Latest news with #Moscow-friendly
Euronews
5 hours ago
- Business
- Euronews
Meloni meets Macron and Fico in Rome with war in Ukraine top of agenda
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has held talks with the leaders of France and Slovakia on Tuesday, with the war in Ukraine and a lasting peace deal for the country topping the agenda during both rounds of discussions. Meloni first received Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, who arrived at the prime minister's residence, the Chigi Palace in the Italian capital on Tuesday afternoon. According to a statement released by the Slovak government, the two leaders discussed the development of bilateral relations and the potential for further cooperation in the energy sector. "I really appreciate the pragmatic approach of your prime minister. I really like your pragmatic way of dealing with issues," Fico told reporters following the meeting. "We focused on the war in Ukraine. The premier was very interested in my position, since Slovakia is a neighbouring country, of course," he said. "We discussed the issue of repowering, that is, what will happen in Europe when all energy supplies from Russia will no longer reach the European Union." "I think there are countries in the EU that want to prolong this war with the idea that this is the way to harm Russia. I don't think this strategy works," Fico stressed. Fico is a divisive figure at home with his critics accusing him of being Moscow-friendly. In January, Fico threatened to cut financial aid for more than 130,000 Ukrainian refugees living in the country as part of a set of retaliatory measures against Kyiv over its decision to halt the flow of Russian gas through its territory to Slovakia. He has also said that Ukraine will never be allowed to join NATO, stopped military aid to Ukraine and criticised EU sanctions on Russia, all views which are largely at odds with the European mainstream. Fico and Meloni "discussed their support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and their commitment to the reconstruction of the country in view of the Ukraine Recovery Conference that Italy will host in July 2025," a joint government statement said. Later on Tuesday, Meloni welcomes France's President Emmanuel Macron to the Chigi Palace for talks which covered Ukraine, Gaza and relations with the European Union and the Trump administration. "Prime Minister Meloni is part of the collective format of the Coalition of the Willing. She was present in the meetings in Paris and London, Italy is an important partner," the Elysée Palace said in a statement released on Monday. That was a reference to a group of European countries spearheaded by Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer primarily to continue support for Ukraine's armed forces. The group is also working on the creation of a reassurance force that could be deployed to Ukraine as an additional security guarantee in a post-war scenario. In addition to Italy, the coalition also includes Germany, Denmark, Greece, Portugal and Romania, among others. Italy's government said that both countries have "common positions" on many issues, and expectations were high for productive talks, but the leaders' opinions don't align on all issues. There have been differences of position regarding military support for Ukraine with Macron adopting a more aggressive stance while Italy has generally remained cooler. Macron has hinted at western boots on the ground in Ukraine while Meloni favours extending NATO's mutual defence agreement under Article 5 to Kyiv, an idea which hasn't found much support among allies. Meloni was noticeably absent from Macron's mid-May trip to Kyiv with Starmer and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz. And a week later she also didn't attend a working meeting of the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing in Tirana on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit. Tuesday's meeting and working dinner were expected to bridge some of those gaps and see discussions on economic cooperation between Italy and France, with Meloni hoping to find common ground with Macron on addressing migration and transatlantic relations..
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine detains Hungarian spy network in westernmost Zakarpattia Oblast, SBU reports
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include the reaction of Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast, detaining two agents accused of espionage against the Ukrainian state, the agency announced on May 9. According to the SBU, this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine. The operation's objectives reportedly included gathering intelligence on military defenses, identifying vulnerabilities in its ground and air defense systems, and assessing local residents' socio-political views, particularly scenarios of public reaction if Hungarian troops entered the region. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been broadly seen as the most Moscow-friendly leader in the EU during Russia's all-out war against Ukraine. He has repeatedly opposed military aid for Ukraine, arguing that Western support prolongs the war. Zakarpattia Oblast is a region with a sizable ethnic Hungarian minority and a sensitive location along NATO's eastern frontier. Kyiv has long accused Budapest of undermining Ukraine's sovereignty through political interference and dual citizenship schemes. SBU counterintelligence detained two alleged agents as a result of a complex operation. Investigators identified their supervisor as a Hungarian military intelligence officer, whose identity has been established by the agency. One of the suspects, a 40-year-old former Ukrainian military officer, was recruited by Hungarian intelligence and placed on standby in 2021. The SBU said he was "activated" in September 2024. After that, he reportedly conducted reconnaissance on the deployment of Ukrainian Armed Forces and the coordinates of S-300 air defense systems in the region. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us The agency documented that after gathering intelligence, the agent crossed into Hungary to deliver reports to his handler. During these meetings, the Hungarian intelligence officer allegedly provided him with cash to fund operations and instructed him to expand an informant network. According to the investigation, the agent attempted to recruit at least two individuals. In March 2025, the SBU recorded a second meeting between the agent and his handler. The agent reportedly received a phone equipped with specialized software for covert communications. His new tasks included identifying official vehicles belonging to Ukraine's army, gathering data on military losses, and reporting front line developments through an identified contact in the Armed Forces. The second detainee is a former member of Ukraine's security forces, who left service in 2025. The SBU said her responsibilities involved reporting on the presence of aircraft and helicopters in Zakarpattia and the air defense systems at her former military unit. The agency said the suspects have been charged with high treason under martial law. They are currently in custody and face life imprisonment with property confiscation. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed that Budapest had not received any official information about the case and called the information "Ukrainian propaganda." "If we receive any details or official information, we will be able to deal with it then, but until then it should be treated as propaganda, which should be treated with caution," he said. Read also: 'The front is noisy' — for Ukraine's soldiers, Russia's Victory Day 'ceasefire' is yet another sham We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who is coming to Putin's Victory Day parade and how safe is Moscow?
