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United News of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Argentine Foreign Ministry calls upon UK to resume talks on Falkland Islands dispute
Buenos Aires/London, May 27 (UNI) The Argentine Foreign Ministry, against the backdrop of the UK's decision to transfer the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, has called on London to resume talks regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Last week, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the signing of a deal to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, where a UK-US military base is located, to Mauritius. "Argentina welcomes the signing of the agreement between the British government and Mauritius regarding the Chagos Archipelago ... Argentina once again calls on the UK to resume talks on the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands ... Restoring Argentina's full sovereignty over these territories and maritime spaces is a permanent goal of the country's foreign policy," the ministry said in a statement on Monday. There has been a long-standing dispute between the governments of Argentina and the UK over sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. In 1982, the two countries fought a war that lasted for several weeks and ended in defeat for Buenos Aires. In March 2013, the islands held a referendum and voted 99.8 percent to remain a UK overseas territory. Argentina has not recognised the voting results and still claims the archipelago. UNI/SPUTNIK ANV SS
United News of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Putin says no sovereignty possible without economic sovereignty
Moscow, May 27 (UNI)For Russia no other sovereignty is possible without its economic sovereignty, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday. "Of course, I have to note the contribution that business, including the younger generation of entrepreneurs, has made to the development of the Russian economy in the 21st century — the revival of agriculture, the construction complex, entire sectors of industry and modern services, and the strengthening of our sovereignty, including industrial, technological, and financial. "And without this sovereignty, no other sovereignty is possible, because everything is based on it, it is the foundation," Putin said at a meeting with representatives of the Russian business community. The country's strong fourth place among global states in terms of purchasing power parity is an achievement of the domestic business, Putin said. Russian companies not only have strong positions in the domestic market, but are also actively developing abroad, the president added. "A number of foreign companies have left the Russian market largely due to the coercion of the so-called political Western elites. And some of them, unfortunately, this is an obvious thing, have framed their Russian partners," Putin said. Russia's economy has been growing at an accelerated pace in difficult conditions in the last two years, Putin said. 'In the last two years, in ... rather difficult conditions, Russia's economy has been growing, growing at an accelerated pace. You know, 4.1% the year before last and 4.3% last year is a good indicator,' Putin said. The economic growth covered the widest range of industries, including agriculture, digital technologies, services, finance, the president also said. 'Your (Russian entrepreneurs') companies occupy increasingly strong positions inside the country, and also confidently compete abroad. Thanks to the flexibility of their approaches and, of course, the quality of their products, they are increasing supplies to promising global markets. "And I want to assure you that the state will definitely continue to support you and your efforts, will lend a shoulder to the realisation of your initiatives,' Putin said. Companies from the United States have not stopped supplying and servicing medical equipment in Russia, unlike European ones, Vladimir Putin said. "By the way, US companies have been supplying and servicing (medical equipment_ all these years without any failures, while many European companies have slipped up," Putin said at a meeting with representatives of the Russian business community. UNI/SPUTNIK ANV GNK 1500
UPI
21-05-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Dealing with Russia: Strategic negligence, incompetence or worse?
Among the tools Russian President Vladimir Putin has are espionage at an industrial level, infrastructure and cyber attacks, misinformation and disinformation; psychological operations, assassinations and intimidation, and massive propaganda. File Photo by Vyacheslav Ptokofyev/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POO/EPA-EFE May 21 (UPI) -- The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming no longer is just the title of a humorous Cold War movie. In the flick, a damaged Soviet submarine has to put into a small New England seaport for repairs. The animosity and fear of the residents ends in friendship and gratitude as one of the Soviet sailors rescues a small child. The rest is kismet. The movie ends with the repaired sub sailing away, guarded by a phalanx of small boats crewed by the townspeople to prevent the U.S. Navy from attacking the Soviet boat. Ah. what halcyon days the Cold War were! Today, Russia is the "acute" threat after China. That acute has two opposite meanings, one being sharp, shrewd or astute, escaped these U.S. strategy makers. And, despite the million or so dead and wounded, this acute Russian threat has suffered in Ukraine, its army is still posed to assault Western Europe. That Russia is stiffening defenses on its 1,400-mile border with Finland, a NATO member, is one further example of malicious intent. A small, decrepit hospital being upgraded near the border is Exhibit A. More likely, the hospital is being renovated to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of wounded Russians kept as far out of public view as possible. Yet, who in the West accepts that? Europe is being coerced by Donald Trump and his team to perhaps double defense spending to 5% of GDP a year. These increases are meant to strengthen NATO