Hook Weekly Wrap | 23.05.25

No Ukraine truce despite Trump-Putin call

The week kicked off with US President Donald Trump attempting to mediate peace in Ukraine.

But, despite a 2-hour-long call with his Russian counterpart, Putin refused Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.

Israel lifts blockade, allows Gaza aid

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other hand, seemingly gave into international pressure to allow aid into war-torn Gaza.

After the IDF eased an 11-week blockade, 90 truckloads of humanitarian aid were finally collected by a UN team on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing. They were quick to add that it was "nowhere near enough to meet the vast needs in Gaza".

Israeli forces fire “warning shots” at diplomats

Adding to global outcry, Israeli soldiers were captured on video firing towards a group of foreign diplomats in the occupied West Bank.

The military claimed the group deviated from an “approved route” and the shots were only a “warning.”

EU lifts sanctions on Syria

The European Union lifted economic sanctions on war-torn Syria following the US announcing the same last week. In a post on X, EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU wants to help the Syrian people “rebuild a new, inclusive and peaceful Syria”.

UK & EU agree to a major reset of relations

Staying with Europe, the UK and the EU agreed to a major reset of relations, the most significant since the 2020 Brexit. The two parties struck a deal that covers fishing, trade, defence, energy and strengthening ties in a number of policy areas still up for negotiation.

Trump confronts Ramaphosa at White House

In the US, President Donald Trump ambushed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with explosive false claims of white genocide and land seizures during a tense White House meeting on Thursday.

But Ramaphosa – who earlier said that he had come to Washington to “reset” the relationship between the two countries – refused to take the bait.

Trump revokes Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students

Staying with Trump - his administration today revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. The order even forces foreign students currently enrolled to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status.

Top CPI (M) leader Basavaraju and 26 other Naxals neutralised

And in India - 27 members of the banned CPI (Maoist) were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh.

Among them was their leader Nambala Keshavrao alias Basavaraju.

In a post on X, Home Minister Amit Shah called the operation "a landmark achievement" whilst reiterating India's resolve to “eliminate Naxalism before the 31st of March 2026”.

That’s a wrap on geopolitics this week. Check out the Hook app for all the latest updates.