Latest news with #UkraineRussiaWar
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to meet Trump meet next week in D.C.
May 31 (UPI) -- President Trump plans to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz next week in Washington, D.C., in the meeting between the two leaders. Merz, who was elected May 6 in a parliamentary election, is scheduled to visit with Trump on Thursday in the White House, Germany government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said Saturday in a news release to The Hill and Politico Europe. Merz, a member of the center-right Christian Democratic Union, replaced Olaf Scholz, who served since 2021 with the Social Democratic Party. Merz was first elected to the Bundestag in 1994 and was leader of the opposition since February 2022. He will travel to the U.S. capital one day ahead, according to broadcaster n-tv. They will focus on bilateral relations, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Middle East and trade policy, which includes tariffs, according to Kornelius. A White House official confirmed the meeting to The Hill. Like Trump, Merz wants a cease-fire in the war between Ukraine and Russia that began in February 2022. Merz met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin on Wednesday. The chancellor said that Germany will increase financial support for Ukraine as part of a more than $5.5 billion agreement. That includes sending over more military equipment and increasing weapons manufacturing in Kyiv. Members of the Trump administration have criticized Germany designating the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland party as an "extremist" political entity. "We have largely stayed out of the American election campaign in recent years, and that includes me personally," Merz said in an interview with Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which is part of Politico, that was published on May 7. Last Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul traveled to Washington and met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump spoke on the phone with Merz during his visit on May 10 with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to meet with Zelensky in Kyiv. Macron, Starmer and Zelensky have already met with Trump in the White House. Other foreign leaders who met with Trump since he took office again on Jan. 20 include Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Jordan's King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Irish Prime Minister Micheel Martin, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Many heads of state, including Trump, went to the funeral for Francis on April 26 in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Merz wasn't one of them.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Ukraine keeps Russia guessing over participation in June 2 peace talks
KYIV/MOSCOW, May 30 (Reuters) - Ukraine on Friday resisted pressure from Moscow and Washington to commit itself to attending peace talks with Russia on June 2, saying it first needed to see the proposals Russian negotiators plan to bring to the talks. After U.S. President Donald Trump urged Moscow and Kyiv to work together on a peace deal to end their three-year-old war, Russia proposed sitting down with Ukrainian officials next week in Istanbul. Kyiv responded by saying it was committed in principle to the search for peace, but that it was waiting for a memorandum from the Russian side setting out their proposals, which it had still not received. "We are ready for dialogue, but we demand clarity - clear and, most importantly, balanced proposals," the Ukrainian president's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said in remarks aired on national television. The war, the biggest on the European continent since World War Two, began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Expectations for the talks are modest because the positions staked out so far by the two sides are far apart and work between them has yet to begin in earnest on narrowing the gap. Nevertheless, both Kyiv and Moscow are keen to demonstrate to Trump that they are on board with his efforts to end the conflict. Kyiv is seeking more U.S. military aid, while Moscow hopes he will ease economic sanctions on Russia. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian delegation would be travelling to Istanbul and would be ready for talks with Ukraine on Monday morning. "At the moment, everyone is focused on the direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations. A list of conditions for a temporary truce is being developed," Peskov told reporters. Reuters reported earlier this week that Putin's conditions for ending the war in Ukraine include a demand that Western leaders pledge in writing to stop enlarging NATO eastwards. Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said earlier on Friday that Russia's concern over the eastward enlargement of NATO was fair and the United States did not want to see Ukraine in the U.S.-led military alliance. Commenting on Kellogg's statement, Peskov said: "We are pleased that these explanations by the president are understood, including in Washington." Turkey's government hosted a previous round of Ukrainian-Russian talks in Istanbul on May 16 -- which ended with no breakthrough -- and has again offered its services as a mediator. Speaking on a visit to Kyiv, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters: "As long as (the sides) remain at the negotiating table, progress can surely be seen." If the talks go ahead in Istanbul, the next step would be to try to host a meeting between Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, he added. But Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who appeared alongside Fidan at a news conference, sounded a note of caution. "In order for the next planned meeting to be substantive and meaningful, it is important to receive a document in advance so that the delegation that will attend has the authority to discuss the relevant positions," Sybiha said. Sybiha did not spell out what Kyiv would do if it did not receive the Russian document, or set out a deadline for receiving it. "We want to end this war this year, and we are interested in establishing a truce, whether it is for 30 days, or for 50 days, or for 100 days," he said. Zelenskiy was later shown meeting and shaking hands with Fidan in Kyiv in footage released by the Turkish foreign ministry. Russia has said its delegation at the Istanbul talks will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a Kremlin aide who led the Russian team at the previous round of talks.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Ukraine says it's ready to restart talks with Russia but needs clarity on Kremlin's terms
