Sam Kiley: Russia is preparing for conflict in Nato's new Arctic battleground
©UK Independent
At its nearest point, Alaska is less than 4km from Russia. In the remote Bering Sea, Little Diomede island (US) lies next to Big Diomede island (Russia).
In between them sits the international date line, which means the American island, also known as Yesterday, is 21 hours behind its Russian neighbour – unsurprisingly dubbed Tomorrow.
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Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
EU and UK to be at Zelenskyy's side in Washington for meeting with Trump
European leaders including Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer will join Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a White House meeting with Donald Trump on Monday in an extraordinary joint effort to push back on a US-backed plan that would allow Russia to take further Ukrainian territory Germany's chancellor, Friedrich Merz, Italy's PM, Giorgia Meloni, and the Finnish president, Alexander Stubb, will also accompany Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, as will Nato's secretary general, Mark Rutte, and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. The unprecedented show of support seems designed to prevent a repeat of the public mauling experienced by Zelenskyy during his last trip to the White House, in February. Trump, after his summit on Friday with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, has reportedly endorsed the Kremlin's one-sided plan to end the war in Ukraine. It includes Kyiv giving up territory that Russia has been unable to seize and no ceasefire until a final deal has been agreed. Donald Trump stands with Vladimir Putin at the conclusion of their joint press conference on Friday. Picture: Photo/Jae C. Hong Posting on Truth Social, Trump accused the media of misrepresenting his 'great meeting in Alaska' – an encounter widely seen as a victory for Putin and a humiliation for the US president. On Sunday, Trump claimed he had made 'big progress' on Russia, without giving details. European leaders on Monday will reaffirm their support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and argue against a land swap plan that rewards Russian aggression. They will also seek further clarity on what security guarantees the US is willing to offer in the event of a settlement. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN that Putin had agreed for the first time for the US and Europe to provide protection to Ukraine as part of a deal. This would be outside the auspices of Nato but would be the equivalent of the alliance's article 5 self-defence pact, Witkoff indicated. Speaking in Brussels alongside von der Leyen, Zelenskyy rejected Putin's latest demand for more land. Zelenskyy said Putin had been trying for 12 years to fully capture Donetsk oblast, without success. He said the current frontline should form the basis for negotiations, adding that territory could only be discussed in a three-way format with Kyiv at the table. A powerful Ukrainian army was the best security guarantee, he added. Starmer, Merz and Macron hosted a video call with European allies on Sunday before their Washington trip. According to the New York Times, Trump told European leaders he believed a peace deal could be negotiated if Zelenskyy agreed to give up the Donetsk region. They were unconvinced. The EU shares the Ukrainian view that Putin would use any new territory as a springboard for a further attack. US President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Friday. Picture: AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson Two sources with direct knowledge of the talks in Alaska told the Guardian that Putin had offered to freeze the frontline in southern Ukraine if he got Donbas. The plan would mean thousands of civilians would be forced to abandon their homes in key eastern cities such as Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, which have withstood years of Russian attacks. Before Friday's Alaska summit, Trump said he wanted an immediate ceasefire. Over the weekend, however, the US president endorsed Russia's demand for a peace deal first and a truce second. Ceasefires 'often times do not hold up', Trump said in a social media post. Trump also appears to have dropped his threat of economic penalties on countries that buy Russian oil if Moscow refuses a deal. He has repeatedly threatened to impose secondary sanctions, setting various deadlines and failing to follow through when they expire. Trump on Sunday expressed his frustration at recent media coverage. 'It's incredible how the Fake News violently distorts the TRUTH when it comes to me,' he posted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. File Picture: PA Zelenskyy said in a statement after his conversations with Trump and the European leaders: 'The positions are clear. A real peace must be achieved, one that will be lasting, not just another pause between Russian invasions. Killings must stop as soon as possible, the fire must cease both on the battlefield and in the sky, as well as against our port infrastructure. "All Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians must be released, and the children abducted by Russia must be returned.' A joint statement issued by European leaders on Saturday said they were 'ready to work with US President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy towards a trilateral summit with European support' but 'it will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory. International borders must not be changed by force.' They said they welcomed 'President Trump's efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia's war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace'. - The Guardian
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
European leaders to discuss potential security guarantees for Ukraine with Donald Trump
