Latest news with #Ukraine-Russian
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Ukraine-Russia peace talks barely last an hour with no cease-fire breakthrough
A Ukraine-Russian cease-fire deal failed to gain traction on Monday following an extremely brief round of negotiations, with the warring sides only agreeing on a prisoner of war exchange. The short-lived meeting in Istanbul, the second of its kind since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, lasted less than an hour without any progress on ending the war. The Moscow delegation once again rejected a 30-day, US-backed cease-fire proposal, which Ukrainian officials say is necessary to end the bloodshed and set the groundwork for a wider peace deal, according to Kyiv's delegation. 4 Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met in Istanbul on Monday for a second round of peace talks, which lasted less than an hour. REUTERS 4 It comes as Ukraine and Russia have ramped up attacks against each other over the weekend. REUTERS The Kremlin's negotiating team said Russia would only agree to a limited cease-fire of at most three days, and only in certain frontline positions to facilitate a POW exchange. Moscow has made it clear that it will not engage in a pause to the war until all its demands are met, including the demilitarization of Ukraine and the annexation of all territories currently occupied by Russian soldiers. With the impasse still in place, the negotiating teams only agreed on a deal for another large POW exchange, including the bodies of 12,000 dead soldiers. The negotiators have yet to hammer out the details on how many living captives would be freed, but they suggested it could be as large as the 1,000 who were exchanged following the last meeting in Istanbul in May. 4 Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov demanded that Russia release more than 300 children who have been allegedly kidnapped during the war. Getty Images Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov noted that the new exchange would focus on young soldiers and those who are severely injured. Kyiv is also demanding that Moscow hand over at least 339 Ukrainian children who have allegedly been kidnapped by Russian troops during the more than three years of war. Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation, slammed the proposal as nothing more than Ukraine 'putting on a show' for 'bleeding-heart European old ladies,' according to the TASS state media outlet. 4 Ukrainian rescue workers put out a fire that destroyed a trolleybus station following a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv. AFP via Getty Images 'If you want to make someone cry, just show an orphaned child, or better yet, a child with a kitten. This is what the Ukrainians are doing,' he said of the peace talks. The short, heated talks came after Russia and Ukraine ramped up their attacks on Sunday, with Kyiv taking out dozens of the Kremlin's nuclear bomber jets in Siberia and elsewhere. Meanwhile, Russia unleashed its largest bombardment of the war so far, with the Kremlin launching more than 479 drones and missiles over the border. With Post wires
Zawya
19-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria can play active role in emerging LNG market, by ILA President
The Chairman, International Law Association (ILA) Dr Tolu Aderemi has shed light on how Nigeria can take advantage and play leading role in the emerging Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) market during a meeting of Energy Stakeholder's aimed at addressing the pressing and perennial issues facing the nation's energy sector convened by a law firm, Perchstone & Graeys The stakeholders meeting, led by led by Dr. Aderemi, Partner in charge of the law firm's Energy Group, was titled 'Digitization: A Catalyst for Energy Transformation In Nigeria.' Speakers at the event included a former Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, Prof. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, NERC Commissioner, Planning, Research and Strategy, Dr. Yusuf Ali, and other leading local and foreign private sector players, stakeholders, and thought leaders. In his opening remarks, Dr. Aderemi noted that the ongoing Ukraine-Russian conflict, and the European Union's impending decision to cut off imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia by 2030 present a unique opportunity for Nigeria, which the country does not seem to be cautious of, adding that Nigeria has 'over the past 20 years, cumulatively earned approximately $21 billion from its energy sector, in particular, from the liquified natural gas market.' He lamented that Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, has faced ongoing complex issues in its energy sector, characterized by a combination of theft, vandalism, and inefficiencies, explaining that 'According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), oil theft has cost the country an estimated US$1.5 billion annually, severely impacting its ability to meet production quotas set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In recent years, the country has struggled to maintain its production levels, often falling short of its OPEC target of 1.8 million barrels per day. 'Currently, Nigeria supplies only four percent of the EU's LNG market, and stakeholders emphasized the critical need to enhance this share,' he added, warning that if Nigeria fails to reduce the incidence of theft and vandalism of its energy infrastructure, it risks losing its chance to become a key player in the European energy market. This is a pivotal moment for Nigeria. We cannot afford to lose this market share.' he declared. Prof. Ibe Kachikwu in his keynote address reflected on the government's efforts to combat oil theft and the importance of adopting technology to enhance production capabilities, expressing optimism that with concerted efforts and the right preventive technologies, President Tinubu's administration can achieve its ambitious target of producing 2 million barrels per day. Dr. Yusuf Ali, a Commissioner at NERC, provided insights into the government's efforts to mitigate theft within the electricity sector. He referenced the Electricity Act and various regulations aimed at enhancing security and efficiency. 