Putin launches deadliest strike on Kyiv for almost a year
Amid the blood and rubble left by the latest Russian missile attack on Ukraine, the shock felt by survivors was matched only by their anger.
'There can't be any peace with Russia,' said Viktor, 66, as he stood outside his daughter's windowless flat in Kyiv. 'I don't believe a word that Putin says. Even if we give up land, he won't stop trying to destroy us. He is obsessed.'
The missile, believed to be a KN-23A supplied by North Korea, hit a residential district of the Ukrainian capital at about 1am, as air raid sirens wailed and air defence guns tried to repel the attack.
At least 12 people were killed and 90 injured, emergency services said. Vitali Klitschko, the city's mayor, said several children
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Libyan Express
10-05-2025
- Libyan Express
Trump urges end to Ukraine conflict and pushes for ceasefire
BY Libyan Express May 10, 2025 - 08:51 President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP) US President Donald Trump called on Friday for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to end the war in Ukraine as he advocates for a 30-day ceasefire. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office ahead of his Monday departure for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Trump responded to a question about his message to Putin following a US embassy warning about potential air attacks on Kyiv. 'I have a message for both parties: Get this war ended. Get this stupid war finished. That's my message for both of them,' Trump stated. The US embassy in Kyiv had posted on its website that it received information about a possible air attack that could occur within the next several days, advising US citizens to 'be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.' The White House reported that Trump held a 'very good and productive' telephone conversation with Zelensky on Thursday, and expressed hope that both Ukraine and Russia would agree to the proposed 30-day ceasefire next week. During Friday's press briefing, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt reiterated that Trump would not meet with Putin during his forthcoming Middle East trip. In Kyiv, Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, disclosed that he spoke by telephone on Friday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials regarding the proposed ceasefire and potential peace settlement. 'The main focus was the question of the ceasefire and prospects for a peace settlement,' Yermak wrote on Telegram, adding that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg participated in the call alongside Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. 'Also discussed was the importance of implementing the points on which our presidents agreed,' Yermak added. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Libyan Express
08-05-2025
- Libyan Express
Why Libya matters in Moscow's challenge to Washington?
Copy Link The recent American military posturing near Libya has quickly elicited a Russian response. After US B-52 strategic bombers conducted flyovers alongside British forces above Sirte on 26 February 2025, followed by the USS Mount Whitney's appearances in Tripoli (20 April) and Benghazi (21 April), Moscow has countered by sending a high-level diplomat to Libya's capital. Alexander Kishniak, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at Russia's Foreign Ministry, arrived in Tripoli on 28 April 2025. He delivered a verbal message from the Kremlin to Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh that emphasised strengthening Libyan-Russian relations. According to the Government of National Unity's media office, 'Kishniak's message underscored the importance of bilateral relations, enhanced cooperation, and reactivating the Joint Libyan-Russian High Committee.' The same source quoted Dbeibeh as emphasising 'the building of balanced relations with Russia based on respect for Libya's sovereignty and stability, serving mutual interests between both countries.' This diplomatic exchange represents a new chapter in the ongoing American-Russian competition for influence in Libya—a struggle where Libya finds itself as the vulnerable third party. The critical questions facing Tripoli's government are multifaceted: How can it address Russian military presence on Libyan soil that poses existential challenges to state sovereignty? Is it possible to balance economic cooperation with Russia whilst confronting security risks? Can Libya protect its national interests within such an asymmetric relationship? Russia's approach mirrors Western tactics used throughout the Arab world—compartmentalising political and economic relations. This allows Moscow to pursue economic partnerships while simultaneously undermining Libyan sovereignty through military deployments, base establishments, interference in neighbouring countries, and support for Khalifa Haftar's forces to maintain political division. Meanwhile, Russia extends economic cooperation offers to western Libya's political leadership under attractive but ultimately deceptive pretences. The gravest danger may be Libya's transformation into a proxy battlefield in the larger Russia-Western confrontation—a scenario that could entangle the country in a destructive great power competition. While some pragmatists argue that political realities necessitate engagement with Russia despite these concerns, Libya's genuine challenge remains finding equilibrium between immediate political expediencies and its long-term national interests. This balancing act will determine whether Libya can maintain its sovereignty whilst navigating relations with these competing global powers.
Libyan Express
08-05-2025
- Libyan Express
North Korea fires advanced missiles into Sea of Japan
North Korea unveiled what analysts believe to be the world's largest liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile. Photo via Korean Central TV North Korea launched several ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Thursday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed through Yonhap news agency . The projectiles were fired from Wonsan, a coastal city on North Korea's southeastern shore, and travelled approximately 190 miles eastward before landing in international waters. 'This clear provocation seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,' South Korea's military leadership declared in their official statement condemning the launches. Military intelligence suggests these projectiles are part of Pyongyang's new generation of sophisticated short-range ballistic missile systems, representing a significant technological leap from their Soviet-era arsenal. Defence analysts identify these as likely belonging to North Korea's KN-series missiles, which feature quasi-ballistic flight patterns specifically engineered to evade interception by contemporary missile defence systems. These newer weapons systems employ advanced manoeuvrability tactics, flying at unusually low altitudes before making abrupt trajectory changes. Such innovations considerably reduce the effectiveness of regional defensive countermeasures whilst simultaneously improving strike precision. Thursday's demonstration constitutes North Korea's fifth missile test this year, following a similar launch on 22 April. The timing appears deliberate, coming days before President Trump's 20 January inauguration and shortly after the conclusion of joint US-South Korean 'Freedom Shield' military exercises, which North Korea consistently characterises as invasion rehearsals. The ongoing missile development programme reflects North Korea's broader strategic shift toward asymmetric warfare capabilities to compensate for its ageing conventional forces. Experts note this approach allows Pyongyang to maintain military relevance whilst potentially strengthening its negotiating position in any future diplomatic engagements. Japanese and American defence officials continue monitoring the situation intently, with particular concern regarding the dual-capable nature of these missile systems, which could potentially deliver either conventional or nuclear warheads. This technological advancement represents a growing security challenge for the entire region as missile defence systems face increasingly sophisticated threats designed specifically to overcome their protective capabilities.