The leaders of Ukraine and several other European states will discuss potential future security guarantees for the war-torn country with US president Donald Trump on Monday. The meeting follows a summit held in Alaska on Friday between Mr Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin, and claims by a White House envoy that Russia has dropped its opposition to the West providing Nato-style defence pledges to Kyiv. Steve Witkoff said: 'We were able to win the following concession: that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in Nato.' The Article 5 clause of Nato's founding treaty enshrines the principle of collective defence, the notion that an attack on a single member is considered an attack on them all. READ MORE He told US television on Sunday that this is a 'game changing decision' and 'the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that'. He did not provide details of what was discussed. There are concerns among Ukraine's supporters that Volodymyr Zelenskiy could face significant pressure in Washington on Monday, given his February talks with Mr Trump in the Oval Office descended into a shouting match . However, this time he is expected to be accompanied in Washington by the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, the UK and Finland, along with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen . Mr Trump's relations with European leaders can be prickly, and it is notable that the group includes several who he reportedly likes: Italy's Giorgia Meloni , Britain's Keir Starmer , Finland's Alexander Stubb and Mr Rutte of Nato. [ The Irish Times view on the Trump-Putin summit: a shameful day in Alaska Opens in new window ] European leaders who make up the 'coalition of the willing' on Sunday agreed Russia would face more sanctions and wider economic measures if it does not stop its bombardment of Ukraine. Speaking after the virtual conference, which was co-chaired by Mr Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron , Mr Zelenskiy said: 'It is important that America agrees to work with Europe to provide security guarantees for Ukraine.' 'We need security to work in practice like Article 5 of Nato,' he said. Mr Zelenskiy said he also considers EU accession to be 'part of the security guarantees'. Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who also participated in Sunday's conference, said Ukraine needs 'strong, credible, long-term security guarantees', which means EU membership and sustained support from Europe and the US. [ Ukraine has right to make decisions on its territory, says Taoiseach after Trump comments Opens in new window ] Meanwhile, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said there will 'have to be some security guarantees for Ukraine' because 'if this war were to end, they have to make sure this never happens again'. [ Trump pressing Ukraine for a quick deal after failed summit is a clear triumph for Putin Opens in new window ] 'For there (to) be a peace, the Russian side is going to have to accept that Ukraine is a sovereign country that has a right to defend itself and has a right to enter into alliances with other countries to defend itself,' he added. 'What guarantees are built in there that are enforceable, that's what we'll be talking about over the next few days.' Russia's core demands include Ukraine's handover of five regions, agreement to abandon its bid to join Nato and acceptance of other limits on its sovereignty. Kyiv says any such deal would amount to capitulation. The Kremlin has previously rejected the prospect of western peacekeepers overseeing a deal to end the war. The Alaska summit was widely seen as a victory for Mr Putin, because Mr Trump scrapped a threat to impose more heavy sanctions on Russia and dropped demands for an immediate ceasefire in favour of Moscow's call for an overarching agreement to end the war. After the summit, which was lauded by the Kremlin, Mr Trump publicly urged Kyiv to 'make a deal' while reportedly telling Mr Zelenskiy that Russia was demanding the full withdrawal of Ukraine's forces from its Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Ukrainians in Ireland not optimistic about success of peace talks with Putin
For the Republic's huge Ukrainian community, the outcome of current peace talks will determine many of their futures. Some 100,000 Ukrainians live here, the vast majority of whom arrived since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Many have decided to stay in the Republic; others, though, will return home if peace can be achieved. Most doubt it will happen any time soon. Ukraine Action in Ireland (UAI) chairwoman Lisa Karamushka is in the east of the restive country where the war continues. READ MORE 'I can't see any major optimism here ... Just constant everyday shelling of the cities and soldiers fighting back attack after attack,' she said. Ukraine Action in Ireland chairwoman Lisa Karamushka in her home country. UAI was set up among Ukrainian refugees in Ireland and their supporters to provide medical aid and equipment to the front. So far UAI has sent 32 ambulances and 52 medical evacuation vehicles to Ukraine. Ms Karamushka said the sight of the red carpet being rolled out for Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska was 'humiliating and devastating'. 'After all the death and destruction ... Trump still considers him [at the] same diplomatic level of a partner to make negotiations with.' She believes there is nothing new in Putin's demands, which amount to wanting the world to recognise Crimea and Donetsk as part of Russia, while retaining Ukraine as part of Russia's sphere of influence. 'We have heard absolutely nothing we haven't heard before and no indication of a desire to end this war. Yet, Trump claims he has reached success. We don't see any,' she said. She takes some solace in Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy travelling on Monday with Europe's most important leaders. 'This gives me hope he will be in stronger position, as Europe has been so far our major supporter. Overall I'm probably not expecting anything to change, probably even hope it won't get worse,' she said. Ukraine's soldiers are the 'sole reason' for its continued independence, democracy and existence, she said. Olena Tregub, who is based in the Republic and works for the Ukrainian non-governmental organisation Nako, said expectations of a successful outcome are 'extremely low'. She believes Mr Trump and his principle negotiator, Steve Witkoff, 'fundamentally misunderstand the Russian president. 'They fail to see that for Putin, this war is not about material interests, nor even about territory. It is an ideological war. It is about the destiny of Ukraine,' she said. 'Putin wants to break Ukraine, to reduce it to a vassal of Russia,' she said. 'That goal has not been achieved. Which means Putin is nowhere near ready for peace.' She believes Mr Trump took a 'reckless gamble' in meeting Mr Putin without any deal agreed in advance. 'In doing so, he gave Putin legitimacy, handed over his own political capital and risked everything only to walk away empty-handed,' she said. 'The visuals from Alaska were disastrous: American soldiers kneeling to roll out the red carpet for Putin's plane, Trump and Putin walking together on that carpet, even riding in Trump's car. 'These images were not only humiliating for the USA internationally, but ... many Americans also saw this as a shameful display.'
