Latest news with #Washington-proposed
Russia Today
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine shows no sign it is ready to talk
Ukraine is failing to take the necessary steps to initiate direct negotiations with Russia, while Moscow remains ready to engage at any time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Vladimir Zelensky prohibited direct bilateral talks in October 2022 for as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin remans in office, asserting that the moratorium was necessary to 'stop separatism' purportedly stemming from backchannel communications with Moscow not controlled by his administration. 'At the very least, Kiev needs to act, given its judicial ban' on talks, Peskov reminded journalists during a briefing on Monday. Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is prepared to commence negotiations with Ukraine 'without any preconditions, aiming to pave the way for peace,' the official added. Indirect contacts between Kiev and Moscow have continued on some issues, such as prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of fallen soldiers. US President Donald Trump has criticized Zelensky for undermining his mediation efforts by publicly opposing ideas, reportedly included in a Washington-proposed peace plan. The two leaders had a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral in the Vatican on Saturday. 'He told me that he needs more weapons, but he has been saying that for three years,' Trump said, recounting the engagement. 'I want them to stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal.' While Moscow has questioned Zelensky's legitimacy since the conclusion of his presidential term last year, it does not view his removal from power as a goal in the conflict. However, Russia has concerns that 'if an agreement were signed with Zelensky today, people could come forward later in Ukraine and legally challenge,' Peskov told the French media last week. Zelensky claims presidential powers, citing martial law that he first imposed in 2022.
Russia Today
01-04-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Trump rules out Ukraine joining NATO in exchange for rare earths
Ukraine will not gain NATO membership by relinquishing its rare-earth minerals to the US, President Donald Trump has stated. He previously warned Vladimir Zelensky against attempting to renegotiate the Washington-proposed agreement. The Trump administration has drafted an arrangement with Ukraine that reportedly grants the US extensive control over key sectors of the country's economy, particularly mineral extraction and transportation infrastructure. Speaking in the oval office on Tuesday, Trump commented on media reports about Zelensky's alleged insistence that he would only sign the deal if it included support for Ukraine's NATO aspirations. 'I heard that [Zelensky is] now saying: 'Well I'll only do that deal if we get into NATO' or something to that effect. Well that was never – number one – discussed,' Trump said. He further emphasized that Russia has opposed Ukraine's NATO membership since before Vladimir Putin was first elected president in 2000, suggesting that 'that's probably the reason the war started, actually.' Read more NATO chief confirms Ukraine membership out of the question Zelensky incorporated a minerals proposal into his 'victory plan' unveiled last year in anticipation of the US presidential election. Since taking office, the Trump administration has gone through multiple drafts of the agreement, none of which were finalized as Zelensky's rapport with the US president frayed. The latest proposal was leaked to the press last week. Critics described it as unprecedented and resembling a colonial protectorate treaty. On Friday, Trump warned that Zelensky would face 'big, big problems' should he continue to 'back out of the rare earth deal.' Despite the narrow description Trump prefers for the arrangement, it is said to encompass a significant portion of Ukraine's natural resources, including hydrocarbons, and would reportedly operate under American jurisdiction rather than as an international treaty. Trump claims it would enable the US to recoup taxpayer dollars spent supporting Ukraine against Russia.
