Ukraine-Russia war live: Kyiv sets deadline for Putin-Zelensky summit after peace talks fail to stop bombing
Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's chief delegate at peace talks in Istanbul yesterday, said he presented the Russian side with a proposal for the meeting. "By agreeing to this proposal, Russia can clearly demonstrate its constructive approach,' he said.
Ukraine and Russia continued to exchange drone attacks in the early hours today, shortly after the conclusion of the latest round of direct peace talks between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv.
While Ukrainian drones hit southern Russian Black Sea areas, killing one person, injuring another and hitting an oil storage depot, Russian drones hit Ukraine 's Black Sea port of Odesa, triggering several fires in residential and other buildings.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian prisoners of war have begun returning home after the third round of peace talks in Istanbul after well under an hour without agreement on a ceasefire.
Protests in Ukraine after Zelensky approves bill curbing autonomy of anti-corruption agencies
Hundreds of people gathered in Ukraine's capital Kyiv to lodge their protest with the Volodymyr Zelensky's administration for passing a controversial bill tightening restrictions on its anti-corruption agencies, presenting the war-hit nation with its biggest domestic turmoil since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday passed amendments to allow the country's general prosecutor, appointed by the president, strict control over two anti-corruption bodies – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo).
Protests in Ukraine after Zelensky approves bill weakening anti-corruption bodies
Move has alarmed Ukrainians amid fears that chief prosecutor, a Zelensky loyalist, could reassign corruption probes
Arpan Rai24 July 2025 07:50
What are the corruption issues behind Ukrainian protests against Zelensky?
Thousands of people, including veterans, took to the streets of Kyiv on Tuesday evening to protest against president Volodymyr Zelensky's anti-corruption measures.
The demonstrations, which have reportedly spread to Lviv and Dnipro, are the first public protests against the Ukrainian president since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Some of those outside Mr Zelensky's presidential office claimed Ukraine was 'turning into Russia', with placards reading 'welcome to Russia', according to reports.
'We chose Europe, not autocracy,' read one placard by a demonstrator. Another read: 'My father did not die for this.'
So why are people protesting, and what are the anti-corruption measures? The Independent takes a closer look below.
Ukraine protests: Why are Ukrainians protesting against President Volodymyr Zelensky?
Some protesters held placards saying 'Welcome to Russia' after Ukraine made changes to anti-corruption agencies
Arpan Rai24 July 2025 07:30
Trump says European allies will pay 100 per cent for military equipment
US president Donald Trump touted a recent deal between the US and Nato whereby European allies would purchase weapons and send them to Ukraine as it fights Russia.
"They're going to pay the United States of America 100 per cent of the cost of all military equipment, and much of it will go to Ukraine," Mr Trump said in remarks at an artificial intelligence conference in Washington.
Arpan Rai24 July 2025 07:15
Russia strikes Ukraine in new drone attack after peace talks end
Russian forces staged the latest in a series of mass attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa, triggering several fires in residential and other buildings in the early hours today.
In Odesa, regional governor Oleh Kiper said two floors of a multi-storey apartment building had been set ablaze. Other fires broke out on the roof of a two-storey residence, in kiosks and at a petrol station.
The city's historic centre, a Unesco World Heritage Site, was also hit, he said.
Mr Kiper said details on casualties were being compiled.
Arpan Rai24 July 2025 07:00
Zelensky summons chiefs of anti-corruption agencies in bid for unity
Volodymyr Zelensky has gathered the chiefs of anti-corruption agencies with law enforcement bosses as he looks to show unity during a fractious week for Kyiv.
'It was a much-needed meeting — a frank and constructive conversation that truly helps,' the Ukrainian president wrote on social media.
'We all share a common enemy: the Russian occupiers. And defending the Ukrainian state requires a strong enough law enforcement and anti-corruption system — one that ensures a real sense of justice.'
Mr Zelensky is facing heavy pressure from European officials and the Ukrainian public after his government pushed through laws which will curb the powers of the anti-corruption agencies which have led reform of the country since 2014.
