Latest news with #RiaNovosti
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Putin signs bill ratifying Russia-Seychelles treaty on mutual assistance in criminal cases
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a Bill that ratifies the treaty between Russia and the Republic of Seychelles on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the Kremlin said on Saturday, according to Ria Novosti. 'The president signed the federal law on 'Ratification of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Seychelles on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters',' the Kremlin said. According to the text of the treaty, published by the Russian Foreign Ministry, legal assistance is provided 'if the offence, in connection with which the request was issued, is criminally punishable according to the law of both Parties'. At the same time, a side of the treaty may provide legal assistance 'upon its own consideration' even if the situation is not recognised by its legislation as a criminal matter. The treaty also notes that legal assistance may also be provided in connection with investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings in relation to financial and customs offences. Legal assistance includes procedures such as delivery of documents relevant to the criminal case; obtaining evidence; locating and identifying persons and objects; summoning witnesses, victims, experts and other persons to appear voluntarily before the competent authority of the requesting party.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Putin ratifies Russia-Seychelles legal aid treaty
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a Bill that ratifies the treaty between Russia and the Republic of Seychelles on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the Kremlin said on Saturday, according to Ria Novosti. 'The president signed the federal law on 'Ratification of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Seychelles on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters',' the Kremlin said. According to the text of the treaty, published by the Russian Foreign Ministry, legal assistance is provided 'if the offence, in connection with which the request was issued, is criminally punishable according to the law of both Parties'. At the same time, a side of the treaty may provide legal assistance 'upon its own consideration' even if the situation is not recognised by its legislation as a criminal matter. The treaty also notes that legal assistance may also be provided in connection with investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings in relation to financial and customs offences. Legal assistance includes procedures such as delivery of documents relevant to the criminal case; obtaining evidence; locating and identifying persons and objects; summoning witnesses, victims, experts and other persons to appear voluntarily before the competent authority of the requesting party.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Russia's security chief meets Kim Jong-un to discuss Ukraine, peninsula issues
Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang for discussions on Ukraine and security issues involving the Korean Peninsula, the Russian Embassy in North Korea said Wednesday. In a Facebook post, the embassy said the two sides discussed cooperation in various fields and exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis and the Korean Peninsula. Shoigu departed for home later in the day, it added. Russia's Ria Novosti also reported on Shoigu's meeting with Kim, citing the embassy's social media post. The Russian news agency Tass reported earlier that Shoigu traveled to the North on instructions from President Vladimir Putin. The visit came amid speculation that Kim may visit Russia for a summit with Putin to mark the first anniversary of their signing of a mutual defense treaty in June last year, which led to North Korea's deployment of thousands of troops on the Russian side in the war against Ukraine. Citing Russia's Security Council, Tass said that Kim and Shoigu are expected to discuss the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty and the commemoration of North Korean forces who fought in the Russia-Ukraine war. The agenda may also include international issues, such as those involving Ukraine, it said. Shoigu's visit came less than three months after he traveled to North Korea to meet the North's leader to discuss cooperation between the two nations. His trip also came just a week after North Korea's State Security Minister Ri Chang-dae held a meeting with him in Moscow on the occasion of an international meeting of high-level security officials. During that meeting, Ri and Shoigu reportedly discussed issues related to North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia in the war against Ukraine. Amid stringent international sanctions, North Korea has turned to Russia for resources and cooperation and is believed to have received rare defense technologies to advance its nuclear and missile arsenals in exchange for troop deployment and arms supplies. (Yonhap)
Miami Herald
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Russia, Ukraine Hold First Peace Talks in Over 3 Years: Live Updates
