Russia detains suspect in car bomb killing of general near Moscow, World News
The Kremlin blamed Ukraine for the killing of 59-year-old Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
There was no official comment from Kyiv on Moskalik's death.
The FSB named the suspect as Ignat Kuzin, saying he was "an agent of the Ukrainian special services".
Moskalik was killed in the town of Balashikha, east of Moscow, hours before US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
ALSO READ: Russian missile strike kills 34 in Ukraine's Sumy, Kyiv says
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AsiaOne
4 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Trump and Putin to meet to discuss Ukraine peace deal in Alaska, World News
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug 15 in Alaska to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, Trump said on Friday (Aug 8). Trump made the highly anticipated announcement on social media after he said that the parties, including Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, were close to a ceasefire deal that could resolve the three-and-a-half-year conflict, one that could require Ukraine to surrender significant territory. Addressing reporters at the White House earlier on Friday, Trump suggested an agreement would involve some exchange of land. "There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both," the Republican president said. The Kremlin subsequently confirmed the summit in an online statement. The two leaders will "focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis," Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said. "This will evidently be a challenging process, but we will engage in it actively and energetically," Ushakov said. In his evening address to the nation on Friday, Zelenskiy said it was possible to achieve a ceasefire as long as adequate pressure was applied to Russia. He said he had held more than a dozen conversations with leaders of different countries and his team was in constant contact with the United States. Putin claims four Ukrainian regions - Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson - as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which he annexed in 2014. His forces do not fully control all the territory in the four regions. Earlier, Bloomberg News reported that US and Russian officials were working towards an agreement that would lock in Moscow's occupation of territory seized during its military invasion. A White House official said the Bloomberg story was speculation. A Kremlin spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters was unable to confirm aspects of the Bloomberg report. Ukraine has previously signaled a willingness to be flexible in the search for an end to a war that has ravaged its towns and cities and killed large numbers of its soldiers and citizens. But accepting the loss of around a fifth of Ukraine's territory would be painful and politically challenging for Zelenskiy and his government. Tyson Barker, the US State Department's former deputy special representative for Ukraine's economic recovery, said the peace proposal as outlined in the Bloomberg report would be immediately rejected by the Ukrainians. [[nid:721085]] "The best the Ukrainians can do is remain firm in their objections and their conditions for a negotiated settlement, while demonstrating their gratitude for American support," said Barker, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council. Under the putative deal, according to Bloomberg, Russia would halt its offensive in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions along current battle lines. The last time Alaska hosted a high-stakes diplomatic gathering was in March 2021, when senior officials from the administration of Democratic former President Joe Biden met with top Chinese officials in Anchorage. The get-together involving Biden's top diplomat Antony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi quickly turned into a stunning public clash in front of the cameras, with both sides leveling sharp rebukes of the others' policies that reflected the high tension in bilateral ties. Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has moved to mend relations with Russia and sought to end the war. In his public comments he has veered between admiration and sharp criticism of Putin. In a sign of his growing frustration with Putin's refusal to halt Russia's military offensive, Trump had threatened to impose new sanctions and tariffs from Friday against Moscow and countries that buy its exports unless the Russian leader agreed to end the conflict, the deadliest in Europe since World War Two. It was unclear by Friday evening whether those sanctions would take effect or be delayed or cancelled. The administration took a step toward punishing Moscow's oil customers on Wednesday, imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on goods from India over its imports of Russian oil, marking the first financial penalty aimed at Russia in Trump's second term. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff held three hours of talks with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday that both sides described as constructive. Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland, a close ally of Ukraine, said earlier on Friday that a pause in the conflict could be close. He was speaking after talks with Zelenskiy. "There are certain signals, and we also have an intuition, that perhaps a freeze in the conflict - I don't want to say the end, but a freeze in the conflict - is closer than it is further away," Tusk told a news conference. "There are hopes for this." Tusk also said Zelenskiy was "very cautious but optimistic" and that Ukraine was keen that Poland and other European countries play a role in planning for a ceasefire and an eventual peace settlement.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 9, 2025
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A Ukrainian serviceman preparing to fire a mortar towards Russian positions, on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, in Ukraine's Donetsk region. US-Russia plan truce that will cement Putin's gains The US and Russia are aiming to reach a deal to halt the war in Ukraine that would lock in Moscow's occupation of territory seized during its military invasion, Bloomberg News reported on Aug 8. US and Russian officials are working towards an agreement on territories for a planned summit meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as early as next week, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Addressing reporters at the White House on Aug 8, Mr Trump suggested an agreement would involve some exchange of land. 