Zelensky holds first meeting with Romania's new president Dan
President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted a trilateral meeting with Moldovan President Maia Sandu and newly elected Romanian President Nicusor Dan, the first such meeting since Dan's inauguration last month, Ukraine's Presidential Office announced on June 11.
The talks focused on strengthening coordination between the countries amid rising threats from Russia's ongoing war and hybrid operations across the Black Sea region, according to a statement.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Ukraine-Southeastern Europe summit held in the Black Sea port city of Odesa.
Ukraine proposed the appointment of foreign ministry-level coordinators to maintain permanent contact among the three countries.
The leaders discussed regional and cybersecurity, defense cooperation, European integration, sanctions against Russia, and support for Moldova, whose stability was described as vital for the broader region.
They also addressed joint infrastructure projects, including the construction of a cross-border highway and improvements to rail connections between Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania.
Special attention was given to defending against Russian hybrid threats and cyberattacks, which Ukraine says have intensified across Black Sea states.
Romania's new president, Nicusor Dan, took office on May 26 after winning the May 18 presidential election against a far-right, anti-Ukraine opponent, George Simion. His victory is widely seen as a boost for Ukraine-Romania relations and for continued support of Kyiv's pro-European path.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine and Moldova must remain united on their path toward EU membership, warning against any attempts to divide the countries during negotiations.
Both countries were granted EU membership candidate status in 2022 and launched the accession talks two years later.
Read also: Romania's new president faces daunting challenges after surprise victory over far-right upstart
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CNN
4 hours ago
- CNN
As Ukraine batters Russia with daring assaults, firebrand pro-Kremlin pundits rattle nuclear sabers
How will Moscow respond to the stunning Ukrainian drone strikes on its fleet of strategic aircraft? So far, the Kremlin has stayed tight-lipped, saying only that it is waiting for the results of a formal investigation into the attacks, which struck air bases thousands of miles from the Ukraine border. But fury is being openly vented across the Russia media, with pro-Kremlin pundits and bloggers seething with calls for retribution, even nuclear retaliation. 'This is not just a pretext but a reason to launch nuclear strikes on Ukraine,' the prominent 'Two Majors' bloggers said on their popular Telegram channel, which has over a million subscribers. 'After the mushroom cloud you can think about who lied, made mistakes and so on,' they added, referring to the inevitable Kremlin search for scapegoats for the fiasco. At least one prominent Russian political analyst, Sergei Markov, urged caution, warning in a social media post that using nuclear weapons would 'lead to real political isolation'. But popular blogger Alexander Kots demanded Russia should 'strike with all our might, regardless of the consequences.' Of course, Russian hardliners routinely clamor for the nuclear obliteration of Ukraine, while issuing thinly veiled, but ultimately empty threats of Armageddon aimed at the Western allies. The fact they are doing so again, after such a painful series of attacks, is hardly surprising. But it would be wrong to get too complacent and dismiss all Russian nuclear saber-rattling as mere propaganda. In fact, there are some worrying reasons to take the slim possibility of a devastating Russian response a little more seriously this time around. Firstly, several Russian pundits have commented on how Ukraine's destruction of a significant number of Russian strategic nuclear bombers may be interpreted as breaching Moscow's legal nuclear threshold. Video obtained by CNN appears to show Russian combat planes burning on the tarmac following a large scale Ukrainian drone attack. CNN cannot independently verify the location of the videos but a source in the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said the drone strikes targeted four airbases deep inside Russia. The Kremlin's recently updated nuclear doctrine – which sets out conditions for a launch – states that any attack on 'critically important' military infrastructure which 'disrupts response actions by nuclear forces' could trigger a nuclear retaliation. The Ukrainian operation was 'grounds for a nuclear attack,' declared Vladmir Solovyov, a firebrand host on Russian state TV, calling for strikes on the Ukrainian presidential office in Kyiv, and beyond. Whatever the legality, the barrier for a Russian nuclear response remains mercifully high and such a strike is likely to be dismissed in Kremlin circles as an impractical overkill. For a start, it would poison relations with key Russian trading partners like China and India, as well as provoke potential military action against Russian forces. Inevitable mass casualties would be certain to invite universal scorn, further isolating Russia on the international stage. But here's the problem: the Kremlin may now feel overwhelming pressure to restore deterrence. It's not just the recent Ukrainian drone strikes, deep inside Russia, that have humiliated Moscow. Shortly afterwards, Ukraine staged yet another bold attack on the strategic Kerch bridge linking Russia with Crimea – the third time the vital road and rail link has been hit. The capture by Ukrainian forces of the Kursk region in western Russia last year dealt another powerful blow, leaving the Kremlin struggling to liberate its own land. Meanwhile, weekly, if not daily, drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and airports continue to cause widespread disruption far from the front lines. At the same time, Ukraine's allies have been gradually lifting restrictions on the use of Western-supplied arms against Russia, further challenging what were once believed to be Moscow's red lines. Few doubt the Kremlin is itching to respond decisively, but how? One former Russian minister told CNN the most likely response by Moscow would be more 'barbaric' conventional missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities of the kind that the people of Ukraine have already suffered for years. 'There's no other way to go, because Russia does not have the capacity to launch a massive military offensive. They don't have enough personnel for it,' said Vladimir Milov, a former deputy energy minister now living outside of Russia. 'People talk about potential use of nuclear weapons and so on. I don't think this is on the table. But, again, Putin has shown many times that he is resorting to barbarity and revenge.' In other words, highly unlikely, but the nuclear option can't be entirely discounted. This Ukraine conflict has already taken multiple unexpected turns, not least the full-scale Russian invasion itself in 2022. And while Ukraine and its supporters revel in the stunning successes of recent military operations, poking a humiliated and wounded Russian bear may yield dangerous and frightening consequences.
