Latest news with #MaidanRevolution
Saudi Gazette
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Controversial ex-Ukrainian official shot dead in Madrid
KYIV — The fatal shooting of Andriy Portnov, a former top Ukrainian official, in a Madrid suburb has triggered a wave of speculation and little public sympathy in his home country, where he is widely viewed as a symbol of systemic corruption and Russian influence. Portnov, 51, was gunned down in a parking lot after dropping off his children at the American School of Madrid. Spanish police found him lying face down in gym clothes. While shocking, the killing has not sparked mourning in Ukraine, where media outlets and commentators have focused on his controversial legacy rather than the circumstances of his death. Often referred to as the architect of a judicial system that critics say protected corruption and undermined reform, Portnov held powerful roles during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted during Ukraine's 2014 Maidan Revolution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's administration has made no comment on the killing, while some security sources are reportedly distancing Kyiv from involvement. Although Ukraine has carried out targeted killings in Russian-occupied territories and inside Russia, a politically motivated assassination in Spain would mark a significant media have also speculated that the motive may have been personal or financial, rather than critics describe him as a manipulative power broker with deep ties to pro-Kremlin serving as legal adviser to former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, he switched sides in 2010 to join Yanukovych's administration, rising to become deputy head of the presidential was instrumental in shaping Ukraine's legal framework during a time when Western governments, including the U.S., accused his office of manipulating court decisions and planting loyal rights monitors and journalists accuse him of using the courts to silence dissent. 'When people exposed his corruption, he accused them of fake news,' said Oksana Romaniuk, director of the Institute of Mass reporters say he used threats and defamation lawsuits to target media outlets and individual the fall of Yanukovych, Portnov moved to Moscow and was later found to have ties to Kremlin-backed media and intelligence-linked operations. In 2019, he briefly returned to Ukraine before fleeing again in being sanctioned by the U.S. for judicial interference and alleged corrupt activities, Portnov lived openly in Europe in recent years, even enrolling his children in one of Spain's most prestigious private presence in Spain and his death have raised questions about how he continued to move freely despite his theories swirl over whether Russian intelligence, criminal networks, or private enemies were behind the killing, legal expert Mykhailo Zhernakov says Portnov's death should not be mistaken for justice.'Just because he's gone doesn't mean his influence has,' he said, warning that many of the officials Portnov once empowered remain entrenched in Ukraine's legal system.
Euronews
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Notable Ukrainian activist injured in apparent assassination attempt, suspect detained
ADVERTISEMENT Ukrainian activist and volunteer Serhii Sternenko has been injured in an attack, called an attempted assassination by Ukraine's Security Service. In a post on Telegram, Sternenko said, "I was attacked. I was wounded." He added that his life is not in danger and that the suspected attacker had been detained. "I am grateful to the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) for their quick response. If not for them, I wouldn't be able to write anything anymore. They quite literally saved my life," he said. According to the SBU, the attack on Sternenko involved a firearm. "Operational and investigative actions are ongoing. We will inform you about the progress of the situation separately," the SBU said in a statement, sharing a photo of the suspect who was arrested. Suspected attacker detained by Ukraine's Security Service Ukraine's Security Service Telegram A vocal critic of Russia and its full-scale invasion, Sternenko is one of the most famous Ukrainian activists and volunteers, known for his crowdfunding campaigns to help the military. Since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine, he has raised funds to help supply over 550 military units. Having played a key role in popularising first-person view (FPV) drones. in January, he launched the Sternenko Community Foundation. According to its reports, the foundation raised funds to supply equipment to the frontline, including the purchase of over 176,000 FPV drones as of 1 May. Sternenko rose to popularity via his social media channels like YouTube, where he has over 2 million subscribers, and Telegram, where he is followed by 840,000 people. An active participant in Ukraine's 2014 Revolution of Dignity, also known as the Maidan Revolution, he was attacked several times. In 2018, Sternenko inflicted a fatal injury on an assailant in self-defence, according to his lawyer. In December 2023, an Odesa court closed a case against Sternenko for the death of the man who attacked him.
Euronews
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Ukrainian activist injured in an attempted assassination, suspect detained
ADVERTISEMENT Ukrainian activist and volunteer Serhii Sternenko has been injured in an attack, called an attempted assassination by Ukraine's Security Service. In a post on Telegram, Sternenko said "I was attacked. I was wounded." adding that his life is not in danger and that the suspected attacker had been detained. "I am grateful to the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) for their quick response. If not for them, I wouldn't be able to write anything anymore. They quite literally saved my life," he said. According to the SBU, the attack on Sternenko involved a firearm. "Operational and investigative actions are ongoing. We will inform you about the progress of the situation separately," the SBU said in a statement, sharing a photo of the suspect who was arrested. Suspected attacker detained by Ukraine's Security Service Ukraine's Security Service Telegram A vocal critic of Russia and its full-scale invasion, Sternenko is one of the most famous Ukrainian activists and volunteers, known for his crowdfunding campaigns to help the military. Since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine, he has raised funds to help supply over 550 military units. Having played a key role in popularising first person view (FPV) drones, in January he launched the Sternenko Community Foundation. According to its reports, the foundation raised funds to supply equipment to the frontline, including the purchase of over 176,000 FPV drones as of 1 May. Sternenko rose to popularity via his social media channels like YouTube where he has over two million subscribers and Telegram where he is followed by 840,000 people. An active participant in Ukraine's 2014 Revolution of Dignity, also known as the Maidan Revolution, he was attacked several times. In 2018, Sternenko inflicted a fatal injury to an attacker in self defence, according to his lawyer. In December 2023, an Odesa court closed a case against Sternenko for the death of the man who attacked him.