and Europe's military power and thus demonstrate to Moscow that its aggression toward the West will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, three realities raise ugly prospects. First, even if these increases were likely -- and short of a war, they are not -- does the strengthening of one of NATO's alliances increase the overall ability of the alliance to stop a Russian attack of the West? Of course not. Second, is NATO capable of achieving a coordinated and integrated defense of Europe without assigning individual areas of tactical control to specific nations capable of defending them? The answer is no. Finally, do the United States and its European allies understand the more imminent and dangerous threat posed by Russia? Again the answer is no. Why? Rather than conducting an objective analysis of Russia and its military, the worst case is assumed -- or the case that is perceived as worst -- and can be sold politically to win public support. No better example of this is the United States' once closest ally, the United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for a "defense dividend" in which spending 2.5% of GDP in 2027 on its military will turn the tide. This spending, it is argued absent analysis, will stimulate the building of military systems that will increase employment and generate economic growth. In fact, as virtually any senior serving British officer will tell you, the U.K. military of an Army of 70,000 or so, 16 surface combatants and an air force with 140 Typhoon jets will shrink even with this so-called defense increase. And, this spending will do nothing to address the most dangerous threat. Assuming that no one can win or fight a nuclear war and that it will take five years and probably double that time for the Russian military to recover from the thrashing it is taking in Ukraine -- using the United States as an example after Vietnam -- where then does Vladimir Putin turn? The answer is "active measures," often mischaracterized as "hybrid, asymmetric war or gray zone operations." Active measures include espionage at an industrial level, infrastructure and cyber attacks, misinformation and disinformation; psychological operations, assassinations and intimidation, and massive propaganda among other tools of the trade straight from the Lenin playbook. What is being done here and how much of the increases in defense spending affect "active measures?" The answer is that rather than increased spending to defend against the ongoing threat, money will go to defending a threat that at best is far distant. Can anything be done to recognize this strategic negligence or incompetence? The answer is probably no. This threat cannot be countered with what increased defense spending will buy: more ships, aircraft, combat systems and vehicles that have virtually no value here. What a pity. And Putin must be thinking how convenient this is for him. He can take his time in reconstituting his force as the United States and its European friends are convinced it is still a potent force. And he can run virtually unchecked in using active measures. What will we do? Guess? Harlan Ullman is UPI's Arnaud de Borchgrave Distinguished Columnist; senior adviser at Washington's Atlantic Council, chairman a private company, and principal author of the doctrine of shock and awe. His next book, co-written with General The Lord David Richards, former U.K. chief of defense and due out next year, is Who Thinks Wins: Preventing Strategic Catastrophe. The writer can be reached on X @harlankullman.
New York Post
11-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Putin proposes direct peace talks with Ukraine after three years of war
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine on May 15 in Turkey that he said should be aimed at bringing a durable peace, an initiative welcomed by US President Donald Trump. Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, unleashing a war that has left hundreds of thousands of soldiers dead and triggering the gravest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The Russian leader, who has offered few concessions towards ending the conflict so far, said the talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul will be aimed at eliminating the root causes of the war and restoring a 'long-term, lasting peace' rather than simply a pause for rearmament. Advertisement 8 Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the media at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 11, 2025. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 'We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions,' Putin said from the Kremlin in the early hours of Sunday. 'We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul.' Putin said that he would speak to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan later on Sunday about facilitating the talks, which he said could lead to a ceasefire. Advertisement 'Our proposal, as they say, is on the table. The decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their curators, who are guided, it seems, by their personal political ambitions, and not by the interests of their peoples.' President Volodymyr Zelensky's office and Ukraine's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the proposal. In a message on the social network Truth Social, Trump hailed Putin's proposal as a positive for ending the war. 