Al Arabiya
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Trump to speak with Putin as US pushes Ukraine ceasefire deal
In this episode of W News, presented by Leigh-Ann Gerrans, we bring you the latest from Washington, where US President Donald Trump has announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss the Washington-proposed ceasefire deal, which Ukraine has already accepted. We'll also have updates from Yemen, where US airstrikes have targeted the Iran-backed Houthi militia. Guests: Nick Harper - Correspondent in Washington John Bolton - Former National Security Advisor to Trump Sean Bell - Military analyst Denica Chadikovska - Journalist
Russia Today
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
‘Fake news' lied about Putin meeting
US President Donald Trump has sharply denounced media reports claiming that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, faced extended delays before meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week in Moscow, dismissing such claims as 'fake.' 'The Fake News, as usual, is at it again!' he wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. Trump emphasized that there was 'no wait whatsoever' for Witkoff's meeting with Putin. The statement follows a Sky News report on Friday claiming that Witkoff was 'left twiddling his thumbs for at least eight hours before being called into the Kremlin.' The claim was subsequently picked up by multiple media outlets. Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Thursday to present Putin with details of the recent US-Ukraine discussions held in Saudi Arabia. Putin welcomed a Washington-proposed 30-day ceasefire, but emphasized the need to address several issues before proceeding, including the fate of Ukrainian forces currently encircled in Russia's Kursk Region. In his post on Saturday, Trump clarified that 'other meetings with other Representatives of Russia did take place and, obviously, they took some time, but they were very productive.' 'From there, things went quickly and efficiently, and all signs seem to be, hopefully, very good! In conclusion, there was no nine hour wait, or any wait at all!' he wrote. According to Trump, the media fabricated the story about the envoy's alleged wait 'to try and demean, because they are sick degenerates, that have to start reporting the News correctly.' Witkoff, a real estate mogul and long-time associate of Trump, has recently taken on significant diplomatic roles, including efforts to negotiate peace in the Ukraine conflict. Both US and Russian officials have expressed cautious optimism about the potential for a ceasefire. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that while challenges remain, the discussions marked a positive step toward ending the conflict.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia 'committed crimes against humanity' in Ukraine: UN probe
Russia has committed the crimes against humanity of enforced disappearances and torture in its war in Ukraine -- part of a systematic attack on civilians, a United Nations investigation has concluded. The new report by the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, published online this week, is to be formally presented to the UN Human Rights Council next Tuesday. "The commission has concluded that Russian authorities committed enforced disappearances and torture as crimes against humanity," the report said. "Both were perpetrated as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population and pursuant to a coordinated state policy," it added. The categorical nature of that statement is unusual for UN investigators. Large numbers of civilians were detained in areas that came under Russian control, said the report. Many of them were then transferred to detention facilities in occupied Ukraine or in Russia. The Russian authorities "committed additional violations and crimes during these prolonged detentions", it added. "Many victims have been missing for months and years, and some died in captivity." In addition, the authorities have systematically failed to provide information on the detainees' whereabouts. Russia acted with the intent to remove disappeared people from "the protection of the law", said the report. Prisoners of war have also been subjected to torture and been the victims of enforced disappearances, it added. - Killing captured soldiers - Russia "systematically used torture against certain categories of detainees to extract information, coerce, and intimidate", the inquiry concluded. The most brutal forms were used during interrogations, but Russian authorities had also "systematically used sexual violence as a form of torture against male detainees". The commission also studied a growing number of incidents concerning Russian troops killing or wounding captured or surrendering Ukrainian soldiers, which constitutes a war crime. "Testimonies of soldiers who deserted from the Russian armed forces indicate that there is a policy not to take prisoners but to kill them instead," the report said. Both sides had committed a war crime by killing or wounding injured soldiers using drones, it added. The report details violations of human rights law committed by Ukrainian authorities against people accused of being collaborators. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The UN Human Rights Council established its highest level of inquiry in March that year to probe violations and abuses committed during the conflict. - 'Profound scars' - US President Donald Trump is trying to negotiate a peace deal to bring about an end to the war. Russia on Friday said President Vladimir Putin had sent "additional" signals to Trump about a Washington-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine, adding it was "cautiously optimistic" about the prospect of a deal. The inquiry said that after three years of armed conflict, the "profound scars" left on its victims were increasingly visible. Many had suffered seemingly irreparable harm and endured multiple crimes and violations, it noted. "In this context, the commission underscores again the need for justice to be done and to ensure that perpetrators of violations and crimes are held to account." The commission said that while Ukraine had cooperated with the probe, Russia did not recognise the commission. Its requests for access, information and meetings have gone unanswered by Moscow. rjm/nl/jj
