Latest news with #US-Russian
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Russia doubts possibility of new US nuclear pact amid ‘ruined' bilateral ties as START Treaty nears end
Russia thinks chances are fading for agreeing on a new pact to replace the last nuclear arms control treaty with the US, which expires early next year, a top arms control official said. The main obstacle to any agreement is the state of US-Russian ties, which are 'in ruins,' said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in an interview published with the state-run Tass news service on Friday. 'There are no grounds for the full-scale resumption of the New START treaty under the current circumstances,' Ryabkov said, according to Tass. 'Considering that the treaty is reaching the end of its life cycle in approximately eight months, any discussion about the realism of such a scenario is becoming increasingly meaningless.' Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2023 suspended participation in the New START nuclear treaty though Moscow pledged to continue complying with its terms until the accord's expiration. Russia in April said it continues to respect the pact's limits on nuclear arsenals, which restricts each side to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads. Then-US President Joe Biden extended the treaty by five years to 2026 as one of his first acts upon taking office in 2021 shortly before it was due to expire. Putin had pressed President Donald Trump during his first term without success to agree to a deal. The end of the treaty would mean the US loses access to inspections and monitoring data about the number of deployed Russian nuclear warheads, as well as the land- and sea-based vehicles used to launch them. The potential loss of the nuclear arms control mechanism comes amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year, which has sparked the worst tensions with the West in decades. Trump's efforts to resolve the conflict have met with no success so far, though his administration has started talks with Moscow on restoring diplomatic operations after contacts were all but cut off following the start of the war.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kremlin says Trump criticism won't hit US-Russia prisoner swap plans
AP image MOSCOW: The Kremlin said Tuesday that Donald Trump 's criticism of Vladimir Putin will not affect plans for a US-Russia prisoner exchange that the two presidents discussed in a call last week. Trump called Putin "crazy" over the weekend after Russia pummelled Ukraine with its largest drone attack since the start of its full-scale offensive, launched in February 2022. The Kremlin downplayed the spat when asked whether the US leader's comments could disrupt plans for a nine-for-nine prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington. "It is clear that the Russian and American sides should not and can not agree on everything. There will always be certain disagreements," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "But there is political will to implement the agreements that have been reached, and the work continues. We highly value this mutual willingness," he added. Following a two-hour call between Putin and Trump last week, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the pair had discussed "swapping nine people for nine people" without giving any details on which prisoners. There have been several rounds of prisoner exchanges between Washington and Moscow since Trump returned to the White House in January. Washington has accused Moscow of "hostage taking" arresting US citizens on baseless charges in a bid to use them as pawns to secure the release of Russians behind bars in the West. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo In the latest swap last month, dual US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina was released from a Russian jail where she was serving 12 years on treason charges after donating around $50 to a Ukrainian charity. In exchange the United States freed Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen accused of breaking sanctions by trying to export US-made electronics to Russian military companies.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rubio calls Russian counterpart to discuss outcome of negotiations between Ukraine, Moscow
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday (May 17, 2025) called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to discuss the outcome of Friday's direct negotiations between delegations of Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul. In the first ever direct talks in three years, Russian and Ukrainian delegation at their meeting lasting less than two hours agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war from each side and draft their respective proposals for a ceasefire to end the fighting which has entered into its fourth year. At Friday's talks, Ukraine demanded a direct meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Vladimir Putin. 'Marco Rubio welcomed the agreements reached on the exchange of prisoners of war and the intention of each side to prepare its own proposals outlining the conditions necessary for a ceasefire. "He reaffirmed Washington's readiness to continue supporting efforts towards a negotiated settlement,' a Russian Foreign Ministry statement posted on its web portal said. 'From his side, Minister Lavrov acknowledged the constructive role played by the United States in encouraging Kiev to finally accept President Vladimir Putin's proposal to resume negotiations in Istanbul. He reiterated Moscow's willingness to continue working with US colleagues in this context.' the Foreign Ministry said in its readout. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Mr. Lavrov and Mr. Rubio also touched on a number of other international and regional issues. The sides exchanged views on the continuation of Russian-American contacts. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not rule out a meeting between President Putin and Mr. Zelenskyy once ''agreements were ready'. However, diplomats and experts opine that given the huge gap between the Russian and Ukrainian stands, a solution could be possible only after a meeting of President Trump and Putin, which itself requires a thorough groundwork. Probably, Mr. Rubio's call to his counterpart on Saturday indicates that both Moscow and Washington are working on an early US-Russian summit.
