Latest news with #VolodymyrZelenskyy
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Russian-Ukraine talks in Istanbul: Kyiv says ready for dialogue, but on set peace terms
Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy Russia and Ukraine are gearing up for a new round of direct peace talks in Istanbul next Monday, amid growing international pressure and rising scepticism about Moscow's intentions. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov informed US state secretary Marco Rubio during a phone call that Moscow was finalising its proposals for the meeting. 'Our delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present a memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during a second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday, June 2,' Lavrov said in a video statement released by the foreign ministry. Kyiv, while open to talks, is demanding that Russia submit its peace terms in advance to avoid another fruitless encounter. 'We are not opposed to further meetings with the Russians and are awaiting their memorandum,' said Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov, who led negotiations during the previous round in May. 'The Russian side has at least four more days before their departure to provide us with their document for review. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Diplomacy must be substantive, and the next meeting must yield results.' The last round of face-to-face talks, held on May 16 in Istanbul, was the first such meeting in over three years but ended without a breakthrough. Ukraine claims it has already submitted its peace demands and insists that any negotiation must be based on mutual clarity and seriousness. Meanwhile, Russia continues to push its own conditions, including a demand for Kyiv to renounce its bid to join NATO and cede territory currently under Russian control, a proposal Ukraine considers unacceptable. Tensions remain rising on the battlefield in recent days, with Ukraine and Moscow responding engaging in deadly strikes. US President Donald Trump, who has been trying to broker a peace agreement, expressed growing frustration with Russia's actions. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he said he was 'very disappointed' by Russia's continued bombardment during ongoing negotiations. 'If I think I'm close to getting a deal, I don't want to screw it up by doing that,' Trump said, dismissing calls for tougher sanctions on Moscow. Despite the heightened diplomacy, Russia rejected a proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a trilateral summit with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying such a meeting could only happen once concrete agreements are reached in negotiations. Zelenskyy, speaking at a press conference in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, accused Russia of deliberately dragging out the peace process. 'They will constantly look for reasons not to end the war,' he said. He also warned of a fresh military buildup, claiming Moscow is amassing more than 50,000 troops near the Sumy region on Ukraine's northeastern border. Russian forces have reportedly seized several settlements in the area, aiming to establish what Putin has described as a 'buffer zone' inside Ukrainian territory. The war, now in its third year, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and devastated much of eastern and southern Ukraine. Russia currently controls around a fifth of Ukraine's territory, including Crimea, which was annexed back in 2014.
NHK
5 hours ago
- Business
- NHK
Germany, Ukraine to jointly produce long-range weapons
Germany and Ukraine have agreed to work on joint production of long-range weapons. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks in Berlin on Wednesday. They discussed ways to deal with Russia, which is stepping up attacks on Ukraine while rejecting a ceasefire requested by the West. At a joint news conference after the meeting, Merz said Russia is playing for time, and that massive airstrikes on Kyiv "do not speak the language of peace." Zelenskyy said every possible pressure must be put on Russia. They disclosed that they agreed to seek joint production of long-range weapons to enhance Ukraine's defense. Merz said on Monday that Germany will now allow Ukraine to conduct long-range attacks into Russian territory using weapons supplied by his country. A focal point in the latest meeting was whether Germany would agree to supply its Taurus missiles, which have a range of 500 kilometers. But Merz did not mention that. Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized the agreement between Berlin and Kyiv. He said in an interview with state-run TV on Wednesday that the move hinders peace efforts. He also said that despite such provocative actions and obstacles, Russia expects the peace process to continue and Moscow and Kyiv to hold a second round of negotiations and exchange memorandums. On May 16, the two sides held direct talks in Turkey.