'The government is committed to reducing the incidence of theft in the electricity sector. However, we must also consider the integration of 'useful technology' that will alleviate the load on the national grid,' he stated. Mr. Ugo Obi, a Partner and head of the Information Communications and Technology (ICT') Practice Group at the firm, emphasized the importance of real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. 'We need to implement live grid simulations and AI-driven fault detection to enhance our energy infrastructure,' he said. On his part, Emmanuel Haruna, Managing Director of Lightspeed Energy Systems (UK), outlined a series of key strategies aimed at enhancing the national grid's efficiency and resilience. He emphasized the transformative potential of Digital Twin (DT) technology, which enables the creation of a real-time virtual replica of the physical grid. Ms. Chantelle K. O. Abdul, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of one of Nigeria's leading meter manufacturing companies, Mojec International Limited, echoed the need for diversification in energy sources. 'To achieve optimal use of the national electricity grid, Nigeria must seriously consider alternative fuel sources such as renewable energy. We need to move towards a cleaner, greener energy future,' she said, underscoring and advocating for a multi-faceted approach to energy production. Despite the existence of several laws governing the energy sector, Mr. Adediran Adeyemi, a Partner at Andersen Tax, pointed out that enforcement remains a significant challenge. 'Nigeria is not lacking in legal frameworks; rather, the effectiveness and enforcement of these laws must be prioritized,' he stated. Oktay Curebal, CEO of Fifty2, a leading Blockchain and AI firm in the UAE, spoke about the potential for partnerships between Nigerian firms and international technology providers. Fifty's vision for Nigeria's power sector is 'A future where Nigeria's grid operates resiliently, transparently, and efficiently – powered by AI, secured by blockchain, and optimized through IOT'. According to him, 'We have the opportunity to bring cutting-edge technology to Nigeria's energy sector through strategic partnerships. This collaboration can pave the way for innovative solutions that address the unique challenges faced by Nigeria,' he said. This sentiment was echoed by other Panelists, who stressed this importance of accountability and regulatory compliance in combating theft and improving infrastructure. The panelists unanimously agreed on the necessity of adopting advanced technological solutions to the problems. © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( by ADEOLA OJO
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How ready would the UK be for any war with Russia?
Donald Trump decision to pause the delivery of all military aid to war-torn Ukraine sent shockwaves through Kyiv and the rest of Europe. The US, which is ripping up the history books in its increasing alignment with Russia, made the decision following a fiery meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump and JD Vance last Friday. It brought an abrupt and premature end to supposed talks between the two, with the president and vice president's treatment of the Ukrainian leader also sparking international condemnation across Europe. Trump has repeatedly stated he wants Europe to take on greater responsibility for its own security - and that of Ukraine's following any successful peace negotiations - and not rely solely on the US. As a result, UK recently increased its defence spending to 2.5% of the GDP, extricating the funds from the international aid budget. Starmer said by doing so, the UK would "meet the challenges of our volatile world", and that without Ukraine being properly protected from Putin, "Europe will only become more unstable". When Trump met Starmer just last week, he asked whether the UK would be in a position to single-handedly take on Russia. While the question was met with confusion, the UK increasing its involvement in the Ukraine-Russian war is far from off the table. We spoke to experts about their thoughts on the conflict, the UK's position, and the potential repercussions if it takes any further action. To understand the UK's current military position, its worth taking stock of its defence spending over the last few decades. The UK's defence budget was reduced in the early 1990s due to the policy of peace dividend following the end of the Cold War. The peace dividend meant that many Western nations - like the UK and the US - reduced military spending, redirecting those resources to civilian purposes, such as education, healthcare and housing. This changed in the early 2000s, when the UK significantly increased its military spend during the Afghanistan war and the Iraq war. But after a period of decline from 2009-2015 due to the government's austerity policy, spending increased again following the Ukraine crisis. In November 2020, the UK government committed to a significant increase in military spending, with an additional £16.5 billion allocated, mostly for investment in technology. However, despite this cash injection — and the government's renewed commitment to funding — the UK is not in a position to enter a conflict, according to some. "Logistically we are nowhere near able to commit to a long-term campaign anywhere," Dafydd Townley, Teaching Fellow in International Security at the University of Portsmouth told Yahoo News. "We don't have the manpower, we don't have the munitions and we don't have the production line in terms of defence assets to simply be able to conduct a long-term campaign on our own," Townley added. Nicholas Drummond, a former UK soldier and defence industry analyst, echoes this view, detailing the picture on the ground. "In theory, the UK has two land divisions, with six brigades. A division is 25,000 people, and a brigade is 4,000 or 5,000," he told Yahoo News. "In theory, we have six brigades, but in practice, only two of those are actually deployable at the moment. That's not an armoured brigade, that's an Air Assault Brigade, and a Light Mechanised Brigade." In addition, Drummond said the UK would be reluctant to even send the brigades that are fighting fit "because they don't have the heavy armour". "You definitely need heavy armour with the artillery threat that you