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Business Standard
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Rubio, Lavrov discuss Ukraine ceasefire talks, prisoner exchange deal
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the outcome of Friday's direct negotiations between delegations of Kiev and Moscow in Istanbul. In the first ever direct talks in three years, Russian and Ukrainian delegation at their meeting lasting less than two hours agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war from each side and draft their respective proposals for a ceasefire to end the fighting which has entered into its fourth year. At Friday's talks, Ukraine demanded a direct meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Vladimir Putin. Marco Rubio welcomed the agreements reached on the exchange of prisoners of war and the intention of each side to prepare its own proposals outlining the conditions necessary for a ceasefire. "He reaffirmed Washington's readiness to continue supporting efforts towards a negotiated settlement, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement posted on its web portal said. From his side, Minister Lavrov acknowledged the constructive role played by the United States in encouraging Kiev to finally accept President Vladimir Putin's proposal to resume negotiations in Istanbul. He reiterated Moscow's willingness to continue working with US colleagues in this context. the Foreign Ministry said in its readout. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov and Rubio also touched on a number of other international and regional issues. The sides exchanged views on the continuation of Russian-American contacts. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not rule out a meeting between President Putin and Zelenskyy once 'agreements were ready. However, diplomats and experts opine that given the huge gap between the Russian and Ukrainian stands, a solution could be possible only after a meeting of President Trump and Putin, which itself requires a thorough groundwork. Probably, Rubio's call to his counterpart on Saturday indicates that both Moscow and Washington are working on an early US-Russian summit.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Ksenia Karelina? American ballerina jailed in Russia over $52 donation, freed in Trump-led swap
, who was held in a Russian prison for over a year on treason charges, met President Donald Trump following her return to the United States. Her case drew widespread condemnation from human rights groups and US officials, who labelled the charges 'absolutely ludicrous. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now ' Karelina, a 32-year-old dual US-Russian citizen, was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February 2024 after reportedly donating just over $50 to a US-based charity that supported Ukraine. The Russian authorities accused her of aiding a foreign country against Russia's interests—a charge that led to her conviction for treason. Her release came as part of a carefully brokered exchange involving Arthur Petrov, a Russian-German man who had been detained in the US for attempting to smuggle restricted microelectronics to Russia. The swap took place in Abu Dhabi and included rare direct coordination between Russian and American intelligence and diplomatic services. President Trump confirmed her release and said, 'They released the young ballerina and she is now out, and that was good. So we appreciate that.' He later met with Karelina, an encounter that symbolised the second successful prisoner swap since Trump returned to office and resumed diplomatic engagement with Moscow. Her fiancé, professional boxer Chris van Heerden, expressed relief, saying she had 'endured a nightmare for 15 months.' He thanked Trump, the CIA, and figures like UFC president Dana White, who reportedly raised the case with the president directly. CIA Director John Ratcliffe credited US intelligence officers for their behind-the-scenes efforts, highlighting the importance of communication channels between Washington and Moscow. Who is Ksenia Karelina? Ksenia Karelina is a 32-year-old dual citizen of the United States and Russia. She was born in Russia but had been living in Los Angeles, where she worked in the beauty industry. Before moving to the US, she was a professional ballerina and lived in Maryland for some time. In early 2024, she travelled to Russia to visit her family and was arrested by Russian authorities. She was charged with treason after allegedly donating about $52 to a US-based charity that supported Ukraine. Russian officials claimed the donation amounted to support for the Ukrainian military, though human rights groups said the charge was based solely on that one donation. The US condemned the charges as politically driven and called the accusations 'absolutely ludicrous.' Karelina's fiancé, boxer Chris van Heerden, thanked President Trump and his team for helping to bring her home. Van Heerden described her ordeal as a '15-month nightmare' and said their dog, Boots, was also waiting for her. Karelina had been held in Yekaterinburg, a Russian city known for detaining foreign nationals. Her release came as part of a prisoner swap in which she was exchanged for Arthur Petrov, a Russian-German man convicted of smuggling in the US.