CNA
6 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Merz says Germany, Ukraine to jointly produce long-range weapons
BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday (May 28) during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets well inside Russian territory. Both countries' defence ministers later signed a memorandum of understanding for the production of long-range weapons systems, but without revealing technical details or naming the manufacturers involved. "There will be no range restrictions, allowing Ukraine to fully defend itself, even against military targets outside its own territory," Merz told a joint press conference. Zelenskyy's Berlin visit comes days after Russia launched some of its heaviest missile and drone attacks of the conflict on Ukraine, and as US President Donald Trump has voiced growing frustration with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian president accused Russia of stalling peace talks and said Moscow did not want to halt its three-year invasion, adding that "they will constantly look for reasons not to end the war". Merz said that "the massive air strikes, particularly on the city of Kyiv over the weekend, do not speak the language of peace, but rather the language of a war of aggression". "This is a slap in the face of all those who are trying to bring about a ceasefire in Ukraine itself, but also in Europe and the USA." He warned that "the Russian side's refusal to hold talks, the refusal to observe a ceasefire, now really has consequences, and we are drawing these consequences every day". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media when asked about Merz's weapons announcement: "All these actions naturally hinder peace efforts." Merz also pointed to reports that Russia and American investors are hoping to resume Russian gas deliveries through the destroyed Nord Stream pipelines running through the Baltic Sea and vowed that Germany will "do everything" to ensure this will not happen. "MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION" Merz, who took power early this month, has vowed to keep strongly backing Ukraine, but without giving details of which weapons Germany is sending, in line with a policy of strategic ambiguity. The joint production of long-range weapons "can take place both in Ukraine and here in Germany," he said. "We will not provide any further details until further notice." Merz hailed the project as "the beginning of a new form of military-industrial cooperation between our countries that has great potential". Merz had pointed out in a TV interview this week that already "there are no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine - neither by the British nor by the French nor by us nor by the Americans". "This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia ... With very few exceptions, it didn't do that until recently. It can now do that." Germany's defence ministry said the new agreement for direct investment "will enable a significant number of long-range weapons to be produced this year". "The first of these systems can be deployed in the Ukrainian armed forces in just a few weeks," it said, adding that "they are already in service in the Ukrainian armed forces, so no additional training is required." The ministry said Germany was also sending ammunition and small arms and helping with satellite communications and medical gear, as part of a five billion euro tranche of support previously approved by the German parliament.
Fox News
8 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
Trump says he will meet with Putin, Zelenskyy 'if necessary' amid negotiations to end war
President Donald Trump said he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy in the coming weeks "if necessary." The president's comments come just after he condemned Russia's recent large-scale strike against Ukraine. Russian forces launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities overnight Sunday. The attack, which has been called the largest aerial attack of the war so far, targeted the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Ukrainian officials said that at least 12 people were killed and dozens more were injured. Though past strikes have proven more deadly, the attack is the largest-scale aerial assault of the war in terms of the number of weapons: 298 drones and 69 missiles were launched. The president on Wednesday was asked if he believes Putin actually wants to end the war with Ukraine, to which Trump replied: "I can't tell you that, but I'll let you know in about two weeks." "Within two weeks, we're going to find out whether or not he's tapping us along or not," Trump told reporters at the Oval Office during a swearing-in ceremony for Jeanine Pirro as interim U.S. attorney. "And if he is, we will respond a little bit differently." Trump said his special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is "doing a phenomenal job" and "dealing with them very strongly right now." "They seem to want to do something," Trump said. But Trump again condemned Russia's attack, saying he is "very disappointed at what happened a couple of nights now where people were killed — in what you would call a negotiation." "I'm very disappointed by that," Trump said. "Very, very disappointing." Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed a willingness to sit down again with Trump and with Putin in Geneva. When asked if he was planning to sit down with Putin and Zelenskyy, Trump said he would be willing. "Well, if it's necessary… we have to, I think at this point. I wish you would have been that way a couple of months ago, but at this point, we're working on President Putin, and we'll see where we are," Trump said. "I think we're doing fine, but we'll see." Special Envoy Keith Kellogg is preparing for possible talks in Geneva, though it remains unclear when they will be held. Russia has yet to agree to the U.S.'s peace proposal, and its foreign ministry Tuesday claimed it was still working on its memorandum of terms. Russia has suggested a possible meeting in Istabul, Turkey. Meanwhile, the president again on Wednesday said: "I don't like what's happening. It's one thing I'll say — I don't like when I see rockets being shot into cities. That's no good. We're not going to allow it." The president, over the weekend, blasted Putin, saying he is "killing a lot of people." "I don't know what the hell happened to Putin," he said over the weekend. "I've known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he's sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don't like it at all." In a post on Telegram, Zelenskyy called for an international response to the attack. "The silence of America, the silence of others in the world only encourages Putin," he wrote on Telegram. "Every such terrorist Russian strike is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia." Trump expanded on his comments later Sunday, writing on Truth Social that Putin "has gone absolutely CRAZY!" while also criticizing Zelenskyy. "I've always said that (Putin) wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!" the social media post read. "Likewise, President Zelenskyy is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does. Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don't like it, and it better stop." "This is a War that would never have started if I were President," Trump concluded. "This is Zelenskyy's, Putin's, and Biden's War, not 'Trump's,' I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires, that have been started through Gross Incompetence and Hatred."
