logo
Ukraine sent talks proposal to Russia, Zelenskyy says – DW – 07/19/2025

Ukraine sent talks proposal to Russia, Zelenskyy says – DW – 07/19/2025

DW7 days ago
The Ukrainian president said that "the momentum of the negotiations must be stepped up." Earlier, Russia launched 300 drones and 30 missiles overnight, killing one. DW has the latest.
Kyiv has formally proposed a new round of peace talks with Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday evening.
The proposal is for talks to be held next week, Zelenskyy said in his nightly address, adding that the "momentum of the negotiations must be stepped up."
Earlier on Saturday, Zelenskyy said Russia launched some 300 drones and 30 missiles in overnight attacks on Ukraine.
One person was killed in the port city of Odesa and critical infrastructure was damaged in northeastern Sumy.Kyiv has formally proposed a new round of peace talks with Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday evening.
The proposal is for talks to be held next week, Zelenskyy said in his nightly address, adding that the "momentum of the negotiations must be stepped up."
"Security Council Secretary Umerov also reported that he had proposed the next meeting with the Russian side for next week," Zelenskyy said.
He added that the pace of negotiations should be increased and "everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire."
Kyiv has accused Moscow of "weaponizing" deportations after evacuating 43 Ukrainian citizens from a Georgian holding site.
Kyiv says dozens of its citizens — most of them prisoners thrown out of Russia after having served their sentences — were being held in a basement facility near the Georgia-Russian border.
On Saturday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that 43 individuals had been evacuated from Georgia via Moldova.
Sybiha, writing on X, said most of those brought home, among them former political prisoner Andrii Kolomiyets, had been stripped of their identification documents and abandoned in "difficult" conditions hundreds of miles from Ukraine. Maria Belkina, who heads Volunteers Tbilisi — a group helping Ukrainian refugees in Georgia — called conditions at the border detention site, which has only 17 beds, "inhumane."
"They are without basic necessities — food, water, sanitation," Belkina told the French AFP news agency, adding that "some deportees had medical conditions, including suspected tuberculosis and HIV."
"Since June, Russia has significantly increased the number of deported Ukrainian nationals, mostly former convicts, to the border with Georgia," Foreign Minister Sybiha wrote in his X post.
Kyiv has requested that Moscow deport citizens directly to Ukraine rather than distant third-countries.
Rights groups say as many as 800 more Ukrainian citizens could be deported in the coming weeks.
Australia's government has said it is in the process of delivering 49 US-made Abrams M1A1 tanks to Ukraine.
The tanks, worth $160 million (€138 million), are part of a $980 million Australian military aid package for Kyiv.
Ukraine has already received a number of the tanks with the rest scheduled to arrive over the coming months.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said, "The M1A1 Abrams tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion."
Australia is one of Ukraine's biggest non-NATO supporters, supplying aid, ammunition and military equipment. Canberra has also banned the export of all alumina and aluminum ore — including bauxite — to Russia, as well as sanctioning some 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said that Russian forces had fired some 300 drones and 30 missiles overnight.
The tirade killed one person in the port city of Odesa and damaged critical infrastructure in the northeastern city of Sumy.
Zelenskyy posted a video and pictures of flaming buildings and firefighters to his Telegram account writing that the attacks in Sumy had knocked out power to thousands of homes in the region.
The mayor of Odesa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, said a high-rise in the city had been engulfed in flames and that emergency services and firefighters were battling fires and searching for injured citizens.
"Odesa was attacked by enemy strike drones — more than 20 UAVs approached the city from different directions," wrote Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov on Telegram.
"Civilian infrastructure was damaged as a result of the attack. A residential high-rise building is on fire," added the mayor.
Russia's Defense Ministry on Saturday said it had successfully downed 87 Ukrainian drones over central, western and southern parts of the country, with 48 downed near the Ukrainian border in Bryansk.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also said that air defenses had down 13 drones headed for the capital had been downed after midnight.
Sobyanin said that specialists were examining fragments where they hit the ground.
Welcome to DW's coverage of the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine.
This Saturday, we start with another massive Russian air assault
In Russia, authorities say they downed more than 80 Ukrainian drones, a dozen of which were headed for the capital Moscow.
Russia has seemingly increased its barrage against Ukraine amid faltering attempts by US President Donald Trump to secure a ceasefire deal.
Stay tuned for more news and analysis
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Germany updates: Huge turnout for Berlin Pride march – DW – 07/26/2025
Germany updates: Huge turnout for Berlin Pride march – DW – 07/26/2025

