Ukraine, Russia begin complex POW Exchange – DW – 06/09/2025

DW2 days ago

06/09/2025
June 9, 2025 Ukraine-Russia prisoner swap begins — Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a prisoner-of-war swap between Russia and Ukraine is underway.
He posted pictures online of Ukrainians "returning home from Russian captivity."
"Today, an exchange began, which will continue in several stages over the coming days," Zelenskyy said.
Over the weekend, Russia accused Ukraine of delaying the prisoner swap that will also include an exchange of soldiers' bodies.
Ukraine, however, said there was no fixed date for the swap and that Russia was not adhering to the agreements about the exchange.
"The process is quite complex, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually every day," Zelenskyy said on Monday.

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US image takes a blow in many nations — study

31 minutes ago

US image takes a blow in many nations — study

The United States is seeing a marked drop in popularity in many countries during the second term of President Donald Trump, according to a study by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center released on Wednesday. The survey, carried out in 24 countries, showed overall ratings of the US falling in 15 countries since last spring, with Mexico, Sweden, Poland and Canada displaying the biggest increase in negative views. Respondents were asked about overall views on the US and the state of its democracy as well as about their opinion of Trump, both with regard to his personal traits and his ability to handle major global issues. Most of the interviews were conducted after the notorious meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28 and before Trump announced tariffs on countries around the world on April 2. Widespread decline in US image Mexico and Sweden were the two countries where the opinion of the US suffered most, with drops of 32 percentage points in positive ratings (from 61% to 29%) in the first and 28 percentage points (47% to 19%) in the second in comparison with 2024. US popularity among adults in Poland and Canada fell by more than 20 percentage points over the year in both countries. The fall in US popularity in Germany was also marked: from 49% to 33% (16 percentage points). Opinions about the US in the UK, Greece, Hungary, South Africa, Argentina and India showed little change. People in three countries — Israel, Nigeria and Turkey — became slightly more likely to give the US good marks. Israelis are US fans, Swedes are not Israel was the country with the highest percentage (83%) of people with a positive assessment of the US. Sweden had the most people who view the US unfavorably (79%). Despite the increase in popularity in Turkey, the country still has one of the most unfavorable opinions of the US, with just 25% of adults having a positive view of the country. In Germany, 66% had a negative view of the US. Generational, ideological divides Younger people (35 and below) in most countries surveyed had a more positive view of the US than those aged 50 and above. This was particularly noticeable in Brazil, with 73% of younger adults giving a positive assessment compared with 37% of older adults who have an unfavorable view. Political ideologies also played a large role in peoples' opinions. Among the 51% of people in Israel who say they are ideologically rightist, 97% had a favorable view of the US. Australia also displayed a wide gap between those on the right, of whom 60% viewed the US positively, and those on the left, where the number dwindled to 12%. In Germany, supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party were far more likely to have positive opinions of the US (63%) than those who do not back the party (25%). Trump a major factor The US president received mostly negative ratings in the survey, with more than half of adults in 19 of the countries saying they had little or no confidence in Trump's ability to lead world affairs. This is despite the fact that majorities in 18 countries viewed him as a "strong leader." The survey showed that a median of 34% of adults have a lot or some confidence in Trump's ability to give good leadership in world affairs, while 62%) have little or no confidence in him. His highest ratings came from Nigeria (79% confidence), Israel (69%), Kenya (64%), Hungary (53%) and India (52%). Adults in Mexico had the least confidence (8%), followed by Sweden (15%), Turkey (16%), Germany (18%) and Spain (19%). Low marks for Trump on climate change In 17 countries, men have more confidence in Trump than women, with this difference most marked in Sweden, Poland, and the UK. In Germany, the gender gap was 11 percentage points. Those on the right of the political spectrum also see him more positively. In all, 13 nations gave lower ratings for Trump than they did for his predecessor, Joe Biden, in 2024, but they are higher in six countries. Just 33% thought he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and 29% the "conflicts between Israel and its neighbors."

