Russian Attacks on Ukraine 'Intensifying': EBRD
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Chicago Tribune
10 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
President Zelenskyy rejects formally ceding Ukrainian territory, says Kyiv must be part of any negotiations
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday rejected the idea that his country would give up land to end the war with Russia after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a peace deal could include 'some swapping of territories.' Zelenskyy said Ukraine 'will not give Russia any awards for what it has done' and that 'Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.' Later Saturday, European and Ukrainian officials met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in England to discuss how to end the more than three-year war. The talks came after Trump said he would meet with Vladimir Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskyy. Representatives from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and Poland attended the meeting in Kent, Zelenskyy said in a post on X, calling the talks constructive. 'I have not heard any partners express doubts about America's ability to ensure that the war ends,' Zelenskyy said. 'The President of the United States has the levers and the determination.' Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy dismissed the planned Trump-Putin summit, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, warning that any negotiations to end Europe's biggest conflict since World War II must include Kyiv. 'Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work,' he said. Ukrainian officials previously told The Associated Press privately that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognize Ukraine's inability to regain lost territories militarily. The Trump-Putin meeting may prove pivotal in a war that began when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although there's no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace. 'It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska,' Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said Saturday in a statement posted to the Kremlin's news channel. In his comments at the White House Friday, Trump gave no details on the 'swapping of territories.' Analysts, including some close to the Kremlin, have suggested that Russia could offer to give up territory it controls outside of the four regions it claims to have annexed. Trump said his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Zelenskyy. His announcement that he planned to host one of America's adversaries on U.S. soil broke with expectations that they'd meet in a third country. Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told the AP that the 'symbology' of holding the summit in Alaska was clear and that the location 'naturally favors Russia.' 'It's easy to imagine Putin making the point. … We once had this territory and we gave it to you, therefore Ukraine had this territory and now should give it to us,' he said, referring to the 1867 transaction known as the Alaska Purchase when Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million. President Donald Trump says he will meet Putin next Friday in Alaska to discuss ending the Ukraine warOn the streets of Kyiv, reactions to the idea of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia ranged from skepticism to quiet resignation. 'It may not be capitulation, but it would be a loss,' said Ihor Usatenko, a 67-year-old pensioner, who said he would consider ceding territory 'on condition for compensation and, possibly, some reparations.' Anastasia Yemelianova, 31, said she was torn: 'Honestly, I have two answers to that question. The first is as a person who loves her country. I don't want to compromise within myself,' she told the AP. 'But seeing all these deaths and knowing that my mother is now living in Nikopol under shelling and my father is fighting, I want all this to end as soon as possible.' Svitlana Dobrynska, whose son died fighting, rejected outright concessions but supported halting combat to save lives. 'We don't have the opportunity to launch an offensive to recapture our territories,' the 57-year-old pensioner said, 'But to prevent people from dying, we can simply stop military operations, sign some kind of agreement, but not give up our territories.' Before Trump announced the summit, his efforts to pressure Russia to stop the fighting had delivered no progress. Trump had moved up an ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement. The deadline was Friday. The White House did not answer questions Saturday about possible sanctions. The Kremlin's bigger army is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at great cost in troops and armor while it relentlessly bombards Ukrainian cities. On Saturday, two people died and 16 were wounded when a Russian drone hit a minibus in the suburbs of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said. Two others died after a Russian drone struck their car in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov. Ukraine's air force said it intercepted 16 of the 47 Russian drones launched overnight, while 31 drones hit targets across 15 different locations. It also said it shot down one of the two missiles Russia deployed. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 97 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea overnight and 21 more Saturday morning.
11 minutes ago
Armenians and Azerbaijanis greet US-brokered peace deal with hope but also caution
YEREVAN, Armenia -- Residents and politicians in Armenia and Azerbaijan responded Saturday with cautious hope — and skepticism in some cases — after their leaders signed a U.S.-brokered agreement at the White House aimed at ending decades of hostilities. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the agreement on Friday in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, who stood between the leaders as they shook hands — a gesture Trump reinforced by clasping their hands together. While the agreement does not constitute a formal peace treaty, it represents a significant diplomatic step toward normalization of relations. The two countries remain technically at war, and the deal does not resolve the longstanding dispute over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. It does, however, reflect the shifting power dynamics following Azerbaijan's 2023 military victory, which forced the withdrawal of Armenian forces and ethnic Armenians from the region. Among the agreement's provisions is the creation of a new transit corridor, dubbed the 'Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,' highlighting a changing geopolitical landscape amid declining Russian influence in the South Caucasus. Nagorno-Karabakh has been at the heart of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict since the Soviet Union's collapse. Although internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, the mountainous region was controlled