'You Gotta Stop Ukraine First': Russia Vs US Fight Rocks UNSC; Big Clash Between Trump, Putin Aides
TOI.in
/ May 30, 2025, 11:12PM IST
Russia warned Germany not to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems, telling the United Nations Security Council that it is thwarting efforts to establish peace. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged Wednesday to help Ukraine develop missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets. The United States defended Ukraine's right to defend itself from aggression. "Ukraine's fellow UN member states have a right to provide Ukraine with the means to do so," ambassador Chris Lu said. Watch.
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News18
22 minutes ago
- News18
What Next For Russia, Ukraine? Istanbul Peace Talks Hang By A Thread Amid Drone Barrage
Last Updated: Despite the diplomatic overtures at a neutral negotiating table, hope for peace remains fragile as both Russia and Ukraine continue to square off in the battlefield In a city that has long bridged continents and empires, a new kind of high-stakes diplomacy is set to unfold. On Monday, Russian and Ukrainian officials will meet face-to-face in Istanbul for the second round of direct peace talks since the war erupted in 2022—going on to become Europe's largest conflict since World War II. Despite the diplomatic overtures at a neutral negotiating table, hope for peace remains fragile as both Russia and Ukraine continue to square off in the battlefield and neither side appears ready to yield. Monday's talks come a day after Ukraine carried out one of its most brazen and successful attacks ever on Russian soil—hitting dozens of strategic bombers parked at airbases thousands of kilometres behind the front line. In Istanbul, during the first round of talks last month, both Russia and Ukraine agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange and to swap notes on what their vision of a peace deal might look like. For Monday, while Russia says it will present a 'memorandum" of its peace terms, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refreshed his call for an immediate halt to the fighting. THE ROADBLOCKS For Ukraine, the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin from the negotiating table is an unwelcome move. As Zelenskyy stressed that 'key issues can only be resolved by the leaders", Russia has pushed back on the prospect, saying a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting could only happen after the negotiating delegations reach wider 'agreements". Apart from Putin's absence, one of the biggest hurdles remains the disagreement over territory—as Ukraine demands full restoration of its borders, Russia insists on retaining influence over these areas. Ukraine also seeks strong security assurances, including guarantees against future aggression, often involving Western countries or alliances like NATO. Russia, meanwhile, opposes NATO's eastward expansion and demands Ukraine remain neutral. WAR RAGES ON The dichotomy of the peace talks on one hand and continued military actions on the ground on the other undermines trust and complicates diplomatic efforts. Ukraine on Sunday said it had damaged some 40 strategic Russian bombers, worth $7 billion, in a major special operation after months of setbacks for Kyiv's military. Kyiv's security service said the plan, 18 months in the making, had involved smuggling drones into Russia which were then launched from near the airbases, thousands of kilometres away from the front lines, AFP reported. Russian troops have meanwhile been advancing on the ground, particularly in the north-eastern Sumy region, where Putin ordered his forces to establish a 'buffer zone" along the border. On Monday, Russia claimed that its air defences intercepted 162 Ukrainian drones in a massive overnight attack across several regions. The new wave of drones targeted multiple cities and industrial facilities overnight on June 2, according to Russian Telegram channels. Explosions and air raid sirens were reported in at least six oblasts, including Voronezh, Kursk, Lipetsk, Ryazan, Ivanovo, and Volgograd. Trump has demanded that Russia and Ukraine make peace, but so far they have not, and the White House has repeatedly warned the United States will 'walk away" from the war if the two sides are too stubborn to reach a peace deal. Reuters reported that according to Trump envoy Keith Kellogg, the two sides will present their respective documents outlining their ideas for peace terms, though it is clear that after three years of war Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart. Kellogg has indicated that the US will be involved in the talks and that even representatives from Britain, France and Germany will be too, though it was not clear at what level the United States would be represented. Trump's positions on the Russia-Ukraine war have often appeared inconsistent—marked by flip-flops that reflect a blend of personal instincts, political calculation, and shifting geopolitical realities. For instance, just days before Russia's full-scale military escalation in February 2022, Trump described Vladimir Putin as 'smart", 'savvy", and 'a genius' for recognising separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. However, as public and international condemnation of Russia grew, Trump began saying that the invasion wouldn't have happened if he were president. After months of clashing with Zelenskyy—including on live television—Trump has undergone a shift, slamming Putin for having gone 'absolutely crazy" and for 'needlessly killing a lot of people" including Ukrainian citizens 'for no reason whatsoever". He has warned that 'what Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!" According to New York Times, Trump told Zelenskyy and other European leaders that Russia and Ukraine would have to resolve the war themselves, just days after saying that only he and Putin had the power to broker a deal. He also seemed to step back from his own threats to join a European pressure campaign that would include new sanctions on Russia, according to six officials who were familiar with the discussion who spoke to NYT— revealing that the US President now stands at a crossroads, unable to broker peace in a conflict he had promised to resolve in 'just 24 hours". WHAT LIES AHEAD? While the resumption of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine offers a glimmer of hope, the substantial differences between the two nations pose significant challenges. Ukraine's insistence on sovereignty and territorial integrity contrasts with Russia's demands, and the involvement of international stakeholders adds layers of complexity to the negotiations. Given that there is no easy solution to a war, what both Russia and Ukraine could agree to may be a continued military stalemate with high-level diplomatic pressure in the short term and potential for ceasefire agreements if battlefield conditions become unsustainable. About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. More Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : donald trump istanbul news18 specials President Volodomyr Zelensky Russia-Ukraine russia-ukraine conflict United states Vladimir Putin Location : Turkey First Published: June 02, 2025, 13:26 IST News explainers What Next For Russia, Ukraine? Istanbul Peace Talks Hang By A Thread Amid Drone Barrage
