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DW
4 days ago
- Business
- DW
Ukraine: Trump hails 'progress' after envoy meets Putin – DW – 08/06/2025
Donald Trump said a meeting between US envoy Steve Wikoff and Vladimir Putin in Moscow was "highly productive." Despite this, this White House says new US sanctions on Russia are still coming. DW has more. Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, for talks in Moscow. The meeting comes just days before a deadline set by Trump for Putin to agree to a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has urged patience regarding US-Russia relations, as anticipation builds around a potential meeting between Trump and Putin that has yet to be reserves in Ukraine are at their lowest in 12 years, analysis firm ExPro said on Wednesday. Storage facilities are currently less than a third full and the revelation comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier on Wednesday accused Moscow of deliberately undermining its preparations for winter by striking a gas facility in the Odesa region. It is not yet clear how Wednesday's attack on the the southern region's gas interconnector, which is used to supply US and Azeri gas through Bulgaria and Romania, will affect future gas collection. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff lasted around three hours. "A quite useful and constructive conversation took place," Ushakov told journalists. Putin and Witkoff discussed the conflict in Ukraine and the potential for improving US-Russia ties, Ushakov said. He added that Moscow had received certain "signals" from US President Donald Trump and had sent messages in return, without elaborating on details. The meeting comes just days ahead of a deadline set by Trump to agree to a Ukraine peace deal or face US sanctions. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video German politicians are debating whether to slash financial assistance for Ukrainian refugees. How does the country stack up against its EU neighbors when it comes to generosity in helping those fleeing war? Read the full story on aid provided for Ukrainian refugees in Germany and across Europe. Russian drones struck a gas pumping station in southern Ukraine, part of an LNG imports scheme from the United States and Azerbaijan, Kyiv's energy ministry said Wednesday. The ministry said the attack on the site near the Ukraine-Romania border was aimed "purely against civilian infrastructure" and targeting relations with Azerbaijan, the US and European partners. There was no immediate comment from Russia. The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff for talks. The Kremlin did not immediately provide more information regarding the meeting. There had been doubts as to whether the two would meet during Witkoff's visit to Moscow but Russian state media said the meeting was to take place on Wednesday. Donald Trump has put a Friday deadline for Putin to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine or potentially face economic penalties that could also hit countries buying its oil. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday two people were killed after a Russian attack set ablaze a holiday camp in central Ukraine. Describing it as a "zero military sense" strike, Zelenskyy condemned the "cruelty" of the attack, "aimed at instilling fear." "Right now in the Zaporizhzhia district, our medics and first responders are helping those wounded in a Russian strike on an ordinary recreation center," Zelenskyy posted on X. "Twelve people have been injured. As of now, sadly, two people are confirmed dead." The Kremlin claims the Zaporizhzhia region as part of Russia. Ukraine's defense minister has expressed gratitude toward the US for approving more than $200 million (€175 million) in deals to supply arms to Ukraine, funded by allies and arising from agreements between the US and Ukrainian presidents. "Grateful to the U.S. for approving over $200M in Foreign Military Sales for Ukraine," Denys Shmyhal posted on X. "The first package includes equipment, repairs, and technical support for M777 howitzers, valued at $104 million. The second package, worth $99.5 million, covers transportation and cargo consolidation and other logistical services." Entirely funded by partner countries, these packages are a boost to Ukraine's defense and regional security," he added. Patience is required over Russian-US relations, the Kremlin said Wednesday. In remarks carried by the Russian TASS state news agency, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "There is, of course, inertia in this process," referring to the prolonged absence of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. "It takes time for efforts to bring bilateral relations back onto a normal track." TASS reported that for the first time in modern Russian history more than six months have passed without a summit between the leaders of the two nuclear powers. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, state media reported, where he will meet with Russian officials , with President Donald Trump's deadline to impose fresh sanctions over the war in Ukraine just days away. It is unclear whether Witkoff will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has given the Kremlin until Friday to halt its offensive in Ukraine or face further sanctions. The White House has not been specific regarding potential penalties, but Trump has previously threatened to impose "secondary tariffs" targeting Moscow's remaining trade partners, including China and India. Trump said Tuesday that he would await the outcome of Witkoff's visit before moving forward. "We're going to see what happens," he told reporters. "We'll make that determination at that time." After arriving in the Russian capital, Witkoff was met by presidential special representative Kirill Dmitriev, Russian state news agency TASS said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had had a "productive" conversation with his US counterpart Donald Trump. The Ukrainian president said "the key focus" of their conversation centered around "ending the war." "Many months could have already passed without war, had Russia not been prolonging it," he continued. "Today, we coordinated our positions, Ukraine and the United States. We exchanged assessments of the situation: The Russians have intensified the brutality of their attacks. President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities." Zelenskyy said the pair also spoke about sanctions on Russia with Trump's August 8 deadline for Putin to end the war looming large. "Their economy continues to decline, and that's exactly why Moscow is so sensitive to this prospect and President Trump's resolve," Zelenskyy said. Today's spotlight is firmly on Moscow, where US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting with Russian officials, just days ahead of a deadline set by his boss. President Donald Trump has warned that if Russia fails to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine by Friday, it will face new sanctions. However, the lack of urgency in Moscow over the past few days suggests Witkoff may leave empty handed. In fact, sources close to the Kremlin say Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he is gaining ground in Ukraine, and that takes precedence over improving relations with the United States. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has used this moment to press his case for tougher sanctions on Moscow in a call with Trump ahead of Witkoff's visit. We'll be covering all these topics in this blog, with a focus on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Ukrainian gas reserves at their lowest in 12 years, analyst ExPro says
KYIV, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Ukraine's gas reserves are at their lowest in 12 years, with storage facilities currently less than a third full, analysis firm ExPro said on Wednesday. The estimate comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier accused Moscow of deliberately undermining its preparations for winter following a Russian strike on a gas facility in Ukraine's southern Odesa region. Ukraine had 10 billion cubic metres of gas in its underground storage facilities as of August 5, pumping one bcm of gas to storage in the past 19 days, ExPro said on Wednesday. Ukraine's energy ministry has said the country needs around 13 bcm of gas in storage for the winter season. Ukrainian storage facilities are 32.3% full, ExPro said, with reserves down 9% from a year earlier. It is not yet clear how Wednesday's Russian attack on the Odesa region's gas interconnector, which is used to supply U.S. and Azeri gas via Bulgaria and Romania, will affect its future gas collection. Ukraine had been forced to ramp up gas withdrawals from storage and increase imports over winter and spring after Russian missile attacks damaged production facilities in the east of the country. The energy minister has said Ukraine had to import at least 4.6 bcm of gas for the 2025/26 winter heating season.
Reuters
01-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Ukraine increases power exports and imports in June, analyst says
KYIV, July 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine, whose power system has been under constant Russian missile and drone attacks, increased its electricity exports to 237 megawatt hours in June from around 95 MWh in May, Ukrainian ExPro consultancy said on Tuesday. The consultancy also said Ukraine had also increased power imports by 5% to 204 MWh. The consultancy provided no explanation for the changes. Market sources say long, sunny days have allowed more power to be produced at solar plants, but the ongoing campaign of repairs at nuclear power units has forced the import of power at night. Ukraine had no power exports in June 2024 while imports were several times higher, ExPro noted. The consultancy said Ukraine had exported power to Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova and Poland. Ukraine started large power exports to EU before the Russian invasion in 2022 but then switched it off after Russia damaged Ukrainian power generating facilities.
Al Arabiya
01-07-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Ukraine gas reserves exceed 8 billion cubic meters: Analyst
Gas reserves in Ukrainian storage facilities exceeded 8 billion cubic meters (bcm) as of June 28 but remain at the lowest level in the last 11 years, analysis firm ExPro said on Tuesday. Ukraine has been forced to ramp up gas withdrawals from storage and increase imports this winter and spring after Russian missile attacks damaged production facilities in the east of the country. ExPro said that storage facilities were almost 26 percent full, and the volumes were 19.6 percent, or by 1.9 bcm, lower than at the same date year earlier. The consultancy said gas injection volumes remained higher than last year and between June 1 and 28, 1.25 bcm of gas was pumped into storage facilities. It noted that since the beginning of this year's gas injection season on April 17, 2.6 bcm of gas had been pumped into storage facilities. Ukrainian energy minister said last month Ukraine had to import at least 4.6 bcm of gas for the 2025/26 winter heating season.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine gas reserves are at lowest level in 11 years, analyst ExPro says
KYIV (Reuters) -Gas volumes in Ukrainian storage facilities are at the lowest level in at least 11 years, standing at 6 billion cubic metres (bcm) as of May 11, analytical company ExPro said on Wednesday. Ukraine has been forced to ramp up gas withdrawals from storage and increase imports this winter and spring after Russian missile attacks damaged production facilities in the east of the country. ExPro noted that storage facilities, whose capacity exceed 30 bcm, were less than 20% full, compared to 31.7% at the same date in 2024, when they held 8.8 bcm of gas. It said that since the beginning of the current injection season in mid-April, 610 million cubic meters of gas had been pumped into storage facilities, including 258 million in April. "Injection volumes in May 2025 are higher than in May last year. Overall, more than 350 million cubic metres of natural gas have been injected into storage facilities since the beginning of the month, 33% more than in the same period last year," ExPro said. The company forecast that Ukraine could have about 6.6 bcm of gas in reserve by the end of May. The former head of the Ukrainian gas transit operator, Serhiy Makogon, said last month that the country needed to import up to 6.3 billion cubic metres of gas for the 2025/26 winter season as reserves have fallen to a record low due to war-related damage to some facilities. He said Ukraine would need up to $3 billion for gas purchases. Ukraine's state oil and gas firm Naftogaz has said it was in talks with the government and international financial institutions to raise 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to purchase over 2 bcm of gas for the 2025/26 heating season. Naftogaz has said it also contracted 300 mcm of American LNG with deliveries from Poland's Orlen.