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Are Americans worried about Russia using nuclear weapons? What a new poll found
As the war in Ukraine rages on, there is widespread concern among Americans that Russia could resort to using nuclear weapons, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll. The survey — which sampled 1,265 registered voters June 5-9 — also found that Americans are pessimistic about the likelihood that a ceasefire will be achieved soon. Further, most respondents said they disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of the conflict, making it the issue the president performed the most poorly on. 'As the Russia-Ukraine war grinds through its third year, Americans make it clear they have little appetite for the way the Trump administration is handling the situation,' polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a news release about the poll. Here is a breakdown of the findings. Trump approval on the war A majority of voters, 57%, said they disapprove of the way Trump has handled the war thus far, while 34% said they approve. Ten percent said they weren't sure. These figures have largely held steady over time. In a March Quinnipiac poll, 55% said they disapproved of the president's stance on the conflict, and 38% said they approved. Opinions on the issue tracked closely with partisan affiliation. Most Republicans, 70%, said they favor the president's approach, while 94% of Democrats and 57% of independents oppose it. Trump's 34% approval rating on the Ukraine war also stands out as the lowest rating among seven issues respondents were asked about, including the Israel-Hamas war, the economy and immigration. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly said he could end the European war in 24 hours, but now — four months into his term — the conflict has only escalated. As of early June, there have been an estimated over 1.3 million combined casualties, according to a June study from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a think tank. Though lacking success, Trump has made continual efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, including by organizing diplomatic summits and speaking directly with both Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Cease-fire, nuclear weapons and escalation The poll — which has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points — also asked respondents about the likelihood that a lasting cease-fire will be achieved soon. Less than one-third, 27%, said they are confident that a permanent ceasefire will be reached in the near future. Meanwhile, 69% said they are not confident. While 45% of Republicans expressed optimism, just 14% of Democrats and 24% of independents shared this sentiment. On the other hand, a majority of Americans are worried about the chances of nuclear escalation — a feeling that nuclear experts share, according to previous reporting from McClatchy News. About two-thirds of voters, 64%, said they are concerned about the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons, while 35% said they are not concerned. Here, there was agreement across the political spectrum, with 75% of Democrats, 61% of independents and 53% of Republicans expressing concern. Further, most respondents said the U.S. military should put boots on the ground if Russia expands the war into a NATO country. Sixty-two percent said 'American troops should get involved' if Russia attacks a NATO nation. Meanwhile, 29% disagreed. Here, again, there was consensus among partisans, with 70% of Democrats, 64% of independents and 54% of Republicans saying America should get involved in this scenario.
Washington Post
8 hours ago
- Washington Post
Is Russia's slow, endless grind really a recipe for victory?
In today's edition: Russia would like you to believe it is winning its war of aggression against Ukraine. But let's look at some numbers: Russia, what exactly do you mean by 'winning'? These statistics come from strategy analyst Riley McCabe's examination of the terrible price Russia has paid for marginal gains, and they are just the beginning; McCabe also studies the equipment Russia is losing, and the situation there looks no better. It is true Russia remains on the offensive, McCabe says, 'but initiative alone is not victory.' He writes: 'Ukraine's defense-in-depth strategy, bolstered by U.S. and European support, has transformed the battlefield into a war of attrition that favors defenders and punishes attackers.' McCabe says the West needs to leverage Russia's slow bleed. But however bruised it is, Russia could yet open another front in the war, Jim Geraghty writes. 'You're forgiven if you haven't spent a lot of time thinking about Moldova's parliamentary elections coming up in September,' he opens his column — but you might want to start. It is in Europe's least-visited country that Russia is meddling with to install a friendlier government, the Moldovan prime minister recently alleged. Moscow's eye is on Transnistria, the rogue region of Moldova that has pledged fealty to Russia for years. Jim writes that 'few in their right mind would choose to visit a pseudo-country that still has a hammer and sickle on its flag,' so naturally he went to check it out. Jim's column is both a profile of this strange place (including its through-the-looking-glass Soviet version of a Hard Rock Café) and a warning of how things could go very, very badly if it falls even deeper under Russia's control. From Karen Tumulty's review of Tuesday's primary elections for New Jersey governor. All eyes are on the Garden State, Karen notes, one of two 'that hold their gubernatorial contests in the year following presidential elections and are therefore seen as bellwethers of national politics.' For a state that moved sharply to the right just seven months ago, a surprising number of Democratic voters pulled up to the polls. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) herself described the turnout as 'unheard of' — and hopefully a peek at 'what's coming in November here' (and, perhaps, everywhere else). This Father's Day, Los Angeles writer Nick Dothée offers us gentle reflections on his last moments with his dad. Dothée's father was a public defender, who believed 'everyone deserved someone in their corner, even if — especially if — they'd made a mess of things.' When Dothée made a mess of his own life — the writer experienced addiction in his past — his father made the painful decision to sever ties until his son could recover. Dothée got sober as his dad's health declined, but in the father's final years, the two reconnected, drawing from the deep reserve of father-son love to hold each other up. 'If he had died without seeing me sober, I would've carried the guilt for a lifetime,' writes Dothée. 'But he saw me. And I saw him. And I got to tell him he did right by me.' It's a goodbye. It's a haiku. It's … The Bye-Ku. Conquering a foe One Delaware at a time Works on Delaware *** Have your own newsy haiku? Email it to me, along with any questions/comments/ambiguities. See you tomorrow!