DW

time2 hours ago

  • DW

Germany updates: Huge turnout for Berlin Pride march – DW – 07/26/2025

Police mounted a major operation to protect the hundreds of thousands of revelers attending the Berlin Pride parade. Also, Merz and Merkel watched the opening performance of the Bayreuth Festival. DW has the latest. Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in Germany's capital for the Berlin Pride parade, known as Christopher Street Day (CSD), making it one of the largest LGBTQ+ events in Europe. Meanwhile, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his fellow party member and predecessor, Angela Merkel, attended the opening performance of the Bayreuth Festival. Germany's ports require an additional €15 billion ($18 billion) for refurbishment and expansion over the next decade, the head of the ZDS seaport association has warned. ZDS chief Angela Titzrath told the newspaper that the country's ports suffer from "decaying quays" and a lack of "surfaces that can handle heavy loads." Titzrath said the additional funds would make up just 3% of the government's new budget for upgrading the country's infrastructure. "With that [amount], we could fully and sustainably implement all urgent modernization within 12 years," she told the newspaper. In March, the German parliament approved a historic €500 billion infrastructure fund, with €100 billion earmarked for clean energy and climate mitigation projects. Out of the latter budget, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government approved an additional €400 million over four years to help modernize shipping and ports in a way that protects the planet. But Titzrath called on Berlin to play a bigger role in port investments by raising the current subsidies from €38 million to €500 million "so that the shortcomings of the past are not repeated." Southern Germany could see up to 150 liters of rainfall per square meter in the next few days, forecasters have warned. The German Weather Service (DWD) said heavy rain and severe thunderstorms were forecast for the weekend and early next week. DWD said the area from the upper Danube River to Augsburg would be hit hardest on Saturday, before spreading to a wider area including Lake Constance and the mountainous Allgäu region, as well as the southern Black Forest. The agency warned of possible flooding in some places. DWD said the 150 liters of rainfall only occur every decade or so. Southern parts of Germany were hit by severe flooding last May and June, while eastern Germany was struck in September. The country is still reeling from devastating floods that hit western states in July 2021, particularly the Ahr Valley, as well as neighboring countries. At least 189 people died in Germany, while another 700 were injured. Those floods caused €33 billion ($40 billion) in economic losses. An injured seal, weighing over 100 kilograms, has been rescued from the banks of the Elbe River in Germany's northern city of Hamburg. The marine mammal was discovered late Friday evening by witnesses who alerted authorities. According to a fire brigade spokesman, the seal had a minor injury to its fin. Rescuers initially planned to transfer the seal to an animal shelter, but it was already full. The animal was then taken to a local wildlife caretaker. Seals are typically found in coastal areas like the North Sea or Wadden Sea, which are over 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Hamburg. The Elbe River is a freshwater environment far inland, not their natural habitat. Navigating the river to Hamburg, seals must travel through strong currents, locks, and human-made obstacles. Germany's renowned Bayreuth Festival of operas by Richard Wagner kicked off on Friday with a new production of "The Master-Singers of Nuremberg." Chancellor Friedrich Merz and former Chancellor Angela Merkel graced the red carpet for opening night, with both political figures reported to be great admirers of Wagner's music. Accompanied by his wife Charlotte, Merz described the evening as a "great production" featuring fantastic stage design and wonderful performers. The chancellor also used the occasion to reaffirm his commitment to the arts in Germany, emphasizing that this includes not only theatre, music and opera but also architecture and modern art. "We will defend this against all those who want it to be different," Merz said. Hundreds of thousands are expected in Germany's capital on Saturday to celebrate Berlin Pride or Christopher Street Day (CSD). A huge parade featuring 80 trucks is expected to pass through the city, starting at Leipziger Platz, then heading to Potsdamer Platz and Schöneberg, before ending at the Brandenburg Gate. The German Police Union (GdP) said Berlin authorities would mount a huge operation to protect the parade in the wake of several car ramming and terrorist attacks and due to the LGBTQ+ community being targeted by far-right extremists. Around 1,300 Berlin police officers will be deployed, supported by hundreds more from other German states. Two counterdemonstrations with an expected 400 participants have also been registered with the Berlin authorities. The Pride celebrations began on Friday with the unfurling of a massive rainbow flag outside the Reichstag building — the home of Germany's parliament. CSD organizers decided to display their own flag after the government rejected a request to hoist an official rainbow flag. Chancellor Friedrich Merz defended the decision, saying, "The Bundestag is not a circus tent," referring to Germany's lower house of parliament. Christopher Street Day is a reference to the location of the Stonewall Inn in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood, where a protest against police discrimination in 1969 kick-started the gay liberation movement. Welcome to DW's coverage of the latest developments in Germany on Saturday, July 26. Here you'll find breaking news, business, culture and sports as well as commentary from DW's team of correspondents. Berlin hosts one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ Pride events, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to turn out for a glitzy parade through the streets of the German capital. The Bayreuth Festival, an annual summer music festival dedicated primarily to the operas of Richard Wagner, got underway on Friday night.

