Latest news with #Moscow-appointed
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Ukrainian drone attack kills at least 7 people hours after Kyiv and Washington's mineral agreement
More deaths were reported in Ukraine on land occupied by Russia where seven people were killed in a drone attack, hours after Kyiv signed the minerals deal with the US Seven people were killed in a drone attack by Ukraine, hours after Kyiv and the US signed an agreement giving Washington DC access to the nation's precious minerals. Missiles hit the partially occupied region of Kherson which also wounded more than 20 people, according to local reports. The deaths came as the ink had yet to dry on the minerals agreement finally signed which will give the US access to new investment projects to develop Ukraine's natural resources - including aluminium, graphite, oil and natural gas. The deal is considered a crucial step in gaining Trump's backing in ceasefire talks with Russia, and potentially end the brutal war. Moscow-appointed Governer Vladimir Saldo said: 'At the time of the attack, there were many people in the market.' The governor claimed after the first wave of strikes, Ukraine sent further drones to 'finish off' any survivors. Meanwhile, a Russian drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa early Thursday killed two people and injured 15. Following the attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had ignored US proposals for a full and unconditional ceasefire for more than 50 days. He said: 'There were also our proposals, at the very least, to refrain from striking civilian infrastructure and to establish lasting silence in the sky, at sea, and on land. Russia has responded to all this with new shelling and new assaults.' The US Treasury announced the deal with Ukraine on Wednesday evening, agreeing to establish an America-Ukraine reconstruction investment fund. For Ukraine, the deal is seen as a key move to gain access to future US military aid in its war against Russia. The US Treasury said "in recognition of the significant financial and material support" the US has provided to the "defence of Ukraine [...] this economic partnership positions our two countries to work collaboratively and invest together to [...] accelerate Ukraine's economic recovery". US treasury secretary Scott Bessent added: "This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centred on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term." Despite that, Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed any peace deal is still 'far apart'. He added on Fox News Channel's 'Hannity: 'They're still far apart. They're closer, but they're still far apart, 'It's going to take a real breakthrough here very soon to make this possible, or I think the president is going to have to make a decision about how much more time we're going to dedicate to this.'
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,163
Here is where things stand on Friday, May 2: Russia accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilians during a recent drone attack that killed at least seven people and wounded more than 20 on Thursday morning in partially occupied Kherson. The drone strike hit a market in the town of Oleshky in Russian-controlled Kherson at approximately 9:30am local time, when many people were outdoors due to the May 1 public holiday, the region's Moscow-appointed governor said. Ukraine's military said the attack targeted Russian troops, and only military personnel were killed, although the claims by either side have not been independently verified. A Russian strike on Ukraine's Odesa killed two people, and a Russian drone attack in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia set a building on fire on Thursday night, injuring 14 people, with no fatalities. Ukraine's SBU Security Service said it has thwarted the attempted murder of Sergiy Sternenko, a prominent activist and video blogger, and also detained a suspect. Sternenko has been heavily involved in anti-Russian activism since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described his country's landmark mineral deal with the US as a 'truly equal agreement that creates an opportunity for quite significant investment in Ukraine'. The European Union is preparing new sanctions on Russia, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. This would be the 17th round of sanctions from the 27-member bloc. United States Senator Lindsey Graham has become one of the loudest Ukraine supporters in Washington, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive report. Graham, a close Trump ally, is pushing for new sanctions on Russia and steep tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy and Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that the war in Ukraine is 'not going anywhere' and it's 'not going to end any time soon' during an interview. It's 'going to be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other's terms for peace are', Vance said. The Trump administration has put forward a Russian-speaking career diplomat, Julie Davis, as their choice for the top US envoy to Ukraine. Davis, whose career experience includes the former Soviet Union, will take up the post as charge d'affaires in Kyiv. She will need to be approved by the Senate to become the ambassador. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says he will follow through with his promise to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week, even if it angers his EU neighbours. Russia is holding celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The Mainichi
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
At least 9 dead in drone strikes after US and Ukraine sign minerals deal