'There'll be some swopping of territories to the betterment of both,' Mr Trump said. READ MORE HERE Trump announces Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal PHOTO: AFP Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a US-brokered peace agreement on Aug 8 during a meeting with US President Donald Trump that would boost bilateral economic ties after decades of conflict. The deal between the South Caucasus rivals - assuming it holds - would be a significant accomplishment for the Trump administration that is sure to rattle Moscow, which sees the region as within its sphere of influence. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump says he will meet Putin on Aug 15 in Alaska Asia Chinese villagers hit by worst floods in generations say they had no warning Opinion Beyond the hype: Will AI eat Singapore's lunch or provide it in the future? Singapore 'This is home', for retired shop owner putting up 11th flag display in Toa Payoh to mark SG60 Singapore Nation building is every Singaporean's responsibility, not the work of one party alone: Pritam Singapore Four foreign leaders to attend NDP 2025 at the Padang Business Are you set to retire comfortably in Singapore? Singapore Senior Gentlemen's Circus debuts to engage older men to stay active 'It's a long time - 35 years - they fought and now they're friends, and they're going to be friends for a long time,' Mr Trump said, at a signing ceremony at the White House, where he was flanked by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. READ MORE HERE Jim Lovell, of Apollo 13 moon mission, dies aged 97 American astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of the failed 1970 mission to the moon that nearly ended in disaster but became an inspirational saga of survival and the basis for the hit movie Apollo 13, has died at the age of 97, Nasa said on Aug 8. Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks played Lovell in director Ron Howard's acclaimed 1995 film. It recounted Nasa's Apollo 13 mission, which was planned as humankind's third lunar landing but went horribly wrong when an onboard explosion on the way to the moon put the lives of the three astronauts in grave danger. Lovell and crew mates Jack Swigert and Fred Haise endured frigid, cramped conditions, dehydration and hunger for three and a half days while concocting with Mission Control in Houston ingenious solutions to bring the crippled spacecraft safely back to Earth. READ MORE HERE Vietnamese tourists among 3 dead in Greece gales PHOTO: AFP Three people including two Vietnamese tourists died in Greece on Aug 8 as ferocious winds whipped up wildfires and disrupted ferry travel for tens of thousands of summer holidaymakers. More than 200 firefighters backed by 11 water bombers and seven helicopters were battling a blaze in Keratea south-east of Athens. The gales confined many ferries to port, leaving hundreds of travellers stranded. Ferries are the main mode of transport connecting thousands of islands and their crucial tourism sector. READ MORE HERE US, UK differ on Gaza but share common goals: Vance PHOTO: REUTERS Britain and the United States may disagree about how to address the crisis in Gaza but they share a common goal in resolving it, Vice-President J.D. Vance said as he met British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Aug 8 in southern England. Mr Vance, who has previously criticised Britain and its governing Labour Party, landed with his wife Usha and their three children in London before heading to Chevening, the large country residence used by the British foreign minister in Kent. The visit comes amid increased attention on Mr Vance's foreign policy views as he emerges as a key figure in President Donald Trump's administration and his possible pick as successor.
Business Times
7 hours ago
- Business Times
Oil steadies on reports of US-Russia deal, ends week about 5% lower
[HOUSTON] Oil held steady on Friday (Aug 8) as markets awaited a meeting in coming days between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, but prices marked their steepest weekly losses since late June on a tariff-hit economic outlook. Brent crude futures settled 16 US cents or 0.2 per cent higher at US$66.59 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were unchanged at US$63.88. Brent fell 4.4 per cent over the week, while WTI finished 5.1 per cent lower than last Friday's close. US crude fell over 1 per cent earlier in the session after Bloomberg News reported that Washington and Moscow were aiming to reach a deal to halt the war in Ukraine that would lock in Russia's occupation of territory seized during its military invasion. US and Russian officials are working towards an agreement on territories for a planned summit meeting between Trump and Putin as early as next week, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. The potential meeting raises expectations of a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine, which could lead to eased sanctions on Russia, and comes as trade tensions have been on the rise between Trump and buyers of Russian oil. This week, Trump threatened to increase tariffs on India if it kept purchasing Russian oil. Trump also said China, the largest buyer of Russian crude, could be hit with tariffs similar to those levied against Indian imports. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'Various non-oil considerations are at play, including fears over the impact of tariffs and the headlines flying over the last few days regarding a Trump and Putin meeting in the near term,' said Neil Crosby, an energy market analyst at Sparta Commodities. 'Headline risk is particularly strong currently with flip-flopping regarding who will turn up to a meeting over Ukraine and under what circumstances.' Higher US tariffs on imports from a host of trade partners went into effect on Thursday, raising concern over economic activity and demand for crude oil, ANZ Bank analysts said in a note. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries+ (Opec+) agreed on Sunday to raise oil production by 547,000 barrels per day for September, the latest in a series of accelerated output hikes to regain market share, adding to supply. The US oil rig count, an indicator of future supply, rose by one to 411 this week. 'Bearish sentiment has returned this week as key Opec+ members announced a second 'quadruple' output unwind for September (thus fully restoring their extra voluntary cuts of 2.2 mmb/d) and President Trump's sweeping import tariffs took effect against most countries,' analysts at FGE NexantECA said. Trump on Thursday also said he will nominate Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Stephen Miran to serve out the final few months of a newly vacant seat at the Federal Reserve, fuelling expectations of a more dovish policy ahead. Lower interest rates reduce consumer borrowing costs and can boost economic growth and demand for oil. The dollar firmed on Friday but headed for a weekly fall. A stronger dollar hurts demand for dollar-denominated crude from foreign buyers. Money managers cut their net long US crude futures and options positions in the week to Aug 5, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission said. REUTERS