Trump tells Europe to get its 'act together' on immigration – DW – 07/26/2025
Trump tells Europe to get its 'act together' on immigration – DW – 07/26/2025

DW

time4 hours ago

  • DW

Trump tells Europe to get its 'act together' on immigration – DW – 07/26/2025

US President Donald Trump said immigration was "killing Europe" as he arrived in Scotland to play golf and meet leaders. Europe "better get [its] act together" on immigration, US President Donald Trump said as he landed in Scotland on Friday evening, local time. Speaking to reporters after disembarking from Air Force One, Trump said: "On immigration, you better get your act together. You're not going to have Europe anymore." Immigration, he claimed, was an "invasion" that was "killing Europe." During his five-day visit, Trump will play golf at two golf resorts he owns — one in the small village of Turnberry in South Ayrshire on Scotland's southwest coast and the other in Menie in Aberdeenshire. In Menie, Trump is to open a new golf course dedicated to his Scottish-born mother. The US president will also meet with leaders during his first trip to the United Kingdom since his reelection. While many US media outlets are describing Trump's visit to Scotland as a private visit, a White House spokesperson called it a "working trip" ahead of the president's departure. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers also brushed off questions about potential conflicts of interest, arguing that Trump's business success before he entered politics was a key to his appeal with voters. "We're at a point where the Trump administration is so intertwined with the Trump business that he doesn't seem to see much of a difference," Jordan Libowitz from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, an ethics watchdog organization, told AP news agency. "It's as if the White House were almost an arm of the Trump Organization," Libowitz said. Trump's trip will cost US taxpayers at least $10 million (€8.5 million), according to an analysis by the HuffPost, a progressive US news website. Pointing out that the trip is unrelated to a planned state visit to the UK in September, the called Trump's Scotland visit "by far the most expensive golf vacation to date in either of his terms." The president praised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of a meeting between the two in Turnberry, describing him as a "good man." "I like your prime minister, he's slightly more liberal than I am ... but he's a good man. He got a trade deal done," he told reporters, referring to a preliminary US-UK trade agreement signed in May 2025. During his trip, which lasts until Tuesday, Trump is also to meet with Scottish First Minister John Swinney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Von der Leyen confirmed she will come to Scotland to meet with Trump on Sunday in a bid to hash out a trade deal between the United States and the European Union. Trump told journalists there was a "good 50/50 chance" of a deal being struck, adding that it would be the "biggest deal of them all." Trump also took the chance to criticize renewable wind power. "Stop the windmills," he said on his arrival in Scotland, claiming they are "killing the beauty of your country." Trump has spent years railing against windmills. He once unsuccessfully tried to sue to stop the building of wind turbines in Scotland by arguing that an offshore windfarm would mar the view of people playing golf at his Menie course. More than half of Scotland's electricity is currently generated by wind power. The UK's newspaper reported that Trump's motorcade passed a small group of protesters as he arrived at his golf course in Turnberry. Campaign groups have planned what they call a "festival of resistance" against Trump's visit in several Scottish cities. Trump is generally unpopular in Scotland. A poll by the IPSOS market research company published in March found more than 70% of Scots have an unfavorable opinion of the US president.

