embarcación y difundió imágenes de las operaciones realizadas desde el barco de asalto anfibio USS Boxer

Estados Unidos desvió siete buques comerciales en el mar Arábigo para garantizar el bloqueo sobre los puertos iraníes (@CENTCOM)
Estados Unidos desvió siete buques comerciales en el mar Arábigo para garantizar el bloqueo sobre los puertos iraníes (@CENTCOM)

El Comando Central de Estados Unidos (CENTCOM) informó este lunes que las fuerzas estadounidenses redirigieron siete buques comerciales y dejaron fuera de servicio otra embarcación como parte de las operaciones destinadas a reforzar el bloqueo naval impuesto sobre los puertos iraníes. La medida forma parte de la campaña militar lanzada por Washington para restringir el tráfico marítimo vinculado con Irán en el estrecho de Ormuz, uno de los corredores energéticos más importantes del mundo.

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DOJ opens probe into Harvard’s financial aid for alleged discrimination against American students

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The Justice Department is reviewing whether Harvard University accepted foreign donations that improperly favored students from China and other countries over American students.

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The department said Monday that Harvard’s foreign-funding disclosures raised concerns that some donors imposed nationality-based restrictions on financial aid. Officials are examining whether those arrangements violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars federally funded institutions from discriminating based on national origin.

«Every American student should have an equal opportunity to compete for college scholarships, grants, and other kinds of financial aid and benefits,» Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said in a statement.

«Schools cannot take federal dollars and then turn around and accept money from foreign sources to give financial aid that deliberately excludes American citizens — doing so is illegal, and we will stop it wherever we find it,» she continued.

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KEY TRUMP AGENCY PUTS TOP UNIVERSITIES IN CROSSHAIRS OVER ALLEGED RACE-BASED DORM PROGRAMS

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into whether Harvard University is allowing Chinese donors to create scholarships that exclude American students. (Steve Rosenbach/iStock)

The DOJ said some China-based donors directed Harvard to use their money for aid programs benefiting students from particular countries. The department alleged that complying with those restrictions could disadvantage students of other nationalities, including Americans.

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Officials stressed that the review remains ongoing and that the department has not reached any conclusions. The DOJ also did not identify the specific scholarships or donors under examination.

Harvard denied that its financial aid policies violate federal civil rights law.

«Harvard follows the law for required reporting of donations and, consistent with our legal obligations under Title VI, does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin in allocating financial aid,» the university said in a statement.

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DOJ SUES UCLA OVER ALLEGED ‘JUDENREIN’ CONDITIONS DURING ANTI-ISRAEL ENCAMPMENT

A student walks across the campus grounds at Harvard University.

The DOJ said Chinese donors have given money to Harvard to support financial aid programs limited to foreign students from certain countries. (Zhu Ziyu/VCG via Getty Images)

Federal law requires colleges and universities to report foreign gifts and contracts worth at least $250,000. The DOJ said a Civil Rights Division audit of those disclosures found that Harvard had reported nearly $4.5 billion in foreign funding — more than any other American university — including over $630 million from China, its largest foreign source.

The university provides need-based institutional aid to international students, while federal grants and other government assistance are generally limited to eligible US students. Harvard also uses private scholarship and employment funds to support students from outside the country.

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Harmeet Dhillon

The DOJ said Harvard’s foreign funding disclosures «raised concerns» about the university’s compliance with Title VI’s antidiscrimination requirements. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Some private gifts have been designated for students from specific nations. In 2014, SOHO China co-founders Pan Shiyi and Zhang Xin donated $15 million to support Chinese students at Harvard. The DOJ has not said whether that gift is part of its review.

The inquiry adds another front to the Trump administration’s broader conflict with Harvard. Federal officials have also scrutinized the university over alleged antisemitism, admissions practices and its treatment of foreign students.

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A federal judge previously blocked the administration from cutting billions of dollars in research funding from Harvard as related litigation continues.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Nicaragua’s Ortega says country will ‘never again’ hold elections, shutting out opposition

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Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega said the Central American country would no longer hold elections, further closing off any potential path for the opposition to challenge the government he leads with his wife, Rosario Murillo.

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Ortega, Nicaragua’s longest-serving leader, has remained in power since 2007 after previously governing during the 1980s. His current presidential term is scheduled to run through 2027.

«There won’t be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power,» Ortega said.

He delivered the remarks Sunday during a speech commemorating the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which Ortega participated in the overthrow of the US-backed dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza.

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TRUMP ADMIN BACKS BOLIVIA STATE OF EMERGENCY AS LEFTIST EX-LEADER’S LOYALISTS FRACTURE NATION

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega said officials in the Central American country will no longer hold elections. (REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria)

The declaration appeared to eliminate the possibility of a future electoral challenge as Ortega and Murillo continue consolidating control over the country’s political institutions.

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«The days when parties backed by the Yankees (United States) and the Somocistas would return to power are over — never again,» Ortega declared.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment.

The Trump administration has described the Ortega-Murillo government as a dictatorship and imposed sanctions on members of the government and their allies. The State Department has also enacted visa restrictions targeting more than 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their family members.

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«The United States stands with the Nicaraguan people who, like Rivera, aspire to see a free Nicaragua,» Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in June.

TRUMP EXPANDS CUBA SANCTIONS BEYOND US COMPANIES IN MAJOR CRACKDOWN ON FOREIGN ENABLERS

Daniel Ortega

The Trump administration has described the Ortega government as a dictatorship. (Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg)

The Biden administration previously said Ortega illegitimately awarded himself another term following Nicaragua’s disputed 2021 presidential election.

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Authorities arrested presidential candidates, opposition figures, business leaders and journalists ahead of that vote as the government intensified its criminalization of dissent.

Ortega and Murillo further expanded their authority through sweeping constitutional changes that took effect in 2025. The reforms extended the presidential term from five years to six and elevated Murillo from vice president to «co-president.»

The changes also placed Nicaragua’s legislative, judicial and electoral institutions under the authority of the presidency, according to United Nations experts.

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Ortega and Murillo now exercise control over nearly every branch of the government, including the armed forces, police and judiciary.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, have control over nearly every aspect of the country’s government. (INTI OCON/AFP)

Ortega had already effectively eliminated meaningful electoral competition during elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021, Salvador Marenco, coordinator of the Costa Rica-based Nicaragua Nunca Más Human Rights Collective, told Reuters.

Many prominent opposition leaders have been imprisoned, forced into exile or stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship, while opposition parties and independent civic organizations have lost their legal status.

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A United Nations group of experts has accused the Ortega-Murillo government of systematically violating human rights as part of a campaign to eliminate criticism and preserve its hold on power. The experts said some alleged violations may amount to crimes against humanity.

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The government launched a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2018. More than 300 people were killed during the unrest, according to international human rights groups.

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Reuters contributed to this report.



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