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- A Ukrainian drone attack left at least seven people dead and a Russian strike on Odesa killed two people Thursday, officials said, just hours after Kyiv and Washington signed a long-anticipated agreement granting U.S. access to Ukraine's mineral resources. The attack in the partially occupied Kherson region of southern Ukraine, which struck a market in the town of Oleshky, killed seven and wounded more than 20 people, Moscow-appointed Gov. Vladimir Saldo said. "At the time of the attack, there were many people in the market," Saldo wrote on Telegram. After the first wave of strikes, he said, Ukraine sent further drones to "finish off" any survivors. Meanwhile, a Russian drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa early Thursday killed two people and injured 15 others, Ukrainian emergency services said. Regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said the barrage struck apartment buildings, private homes, a supermarket and a school. Videos shared by Kiper on Telegram showed a high-rise building with a severely damaged facade, a shattered storefront and firefighters battling flames. A drone struck and ignited a fire at a petrol station in the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Following the attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had ignored a U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire for more than 50 days now. "There were also our proposals -- at the very least, to refrain from striking civilian infrastructure and to establish lasting silence in the sky, at sea, and on land," he said. "Russia has responded to all this with new shelling and new assaults." Agreement on mineral wealth The U.S. and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraine's vast mineral resources, finalizing a deal months in the making that could enable continued military aid to Kyiv amid concerns that President Donald Trump might scale back support in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. Zelenskyy originally proposed such a deal last year as a way of helping secure Ukraine's future by tying it to U.S. interests. Ukrainian officials said previous versions of the accord would have reduced Kyiv to a junior partner and gave Washington unprecedented rights to the country's resources but that the version signed Wednesday was far more beneficial to Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Thursday that the signing of the minerals deal was the "first result" of the meeting he had with Trump at the Vatican during the pope's funeral and called the agreement "truly historic." During his nightly address, he said that, per the signed agreement, there were no debts to be paid from past U.S. aid to Kyiv. He said the agreement will be sent to the parliament to be ratified and that Ukraine was "interested in ensuring that there are no delays with the agreement." According to Zelenskyy, the agreement is "truly equal" and "creates an opportunity for investments in Ukraine." "This is working together with America and on fair terms, when both the Ukrainian state and the United States, which help us in defense, can earn in partnership," he added. Despite that, America's top diplomat highlighted the uncertainty of a larger peace deal that the U.S. is trying to broker between Ukraine and Russia. "They're still far apart. They're closer, but they're still far apart," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News Channel's "Hannity" on Thursday night. "And it's going to take a real breakthrough here very soon to make this possible, or I think the president is going to have to make a decision about how much more time we're going to dedicate to this." Views in Ukraine Tymofiy Mylovanov, former economy minister and current president of the Kyiv School of Economics, said that despite what he described as "unimaginable pressure" during negotiations on the minerals deal, Ukraine succeeded in defending its interests. "This is a huge political and diplomatic win for Ukraine," Mylovanov wrote on Facebook. "The deal looks fair." Mylovanov said the deal does not restrict Kyiv to selling only to American buyers. Instead, he said, the deal recognizes contributions from both sides: Ukraine's in the form of revenues from new projects, and the U.S. potentially through military assistance. Kyiv residents voiced mixed reactions to the newly signed U.S.-Ukraine economic agreement, with many saying they had not yet had time to fully understand the deal's implications. Among those who spoke to The Associated Press about the deal was Diana Abramova, who attended a rally in Independence Square demanding information on missing Ukrainian soldiers. Her father, Valentyn Stroyvans, went missing in combat last year. "Any news is hard to take -- whether it's about negotiations or anything else," Abramova said. "But I still believe and hope that any action will bring us closer to one thing: Ukraine's victory. Only victory." University lecturer Natalia Vysotska, 74, said she wasn't familiar with the details of the agreement but remained cautiously optimistic. "I don't know what the terms are -- they may not be favorable for Ukraine at all. Still, if it was signed, our experts must have weighed the pros and cons. I hope it will be beneficial." Others shared a more skeptical view. Iryna Vasylevska, a 37-year-old Kyiv resident, expressed frustration and disillusionment with the broader implications of the deal. She told the AP she feels terrible that "our land is just a bargaining chip for the rest of the world and that we do not have our own full protection, but rely on someone." "My vision is that instead of strengthening ourselves, we continue to give it all away. I feel sorry for our land and for our people," she said. Russian reaction to the minerals deal Reaction to the signing was generally muted in Moscow on Wednesday, a holiday in Russia. But the deputy chair of Russia's National Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said that Trump had forced Ukraine to effectively "pay" for American military aid with its mineral resources. "Now military supplies will have to be paid for with the national wealth of a disappearing country," he claimed in a post on Telegram. Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the Russian Civic Chamber's commission on sovereignty, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that Zelenskyy had effectively handed Ukraine over to "legally prescribed slavery."
