Latest news with #UkraineCeasefire
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Ukraine a ‘test of credibility' for US: France's Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that Washington faces a "credibility test" over its response to Russia dragging its feet on a Ukraine ceasefire. Macron said during a visit to Singapore that European countries were ready to impose new sanctions against Moscow if it does not fall into line, but US President Donald Trump's administration needed to confirm it was ready to do the same.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Mysterious 'Judgment Day Radio' broadcasts cryptic 2-minute message
A mysterious radio station known as 'Judgment Day Radio' was beamed from Russia just as US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone. The suspicious timing of the broadcast has raised eyebrows among intelligence officials, as it occurred during high-stakes discussions between the two leaders aimed at negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine. On May 19, during the call, the station about 18 miles from Moscow transmitted two coded messages: 'NZhTI 89905 BLEFOPUF 4097 5573', followed a few hours later by 'NZhTI 01263 BOLTANKA 4430 9529. The code was translated and released in an audio clip. Stations like UVB-76, Cold War-era relics, are infamous for their monotonous buzzing, occasionally broken by bursts of seemingly meaningless code phrases. But many experts believe these interruptions are anything but random. Nicknamed 'Dead Hand Radio' or 'Judgment Day Radio,' the station is suspected to be part of a secret military communications network—possibly even a failsafe tied to Russia 's nuclear command system. While the White House described the call between Trump and Putin as 'productive,' highlighting mutual interest in energy, infrastructure, and maritime ceasefire negotiations in the Black Sea, the strange radio activity has stirred public curiosity and concern. The true significance of the transmissions remains unclear, but their timing, content, and origin continue to fuel speculation. Some believe it might be a 'Dead Hand' doomsday trigger, designed to automatically launch nuclear weapons if Russia's leadership is incapacitated. Professor David Stupples, an expert in electronic and radio engineering at City, University of London, suggested the enigmatic broadcasts are likely a fail-safe kept active in case of nuclear war. Amateur ham radio operators and independent researchers first took serious interest in The Buzzer, officially known by its original call sign UVB-76, in 1982. At that time, the station broadcast only a series of cryptic beeps. But by 1992, the pattern evolved: buzzing noises began repeating 25 times per minute, each lasting less than a second, occasionally accompanied by an ominous foghorn-like sound. Throughout the 1990s, the buzzes were sporadically interrupted by anonymous male and female voices reading what appeared to be lists of random names, words, or numbers. The pitch and tone of the buzzing also varied, possibly encoding secret information through subtle audio shifts. This odd variety of transmissions is what drew Professor Stupples and other researchers to UVB-76 in the first place. According to him, the diversity of sounds is highly unusual for a basic 'emergency placeholder' signal. During the conversation on May 19, the station near Povarov broadcasted two distinct messages: 'NZhTI 89905 BLEFOPUF 4097 5573' and following up in few hours with 'NZhTI 01263 BOLTANKA 4430 9529' A government or military agency simply trying to hold a frequency would typically broadcast a repetitive, simple tone or test pattern. Instead, UVB-76 transmits complex, unpredictable signals, and does so with enormous power, reportedly using thousands of watts and broadcasting in all directions, based on Professor Stupples's measurements. The Trump-Putin call lasted over 90 minutes, focusing on negotiating an initial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. While both leaders agreed in principle to begin de-escalation, the Kremlin ultimately dismissed the idea of full ceasefire. After the call, Putin praised President Trump for 'US support in resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine,' according to a statement released through Kremlin-controlled media. However, Russia then attacked, striking a civilian minibus in Ukraine's Kherson region, wounding a 65-year-old woman. Following the call, Trump issued a strongly worded remark on his Truth Social platform, escalating the tension. 'It makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?' Too many people are dying!!!' he said. He blasted recent Russian strikes on Kyiv and warned Putin that he would face 'very bad punishment,' implying economic ramifications if hostilities continued. In February, UVB-76 sent similar cryptic messages during another Trump-Putin call, raising concerns the station may be used to send military alerts or contingency plans. Moreover, Russia has not provided an official explanation for its broadcasts, but experts warns to jump on any conclusions as it can ignite the geopolitical tensions.