At the meeting were representatives of: the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Prosecutor General.
Arpan Rai24 July 2025 06:45
EU officials warn of possible setback to joining bloc after Ukraine protests Zelensky's law
Top EU officials have warned Ukraine of possible setback to its membership of Nato amid fresh wave of protests in Ukraine over changes in the anti-corruption law.
Activists yesterday called for more protests of a new law that they say weakens Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs, following the first major anti-government demonstration in over three years of war.
Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in the war.
"Limiting the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agency hampers Ukraine's way towards the EU," German foreign minister Johann Wadephul warned in a post on X.
EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius, also on X, noted: "In war, trust between the fighting nation and its leadership is more important than modern weapons — difficult to build and to keep, but easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership."
Arpan Rai24 July 2025 06:30
Watch: Protests in Ukraine after Zelensky's anti-corruption changes
Arpan Rai24 July 2025 06:15
Putin's 'digital gulag': Inside the Kremlin's attempt to construct a spy app to snoop on Russians
In just two months, every new digital device in Russia will come equipped with a brand new messenger app, named Max. Beneath its playful white-and-blue logo lies software that experts believe could allow the Kremlin to dramatically expand its capacity to spy on the Russian public.
The app, launched in March by Russian tech company VK, will be installed on every new device sold in Russia from September this year. But there are fears it will work as a 'spy programme', allowing Russia's FSB security service to establish a rigid surveillance programme.
The app will provide not only a space for messaging and video calls, but will be a broader information system with access to government services and mobile payments, analysts told The Independent. With servers based in Russia, Max will be subject to Russian law, which grants the FSB to have access to certain materials.
Inside Putin's attempt to construct a 'digital gulag' spy app to snoop on Russians
The Russian President has ordered officials to switch to the Max app to restrict the use of foreign software, according to Ukrainian intelligence
Arpan Rai24 July 2025 05:50
Kyiv and Moscow officials hold the shortest talks yet
At 40 minutes, the meeting was even shorter than the two sides' previous encounters on 16 May and 2 June, which lasted a combined total of under three hours.
Before the talks, the Kremlin had played down expectations, describing the two sides' positions as diametrically opposed and saying no one should expect miracles.
Oleksandr Bevz, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, said Kyiv had proposed a Putin-Zelensky meeting in August because that would fall within the deadline set by Donald Trump for a deal.
Mr Putin turned down a previous challenge from Mr Zelensky to meet in person and has said he does not see him as a legitimate leader because Ukraine, which is under martial law, did not hold new elections when Mr Zelensky's five-year mandate expired last year.
Arpan Rai24 July 2025 05:26
Ukraine offered Russia to hold leaders summit by end of August, Kyiv says
Kyiv has offered Moscow to hold a leaders' summit aimed at ending the war by the end of August, the head of the Ukrainian delegation at talks in Istanbul said on Wednesday.