for decades by ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia. Two wars — in the early 1990s and again in 2020 — left tens of thousands dead and displaced. In 2023, Azerbaijan regained control of most of the territory in a swift offensive. Ali Karimli, head of the opposition People's Front of Azerbaijan Party, wrote on Facebook that the signing of the agreement 'has undoubtedly brought Azerbaijan and Armenia significantly closer to peace,' and noted that it delivered 'another blow … to Russia's influence in the South Caucasus,' while deepening ties with the U.S. Arif Hajili, chairman of Azerbaijani opposition party Musavat, said he believed that 'the most positive aspect of the initialing in Washington was the absence of Russia from the process.' He said lasting stability in the region hinges on the continual dwindling of Russian power, which 'depends on the outcome of the Russian‑Ukrainian war.' Hajili also warned of lingering challenges, including Armenia's economic dependence on Russia and some 2 million Azerbaijanis living in Russia. 'Russia will continue to use these factors as levers of pressure,' he said. 'We have been waiting for a long time for this agreement to be signed,' a resident of Baku, Gunduz Aliyev, told The Associated Press. 'We did not trust our neighbor, Armenia. That's why a strong state was needed to act as a guarantor. Russia couldn't do it, but the United States succeeded.' 'The U.S. is taking full responsibility for security. This will bring peace and stability," said another, Ali Mammadov. "Borders will open soon, and normal relations with Armenia will be established.' Abulfat Jafarov, also in Baku, expressed gratitude to all three leaders involved. 'Peace is always a good thing,' he said. "We welcome every step taken towards progress.' Some people in Yerevan were unsure of the meaning of the agreement. 'I feel uncertain because much still needs clarification. There are unclear aspects, and although the prime minister of Armenia made some statements from the U.S., more details are needed,' Edvard Avoyan said. But entrepreneur Hrach Ghasumyan could see economic benefits. 'If gas and oil pipelines pass through Armenia and railway routes are opened, it would be beneficial for the country,' he said. 'Until now, all major routes have passed through Georgia, leaving Armenia sidelined and economically limited.' Others were skeptical that peace could be achieved, and expressed discontent with the terms of the agreement. 'That declaration is unlikely to bring real peace to the region, and we are well aware of Azerbaijan's stance,' Ruzanna Ghazaryan said. 'This initial agreement offers us nothing; the concessions are entirely one-sided.'
San Francisco Chronicle
39 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Armenians and Azerbaijanis greet US-brokered peace deal with hope but also caution
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Residents and politicians in Armenia and Azerbaijan responded Saturday with cautious hope — and skepticism in some cases — after their leaders signed a U.S.-brokered agreement at the White House aimed at ending decades of hostilities. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the agreement on Friday in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, who stood between the leaders as they shook hands — a gesture Trump reinforced by clasping their hands together. While the agreement does not constitute a formal peace treaty, it represents a significant diplomatic step toward normalization of relations. The two countries remain technically at war, and the deal does not resolve the longstanding dispute over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. It does, however, reflect the shifting power dynamics following Azerbaijan's 2023 military victory, which forced the withdrawal of Armenian forces and ethnic Armenians from the region. Among the agreement's provisions is the creation of a new transit corridor, dubbed the 'Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,' highlighting a changing geopolitical landscape amid declining Russian influence in the South Caucasus. Nagorno-Karabakh has been at the heart of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict since the Soviet Union's collapse. Although internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, the mountainous region was controlled for decades by ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia. Two wars — in the early 1990s and again in 2020 — left tens of thousands dead and displaced. In 2023, Azerbaijan regained control of most of the territory in a swift offensive. Hopeful for peace and a weaker Moscow Ali Karimli, head of the opposition People's Front of Azerbaijan Party, wrote on Facebook that the signing of the agreement 'has undoubtedly brought Azerbaijan and Armenia significantly closer to peace,' and noted that it delivered 'another blow … to Russia's influence in the South Caucasus,' while deepening ties with the U.S. Arif Hajili, chairman of Azerbaijani opposition party Musavat, said he believed that 'the most positive aspect of the initialing in Washington was the absence of Russia from the process.' He said lasting stability in the region hinges on the continual dwindling of Russian power, which 'depends on the outcome of the Russian‑Ukrainian war.' Hajili also warned of lingering challenges, including Armenia's economic dependence on Russia and some 2 million Azerbaijanis living in Russia. 'Russia will continue to use these factors as levers of pressure,' he said. Hope on the streets of Azerbaijan's capital 'We have been waiting for a long time for this agreement to be signed,' a resident of Baku, Gunduz Aliyev, told The Associated Press. 'We did not trust our neighbor, Armenia. That's why a strong state was needed to act as a guarantor. Russia couldn't do it, but the United States succeeded.' 'The U.S. is taking full responsibility for security. This will bring peace and stability," said another, Ali Mammadov. "Borders will open soon, and normal relations with Armenia will be established.' Abulfat Jafarov, also in Baku, expressed gratitude to all three leaders involved. 'Peace is always a good thing,' he said. "We welcome every step taken towards progress.' Some people in Yerevan were unsure of the meaning of the agreement. 'I feel uncertain because much still needs clarification. There are unclear aspects, and although the prime minister of Armenia made some statements from the U.S., more details are needed,' Edvard Avoyan said. But entrepreneur Hrach Ghasumyan could see economic benefits. 'If gas and oil pipelines pass through Armenia and railway routes are opened, it would be beneficial for the country,' he said. 'Until now, all major routes have passed through Georgia, leaving Armenia sidelined and economically limited.' 'That declaration is unlikely to bring real peace to the region, and we are well aware of Azerbaijan's stance,' Ruzanna Ghazaryan said. 'This initial agreement offers us nothing; the concessions are entirely one-sided.'