CBC
04-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Russia welcomes a U.S. decision to pause Ukraine military aid
Social Sharing The Kremlin said on Tuesday that pausing U.S. military aid to Ukraine would be the best contribution to the cause of peace, but cautioned that Russia needed to clarify the details of the move by U.S. President Donald Trump. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was cautious on reports of a pause in U.S. aid and said the details needed to be seen. "It is obvious that the United States has been the main supplier of this war so far," said Peskov. "If the United States stops … or suspends these supplies, it will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace." Peskov said that Russia welcomed Trump's statements about his wish for peace in the region. "We hear his statement about his desire to bring peace to Ukraine, and this is welcome. We see certain things and receive certain information about the proposed actions in this direction. This is also welcome. But we will continue to see how the situation develops in reality," Peskov said. Ukraine lawmaker fears 'capitulation' Russian President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraine's Maidan Revolution and Russia annexed Crimea, with Russian-backed separatist forces fighting Ukraine's armed forces. Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, about 113,000 square kilometres, while Ukraine controls about 450 square kilometres of Russia, according to open source maps of the war and Russian estimates. WATCH | Zelenskyy's history lesson drowned out by Oval Office fireworks: What Zelenskyy wanted from Trump before the shouting started 9 hours ago Duration 5:23 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's key message to the U.S. was all but drowned out when an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump devolved into a public shouting match. CBC's Ellen Mauro cuts through the chaos of that day to reveal what Ukraine was really after and how a history of diplomatic disappointment has left the country desperate for U.S. security guarantees. Trump has paused military aid to Ukraine following a clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, according to the White House late Monday. Zelenskyy and a delegation were in Washington to sign the framework of a deal to create an investment fund with the U.S. as part of an effort to extract minerals in Ukraine. Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Tuesday that Ukraine's military has the means to maintain the situation on the front line with Russian forces. "We will continue to work with the U.S. through all available channels in a calm manner," Shmyhal told a news conference. Oleksandr Merezhko, head of Ukraine parliament's foreign affairs committee, expressed his concerns. "On the surface, this looks really bad," said Merezhko. "It looks like he is pushing us toward capitulation, meaning [accepting] Russia's demands. To stop aid now means to help Putin." EU plots joint defence spending European leaders will be under pressure to increase defence spending as a result of the U.S. decision. The European Commission proposed on Tuesday new joint European Union borrowing to lend to EU governments for defence as part of an overall financing effort to boost Europe's defence capabilities. "Europe is ready to assume its responsibilities. Europe could mobilize close to 800 billion euros [$227.5 billion Cdn] for a safe and resilient Europe. We will continue working closely with our partners in NATO. This is a moment for Europe. And we are ready to step up," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The joint borrowing would go toward building pan-European capability domains like air and missile defence, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition, drones and anti-drone systems, or to address other needs from cyber to military mobility, the Commission said. Von der Leyen did not give a detailed timeframe, but said spending needed to be increased "urgently now but also over a longer period of time over this decade." EU leaders will discuss the proposal at a special summit devoted to defence spending on Thursday. Britain said on Tuesday it was committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and it was engaging with its allies after Trump paused military aid to Kyiv. "We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort. It is the right thing to do, and is in our interest to do so," a British government spokesperson said in a statement. Democrat slams decision Trump has been critical of Ukraine well before Zelenskyy became president, claiming that officials there interfered in the 2016 U.S. election. The claims were dismissed as a conspiracy theory, and both a special counsel report and a Republican-led congressional report established that Russia interfered in that election. In his first term as American president, Trump suggested to Zelenskyy in a phone call that the Ukrainian leader should co-operate in efforts to discredit political rival Joe Biden. U.S. aid to Ukraine was delayed, Democrats impeached Trump for what they said was a quid pro quo, and Trump was eventually acquitted in the Senate on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. WATCH | Former minister speaks with CBC's Rosie Barton on the U.S.-Ukraine rupture: What does the Trump-Zelenskyy clash mean for Ukraine's relationship with the U.S.? 2 days ago Duration 8:38 Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with Ukraine's former Minister of Economic Development, Tymofiy Mylovanov, about the Trump-Zelenskyy clash in the Oval Office and what it means for the relationship between the two countries moving forward. As well, before becoming president a second time, Trump in 2023 encouraged Republicans in Congress to withhold military aid to Ukraine. Questions over Trump's connections to Putin followed him into his first presidency and hung over him for most of his term. In July 2018, while standing alongside Putin in Helsinki, Trump appeared to embrace the Russian leader's claims over U.S. intelligence officials with respect to election interference two years earlier. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, top Democrat on the Senate's foreign relations committee, criticized the White House decision. "By freezing military aid to Ukraine, President Trump has kicked the door wide open for Putin to escalate his violent aggression against innocent Ukrainians," said Shaheen.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kremlin says someone needs to force Zelenskiy to make peace after clash with Trump
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that someone needed to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to make peace after a clash with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office that showed just how hard it would be to find a way to end the war. "What happened at the White House on Friday, of course, demonstrated how difficult it will be to reach a settlement trajectory around Ukraine," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "The Kyiv regime and Zelenskiy do not want peace. They want the war to continue." "It is very important that someone forces Zelenskiy himself to change his position," Peskov said. "Someone has to make Zelenskiy want peace. If the Europeans can do it, they should be honoured and praised." See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022, triggering the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the depths of the Cold War. The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraine's Maidan Revolution and Russia annexed Crimea, with Russian-backed separatist forces fighting Ukraine's armed forces. President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said, was familiar with the "unprecedented event" in the Oval Office - which showed, Peskov said, Zelenskiy's lack of diplomatic abilities at the very least. "In addition, we see that the collective West has partially begun to lose its collectivity, and a fragmentation of the collective West has begun," Peskov said.
