
Russia launches 600 drones against Ukraine, causing deaths and injuries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media on Saturday that Russia launched 26 cruise missiles and 597 attack drones against his country.
He said more than 20 missiles and the vast majority of drones were destroyed.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media that the western cities of Chernivtsi, Lviv and Lutsk particularly suffered.
Local authorities say at least two people were killed by falling debris in Chernivtsi, and houses and a university building were damaged in Lviv, leaving 10 people injured.
Russia has been intensifying its bombardment of Ukraine since last month. In a period through last Wednesday, it launched more than 700 drones, the most since it started its invasion.
The series of Russian attacks comes as weapons delivery from the United States to Ukraine was partially suspended by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Zelenskyy said on social media that he has received good signals from high-level officials from the US and European friends. He added that aid shipments have resumed, according to all reports.
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Japan Times
11 hours ago
- Japan Times
Zelenskyy plans to ask Europe to help pay Ukraine's soldiers
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to ask European allies to help finance improved salaries for troops resisting Russia's invasion, in a bid to ease growing shortages of recruits. "Previously, Europeans refused to provide funding for the salaries of our military personnel, only for weapons,' Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv on Thursday. "Our service members themselves can be the weapon that protects everyone.' With a mobilization campaign in Ukraine increasingly unpopular among a population fatigued by the war that's in its fourth year, Zelenskyy's government wants to motivate more volunteers by offering substantial payments for those who sign military contracts. Russia has long offered large signing bonuses and high salaries to lure tens of thousands to its army each month, seeking to avoid any repeat of a spike in public anxiety when President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial draft a few months into the 2022 invasion. Increasing payments to soldiers would add to strains on Ukraine's state budget, which had a deficit exceeding 20% of gross domestic product last year amid massive military spending. The war-torn nation relies on tens of billions of dollars in aid from its foreign allies, who have so far rejected the idea of directly covering military expenses. While the International Monetary Fund, which is providing a loan program worth about $16 billion, is urging Kyiv to shrink the budget gap, the government has no plans to raise taxes, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said in an interview. Global donors have earmarked only half of the estimated $75 billion needed for the budget over the next two years, she said. Ukraine needs $25 billion annually to produce drones, jamming equipment and missiles to defend against Russia, which will bring the budget deficit to $65 billion next year, according to Zelenskyy. It has begun discussions on the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer as well as U.S. officials, he said. "This is a very difficult topic,' Zelenskyy added. Ukrainian companies have started manufacturing interceptor drones, and about $6 billion is required urgently to ramp up production, the president said. "A clear task has been set for the manufacturers: Ukraine must be capable of deploying at least 1,000 interceptors per day within a defined time frame,' Zelenskyy said in a post on social media platform X on Friday after visiting a drone production facility. "Government officials are ensuring contracting is in place, and we are also working constantly with our partners to prevent any funding shortages,' he said. While he told reporters the U.S. has agreed to buy drones designed and produced in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said he's seeking a contract worth between $10 billion and $30 billion. Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and presidential adviser Oleksandr Kamyshin have been tasked with handling the negotiations, he said. The president said that Ukrainian forces had made "solid progress' in stalling Russian advances on the battlefield. The situation in the northeastern Sumy region was now significantly better for Kyiv, though Russia remains focused on gains in the area as well as toward Pokrovsk, while the Dnipropetrovsk region "is very much desired by them,' he said. Zelenskyy said the third round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul on Wednesday yielded some progress toward preparing a meeting with Putin. Russian officials have said there's little point to a summit before the sides have negotiated an agreement to end the war.


