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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
Putin holds talks with Netanyahu, Pezeshkian, offers mediation to prevent escalation
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Israel's wave of strikes on Iran, the Kremlin said Friday, following separate phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian read more Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia) National Public Organisation and participants of the organisation's 20th Congress and Forum via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia May 13, 2025. Sputnik via Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Israel's wave of strikes on Iran, the Kremlin said Friday, following separate phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Russia and Iran have deepened their military ties amid Moscow's offensive on Ukraine, threatening its efforts to maintain warm relations with all major players in the Middle East. 'Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia condemns Israel's actions, which violate the UN Charter and international law,' the Kremlin said in a statement Friday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also told Netanyahu of his 'readiness to provide mediation services in order to prevent further escalation of tensions'. The Kremlin added that Russia was committed to 'resolving the current situation, which is fraught with the most disastrous consequences for the entire region'. Earlier Friday, Russia had condemned Israeli strikes on Moscow's ally Iran. 'Unprovoked military strikes against a sovereign UN member state, its citizens, peaceful cities and nuclear energy infrastructure are categorically unacceptable,' said a Russian foreign ministry statement, calling the strikes 'atrocities'. Putin and other top Russian officials have also condemned Israel's actions in Gaza, though has so far managed to maintain working relations with Israel. The Kremlin earlier this week defended Iran's right to develop a 'peaceful' nuclear energy programme. It said the overnight strikes were 'especially cynical' amid ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear programme. Moscow reiterated that the Iranian nuclear issue could only be settled diplomatically and called on both sides to show restraint.
Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Kremlin says Putin could meet Zelenskiy if certain agreements are reached
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia) National Public Organisation and participants of the organisation's 20th Congress and Forum via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia May 13, 2025. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Kremlin says Putin could meet Zelenskiy if certain agreements are reached MOSCOW - The Kremlin said on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but only if certain agreements were reached. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not specify what agreements would be required from Russia's point of view. Putin and Zelenskiy have not met since December 2019. President Zelenskiy had challenged the Kremlin leader to meet him in Turkey this week but Putin instead sent a team of aides and officials to meet Ukrainian negotiators on Friday for the first bilateral, face-to-face talks since March 2022. Ukraine said it had raised the issue of a Putin-Zelenskiy meeting at the talks. Peskov said Russia considered such a meeting was possible, but only as a result of work between the two sides to "achieve certain results in the form of agreements". He added: "At the same time, when signing documents that the delegations are to agree upon, the main and fundamental thing for us remains who exactly will sign these documents from the Ukrainian side." Peskov did not elaborate on that remark. Putin has previously challenged Zelenskiy's legitimacy as president because his elected term of office expired last year. Ukraine, under martial law as it defends itself against Russia, has not set a date for a new election. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Kremlin says Putin could meet Zelenskiy if certain agreements are reached
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia) National Public Organisation and participants of the organisation's 20th Congress and Forum via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia May 13, 2025. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but only if certain agreements were reached. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not specify what agreements would be required from Russia's point of view. Putin and Zelenskiy have not met since December 2019. President Zelenskiy had challenged the Kremlin leader to meet him in Turkey this week but Putin instead sent a team of aides and officials to meet Ukrainian negotiators on Friday for the first bilateral, face-to-face talks since March 2022. Ukraine said it had raised the issue of a Putin-Zelenskiy meeting at the talks. Peskov said Russia considered such a meeting was possible, but only as a result of work between the two sides to "achieve certain results in the form of agreements". He added: "At the same time, when signing documents that the delegations are to agree upon, the main and fundamental thing for us remains who exactly will sign these documents from the Ukrainian side." Peskov did not elaborate on that remark. Putin has previously challenged Zelenskiy's legitimacy as president because his elected term of office expired last year. Ukraine, under martial law as it defends itself against Russia, has not set a date for a new election. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; writing by Mark TrevelyanEditing by Gareth Jones)
First Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Without Putin, do Ukraine peace talks in Turkey matter?
