Latest news with #JohnKelley
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
US urges Russia's Putin to accept Ukraine ceasefire deal at UN
The United States called on Russia at the United Nations Security Council on Thursday to accept a comprehensive ceasefire proposal in Ukraine, calling it 'Russia's best possible outcome' and urging President Vladimir Putin to seize the opportunity for US proposal includes a 30-day halt to all hostilities—land, air, sea, and attacks on critical infrastructure, and has already been accepted by Ukraine, pending Russia's agreement. Speaking at the Security Council, Acting Deputy US Ambassador John Kelley emphasized that Washington is committed to a diplomatic resolution, not a military want to work with Russia, including on this peace initiative and an economic package. There is no military solution to this conflict," Kelley stated, while warning that continued Russian aggression could force the US to pull back from peace negotiations and impose harsher sanctions. US President Donald Trump has made ending the Ukraine war a key foreign policy goal. The conflict, which began in February 2022 with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has persisted despite international pressure and failed peace recent peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on May 16 ended without agreement. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow has drafted a memorandum outlining its terms for a ceasefire but has yet to share it with Ukraine. A second round of talks is proposed for Monday in UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia reiterated Moscow's commitment to direct negotiations, warning that Kyiv must choose between diplomacy or defeat."The ball is in Ukraine's court: either talks, followed by peace or the unavoidable defeat of Ukraine on the battlefield with different conditions for the conflict's end," Nebenzia told the Security Ukraine's Deputy UN Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn accused Russia of lacking genuine interest in peace and reaffirmed Ukraine's stance: no recognition of Russian-occupied territories, no compromises on sovereignty, and no tolerance for aggression."We will not tolerate interference in sovereign decisions, including our defense or alliances. There must be no appeasement of the aggressor. Such attempts only embolden future aggression,' Hayovyshyn stated, urging the international community to tighten sanctions against Watch
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
At UN Security Council, US urges Russia to take Ukraine ceasefire deal
UNITED NATIONS: The United States told the UN Security Council on Thursday that its proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine was 'Russia's best possible outcome' and President Vladimir Putin should take the deal. The United States wants Russia to agree to a comprehensive 30-day land, air, sea and critical infrastructure ceasefire. A first round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine on May 16 failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire — which Moscow has said is impossible to achieve before certain conditions are met. 'We want to work with Russia, including on this peace initiative and an economic package. There is no military solution to this conflict,' Acting Deputy US Ambassador John Kelley told the Security Council. 'The deal on offer now is Russia's best possible outcome. President Putin should take the deal.' US President Donald Trump began his second term in January vowing to swiftly end Russia's three-year-old war in Ukraine. Kelley said the first US step was to put forward a proposal for an immediate, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire, which had been accepted by Ukraine, pending Russia's agreement. 'Since then, we have been urging Russia to accept a ceasefire,' he said. 'If Russia makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war, the United States will have to consider stepping back from our negotiation efforts to end this conflict,' he warned, adding that Washington could also impose further sanctions on Russia. Kelley said that after Trump and Putin spoke by phone last week, Russia was now expected to provide a term sheet broadly outlining its vision for a ceasefire in the conflict, which began when Moscow invaded its neighbor in February 2022. 'We will judge Russia's seriousness toward ending the war, not only by the contents of that term sheet, but more importantly, by Russia's actions,' said Kelley, condemning Russia's recent attacks on Ukraine as not demonstrating 'a desire for peace.' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow had drafted a memorandum outlining a settlement position in the Ukraine war. But Ukraine said Moscow has not yet shared its proposal. Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow intended to continue serious, direct negotiations with Ukraine. Russia has suggested a second round of direct talks take place on Monday in Istanbul. 'The ball is in Ukraine's court: either talks, followed by peace, or the unavoidable defeat of Ukraine on the battlefield with different conditions for the conflict's end,' Nebenzia told the Security Council. Ukraine's Deputy UN Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn said Russia was 'not signaling any genuine intention to stop its war' and urged countries to impose stronger sanctions on Moscow. 'Ukraine has consistently demonstrated commitment to diplomacy and remains open to any format that can yield tangible results,' she said, but added that Kyiv would never recognize Russia's claim to any occupied Ukrainian territory. 'We will not tolerate interference in sovereign decisions, including our defense or alliances. There must be no appeasement of the aggressor. Such attempts only embolden future aggression,' Hayovyshyn told the council.