Who is coming to Putin's Victory Day parade and how safe is Moscow? Who is coming to Putin's Victory Day parade and how safe is Moscow? Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow on Friday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. 'Our position is very simple for all countries travelling to Russia on 9 May: we cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,' the Ukrainian president said on Saturday. 'They are responsible for your safety. We will not provide any guarantees, because we do not know what Russia might do on those dates.' This statement sparked further diplomatic tensions with Slovakia. whose Moscow-friendly Prime Minister Robert Fico criticised Zelenskyy's warning. ADVERTISEMENT "I reject such threats for security reasons," Fico said on Monday. "I fully respect that the safety of participants is an internal matter of the Russian Federation. But if Mr Zelenskyy believes that his statements will force foreign delegations not to come, then he is deeply mistaken." It is unclear if Fico will be attending the parade. After the Slovak prime minister cancelled a few public appearances, including the official Labour Day events, there have been speculations that he might also not appear in Moscow. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who had also planned to visit Moscow alongside Fico, fell ill during a visit to the United States last week, cutting his trip short and returning to Belgrade, where he was briefly hospitalised. Fico and Vučić were the only European leaders to announce their participation in the Russian Victory Day parade, a decision which drew sharp criticism from the European Union. In Vučić's case, Brussels issued a stark warning, indicating that the visit would violate EU membership criteria and potentially hurt Serbia's accession process to the 27-member bloc. European politicians might be absent, but Moscow's most valuable ally and arguably the most important guest will be attending. ADVERTISEMENT Chinese president Xi Jinping will make an official visit to Russia from 7 to 10 May to participate in celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, the Kremlin said on Sunday. How safe will the parade be? Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire with Ukraine between 7 and 9 May around the Victory Day celebration. The idea was categorically dismissed by Kyiv, with Zelenskyy calling it a "theatrical performance" designed to ease Russia's international isolation and create a favourable atmosphere for the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. Zelenskyy reportedly said the proposal was not a serious attempt to end the war and reiterated Ukraine's support for a US-backed initiative calling for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine's president warned that Moscow's history of violating short-term truces undermines any trust in its latest offer. ADVERTISEMENT "They kill until (May) 7th, pause for a couple of comfortable days, then start attacking again on the 11th," he said. On Monday, days before the parade, as the rehearsals were taking place in the Russian capital, authorities said four drones were intercepted overnight as they approached the city. According to preliminary reports, there were no injuries or damage from the falling debris, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on the Telegram messaging app. This wasn't the first time Ukrainian drones reached Moscow. In mid-March, the city authorities reported the biggest drone attack with over 70 drones shot down according to the Russian air defence and Moscow authorities. According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian drones can now fly way beyond that and reach a range of 3,000 km. Kyiv has been using long-range drones to strike deep into Russian territory, targeting military infrastructure like airfields, oil refineries, depots and logistic hubs. Workers assemble a model of the main Soviet order, the Order of Victory prior to Victory Day celebration in front of the historical main gates of VDNKh, April 30, 2025 - AP Photo Russia has already cancelled the Victory parade in the occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol. The Moscow-installed occupation governor of Sevastopol said the parade will not take place due to safety risks. ADVERTISEMENT The announcement comes following a reported Ukrainian sea drone strike which destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet near the port of Novorossiysk last Friday. Ukraine's military intelligence described it as "an unprecedented operation," marking the first time a sea drone downed a jet aircraft. It is the third time in a row that the parade has been cancelled in Sevastopol. The occupied port city last held it in 2022, shortly after the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Why is Victory Day such a big deal for Putin? For Moscow, 9 May is more than a victory fete. Under Putin, it has become one of the most important public holidays and a grand demonstration of Russia's military power. It has become even more symbolic since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, as the Kremlin has been using the imagery and narratives of World War II to describe and back its all-out invasion. In its war against Ukraine, Russia has rehashed a slew of slogans and symbols identical to the ones the Soviet Union used in WWII, such as "We can do it again" or "We can repeat it," as seen widely used by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. Similarly, the orange-black St George's ribbon, which used to symbolise the WWII victory, has now become one of the most recognisable emblems of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is worn by the supporters of Moscow's attack on the neighbouring country. Moscow has deliberately linked the two narratives through language as well, using elaborate language to create a substitute term implying grandeur: for example, calling its full-scale invasion of Ukraine "a special military operation" in the same way as World War II is called "the Great Patriotic War" in Russia. Putin himself has repeatedly claimed that "the Soviet people were fighting alone" in WWII, disregarding the contribution of the allies. When launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he stated its primary goals were the 'denazification' of the country and the "fight against fascism" — claims that Putin has never backed up with evidence to this day. The popularisation of this rhetoric and Putin's glorification of Victory Day have their own term in Russian: "pobedobesie," a derogatory word meaning grotesque hyperbolic celebrations, or victorymania. Ukraine has distanced itself from Soviet-era commemorations and dates. Zelenskyy signed a law in 2023 moving Ukraine's World War II remembrance to 8 May, which is in line with most of Europe.
