Latest news with #Ukraini
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Zelenskiy says Russian troop advance in Sumy halted
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukrainian forces have recaptured Andriivka village in northeastern Sumy region as part of a drive to expel Russian forces from the area. Zelenskiy has in the past week focused on what he describes as a drive to push out Russian forces from the Sumy region, with border areas gripped by heavy fighting. He says Russia has amassed 53,000 troops in the area. "Based on recent developments, our special thanks go to the soldiers of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment - for offensive operations in the Sumy region and the liberation, in particular, of Andriivka," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on Saturday. Zelenskiy also noted "successful actions" near Pokrovsk, for months a focus of Russian attacks in their slow advance on the eastern front, and "strong results" near Kupiansk, an area in northeastern Ukraine that has come under heavy Russian pressure. In remarks released for publication earlier on Saturday, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces had stopped Russian troops advancing in Sumy region and were battling to regain control along the border. "We are levelling the position. The fighting there is along the border. You should understand that the enemy has been stopped there. And the maximum depth at which the fighting takes place is 7km from the border," Zelenskiy said. Reuters could not verify the battlefield reports. Russia's troops have been focusing their assaults in the eastern Donetsk region, with Pokrovsk a particular target. But since the start of the month, they have intensified their attacks in the northeast, announcing plans to create a so-called 'buffer zone' in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday that its forces had seized the village of Zelenyi Kut, southwest of Pokrovsk. The Russian war in Ukraine is in its fourth year, but it has intensified in recent weeks. Ukraine conducted an audacious drone attack this month that took out multiple aircraft inside Russia and also hit the bridge connecting Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula using underwater explosives. Moscow ramped up its air assaults after the attack. Zelenskiy said Ukrainian troops had maintained defensive lines along more than 1000 km of the frontline. He also dismissed Moscow's claims that Russian troops had crossed into the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk. Dnipropetrovsk borders three regions that are partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Russia now controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Zelenskiy acknowledged that Ukraine was unable to regain all of its territory by military force and reiterated his pleas for stronger sanctions to force Moscow into talks to end the war. Two rounds of peace talks in Istanbul produced few results that could lead to a ceasefire and a broader peace deal. The two sides agreed only to exchange prisoners of war. In separate remarks made on communications platform Telegram on Saturday, he said that a new group of Ukrainian prisoners of war had come home as part of another swap with Russia. "We continue to take our people out of Russian captivity. This is the fourth exchange in a week," Zelenskiy wrote. Ukrainian officials responsible for exchanging prisoners said the vast majority of the soldiers released in the exchange had been held captive since 2022 with many captured during the more than 80-day siege of the Sea of Azov port of Mariupol. The officials said Kyiv had, meanwhile, received the bodies of 1200 of its soldiers killed in the war with Russia. The bodies were handed over to Ukraine on Friday. Russian state media, citing sources, reported that Moscow had not received any of its war dead back from Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukrainian forces have recaptured Andriivka village in northeastern Sumy region as part of a drive to expel Russian forces from the area. Zelenskiy has in the past week focused on what he describes as a drive to push out Russian forces from the Sumy region, with border areas gripped by heavy fighting. He says Russia has amassed 53,000 troops in the area. "Based on recent developments, our special thanks go to the soldiers of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment - for offensive operations in the Sumy region and the liberation, in particular, of Andriivka," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on Saturday. Zelenskiy also noted "successful actions" near Pokrovsk, for months a focus of Russian attacks in their slow advance on the eastern front, and "strong results" near Kupiansk, an area in northeastern Ukraine that has come under heavy Russian pressure. In remarks released for publication earlier on Saturday, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces had stopped Russian troops advancing in Sumy region and were battling to regain control along the border. "We are levelling the position. The fighting there is along the border. You should understand that the enemy has been stopped there. And the maximum depth at which the fighting takes place is 7km from the border," Zelenskiy said. Reuters could not verify the battlefield reports. Russia's troops have been focusing their assaults in the eastern Donetsk region, with Pokrovsk a particular target. But since the start of the month, they have intensified their attacks in the northeast, announcing plans to create a so-called 'buffer zone' in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday that its forces had seized the village of Zelenyi Kut, southwest of Pokrovsk. The Russian war in Ukraine is in its fourth year, but it has intensified in recent weeks. Ukraine conducted an audacious drone attack this month that took out multiple aircraft inside Russia and also hit the bridge connecting Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula using underwater explosives. Moscow ramped up its air assaults after the attack. Zelenskiy said Ukrainian troops had maintained defensive lines along more than 1000 km of the frontline. He also dismissed Moscow's claims that