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Saudi's MBS Issues RARE ULTIMATUM To U.S-Led West; Arab World Unites For Palestine, Blasts Israel
Saudi's MBS Issues RARE ULTIMATUM To U.S-Led West; Arab World Unites For Palestine, Blasts Israel Source: Arab nations have intensified their demand for an immediate end to the Gaza war and recognition of Palestine. At a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Jordanian capital Amman, Saudi Arabia demanded a political solution to the Palestine issue. At least 31 people were killed and over 150 injured while on their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip. Israel had rejected allegations of its military firing on civilians, and shared a video accusing Hamas of attacking the people.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Ajit Ranade: The success of ‘Made in China 2025' alarmed the West
An after-effect of the global financial crisis of 2008 was that by the following year, China's exports dropped by 16%. This led to widespread factory closures and mass layoffs in provinces like Guangdong. China's prosperity had been built on the large-scale export of low-cost, labour-intensive manufactured goods for three decades. The crisis exposed the vulnerability of that strategy and overdependence on Western markets. Also, China was stuck in low-end assembly roles in global supply chains, with low value addition. Undoubtedly, its economic reforms from 1978 onwards made it possible for 300 million workers to move from rural and agricultural livelihoods to higher paying industrial and urban jobs. But 2008 was a rude reminder of several weaknesses. Real wages had not grown much. As a result, consumption spending was stuck at just 35% of GDP even as late as 2009. Domestic demand could not pick up the slack caused by falling external demand. Also Read: Kaushik Basu: Redefine prosperity; GDP tunnel-vision could prove costly In 2009, Chinese policymakers responded with a 4 trillion renminbi stimulus, with big spending on infrastructure. This restored growth to 10% next year, but also led to industrial overcapacity in sectors like steel and cement, and reinforced the dominance of state-led investment. Consumption was not picking up even as deflationary pressures were building, while state-owned enterprises were struggling, plagued by overcapacity. This in turn caused a debt explosion. China's debt has grown from 150% of GDP in 2008 to about 280% now. A real estate over-build-up made a crisis in this sector imminent, as was later demonstrated by the fall of Evergrande. This was the backdrop to Beijing's launch of 'Made in China 2025' (MIC25) ten years ago. By 2013, the new regime under President Xi Jinping had recognized the need for supply-side reforms by cutting overcapacity, addressing the consumption-export imbalance and reviving industrial growth with innovation and value addition. Also Read: China began de-risking its economy well before Trump's trade fury Partly inspired by Germany's Industrie 4.0, MIC25 aimed to upgrade Chinese manufacturing to high value addition and less dependence on foreign technology. It also aimed for technological self-sufficiency and domination of emerging high-tech sectors, and sought to promote indigenous innovation and green as well as smart manufacturing. It targeted 10 sectors, including aerospace, advanced rail-transport equipment and new energy vehicles, and aimed to raise the domestic content in high-tech industries to 70%. This industrial policy was focused on picking champions, channelling vast state subsidies, and guiding credit and support to chosen sectors from preferential government procurement. The West was unhappy, viewing MIC25 as mercantilist and violative of WTO norms as well as non-market driven. There were concerns about forced technology transfer and cyber theft. Unsurprisingly, when US President Donald Trump assumed office for his first term, he slapped punitive duties, put in export controls and investment screening. The EU followed suit in trying to decouple from China. Also Read: The time is right for a reset of India's trade ties with China Fast forward to 2025. There are now several independent assessments of MIC25. Of these, two major studies were commissioned by the American Chamber and European Chamber of Commerce. What emerges is that MIC25 has been a success and has led to a spree of backlash actions, such as this year's Trump tariffs. China now accounts for 30% of value added in global manufacturing, ahead of the US, which accounts for 16%. China's BYD dominates electric vehicles (EVs), while Huawei leapt ahead in 5G telecom and AI hardware. China is a leader in shipbuilding, batteries, solar power, turbines, drones, consumer electronics and pharmaceutical ingredients. DeepSeek's AI leap was a wake-up call to those enamoured by OpenAI's ChatGPT. The recent price slash by BYD shook the global EV industry. It sells more vehicles than Tesla in the EU despite higher tariffs. China now has more robots per 10,000 workers than Germany, according to a Financial Times report. Import dependency has reduced and foreign companies are incentivized to localize production. EVs, high speed rail, industrial robots, 5G and renewable energy are China's success stories, while it faces challenges in semiconductors, aerospace and biomedicine. The FT report notes that even now, Chinese aircraft are simply 'western aircraft with Chinese metal on them." Other risks are its huge EV and solar overcapacity, apart from the global backlash of tariffs and sanctions led by US actions. Hence, MIC25 has been repositioned and folded into a broader framework called 'new quality productive forces." Also Read: How Trumpian volatility is forcing policy changes in China At the rate it is going, China's share of valued addition in manufacturing could go up to 50% in the next 5-10 years. How this Cold War 2.0, which may see the US decouple from China, plays out is anybody's guess. China is also investing in trying to win the war of narratives and perception by describing its alternate development path. But initiatives like its Belt and Road plan have only met with limited success. China also cannot ignore some core and persistent vulnerabilities, including low domestic consumption demand, an ageing demography as well as a peaking labour force, rising unemployment, slowing growth and ballooning debt. Added to this is its increased friction with the Western world and barriers denying its exports access to markets in the West. The success of MIC25 cannot hide these related risks and challenges. The author is senior fellow with Pune International Centre.
