Latest news with #Interfax-Ukraine
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelensky meets US senators to increase pressure on Moscow
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed his hope for tougher sanctions to be imposed on Russia's war machine during a meeting with US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal in Kiev. "I'm grateful for the initiative — the bipartisan sanctions bill already supported by 82 senators, Zelensky posted on the platform X on Friday. "We discussed this and other levers we can use to force Russia into peace. We will keep working on this together." Zelensky accused Moscow of mocking diplomatic initiatives and using negotiations as a cover to prepare a new offensive. Russia is carrying out strikes on Ukrainian cities and villages and rejecting all proposals for a ceasefire, Zelensky said. "That is why additional pressure is needed," he stressed. The president thanked Republican Graham and Democrat Blumenthal for their two political camps' support of Ukraine. "It is the United States' real involvement at every stage of the negotiations that can guarantee a reliable peace," Zelensky said. During their visit to the Ukrainian capital, Graham and Blumenthal also met Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to discuss expanding trade relations. Graham said that he expects that this business relationship will focus on the military sector, that the US military-industrial complex will sell weapons to Ukraine that it has developed. Other countries could buy them from the US and deliver them to Ukraine, he said at a press conference, according to the Interfax-Ukraine agency. Graham and Blumenthal have prepared a package of new sanctions for Russia, which can count on a large, bipartisan majority in the US Senate. However, Graham does not want to pre-empt the mediation efforts of his party colleague, US President Donald Trump. Additionally, it is currently unclear whether the sanctions package could also count on a majority in the House of Representatives.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy outlines when sanctions will hit Russian economy hardest
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Russia will begin to feel the full economic impact of existing sanctions in June 2026, by which time Ukraine also expects a significant deficit in the Russian state budget. Source: Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "June 2026 – we all hope the war will be over by then. But at the same time, we understand that the economic effect of the sanctions on the Russians will be felt. From those already imposed. We believe that starting around summer 2026, their economy will feel this strongly." Details: Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine anticipates a budget deficit for Russia, which may not seem catastrophic due to the shadow nature of much of Russia's economy. However, he added that it is difficult to fully assess what remains hidden and how much Russia has in reserve. Quote: "We can see that their reserves will not grow next year – they will shrink. And they will continue to shrink. The economy will completely change – they will be spending everything on the war." More details: The president also pointed to the growing threat of Russia's military-industrial complex, which relies on components from China, Taiwan, the US and some European companies. Zelenskyy emphasised that around 30 key Russian defence industry companies have contracts with firms in these countries – a situation that could be addressed through stronger sanctions. Background: Earlier reports stated that Russia's coal industry has plunged into a deep crisis following the EU's embargo on fuel supplies and a drop in global prices. The sector is not expected to recover within the next five years. By 2030, seaborne coal exports, which account for over 80% of Russia's coal export volume, will decrease by 10% compared to 2024 levels, reaching 150 million tonnes. It was also reported that the European Union is considering disconnecting more than 20 Russian banks from the international SWIFT payment system, lowering the price cap on Russian oil and banning the Nord Stream gas pipelines as part of a new sanctions package. In the first quarter of 2025, Sovcomflot, Russia's largest shipping operator, posted a net loss of US$393 million. The company attributed the financial downturn to Western sanctions, which have made fleet management more difficult, led to vessel downtime and caused a significant drop in revenue. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
US won't support Russia's demand for Ukraine's withdrawal from 4 regions, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 27 that he does not believe the U.S. would support a full Ukrainian withdrawal from four of its partially occupied regions, a demand repeatedly raised by Russia, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported. "What's written in the ultimatums doesn't matter if we're talking about more than just a piece of paper; we're talking about what could lead to the first step: a ceasefire," Zelensky told journalists, according to the news agency. "I think that even at the highest level, the United States today will not support Ukraine withdrawing from the territories" controlled by Ukraine, he continued, adding that Kyiv does not want Washington to walk away from the peace efforts. Russia again rejected Kyiv and Western partners' calls for an unconditional ceasefire during recent peace talks in Istanbul, insisting instead that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts. Moscow illegally declared the annexation of the four regions in September 2022, despite not controlling them fully. Russia continues to occupy roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean peninsula illegally annexed in 2014. As the Trump administration has sought to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, it has reportedly offered wide-ranging concessions to Moscow, including a potential recognition of its control over Crimea and the lifting of sanctions. At the same time, U.S. officials have signaled opposition to Russia's demand for Ukraine's withdrawal from the Ukrainian-held territories. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on May 7 that Russia is "asking for too much," underscoring Washington's growing frustration with Moscow's delays. U.S. President Donald Trump and his aides have warned that the U.S. would exit the negotiations if progress is not achieved soon. Read also: Zelensky ready for three-way meeting with Trump, Putin We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy shares details of conversation with Trump at Vatican
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his US counterpart Donald Trump discussed sanctions on Russia's energy and banking sectors during their meeting at the Vatican. Source: European Pravda, citing Interfax-Ukraine Details: Zelenskyy said that one of the topics raised in his meeting with Trump was the sanctions policy. Quote: "President Trump agreed that if Russia does not stop, there will be sanctions. We discussed two key sectors – energy and banking. Can the US impose sanctions on both sectors? I would very much like that." More details: Zelenskyy described the conversation positively, calling it confirmation of US policy to impose strong sanctions on Russia should Putin refuse to cease hostilities. Background: Zelenskyy and Trump held a brief meeting at the Vatican on 26 April, where dozens of world leaders had gathered to pay their final respects to Pope Francis. Zelenskyy said the meeting with Trump had the potential to be historic. The White House also described the meeting as highly productive. On the same day, Trump condemned Russia's recent strikes on Ukrainian cities, voiced doubts that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin genuinely seeks to end the war, and threatened further sanctions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
"Interesting strike": Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces destroyed over 40 Russian vehicles in one operation
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukrainian troops recently struck Russian positions using 400 drones simultaneously, destroying more than 40 pieces of Russian equipment. Source: Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "Recently, we had an interesting strike on them. We simultaneously launched 400 small drones. More than 40 pieces of equipment were destroyed at once. And we carried out this operation. It was carried out solely by the military, solely on the battlefield." Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that this was the first attempt at such an operation and expressed confidence that Ukraine would soon be able to demonstrate even more large-scale actions. The president also said Ukraine was developing aerial interception systems, particularly involving drones. Quote: "We understand how many [Russian aerial assets] Mirages or F-16s can shoot down in a single sortie and how many we can use simultaneously in the air. We're also advancing in drone-on-drone interceptors. We're already using them." Details: Zelenskyy said these interceptor drones have become a response to Shahed drone attacks, which Russians launch at altitudes inaccessible to Ukraine's mobile fire units. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