Russian troops had crossed into the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk. Dnipropetrovsk borders three regions that are partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Russia now controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Zelenskiy acknowledged that Ukraine was unable to regain all of its territory by military force and reiterated his pleas for stronger sanctions to force Moscow into talks to end the war. Two rounds of peace talks in Istanbul produced few results that could lead to a ceasefire and a broader peace deal. The two sides agreed only to exchange prisoners of war. In separate remarks made on communications platform Telegram on Saturday, he said that a new group of Ukrainian prisoners of war had come home as part of another swap with Russia. "We continue to take our people out of Russian captivity. This is the fourth exchange in a week," Zelenskiy wrote. Ukrainian officials responsible for exchanging prisoners said the vast majority of the soldiers released in the exchange had been held captive since 2022 with many captured during the more than 80-day siege of the Sea of Azov port of Mariupol. The officials said Kyiv had, meanwhile, received the bodies of 1200 of its soldiers killed in the war with Russia. The bodies were handed over to Ukraine on Friday. Russian state media, citing sources, reported that Moscow had not received any of its war dead back from Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukrainian forces have recaptured Andriivka village in northeastern Sumy region as part of a drive to expel Russian forces from the area. Zelenskiy has in the past week focused on what he describes as a drive to push out Russian forces from the Sumy region, with border areas gripped by heavy fighting. He says Russia has amassed 53,000 troops in the area. "Based on recent developments, our special thanks go to the soldiers of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment - for offensive operations in the Sumy region and the liberation, in particular, of Andriivka," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on Saturday. Zelenskiy also noted "successful actions" near Pokrovsk, for months a focus of Russian attacks in their slow advance on the eastern front, and "strong results" near Kupiansk, an area in northeastern Ukraine that has come under heavy Russian pressure. In remarks released for publication earlier on Saturday, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces had stopped Russian troops advancing in Sumy region and were battling to regain control along the border. "We are levelling the position. The fighting there is along the border. You should understand that the enemy has been stopped there. And the maximum depth at which the fighting takes place is 7km from the border," Zelenskiy said. Reuters could not verify the battlefield reports. Russia's troops have been focusing their assaults in the eastern Donetsk region, with Pokrovsk a particular target. But since the start of the month, they have intensified their attacks in the northeast, announcing plans to create a so-called 'buffer zone' in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday that its forces had seized the village of Zelenyi Kut, southwest of Pokrovsk. The Russian war in Ukraine is in its fourth year, but it has intensified in recent weeks. Ukraine conducted an audacious drone attack this month that took out multiple aircraft inside Russia and also hit the bridge connecting Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula using underwater explosives. Moscow ramped up its air assaults after the attack. Zelenskiy said Ukrainian troops had maintained defensive lines along more than 1000 km of the frontline. He also dismissed Moscow's claims that Russian troops had crossed into the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk. Dnipropetrovsk borders three regions that are partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Russia now controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Zelenskiy acknowledged that Ukraine was unable to regain all of its territory by military force and reiterated his pleas for stronger sanctions to force Moscow into talks to end the war. Two rounds of peace talks in Istanbul produced few results that could lead to a ceasefire and a broader peace deal. The two sides agreed only to exchange prisoners of war. In separate remarks made on communications platform Telegram on Saturday, he said that a new group of Ukrainian prisoners of war had come home as part of another swap with Russia. "We continue to take our people out of Russian captivity. This is the fourth exchange in a week," Zelenskiy wrote. Ukrainian officials responsible for exchanging prisoners said the vast majority of the soldiers released in the exchange had been held captive since 2022 with many captured during the more than 80-day siege of the Sea of Azov port of Mariupol. The officials said Kyiv had, meanwhile, received the bodies of 1200 of its soldiers killed in the war with Russia. The bodies were handed over to Ukraine on Friday. Russian state media, citing sources, reported that Moscow had not received any of its war dead back from Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukrainian forces have recaptured Andriivka village in northeastern Sumy region as part of a drive to expel Russian forces from the area. Zelenskiy has in the past week focused on what he describes as a drive to push out Russian forces from the Sumy region, with border areas gripped by heavy fighting. He says Russia has amassed 53,000 troops in the area. "Based on recent developments, our special thanks go to the soldiers of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment - for offensive operations in the Sumy region and the liberation, in particular, of Andriivka," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on Saturday. Zelenskiy also noted "successful actions" near Pokrovsk, for months a focus of Russian attacks in their slow advance on the eastern front, and "strong results" near Kupiansk, an area in northeastern Ukraine that has come under heavy Russian pressure. In remarks released for publication earlier on Saturday, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces had stopped Russian troops advancing in Sumy region and were battling to regain control along the border. "We are levelling the position. The fighting there is along the border. You should understand that the enemy has been stopped there. And the maximum depth at which the fighting takes place is 7km from the border," Zelenskiy said. Reuters could not verify the battlefield reports. Russia's troops have been focusing their assaults in the eastern Donetsk region, with Pokrovsk a particular target. But since the start of the month, they have intensified their attacks in the northeast, announcing plans to create a so-called 'buffer zone' in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday that its forces had seized the village of Zelenyi Kut, southwest of Pokrovsk. The Russian war in Ukraine is in its fourth year, but it has intensified in recent weeks. Ukraine conducted an audacious drone attack this month that took out multiple aircraft inside Russia and also hit the bridge connecting Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula using underwater explosives. Moscow ramped up its air assaults after the attack. Zelenskiy said Ukrainian troops had maintained defensive lines along more than 1000 km of the frontline. He also dismissed Moscow's claims that Russian troops had crossed into the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk. Dnipropetrovsk borders three regions that are partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Russia now controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Zelenskiy acknowledged that Ukraine was unable to regain all of its territory by military force and reiterated his pleas for stronger sanctions to force Moscow into talks to end the war. Two rounds of peace talks in Istanbul produced few results that could lead to a ceasefire and a broader peace deal. The two sides agreed only to exchange prisoners of war. In separate remarks made on communications platform Telegram on Saturday, he said that a new group of Ukrainian prisoners of war had come home as part of another swap with Russia. "We continue to take our people out of Russian captivity. This is the fourth exchange in a week," Zelenskiy wrote. Ukrainian officials responsible for exchanging prisoners said the vast majority of the soldiers released in the exchange had been held captive since 2022 with many captured during the more than 80-day siege of the Sea of Azov port of Mariupol. The officials said Kyiv had, meanwhile, received the bodies of 1200 of its soldiers killed in the war with Russia. The bodies were handed over to Ukraine on Friday. Russian state media, citing sources, reported that Moscow had not received any of its war dead back from Kyiv.
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Russian attacks kill 3 and wound 64 as drones hit Kharkiv and other parts of Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian forces launched a new drone assault across Ukraine overnight on Wednesday, killing three people and wounding 64 others, Ukrainian officials said. One of the hardest-hit areas was the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, where 17 attack drones struck two residential districts, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Emergency crews, municipal workers and volunteers worked through the night to extinguish fires, rescue residents from burning homes, and restore gas, electricity and water services. 'Those are ordinary sites of peaceful life — those that should never be targeted,' Terekhov wrote on Telegram. Three people were confirmed killed, according to Kharkiv regional head Oleh Syniehubov. In a statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 64 people had been wounded and reiterated his calls for greater international pressure on Moscow. 'Every new day now brings new vile Russian attacks, and almost every strike is telling,' he said. 'We must not be afraid or postpone new decisions that could make things more difficult for Russia. Without this, they will not engage in genuine diplomacy. And this depends primarily on the United States and other world leaders. Everyone who has called for an end to the killings and for diplomacy must act.' Kharkiv has been frequently targeted in recent months as Russia launched repeated large-scale drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure. Moscow's forces have launched waves of drones and missiles in recent days, with a record bombardment of almost 500 drones on Monday and a wave of 315 drones and seven missiles overnight on Tuesday. The attacks come despite discussions of a potential ceasefire in the war. The two sides traded memorandums at direct peace talks in Istanbul on June 2 that set out conditions. However, the inclusion of clauses that both sides see as nonstarters make any quick deal unlikely. Wednesday's strikes also caused widespread destruction in Kharkiv's Slobidskyi and Osnovianskyi districts, hitting apartment buildings, private homes, playgrounds, industrial sites and public transportation. Images from the scene published by Ukraine's Emergency Service on Telegram showed burning apartments, shattered windows and firefighters battling the blaze. 'We stand strong. We help one another. And we will endure,' Terekhov said. 'Kharkiv is Ukraine. And it cannot be broken.' Ukraine's air force said that 85 attack and decoy drones were fired over the country overnight. Air defense systems intercepted 40 of the drones, while nine more failed to reach their targets without causing damage. In other developments, Russia has returned 1,212 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers in line with an agreement reached during the talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations. Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for Treatment of Prisoners of War said that the bodies came from Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, as well as Russia's Kursk region where Ukrainian forces waged an incursion. It said that authorities would work to determine their identities as quickly as possible. Russia has received the bodies of 27 fallen soldiers as part of an exchange with Ukraine, said Vladimir Medinsky, who led Russia's delegation at the Istanbul talks.
