Zelenskiy says Ukraine halts Russian troops' advance in Sumy region
Live Events
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Ukrainian forces have stopped Russian troops advancing in the northeastern Sumy region and are now battling along the border to regain control, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.In remarks released for publication by his office on Saturday, Zelenskiy said that Moscow has amassed about 53,000 troops in the direction of Sumy."We are leveling the position. The fighting there is along the border. You should understand that the enemy has been stopped there. And the maximum depth at which the fighting takes place is 7 km from the border," Zelenskiy said.Reuters could not verify battlefield reports.Russia's troops have been focusing their assaults in the eastern Donetsk region, but since the start of the month, they have intensified their attacks in the north-east, announcing plans to create a so-called ' buffer zone ' in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.The Russian war in Ukraine is in its fourth year but it has intensified in recent weeks.Ukraine conducted an audacious drone attack that took out multiple aircraft inside Russia and also hit the bridge connecting Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula using underwater explosives.Zelenskiy said that the Ukrainian troops had maintained their defensive lines along more than 1,000 kilometres of the frontline. He also dismissed Moscow's claims that Russian troops had crossed the administrative border of the Ukrainian central region of Dnipropetrovsk Zelenskiy said that Russia was sending small assault groups "to get one foot on the administrative border" and make a picture or a video but these attacks were repelled.Dnipropetrovsk region borders three regions that are partially occupied by Russia - Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Russia now controls about one-fifth of the Ukrainian territory.Zelenskiy acknowledged that Ukraine was unable to regain all of its territory by military force and reiterated his pleas for stronger sanctions on Russia to force Moscow into negotiations to end the war.Two rounds of peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul produced few results that could lead to a ceasefire and a broader peace deal. The two sides agreed only to exchange prisoners of war.Several swaps have already been conducted this month, and Zelenskiy expected POW swaps to continue until June 20 or 21."The agreement is that the exchanges will be completed, and the sides will discuss the next step," Zelenskiy said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
34 minutes ago
- First Post
A ‘new' old war: Why Jammu & Kashmir is more vulnerable than ever
The line between war and peace is increasingly blurred in Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab as well, as proxies and hybrid non-state actors of Pakistan could adopt drone warfare tactics to create a disproportionate impact read more Let me recall moments from mid-1999, when I served as Colonel of the Rashtriya Rifles, an experience that profoundly shaped my understanding of Kashmir's counter-insurgency dynamics. While Operation Vijay was being fought on the heights of Kargil, the valley floor was also under siege — albeit of a different kind. The ISI, innovating once again, had infiltrated special suicide squads of highly trained and motivated terrorists, many led by Pakistani regulars. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Beginning July 1999, they launched sneak attacks on army and police camps that were then poorly secured by non-existent or minimal perimeters. It forced us into reactive postures. A large number of troops had to be diverted to static guard duties — defending installations, logistics hubs, and communication centres — all of which were vital not just for counter-insurgency (CI) operations but also for any future war. This diluted the effectiveness of our offensive posture; fewer troops were available for area domination, raids, and ambushes. Cut to 2025. While India analyses the success of Operation Sindoor through the lens of conventional escalation — targeting key assets in Pakistani Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir — one cannot ignore that the ISI and its ecosystem will also be conducting their own war games. Their objective would be to re-establish relevance in the Kashmir theatre and reclaim psychological initiative. Remember the Pahalgam attack of April 22, 2025, a brutal assault on tourists; it was not an isolated act. It was, in many ways, a copycat replication of Hamas' strike of October 7, 2023, on Israel — a sudden and high-visibility operation meant to create shockwaves and provoke. If we view Pahalgam in that light, it becomes clear that a new asymmetric campaign would be under contemplation — one that could integrate novel tactics and technologies for infiltration, recruitment of youth and management of hideouts. Also remember that the communication systems being used by terrorists are of the advanced Chinese versions, which are difficult to intercept. Enter drones, the bane of today's warfare. