Latest news with #AndriySybiha
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Russia says no quick breakthrough in ‘complex' Ukraine talks
Russia has said it was wrong to expect a quick breakthrough in Ukraine talks, after Moscow rejected Kyiv's call for an unconditional ceasefire at negotiations in Istanbul. The sides agreed on a large-scale swap of captured soldiers and exchanged their roadmaps to peace, or so-called 'memorandums', at the discussions, which lasted less than two hours. More than three years into Russia's offensive -- which has killed tens of thousands on both sides and forced millions from their homes in eastern Ukraine -- the two sides appear as irreconcilable as ever. 'The settlement issue is extremely complex and involves a large number of nuances,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday. 'It would be wrong to expect immediate solutions and breakthroughs,' he added. Moscow demanded Ukraine pull its troops out of four eastern and southern regions that Moscow claims to have annexed as a precondition to pausing its offensive, according to the document handed to the Ukrainians that was published by Russian state media. Kyiv had pressed for a full and unconditional ceasefire. Russia instead offered a partial truce of two to three days in some areas of the frontline, its top negotiator said after the talks. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on Tuesday denounced Russia for presenting 'old ultimatums that do not move the situation any closer to true peace' and for having 'so far rejected any meaningful formats for a ceasefire.' Peskov earlier also dismissed the idea of a summit between the presidents of Russia, Ukraine and the United States. 'In the near future, it is unlikely,' Peskov told reporters when asked about the chances of the leaders meeting, adding that such a summit could only happen after Russian and Ukrainian negotiators reach an 'agreement.' The White House had said on Monday that US President Donald Trump was 'open' to the idea, which is also backed by Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Targeting civilians Zelenskyy on Tuesday accused Russia of 'deliberately' targeting civilians in a rocket attack on the city of Sumy, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border, that killed four people. Russian troops have accelerated their advance, seeking to establish what Putin called a 'buffer zone' inside Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region. Zelenskyy posted a video from the emergency services showing destroyed cars and the body of one victim lying on the road. The attack 'says everything one needs to know about Russia's so-called 'desire' to end this war,' he added, calling for 'decisive actions' from the United States and Europe to push Russia into a ceasefire. 'Every day, Russia gives new reasons for tougher sanctions and stronger support for our defense,' he said. A seven-year-old girl was among 20 wounded, with doctors 'fighting for her life,' Sumy's Acting Mayor Artem Kobzar said. Three people were also killed in a rocket attack in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Moscow's army said it had captured the village of Andriivka in the Sumy region, located around five kilometers (three miles) from the Russian border. Zelenskyy said last week that Russia was massing some 50,000 soldiers for an offensive on the region. Meanwhile, Ukraine's SBU security service claimed it had hit a pillar of the Crimean bridge linking the annexed peninsula to Russia with an underwater explosive device. The extent of the damage was unclear following a temporary closure to the bridge after the attack. A delegation of top Ukrainian officials also landed in Washington for talks with US officials on defense and economic issues, including the possibility of new sanctions, Zelenskyy's office said. Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's top aide and a member of the delegation, met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg. 'I emphasized that Russia is stalling and manipulating the negotiation process in an attempt to avoid American sanctions, and has no genuine intention of ceasing hostilities,' Yermak wrote on social media. 'Only strong sanctions can compel Russia to engage in serious negotiations.' Meanwhile, Russia's top security official Sergei Shoigu was in Pyongyang on Wednesday for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two countries have drawn closer in recent years, with North Korea sending troops and weapons to support Moscow's war effort. Russian news agencies reported Shoigu and Kim were expected to discuss issues including Ukraine. Trump, who said he could end the conflict swiftly when he returned to the White House in January, has repeatedly expressed anger at both Putin and Zelenskyy as the fighting drags through its fourth year with no end in sight. But he has held off from imposing new economic penalties on Moscow.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia and Ukraine exchange another 307 prisoners in major swap deal