Leading Pakistan rights group decries government crackdown  – DW – 07/26/2025
Leading Pakistan rights group decries government crackdown  – DW – 07/26/2025

DW

time6 hours ago

  • DW

Leading Pakistan rights group decries government crackdown – DW – 07/26/2025

One of Pakistan's most prominent civil rights organizations has said it faces intimidation and harassment from authorities, warning of a widespread threat to rights advocacy in the country. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), an independent civil rights group, has warned that its operations are being affected due to pressure from Pakistani authorities. "In the past few months, HRCP has faced a series of arbitrary, illegal and unjustified actions that have impeded the organization's ability to carry out its mandate," the commission said in a statement released earlier in July. Harris Khalique, HRCP's secretary-general, told DW that the group has been facing "unprecedented pressure." "Authorities prevent us from organizing events and create disruptions. They have sealed the HRCP's Lahore office, frozen our bank accounts, claiming it is involved in commercial activities, and have blocked our electricity meters while issuing inflated bills," he said. Events organized in various cities were obstructed, and staff received threatening phone calls warning them against discussing topics considered sensitive. "We are against both violence and militancy. Individuals claiming to represent security agencies, along with those identifying as officials from the Interior Ministry, are threatening our female staff," said Khalique. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The HRCP was co-founded in 1987 by late lawyer and activist Asma Jahangir, former Supreme Court Justice Dorab Patel and former Air Force Chief of Staff Zafar Chaudhry. It has since grown into Pakistan's leading human rights organization. The HRCP has consistently acted as an independent and credible advocate for civil liberties, both within Pakistan and on the global stage. Amid pressure from authorities, the HRCP has voiced significant concern regarding the increasingly shrinking space for human rights advocacy in Pakistan. The security situation in Pakistan has deteriorated in recent years, with militant attacks occurring regularly. In the southwest, security forces are engaged in a long-standing conflict with Baloch separatist militants. Pakistan's foremost opposition party, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was not allowed to contest the 2024 election as a party, resulting in violent protests and a crackdown on its members and supporters. Khan remains imprisoned on various charges, which his party has said are politically motivated. The government has denied pressuring the HRCP, and says it is taking measures to ensure security. "The standard operating procedures are in place for events due to security concerns and there are ongoing protests in the country. We have put no restrictions on freedom of expression, " Talal Chaudhry, state minister of interior, told DW. Chaudhry added that "online events are also being conducted without any limitations, and the state is not restricting them." But Hina Jilani, a human rights advocate and member of the HRCP's council, disputes this claim. "The government is employing tactics to silence the group activities. Our events are being obstructed and there are efforts to introduce laws that could impact our finances, hindering our ability to carry out the work," she told DW. Jilani cited two examples of the government placing bureaucratic hurdles that prevented an HRCP community outreach event from taking place in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, and a roundtable discussion in Islamabad focused on the human rights situation in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan province. Jilani said the government crackdown threatens the "HRCP's autonomy and poses a significant risk to the human rights of the people of Pakistan." The human rights situation in Pakistan remains marked by inadequate judicial protection and rising authoritarianism. According to Amnesty International's 2024 report on Pakistan, authorities "weaponized laws" on defamation and hate speech as the security situation deteriorated amid militant attacks. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Amnesty cited dozens of examples of legal measures to suppress opposition parties, particularly targeting Imran Khan's PTI following protests in May 2023. More than 80 people were imprisoned in connection with the protests after "secret trials." Freedom of the press and freedom of assembly have also been severely curtailed. "Enforced disappearances continued unabated, targeting journalists, activists, students, comedians, political opponents and families of political opponents," the Amnesty report said. In 2024, Pakistan's democracy ranking fell six places, placing it among the "top 10 worst performers" in the Democracy Index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Independent media outlets are facing increasing pressure, censorship and economic hardship. Social media platforms are often restricted during protests or political events. "Pakistan has become a completely authoritarian regime, there are no courts, there is no media, they have broken the civil society," Imaan Mazari, a rights activist and lawyer, told DW. "The human rights situation in Pakistan is deplorable and effectively we are living in a martial law," she added. However, HRCP leader Khalique remains optimistic and said the commission will continue its work and "persist in efforts to advocate for the rights of the people of Pakistan." On pressure from the government, Khalique said he hopes for more cooperation in the future. "We are critical friends, not adversaries, and we aspire for a healthy society and a strong country," he said. "We are an independent organization that strives to remain neutral and evidence based. We cannot compromise our integrity." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store