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
US urges Putin to take deal on offer to end war in Ukraine
The US on Thursday said the deal on offer to end the Russia-Ukraine war is the best possible outcome for Moscow, and urged President Vladimir Putin to "take" it. "The alternative, continuing to wage the war, would not be in anyone's interest, including Russia's. Doing so would continue to damage Russia's economy, military resources, national security and international reputation. Additional sanctions on Russia are still on the table," John Kelley, acting US alternate representative to the UN, told the Security Council. Washington had initially proposed an immediate, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine. Kyiv swiftly accepted the proposal, which was contingent on Moscow agreeing to the same terms. Since the offer was put forward, Mr Kelley said, Washington has been pressing the Kremlin to accept the ceasefire. He said President Donald Trump has consistently called the conflict a "strategic mistake" that should never have happened. "Time is not on the side of anyone who would prolong it," Mr Kelley said. "We will call on both Russia and Ukraine to make the difficult, historic decision to pursue peace. The responsibility of ending this war ultimately lies with them. "If one side proves unable or unwilling to do so, it will own the consequences." Mr Trump, who has been advocating for a peace agreement, has grown increasingly exasperated with Moscow's delays. On Wednesday, he warned that he would assess within "about two weeks" whether Mr Putin was genuinely committed to ending the conflict. Rosemary DiCarlo, UN undersecretary general for political affairs, told council members that the "cautious hope" she expressed a month ago has diminished in the face of recent attacks. "According to Ukrainian officials, with 355 drones, Monday's attack was the largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion," Ms DiCarlo said. "The hope that the parties will be able to sit down and negotiate is still alive, but just barely." Moscow has proposed holding a second round of direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2, where it plans to present a " memorandum" detailing its conditions for a lasting peace agreement. On Thursday, the Kremlin said it was still waiting for Kyiv's response to the offer.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
At UN, US says Russia's Putin should take Ukraine ceasefire deal
UNITED NATIONS, May 29 (Reuters) - The United States told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that its proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine was "Russia's best possible outcome" and President Vladimir Putin should take the deal. The United States wants Russia to agree to a comprehensive 30-day land, air, sea and critical infrastructure ceasefire. A first round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine on May 16 failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire - which Moscow has said is impossible to achieve before certain conditions are met. "We want to work with Russia, including on this peace initiative and an economic package. There is no military solution to this conflict," Acting Deputy U.S. Ambassador John Kelley told the Security Council. "The deal on offer now is Russia's best possible outcome. President Putin should take the deal." U.S. President Donald Trump began his second term in January vowing to swiftly end Russia's three-year-old war in Ukraine. Kelley said the first U.S. step was to put forward a proposal for an immediate, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire, which had been accepted by Ukraine, pending Russia's agreement. "Since then, we have been urging Russia to accept a ceasefire," he said. "If Russia makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war, the United States will have to consider stepping back from our negotiation efforts to end this conflict," he warned, adding that Washington could also impose further sanctions on Russia. Kelley said that after Trump and Putin spoke by phone last week, Russia was now expected to provide a term sheet broadly outlining its vision for a ceasefire in the conflict, which began when Moscow invaded its neighbor in February 2022. "We will judge Russia's seriousness towards ending the war, not only by the contents of that term sheet, but more importantly, by Russia's actions," said Kelley, condemning Russia's recent attacks on Ukraine as not demonstrating "a desire for peace." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow had drafted a memorandum outlining a settlement position in the Ukraine war. But Ukraine said Moscow has not yet shared its proposal. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow intended to continue serious, direct negotiations with Ukraine. Russia has suggested a second round of direct talks take place on Monday in Istanbul. "The ball is in Ukraine's court: either talks, followed by peace, or the unavoidable defeat of Ukraine on the battlefield with different conditions for the conflict's end," Nebenzia told the Security Council. Ukraine's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn said Russia was "not signaling any genuine intention to stop its war" and urged countries to impose stronger sanctions on Moscow. "Ukraine has consistently demonstrated commitment to diplomacy and remains open to any format that can yield tangible results," she said, but added that Kyiv would never recognize Russia's claim to any occupied Ukrainian territory. "We will not tolerate interference in sovereign decisions, including our defense or alliances. There must be no appeasement of the aggressor. Such attempts only embolden future aggression," Hayovyshyn told the council.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Israeli ambassador slams UN's 'mafia-like' tactics against US-backed Gaza foundation
Print Close By Rachel Wolf Published May 28, 2025 UNITED NATIONS — Israeli United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon condemned what he called a "shakedown" by the U.N. to prevent Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) from working with the new U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). While addressing the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Danon claimed that the world body was using "threats, intimidation and retaliation" against NGOs that dared to defy the international body's call to boycott GHF. The Israeli diplomat described the U.N.'s response to NGOs cooperating with GHF as "mafia-like." "Without any discussion, without due process, the U.N. removed those NGOs from the shared aid database. That database is the central system for tracking aid deliveries into Gaza," Danon told the Security Council. "This is the gravest violation of the U.N.'s own principles. It is extortion of well-meaning NGOs that refuse to kiss the ring." In the same Security Council meeting, Acting U.S. Alternate Representative John Kelley urged the U.N. to work with GHF and Israel "to reach agreements on how to operationalize this system in a way that works for all." Kelley also emphasized the need to ensure that Hamas cannot benefit from any humanitarian aid distribution system that is established. NEW US-BACKED AID GROUP BEGINS DISTRIBUTING FOOD IN WAR-TORN GAZA On Wednesday, GHF said in a statement that it had opened another secure aid distribution site "without incident." The organization also addressed some claims about its operations. GHF said that, contrary to reports, no Palestinians have been questioned or detained while receiving aid. Additionally, GHF said that no Palestinians had been shot or killed while trying to get aid. GHF disputes reports that its sites were overrun on Tuesday: "GHF anticipated that the [safe distribution sites] may experience pressure due to acute hunger and Hamas-imposed blockades, which create dangerous conditions outside the gates. "According to established protocol, for a brief moment the GHF team intentionally relaxed its security protocols to safeguard against crowd reactions to finally receiving food. No beneficiaries were injured, no lives were lost and all food available was distributed without interference. Order was restored without incident. As in all emergency response situations, particularly in conflict zones, this type of reaction from stressed beneficiary populations is expected and we remain prepared to continue providing lifesaving assistance should disruptions occur. "Unfortunately, there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail. Conditions remain very difficult and the lives of both Gazans and aid workers are at stake," GHF said in a statement. ISRAELI AMBASSADOR LASHES OUT AT UN OFFICIAL, CONDEMNS UK, FRANCE, CANADA STATEMENT ON AID The international community has not relented in its push against GHF. U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher — who once called the plan behind GHF a "fig leaf for further violence and displacement" of Palestinians in Gaza — has made his objections to the program clear. Fletcher made an appeal in a post on X to let the U.N. take control of aid distribution in Gaza. "We have the supplies, plan, will, and networks to deliver massive amounts of lifesaving aid to civilians in Gaza, in line with humanitarian principles, as the world is demanding," Fletcher wrote. ISRAEL TURNS TABLES ON UN OFFICIAL CLAIMING 'GENOCIDE' IN GAZA WITH BASIC QUESTIONS Earlier this month, Fletcher urged the international community not to "waste time" with a new plan when the U.N. already had one in place. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP On Wednesday, as Israel marked 600 days since the Oct. 7 massacre, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) noted that "121 trucks belonging to the U.N. and the international community" were allowed into the Gaza Strip. The IDF said that the trucks were carrying food and other aid. Print Close URL