Yomiuri Shimbun
14 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Trump Wants to Play Global Peacemaker. Derailed Gaza Ceasefire Shows How Daunting That Ambition Is
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks this week plunges one of President Donald Trump's pushes to solve global conflicts into new uncertainty. The derailing of talks to solve the 21-month Israel-Hamas war is the latest blow to Trump as several of his efforts to broker agreements for fraught conflicts and complex global threats have stalled. Though the Republican president has only been back in office for six months, he has sought to be known as a peacemaker. In some cases, he has set ambitious goals that have fallen short, like a promise to end the still-ongoing war in Ukraine before he took office. Trump has said he's seeking the deals to stop destruction and loss of life. But he has also been open about his ambition to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, prompting some of those seeking to cultivate favor with Trump to nominate him for the prestigious recognition. Here's a look at where some of Trump's efforts to strike peace and security deals stand. Gaza STATUS: No major breakthroughs in recent talks. THE BACKSTORY: Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday that the U.S. was bringing home its negotiating team from Qatar, where talks were ongoing, to assess its next steps. Witkoff said the move was made because Hamas was not showing 'good faith' toward reaching a ceasefire, but U.S. officials did not offer specifics. No major breakthroughs have occurred despite weeks of talks in Qatar, along with a visit early this month to the White House by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Witkoff said the U.S. would 'consider alternative options to bring the hostages home,' but U.S. officials did not answer questions about what those options could include. When asked about next steps on Friday, Trump told reporters that Hamas didn't want to make a deal and said, 'I think what's going to happen is they're going to be hunted down.' Russia-Ukraine STATUS: War still going on. THE BACKSTORY: Before he returned to office, Trump repeatedly said he would solve the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours — and even before he was sworn in as president. That didn't happen, and both sides remain far apart on reaching an agreement. Trump has become increasingly critical of President Vladimir Putin in recent months and is losing patience with his continued offensive in Ukraine. But Trump has resisted backing a bipartisan U.S. bill to impose steep sanctions on Russia, instead giving Russia 50 days to accept a peace deal or face sanctions on its energy exports. The delay has given Russia a window to continue a stepped-up offensive in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week reiterated his willingness to meet face-to-face with Putin to end the conflict. Russia has rejected the offer, saying the countries are too far apart. Lower-level Ukrainian and Russian officials met Wednesday for talks in Istanbul, but no breakthroughs were announced. Putin has said any peace deal should include Ukraine withdrawing from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but did not fully capture. He also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO and accept limits on its military. Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected those terms. Iran STATUS: Open conflict ended for the moment. Many unanswered questions remain. THE BACKSTORY: Trump was able to broker a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran after the U.S. joined Israel in launching strikes on Iran's nuclear program. But the status of Iran's nuclear program is another unanswered question for the Trump administration. While the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes dealt a blow to Iran's nuclear capacities, the United States has still not struck an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program. An Iranian diplomat said Wednesday that his country was ready to engage in talks on its nuclear program with the United States, but only after Washington takes meaningful steps to rebuild trust. Meanwhile, Iran has opened the door to a separate yet related negotiation track with Britain, France and Germany, three of the remaining members of a 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew the United States from in his first term. Foreign ministers from the four countries met in Istanbul on Friday to discuss European threats to reimpose sanctions on Iran if there is no progress on a deal to limit its nuclear program by August. Other conflicts While deals in some of the most pressing conflicts have remained elusive to Trump, he has helped to broker agreements in the months he's been back in office. RWANDA-DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: In June, he invited leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the White House to sign an agreement seen as a major step toward peace after decades of conflict. The U.S.-brokered deal emphasizes the two neighboring countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity and includes a commitment to end hostilities and backing of armed groups. The deal also helps the U.S. government and American companies gain access to critical minerals in the region. INDIA-PAKISTAN: In May, when a series of military strikes brought longtime nuclear adversaries India and Pakistan closer to war, Trump's administration intervened. The nations agreed to stop fighting after the U.S.-led talks, and Trump said he would work to provide a 'solution' to the long-running dispute over the Indian-controlled Kashmir region. The ceasefire has held, but it's not clear what progress has been made on any long-term agreement. Last month, Trump had lunch at the White House with Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief. SYRIA-ISRAEL: Earlier this month, after Israel intervened in fighting between Syrian government forces and rival armed groups, Trump's special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, announced a limited ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria. Barrack, who's also the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, said he met in Paris on Thursday with representatives from both countries to discuss de-escalation. Barrack said on social media that 'we accomplished precisely that' and that both sides committed to continuing the effort. Israel's intervention, however, caught Trump off guard and stymied his administration's push to get both countries to reach a full normalization of diplomatic relations.