Euronews
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Who is coming to Putin's Victory Day parade and how safe is Moscow?
ADVERTISEMENT Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow on Friday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. 'Our position is very simple for all countries travelling to Russia on 9 May: we cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,' the Ukrainian president said on Saturday. 'They are responsible for your safety. We will not provide any guarantees, because we do not know what Russia might do on those dates.' This statement sparked further diplomatic tensions with Slovakia. whose Moscow-friendly Prime Minister Robert Fico criticised Zelenskyy's warning. "I reject such threats for security reasons," Fico said on Monday. "I fully respect that the safety of participants is an internal matter of the Russian Federation. But if Mr Zelenskyy believes that his statements will force foreign delegations not to come, then he is deeply mistaken." It is unclear if Fico will be attending the parade. After the Slovak prime minister cancelled a few public appearances, including the official Labour Day events, there have been speculations that he might also not appear in Moscow. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who had also planned to visit Moscow alongside Fico, fell ill during a visit to the United States last week, cutting his trip short and returning to Belgrade, where he was briefly hospitalised. Fico and Vučić were the only European leaders to announce their participation in the Russian Victory Day parade, a decision which drew sharp criticism from the European Union. In Vučić's case, Brussels issued a stark warning, indicating that the visit would violate EU membership criteria and potentially hurt Serbia's accession process to the 27-member bloc. European politicians might be absent, but Moscow's most valuable ally and arguably the most important guest will be attending. Chinese president Xi Jinping will make an official visit to Russia from 7 to 10 May to participate in celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, the Kremlin said on Sunday. How safe will the parade be? Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire with Ukraine between 7 and 9 May around the Victory Day celebration. The idea was categorically dismissed by Kyiv, with Zelenskyy calling it a "theatrical performance" designed to ease Russia's international isolation and create a favourable atmosphere for the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. Zelenskyy reportedly said the proposal was not a serious attempt to end the war and reiterated Ukraine's support for a US-backed initiative calling for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine's president warned that Moscow's history of violating short-term truces undermines any trust in its latest offer. "They kill until (May) 7th, pause for a couple of comfortable days, then start attacking again on the 11th," he said. On Monday, days before the parade, as the rehearsals were taking place in the Russian capital, authorities said four drones were intercepted overnight as they approached the city. ADVERTISEMENT According to preliminary reports, there were no injuries or damage from the falling debris, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on the Telegram messaging app. This wasn't the first time Ukrainian drones reached Moscow. In mid-March, the city authorities reported the biggest drone attack with over 70 drones shot down according to the Russian air defence and Moscow authorities. According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian drones can now fly way beyond that and reach a range of 3,000 km. Kyiv has been using long-range drones to strike deep into Russian territory, targeting military infrastructure like airfields, oil refineries, depots and logistic hubs. ADVERTISEMENT Workers assemble a model of the main Soviet order, the Order of Victory prior to Victory Day celebration in front of the historical main gates of VDNKh, April 30, 2025 AP Photo Russia has already cancelled the Victory parade in the occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol. The Moscow-installed occupation governor of Sevastopol said the parade will not take place due to safety risks. The announcement comes following a reported Ukrainian sea drone strike which destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet near the port of Novorossiysk last Friday. Ukraine's military intelligence described it as "an unprecedented operation," marking the first time a sea drone downed a jet aircraft. It is the third time in a row that the parade has been cancelled in Sevastopol. The occupied port city last held it in 2022, shortly after the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENT Why is Victory Day such a big deal for Putin? For Moscow, 9 May is more than a victory fete. Under Putin, it has become one of the most important public holidays and a grand demonstration of Russia's military power. It has become even more symbolic since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, as the Kremlin has been using the imagery and narratives of World War II to describe and back its all-out invasion. In its war against Ukraine, Russia has rehashed a slew of slogans and symbols identical to the ones the Soviet Union used in WWII, such as "We can do it again" or "We can repeat it," as seen widely used by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. Similarly, the orange-black St George's ribbon, which used to symbolise the WWII victory, has now become one of the most recognisable emblems of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is worn by the supporters of Moscow's attack on the neighbouring country. ADVERTISEMENT Moscow has deliberately linked the two narratives through language as well, using elaborate language to create a substitute term implying grandeur: for example, calling its full-scale invasion of Ukraine "a special military operation" in the same way as World War II is called "the Great Patriotic War" in Russia. Putin himself has repeatedly claimed that "the Soviet people were fighting alone" in WWII, disregarding the contribution of the allies. When launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he stated its primary goals were the 'denazification' of the country and the "fight against fascism" — claims that Putin has never backed up with evidence to this day. The popularisation of this rhetoric and Putin's glorification of Victory Day have their own term in Russian: "pobedobesie," a derogatory word meaning grotesque hyperbolic celebrations, or victorymania. ADVERTISEMENT Ukraine has distanced itself from Soviet-era commemorations and dates. Zelenskyy signed a law in 2023 moving Ukraine's World War II remembrance to 8 May, which is in line with most of Europe.