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At least 9 dead in drone strikes after US and Ukraine sign minerals deal
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Ukrainian drone attack left at least seven people dead and a Russian strike on Odesa killed two people Thursday, officials said, just hours after Kyiv and Washington signed a long-anticipated agreement granting U.S. access to Ukraine's mineral resources. The attack in the partially occupied Kherson region of southern Ukraine, which struck a market in the town of Oleshky, killed seven and wounded more than 20 people, Moscow-appointed Gov. Vladimir Saldo said. "At the time of the attack, there were many people in the market,' Saldo wrote on Telegram. After the first wave of strikes, he said, Ukraine sent further drones to 'finish off' any survivors. Meanwhile, a Russian drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa early Thursday killed two people and injured 15 others, Ukrainian emergency services said. Regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said the barrage struck apartment buildings, private homes, a supermarket and a school. Videos shared by Kiper on Telegram showed a high-rise building with a severely damaged facade, a shattered storefront and firefighters battling flames. A drone struck and ignited a fire at a petrol station in the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Following the attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had ignored a U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire for more than 50 days now. 'There were also our proposals — at the very least, to refrain from striking civilian infrastructure and to establish lasting silence in the sky, at sea, and on land,' he said. "Russia has responded to all this with new shelling and new assaults.' Agreement on mineral wealth The U.S. and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraine's vast mineral resources, finalizing a deal months in the making that could enable continued military aid to Kyiv amid concerns that President Donald Trump might scale back support in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. Zelenskyy originally proposed such a deal last year as a way of helping secure Ukraine's future by tying it to U.S. interests. Ukrainian officials said previous versions of the accord would have reduced Kyiv to a junior partner and gave Washington unprecedented rights to the country's resources but that the version signed Wednesday was far more beneficial to Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Thursday that the signing of the minerals deal was the 'first result' of the meeting he had with Trump at the Vatican during the pope's funeral and called the agreement 'truly historic.' During his nightly address, he said that, per the signed agreement, there were no debts to be paid from past U.S. aid to Kyiv. He said the agreement will be sent to the parliament to be ratified and that Ukraine was "interested in ensuring that there are no delays with the agreement.' According to Zelenskyy, the agreement is 'truly equal' and 'creates an opportunity for investments in Ukraine.' 'This is working together with America and on fair terms, when both the Ukrainian state and the United States, which help us in defense, can earn in partnership,' he added. Despite that, America's top diplomat highlighted the uncertainty of a larger peace deal that the U.S. is trying to broker between Ukraine and Russia. 'They're still far apart. They're closer, but they're still far apart," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News Channel's 'Hannity' on Thursday night. 'And it's going to take a real breakthrough here very soon to make this possible, or I think the president is going to have to make a decision about how much more time we're going to dedicate to this.' Views in Ukraine Tymofiy Mylovanov, former economy minister and current president of the Kyiv School of Economics, said that despite what he described as 'unimaginable pressure' during negotiations on the minerals deal, Ukraine succeeded in defending its interests. 'This is a huge political and diplomatic win for Ukraine,' Mylovanov wrote on Facebook. 'The deal looks fair.' Mylovanov said the deal does not restrict Kyiv to selling only to American buyers. Instead, he said, the deal recognizes contributions from both sides: Ukraine's in the form of revenues from new projects, and the U.S. potentially through military assistance. Kyiv residents voiced mixed reactions to the newly signed U.S.-Ukraine economic agreement, with many saying they had not yet had time to fully understand the deal's implications. Among those who spoke to The Associated Press about the deal was Diana Abramova, who attended a rally in Independence Square demanding information on missing Ukrainian soldiers. Her father, Valentyn Stroyvans, went missing in combat last year. 'Any news is hard to take — whether it's about negotiations or anything else,' Abramova said. 