FM Shoukry urges an end to Russia-Ukraine crisis in Moscow talks: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Egypt is “deeply willing to see an end to military confrontations with Ukraine” in a meeting in Moscow yesterday, according to an SIS statement. The pair also discussed strengthening bilateral relations and developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict before attending a joint press conference.

Shoukry still sees diplomacy as the way out of war: Shoukry again stressed the necessity of a political resolution to settle the Russian-Ukrainian crisis — particularly given its ramifications for developing countries including Egypt — during a separate meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry. At his press conference with Shoukry, Lavrov described Egypt’s position towards the crisis as “balanced” in response to a question from Asharq Business.

Joint projects and further economic cooperation on the agenda: Our Rosatom-built Dabaa nuclear plant, the planned Russian industrial zone, and Russian wheat imports to Egypt were all touched on during Shoukry and Lavrov’s presser, as well as moves to activate the Russian central bank’s recent decision to accept the EGP as a currency of trade. Extra News has clips (watch, runtime: 04:25 | 02:12 | 02:51.)

REMEMBER- We keep our social circle wide: Shoukry’s Moscow trip comes directly after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Cairo. Israel-Palestine topped the agenda in Blinken’s talks with Shoukry and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, amid escalating violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Abbas sits down with Egypt and Jordan’s intelligence chiefs: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held talks with Egypt and Jordan’s intelligence chiefs ahead of welcoming US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Ramallah, Palestinian news agency WAFA reports. The details of the talks were not disclosed.