Irish Times
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Far-right Trump ally secures decisive win in first round of Romania's presidential election rerun
An ultranationalist who opposes military aid to Ukraine, has vilified the EU 's leaders, and calls himself Donald Trump 's 'natural ally' has won the first round of Romania's rerun presidential vote and will face a centrist in the runoff, as vote counting nears its end. With 99 per cent of votes counted late on Sunday, George Simion, whose far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) began as an anti-vax movement during the pandemic, was comfortably in the lead on a projected 40.5 per cent of the vote. Far behind in second place was Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan with 20.89 per cent, and in third place the governing coalition's joint candidate, Crin Antonescu, with 20.34 per cent. He conceded defeat after midnight, saying he believes it's an 'irreversible result.' Final results are not expected until early on Monday. READ MORE The two highest-scoring candidates are scheduled to face each other in a second-round runoff on May 18th, nearly six months after the original ballot was cancelled amid evidence of an alleged 'massive' Russian influence campaign. After the exit polls were published, Simion said: 'This is not just an electoral victory, it is a victory of Romanian dignity. It is the victory of those who have not lost hope, of those who still believe in Romania, a free, respected, sovereign country.' [ Chay Bowes, an Irishman working for Russian state media, deported from Romania Opens in new window ] Polls are not highly reliable in Romania but several have suggested Simion could beat Dan in a runoff, but would face a harder race against Antonescu, who has been out of politics for a decade but is a well-known figure. A far-right victory could lead to Romania – which shares a border with Ukraine and is a member of the EU and Nato – veering from its present pro-western path and becoming another disruptive force within the bloc and the transatlantic defence alliance. It would also be welcomed by conservative nationalists in Europe and beyond, including senior Trump administration figures such as the US vice-president, JD Vance, who accused Bucharest of denying democracy after the original ballot was cancelled. That vote was won by Călin Georgescu, a far-right, Moscow-friendly independent who declared zero campaign spending. It was annulled by Romania's top court after declassified intelligence documents revealed an alleged Russian influence operation. Romania's president has a semi-executive role with considerable powers over foreign policy, national security, defence spending and judicial appointments. They also represent the country on the international stage and can veto important EU votes. Anti-establishment sentiment is running high in Romania, where median household income is one-third of the EU average. More than 30 per cent of the country's 19 million people are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, and nearly 20 per cent of the workforce is working abroad. Casting his ballot alongside Georgescu in Bucharest on Sunday, Simion (38) said the pair had 'one mission only: the return to constitutional order, the return to democracy. I have no other goal than first place for the Romanian people.' Georgescu (63) called the vote rerun 'a fraud orchestrated by those who have made deceit the only state policy', but said he was voting to 'acknowledge the power of democracy, the power of the vote that frightens the system, that terrifies the system'. Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist who founded the Save Romania Union party (USR), is running on an independent, pro-EU 'Honest Romania' ticket. He said he voted 'for hope and a new beginning' for Romania. Antonescu, 65, whose presidential run is backed by the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the centre-right National Liberal party (PNL), said he was voting for 'a united Romania, for a strong Romania, for a dignified Romania'. Simion has described himself as 'more moderate' than Georgescu but has repeatedly insisted on Romania's 'sovereignty'. In contrast to Georgescu, Simion has frequently denounced Russia, while lashing out at Brussels and praising Trump's republicans in the US. He has said he aims to set up an alliance of countries within the EU 'in the spirit of Maga'. He said on Sunday that he aimed to bring Georgescu into government if he won.