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine is ready to resume direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday, a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, following days of uncertainty over whether Kyiv would attend a meeting proposed by Moscow. But Ukrainian officials have insisted that the Kremlin provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the more than three-year war, before the two delegations sit down to negotiate.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Global risks, threats to a sustainable world economy — Ahmad Ibrahim
MAY 30 — Climate change and resource depletion are two of the defining risks to the global economy. This explains the growing worldwide efforts to reduce carbon emission and practise the efficient use of resources. But the climate and resource risks, though major, are not the only threats. The world economy today faces a complex, interlinked set of risks. As a country, Malaysia also has to deal with similar risks. Effectively managing them is key to our sustained economic performance. The other major risks include geopolitical tensions and conflicts, global health crises, financial system instability, technological disruptions, cybersecurity risks, inequality and social unrest, and demographic shifts. We also know for a fact that where there are risks, there are also opportunities. There is no doubt that political instability and trade disputes can disrupt supply chains, energy markets, and global investment flows. The Ukraine-Russia war and US-China trade tensions are recent examples. Though many know that diplomacy and multilateralism through forums like the UN, Asean, G20, and WTO are the ways to manage them, executing is never easy. Aside from diplomacy, diversifying trade and energy routes, as well as building regional trade agreements to minimise overdependence on specific countries can be possible solutions. The Covid-19 pandemic showed how a health emergency can cripple economies, disrupt labour markets, and affect global travel and trade. — Unsplash pic The Covid-19 pandemic showed how a health emergency can cripple economies, disrupt labour markets, and affect global travel and trade. Dealing with such health crisis includes investing in global health infrastructure, early warning systems, and pandemic preparedness. They also include building resilient, flexible supply chains for essential goods like medicines and food and of course international cooperation for the rapid deployment of vaccine and treatment. It is no secret that financial crises, market volatility, and debt defaults can destabilise economies. Possible solutions include strengthening global financial regulations and oversight, maintaining sound fiscal and monetary policies. Rapid technological change is also a risk. It can displace jobs, widen inequality, and increase vulnerability to cyberattacks on financial systems, infrastructure, and data. We need to invest in digital infrastructure and cybersecurity, updating regulations to keep pace with technology (AI ethics, data privacy), and reskilling and upskilling the workforce for the digital economy. Rising wealth and income inequality form another risk. They can trigger social unrest, political instability, and economic stagnation. This is where implementing inclusive economic policies and access to education matter. Small businesses need support and strengthening the social protection systems can make a difference. Furthermore, the ageing populations in developed countries create mismatches in the labour markets, pensions, and healthcare. Reforming pension and healthcare systems for ageing societies, investing in education and job creation for young populations, and managing migration policies effectively can be the tonic to neutralise such risks. How then can the world sustain the global economy amid these risks? A popular suggestion is to adopt a circular economy model. And decouple economic growth from resource use and emissions through renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management. Also need to build resilient supply chains by diversifying suppliers, investing in local production capacity, and use digital tools for real-time risk management. No country can tackle these risks alone. Strengthening global governance and partnerships is crucial. Not to mention promote responsible technological innovation. This is where we ensure that emerging technologies are developed with ethics, inclusivity, and sustainability in mind. The risks to the global economy are increasingly interconnected. A financial crisis can amplify social unrest. A pandemic can trigger supply chain and geopolitical tensions. A systems-thinking approach to risk management, grounded in sustainability, resilience, and global cooperation, is the most effective path forward. Systems thinking is increasingly recognised as a powerful approach for managing complex, interconnected risks in today's global economy. Systems thinking is an approach to problem-solving that views challenges as parts of a broader, interconnected system rather than isolated issues. It focuses on understanding relationships and feedback loops, and identifying leverage points for interventions. How then to apply systems thinking to risk management and sustainability? First map the system. Use tools like causal loop diagrams, systems maps, or stock-and-flow models to visualise how different risks and factors interact. Identify reinforcing and balancing loops within the system. Economic inequality reinforcing social unrest, which in turn destabilises markets and worsens inequality. Focus on areas where small interventions can produce large system-wide changes. Education reforms can uplift economies, improve health, reduce crime, and empower communities simultaneously. Move beyond siloed thinking. Address climate, health, financial, and social risks through integrated policies and partnerships. There is no denying that by effectively managing such global risks, the impending threats to the world economy can be neutralised. The systems approach is the right way. * The author is affiliated with the Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy Studies at UCSI University and is an associate fellow at the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya. He can be reached at [email protected]. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine and Russia exchange 800 PoWs in largest prisoner swap of war so far
