Zelenskyy accuses Russia of 'deception' for not sharing peace memorandum
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of "deception" for not presenting a peace memorandum as promised.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a statement saying Russia is ready to present the memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during the next round of direct talks in Turkey on Monday.
Meanwhile Kyiv said it has already handed over its memorandum to the Russian delegation. Kyiv urged the Russian side to share its version as soon as possible, saying Moscow was supposed to do so immediately after the prisoner swap that took place through last Sunday.
In a video address on Thursday, Zelenskyy said it was "Another Russian deception" and called on his country's partners to step up pressure on Moscow.
Also on Thursday, US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told American media outlet ABC News that senior officials from the United States, Germany, France and Britain will attend the discussions on the peace memorandum in Turkey.
The head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andriy Yermak, had met with high-ranking officials of those countries ahead of the first direct talks with Russia that took place on May 16.
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NHK
12 hours ago
- NHK
Zelenskyy reiterates demand for Russia to present peace memorandum
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated his demand that Russia swiftly present its peace memorandum, after speaking with his Turkish counterpart. Zelenskyy spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday over the phone, after Russia had proposed holding another round of direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkey next Monday. Zelenskyy posted on social media after the phone call that they both "share the view that this meeting cannot and should not be empty." He said that they also discussed the possibility of organizing a four-party meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United States. Russia proposed next Monday's meeting with Ukraine to discuss their peace memorandums. Meanwhile, Kyiv says both sides need to examine each other's memorandum beforehand in order to make the meeting meaningful. Kyiv says that it has already handed over its document to Russia and has been urging Moscow to do the same. Zelenskyy strongly criticized Russia in a video address on Friday, saying the Russians are "concealing" its memorandum.
Japan Times
20 hours ago
- Japan Times
Nakatani urges closer defense tie-ups amid erosion of rules-based order
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani called Saturday for closer defense cooperation among like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region in order to strengthen the global rules-based order and — in an implicit criticism of China — act as a counter to countries seeking to erode the status quo. The Japanese defense chief used a speech before scores of his counterparts and military brass in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's leading security conference, to push for closer cooperation and coordination, 'while ensuring openness, inclusiveness and transparency, with an aim of restoring a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening accountability and promoting the international public good.' Nakatani said the need to unite on defense cooperation was clear, pointing to Russia's invasion of Ukraine — a violation of the U.N. charter — and Beijing's moves in the disputed South China Sea, including its decision to openly ignore a 2016 international arbitral tribunal ruling that dismissed the country's claim to most of the strategic waterway. Without directly naming China, Nakatani had strong words for Beijing and the precedent it has attempted to set in the South China Sea and by quickly building up its military forces and dispatching them to flash points, such as in the waters and airspace near Taiwan and Japan. 'There is a serious disregard for accountability,' Nakatani said. 'In the South China Sea, the very country that previously declared it had no intention of militarizing the area is rapidly advancing militarization. Additionally, there has been a sharp increase in military buildup, including nuclear forces lacking transparency, and provocative military activities in the region. 'This poses a significant obstacle to maintaining trust in the defense arena,' he said. Pointing to rising numbers of state-sponsored cyberattacks as well as repeated attempts to damage undersea cables crucial for communications and economic livelihoods, Nakatani also appeared to direct his fire at Beijing, saying that "some countries that do not share common values and interests are willing to attack the foundations of our society and economy for their own interests." Chinese-backed hackers are said to have been behind a number of cyberattacks on Japan, the U.S. and others, while Chinese-flagged ships have damaged or cut undersea cables in the Baltic Sea and near Taiwan. In response to these moves, Tokyo has ramped up defense cooperation and coordination with scores of countries both in the region and further afield — and has pledged to do even more. Unveiling Japan's new OCEAN (One Cooperative Effort Among Nations) initiative during his speech, Nakatani said that even more like-minded nations could work together, 'taking a comprehensive view of the Indo-Pacific region as a whole.' 'Now is the time for countries to join hands under OCEAN, engage in dialogue, and work to restore, rather than dissolve, the rules-based international order; to realize, rather than ignore, accountability; and to promote, rather than undermine, the international public good,' he said. But Nakatani also echoed French President Emmanuel Macron, who a day earlier opened the conference with a speech focused on the need to maintain a degree of 'strategic autonomy' at a time when the United States and China have demanded that countries pick a side in their growing rivalry. While saying that the Japan-U.S. alliance 'will continue to be the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the region and the world,' Nakatani also appeared to hint at the need for Tokyo to carefully calibrate its relationships, including its ties with Washington. 'There is a healthy and growing caution against excessive dependence on a single country that does not share common values and interests,' Nakatani said. 'Maintaining an appropriate level of strategic autonomy is an important foundation for maintaining stable relations in the defense field.' These tacit remarks come as Japan grapples with how best to secure its interests in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's unpredictable approach to foreign policy. Japan has not been spared his wrath as Trump slapped both friends and foes alike with onerous tariffs while simultaneously calling long-standing alliances unfair, including Washington's security pact with Tokyo. The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, who spoke during the same panel discussion as Nakatani, also doubled down on the need for deepened cooperation, reiterating former Prime Minster Fumio Kishida's mantra that 'Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow.' Pointing to alleged Chinese shipments of dual-use products to Russia for its war in Ukraine and the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers for the same conflict, Kallas said that the security of Europe 'is very much interlinked' with Asia, and that defense cooperation is crucial. 'If you think that you can just focus on one region because it doesn't concern you, then I think ... you are on the wrong track,' she said. 'We can only address these big global concerns if we act together,' she added. Nakatani, for his part, welcomed the involvement of European countries, as well as NATO, in the Indo-Pacific region, expressing his intention to beef up cooperation. But, asked following his speech how the OCEAN concept related to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's idea of an 'Asian NATO,' Nakatani was coy, reiterating only that it is continuing to be discussed within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
NHK
a day ago
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Macron stresses importance of Europe-Asia cooperation at Shangri-La Dialogue
French President Emmanuel Macron has delivered a keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major defense forum underway in Singapore. He called for new coalitions for open trade and open dialogue to stabilize the rules-based order. Speaking on Friday, Macron noted that the competition for global leadership between China and the United States poses a risk to the international community. He also stressed the importance of cooperation between Europe and Asia. Macron's comments apparently had the tariff measures imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump in mind, and also Russia's invasion of Ukraine. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is due to give a speech on Saturday. Observers are watching closely for what he says about security challenges in Asia, such as Taiwan and the South China Sea, where Beijing is growing increasingly assertive.