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Operation Spider Web: The New Template One of the most significant evolutions in modern warfare has been unfolding before our eyes in Ukraine. On June 1, 2025, Ukraine launched what is being referred to as Operation Spider Web — a sophisticated, long-range drone and sabotage operation deep inside Russian territory. The operation had reportedly been in planning for nearly 18 months. Small, innocuous-looking trucks — some pre-positioned and others inserted covertly — carried armed drones hundreds of kilometres into Russian territory. These were launched against airfields, command and control nodes, early warning systems, and other critical infrastructure. The results were spectacular; not just in terms of physical damage but also psychological disorientation. For a country like Ukraine with limited air power, this operation represented a stunning workaround, achieving strategic effects without traditional air superiority. The second Israel–Iran conflict of 2025 has added yet another layer of validation to this emerging pattern. For the second time in a single month, drones have not just crossed borders but have been launched from within adversary territory — in one case, reportedly from civilian rooftops in central Iranian towns. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israel's imaginative use of small, autonomous drone swarms, leveraging both prepositioned assets and internal collaborators, illustrates the new grammar of warfare. It is a compelling real-world demonstration of how state-level actors are operationalising asymmetric drone strategies to create strategic surprise and psychological shock. If this is what state-on-state drone warfare looks like today, one can easily see how proxies or hybrid non-state actors in South Asia could mimic such tactics at a smaller scale with equally disproportionate impact. Just transpose this template to a sub-conventional, asymmetric theatre like J&K combined with Punjab. The implications are chilling — and very real. Drone Wars in the Kashmir–Punjab Belt Even though the number of terrorists operating inside the Kashmir Valley has dwindled, the threat is far from over. The conflict has been seeping southwards — into Rajouri, Reasi, Kathua, and even parts of Punjab. This southward spread coincides with the steady increase in drone sightings and recoveries along the Punjab border — originally attributed to narcotics smuggling, arms drops, and infiltration aids. If these drone operations are recalibrated for pure terror purposes, can one imagine the impact? It could also ensure the activation of all three target zones with lessened risk and yet a high scope for denial for the terror perpetrators. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unlike 1999, today's terrorists can do far more damage with fewer men. The cost-benefit ratio of drone warfare is heavily tilted in favour of the attacker. Even low-cost recreational drones, assembled from commercial kits, can strike convoys, helipads, or civilian targets and create an impact in the information domain. GPS-guided kamikaze drones of the loitering variety can be launched from rooftops, fields, or moving vehicles. Encrypted communication apps, AI-assisted navigation, and satellite imagery make planning both detailed and deniable. The same open-source tools used by civilian OSINT communities — such as Google Earth and others — can be used for target acquisition, route mapping, and surveillance. A series of micro-drone attacks in a short span of time — on convoys on the Jammu–Srinagar highway, fuel dumps in rear logistics areas, or crowded civilian spaces — could paralyse response grids, spark panic, and create disproportionate psychological effects. That is exactly what terrorists sought in 1999 and managed to achieve for some time. This time the numbers could be higher as also the impact before the security forces find answers to neutralise them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A 'New' Old War What makes this emerging threat even more serious is that it blurs the line between war and peace. A drone strike from within Indian territory — launched from a hut, an orchard, or a cattle shed — does not carry the signature of cross-border infiltration. Attribution becomes tricky. This strategy suits the adversary perfectly; it revives terrorism without increasing physical infiltration. It creates 'ghost threats' — attacks without visible footprints. And it pulls in security forces into high-alert static duties, just like 1999 — thereby reducing proactive engagement options. In a sense, this becomes a hybrid warfare layer built on top of a disaggregated insurgency — a low-cost, high-impact model aimed at strategic paralysis and political destabilisation. Since the line between targeting civilians and security personnel has blurred with the Pahalgam attack, tourist spots would be constantly under threat, robbing both sides of the Pir Panjal of the tourist footprint. Even the Amarnath Yatra could come under threat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lessons from 1999, Warnings from 2025 If the post-Kargil 1999 asymmetric surge forced India to rethink perimeter security, troop deployment patterns, and intelligence integration, the post-Pahalgam, post-Spider Web world of 2025 demands even more. This is a battlefield of algorithms and altitudes, where satellites meet sabotage and where drones replace the fidayeen. The war in Ukraine has shown what's possible — and the threat landscape in Kashmir and Punjab is evolving to reflect that. It is time we anticipate what comes next — because the adversary could already be contemplating the next moves. It's not as if there aren't counters to this threat, but that will need a full essay to cover, perhaps in the near future. The writer is a member of the National Disaster Management Authority. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