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Former POWs in Russia channel their pain into rebuilding lives in Ukraine
Since his release from a Russian prison in April, Stanislav Tarnavskyi has been in a hurry to build the life in Ukraine he dreamed about during three years of captivity. The 25-year-old has proposed to his girlfriend, bought an apartment and adopted a golden retriever. And that was just what he accomplished one week in July. But as busy as he is rekindling old relationships and creating new ones, Tarnavskyi cannot shake the trauma he and thousands of other Ukrainian soldiers experienced as prisoners of war. The U.N. says many endured beatings, starvation and humiliation at the hands of their captors — experiences that will leave lifelong scars. Tarnavskyi, who was captured during the battle for Mariupol in April of 2022, regularly has nightmares about the prisons where he was held. 'I see the officers who watched over us. I dream they want to harm me, catch me,' he said. When he wakes up, his heart pounds, anxiety surges — until he realizes he is in the outskirts of Kyiv, where he was forced to move because Russia occupied his hometown of Berdiansk. As the three-year war drags on, Tarnavskyi is one of more than 5,000 former POWs back in Ukraine rehabilitating with the help of regular counseling. Regardless of any physical injuries that may require attention, psychologists say it is vital to monitor former POWs for years after their release; the cost of war, they say, echoes for generations. A marriage proposal In a photography studio high above Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, sunlight floods the white walls. After a shoot that lasted several hours Tarnavskyi said the brightness was hurting his eyes, which are still sensitive from years spent in a dark cell. But his mood couldn't be dimmed. The girlfriend who waited for his return had just consented to his surprise proposal. 'I love you very much, I am very glad that you waited for me," Tarnavskyi said, holding a thick bouquet of pink roses and a ring. "You have always been my support, and I hope you will remain so for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?' Tarnavskyi said it was the thought of Tetiana Baieva — whom he met in 2021 — that helped stop him from committing suicide three times during captivity. Still, he finds it hard to talk with Baieva about his time in prison. He doesn't want to be pitied. Soon after he returned home, he was paranoid, feeling watched — a reaction to constant surveillance in prison. 'If you stepped out of line, they'd (Russians) come and beat you. I still get flashbacks when I see (surveillance) cameras. If I see one, I get nervous,' he said. But with each passing week, he is feeling better, progress Tarnavskyi credits to the work he is doing with a psychologist. Lifelong care is vital Any small stimulus — a smell, a breeze, a color — can trigger traumatic memories for POWs, says Kseniia Voznitsyna, the director of Ukraine's Lisova Polyana mental health center for veterans on the outskirts of Kyiv. Yet contrary to stereotypes, ex-POWs aren't more aggressive. 'They tend to isolate themselves, avoid large gatherings, and struggle with trust,' said Voznitsyna. 'They say time heals — five or ten years, maybe — but it doesn't," she added. "It just feels less intense.' A 2014 study in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that Israeli ex-POWs and combat veterans tracked over 35 years had higher mortality rates, chronic illnesses and worse self-rated health — conditions partly tied to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The authors of the study said that is why it is crucial to monitor ex-POWs and give them specialized medical and psychological care as they age. That logic rings true to Denys Zalizko, a 21-year-old former POW who has been back in Ukraine for less than three months but is already sure his recovery will take a long time. 'You can't fool yourself. Even if you really want to, you will never forget. It will always haunt you,' he said. An artist to be Zalizko survived torture, suicide attempts and relentless beatings during roughly 15 months in Russian captivity. The first time his mother, Maria Zalizko, saw him after his release, she barely recognized him. He was thin and appeared 'broken', she said, with torment in his eyes. Zalizko's physical appearance is now almost completely different. His skin looks healthy, his muscles are taut and he has lots of energy. But still there is sadness in his eyes. Two things keep him moving forward and help clear his mind: music and exercise. 'Pauses and stillness bring anxiety,' says Zalizko. Like Tarnavskyi, he is receiving mandatory counseling at the Lisova Polyana mental health center. And like many former POWs, he still battles hypervigilance — listening for threats, scanning his surroundings. At night, sleep comes in fragments, and that was true even before a recent uptick in nightly drone attacks by the Russian army. For the families of POWs, the reintegration process is also a struggle. A psychologist advised Maria Zalizko to give her son space, to avoid calling him too often. But it is Denys who often calls her, sometimes singing over the phone — a skill she taught him as a child. 'I love music. Music unites,' he said, touching the tattoo of a treble clef behind his ear — inked after his return. Even in captivity, he sang quietly to himself, composing songs in his mind about love, home and war. Now he dreams of turning that passion into a career as an artist. 'I've become stronger now,' Zalizko said. 'I'm not afraid of death, not afraid of losing an arm or a leg, not afraid of dying instantly. I fear nothing anymore.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Thailand and Cambodia to talk peace in Malaysia after Trump's tariff threat
