Pro-Putin Viktor Orban & Robert Fico lash out at EU; ‘Change is needed, this cannot go on…'
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
NATO, Europe back Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin peace talks in Alaska: All we know
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy received diplomatic backing from Europe and the NATO alliance on Sunday, ahead of the Alaska Summit talks between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to end the war between Moscow and Kyiv. A White House official has said Donald Trump is open to Zelensky attending the Alaska Summit scheduled with Vladimir Putin, but preparations are underway for only a bilateral meeting.(AFP) Ukraine fears that the summit, scheduled for August 15, may be used by Trump and Putin to dictate the terms of a ceasefire to Kyiv. "The US has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously. Any deal between the US and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine's and the whole of Europe's security,' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Sunday. On the other hand, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told ABC News that Friday's summit "will be about testing Putin, how serious he is on bringing this terrible war to an end". "It will be, of course, about security guarantees, but also about the absolute need to acknowledge that Ukraine decides on its own future, that Ukraine has to be a sovereign nation, deciding on its own geopolitical future,' Rutte added. A White House official has said Trump is open to Zelensky attending the Alaska Summit, but preparations are underway for only a bilateral meeting. The Ukrainian leader has said that any decisions taken without Kyiv will be "stillborn" and unworkable. In a joint statement on Saturday, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission said any diplomatic solution must protect the security interests of Ukraine and Europe. Is Russia ready for a Vladimir Putin- Volodymyr Zelensky meeting? Russian President Vladimir Putin had indicated that he would not be meeting his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky In a statement last week, the Kremlin leader said that conditions for such an encounter were "unfortunately still far" from being met. Russia continued its strikes in Ukraine on Sunday, injuring at least 12 in the country's Zaporizhzhia region. The data was provided by Ukraine's foreign affairs ministry. Responding to the fresh strikes, Zelensky said, "That is why sanctions are needed, pressure is needed." Donald Trump has indicated that there would be some swapping of territory between Russia and Ukraine in the potential peace deal being discussed. But Ukrainian leadership has made it clear that they aren't ready to surrender any land to Moscow. Zelensky said he won't allow a second partition of his country after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russia currently holds nearly a fifth of the territory of Ukraine. US Vice President JD Vance said a negotiated settlement was unlikely to satisfy either side. "Both the Russians and the Ukrainians, probably, at the end of the day, are going to be unhappy with it," he said on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo. A European official said Europe had come up with a counter-proposal to Trump's, but declined to provide details. Russian officials accused Europe of trying to thwart Trump's efforts to end the war.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Zelensky wins Europe, NATO backing ahead of Trump-Putin summit: ‘Any decisions without Ukraine will be unworkable'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy secured strong diplomatic backing from European leaders and NATO on Sunday, as concerns mount ahead of the much-anticipated Russia-U.S. summit scheduled for August 15 in Alaska. Kyiv fears that Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump may negotiate terms without Ukrainian involvement, potentially pressuring Ukraine to cede territory in the ongoing conflict. President Trump, who had previously threatened new sanctions on Russia, surprised many by announcing the summit with Putin, raising alarm in Kyiv. Trump suggested a possible deal involving 'some swapping of territories to the betterment of both sides,' a notion that has deeply unsettled Ukrainian officials. Zelenskiy responded firmly, warning, 'Any decisions taken without Ukraine will be stillborn and unworkable.' He emphasized the need for sanctions and continued pressure on Russia following recent strikes in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, which injured at least 12 people. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed the importance of inclusive diplomacy: 'Any deal between the US and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine's and the whole of Europe's security.' EU foreign ministers planned to meet on Monday to discuss next steps. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed these sentiments in an interview with ABC News: 'It will be about security guarantees, but also about the absolute need to acknowledge that Ukraine decides on its own future, that Ukraine has to be a sovereign nation.' Rutte also ruled out any deal that legally recognizes Russian control over Ukrainian territory, though he noted de facto arrangements could be possible, comparing the situation to the post-World War II status of the Baltic states. A European official revealed that Europe had prepared a counter-proposal to Trump's plan but declined to share specifics. Russian officials reacted harshly, with former president Dmitry Medvedev accusing Europe of attempting to sabotage American efforts. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova disparaged Ukraine's relationship with the EU, likening it to 'necrophilia.' Pro-Kremlin voices warned that a direct Russia-US deal could sideline Europe and Ukraine, leaving them powerless against the terms imposed.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Course owner Trump hails Forrest's 'brilliant' Scottish Championship win
Donald Trump congratulated Grant Forrest on his "brilliant golf" after a four-shot win Sunday in a Scottish Championship tournament played on a course owned by the President of the United States. HT Image It was the second time Forrest, a 32-year-old Scot, had enjoyed a professional title success on home soil, with his victory on the Trump International Golf Links coming almost four years to the day since he won his maiden European Tour title at St Andrews. Forrest held a three-shot lead heading into Sunday's final round and maintained control in windy conditions in Aberdeen. Trump, who recently spent five days in Scotland, playing golf and sealing a major trade deal with the European Union, was among the first to congratulate Forrest on his victory in a FaceTime call. "I watched it... he's some player," said US President Trump in the call, shared on X by the European Tour. "I look forward to playing with him -- in fact I will play with him tomorrow (Monday) if he could get on a plane. "What a round of golf. What three rounds of brilliant golf. It's a great honour you won, thank you very much." Forrest's advantage was briefly cut to two strokes following Todd Clements' birdie on the opening hole. But when Forrest birdied the fourth and Clements carded a triple-bogey eight at the same hole, the Scot led by five shots. Forrest, the world number 294, double-bogeyed the last, but by then he had added two more birdies and a dropped shot in a closing 72 to finish with an eight-under-par total. "It's amazing, just speechless," Forrest said. "I think it is the same week as I won four years ago on the calendar so just amazing, that must say something about this week and being at home. "I just can't believe it. It's been such a tough year on the golf course. It's just a crazy game that you can go and come out and do this, with what feels out of nowhere. "It's just that old chestnut that one week can turn things around and it has." England's Joe Dean parred the last to finish in outright second at four under, with compatriot John Parry one shot further behind alongside Norway's Kristoffer Reitan and Denmark's Jacob Skov Olesen. jdg/nf DP WORLD