San Francisco Chronicle
06-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Trump, Carney faceoff in Oval Office leaves gaping differences on tariffs, 51st state
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faced off in the Oval Office on Tuesday and showed no signs of retreating from their gaping differences in an ongoing trade war that has shattered decades of trust between the two countries. The two kept it civil, but as for Trump's calls to make Canada the 51st state, Carney insisted his nation was 'not for sale' and Trump shot back, 'time will tell.' Asked by a reporter if there was anything Carney could tell him to lift his tariffs of as much as 25% on Canada, Trump bluntly said: 'No.' The U.S. president added for emphasis, 'Just the way it is.' Carney acknowledged that no bit of rhetoric on tariffs would be enough to sway Trump, saying that 'this is a bigger discussion." 'There are much bigger forces involved,' the Canadian leader continued. 'And this will take some time and some discussions. And that's why we're here, to have those discussions." The meeting between the two leaders showcased the full spectrum of Trump's unique mix of aggression, hospitality and stubbornness. Shortly before Carney's arrival, Trump insulted Canada by posting on social media that the United States didn't need 'ANYTHING' from its northern neighbor, only to then turn on the charm and praise Carney's election win in person before showing his obstinance on matters of policy substance. Carney won the job of prime minister by promising to confront the increased aggression shown by Trump, even as he has preserved the calm demeanor of an economist who has led the central banks of both Canada and the United Kingdom. At times, Carney struggled to interject his views and raised his hand to talk as Trump held forth at length and veered between topics, touching on California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, and teasing a 'great' upcoming announcement that's 'not necessarily on trade.' Trump offended Canada's sense of pride and friendship by saying he wants to make Canada the 51st U.S. state and levying steep tariffs against an essential partner in the manufacturing of autos and the supply of oil, electricity and other goods. The outrage provoked by Trump enabled Carney's Liberal Party to score a stunning comeback victory last month as the trade war and attacks on Canadian sovereignty have outraged voters. Trump said the two would not discuss making Canada part of the U.S., even as he insisted the idea would lead to lower taxes for Canadians. 'It's not for sale,' Carney said. 'It won't be for sale. Ever. But the opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together.' Trump persisted by saying that the United States did not want to buy autos from Canada, even if the vehicles were also assembled in America. The U.S. leader insisted that the $63 billion trade deficit in goods — which he inflated to $200 billion — was a subsidy that needed to come an end. The meeting never devolved into the outburst that the public saw in Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was berated by the U.S. president and his team for not being sufficiently deferential. Nor did it have the ease of Trump's sit down with the United Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who invited Trump for a visit provided by King Charles III. Carney later described his conversation with Trump as 'wide ranging' and 'constructive,' telling reporters that the prospect is there for positive negotiations but there would be 'zigs and zags.' Carney said he stressed the value that Canadian companies and factories created for U.S. automakers while stressing that it was unfair to assume one meeting could resolve any differences. 'I wouldn't have expected white smoke coming out of this meeting,' Carney said after the Tuesday meeting, referencing the signal that a new pope has been selected. Carney said that he privately asked Trump to stop calling Canada the 51st state during their meeting. But when pressed on how Trump responded, the Canadian prime minister said: 'He's the president. He's his own person.' The stakes of the meeting were high and the messages beforehand mixed. Trump told reporters on Monday that he wasn't quite sure why Carney was visiting. 'I'm not sure what he wants to see me about,' Trump said. 