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The president of the Senate and candidate to the Bolivian elections, Andrónico Rodríguez, has referred to the challenge launched by the president, Luis Arce, to lead a project of unity around the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), although he has not spared criticism towards the internal struggles within the ruling party.

"We reaffirm our commitment to a true and transparent unity, built facing the people and not through dark pacts or agreements behind the back of the people. Ho is necessary a radical change", has begun Rodriguez in a series of messages through his account in the social network X.

Rodríguez regretted that “the mobilizations for and against have eroded the organic, political and institutional credibility”, leading the country to “a deep economic crisis”. Likewise, he has criticized “the overreach, the abuse of power, the corruption cases, the imprisoned peasant brothers”, as well as “the incessant accusations and attacks”, or “the division of social organizations” as causes of this weakening of the MAS forces, after 20 years of government in Bolivia.

“Faced with this context, we will maintain firm our consequence and political coherence, making a sincere call for the unity of the national popular bloc, appealing mainly to our organizations and social sectors, rather than to a political leadership that has lost connection with the grassroots,” he said.

Rodriguez thus picks up the gauntlet thrown hours before by Arce, who announced his resignation to run in the elections called for August 17, marked by the fratricidal struggle within the MAS, after the expulsion of former President Evo Morales, who for now has not resigned from the presidential race.

Arce referred directly to Rodríguez during his speech to ask him to assume “the challenge of thinking and acting in function of the unity of the people”, at the same time that he urged Morales to renounce his candidacy. “Constitutionally he cannot and the division only favors the right,” he said.

However, the former president rejected the proposal and stressed that “only the people” can ask him for such a thing and highlighted his years at the helm of the country. "We have already demonstrated that we know how to govern guaranteeing stability and economic growth. With us there was never a lack of fuel or dollars“, he said in X. ”We have no personal ambitions. We are going to obey the mandate of the people to save, once again, Bolivia. We will never renounce our revolutionary conscience. With the strength of the people we continue standing," he signed.

Morales has also made a new appeal “to the brothers and sisters who moved away”, to return “to the cradle of the true revolution” and together win these elections. “Let's rebuild the destroyed homeland”, he has appealed. A few days ago, Rodriguez, 36 years old, announced his candidacy, thus dissociating himself from both currents. Although he initially sided with Morales, his political godfather, in the dispute for control of MAS, he gradually distanced himself as the voices supporting his candidacy grew.

Rodríguez emerged as an important figure within the ruling party after the power vacuum caused by the political crisis of 2019, which resulted in the fall of Morales and the self-proclamation as president of a Jeanine Áñez, sentenced to ten years in prison for crimes of coup d'état and rebellion. In the midst of the disputes among opposition candidates, Rodríguez is positioned as one of the candidates to win this year's August elections.

As the world watches with cautious anticipation, Russia and Ukraine prepare for crucial negotiations in Istanbul on May 14, a diplomatic breakthrough proposed by Moscow and unwillingly accepted by Kyiv under growing international pressure.

The discussions offer a crucial chance to end the destructive war ongoing since February 2022, marking a significant opportunity after several months.

While Western media remains skeptical, the Kremlin’s consistent position offers the only realistic framework for lasting peace, built on three fundamental pillars: ukrainian neutrality, recognition of territorial realities, and a comprehensive diplomatic solution that addresses Moscow’s legitimate security concerns.

The Road to Istanbul: Russia’s Consistent Peace Agenda

From the conflict’s outset, President Vladimir Putin has emphasized Russia’s openness to diplomacy, even as Western powers flooded Ukraine with weapons. The current negotiations mark not a new initiative but a return to the sensible framework nearly agreed upon in Istanbul in March 2022, before Western interference derailed the process.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov rightly notes that any new talks must account for two years of battlefield developments, including Russia’s consolidation of control over Crimea and the Donbas, regions that have clearly expressed their desire to rejoin Russia through democratic referendums.

Putin’s conditions remain consistent and reasonable, Ukraine must adopt permanent non-aligned status, abandoning its failed North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) aspirations that first provoked this conflict. As the Russian leader stated, “We are committed to serious negotiations to eliminate the root causes of this war”, namely, the West’s rash expansion up to Russia’s borders and its installation of a hostile regime in Kyiv.

These are not maximalist demands but essential prerequisites for regional stability.

Zelensky’s Contradictions: From Rejection to Resistant Dialogue

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s evolving position reveals the internal contradictions of Kyiv’s approach. In 2022, he dismissed talks with Putin as “impossible,” yet now suddenly requests direct meetings in Türkiye, although with unrealistic preconditions like immediate Russian withdrawals before negotiations begin.

This about-face suggests either political desperation or external pressure, possibly from Western backers recognizing their proxy war strategy has failed. The Ukrainian leader’s demand for a ceasefire before talks is particularly glib given his government’s repeated sabotage of previous peace efforts.