have in Ukraine," he explained, noting that it is a slow turnaround to produce the right specialist equipment. "Added to that, factoring in the lead times for producing new military equipment... you're looking at a minimum of 36 months to start delivering stuff ordered today", he added. Even if the UK's military intervention in the conflict was limited to installing troops in Ukraine for peacekeeping purposes, Townley warns that it could be seen as an act of aggression by Russia. While peacekeeping troops can get involved in combat, it is not their primary role, and would only be used to protect civilians, defend a mandate, or as a form self-defence. "Ultimately, we are a long way from being able to act independently and without any support from either our cousins across the sea or our colleagues in Europe," Townley said. "Russia, as always, has already said it doesn't want any peacekeeping troops in Ukraine. If we did it as part of a Nato force, Russia wants nothing to do with that." Russia is also able to veto any UN efforts to put any peacekeeping troops into Ukraine. "If we were to do it on our own or with one or two international partners, one would have to make sure that Russia is fully supportive of this," Townley added. Stationing peacekeeping troops is also a continuous effort, and comes with an additional set of problems. "The UK would have to reinforce those troops according to need, and also commit to a longer conflict than we're willing to get involved in," Townley said. Of course, the government would also need to take public opinion into account. "I think there's a great deal of enthusiasm for us to support Ukraine and to make sure that Ukraine remains its independence from Russia, but my feeling is there is not the enthusiasm for us to put boots on the ground in a major long-term conflict," Townley added. A YouGov poll from October last year showed a split view on whether the UK should send troops to Ukraine. Though a more recent survey from last week indicated, for now at least, a greater appetite among the British public. Separate to placing boots on the ground in a foreign land, it's acknowledged that the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy are not what they at the conclusion of the Cold War 35 years ago. "We don't have the refuelling assets to be able to conduct long-term independent operations overseas, so we would have to be based somewhere close by," Townley said. "Our Navy has shrunk dramatically since the Falklands conflict, when it was the last real major show of British naval power." Townley believes that the government needs to "invest considerably" in its Armed Forces, at "every level". "We also need to improve not only recruitment into the Armed Forces, which is extremely hit-and-miss at the moment, but to also improve retention. As much as the Armed Forces are failing to hit their recruitment targets, they're also losing people hand over fist because the infrastructure. "In particular, and the working conditions and the culture within the Armed Forces is in need of some serious modernisation and investment," he added. Drummond has also urged the government to look at its defence spending — even with its renewed 2.5% GDP commitment. "We let our conventional defence weaken to such a degree, that now nuclear weapons risk being our only result to aggression," he said. "We urgently need to spend money on the army, we need to open the taps. We are in a very, very difficult position."
Sky News
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Starmer insists on security guarantee for Ukraine as he arrives in Washington for talks with Trump
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, discussions that could help shape the relationship between the UK and the US for the next four years. In a short speech at the British ambassador's residence he was keen to emphasise the things the two countries have in common. "We want to work with you, we want to welcome you to Britain," he said. "We want a new partnership, because our history shows that when we work together great things happen." 0:57 On Wednesday, the prime minister had brushed aside growing tensions between the White House and Europe over Ukraine, saying he trusted Mr Trump and wanted the "special relationship" to go "from strength to strength". Speaking to reporters ahead of the White House meeting, Sir Keir insisted that the UK was working "in lockstep" with the president on the matter of Ukraine. Asked if he could trust President Trump in light of what has happened in recent weeks, the prime minister replied "yes". "I've got a good relationship with him," Sir Keir said. "As you know, I've met him, I've spoken to him on the phone, and this relationship between our two countries is a special relationship with a long history, forged as we fought wars together, as we traded together. "And as I say, I want it to go from strength to strength." Even before Sir Keir arrived in Washington, the choreography of the trip hit a little turbulence as President Trump appeared to pour cold water on the prospect of a US military backstop for Ukraine as part of any peace deal - a key UK and European demand. 1:04 "I'm not going to make security guarantees beyond very much," Mr Trump said at his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday. "We're going to have Europe do that because Europe is the next-door neighbour." His remarks seemed at odds with those made by the prime minister on the way to Washington as he reiterated how important a US military backstop was for Ukraine. "We all want a peaceful outcome," the prime minister said. "It's got to be a lasting peace, and that requires us to put in place an effective security guarantee. "Exactly what the configuration of that is, exactly what the backstop is, is obviously the subject of intense discussion." He added: "But the reason I say the backstop is so important is that the security guarantee has to be sufficient to deter Putin from coming again because my concern is if there is a ceasefire without a backstop, it will simply give him the opportunity to wait and to come again because his ambition in relation to Ukraine is pretty obvious, I think, for all to see." While European allies such as the UK and France are preparing to put peacekeeping troops on the ground to police the Ukraine-Russian borders, leaders have been clear that US support is essential to containing President Putin and securing that support is the key purpose of the prime minister's trip to Washington. President Zelenskyy has also demanded that clear guarantees of US military backing and security be part of his deal with the US on critical minerals, but a framework agreed this week by both sides did not include an explicit reference to any such support. 