Ukraine imposes sanctions on former president Poroshenko, decree says
The council also put sanctions on jailed tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky, former co-owner of PrivatBank Hennadiy Bogolyubo and Viktor Medvedchuk, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Vladimir Putin 'agrees to Ukraine security guarantees' during Donald Trump talks
The move was confirmed by Donald Trump's right-hand man Steve Witkoff minutes after the President boasted of 'big progress on Russia' Vladimir Putin has reportedly signed off on a dramatic peace deal - which would see the US and Europe give Ukraine new security guarantees. The move was confirmed by Donald Trump 's right-hand man Steve Witkoff minutes after the President boasted of 'big progress on Russia'. In a stunning twist, Russia is even said to have made concessions on the five regions it illegally claimed – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea. Diplomatic insiders say Putin could accept a territorial swap to keep Donetsk and Luhansk in return for halting advances in the south. It comes after Putin warns of nuclear war after unleashing another night of hell on Ukraine. Witkoff said: 'We agreed to robust security guarantees that I would describe as game-changing. The US could offer Article 5-style protection – one of the main reasons Ukraine wants NATO membership. We covered almost all the other issues necessary for a peace deal.' The breakthrough comes as world leaders are due to fly to the White House in Washington for talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, with Sir Keir Starmer and a string of European heavyweights flying in to show support. Starmer will join Zelensky at the White House, with No10 insisting Britain's backing for Ukraine will remain 'for as long as it takes'. Also flying to the US is EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, French president Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz and NATO boss Mark Rutte. Sources say Zelensky begged Europe's top brass to come with him as 'moral support and solidarity' ahead of the showdown with Trump. It will be Zelensky's first return to the Oval Office since his fiery bust-up with Trump and JD Vance earlier this year, when he was humiliatingly kicked out of the White House. The move piles pressure on Putin, who has been scrambling to claw back influence after his own peace summit with Trump in Alaska. But despite the frantic diplomacy, both Russia and Ukraine were still trading drone strikes today, underlining just how fragile the path to peace remains. Putin's deal reportedly goes beyond Ukraine's borders, with draft provisions suggesting Moscow would commit not to launch attacks against other European nations. In exchange, Kyiv would halt its NATO membership bid, formally recognise Crimea as Russian territory, and agree to a land swap involving Donetsk and Luhansk. Western diplomats told Reuters that the package also includes phased sanctions relief if Russia holds to the ceasefire.
Daily Record
15 minutes ago
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US Vice President JD Vance leaves Scotland after private family holiday
Vance departed on Air Force Two just before 1pm on Sunday. US Vice-President JD Vance has left Scotland after visiting for a private holiday. Vance arrived at Prestwick Airport on Tuesday night in an official US plane for a four-day stay. A motorcade took him back to the airport with his family on Sunday morning. He departed on Air Force Two just before 1pm. During his stay, he was spotted golfing at Donald Trump's Turnberry golf course and at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. Vance had been holidaying in the Cotswolds but travelled to the Foreign Secretary's Chevening House retreat in Kent on Friday, and he joined David Lammy carp fishing without the correct license at the countryside estate. His return to the US will coincide with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other world leaders, including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, travelling to the White House for a meeting with Trump. It comes after the US president's summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, where little in the way of progress appeared to be made. Other leaders making the journey to Washington with Sir Keir include France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz, Finland's Alexander Stubb, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Nato chief Mark Rutte. Meanwhile, police previously confirmed they were establishing a "significant policing operation" prior to Vance's arrival. He was met with campaigners from Mothers Against Genocide, who held a protest against his visit outside the Carnell Estate in Ayrshire - where he had been staying - on Wednesday morning. Activists were encouraged to bring "pots, pans and Palestine flags" to make noise for the people of Gaza. Images from outside the estate showed pro-Palestine protestors, who accused Vance of supporting a 'genocide' by Israel in Gaza, being penned in by officers while they awaited Vance's arrival. Ahead of his visit, Green MSP Gillian Mackay accused him of lying about Scotland. She told the Record: "JD Vance has made a career of spreading misinformation and sowing mistrust in order to gain power and influence. "The Vice President's absurd lies haven't just been about eating cats and dogs in Ohio - he has lied about Scotland." In February, Vance was slammed for using a major speech in Munich to wrongly suggest Scots could face prosecution for praying in their own homes while he attacked what he viewed as an erosion of free speech across Europe. He pointed to the introduction of buffer zones around Scottish abortion clinics as an example of the kind of crackdown he feared. The law prevents any public protests or vigils from taking place within 200m (656ft) of 30 clinics around the country, but it does not prohibit anyone from praying within their own homes. Mackay continued: 'Earlier this year, JD Vance made false claims on an international stage about Scotland's buffer zones law, which prevents harassment and intimidation of patients outside abortion clinics, a bill proudly passed by the Scottish Greens."
Reuters
an hour ago
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Syria's Sharaa hopes for Kurdish deal to prevent conflict
AMMAN, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has expressed hope that his country would avoid military conflict with U.S.-backed Kurdish forces if efforts to integrate their autonomous administration in northeast Syria into the state structure collapse. In remarks late on Saturday to senior figures from Idlib, where he has mustered loyalist forces, Sharaa said Kurdish leaders had signalled readiness to move forward with a landmark deal in March to bring their Kurdish-run areas under state authority. But their actions on the ground suggested otherwise, he told the publicised forum. 'At times on the ground there are signals opposite to what they say in the negotiations,' Sharaa said. Turkey and Washington, the main powers backing the deal to integrate Syria's oil-rich northeast into the state, wanted to resolve the issue peacefully, Sharaa said. "These parties are pushing for a solution peacefully. I hope we don't enter into a dispute. I am hopeful in a few months we will resolve it," he said. The collapse of follow-up talks since the March deal has escalated tensions in the region, triggering fresh clashes this month between government troops and the Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF, which controls parts of northeast Syria where Arabs form a majority, has recently fortified extensive tunnel networks along the frontlines. Many tribal Arabs accuse the SDF of discriminatory policies - claims Kurdish officials deny. Turkey-backed rebels have also reinforced their positions amid concerns over a potential large-scale escalation in hostilities, officials say. Ankara has warned of military action against the SDF, which it considers a terrorist organisation and has targeted in past cross-border operations. It expects the Syrian government to address its security concerns but says it reserves the right to mount an offensive if needed. U.S. envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack - an advocate for a strong, unified Syrian state - voiced concern last month over Kurdish delays in implementing the March deal, urging faster progress. Authorities in Damascus reacted earlier this month angrily to a recent SDF conference calling for greater decentralisation and which demanded a review of a constitutional declaration it said discriminated against minorities, a move officials said threatened Syria's territorial integrity. Syrian officials said any military push against the SDF would rely on Turkish-backed factions operating in northern Syria, adding that Ankara has grown impatient with what it sees as Kurdish foot-dragging. Sharaa said those who sought partition were 'dreaming' and insisted the country would not give up any stretch of territory. He also criticised Druze groups seeking support from Israel in their confrontation with Damascus. Thousands joined a large Druze protest in Sweida on Saturday, demanding self-determination, hoisting Israeli flags and praising Israel for a military intervention that forced Syrian forces to retreat after hundreds of people were killed last month. Sharaa acknowledged that 'violations' had been committed by security forces and army personnel in Sweida, but said Druze militias had also perpetrated crimes.
