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Dale Willman (0:16)
I'm Dale Willman. Officials from the U.S. ukraine and some European countries are meeting in Geneva in an effort to hammer out a peace deal to end the fighting in Ukraine. After discussions on Sunday, Secretary of State Marc Rubio sounded optimistic.
Marc Rubio (0:30)
Now obviously, like any final agreement, they'll have to be agreed upon by the presidents. And there are a couple issues that we need to continue to work on. But I think the report today is that I think today was worthwhile, was very, very it is probably the most productive day we have had on this issue.
Dale Willman (0:47)
The discussions began with a 28 step peace plan offered by the U.S. the plan has been controversial in part because it strongly favors Russia, but Rubio now says that plan is a living do document that will change. Brazil's President Lula Da Silva expressed concern Sunday over the US Military buildup near Venezuela. And as Kate Bartlett reports, Lula says he intends to speak to President Trump about the issue.
Kate Bartlett (1:10)
Da Silva, who was speaking on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, said there was no reason to have a war. He warned against repeating the mistake of what happened between Russia and Ukraine and said, quote, I once a shot is fired, it is hard to predict how it will end. The US has conducted more than 20 strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific it says were drug boats killing dozens of people. The US has also sent an aircraft carrier strike group, navy warships and stealth aircraft to the area near Venezuela. Trump accuses Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of leading a terrorist drug cartel. Kate Bartlett, NPR News, Johannesburg.
Dale Willman (1:51)
China's diplomatic battle with Japan is continuing to escalate. China's foreign minister said on Sunday that a speech from Japan's prime minister in which she said she considers a Chinese invasion of Taiwan an existential threat was shocking. NPR's Emily Feng has our reports.
Emily Feng (2:10)
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Japan had stolen Taiwan from China and that Taiwan was an inseparable part of China. Taiwan is a self ruled democratic island island and it was a former Japanese colony. And relations between Taiwan and Japan have gotten closer as Beijing's threats towards Taiwan increase. China's ambassador to the United nations also raised Japan's speech about Taiwan this past week, accusing Tokyo of supporting armed intervention over Taiwan. In retaliation, Beijing has also cut off some flights and tour groups to Japan, and it's reportedly blocked some Japanese food imports as well. Emily Fang, NPR News.