Cambodian and Thai leaders will meet on Monday for talks to end the border conflict that has left at least 35 people dead and displaced thousands more. Cambodian premier Hun Manet will meet Thai acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur to seek a resolution to the deadliest conflict in more than a decade between the Southeast Asian countries, Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said, adding that they will be joined by American and Chinese delegates. The Cambodian prime minister confirmed his participation late Sunday night. He also said China, a close ally, will attend the meeting. 'I will lead the Cambodian delegation to attend a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur hosted by Malaysia and co-organised by the United States and with participation of China,' he said. The conflict, which began on 24 July, has killed at least 35 people and displaced over 200,000 on both sides of the disputed border. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said American officials were in Malaysia to help secure peace. Donald Trump had earlier said he thought the leaders of both Thailand and Cambodia wanted to settle the conflict. "We want this conflict to end as soon as possible," Mr Rubio said. "State Department officials are on the ground in Malaysia to assist these peace efforts.' The talks will start at 3pm local time. After the conflict broke out last week, Malaysia offered to facilitate talks to end the hostilities in its role as the current chair of the Asean regional bloc. The breakthrough came after Mr Trump said that Thai and Cambodian leaders were willing to 'quickly work out a ceasefire'. The US president said on Sunday he had threatened to pull out of deals to reduce tariffs on both nations unless they agreed to stop fighting. 'I called the prime minister of each and said, 'We're not going to make a trade deal unless you settle a war.' I think they want to settle," he said. Both countries thanked Mr Trump for his efforts even as fighting continued through Sunday. The Cambodian premier said earlier on Sunday his country had agreed to pursue an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire'. He said Mr Trump had told him Thailand was ready to end fighting following the American president's conversation with the acting prime minister. Mr Phumtham thanked the US president and qualified Thailand's position saying that it had agreed in principle to a ceasefire but stressed the need for 'sincere intention' from Cambodia, according to the Thai foreign ministry. The fighting started on Thursday after a landmine explosion wounded Thai soldiers and gunshots were fired, with each side blaming the other for starting the clashes. The 817km frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades but previous confrontations have been limited and brief. In the latest conflict, both sides have employed rocket and artillery systems, and a Thai military spokesperson confirmed cluster munitions could be used 'when necessary' after Cambodia claimed the internationally prohibited weapons were being deployed by the neighbouring country.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Thailand and Cambodia set to begin peace talks as deadly border dispute rages on
Update: Date: 05:26 BST Title: Who are attending the peace talks? Content: Malaysia's leader Anwar Ibrahim will chair the peace talks later today in Kuala Lumpur. Anwar, who is chair of Asean or the Association of South East Asian Nations, had proposed ceasefire talks soon after intense fighting broke out along the Thai-Cambodian border on Thursday. The Thai delegation will be led by acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is expected to lead Phnom Penh's delegation. Officials from China and the US will also be present at the negotiations, AFP news agency reported. Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Update: Date: 05:23 BST Title: What happened over the weekend Content: Cambodia had on Saturday called for "immediate" ceasefire with Thailand and a peaceful resolution to the dispute. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said he told Thailand's and Cambodia's leaders that negotiations to reduce tariffs would not proceed until the "fighting STOPS". The US president's ultimatum forced Bangkok's hand. Thailand, which had earlier refused any third-party mediation, has now accepted a mediation offer put forward by Malaysia - the current chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations. Leaders will now head to Kuala Lumpur for talks at 15:00 local time (07:00 GMT). The Thai delegation will be led by acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai while the Cambodian side will be led by Prime Minister Hun Manet. Thailand has reported 22 deaths - including 14 civilians - since fighting started on Thursday. Cambodia has not released a national casualty toll. Update: Date: 05:05 BST Title: Welcome to our live coverage Content: Welcome again to our live coverage of the festering border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. The country's leaders are due to meet later today for peace talks in Malaysia, after four days of clashes that have claimed dozens of lives. Heavy exchanges of fire have continued overnight, while Thailand and Cambodia continued to point figures at each other for aggravating the dispute. Stay with us as we bring you the latest. Cambodian migrant workers wait to cross a checkpoint in Thailand in droves on Monday