Al Arabiya
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
US expects Russia offer soon as Zelenskyy sounds warning
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday he expected Russia to present a Ukraine ceasefire outline within days that will show if it is serious, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of buying time. President Donald Trump spoke separately by telephone on Monday to Zelenskyy and Russia's Vladimir Putin, after Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul on Friday for their first direct talks on the conflict in three years. Putin has consistently rejected proposals for a 30-day truce put forward by Kyiv and its Western allies. But Rubio said that Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated they would present their own terms 'maybe in a number of days, maybe this week hopefully.' The Russians will offer 'just broad terms that would allow us to move toward a ceasefire, and that ceasefire would then allow us to enter into detailed negotiations to bring about an end of the conflict,' Rubio said. He said that the presentation will 'tell us a lot about their true intentions.' 'If it's a term sheet that's realistic and you can work off of it, that's one thing. If it makes demands that we know are unrealistic, I think that will be indicative.' Putin after Trump's call said he was ready to work with Ukraine on a 'memorandum' outlining a possible roadmap and different positions on ending the war. And Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday said that Pope Leo XIV was willing 'to host upcoming discussions between the parties at the Vatican,' according to her office. Rubio insisted to critical lawmakers that Putin 'hasn't gotten a single concession' from Trump. But Russia has also not indicated any new flexibility since Trump took office in January with vows to end the war through dialogue. 'It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time in order to continue its war and occupation,' Zelenskyy said in a post on social media. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Rubio that Putin's refusal to go to Istanbul despite the stated willingness of both Zelenskyy and Trump to meet showed 'he believes it's in Russia's interest to carry out this war as long as possible.' The European Union formally on Tuesday adopted its 17th round of sanctions on Moscow, targeting 200 vessels of Russia's so-called shadow maritime fleet. Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's Direct Investment Fund and lead economic negotiator with Washington, attacked the move, saying: 'Western politicians and the media are making titanic efforts to disrupt the constructive dialogue between Russia and the United States.' Rubio said that Trump for now opposed new sanctions for fear that Russia would no longer come to the table. Moscow appears confident, with its troops advancing on the battlefield and Trump ending Western isolation of the Kremlin. The memorandum mentioned by Putin 'buys time for Russia,' Russian political analyst Konstantin Kalachev said. 'The cessation of hostilities is not a condition for it, which means that Russia can continue its offensive,' he added. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has since destroyed swathes of the country's east, killed tens of thousands and now controls around one-fifth of its territory. – Trump is no 'messiah' – People who spoke to AFP both in Kyiv and Moscow were skeptical about peace prospects and thought the Putin–Trump call had not brought them closer. 'I never had any faith in him and now I have none at all,' retired teacher Victoria Kyseliova said in Kyiv, when asked if she was losing confidence in Trump. Vitaliy, a 53-year-old engineer from Kyiv, said Trump was no 'messiah' and that his flurry of diplomacy has changed little. Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said Trump's latest calls had only added to the uncertainty. 'This conversation not only failed to clarify the future of the negotiations but further confused the situation,' he said. He said Trump had fallen for Putin's tactics of trying to use talks 'as a cover to continue and intensify the war.' In Moscow, there was defiance and confidence.
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Ceasefire on the table? Rubio awaits Russia's terms, Zelensky warns of delay tactics
WASHINGTON, May 21 — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday he expected Russia to present a Ukraine ceasefire outline within days that will show if it is serious, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of buying time. President Donald Trump spoke separately by telephone on Monday to Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin, after Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul on Friday for their first direct talks on the conflict in three years. Putin has consistently rejected proposals for a 30-day truce put forward by Kyiv and its Western allies. But Rubio said that Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated they would present their own terms 'maybe in a number of days, maybe this week hopefully.' The Russians will offer 'just broad terms that would allow us to move towards a ceasefire, and that ceasefire would then allow us to enter into detailed negotiations to bring about an end of the conflict,' Rubio said. He said that the presentation will 'tell us a lot about their true intentions.' 'If it's a term sheet that's realistic and you can work off of it, that's one thing. If it makes demands that we know are unrealistic, I think that will be indicative.' Putin after Trump's call said he was ready to work with Ukraine on a 'memorandum' outlining a possible roadmap and different positions on ending the war. And Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni yesterday said that Pope Leo XIV was willing 'to host upcoming discussions between the parties at the Vatican,' according to her office. 'Trying to buy time' Rubio insisted to critical lawmakers that Putin 'hasn't gotten a single concession' from Trump. But Russia has also not indicated any new flexibility since Trump took office in January with vows to end the war through dialogue. 'It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time in order to continue its war and occupation,' Zelensky said in a post on social media. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Rubio that Putin's refusal to go to Istanbul despite the stated willingness of both Zelensky and Trump to meet showed 'he believes it's in Russia's interest to carry out this war as long as possible.' The European Union formally yesterday adopted its 17th round of sanctions on Moscow, targeting 200 vessels of Russia's so-called shadow maritime fleet. Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's Direct Investment Fund and lead economic negotiator with Washington, attacked the move, saying: 'Western politicians and the media are making titanic efforts to disrupt the constructive dialogue between Russia and the United States.' Rubio said that Trump for now opposed new sanctions for fear that Russia would no longer come to the table. Moscow appears confident, with its troops advancing on the battlefield and Trump ending Western isolation of the Kremlin. The memorandum mentioned by Putin 'buys time for Russia,' Russian political analyst Konstantin Kalachev said. 'The cessation of hostilities is not a condition for it, which means that Russia can continue its offensive,' he added. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has since destroyed swathes of the country's east, killed tens of thousands and now controls around one-fifth of its territory. Trump is no 'messiah' People who spoke to AFP both in Kyiv and Moscow were sceptical about peace prospects and thought the Putin-Trump call had not brought them closer. 'I never had any faith in him and now I have none at all,' retired teacher Victoria Kyseliova said in Kyiv, when asked if she was losing confidence in Trump. Vitaliy, a 53-year-old engineer from Kyiv, said Trump was no 'messiah' and that his flurry of diplomacy has changed little. Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said Trump's latest calls had only added to the uncertainty. 'This conversation not only failed to clarify the future of the negotiations but further confused the situation,' he said. He said Trump had fallen for Putin's tactics of trying to use talks 'as a cover to continue and intensify the war.' In Moscow, there was defiance and confidence. 'I believe that we don't need these negotiations. We will win anyway,' said Marina, a 70-year-old former engineer. — AFP
Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Putin likes Melania better than me, Trump says
President Trump has said that President Putin of Russia praised his wife Melania during their call to discuss the Ukraine ceasefire. Speaking at a bill signing ceremony in the White House rose garden after he spoke with Putin, Trump said: 'Putin just said 'they respect your wife a lot'. 'I said what about me? Well, they like Melania better. That wasn't good, I don't know if that was good.' Trump's comments came shortly before the signing of the Take It Down Act, championed by his wife, which makes it illegal to 'knowingly publish' or threaten to publish sexual images or videos without a person's consent, including AI-created 'deepfakes'. They followed a rare speech from the first lady, who celebrated the bill as a 'national victory'