1:32 1:01 Ahead of the trip to Washington, the prime minister pledged to increase UK defence spending - a key ask of all NATO members by President Trump - and reiterated his commitment to putting British boots on the ground in Ukraine as he attempts to lower tensions between Europe and the US and demonstrate to President Trump that the UK is willing to play its part. "When it comes to defence and security, we have for decades acted as a bridge because of the special relationship we have with the US and also our allegiance to our European allies," Sir Keir said. "I've been absolutely resolute that we're not going to choose between one side of the Atlantic and the other. We will work with the US, we will work with our European allies, that's what we've done for decades, and it's what we'll do whilst I'm prime minister." 👉Listen to Politics At Jack And Sam's on your podcast app👈 Sir Keir also gave the British public a "message of reassurance" after his decision to accelerate defence spending in the face of Russian aggression, saying he had done it to "ensure their safety" and increased investment would bring opportunities. "I want to reassure the British public that what we're doing is to ensure their safety, their security and defence of our country. "I want to also be clear that this is an opportunity because, as we increase defence spending, then that gives an opportunity for our industrial strategy, for jobs across the UK, good well-paid jobs in defence."
Sky News
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Sir Keir Starmer arrives in Washington for talks with President Trump - and repeats calls for security guarantee for Ukraine
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer brushed aside growing tensions between the White House and Europe over Ukraine on Wednesday, saying he trusted Donald Trump and wanted the "special relationship" to go "from strength to strength". Speaking to reporters ahead of a crucial meeting at the White House, Sir Keir insisted that the UK was working "in lockstep" with the president on the matter of Ukraine. Asked if he could trust President Trump in light of what has happened in recent weeks, the prime minister replied "yes". "I've got a good relationship with him," Sir Keir said. "As you know, I've met him, I've spoken to him on the phone, and this relationship between our two countries is a special relationship with a long history, forged as we fought wars together, as we traded together. "And as I say, I want it to go from strength to strength." The prime minister has now arrived in Washington, but even before he touched down, the choreography of the trip hit a little turbulence as President Trump appeared to pour cold water on the prospect of a US military backstop for Ukraine as part of any peace deal - a key UK and European demand. 1:04 "I'm not going to make security guarantees beyond very much," Mr Trump said at his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday. "We're going to have Europe do that because Europe is the next-door neighbour." His remarks seemed at odds with those made by the prime minister on the way to Washington as he reiterated how important a US military backstop was for Ukraine. "We all want a peaceful outcome," the prime minister said. "It's got to be a lasting peace, and that requires us to put in place an effective security guarantee. "Exactly what the configuration of that is, exactly what the backstop is, is obviously the subject of intense discussion." He added: "But the reason I say the backstop is so important is that the security guarantee has to be sufficient to deter Putin from coming again because my concern is if there is a ceasefire without a backstop, it will simply give him the opportunity to wait and to come again because his ambition in relation to Ukraine is pretty obvious, I think, for all to see." While European allies such as the UK and France are preparing to put peacekeeping troops on the ground to police the Ukraine-Russian borders, leaders have been clear that US support is essential to containing President Putin and securing that support is the key purpose of the prime minister's trip to Washington. President Zelenskyy has also demanded that clear guarantees of US military backing and security be part of his deal with the US on critical minerals, but a framework agreed this week by both sides did not include an explicit reference to any such support. 1:01 Ahead of the trip to Washington, the prime minister pledged to increase UK defence spending - a key ask of all NATO members by President Trump - and reiterated his commitment to putting British boots on the ground in Ukraine as he attempts to lower tensions between Europe and the US and demonstrate to President Trump that the UK is willing to play its part. "When it comes to defence and security, we have for decades acted as a bridge because of the special relationship we have with the US and also our allegiance to our European allies," Sir Keir said. "I've been absolutely resolute that we're not going to choose between one side of the Atlantic and the other. We will work with the US, we will work with our European allies, that's what we've done for decades, and it's what we'll do whilst I'm prime minister." 👉Listen to Politics At Jack And Sam's on your podcast app👈 Sir Keir also gave the British public a "message of reassurance" after his decision to accelerate defence spending in the face of Russian aggression, saying he had done it to "ensure their safety" and increased investment would bring opportunities. "I want to reassure the British public that what we're doing is to ensure their safety, their security and defence of our country. "I want to also be clear that this is an opportunity because, as we increase defence spending, then that gives an opportunity for our industrial strategy, for jobs across the UK, good well-paid jobs in defence."