Russia and Ukraine have continued their largest prisoner exchange to date, releasing a further 307 people each, the Russian Ministry of Defence said on Saturday. A total exchange between Moscow and Kiev of 1,000 prisoners each had been agreed upon in the largest such deal to date. "The large-scale exchange initiated by the Russian side is continuing," the Russian Ministry of Defence announced. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia had also released 307 prisoners. The previous day, 390 prisoners were freed on each side. Zelensky said that further releases were expected on Sunday. The Russian soldiers are currently on the territory of Belarus, where they are receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance, the ministry in Moscow stated. "All Russian military personnel will be brought to the Russian Federation for treatment and rehabilitation," it added. Exchange in several stages Russia and Ukraine had announced several stages of this largest prisoner exchange to date. "There is no greater joy," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on the platform X after the first round on Friday. "Such humanitarian confidence-building measures are crucial for our ongoing work to restore peace." According to the responsible coordination staff in Kiev, three women and 387 men were freed from Russian captivity on Friday. The released soldiers had reportedly defended Ukraine in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv and Kherson. All are being medically examined and receiving physical and psychological assistance. According to the Ministry of Defence in Moscow, 270 prisoners of war and 120 civilians were released from Ukrainian captivity on Friday. Among the civilians were also citizens from areas temporarily controlled by Kiev's troops in the Russian region of Kursk. The exchange was agreed upon last week during talks in Istanbul. It remained the only concrete result of the first direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations since 2022, which had been particularly urged by US President Donald Trump. Injuries after Russian drone attack on Kiev At least 15 people were injured in a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kiev and surrounding areas, officials said on Saturday. The injuries were caused by falling debris from drones that were intercepted and shot down by air defences, according to local authorities. Eight people were initially reported injured. "There were many fires and explosions in the city at night," Zelensky posted on social media. It was a difficult night for Ukraine as a whole, with 250 drone attacks and airstrikes with 14 ballistic missiles, Zelensky added. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko had warned of continued danger as the first wave of drones approached the city. "Stay in shelters!" he urged residents on Telegram. Teymur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, reported that debris had caused fires in residential buildings in two districts. Emergency crews were dispatched to the affected sites, he said. Kiev calls for greater international pressure on Moscow Foreign Minister Sybiha posted critical comments on X that Russia had still not delivered the promised "peace memorandum" after the first direct negotiations between Kiev and Moscow since 2022 in Istanbul just over a week ago. "Instead, Russia is sending deadly drones and missiles at the civilian population," said the minister. "This is Russia's response to international peace efforts and clear proof that increased sanctions pressure on Moscow is necessary to accelerate the peace process." Zelensky later urged the United States, European Union and others to step up punitive measures against Russia. In addition to Kiev, the regions of Odessa, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv were among those affected by the Russian attacks. Moscow threatened retaliation after Kiev's drone attacks The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously announced retaliatory strikes in response to what it described as "massive terrorist attacks" by Kiev. Ukraine had launched drones at Moscow and other Russian regions in recent days as part of its defence against the ongoing Russian invasion of its territory. The Russian ministry accused Kiev of attacking civilian infrastructure and civilians with the aim of wrecking the resumed peace negotiation process.
