logo
Russia delivers remains of over 1,200 troops to Ukraine

Russia delivers remains of over 1,200 troops to Ukraine

Russia Today9 hours ago

Moscow has handed over the bodies of another 1,200 fallen Ukrainian troops to Kiev, RT has learned. There have been several exchanges already between the two sides during the week.
The transfer reportedly happened in line with agreements reached during talks in Istanbul earlier this month, sources told RT on Sunday.
During the negotiations in Türkiye on June 2, delegations from Moscow and Kiev agreed to carry out a series of prisoner swaps, focusing primarily on seriously injured, ill, and younger POWs. Russia also unilaterally decided to repatriate the bodies of more than 6,000 slain Ukrainian troops on humanitarian grounds.
POW swaps between the sides have taken place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with neither Moscow nor Kiev officially disclosing the number of prisoners they handed over and received.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Putin congratulates Xi on his birthday
Putin congratulates Xi on his birthday

Russia Today

time2 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Putin congratulates Xi on his birthday

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended birthday greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping, 72, according to a statement from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. 'The president wished his Chinese counterpart and friend all the very best,' Peskov said, as quoted by RIA Novosti. The message comes on the heels of a visit by Xi in May, when he traveled to Moscow to participate in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War II. Xi and Putin held a formal meeting at the Kremlin on May 8, joined by senior delegations from both sides. The talks lasted over three and a half hours and concluded with the signing of a number of joint agreements. The Chinese Foreign Ministry described Xi's visit to Moscow as 'a complete success.' Putin described the meeting with Xi as 'highly positive' and emphasized the value of face-to-face dialogue. He also thanked the Chinese leader for attending the commemorative event and confirmed his own plans to visit China for ceremonies marking the defeat of militarist Japan. Beijing has advocated a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict since it escalated in 2022. It has also been critical of the West's unilateral sanctions against Russia and blamed NATO expansion for provoking the crisis. In 2023, China released a 12-point proposal, received favorably by Moscow, on how to resolve the conflict through a political settlement which respects the realities on the ground.

Newsweek issues correction over misquote on Russian NATO demands
Newsweek issues correction over misquote on Russian NATO demands

Russia Today

time4 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Newsweek issues correction over misquote on Russian NATO demands

Newsweek has issued a correction after publishing a report that inaccurately attributed a demand by a senior Russian official for NATO to withdraw troops from the Baltic states. The original article, published earlier this week, carried the headline: 'Russia won't end Ukraine war until NATO 'pulls out' of Baltics: Moscow.' The report cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and suggested he had directly called for NATO to leave Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as a condition for ending the conflict in Ukraine. However, Ryabkov made no specific mention of the Baltics in the interview cited by Newsweek. His comments, published by the Russian news agency TASS, referenced NATO's military posture in 'Eastern Europe,' not the Baltic region by name. Following criticism – including from Latvia's ambassador to NATO, Maris Riekstins, who called the report 'very strange' – Newsweek updated both the article's headline and its content. A disclaimer was added noting that the piece had been 'updated to reflect that Sergei Ryabkov did not reference the Baltic states.' Despite the correction, the initial version of the story circulated widely and was picked up by other media outlets, including Lithuania's state broadcaster LRT. Some of these reports included additional commentary from Baltic officials expressing concern over potential Russian aggression toward the region – a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied. In the TASS interview, Ryabkov reiterated Moscow's longstanding opposition to NATO expansion near Russia's borders and called for 'legally binding' security guarantees. He said that 'reducing NATO's contingent in Eastern Europe would probably benefit the security of the entire continent,' but did not single out any country. 'The American side requires practical steps aimed at eliminating the root causes of the fundamental contradictions between us in the area of security,' Ryabkov said. 'Among these causes, NATO expansion is in the foreground.' He also insisted that resolving the Ukraine conflict and normalizing Russia's relations with the West would require addressing what he called Russia's 'fundamental interests,' including opposition to the deployment of strike weapons near its territory. Russia's position on NATO enlargement has been a central issue in its conflict with Ukraine, and Russian officials have frequently cited Western military support for Kiev as a destabilizing factor. However, suggestions that Moscow has issued explicit threats to the Baltics are not supported by Ryabkov's latest remarks. Newsweek has not issued a formal apology but acknowledged the inaccuracy in its updated article.

Russian exports surge despite Western sanctions
Russian exports surge despite Western sanctions

Russia Today

time5 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Russian exports surge despite Western sanctions

Russia's exports have grown considerably, compared to figures recorded prior to the escalation of the Ukraine conflict and despite sweeping Western sanctions, the German Economic Institute has reported. Back in 2022, the US, the EU, the UK, Canada, Japan and several other nations imposed massive sanctions on Russia, targeting its financial institutions, trade, and energy exports. Moscow has consistently described the punitive measures as illegitimate and counterproductive. In a report published on Friday, the German Economic Institute stated that 'despite all European efforts, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war chest is not emptying.' The document suggested that Moscow is 'skillfully exploiting the loopholes in the sanctions regime to expand its financial resources.' This is evidenced by an 18% increase in Russia's exports to its top 20 trade partners last year, compared to 2021, the Institute's experts wrote, estimating that the growth translated to 330 billion dollars' worth of goods. 'The preliminary data for 2025 also shows that little has changed in this regard,' the report noted. According to the analysis, China, India, Türkiye and Brazil are the main importers of Russian goods, consisting mainly of oil, gas, and other raw materials. Moscow has shifted its trade focus to the Global South, but according to the report, Hungary and Slovakia remain among 'Russia's most important trading partners' in the EU. US Senator Lindsey Graham has been spearheading a bill calling for 500% secondary tariffs on imports from countries buying Russian oil and gas. Analysts at the German Economic Institute doubt US President Donald Trump will back the measure. The report also questions whether such tariffs are even technically feasible. On Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned lawmakers that the imposition of such high tariffs could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Speaking late last month at a meeting with business leaders, Russian President Putin hailed the country's impressive economic performance across an array of sectors, despite operating in what he described as 'far from favorable and rather difficult conditions.' The official also cited the International Monetary Fund's ratings, according to which, Russia is in fourth place globally by purchasing power parity (PPP). The macroeconomic analysis metric compares economic productivity and living standards between countries by adjusting for differences in the cost of goods and services.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store