Asharq Al-Awsat
9 hours ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Germany's Merz Offers to Help Ukraine Develop Its Own Long-Range Missiles to Hit Russia
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged Wednesday to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets as the Kyiv government fights to repel Russia's invasion. Some of the advanced weapon systems that Kyiv's allies supplied to Ukraine during the three-year-old war were subject to range and target restrictions — a fraught political issue stemming from fears that if the weapons struck deep inside Russia, the Kremlin might retaliate against the country that provided them and draw NATO into Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. Standing beside visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Merz said that under an intensified cooperation agreement, Germany 'will strive to equip the Ukrainian army with all the capabilities that truly enable it to successfully defend the country,' including upgraded domestic missile production. After the United States, Germany has been the biggest individual supplier of military aid to Ukraine. 'Ukraine will be able to fully defend itself, including against military targets outside its own territory' with its own missiles, Merz said at a joint news conference. Merz's pledge came as the past few months of intense US-led peace efforts have brought no significant breakthrough and with analysts saying Russia is poised to launch a major summer offensive. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul was in Washington on Wednesday to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Merz declined to say whether Germany will supply its advanced Taurus long-range cruise missile to Ukraine, long a request by Kyiv and a step that Berlin has resisted. Asked about Germany's offer to fund long-range missile production in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded that the move was an obstacle to reaching a peace agreement. Both Merz and Zelenskyy criticized the Kremlin's effective rejection of an unconditional ceasefire proposed by the US, which Kyiv accepted. Kyiv says Moscow has been slow to respond to proposals for a settlement. Merz said last Monday that Germany and other major allies were no longer imposing range limits on weapons they send to Ukraine, although he indicated their use was limited to Russian military targets. Ukraine has launched its own long-range drones at sites that support Russia's military efforts, including refineries and chemical plants. Then-US President Joe Biden last year authorized Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles for limited strikes in Russia. The decision allowed Ukraine to use the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS against Russia. In Berlin, Zelenskyy called for deeper defense cooperation across Europe and with Washington, stressing the need for long-range capabilities and sustained military funding to ensure Ukraine's resilience. 'We need sufficient long-range capabilities. That's why we must be certain of the financing of our army and the stability of Ukraine,' he said. He said the cooperation projects already exist. 'We simply want (the missiles) to be produced in the quantity we need,' Zelenskyy told reporters. Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Ukraine is ready to hold peace talks at the highest level, including a trilateral meeting with himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. 'We are ready to meet at the level of leaders. Both the American side knows this, and the Russian side knows this,' he said. Zelenskyy said he would accept any configuration of talks, whether that includes one trilateral meeting or separate meetings with Trump. Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said Russia is grateful to Trump for his mediation efforts. 'At the same time, there is a big number of nuances to be discussed that can't be neglected and which neither party is going to sacrifice, because of its national interests,' Peskov told reporters. 'Just like the United States, Russia has its national interests that are of primary importance to us.' He said that Moscow will 'soon' deliver its promised memorandum on a framework for a peace settlement. Meanwhile, fighting has continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where Ukraine's army is shorthanded against its bigger adversary. Zelenskyy claimed Tuesday that Russia is mobilizing up to 45,000 men every month, while Ukraine mobilizes between 25,000-27,000. Both sides are continuing to conduct deep strikes. Russia launched its biggest drone attack of the war against Ukraine on Sunday. Russian air defenses downed 296 Ukrainian drones over 13 Russian regions late Tuesday and early Wednesday, Russia's Defense Ministry said, in what appeared to be one of the biggest Ukrainian drone assaults of the war. Ukraine is increasing its domestic production of drones and missiles, according to Zelenskyy. He said late Tuesday that Ukraine wants European countries to help it invest in the manufacture of attack drones, air defense interceptors, cruise missiles and ballistic systems. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that air defenses shot down Ukrainian 33 drones heading toward the capital. Moscow regional Gov. Andrei Vorobyov said 42 drones were downed. He said that drone fragments damaged three residential buildings in the village of Troitskoye, but no one was hurt. More than 60 flights were canceled Wednesday in Moscow as the capital's airports were forced to ground planes amid drone warnings, said the federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsiya. Overnight, Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine using five Iskander ballistic missiles, one guided air-launched missile and 88 drones, Ukraine's air force said. Air defense units shot down 34 drones, and 37 drones were jammed.