The Diplomat
a day ago
- The Diplomat
Malaysia's Anwar Calls for Ceasefire Between Thailand and Cambodia
Conflict continues to rage at various points along the two nations' border, a day after fighting erupted at the disputed Ta Muen Thom temple. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on both Thailand and Cambodia to de-escalate the conflict along their shared border, where the two militaries continue to exchange heavy fire. Anwar, who holds this year's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said that he spoke with acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet last night, in order to convey his government's 'deep concern' over the outbreak of violence. Fighting erupted between the Thai and Cambodian militaries yesterday morning, a day after a landmine explosion along a disputed stretch of the border injured five Thai soldiers, one seriously. Throughout the day, the two sides exchanged heavy fire at various points along the border. Fighting has reportedly continued along the border today. In a post on social media, Anwar said that he 'appealed directly to both leaders for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further hostilities and to create space for peaceful dialogue and diplomatic resolution.' 'I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward. Malaysia stands ready to assist and facilitate this process in the spirit of ASEAN unity and shared responsibility,' he added. 'I firmly believe that ASEAN's strength lies in its solidarity and that peace must always be our collective and unwavering choice.' At least one Thai soldier and 14 civilians, including children, have been killed so far in the conflict, Thailand's Ministry of Public Health said today, while 15 soldiers and 31 other civilians have been injured. Cambodia has been less forthcoming about casualties, but a Cambodian general based in Oddar Meanchey province said this morning that at least four civilians were wounded in yesterday's fighting there and that more than 4,000 people had been displaced from their villages along the border to evacuation centers. Thailand says that 131,456 civilians have been evacuated from affected areas. Both sides have blamed the other for the outbreak of fighting. Thailand claims that the conflict began when Cambodian soldiers fired unprovoked at a Thai military encampment close to Ta Muen Thom temple early yesterday morning. Conversely, Cambodia's government asserts that its troops retaliated after an 'unprovoked incursion' by Thai forces and 'acted strictly within the bounds of self-defense.' Fighting swiftly spread to other parts of the border, and both sides deployed heavy weaponry including multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery, and tanks. Cambodia fired Russia-made BM-21s and artillery shells into Thailand while the Thai military said that it scrambled F-16 jets to bomb Cambodian military targets. Cambodia has since accused Thailand of causing 'significant damage' to Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was the focus of a border conflict during 2008-2011, and of deploying cluster munitions along the border. Anwar's call for calm was echoed by the United Nations, European Union, the United States, Australia, and France, as well as several other ASEAN nations. Several governments have also warned their citizens against traveling to affected areas of the border. China, which maintains good relations with both Thailand and Cambodia, pledged to remain neutral in the current conflict, expressing hope that the two sides 'will resolve their issues properly through dialogue and consultation,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said yesterday. 'China has been and will continue to facilitate peace and dialogue in its own way, playing a constructive role in easing tensions and cooling down the situation,' he added. The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the conflict, the AFP news agency reported, citing diplomatic sources. The unfolding conflict also poses another stiff challenge for ASEAN, which prides itself on having presided over an historic span of inter-state peace between its members since its founding in 1967. However, a key obstacle to a ceasefire, aside from the nationalist passions that have been stirred by the sight of civilian casualties and the fate of the (for Cambodians) highly symbolic Angkorian temple ruins along the border, is the bitter fallout between former leaders Hun Sen and Thaksin Shinawatra, whose children now serve as prime minister of each country. The relationship between the two political grandees collapsed after Cambodia's leak of a phone call between Hun Sen had with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra last month. The leak was humiliating for the 38-year-old Thai leader; it also led to her suspension by the Constitutional Court pending an investigation into her conduct during the call, during which she accused a Thai general of siding with her political opponents. Thaksin later referred to the leak as a 'betrayal' by Hun Sen. While it is unclear whether the family feud contributed to the outbreak of war, is likely to prolong the brokering of a ceasefire. After Thaksin claimed yesterday on X that Hun Sen had ordered the attack on Thai territory 'after laying explosive traps along the border,' the Cambodian politician hit back on Facebook, accusing Thaksin of much the same thing. 'Under the pretext of taking revenge on Hun Sen, he is resorting to war, the ultimate consequence of which will be the suffering of the people,' he said. Then, this morning, Thaksin made another post on X. He said that many countries are 'offering help to mediate' in the Thai-Cambodian border clashes, but asked 'for some time because we need to let the Thai army teach that wily Hun Sen a lesson.' If nothing else, the conflict has laid bare where the real locus of authority in both countries' governments lies.