Russian President Vladimir Putin has pulled out of direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, despite proposing them himself. With his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, still reportedly attending and a US delegation present, the high-level summit marks the first such meeting in three years. But what can we expect after Putin has decided to stay away? read more Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia) National Public Organisation and participants of the organisation's 20th Congress and Forum via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia May 13, 2025. Sputnik via Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin has opted out of attending a high-stakes summit with Ukraine in Turkey — talks he himself proposed — choosing instead to send a team of senior officials to represent Moscow. The direct negotiations, scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul, are the first of their kind since March 2022 and were initially seen as a possible inflection point in the over two-year-long war. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump had both expressed openness to participating in person, the absence of both Putin and Trump from the summit has led to lowered expectations for any breakthrough. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, the significance of any official dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow after a long hiatus remains. Why these talks matter The last known round of direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives occurred in March 2022, shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Since then, diplomatic channels have mostly closed, with both sides entrenching further on the battlefield and at the international level. This week's summit in Istanbul would mark the first time in over three years that Russian and Ukrainian officials meet face to face for structured discussions. Talks were proposed by Putin over the weekend following renewed pressure from Ukraine's Western allies, including Germany, France, Poland, and the United Kingdom, who demanded Russia agree to a 30-day ceasefire or face a fresh wave of severe sanctions. Putin responded not by accepting the ceasefire, but by offering to restart negotiations without any preconditions. He referred to the failed 2022 talks and suggested that representatives from both nations meet in Istanbul to explore the possibility of 'durable peace.' In response, Zelenskyy declared his readiness to travel to Turkey to pursue a diplomatic resolution. 'The answers to all questions about this war – why it started, why it continues – all these answers are in Moscow,' he said. 'How the war will end depends on the world.' Who Putin is sending in his stead Although Putin initiated the idea of resuming talks, he confirmed late Wednesday that he would not be attending in person . The Kremlin released a list of delegates who would represent Russia at the Istanbul summit, with presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky leading the delegation. Medinsky, who was born in Soviet Ukraine and previously led the failed 2022 peace talks, is known for his alignment with Putin's historical worldview. He currently chairs the Russian Military Historical Society and played a role in authoring a new patriotic history textbook aligned with Kremlin ideology. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The rest of the Russian delegation comprises a mix of diplomatic, military, and intelligence figures: Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Foreign Minister, responsible for Russia's relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Igor Kostyukov, head of Russian military intelligence (GRU), a prominent intelligence agency. Alexander Fomin, Deputy Defence Minister and a veteran of the 2022 peace negotiations. Alexander Zorin, a seasoned negotiator who was instrumental in the Syrian civil war efforts and known for reconciling factions. Yelena Podobreyevskaya, Deputy Head of the Kremlin Directorate for Humanitarian Policy. Alexei Polishchuk, Director of the Foreign Ministry's CIS Department. V. Shevtsov, Deputy Head of the Directorate for International Military Cooperation in the Defence Ministry. Where Zelenskyy stands Zelenskyy has made it clear that he is only willing to meet directly with Putin, not lower-ranking officials. Speaking in a video address before his departure to Turkey, Zelenskyy said, 'Ukraine would decide on its steps for peace talks in Turkey once there was clarity on Putin's participation.' Today we held several meetings with the team regarding the format in Türkiye. I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take. So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing. We also hear that President Trump is… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 14, 2025 A Ukrainian official stated that Zelenskyy had agreed to the Istanbul meeting specifically in response to the possibility of Putin being present. 'He had said he would take part in the talks only if Putin attended,' the official noted. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio early Thursday to coordinate ahead of the summit. Sybiha shared Zelenskyy's vision for peace and outlined Ukraine's negotiation stance, centred on an immediate 30-day ceasefire. Zelenskyy had also publicly challenged Putin to join the talks, saying 'if he's not afraid,' in what observers see as an attempt to demonstrate Kyiv's willingness for peace in contrast to Moscow's reluctance. How Trump is involved US President Donald Trump had called for a '30-day unconditional ceasefire' and warned of punitive action if his proposal was ignored. 