'But I still believe and hope that any action will bring us closer to one thing: Ukraine's victory. Only victory.' University lecturer Natalia Vysotska, 74, said she wasn't familiar with the details of the agreement but remained cautiously optimistic. "I don't know what the terms are — they may not be favorable for Ukraine at all. Still, if it was signed, our experts must have weighed the pros and cons. I hope it will be beneficial.' Others shared a more skeptical view. Iryna Vasylevska, a 37-year-old Kyiv resident, expressed frustration and disillusionment with the broader implications of the deal. She told the AP she feels terrible that 'our land is just a bargaining chip for the rest of the world and that we do not have our own full protection, but rely on someone.' 'My vision is that instead of strengthening ourselves, we continue to give it all away. I feel sorry for our land and for our people,' she said. Russian reaction to the minerals deal Reaction to the signing was generally muted in Moscow on Wednesday, a holiday in Russia. But the deputy chair of Russia's National Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said that Trump had forced Ukraine to effectively 'pay' for American military aid with its mineral resources. 'Now military supplies will have to be paid for with the national wealth of a disappearing country," he claimed in a post on Telegram. Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the Russian Civic Chamber's commission on sovereignty, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that Zelenskyy had effectively handed Ukraine over to 'legally prescribed slavery.' ___ A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Russia's Defense Ministry reported shooting down eight Ukrainian drones overnight on Sunday. The statement was made on Thursday. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at ___ Morton reported from London. Hanna Arhirova And Elise Morton, The Associated Press
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
At least nine dead in drone strikes after U.S. and Ukraine sign minerals deal
A Ukrainian drone attack left at least seven persons dead and a Russian strike on Odesa killed two persons on Thursday (May 1, 2025), officials said, just hours after Kyiv and Washington signed a long-anticipated agreement granting U.S. access to Ukraine's mineral resources — a move that could enable continued military aid to Ukraine. The attack in the partially occupied Kherson region of southern Ukraine, which struck a market in the town of Oleshky, killed seven and wounded more than 20 people, Moscow-appointed Gov. Vladimir Saldo said. "At the time of the attack, there were many people in the market,' Mr. Saldo wrote on Telegram. After the first wave of strikes, he said, Ukraine sent further drones to 'finish off' any survivors. Meanwhile, a Russian drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa early Thursday killed two persons and injured 15 others, Ukrainian emergency services said. Regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said the barrage struck apartment buildings, private homes, a supermarket and a school. Videos shared by Kiper on Telegram showed a high-rise building with a severely damaged facade, a shattered storefront and firefighters battling flames. A drone struck and ignited a fire at a petrol station in the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia sent 170 exploding drones and decoys into five Ukrainian regions in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Thursday. It said 74 of them were intercepted and another 68 were lost. Russia also launched five ballistic missiles. Following the attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had ignored a U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire for more than 50 days. 'There were also our proposals — at the very least, to refrain from striking civilian infrastructure and to establish lasting silence in the sky, at sea, and on land,' he said. "Russia has responded to all this with new shelling and new assaults.' Russia's Defense Ministry said Thursday that air defenses shot down eight Ukrainian drones overnight. The U.S. and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraine's vast mineral resources, finalizing a deal months in the making that could enable continued military aid to Kyiv amid concerns that President Donald Trump might scale back support in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire next week in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II as the U.S. presses for a deal to end the 3-year-old war. The Kremlin said the truce to mark Russia's defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 — the country's biggest secular holiday — will run from the start of May 8 and last through the end of May 10. Ukraine, which has previously agreed to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, dismissed Putin's move. In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for an immediate ceasefire lasting 'at least 30 days.'
