India PM Modi says self-reliance not just about trade
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Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Putin, Trump sit down to discuss fate of Ukraine as summit gets underway
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met face-to-face in Alaska on Friday in a high-stakes meeting that could determine whether a ceasefire can be reached in the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two. Ahead of the summit, Trump greeted the Russian leader on a red carpet on the tarmac at a US Air Force base. The two shook hands warmly and touched each other on the arm before riding in Trump's limo to the summit site nearby. The two leaders sat silently with their respective delegations seated to the side in their first meeting since 2019. They were seated in front of a blue backdrop that had the words, 'Pursuing Peace' printed on it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict with Russia and recognizing - if only informally - Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. Earlier, Trump sought to assuage such concerns as he boarded Air Force One, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps. 'I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table,' he said. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: 'I want to see a ceasefire rapidly ... I'm not going to be happy if it's not today ... I want the killing to stop.' Trump was joined in his meeting with Putin by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff. At a subsequent larger, bilateral meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and chief of staff Susie Wiles will also join Trump, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. The Russian officials accompanying Putin in the talks with the US delegation will be foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Trump hopes a truce in the 3-1/2-year-old war that Putin started will bring peace to the region as well as bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. For Putin, the summit is already a big win that he can portray as evidence that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unraveled and that Moscow is retaking its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy. Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher task than he had expected. He said if Friday's talks went well, quickly arranging a second, three-way summit with Zelenskyy would be even more important than his encounter with Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a three-way summit would be possible if the Alaska talks bore fruit, Interfax news agency reported. Peskov also said Friday's talks could last six to seven hours. Zelenskyy said the summit should open the way for a 'just peace' and three-way talks that included him, but added that Russia was continuing to wage war. A Russian ballistic missile earlier struck Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one person and wounding another. 'It's time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America,' Zelenskyy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. 'Smart guy' Trump said before the summit that there is mutual respect between him and Putin. 'He is a smart guy, been doing it for a long time, but so have I ... We get along, there's a good respect level on both sides,' Trump said of Putin. He also welcomed Putin's decision to bring businesspeople to Alaska. 'But they're not doing business until we get the war settled,' he said, repeating a threat of 'economically severe' consequences for Russia if the summit goes badly. The United States has had internal discussions on using Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker vessels to support the development of gas and LNG projects in Alaska as one of the possible deals to aim for, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. One source acquainted with Kremlin thinking said there were signs Moscow could be ready to strike a compromise on Ukraine, given that Putin understood Russia's economic vulnerability and costs of continuing the war. Reuters has previously reported that Putin might be willing to freeze the conflict along the frontlines, provided there was a legally binding pledge not to enlarge NATO eastwards and to lift some Western sanctions. NATO has said Ukraine's future is in the alliance. Russia, whose war economy is showing strain, is vulnerable to further US sanctions - and Trump has threatened tariffs on buyers of Russian crude, primarily China and India. 'For Putin, economic problems are secondary to goals, but he understands our vulnerability and costs,' the Russian source said. Putin this week held out the prospect of something else he knows Trump wants - a new nuclear arms control accord to replace the last surviving one, which is due to expire in February. Common ground? The source familiar with Kremlin thinking said it looked as if the two sides had been able to find some common ground. 'Apparently, some terms will be agreed upon ... because Trump cannot be refused, and we are not in a position to refuse (due to sanctions pressure),' said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity. Putin has said he is open to a full ceasefire but that issues of verification must first be sorted out. One compromise could be a truce in the air war. Zelenskyy has ruled out formally handing Moscow any territory and is also seeking a security guarantee backed by the United States. Ukrainians who spoke to Reuters in central Kyiv on Friday were not optimistic about the summit. 'Nothing good will happen there, because war is war, it will not end. The territories - we're not going to give anything to anyone,' said Tetiana Harkavenko, a 65-year-old cleaner.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan launches third Chinese-built Hangor-class submarine amid deepening defense ties
KARACHI: Pakistan on Friday launched its third Hangor-class submarine in China, the navy said in a statement, in the latest sign of the country's growing military ties with Beijing. The launch comes months after Pakistan's brief but intense military standoff with India, which saw the two nuclear-armed neighbors exchange air, missile, drone and artillery attacks. In recent years, Islamabad has strengthened its defence collaboration with China, inducting state-of-the-art Chinese hardware across all three services, including Z-10ME attack helicopters earlier this month and JF-17 fighter jets jointly developed with Beijing. The navy said the new vessel, equipped with modern sensors and weapons, will enhance its capabilities to safeguard national interests and contribute to a 'secure and cooperative maritime environment.' 'Their cutting-edge weaponry and advanced sensors would be instrumental in sustaining regional power equilibrium and ensuring maritime stability,' Vice Admiral Abdul Samad, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Project-2, said at the launch ceremony in Wuhan, according to a navy statement. The launch took place at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group's Shuangliu Base and was attended by senior officials from both Pakistan and China, including representatives of China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company Ltd (CSOC). Samad commended the steady progress of the project, praised the work of Chinese shipbuilders and said the Hangor-class program would 'bring a fresh dimension' to Pakistan-China naval cooperation. The submarines are a new generation of diesel-electric attack vessels and equipped with advanced sensors and modern weapon systems to strengthen the country's underwater warfare capabilities. Pakistan signed a contract with CSOC to acquire eight Hangor-class submarines. Four are being built in China, while the remaining four will be produced in Pakistan at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited under a transfer-of-technology program. The first two submarines in the series were launched in 2024, with deliveries expected over the next several years.
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Indian missions in Riyadh, Jeddah celebrate Independence Day with patriotic fervor
RIYADH: The Embassy of India in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah celebrated India's 79th Independence Day on Friday with great enthusiasm and active participation from the Indian community, local dignitaries, and friends of India. Independence Day was celebrated by the embassy in Riyadh with the enthusiastic participation of about 1,000 people, including members of the Indian community, embassy officials, and journalists. The celebrations began with the hoisting of the tricolour by Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, the ambassador, followed by the national anthem. The ambassador lay floral tributes at the bust of father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, then read out President Droupadi Murmu's message to the nation and Indians around the world. In his keynote address, the ambassador highlighted the close bilateral partnership between India and Saudi Arabia and the significant role played by the Indian diaspora in making this relationship vibrant and robust. It was followed by cultural performances by Indian community members, displaying the rich diversity of India. The cultural program was an eclectic mix of patriotic songs and classical dance performances. In the run-up to Independence Day, embassy officials, their families and Indian community members took part in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' initiative, displaying their patriotic spirit and pride in the national flag. At the Indian Consulate in Jeddah the ceremony began with the hoisting of the national flag by Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri followed by the national anthem, with the consul general reading the president's address to the nation, which highlighted India's accomplishments over the past 78 years and outlined the country's vision. The consul general highlighted the growing partnership with Saudi Arabia and commended the Indian diaspora in the Western Province for their pivotal role in fostering stronger ties and contributing positively to both countries. He also provided updates on the consulate's key initiatives and urged the diaspora to continue their active engagement in advancing these efforts. The celebration featured a cultural program including patriotic songs performed by students from Indian schools in Jeddah that evoked pride, unity, and respect for the county's history and cultural heritage. A highlight of the event was the Tiranga Exhibition, organized as part of the government of India's 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. The exhibition included historical images, creative displays, and information about the Indian national flag — promoting awareness, respect, and national pride among attendees. The event concluded with a display of regional Indian cuisines, giving guests a flavourful glimpse into India's rich and diverse food heritage. Each dish, representing different states, highlighted the country's remarkable cultural diversity and unity.
