Putin tells new pope that Ukraine is bent on escalating conflict
MOSCOW -Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Pope Leo for offering to help settle the Ukraine conflict and told him Kyiv is intent on "escalating" the war, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
A Kremlin statement said they spoke by phone but did not give a date. U.S. President Donald Trump has said the pope offered to host Russia-Ukraine negotiations at the Vatican.
"Gratitude was expressed to the Pontiff for his readiness to help settle the crisis, in particular the Vatican's participation in resolving difficult humanitarian issues on a depoliticised basis," the statement said.
Putin highlighted "that the Kyiv regime is banking on escalating the conflict and is carrying out sabotage against civilian infrastructure sites on Russian territory," the statement said, describing those acts as terrorism.
The Kremlin restated that the conflict's "root causes" must be addressed, a reference to Russian demands that Ukraine adopt a neutral status and NATO rule out eastward expansion.
Russia has sought to cultivate good ties with the new pope and his predecessor, Francis, especially on humanitarian issues, like family reunifications.
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other officials have said the Vatican is not a suitable site for peace talks between two largely Orthodox Christian countries.
The Kremlin noted progress at direct talks this week with Ukrainian negotiators on exchanging prisoners and returning the remains of servicemen.
The Russian statement expressed hope the Vatican would "take a more active role" in calling for freedom of religion in Ukraine for members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that has historic links to Russia.
Ukrainian authorities have launched criminal proceedings against many of its clergy because of suspected sympathies for Moscow. A Kyiv-based Ukrainian Orthodox Church has grown larger in Ukraine during the war.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
34 minutes ago
- Mint
Tesla's China skid: Blame market forces, not politics
The biggest story swirling around Tesla Inc. right now concerns CEO Elon Musk's sudden, if unsurprising, break with a leader who is as calm and unassuming as he is, US President Donald Trump. But the important story concerns what is happening far from these shores: China. Shipments from Tesla's Shanghai factory fell by 15% in May compared with a year before, according to preliminary data from China's Passenger Car Association. That marks eight straight months of declining output from Tesla's single biggest electric vehicle factory, accounting for around 40% of its global capacity. These figures don't reveal which of those EVs get sold in China or get exported from there, but this trend is not Tesla's friend. Through April, Tesla's share of China's battery EV market had fallen by more than half over the past four years, according to data compiled by New AutoMotive, a UK-based research firm. Also Read: Electric debacle: Tesla's troubles started before Musk wore the MAGA cap The numbers also suggest deteriorating economics. On a simple, calendar-day basis, they imply Shanghai factory utilization of 76% in May. That isn't terrible, but it's down significantly from last May. So far this year, excluding the month of February when Tesla was retooling for the refreshed Model Y, implied utilization is running 10 points lower than the same period in 2024. Speaking of that updated Model Y, it isn't a good sign that Tesla has already offered incentives like zero-percent financing in China. Taken together, lower capacity utilization, implying higher fixed costs per vehicle and higher discounts, meaning less net revenue, point to a continuing problem with what was all too apparent in Tesla's first quarter results: Crushed profit margins in its main business. Unlike Tesla's weaker EV sales in other important markets such as California and Europe, the slide in China has nothing to do with Musk's politics. Tesla's reputation within China remains high, viewed as an essential catalyst in revolutionizing the quality and scale of the country's auto sector. Except that 'catalyst' isn't quite the right word, because the beauty of catalysts is that they spark transformations but don't get used up in the process. In this case, it would be more accurate to call Tesla a reactant, because the domestic Chinese EV industry spurred on by its example is now eating it alive. Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | BYD versus Tesla: Let merit decide pole position While Tesla's share of China's battery EV sales is down to about 10% so far this year, that drops to 5.8% when you include other so-called 'new energy vehicles' (NEVs) such as plug-in hybrids, according to figures compiled by Goldman Sachs. Competitors including BYD, which holds about 27% of China's NEV market, are now delivering the sort of excitement that Tesla used to in terms of looks, range and driver assistance features—and at lower prices. Xiaomi, the smartphone maker, is in the process of launching the YU7, a high-tech, fast-charging electric SUV that resembles a Porsche or Ferrari but is perhaps best pictured as a Model Y-seeking missile. In an alternate dimension, China would serve as a hothouse laboratory for Tesla to hone world beating, profitable EVs that might even be exported to its home market. In the dimension we've got, Musk has seemingly lost his ambition to develop brand new, affordable EVs that can compete across the world. Tesla's last genuinely new model, the Cybertruck, is certainly big but only about as 'beautiful" as the Trump tax bill that Musk now openly derides as an 'abomination." While Tesla sits apart from the legacy automakers in the US, Germany and Japan in many respects— certainly in terms of valuation—it has, like them, seen its position in China weaken rapidly. And regardless of Musk's latest posts on X, he worked hard to secure the election of a president and Congressional majority intent on crushing EV sales in the US. With the end of the second quarter approaching, and the sales figures emanating from China and Europe portending another set of weak earnings, it is perhaps little wonder that this narrative is crowded out by all manner of other things. Musk, who ditched Tesla's public relations team and routinely denounces the media as 'propaganda" has nonetheless plunged into a media blitz of late, and has now whipped up a new political intrigue. Also Read: Tesla's slump: When social intelligence clashes with artificial intelligence Is the break with Trump real? My litmus test: watch out if @elonmusk posts a picture of a taco. [His other jabs at Trump on X seem convincing enough]. Plus, of course, we have the imminent launch of Tesla's self-driving cars in Austin, Texas. Whatever they actually turn out to be, with the always dubious narrative of Musk's White House job boosting Tesla's fortunes now played out, those robotaxis constitute the main pillar supporting Tesla's triple-digit earnings multiple. Certainly, that number has nothing to do with what's happening in the biggest EV market on the planet. ©Bloomberg The author is a Bloomberg Opinion writer.
