
Russia favors new round of peace talks with Ukraine, highlights gulf between them
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Kyiv has sent Moscow an offer to hold another round of peace talks this week, and that he wants to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that as soon as there was a definitive understanding of the date for the next round of talks then Moscow would announce it.
'There is our draft memorandum, there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far,' Peskov said.
Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, that led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers. But the two sides have made no breakthrough toward a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
25 minutes ago
- Arab News
UAE president commends UK prime minister on statement to recognize Palestinian state
LONDON: UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan discussed with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer the developments in the Middle East, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and their commitment to enhancing regional security and stability. During the call on Wednesday, the two sides emphasized the need for a just, lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians through a two-state solution in order to promote stability and a better future for the region. He praised the British prime minister's statements on Tuesday on recognizing the state of Palestine in the upcoming UN General Assembly in September. Sheikh Mohammed called for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to help residents in the Palestinian coastal enclave. The two leaders also discussed cooperation and ways to enhance ties between Abu Dhabi and London in various sectors.

Al Arabiya
25 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
US to impose 25 pct tariff on India from August 1: Trump
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States will impose a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from India starting on Aug. 1. He said India, which has the world's fifth largest economy, will also face an unspecified penalty on Aug. 1, but did not elaborate on the amount or what it was for. 'While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 'They have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!' India's commerce ministry, which is leading the trade negotiations with the United States, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump's decision dashes hopes of a limited trade agreement between the two countries, which had been under negotiation for several months. US and Indian trade negotiators had held multiple rounds of discussions to resolve contentious issues, particularly over market access for American agricultural and dairy products. Despite progress in some areas, Indian officials resisted opening the domestic market to imports of wheat, corn, rice and genetically modified soybeans, citing risks to the livelihood of millions of Indian farmers. The new tariffs are expected to impact India's goods exports to the US, estimated at around $87 billion in 2024, including labor-intensive products such as garments, pharmaceuticals, gems and jeweler, and petrochemicals. The United States currently has a $45.7 billion trade deficit with India. India now joins a growing list of countries facing higher tariffs under Trump's 'Liberation Day' trade policy, aimed at reshaping US trade relations by demanding greater reciprocity. The White House had previously warned India about its high average applied tariffs — nearly 39 percent on agricultural products, with rates climbing to 45 percent on vegetable oils and around 50 percent on apples and corn. The setback comes despite earlier commitments by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump to conclude the first phase of a trade deal by autumn 2025 and expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, up from $191 billion in 2024.


Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Australia's first Muslim MP calls for country to recognize Palestine
LONDON: Australia's first Muslim MP and government minister has said his country should recognize a Palestinian state, following in the footsteps of the UK as part of a tide of 'moral momentum.' The appeal by Labor's Ed Husic, who was elected in 2010, came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is to hold further talks with his British counterpart Keir Starmer in the coming days. Starmer pledged this week to recognize a Palestinian state in September if Israel fails to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, among other conditions. If Australia does the same, it would deprive Hamas of its power in Gaza and expedite the peace process, Husic said. 'Hamas is built largely on grievance. That grievance gets removed with the establishment of a state of Palestine, nurtured with the cooperation and support of the international community, progressed through the development of democratic institutions,' he added. The former minister said his Labor colleagues feel increasingly aggrieved over the situation in Gaza, calling on them to urge Australian recognition of a Palestinian state. 'There is a deep feeling within the caucus, about how right it is to recognize Palestine, and I would much rather that colleagues speak for themselves,' he added. Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed an international statement calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Albanese, however, declined to immediately follow Starmer's decision despite Australia's government previously signaling that it would move in unison with international partners on measures to address the crisis in Gaza. 'What I've said is that it's not the timeline, that's not what we're looking at. What we're looking at is the circumstances where recognition will advance the objective of the creation of two states,' Albanese said at Parliament House after speaking with Starmer this week. 'I've said for a long time, my entire political life, I've said I support two states … That's my objective — not making a statement, not giving a political point, but achieving peace.'