5 hours ago

US image takes a blow in many nations — study – DW – 06/11/2025

The US under President Donald Trump is losing popularity in a number of countries, a new study shows. But opinions on him and the country vary widely, in particular depending on ideological alignment. The United States is seeing a marked drop in popularity in many countries during the second term of President Donald Trump, according to a study by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center released on Wednesday. The survey, carried out in 24 countries, showed overall ratings of the US falling in 15 countries since last spring, with Mexico, Sweden, Poland and Canada displaying the biggest increase in negative views. Respondents were asked about overall views on the US and the state of its democracy as well as about their opinion of Trump, both with regard to his personal traits and his ability to handle major global issues. Most of the interviews were conducted after the notorious meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28 and before Trump announced tariffs on countries around the world on April 2. Widespread decline in US image Mexico and Sweden were the two countries where the opinion of the US suffered most, with drops of 32 percentage points in positive ratings (from 61% to 29%) in the first and 28 percentage points (47% to 19%) in the second in comparison with 2024. US popularity among adults in Poland and Canada fell by more than 20 percentage points over the year in both countries. The fall in US popularity in Germany was also marked: from 49% to 33% (16 percentage points). Opinions about the US in the UK, Greece, Hungary, South Africa, Argentina and India showed little change. People in three countries — Israel, Nigeria and Turkey — became slightly more likely to give the US good marks. Israelis are US fans, Swedes are not Israel was the country with the highest percentage (83%) of people with a positive assessment of the US. Sweden had the most people who view the US unfavorably (79%). Despite the increase in popularity in Turkey, the country still has one of the most unfavorable opinions of the US, with just 25% of adults having a positive view of the country. In Germany, 66% had a negative view of the US. Europe swiftly responds to shifts in US foreign policy To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Generational, ideological divides Younger people (35 and below) in most countries surveyed had a more positive view of the US than those aged 50 and above. This was particularly noticeable in Brazil, with 73% of younger adults giving a positive assessment compared with 37% of older adults who have an unfavorable view. Political ideologies also played a large role in peoples' opinions. Among the 51% of people in Israel who say they are ideologically rightist, 97% had a favorable view of the US. South Africans angered by Trump's 'genocide' claims To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Australia also displayed a wide gap between those on the right, of whom 60% viewed the US positively, and those on the left, where the number dwindled to 12%. In Germany, supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party were far more likely to have positive opinions of the US (63%) than those who do not back the party (25%). Trump a major factor The US president received mostly negative ratings in the survey, with more than half of adults in 19 of the countries saying they had little or no confidence in Trump's ability to lead world affairs. This is despite the fact that majorities in 18 countries viewed him as a "strong leader." The survey showed that a median of 34% of adults have a lot or some confidence in Trump's ability to give good leadership in world affairs, while 62%) have little or no confidence in him. His highest ratings came from Nigeria (79% confidence), Israel (69%), Kenya (64%), Hungary (53%) and India (52%). Adults in Mexico had the least confidence (8%), followed by Sweden (15%), Turkey (16%), Germany (18%) and Spain (19%). Low marks for Trump on climate change In 17 countries, men have more confidence in Trump than women, with this difference most marked in Sweden, Poland, and the UK. In Germany, the gender gap was 11 percentage points. Those on the right of the political spectrum also see him more positively. In all, 13 nations gave lower ratings for Trump than they did for his predecessor, Joe Biden, in 2024, but they are higher in six countries. The US is giving up on climate — others are cashing in To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Trump received his lowest marks on climate change policy, with a median of just 21% of people of the opinion that he can handle the challenges posed by global warming. Just 33% thought he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and 29% the conflict between Israel and its neighbors. Edited by: Kieran Burke and Zac Crellin

Ukraine updates: 1,212 soldiers' bodies back in Ukraine – DW – 06/11/2025

7 hours ago

Ukraine updates: 1,212 soldiers' bodies back in Ukraine – DW – 06/11/2025

Skip next section Ukraine says it has received remains of 1,212 fallens soldiers 06/11/2025 June 11, 2025 Ukraine says it has received remains of 1,212 fallens soldiers Ukraine has taken back the bodies of 1,212 of its fallen soldiers from Russia after days of dispute during which Russia accused Kyiv of not accepting the remains. The agency dealing with prisoners of war in Kyiv said the soldiers had died in fighting in Russia's Kursk region and the Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Ukraine said its experts "will identify the deceased as soon as possible". Russia's top negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, also confirmed the handover and said Russia had "received the remains of 27 Russian soldiers." Ukraine did not say how many bodies it returned to Russia. Russia has for days said Ukraine was refusing to accept the bodies, calling on Kyiv to honor agreements reached at talks in Istanbul at the beginning of the month. According to Moscow, the bodies had been made ready for handover at the weekend, but Ukraine said no handover date had been agreed, accusing Russia of unilateral and uncoordinated actions. The Istanbul talks provided for the return of the remains of more than 6,000 fallen soldiers from each side.