Latest news with #RussianSpeakers
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Drone strikes ahead of Russia-Ukraine peace talks leave Trump's credibility hanging by a thread
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. 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.
CNN
3 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Drone strikes ahead of Russia-Ukraine peace talks leave Trump's credibility hanging by a thread
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. 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.
Russia Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Russia to announce next talks with Ukraine soon
Russia will announce the date of the next direct talks with Ukraine in the near future, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting of senior security officials on Monday. He did not, however, provide an exact timeline for the announcement or a possible location for the meeting. The previous round of negotiations held in Istanbul, Türkiye on May 16 marked the first time Moscow and Kiev had engaged in direct dialogue since the collapse of the talks in 2022. The two sides agreed to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange – which was completed on Sunday – and to come up with a memorandum outlining a road map toward ending the conflict. Lavrov has since stated that work on the document is at an 'advanced stage.' Russia has said it views the negotiations as a platform to achieve a lasting peace based on addressing the root causes of the conflict. No details have emerged about the next meeting since then. The Vatican has offered to host the talks, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has reiterated Ankara's readiness to facilitate another round. Russia has not accepted either proposal. On Monday, Lavrov said the details of the next round would be announced 'in the very near future.' Lavrov also noted that during the first round, Russia demanded that Ukraine repeal discriminatory laws against Russian speakers, and that it will continue to do so. Moscow has accused the Ukrainian authorities of suppressing the rights of Russian-speaking citizens, particularly through language laws that limit the use of Russian in virtually all spheres of life. Lavrov said last week that it would be a 'major crime' to leave millions of Russian speakers in Ukraine living under Vladimir Zelensky's 'junta' and its legal framework after the end of the conflict. He went on to say that Moscow will continue to insist on permanent neutrality for Ukraine and non-nuclear status, adding that Ukraine's 1991 Declaration of Independence included a pledge to remain neutral, which made it possible to recognize its sovereignty. Lavrov noted that Ukraine has since amended its constitution to commit to NATO membership, which Russia has cited as one of the primary triggers of the conflict. 'Returning to that solemn promise… is one of Russia's key demands that must be fulfilled as part of any settlement.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Moscow Won't Allow Russian-Speakers in Ukraine to Remain Under Rule of Zelenskiy's ‘Junta', FM Says
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
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Moscow won't allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under rule of Zelenskiy's 'junta', Lavrov says
MOSCOW, May 23 (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.