'But I guess he wants to make a deal.' U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick further stoked doubts about their interest in repairing the relationship with Canada in a Monday interview on Fox Business Network's 'Kudlow' show. Asked if the U.S. could make a deal with Canada, Lutnick called the country a 'socialist regime' that has been 'basically feeding off America." Lutnick said Tuesday's meeting would be 'fascinating.' Carney, at a Friday news conference ahead of his trip, said the talks would focus on immediate trade pressures and the broader economic and national security relationships. He said his 'government would fight to get the best deal for Canada' and 'take all the time necessary' to do so, even as Canada pursues a parallel set of talks to deepen relations with other allies and lessen its commitments with the U.S. Trump has maintained that the U.S. doesn't need anything from Canada. He is actively going after a Canadian auto sector built largely by U.S. companies, saying, 'They're stopping work in Mexico, and they're stopping work in Canada, and they're all moving here.' He also said the U.S. doesn't need Canada's energy — though nearly one-fourth of the oil that the U.S. consumes daily comes from the province of Alberta. The president has also disparaged Canada's military commitments despite a partnership that ranges from the beaches of Normandy in World War II to remote stretches of Afghanistan. He said on Tuesday with Carney that the U.S. would continue to provide national security support to Canada. Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum and tariffs on other products outside the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, in some cases ostensibly to address relatively low volumes of fentanyl intercepted at the northern border. That has jeopardized a closely entwined trade relationship as Canada sees an increasing need to build relations with the European Union and other nations. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada.
Zawya
18-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
What are Ukraine's critical minerals and why does Trump want them?
KYIV - Kyiv said on Friday it aims to complete talks by the end of next week about a deal with Washington on jointly exploiting Ukrainian mineral resources, an agreement Ukrainian officials hope will go some way to firming up softening U.S. support for them in their war with Russia. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants Ukraine to supply the United States with rare earth minerals as a form of payment for financially supporting the country's war efforts against Russia. Following is an overview of the critical minerals, including rare earths, and other natural resources in Ukraine that could be of interest to the U.S. and other partners: WHAT ARE RARE EARTHS AND WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR? Rare earths are a group of 17 metals used to make magnets that turn power into motion for electric vehicles, cell phones, missile systems, and other electronics. There are no viable substitutes. The U.S. Geological Survey considers 50 minerals to be critical, including rare earths such as nickel and lithium. Critical minerals are essential for industries such as defence, high-tech appliances, aerospace and green energy. WHAT MINERAL RESOURCES DOES UKRAINE HAVE? Ukraine has deposits of 22 of the 34 minerals identified by the European Union as critical, according to Ukrainian data. They include industrial and construction materials, ferroalloy, precious and non-ferrous metals, and some rare earth elements. According to Ukraine's Institute of Geology, the country possesses rare earths such as lanthanum and cerium, used in TVs and lighting; neodymium, used in wind turbines and EV batteries; and erbium and yttrium, whose applications range from nuclear power to lasers. EU-funded research also indicates that Ukraine has scandium reserves. Detailed data are classified. The World Economic Forum has said Ukraine is also a key potential supplier of lithium, beryllium, manganese, gallium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite and nickel. The State Geological Service said Ukraine has one of Europe's largest confirmed reserves, estimated at 500,000 metric tons, of lithium - vital for batteries, ceramics, and glass. The country has titanium reserves, mostly located in its northwestern and central regions, while lithium is found in the centre, east and southeast. Ukraine's reserves of graphite, a key component in electric vehicle batteries and nuclear reactors, represent 20% of global resources. The deposits are in the centre and west. Ukraine also has significant coal reserves, though most are now under the control of Russia in occupied territory. WHAT HAS UKRAINE SAID ABOUT RARE EARTHS? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters on February 7 that he was ready to do a deal with Trump that includes U.S. involvement in developing Ukraine's huge deposits of critical minerals, including rare earths. Zelenskiy originally aired the idea in his "victory plan" strategy, presented to Kyiv's allies last autumn. The text of a memorandum of intent, published by the Ukrainian government on April 18, paves the way for an economic partnership deal with the U.S. and the setting-up of an investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Mining analysts and economists say Ukraine currently has no commercially operational rare earth mines. China, with whom Trump has threatened a trade war, is the world's largest producer of rare earths and many other critical minerals. WHICH UKRAINIAN RESOURCES ARE UNDER KYIV'S CONTROL? The war has caused