3 'wars' to dominate economic bloc's meeting: Israel-Iran, Ukraine and Trump's tariffs
As Canada gears up to host the G7 Summit in Alberta, 3 wars will be on the leaders' agenda: the Russia-Ukraine war, the West Asian Crisis, and the trade war that US President Donald Trump has ensued read more US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Canadian PM earlier in May said his government is talking to the US about joining the Golden Dome missile defence program. AFP Canada is all set to host the G7 Summit , where leaders from some of the most powerful nations will discuss the global crises that have engulfed the world. At the centre of these discussions will be two wars and the brewing conflict, which many fear can turn into a war. High on the agenda will be the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the war in Gaza. However, the recent turn of events between Israel and Iran would shift the focus to the brewing crisis in West Asia. Israel's decision to strike Iran's nuclear and military facilities and Iran's retaliation would now compel the member nations to discuss the issue instead of discussing the looming Trump tariffs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the heart of these issues would be the UK, France, Germany and Italy - along with Canada and Japan's bid to influence US President Donald Trump, with hopes of America taking a more conventional approach instead of a provocative one. Here's a look at the 3 wars G7 leaders will be focusing on 3 wars | 1 Summit ### Russia-Ukraine war Key to the debate will be the ongoing war in Ukraine and Trump's ever-changing stance on Russia. Since most member states in the G7 are allies of Ukraine, they would want to put more pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiating table. The European allies argued that one way of bringing Russia to the table was by hitting its economy. During the G7 Summit, the Ukrainian allies would focus on calling for the reduction of the price that most of the world pays for Russian oil. They would also like a tough new package of economic sanctions. The main task at hand would be getting Trump's support since the POTUS has been an ardent supporter of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. On Saturday, Putin and Trump held a phone call in which the Russian leader wished him on his birthday and expressed his intention to sit for peace talks with Ukraine. ### Crisis in West Asia While the G7 leaders were meant to speak on the war in Gaza, the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel would also take centre stage during discussions at the Summit. While French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed criticism towards Israel, UK PM Keir Starmer and Trump have expressed ardent support for Israe l amid clashes with Iran. The Trump administration is also looking at how the ongoing tension in West Asia is hampering its nuclear talks with Iran, which were initiated earlier this year in Oman. Israel's activities in Gaza might also be on the agenda, given that the UN has been frequently raising concerns about the humanitarian crisis on the coastal strip and calls for a ceasefire remain persistent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ### Tariff war With Trump in attendance, most of the leaders would also focus on discussing his proposed reciprocal tariffs , which have now been paused. The club of some of the world's richest industrial nations was set up in the 1970s to discuss global economic crises, and now the same members will be discussing the tariffs imposed by one country, which can severely impact the global economy. 'If the question is how we coordinate on China, how we coordinate on technology, how we coordinate on Russia and Ukraine - how can we have this kind of alliance between advanced-economy democracies if we're also creating economic hardship on our countries by something that's coming from another member?' Josh Lipsky, senior director of the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Centre, told the BBC on the matter. While the UK has already signed a bilateral trade deal with the US, other nations, especially India and Japan, would also be discussing similar suits with the American president.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Gold Card or pipe dream? Expert exposes gaps in Trump's immigration overhaul