Ukraine and Russia have begun the largest prisoner exchange of the three-year war, with almost 800 captives returned on both sides in a process expected to last several days. Confirming the first phase of the exchange had taken place, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Ukraine had returned 390 people to Russia and that the process would continue with further groups on Saturday and Sunday. 'It's very important to bring everyone home,' Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, thanking all who worked to secure their return and pledging to continue diplomatic efforts to make more exchanges possible. 'The agreement on the release of 1,000 of our people from Russian captivity was almost the only real result of the [direct talks between Russian and Ukraine a week ago in] Turkey,' he added elsewhere on social media. Images from the arrival of returned Ukrainian PoWs, released by Zelenskyy's office showed shaven-headed former prisoners being greeted by their families. The released Russians were taken to Belarus for medical treatment, the Russian defence ministry said. The exchange, which is also the biggest swap of Ukrainian civilians at one time, didn't appear to herald any imminent halt in fighting. Ukrainian media outlet Espreso TV published a video of the wife of a prisoner crying tears of joy, wrapped in a flag on Kyiv's Independence Square. She said she had been waiting for her husband's release since 2022 and had just received the call from Ukrainian authorities confirming his release. 'We waited, hoped and fought,' said the woman, whose name was given as Victoria. The exchange is part of the '1,000 for 1,000' deal thrashed out during otherwise inconclusive peace talks in Istanbul a week ago. The first stage of the swap took place at the border with Belarus in northern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Earlier, Ukrainian authorities told reporters to assemble at a location in the northern Chernihiv region in anticipation that some freed prisoners could be brought there. Confirming the exchange had taken place, Russia's defence ministry said it had completed the first phase which it said saw the return of 270 military personnel and 120 civilians it claimed had been captured during Ukraine's long incursion into the Kursk region of Russia. The status of those being exchanged could not immediately be confirmed. At a medical facility where the released Ukrainians were due to be taken, relatives waited to see whether their loved ones would be part of the swap. Svitlana Kuskova, 49, held a sign with a photo of her husband, Oleksandr Kuskov, missing for the past year. Kuskov was a military driver who was later transferred to the infantry, and his wife has searched through Russian military channels, hoping to catch a glimpse of him or some sign he is still alive. 'It's extremely hard to go to sleep every night not knowing what happened to him,' she said. Olessia Dyadushkin, 37, held a photo of her 40-year-old husband, Valentin, missing since July 2024. Although she had no information about him, she has held onto hope because there was no confirmation that he was killed. Her four-year-old daughter often asks where her father is, and she tells her he's at work and very busy, Dyadushkin said, wiping away tears. Russia and Ukraine have swapped hundreds of captured soldiers, but the Kremlin has been reluctant to free non-combatants. In April, the Guardian and its reporting partners published the Viktoriia project, an investigation into the abduction and systematic torture of what Ukraine believes could be as many as 16,000 of its civilians. In many cases they do not have access to lawyers and their families have not been informed of their whereabouts. Among them was the Ukrainian investigative reporter Viktoriia Roshchyna, who died in a Russian jail last year after setting out to report on the enforced disappearances. While the exchange had been expected to start as early as Friday, speculation increased after the US president, Donald Trump, said – incorrectly at the time of his writing – that Russia and Ukraine had already completed the large exchange of prisoners, an assertion quickly denied by Ukrainian officials who said the swap was ongoing. 'A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine,' Trump said on the Truth Social platform. He said it would 'go into effect shortly', although it was not clear what that meant. 'This could lead to something big???' Trump added in his post, apparently referring to international diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. After the 16 May talks, the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, called the prisoner swap a 'confidence-building measure' and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again. However, on Friday, Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, rejected the idea of holding future peace talks with Ukraine at the Vatican, dismissing a proposal made earlier this week by Trump. Speaking at an ultra-nationalist conference in Moscow, Lavrov argued that the Vatican would be an inappropriate venue, saying it would be 'not quite comfortable' for two Orthodox nations to meet in a Catholic venue. He repeated some of Russia's widely debunked justifications for launching the war, claiming that talks in the Vatican were not appropriate because one of the war's root causes was Ukraine's alleged oppression of Orthodox believers. 'One of the root causes is the course towards elimination of the Ukrainian Orthodox church,' Lavrov said. 'I believe the Vatican would not be quite comfortable to host delegations from two Orthodox countries under such circumstances.' Related: In Ukraine, I saw Trump's 'peace deal' wouldn't just trade away land – but lives, memories and homes | Timothy Garton Ash In a string of hawkish remarks, Lavrov also signalled that Moscow remains committed to regime change in Ukraine, questioning Zelenskyy's legitimacy and referring to the elected Ukrainian government as a 'junta'. Lavrov said Moscow would not allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under the rule of Zelenskyy, adding that the simplest way to settle the conflict would be for the international community to demand that Ukraine cancel laws discriminating against Russian-speakers. The foreign minister also questioned Zelenskyy's legitimacy to sign any peace agreement, adding that new elections would be the most 'appropriate' way to determine who is entitled to represent Ukraine in future negotiations. At least 8,000 Ukrainian soldiers are being held captive by Russia, Iryna Vereshchuk, the presidential office deputy head, said on 1 May, citing data from Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of PoWs. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides are believed to have been wounded or killed in Europe's deadliest war since the second world war, although neither side publishes accurate casualty figures. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have also died as Russian forces have besieged and bombarded Ukraine's cities. Agencies contributed to this report