widespread damage across Ukraine, and Russia now controls around a fifth of its territory. The bulk of Ukraine's coal deposits, which powered its steel industry before the war, are concentrated in the east and have been lost. About 40% of Ukraine's metal resources are now under Russian occupation, according to estimates by Ukrainian think-tanks We Build Ukraine and the National Institute of Strategic Studies, citing data up to the first half of 2024. They provided no detailed breakdown. Since then, Russian troops have continued to advance steadily in the eastern Donetsk region. In January, Ukraine closed its only coking coal mine outside the city of Pokrovsk, which Moscow's forces are trying to capture. Russia has occupied at least two Ukrainian lithium deposits during the war - one in Donetsk and another in the Zaporizhzhia region in the southeast. Kyiv still controls lithium deposits in the central Kyrovohrad region. WHAT MINING OPPORTUNITIES DOES UKRAINE OFFER? Oleksiy Sobolev, first deputy economy minister, said in January that the government was working on deals with Western allies including the United States, Britain, France and Italy on projects related to exploiting critical materials. The government estimates the sector's total investment potential at about $12-15 billion by 2033. The State Geological Service said the government was preparing about 100 sites to be jointly licensed and developed but provided no further details. Although Ukraine has a highly qualified and relatively inexpensive labour force and developed infrastructure, investors highlight a number of barriers to investment. These include inefficient and complex regulatory processes as well as difficulty accessing geological data and obtaining land plots. Such projects would take years to develop and require considerable up-front investment, they said.
Axios
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Miami's ICE facility under spotlight for overcrowding, poor conditions claims
As President Trump's immigration crackdown continues, one detention center in Miami is holding more than twice as many people as the space was meant for — which some attorneys say is a growing issue nationally. Why it matters: The Trump administration's goal of deporting "millions" of people has led officials to jam more than 46,000 detainees into a system designed to hold no more than about 40,000, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) records. The result: In some centers, arrested non-citizens are living in inhumane conditions, enduring days without a shower and sleeping on floors and in overcrowded spaces, detainee attorneys tell Axios. The crowding is just one sign of a system under stress: Officials are scrambling to arrange more detention space across the U.S. and abroad. They're sending detainees they've deemed as dangerous on controversial — and legally questionable — flights to foreign prisons without giving them court hearings. And they're monitoring other unauthorized immigrants who've been arrested and released after agreeing to return for their court dates. Zoom in: At the Krome North Processing Detention Center in Miami, about 200 people were at one point being held in a room meant for 85, Paul Chavez, director of the litigation program at Americans for Immigrant Justice, told Axios. "If you have a building that's meant for 600 people, and now you have twice that in there, it'll inevitably lead to issues," he said. Attorney Sabrina Surgil's client, a man in his 50s who's been at Krome since November, told her the conditions were fair when he arrived but that the number of detainees ballooned after Trump took office. He told her his friends at the facility are "sleeping on the floor, sleeping by toilets," she told Axios. Between the lines: ICE doesn't provide current numbers of those in detention due to "operational and security concerns," a spokesperson told Axios. What they're saying: Detainees often are hesitant to speak out about conditions in detention, particularly if they're trying to get an immigration court to allow them to stay in the U.S. But conditions have been so poor that some immigrants prefer deportation to spending more time in the facilities, Chavez said. "A lot of people are just signing orders to be removed, because the conditions are so horrible," he said. The other side: Nestor Yglesias, an ICE spokesperson in its Miami office, said in a statement that "some ICE facilities are experiencing temporary overcrowding due to recent increases in detention populations." Still, he said, the agency is taking steps to alleviate crowding, including transferring detainees and "expedited case processing where appropriate." "We are actively implementing measures to manage capacity while maintaining compliance with federal standards and our commitment to humane treatment," Yglesias said. Yes, but: Three people have died at the Krome center while in ICE custody since October, most recently a 44-year-old Ukrainian man who died in February, NBC Miami reported.