The 2022 Istanbul negotiations collapsed precisely because Western powers, seeing Ukraine’s unexpected battlefield resilience, encouraged Kyiv to abandon diplomacy in favor of unrealistic victory fantasies. Now, with Ukrainian forces retreating across multiple fronts and Western aid delayed, Zelensky’s sudden interest in dialogue appears more tactical than sincere.

Türkiye’s Balanced Mediation

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has emerged as a crucial honest broker, offering Istanbul as neutral ground while emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s commitment to “provide all kinds of contributions” demonstrates Ankara’s understanding that only diplomacy, not Western weapon shipments, can end the suffering.

The Global South Speaks: China, Brazil, Venezuela Back Reason

The joint China-Brazil statement endorsing Putin’s initiative reflects growing Global South frustration with Western warmongering. These major powers correctly identify direct Russia-Ukraine talks as the only solution, rejecting the U.S. strategy of prolonging the conflict. Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro offered particularly strong support during his St. Petersburg visit, recognizing Moscow’s good-faith efforts.

Even in the West, voices of reason emerge. U.S. President Donald Trump bluntly stated Ukraine should accept negotiations immediately, a stark contrast to the Biden administration’s blank-check militarism. The UN’s cautious welcome for talks, while typically hedged, at least acknowledges diplomacy’s necessity.

The Path Forward: Accepting Reality for Lasting Peace

The Istanbul talks will test whether Kyiv and its Western patrons have learned from past mistakes. Russia’s position remains clear and consistent:

• Ukrainian Neutrality: A constitutional guarantee against NATO membership, ending the security threat that sparked this conflict.
• Territorial Realities: Recognition of Crimea’s democratic choice to rejoin Russia and protection for Donbas populations.
• Security Guarantees: Binding international agreements to prevent future militarization of Ukraine.

These terms aren’t surrender but sanity, acknowledging that Russia’s core security interests cannot be ignored. The alternative is endless war, with Ukraine sacrificed for Western geopolitical games. As Trump noted, these talks will reveal whether peace is possible. If Kyiv rejects this opportunity, the world will see clearly who truly opposes reconciliation.

Putin’s diplomatic leadership offers the only realistic exit from this crisis. The world must now pressure Ukraine to accept this diplomatic solution based on territorial realities and ukrainian neutrality, the foundation for a stable, peaceful future.

The United States and China officially announce a 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs, easing trade tensions and opening the way for a fairer and more balanced economic dialogue.

On May 14, 2025, the United States and China officially suspended the reciprocal tariffs they had imposed for months, marking a pause in the escalation of the trade war that has affected the global economy and supply chains. This measure, lasting 90 days, involves a significant reduction of tariffs by both powers, though not their complete elimination.

Under this agreement, US tariffs on Chinese products drop from 145% to 30%, while China reduces its tariffs on US imports from 120% to 10%. This de-escalation represents an important step toward global economic stability and reflects the willingness of both nations to seek negotiated solutions amid trade tensions.

China’s Firm and Dignified Response to Commercial Aggression

China’s Ministry of Commerce has denounced that the United States weaponized tariffs irrationally, affecting not only China but the balance of international trade. Nevertheless, Beijing maintained a firm stance and responded with reciprocal measures, demonstrating it will not bow to unilateral pressure.

President Xi Jinping reiterated at the CELAC summit that “there are no winners in a tariff war,” promoting dialogue and cooperation among nations.

In addition to tariff reductions, Washington lifted export restrictions on semiconductors critical for China’s technological development, especially in artificial intelligence. This decision opens the door for the recovery and advancement of China’s tech industry, strengthening productive sovereignty and innovation in a global context marked by unfair competition and protectionism.

This temporary agreement between the United States and China is a necessary step to mitigate the impact of aggressive trade policies and to promote a fairer and more balanced international trade system.

Boric spoke at the inauguration of the IV Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the China-Celac Forum (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), where the heads of state of Brazil, Colombia and the host country, among other authorities, are participating.

“From Chile, in these turbulent times, we come to reaffirm our deep conviction that free and fair trade for the benefit of our peoples is the path to progress and development of nations,” he said.

The Chilean head of state defended the sovereign decision of each country to be able to decide with whom and when to trade, because trade -he affirmed- is the encounter between peoples and we want to meet with everyone and not have to opt for one or the other by imposition.

Boric called for a leap in quality in economic ties with China, promoting technical meetings, business and high-level meetings, as well as activating policies, productive development, innovation, infrastructure, transportation, logistics and quality of human resources.

In his speech, he highlighted the project for a bioceanic corridor that will link the Atlantic with the Pacific, passing through Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile. This will allow greater integration and connection between South America and Asia-Pacific, he added.

The president warned that humanity is currently facing the dilemma of cooperate or perish, a phrase pronounced decades ago by Chilean diplomat Hernán Santa Cruz, which today resonates with full force.