Russian and Ukrainian officials met face-to-face in Istanbul on Friday for the first time in over three years, opening a new round of peace talks amid mounting international pressure to end the war. The meeting, hosted by Turkey at Dolmabahce Palace, comes as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire but says no real progress can happen without a one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Talks lasted under two hours. What to Know: The talks mark the first direct meeting between Russia and Ukraine since March foreign minister opened the session, joining both delegations with a Turkish negotiators are demanding an immediate 30-day ceasefire, the return of children taken by Russia, and a full prisoner says it's open to diplomacy but accuses Ukraine of using truces to regroup and said he plans to meet with Putin on Friday, "as soon as we can set it up," but has not confirmed a date.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, were also in Istanbul for separate before the talks, Ukraine reported fresh Russian advances in the east and explosions in Dnipro. Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates. Conflicting reports emerged Tuesday over the status of the Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul, per Sky News. While earlier sources indicated the talks had concluded, Russian state news agency Ria Novosti now says the meeting is paused. "The negotiations are not over. The parties have taken a break," the outlet reported, contradicting earlier Ukrainian claims. Ukrainian sources have expressed frustration over what they describe as "unrealistic" Russian demands. As both sides assess the next steps, more updates are expected. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that Vladimir Putin would face tougher sanctions if Moscow refused to negotiate during peace talks in Turkey. Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is preparing additional sanctions packages against Russia. Starmer emphasized that Ukraine's allies must support Kyiv and be ready to act on the recent ultimatum. Last week, the West warned Russia it would face "massive" sanctions unless it agreed to a nearly immediate 30-day ceasefire. "Having issued that ultimatum, we must be prepared to follow through. Because if Russia won't come to the negotiating table, Putin must pay the price," Starmer said. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is departing Istanbul following Russia-Ukraine peace talks, the first in three years. Turkey's foreign ministry confirmed that a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian officials has concluded. The talks, marking the first direct discussions between the two sides in three years, lasted under two hours. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire during early-stage talks with Russia in Istanbul, emphasizing that halting the violence is essential to creating peace. "This must happen immediately to stop the killing and create a solid basis for diplomacy," Zelensky said, underscoring the urgency of the negotiations. He warned that if Russia's delegation fails to agree to a ceasefire, it would reveal that President Vladimir Putin has no genuine interest in diplomacy. Speaking from a European summit in Albania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the international community to respond firmly if Russia's latest peace efforts prove insincere. His remarks came as Russian and Ukrainian delegations held direct talks in Istanbul-the first such meeting in three years. "The world must respond, there needs to be a strong reaction including sanctions against Russia's energy sector and banks," Zelensky said from Tirana. "Pressure must continue to rise until real progress is made." Zelensky spoke about the need for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, saying it was essential to "stop the killing and create a solid basis for diplomacy." If Russia refuses even that, he warned, it would be a clear sign that President Vladimir Putin is not serious about ending the war. Turkey's foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, wished Ukrainian and Russian delegations "good luck" as peace negotiations started in Istanbul. At the meeting's opening, Fidan noted that this is the first direct contact between the two sides since March 2022. He stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire, saying the ongoing war continues to cost lives and that progress must be made. Fidan described the talks as "technical" and said they aim to prepare the way for a future meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. The talks follow a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who later said he would not attend. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, is also not participating, saying he would only meet with Putin. Trump announced Friday that he is working to arrange direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible. The move came after Putin chose to skip peace talks between Russia and Ukraine that were held in Turkey. Speaking to reporters after a Middle East trip, Trump said he may call Putin soon for a meeting. "He and I will meet, and I think we'll solve it or maybe not," he said. "At least we'll know." Trump said he was not surprised by Putin's absence, explaining, "Putin didn't want to go because he's not there." He added that he would be willing to meet Putin immediately, even as he prepares to visit his newborn grandson. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to participate in the peace talks, Putin declined a face-to-face meeting with him. Trump emphasized the urgency of ending the war, which has been ongoing since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Zelensky has accepted an American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia has yet to agree and continues its military actions. Despite the Istanbul talks, officials expect limited progress. Trump stressed the importance of a direct meeting with Putin to break the deadlock, saying, "I don't believe anything's going to happen... until he and I get together." He also highlighted the heavy toll of the conflict, noting that thousands of young people are being killed weekly. The exact details of the discussions between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations remain unclear. Ukraine's defence minister, Rustem Umerov, who leads its delegation in Istanbul, has said that a 30-day ceasefire is a key priority. He also called for the return of all abducted children and a complete prisoner-of-war exchange. On the other hand, Moscow has expressed a desire to end the conflict but has repeatedly declined the 30-day ceasefire proposal, arguing that its demands have not been met. While these demands are not fully detailed, Russia has suggested that a ceasefire could give Ukraine time to rest its forces, recruit additional troops, and receive more weapons from the West. Related Articles US Ally Plans Long-Range Missile Test Amid China and Russia ThreatsNATO Issues Warning About Defense Spending Amid Threats from Russia, ChinaResearcher Faces Deportation to Russia Despite Fears Putin May Jail HerZelensky Says Russia-Ukraine Talks Can Go Ahead 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump envoy's Putin love-in: Beaming Vladimir welcomes US negotiator Steve Witkoff with open arms and a few words in English as they meet to discuss Ukraine a day after ignoring Donald's peace plea
Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed Donald Trump 's special envoy Steve Witkoff with open arms as the pair met in Moscow today to discuss a US-brokered peace plan for Ukraine. Video published by Russian state media showed Witkoff meeting Putin at the Kremlin, with the duo smiling, shaking hands and exchanging a few words in English before beginning talks. Putin, who is understood to be fluent in English, rarely speaks the language and has only done so on a few public occasions. The pair's meeting is still ongoing, as of 2.30pm BST, Russian news agency Ria Novosti said on Telegram, citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Putin is joined by his foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov and investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Witkoff was seen strolling in central Moscow with Dmitriev, who has played a prominent role in contacts with the Trump administration, earlier on Friday. The billionaire real estate investor is playing a key role in Washington's peace efforts and has now met Putin four times since Trump's return to the White House. Trump wants to broker a truce between Moscow and Kyiv, but has failed to extract any major concessions from Putin despite several rounds of negotiation. He has threatened to walk away from talks if he does not see progress towards a ceasefire. Witkoff and Putin's meeting today came just hours after a car exploded in the Moscow region, killing Russian General Yaroslav Moskalik. Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for what appeared to be a deliberate attack. Russia has continued its bombardment of Ukraine and last night launched a drone strike across five regions, killing at least three people and injuring 10 others, a day after Trump rebuked Putin for a deadly missile and drone attack on Kyiv. Trump criticised the Kremlin on Thursday after a drone attack on Kyiv killed at least 12 people, and posted on social media: 'Vladimir, STOP!' He wrote on social media: 'Vladimir, STOP! ', adding 'Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!' When asked how he would respond if Russia did not accept a deal, Trump said Thursday: 'I won't be happy, let me put it that way. Things will happen.' But Trump also said there had been significant progress in peace talks. 'This next few days is going to be very important. Meetings are taking place right now,' Trump told reporters on Thursday. 'I think we're going to make a deal ... I think we're getting very close.' The US has not revealed the details of its peace plan, but has suggested freezing the front line and accepting Russian control of Crimea - a peninsula annexed by the Kremlin in 2014 - in exchange for peace. Trump was quoted as saying in a TIME magazine interview published on Friday: 'Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelensky understands that.' Ukraine has rejected ceding ground to Moscow, and says it will not accept Russian control of Crimea. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent months accepted that he might have to try to secure the return of some land captured by Russia through diplomacy once a ceasefire is in place. Zelensky on Thursday expressed frustration at a lack of 'pressure' on Putin from the West, despite the United States warning of repercussions if Moscow refused a deal. 'I don't see any strong pressure on Russia or any new sanctions packages against Russia's aggression,' he said during a visit to South Africa. Putin last month rejected a US proposal of a full and unconditional ceasefire that Zelensky has accepted and repeatedly called for since. Trump, who has been accused of favouring Russia and has repeatedly vilified Zelensky, said Thursday that the main concession Russia would make in any peace deal was 'stopping taking the whole country '. Moscow currently occupies around 20 percent of Ukraine and in addition to Crimea has attempted to annex four other Ukrainian regions. Witkoff told Fox News earlier this month that a peace settlement hinged on the status of the 'so-called five territories' - a comment that drew a sharp rebuke from Zelensky, who accused the US envoy of 'spreading Russian narratives'. As Witkoff arrived in Russia on Friday, authorities there reported a senior general had been killed in a car bombing outside Moscow. Kyiv did not claim responsibility for the attack, though it bore the hallmarks of previous assassinations claimed by Ukraine. Kommersant newspaper said a second person was also killed in the attack, some 10 miles from Moscow. TASS, the state news agency, reported just one. Footage showed a powerful blast destroying a Volkswagen Golf at around 10.40am local time (7.40am GMT), which reports said 'threw the general several metres away'. Russian media outlet Baza, which has sources in Russia 's law enforcement agencies, said a bomb in a parked car on Bulvar Nesterova had been detonated remotely when the officer - who lived locally - walked past. The explosion occurred as US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin - coloured by a recent flurry of attacks on Kyiv that drew ire from Trump on Thursday, urging 'Vladimir, STOP!' Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said earlier today that Moscow was 'ready to reach a deal' with the mediating United States to end the war in Ukraine, adding that some elements of a proposed deal still need to be 'fine tuned'. Russia also fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine between late Thursday and early Friday, hours before Witkoff's visit to Moscow, the Ukrainian army said. A Russian drone strike killed at least three people including a child in the central Ukrainian city of Pavlograd, rescuers said. The moment of the explosion said to have killed Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Images from the scene of the explosion posted on social media showed a blaze that had gutted a car parked near blocks of flats in the town east of Moscow. Security camera footage posted by the Izvestia newspaper showed a massive explosion from a parked car, sending fragments flying into the air. The blast happens just as someone can be seen walking towards the car. The TASS state news agency reported, citing unnamed law enforcement officers, that 'the cause of the blast was an improvised explosive device' and that fragments found at the scene had been sent for testing. It reported that the explosive device was packed with metal fragments designed to cause maximum harm. 'According to emergency response officials, the device had the explosive power of more than 300 grams of TNT,' TASS reported. RIA Novosti state news agency cited an unnamed emergency services official as saying that according to initial information, one person was killed. Russian Telegram channel Mash, which has purported links to law enforcement, wrote that the explosion had killed a senior military figure from the main operational directorate of Russia's General Staff. Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed that Lieutenant General Moskalik had been killed in the explosion. Moskalik represented Russia's General Staff in talks with Ukraine in Paris in 2015, following the 2014 invasion of Crimea. 'A Volkswagen Golf exploded after an improvised explosive device stuffed with pellets went off,' spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said, commenting on the explosion. The blast appeared to be similar in nature to previous attacks on Russians linked to Moscow's military offensive in Ukraine. Kyiv has in some cases claimed responsibility. A Ukrainian source told the BBC in December that they had killed another Lt Gen, Igor Kirillov, with a device hidden in a scooter, detonated remotely outside a residential block. It comes at a sensitive time, with Ukraine and Russia now both vocally calling for a ceasefire - though demanding different terms. Donald Trump's vice president, JD Vance, announced on Wednesday that the US plans to step back from negotiations unless both sides agree to a peace deal. But a blistering attack on Kyiv - the deadliest of its kind since last July, killing at least 12 people - prompted a rare rebuke from the president on his Truth Social platform. 'I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!' he wrote. The attacks also forced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky forced to return to Kyiv, cutting short an overseas summit with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Zelensky had been expected to attend Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday before the attack. Lavrov added in his address today that 'we only target military goals or civilian sites used by the military' - as Ukraine reported three people including a child had been killed in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region. He also insisted Russia was keen on working towards a ceasefire. But with the United States threatening to pull out of its role, mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko conceded that Ukraine may have to lose some territory in order to make a peace deal work. He told the BBC that such a deal would be unfair, but could help to stop the fighting. Ukraine has long opposed the American suggestion that it could hand over territory in concession to a belligerent invading force. It will also be seeking security guarantees from partners to ward off Russia reopening the conflict at a later date, with Zelensky citing dozens of times Moscow has breached ceasefire agreements in recent years. Despite the Kremlin's insistence it is 'ready' to reach a deal, Russian attacks on Ukraine continued overnight. Three people have died and 10 others are injured after a drone struck a residential building in a south-eastern Ukrainian city, officials said on Friday. Among the civilians killed in the night-time drone strike in Pavlohrad, in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, were a child and a 76-year-old woman, the head of the regional administration, Serhii Lysak, wrote on Telegram. Russian forces fired 103 Shahed and decoy drones at five Ukrainian regions overnight, Ukraine's air force reported. Authorities in the north-eastern Sumy and Kharkiv regions reported damage to civilian infrastructure but no casualties. Russia pounded Kyiv in an hours-long barrage on Thursday, killing at least 12 people and injuring 87 in its deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since July.
