logo
Moscow reveals Russian team for next Ukraine peace talks

Moscow reveals Russian team for next Ukraine peace talks

Russia Today5 days ago

Moscow's negotiation team will not undergo any changes for the next round of direct talks with Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has revealed. The Russian delegation will once again be led by presidential aid, Vladimir Medinsky.
Representatives of Moscow and Kiev met in Istanbul, Türkiye on May 16, marking the first direct negotiations between the sides since 2022. The two belligerents agreed to the largest prisoner swap since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, releasing 1,000 individuals each. Both also committed to drafting memorandums outlining their respective visions for a ceasefire ahead of a new talks round.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed holding the next round of talks in Istanbul next Monday, June 2.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Germany should expel all Russian diplomats
Germany should expel all Russian diplomats

Russia Today

time2 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Germany should expel all Russian diplomats

A senior German lawmaker has called on Berlin to effectively cut diplomatic ties with Moscow to combat the 'hybrid' threats he claims come from Russia. 'We should expel any remaining… diplomats,' Roderich Kiesewetter, known for his hardline anti-Russian stance, told Handelsblatt on Tuesday. He argued that doing so would help reduce Moscow's influence in Germany. According to Kiesewetter, Germany is currently 'inadequately protected against cyberattacks,' which he claims 'primarily' originate from Russia. He specifically accused Moscow of attempting to 'change public opinion in Germany' through such actions. He also accused China, North Korea, and Iran of launching 'hacking attacks.' The list of countermeasures suggested by the MP includes establishing a special government agency to refute disinformation or combat it 'through hybrid activities,' banning Russian tourists and journalists from entering Germany, shutting down 'propaganda portals,' and deleting any social media accounts deemed suspicious by the authorities. The lawmaker also called for the closure of the Russian House – a center in Berlin run by the Russian government agency Rossotrudnichestvo that holds cultural events and offers language courses – labeling it a network of Russian 'influence.' Moscow has warned that the expulsion of diplomats would be met with a tit-for-tat response. 'Berlin must have been missing the German diplomats,' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Rossotrudnichestvo blasted Kiesewetter's words as 'absurd.' They 'have nothing to do with reality,' the agency's spokesman said, adding that the MP 'knows nothing about the activities of the Russian House in Berlin and has never been there.' The head of the Russian House also told TASS that such rhetoric 'does not foster international dialogue' and only 'strengthens the atmosphere of distrust, incites hatred and animosity.' Last year, Kiesewetter caused a stir in Germany by stating that Berlin should 'take the war to Russia' and 'do everything possible to enable Ukraine to destroy… ministries, command posts' on Russian territory. He is also an active supporter of supplying Kiev with Taurus missiles, which have a range of 500km and could reach Moscow. The interview comes as Berlin has taken an even more hardline position on Russia under new Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Since taking office, Merz has lifted range restrictions on Ukrainian strikes with German-supplied missiles and hinted at the possibility of sending Taurus missiles to Kiev. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said in response that Berlin's 'direct involvement in the war is now obvious.'

Russia bans World of Tanks game publisher
Russia bans World of Tanks game publisher

Russia Today

time2 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Russia bans World of Tanks game publisher

A Russian court has banned the operations of video game publisher Lesta, citing the owners' support for Ukraine's armed forces, TASS has reported. It's the first such ruling against a gaming company in Russia. Lesta Group is a Russian video game developer and regional publisher of 'World of Tanks' and 'World of Warships.' Based in St. Petersburg, the company has developed games since the early 2000s and was formerly part of Wargaming, the international studio behind World of Tanks. After Wargaming withdrew from Russia and Belarus in 2022 due to Western sanctions, Lesta continued operating its titles independently in the region. On Tuesday, the Tagansky District Court of Moscow granted a request by the Prosecutor General's Office to ban and classify as extremist the activities of Wargaming co-founder Viktor Kisly and Lesta owner Malik Khatazhaev. 'The court orders 100% of the companies' shares to be transferred to the Russian Federation,' Judge Mikhail Strogonov said. The ruling takes effect immediately. A source familiar with the case told TASS the decision was based on the two men's 'material support of the Kiev regime,' saying they had 'financed funds specializing in the purchase of equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.' The ruling reportedly does not affect Lesta Group's operations, its partners, or its users. 'The group will continue to develop and operate its products. User support and company operations remain stable,' the source said, adding that Kisly and Khatazhaev no longer hold any rights to the company. In a statement on Telegram, Lesta Group confirmed the ruling did not apply to the company itself or its users and said services would continue without disruption. It added that the firm would come under temporary state administration – a move that, it noted, would not have been possible had the company been formally banned. Lesta said it planned to appeal what it called an 'unfair' decision.

WATCH Russian kamikaze UAV take out Ukrainian naval drone
WATCH Russian kamikaze UAV take out Ukrainian naval drone

Russia Today

time3 hours ago

  • Russia Today

WATCH Russian kamikaze UAV take out Ukrainian naval drone

Russian drone operators have published footage of a successful interception of a Ukrainian naval suicide drone during an attack on the Crimean Bridge on Tuesday. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Local news reported that air defenses destroyed three aerial drones over the bridge in the early hours of Tuesday, but added that normal traffic resumed later in the day. In a video released by the Telegram channel Russian Airborne, a Ukrainian unmanned naval drone can be seen speeding across the water. The view from above closes in as the Russian first-person-view (FPV) aerial drone dives down on the Ukrainian suicide vessel. In later footage, taken from a second UAV, the Lancet can be seen impacting and disabling the Ukrainian naval drone, after which it coasts to a stop. The Russian Transport Ministry reported that while the bridge had to be closed twice over the course of the day, normal traffic had resumed as of Tuesday evening. In a statement, the SBU has claimed it had detonated some 1,100 kg of explosives around some of the structure's underwater supports that had been placed there in advance. According to local news sources, the more likely scenario was that Kiev attempted two waves of attacks with a combination of air, naval and undewater drones but was unable to inflict significant damage on the bridge. The Defense Ministry in Moscow has not released an official statement on the incident. Ukraine has repeatedly tried but failed to destroy the critical structure linking Crimea and mainland Russia since the escalation of the conflict in 2022. The bridge did sustain damage twice, in 2022 and 2023, in attacks that caused civilian casualties.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store