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Ukraine wants G7 price cap on Russian oil lowered to $30 per barrel
May 20 (Reuters) - Ukraine wants the Group of Seven advanced economies to reduce its price cap on Russian seaborne oil to $30 per barrel, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said on Tuesday. The current G7 price cap, imposed over Russia's war in Ukraine, is $60 per barrel. "The oil price cap, from our point of view, our position (is the) reasonable price cap (is) 30 dollars," Sybiha told reporters in English during a visit to Brussels. The European Union and Britain announced new sanctions on Russia on Tuesday which they said would zero in on Moscow's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers and financial companies that have helped it to avoid the impact of other sanctions imposed over the conflict. Britain and the EU said they would also work to lower the oil price cap, which imposes far less of a discount on Russian oil now that global prices have fallen this year. EU officials briefed on discussions on the matter have said the EU will propose a price cap of $50 per barrel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said separately that he had spoken to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday and expressed gratitude for the latest sanctions. "Russian oil, energy trade infrastructure, banks and financial schemes are what is most painful for Russia, and accordingly, the most useful for peace," he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "The more pressure there is on Russia, the more motives Moscow will have to move towards real peace," he said, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin without winning a promise of a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Forbes
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
International Coalition Agrees On The Special Tribunal For The Crime Of Aggression Against Ukraine
Destroyed Russian armored vehicles line the street in the city of Bucha, west of Kyiv, on March 4, ... More 2022. (Photo credit: ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images) On May 9, 2025, representatives of State and international institutions met in Lviv, Ukraine, to formally endorse the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. In accordance with the Lviv Statement adopted on the day, the group welcomed the finalization of the preparatory work required to establish a Special Tribunal within the Council of Europe. They committed to establishing the Special Tribunal, to the swift commencement of its operations, and to supporting it in its work. This gathering comes only a few days before the meeting of the Council of Europe's foreign ministers on May 13-14, 2025, where Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha will submit a letter requesting formal approval of the Agreement to create the Tribunal. This is an important step towards justice for Russia's attack on Ukraine. While many of the crimes perpetrated by Putin and his troops are already being investigated and prosecuted, whether by domestic or international tribunals, the crime of aggression is yet to be addressed with comprehensive responses. While, for example, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has powers to investigate any acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Ukraine, it cannot exercise its jurisdiction with regard to the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This is because the act of aggression is committed by Russia, a state that is not a party to the Rome Statute. One option would be for the U.N. Security Council to refer the situation to the ICC. However, such an attempt would have been blocked by Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council with a veto right. As such, States and experts have been looking into other options to ensure that the mother of all crimes in Ukraine - the crime of aggression - does not escape accountability. The establishment of the Tribunal will be based on an agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe is now to set up the necessary framework to establish the Special Tribunal, which will derive its jurisdiction from Ukraine. The Tribunal will have the power to investigate, prosecute and try Russian political and military leaders, who bear the greatest responsibility for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Once the Special Tribunal is established, Ukrainian national authorities will be able to refer ongoing domestic investigations and prosecutions related to the crime of aggression to the Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal. The evidence gathered in the context of the work carried out within the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression (ICPA), hosted within Eurojust, European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, will also be transmitted to the Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal as appropriate. The ICPA officially started operations at Eurojust in July 2023, supporting the preparation of crime of aggression cases by securing evidence and facilitating the process of case building at an early stage. The ICPA enables independent prosecutors from different countries to work together, exchange evidence in a fast and efficient manner, and agree on a common investigative and prosecution strategy. In addition to Ukraine, five of the joint investigation team (JIT) members (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Romania) are participating in the ICPA's start-up phase. Russia's crimes in this war against Ukraine require comprehensive responses, using all tools in the toolbox. This includes domestic investigations and prosecutions in Ukraine and other countries (including those based on the principle of universal jurisdiction), and investigations conducted by the ICC, among others. However, the crime of aggression, the crime that started it all before the investigated and prosecuted war crimes and crimes against humanity were perpetrated, must be met with the right responses. The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine is the response the world must see to send a powerful message to Putin, but also others with similar aspirations, that one cannot get away with the crime.
See - Sada Elbalad
27-01-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
EU Ministers Tackle Ukraine, US, Middle East Crises
European Union foreign ministers are convening today in Brussels to tackle pressing global issues, including the war in Ukraine, relations with the United States, and the volatile situation in the Middle East. Discussions on Ukraine will take center stage as Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha delivers an update via video on the latest developments along the frontlines. Ministers are also expected to deliberate on extending EU sanctions against Russia as part of the bloc's ongoing response to the conflict. In the Middle East, the agenda includes a review of developments in Syria, where the EU is reportedly considering easing certain economic sanctions on the country. Another focus will be the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. EU officials are also exploring the possibility of reinstating the EU Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which was initially launched in 2005 to facilitate trade and oversee electronic passport processing but was suspended in 2007 after Hamas assumed control of Gaza. The meeting marks the first high-level EU discussion on relations with the United States since Donald Trump assumed the presidency. Ministers aim to outline strategies for navigating transatlantic relations under the new administration. The foreign ministers are also set to officially suspend visa privileges for Georgian officials following violent crackdowns on pro-European protests in the country, a decision already agreed upon by EU ambassadors last week.