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Elon Musk's threat to withdraw Dragon capsule would leave NASA with 1 option: Russia
As President Donald Trump and Elon Musk argued on social media on Thursday, the world's richest man threatened to decommission a space capsule used to take astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station. After Trump threatened to cut government contracts given to Musk's SpaceX rocket company and his Starlink internet satellite services, Musk responded via X that SpaceX "will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately'. It's unclear how serious Musk's threat was. But the capsule, developed with the help of government contracts, is an important part of keeping the space station running. NASA also relies heavily on SpaceX for other programmes, including launching science missions and, later this decade, returning astronauts to the surface of the moon. SpaceX is the only US company capable right now of transporting crews to and from the space station, using its four-person Dragon capsules. Boeing's Starliner capsule has flown astronauts only once; last year's test flight went so badly that the two NASA astronauts had to hitch a ride back to Earth via SpaceX in March, more than nine months after launching last June. Starliner remains grounded as NASA decides whether to go with another test flight with cargo, rather than a crew. SpaceX also uses a Dragon capsule for its own privately run missions. The next one of those is due to fly next week on a trip chartered by Axiom Space, a Houston company. Cargo versions of the Dragon capsule are also used to ferry food and other supplies to the orbiting lab. Russia's Soyuz capsules are the only other means of getting crews to the space station right now. The Soyuz capsules hold three people at a time. For now, each Soyuz launch carries two Russians and one NASA astronaut, and each SpaceX launch has one Russian on board under a barter system. That way, in an emergency requiring a capsule to return, there is always someone from the US and Russian on board. With its first crew launch for NASA in 2020, the first orbital flight of a crew by a private company, SpaceX enabled NASA to reduce its reliance on Russia for crew transport. The Russian flights had been costing the US tens of millions of dollars per seat, for years. NASA has also used Russian spacecraft for cargo, along with US contractor Northrup Grumman. The company has used its rockets to launch several science missions for NASA as well as military equipment. Last year, SpaceX also won a NASA contract to help bring the space station out of orbit when it is no longer usable. SpaceX's Starship mega rocket is what NASA has picked to get astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon, at least for the first two landing missions. Starship made its ninth test flight last week from Texas, but tumbled out of control and broke apart.
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
'West should ramp up pressure': Russia rains 400 drones, 40 missiles on Ukraine; Zelenskyy urges global action
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday accused Russia of launching a massive overnight assault involving more than 400 drones and over 40 missiles. Zelenskyy called on Ukraine's allies to act swiftly to stop the war. "If someone does not put pressure and gives the war more time to take lives, they are complicit and responsible. We need to act decisively," Zelenskyy said in a social media post. Ukraine's foreign ministry backed the president's call, urging allies to step up international pressure without delay. "Russia's overnight attack on civilians once again demonstrates that the international pressure on Moscow must be increased as soon as possible," Ukrainian foreign minister Andriy Sybiga said in a statement. The overnight attack by Russia was one of the largest coordinated strikes in the three-year war, targeting at least six regions across Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least four people were killed and 20 others injured in the capital. The Ukrainian air force said the barrage included ballistic and cruise missiles, strike drones, and decoys. Around 30 cruise missiles and up to 200 drones were intercepted, according to its spokesperson Yurii Ihnat. Since Russia's invasion began in February 2022, over 12,000 civilians have been killed, the UN reports. Friday's assault added to that toll and exposed the growing strain on Ukrainian air defense systems. In Kyiv, emergency services battled fires caused by falling debris in several districts. Three emergency workers were killed while responding to the aftermath of the strikes, Ukraine's interior ministry confirmed. City official Tymur Tkachenko said metro tracks were damaged, and over 2,000 households lost power on the city's eastern bank. Beyond Kyiv, other cities also came under attack. In Ternopil, 10 people were injured, including five emergency workers. Poltava, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernihiv regions also reported damage to homes, warehouses, and infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia said its air defenses downed 174 Ukrainian drones over 13 of its regions and shot down three Ukrainian Neptune missiles over the Black Sea. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 10 drones heading toward the capital were intercepted, causing temporary flight disruptions. In Belgorod, a locomotive derailed after a track explosion, which authorities blamed on Ukrainian sabotage. Ukraine's human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said Russia's actions amounted to 'terrorism' and called on the global community to take 'concrete steps.' The attack came just hours after US President Donald Trump remarked it might be better to 'let Ukraine and Russia fight for a while' before seeking peace. President Vladimir Putin told Trump during a recent phone call that Russia would respond to Ukraine's recent long-range attacks.