Talks of the ultra-rich gaining fast-track passageway entry into the world of US residency have long been going around town. President Donald Trump introduced his new Gold Card program as a method to attract the wealthy and successful to the shores of America and stimulate its economy through creating jobs and investing capital. Be it Russian oligarchs or Middle Eastern oil tycoons, the administration is ready to serve them permanent residency free of international taxation for a barter trade of $5 million. We've heard the President call it 'the Green Card but better' and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick promise the release of an official website in 'about a week' on loop for a while now. Three weeks have passed since Lutnick's statement. Any concrete sign signaling a possible release anytime shortly appears to be invisible at the moment. David Lesperance, JD Founder and Managing Partner of Lesperance and Associates- a Montreal-based immigration and international taxation advice agency, calls the program a 'concept of a plan" that will be this term's 'infrastructure week.' Given his 35 years of experience in his role as an advisor to Ultra High Net Worth (UNHW) families from the US and beyond, Lesperance points out the gaping holes that still threaten Trump's 'wild card' from ever manifesting into reality. How attractive is the proposal to its target audience? What is the impending future of the EB-5 Program? Has the Congress approved any relevant legislative change in this regard? Does a market for this program even exist? Lesperance lays it all bare in a candid conversation. In an appearance on the All-In Podcast on March 21 of this year, Lutnick claimed to hosts Chamath Palihapitiya and David Friedberg that 37 million people across the globe had the fiscal capacity to buy a gold card; 'And by the way, yesterday I sold a 1000,' he added. Lesperance questioned the potential market of 37 million individuals as claimed by Lutnick by saying: 'One does not spend their entire fortune on a donation to the US government for a Gold Card. In reality, one would only spend 1/6th of their wealth (i.e., +$30M net worth), and there are only 395,070 such individuals in the world. Since 225,000 of them are already Americans, there is only a possible total market of 170,000 individuals.' If this program were to ever materialize, he professes a 'negligible impact on wealth in the US' and downs the sales numbers from millions to mere hundreds. As part of the 'privileges plus' feature of the program, the Trump administration aims to shield cardholders from paying dues on income earned from foreign sources. Lesperance, however, questions the legal feasibility of this feature: 'To actually make this happen would require a change to the definition of being a US person for Tax Purposes in the Internal Revenue Code. There would need to be a new category that outlines how Gold Card holders' tax obligations are completely different from the worldwide tax obligations of Citizens, Green Card Holders, and those who trigger the Substantial Presence Test.' He further pointed out that the ultra-rich can easily gain the same benefits through other measures like an L-1, E1/E2, or O-1 visa and burn fewer holes in their own pockets. 'If they either spend less than the time allotted under the Substantial Presence Test or have either a Closer Connection or Treaty Election to overcome the SPT, they will not become US taxpayers subject to US global taxation,' he adds. 'So as the weeks go by either the Trump Card will be properly legally created with the promised feature of territorial tax and I will have egg on my I will be labelled "NostaLesperance" for being the first to point out the Trump Gold Card Emperor has no clothes.' Drifting from the aspect of the existence and likelihood of UNHW families, Lesperance echoes a common concern that has been stated by multiple Senators in the past few months regarding the legal implications of executing such a massive change to immigration policy. The current investment-based immigration scheme in the US, called the EB-5 Program, requires foreign investors to create 10 full-time jobs for American workers and contribute either $800,000 in specified 'high-unemployment' sectors or $1,050,000 in a non-targeted area. Although the president intends to exercise his executive powers to pass the legislation, many, including Lesperance, foresee the difficulties in doing so. 'The EB-5 program has been approved by the US Congress until the end of 2027. Even though the Gold Card was proposed in late February, no legislation has even been proposed to either eliminate or compete with the EB-5 program. This is despite the fact that major immigration proposals are part of the Big Beautiful Bill.' Moreover, shifting from the EB-5 to a Gold Card would replace the concept of investments with donations; an idea the ultra-rich aren't exactly pouncing on in a flash. The possibility of the program being 'introduced by a sharpie signature on an executive order' remains under question by legal loopholes. According to data published by the Center for Immigration Studies, 20% of all workers in January 2025 were immigrants from foreign nations, accounting for a staggering 31.7 million individuals. But, Lesperance points out how the program might just help the country shoot itself in the foot: 'For the stated Gold Card target market of international UHNW "Golden Geese" it is a place to leave rather than fly to. In the future if the political pendulum swings towards the Democratic party's prior "Tax the Rich" proposal the current record wave of departing wealthy will become a tsunami.
