Latest news with #Russian-speakers
Egypt Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Drone strikes ahead of Russia-Ukraine peace talks leave Trump's credibility hanging by a thread
CNN — It was already hard to imagine a breakthrough emerging from the direct talks between Russia and Ukraine set to be renewed in Istanbul on Monday. But in the aftermath of what appear to have been multiple large-scale Ukrainian drone strikes against strategic bases across Russia, it's even less likely either side will be prepared to shift their red lines. Even before the latest strikes, which targeted Russian strategic aircraft thousands of miles from the Ukrainian border, the Kremlin had declined to formally set out, in the form of an agreed-to memorandum, what exactly it wants in return for ending what it refers to as its 'Special Military Operation'. But Russian officials have made no secret about their hardline terms, including sovereignty over all annexed territories, the demilitarization of Ukraine, immediate sanctions relief and what the Kremlin calls 'de-Nazification', involving things like guaranteeing the rights of Russian-speakers. Concerns about further NATO expansion toward Russian borders – especially Ukraine, but other countries too – have also been a consistent Kremlin grievance, as has the fate of hundreds of billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets abroad. There's been speculation in the Russian and Western media about areas for possible negotiation, and the outcome of the Istanbul talks are being closely watched for any hints of flexibility. But in the aftermath of what appears to have been a spectacular Ukrainian success, talk of Kremlin compromises may, for the moment, be off the table. Ukraine goes into this second round of direct talks bolstered by its apparent destruction of Russian strategic bombers and other crucial air assets. On Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky set out some of Ukraine's positions, including an unconditional ceasefire and the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. But Russian demands for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from territory it claims but has not even conquered remain unpalatable, even more so now Ukraine has shown it can still strike deep behind the front lines. Smoke rises above the area following a Ukrainian drone attack in the Usolsky district of Russia's Irkutsk region, in this still image from a video published Sunday. Governor of Irkutsk Region Igor Kobzev/Handout via Reuters Even before the latest Ukrainian drone strikes, amid preparations for the peace talks in Istanbul, Russia was stepping up attacks on Ukraine in what seems to be the early stages of a new summer offensive. Overnight Saturday, Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the war – involving 472 drones. On Sunday, a Russian missile strike killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 60 at a training site for the Ukrainian military. As all this unfolds, an increasingly frustrated US President Donald Trump, who used to brag he could end the Ukraine war in short order, is now watching from the sidelines as a cornerstone of his stated foreign policy looks decidedly shaky. Neither his pressure on the Ukrainian leader, who Trump lambasted in the Oval Office, nor his recent scolding of the Kremlin ruler appear to have pushed the two sides any closer to a peace deal. Trump still has powerful levers to pull if he chooses, like imposing tough new sanctions, such as those overwhelmingly supported in the US Senate, or adjusting US military aid in a way that would dramatically increase the costs of fighting on. The measures may not be decisive, but they would send a message of US commitment. What Trump says he is tempted to do, though, is simply walk away from the whole mess. This is Biden's war, he insists, or Putin's and Zelensky's. But walking away – and it is unclear what that means in terms of US policy – may no longer be an option. At least not walking away unscathed. His own insistence on ending the Ukraine conflict, along with his personal interventions with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders, means that Trump and the United States are now inextricably linked with the outcome. That's why events on the battlefield and at the negotiating table in Istanbul are being watched so closely. Despite his regular attempts to disown it, the Ukraine war has very much become Trump's war on which US credibility now hangs by a thread.
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Russia casts doubt over Vatican as possible venue for its talks with Ukraine
Russia casts doubt over Vatican as possible venue for its talks with Ukraine MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cast doubt on Friday over the Vatican as a potential location for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, saying that the Holy See itself would find it uncomfortable to host two mainly Orthodox Christian nations. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV had confirmed his willingness to host talks during a phone call with her. The Vatican press office declined to comment further. Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, said soon after his election this month that the Vatican could act as a mediator in global conflicts, without specifically mentioning Russia and Ukraine. Lavrov, speaking at the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow, on Friday played down the idea of the Vatican as the next venue and the Kremlin said there was not yet any agreement on where a new round of talks would take place. "Many people are fantasising about when and where it (the meeting) will take place. We don't have any ideas right now," said Lavrov. "But imagine the Vatican as a venue for negotiations. It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to use a Catholic platform to discuss issues on how to remove the root causes (of the conflict). "I think it would not be very comfortable for the Vatican itself to host delegations from two Orthodox countries in these circumstances," Lavrov added. Ukrainian and Russian negotiators held their first direct talks in more than three years earlier this month in Istanbul. DISCRIMINATION Lavrov also said that Moscow would not allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under the rule of what he called a "junta" led by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. It would be a "crime" for Russia to allow this to happen, he said, adding that the simplest way to settle the conflict would be for the international community to demand that Ukraine cancel what he said were laws discriminating against Russian-speakers. Kyiv denies any such discrimination. Lavrov reiterated an earlier Russian idea that it would be good if presidential elections were held in Ukraine so that Moscow could sign an eventual peace deal with someone widely regarded as legitimate. Zelenskiy has dismissed the Russian-backed idea that he is not legitimate as propaganda. Elections were not held when his five-year term in office technically expired in May 2024 because Ukraine remained - and remains - under martial law, which suspends the normal election cycle. Zelenskiy and the West say it is necessary to suspend normal political rules at a time of war and that the Kremlin, given Russia's own tightly-controlled political system, is in no position to criticise. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Ukraine says prisoner exchange with Russia under way
A prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia is under way but has not yet been completed, a Ukrainian military source has said. US President Donald Trump had said on social media earlier that the exchange was "just completed" and would "go into effect shortly." During talks in Istanbul earlier this month, Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each. The warring countries have held many rounds of swaps since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In such an exchange this month, the two sides each released 205 captured soldiers. Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow would not allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under the rule of what he called a "junta" led by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr Lavrov said it would be a "crime" for Russia to allow this to happen. He added that the simplest way to settle the conflict would be for the international community to demand that Ukraine cancel laws discriminating against Russian-speakers. Ukraine denies any such discrimination.
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Moscow won't allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under rule of Zelenskiy's 'junta', Lavrov says
Moscow won't allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under rule of Zelenskiy's 'junta', Lavrov says MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow would not allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under the rule of what he called a "junta" led by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Lavrov said it would be a "crime" for Russia to allow this to happen. He added that the simplest way to settle the conflict would be for the international community to demand that Ukraine cancel laws discriminating against Russian-speakers. Kyiv denies any such discrimination. Lavrov's comments highlighted Russia's insistence, in any peace talks, on enforcing the same demands it made at the very start of the war. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Moscow won't allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under rule of Zelenskiy's 'junta', Lavrov says
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow would not allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under the rule of what he called a "junta" led by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Lavrov said it would be a "crime" for Russia to allow this to happen. He added that the simplest way to settle the conflict would be for the international community to demand that Ukraine cancel laws discriminating against Russian-speakers. Kyiv denies any such discrimination. Lavrov's comments highlighted Russia's insistence, in any peace talks, on enforcing the same demands it made at the very start of the war.