'A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!' Trump said. 'Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending 'bloodbath' hopefully comes to an end.' Advertisement 8 A large explosion lights up the night sky after a Russian ballistic missile struck Kyiv, Ukraine on April 24, 2025. REUTERS NO CEASEFIRE? Putin's proposal for direct talks with Ukraine came hours after major European powers demanded on Saturday in Kyiv that Putin agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face 'massive' new sanctions. Putin dismissed what he said was the attempt by some European powers to lay down 'ultimatums.' Russia, Putin said, had proposed several ceasefires, including a moratorium on striking energy facilities, an Easter ceasefire and most recently the 72-hour truce during the celebrations marking 80 years since victory in World War Two. Advertisement 8 President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky meet inside Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on April 26, 2025. PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 8 Smoke billows out oof a destroyed apartment building after a Russian drone struck Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv on May 7, 2025. Ukrinform/Shutterstock Both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating the temporary truce proposals, including the May 8-10 ceasefire. Despite Putin's call for peace talks, Russia on Sunday launched a drone attack on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, injuring one person in the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital and damaging several private homes, Ukrainian officials said. Putin said that he does not rule out that during his proposed talks in Turkey both sides will agree on 'some new truces, a new ceasefire,' but one that would be the first step towards a 'sustainable' peace. 8 European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukraine's Volodomyr Zelensky and the UK's Keir Starmer attend a meeting of the 'coalition of the willing in Kyiv on May 10, 2025. POOL/AFP via Getty Images PEACE? Putin, whose forces have advanced over the past year, has stood firm in his conditions for ending the war despite public and private pressure from Trump and repeated warnings from European powers. In June 2024, he said that Ukraine must officially drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw its troops from the entirety of the territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia. Advertisement Russian officials have also proposed that the US recognize Russia's control over about one-fifth of Ukraine and demanded that Ukraine remains neutral though Moscow has said it is not opposed to Kyiv's ambitions to join the European Union. 8 Ukrainian soldiers search for unexploded shells after a firefight with a Russian raiding group in Kyiv on Feb. 26, 2022. AFP via Getty Images Putin specifically mentioned the 2022 draft deal which Russia and Ukraine negotiated shortly after the Russian invasion started. Under that draft, a copy of which Reuters has seen, Ukraine should agree to permanent neutrality in return for international security guarantees from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. Advertisement 'It was not Russia that broke off negotiations in 2022. It was Kyiv,' Putin said. 'Russia is ready to negotiate without any preconditions.' 8 Zelensky, Macron and Starmer attend an open-air exhibit of destroyed Russian military equipment. Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto/Shutterstock He thanked China, Brazil, African and Middle Eastern countries and the United States for their efforts to mediate. Trump, who says he wants to be remembered as a peacemaker, has repeatedly said he wants to end the 'bloodbath' of the Ukraine war which his administration casts as a proxy war between the United States and Russia. Advertisement 'I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens,' Trump said in his Truth Social post on Sunday. 'The USA wants to focus, instead, on Rebuilding and Trade. A BIG week upcoming!' 8 A Russian drone explosion lights of the sky of Kyiv on May 7, 2025. REUTERS Former US President Joe Biden, Western European leaders and Ukraine cast the invasion as an imperial-style land grab and repeatedly vowed to defeat Russian forces. Putin casts the war as a watershed moment in Moscow's relations with the West, which he says humiliated Russia after the Soviet Union fell in 1991 by enlarging NATO and encroaching on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence, including Ukraine.
Scotsman
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
VE Day offers chilling reminder of where Trump's 'appeasement' of Putin may lead
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Scotsman's editorial of May 8, 1945 – Victory in Europe Day – ended with a challenge to world leaders: 'The war has been decisively won. Can they win the peace?' 'Will the victors be equal to the demands of this great hour? Hitler and Mussolini have perished, but they have left behind them a shattered world. The United Nations, and more particularly the Great Powers among them, have to lay the foundations of a new European and world settlement, and it is hoped that the United States will not only help to frame the peace, but remain to enforce it,' we wrote. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There is no illusion, as there was after the last war, that an era of universal peace will automatically be ushered in. Indeed, the sufferings of war and the bitter hatreds to which they have given rise may complicate the task of the statesmen.' Donald Trump, pictured with Vladimir Putin in 2017, has been pressuring Ukraine to give up territory seized by Russian forces (Picture: Mikhail Klimentyev) | SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images Biden's warning about Trump While there have been many wars in the 80 years since, none has come close to the horrors of the Second World War, in which up to 60 million people were killed. Our editorial writer would probably not have guessed it, but the US has helped enforce international peace ever since, primarily through its role as the military muscle within Nato. The US President has become known, rightly, as 'the leader of the free world'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Today, however, Donald Trump is threatening to abandon this role and sell out democratic Ukraine to warmongering dictator Vladimir Putin. Speaking to the BBC, former US President Joe Biden warned that Trump's decision to pressure Ukraine into giving up territory to Russia amounted to "modern-day appeasement", a reference to the 1938 appeasement of Hitler. He also took issue with Trump's remarks about taking over Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal. 'What president ever talks like that?" Mr Biden said. 'That's not who we are. We're about freedom, democracy, opportunity – not about confiscation.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
