&w=3840&q=100)
Trump says ‘big progress' made with Russia as Witkoff outlines Nato-style security guarantees for Ukraine
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, US, August 15, 2025. File Image/Reuters
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said 'big progress' had been made with Russia towards resolving the conflict in Ukraine, just hours after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
'BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED! President DJT,' Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Putin's concession on Nato like security guarantees
Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff described the outcome of the Alaska summit as 'game-changing.' Speaking to CNN's State of the Union, he said, 'We were able to win the following concession: that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO.'
Witkoff noted this was the first time Putin had agreed to such a proposal. 'Putin has said that a red flag is NATO admission,' he said. 'So what we were discussing was … that the United States and other European nations could effectively offer Article 5-like language to cover a security guarantee.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
He added, 'It was the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that.'
Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, also known as the Washington Treaty, underpins NATO's core principle of collective defence. It states that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all.
If carried forward, the understanding would mark a major shift in Moscow's position and provide Ukraine with an alternative to NATO membership, something Putin has consistently opposed. Witkoff emphasised, however, that any deal would ultimately depend on whether Kyiv accepted the proposal.
Rubio warns of consequences
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned there would be 'additional consequences' if no ceasefire was achieved, echoing Trump's warning before his talks with Putin. He also underlined that no truce could be reached without Ukraine's direct participation in negotiations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
12 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Air India cancels Zurich-Delhi flight citing technical issue
MUMBAI: Air India on Monday said it cancelled its Zurich-Delhi flight of August 17 due to a technical reason, days after the Tata Group-owned airline stated that it had carried out a detailed "inspection" of its Boeing 787 aircraft fleet and "no issues" were detected. However, a passenger on board said the flight aborted take-off at the last minute due to an engine issue. In the last two days, Air India has cancelled at least two flights, including one international, at the last moment, citing technical reasons. Air India operates its Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft fleet to cater to the European market. "Flight AI152 scheduled to operate from Zurich to Delhi on 17 August has been cancelled due to a technical reason, and subsequently due to night curfew in Zurich," Air India said in a statement. The airline said it has arranged alternative flights to the passengers' destination and is providing hotel accommodation, along with full refunds on cancellations or complimentary rescheduling options for the passengers. "Air India flight from Zurich to Delhi is cancelled: aborted moments before take-off, technical issue in engine cited," said the passenger in a post on X. A Delhi-bound Air India plane, carrying Lok Sabha Member and Congress leader Hibi Eden among others, aborted take-off at the Kochi airport on Sunday due to a technical issue, officials said. Earlier, the airline was forced to cancel its Milan-Delhi flight owing to a technical issue which was detected during pushback. The airline, which came under private hands in January 2022, has recently been delaying and cancelling some flights at the last minute due to technical and maintenance issues. This comes despite repeated assurances from Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson that the airline has carried out comprehensive checks on its Boeing 787 aircraft fleet. In a message to the customers recently, while listing out the various steps taken after the fatal crash of an AI-171 flight to London soon after take-off from the Ahmedabad airport, Wilson said detailed inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft were done and "no issues were found during inspection".
India.com
12 minutes ago
- India.com
Another war! Iran testing Russia's S-400 air defense system? What's behind Khamenei-Putin secret deal
Iran and Israel have been in conflict for many years. Israel is getting sleepless nights once again as Iran has successfully tested the Russian S-400 air defense system. According to the media reports, Iran tested S-400 system for the first time on July 26, near Isfahan, which was where the Israeli Air Force in June destroyed Iran's S-300 air defense system, during the war. In that war, Israel had either destroyed or severely damaged nearly all of Iran's air defense systems, so Iranian skies were undefended thereafter. Open-source intelligence, using satellite images, has reportedly confirmed that Iran tested the S-400 Triumph system in Isfahan. A report from the Defense Security Asia website stated the Iranian S-400 air defense system consisted of the 91N6E acquisition radar, 92N6E engagement radar, a central command-and-control vehicle, and several 5P85TE2 transporter erector launchers. The sources indicated during the test, a 48N6E3 missile (250 km range) was launched, and it is quite probable that the long-range 40N6 missile (380-400 km strike capability) was also activated. In June during the war, Israel destroyed Iran's air defense systems and radars first. Then it conducted persistent airstrikes with flying capabilities using fighter jets on dozens of targets of Iran. Israel purported it was in control of its airspace. There are still significant tensions between Israel and Iran and numerous reports indicating there is potential for another conflict with the deployment of Iran's S-400 Air Defense System, allowing Iran to dethrone Israeli overarching air capabilities in Iranian skies.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
12 minutes ago
- Business Standard
PM's Diwali Dhamaka may come as GST cuts on small cars, insurance premiums
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Diwali 'dhamaka' for consumers may come in the form of cuts in Goods and Services Tax (GST) on small cars and insurance premiums. According to a report by Reuters, citing government sources, Centre has proposed lowering GST on small petrol and diesel cars to 18 per cent from 28 per cent, and reducing GST on health and life insurance premiums to 5 per cent from the current 18 per cent, or even exempting them entirely. If cleared, the relief package could be unveiled before Diwali in October, India's busiest retail season, and just weeks ahead of the Bihar Assembly election. PM Modi, in his Independence Day address, promised 'next generation' GST reforms to ease the burden on consumers and micro, small and medium enterprises. Larger GST overhaul in the works PM Modi's rationalisation agenda is built on three pillars, the Reuters report said. This includes structural reforms, rate simplification, and ease of living. It seeks to correct inverted duty structures, reduce classification disputes, and eventually move towards a simplified two-slab structure with standard and merit rates while phasing out the 12 per cent slab. Moreover, as the compensation cess on luxury and sin goods is set to end, the Centre sees an opportunity to use that room to cut GST on everyday and aspirational products without hurting revenues. Compensation cess expiry and GST review Compensation cess refers to the extra levy introduced in 2017 on luxury and sin goods such as coal, tobacco, aerated drinks, and large cars. It was designed to compensate states for revenue losses after GST replaced earlier state taxes like VAT and octroi. Originally meant to expire in 2022, the cess was extended until March 2026 to help cover revenue shortfalls caused by the pandemic. Once it lapses, the Centre will have greater flexibility to rationalise GST rates without relying on this additional revenue stream. Small cars to see turnaround Small cars, defined as those under four metres with petrol engines up to 1,200cc and diesel engines up to 1,500cc, have steadily lost ground to SUVs, shrinking from nearly half the passenger vehicle market pre-pandemic to about one-third of the 4.3 million units sold in FY24. A lower tax rate could help revive demand in this category, which remains significant for manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India, and Tata Motors. Big cars may get costlier The government is also considering a 40 per cent special GST slab for larger vehicles, which currently attract 28 per cent GST plus a compensation cess of up to 22 per cent, taking the effective burden close to 50 per cent. Officials are weighing whether to impose supplementary levies to keep the final incidence within the existing 43-50 per cent band. Insurance relief on the cards Households may see additional relief through cheaper health and life insurance. Cutting GST to 5 per cent from 18 per cent or zero would help lower premiums and expand coverage in a country. GST Council to meet in September The matter has been referred to the Group of Ministers set up by the GST Council, which is expected to take place on September 9, according to a report by CNBC-TV18. If approved, the package would mark the most significant GST restructuring since 2017.