'Trump called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and threatened sanctions if this was not respected,' one US official stated. While Trump initially hinted he might personally attend the talks, particularly if Putin confirmed his participation, the White House later confirmed he would not be present. Trump is currently on a three-nation tour of West Asia but indicated he would send a high-level delegation instead. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Representing the United States in Istanbul are: Secretary of State Marco Rubio Steve Witkoff, senior White House envoy Keith Kellogg, former National Security Advisor and senior envoy Trump has publicly expressed frustration with the pace of peace efforts from both Russia and Ukraine. He has hinted at the potential for 'secondary sanctions' on Russia, including penalties on entities purchasing Russian oil, if Moscow is perceived as obstructing the path to peace. What the talks may include While Russia has indicated willingness to resume talks, Kyiv and its allies remain sceptical of Moscow's intentions. The two sides remain fundamentally at odds on key issues, particularly on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. During the 2022 negotiations, Russia reportedly proposed that Ukraine adopt permanent neutrality in exchange for international security guarantees from countries including the US, China, the UK, France, and Russia, among others, reported Reuters. That deal collapsed as Ukrainian forces regained territory and uncovered evidence of atrocities in towns such as Bucha, prompting international outrage. Kyiv has maintained that Ukrainian neutrality is a red line. Russia continues to hold significant portions of Ukrainian territory, and has not offered any meaningful concessions. The Kremlin's position, according to analysts, still centers on addressing what it calls the 'root causes' of the war, including Nato expansion and Ukraine's post-Soviet alignment — issues that Ukraine and its Western backers consider non-negotiable. Meanwhile, Moscow has floated the idea of including a large-scale prisoner exchange as part of the talks. But no specific commitments have been made by either side on that front. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Though the Istanbul summit may not yield an immediate agreement, its importance lies in reviving direct diplomatic engagement. The involvement of senior officials on both sides suggests that there may be some progress on procedural matters or temporary arrangements like localised ceasefires or humanitarian corridors. Nevertheless, the absence of Putin and Trump casts a long shadow over the proceedings. Zelenskyy's expected meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Thursday may provide further clarity on Ukraine's diplomatic approach moving forward. Zelenskyy pointed out: 'How the war will end depends on the world.' Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
An aide, a diplomat and a spy: Who is Putin sending to Turkey?
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia) National Public Organisation and participants of the organisation's 20th Congress and Forum via video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia May 13, 2025. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo An aide, a diplomat and a spy: Who is Putin sending to Turkey? ISTANBUL - Who is Russian President Vladimir Putin sending to the peace talks with Ukraine that the Kremlin chief himself proposed? Just over an hour before Moscow's midnight on May 14, the Kremlin published the names of those who would attend. * Vladimir Medinsky, Kremlin aide. To head the delegation. Born in Soviet Ukraine, Medinsky helped lead the 2022 peace talks which ultimately failed. Educated at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Medinsky was behind a new history textbook for schools which reflect Putin's historical view: pride at the achievements of the superpower Soviet Union, indignation at the humiliations of the Soviet collapse, and acclaim for the "rebirth" of Russia under the former KGB spy's rule which began on the last day of 1999. He is chairman of the ultra-patriotic Russian Military Historical Society. * Mikhail Galuzin, deputy foreign minister Oversees relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States, a grouping of former Soviet republics. Educated at Moscow State University's Institute of Asian and African Studies. Speaks fluent Japanese and English. * Igor Kostyukov, director of Russian military intelligence, known as GRU, or more recently as simply GU. The GRU is one of the most powerful intelligence agencies in the world. Kostyukov was the first naval officer to head GRU. * Alexander Fomin, deputy defence minister. Took part in the 2022 talks on Ukraine. Additionally, Putin approved a list of experts for the negotiations. * Alexander Zorin, first deputy chief of information of the directorate of the General Staff. Born in Soviet Ukraine. Helped lead Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war. Known for seeking to reconcile sides. * Yelena Podobreyevskaya, deputy head of the Kremlin directorate for humanitarian policy. * Alexei Polishchuk, director of the foreign ministry's CIS department dealing with Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. * V. Shevtsov, deputy head of the main directorate for international military cooperation at the defence ministry. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
