Latest news with #YuryUshakov
Russia Today
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kremlin reveals how Putin will take part in BRICS summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil via video link, according to his foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov. This year's event, which will be the trade and development group's 17th annual summit, is set to take place in Rio de Janeiro in July. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be representing the country at the summit, Ushakov told Vesti in an interview on Wednesday. Putin will not travel to Brazil due to unresolved issues concerning an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the presidential aide said. 'The president will participate via video link. This is related to difficulties related to the requirements of the ICC,' Ushakov said. 'The Brazilian government could not take a clear position that would allow our president to participate in this meeting.' In 2023, the Hague-based institution's top prosecutor, Karim Khan, issued arrest warrants for Russia's president, as well as Russian children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, on charges of unlawful deportation and transfer of minors during the Ukraine conflict. Moscow has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, explaining that it evacuated the children out of the war zone for their own safety. Moscow is in the process of compiling a list of children currently in Ukraine who need to be reunited with their families in Russia, Lvova-Belova said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum last week. The list will be passed on to Kiev's negotiating team at the next round of direct talks, she said. Furthermore, five of the 339 children Kiev demanded be sent back to Ukraine during the last round of negotiations in Istanbul are being prepared for return, Lvova-Belova said. Russia is not a signatory to the ICC's founding treaty and does not recognize its jurisdiction. Other non-signatories include the US, China, and Israel. US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the judicial body and its top prosecutor in February for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Khan accused both of war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict, along with three Hamas leaders.
Times of Oman
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Trump seeks Russian hand in thawing frozen US-Iran nuclear talks
Moscow: Aide to the President, Yury Ushakov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had a telephonic conversation where they exchanged views on US-Iran deal on nuclear programme and that Trump sought Russia's helping hand in that matter. Ushakov said that their conversation focused on the stalled talks between the US and Iran. "In addition to Ukraine, a number of international issues were discussed, with a focus on the stalled talks between the United States and Iran on the Iranian nuclear programme. Donald Trump believes that Russia's assistance may be necessary here, and he would appreciate it if Russia could work with the Iranian side accordingly," he said. Ushakov said that their conversation involved a discussion on Ukraine conflict on the second round of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul. "Naturally, it began with a discussion of the situation around Ukraine. Vladimir Putin provided detailed information on the outcomes of the second round of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul," he said. "The fourth telephone conversation between our President and US President Donald Trump concluded. In case you want to know, this time it lasted approximately 70 minutes," he added. Ushakov said that Ukraine derailed these talks and attacked civilian infrastructure instead. "It was emphasised that Ukraine tried to derail these talks by carrying out targeted attacks on entirely civilian targets and civilians on direct orders from the Kyiv regime. These attacks unequivocally constitute an act of terrorism under international law and, in our view, the Kyiv regime has essentially degenerated into a terrorist organisation. The Russian side did not fall for the provocations and, as you know, the second round has effectively taken place in Istanbul," he said. Ushakov said that Putin and Trump's telephonic conversation was an extensive one and the corresponding memorandums will be analysed in Moscow and Kyiv. "To reiterate, our President extensively covered the content and the outcomes of the talks and emphasised that, overall, these talks were productive. The corresponding memorandums exchanged hands and will be analysed in the capitals - Moscow and Kyiv - and then, we hope, both sides can continue the talks," he said. Trump said that he was not informed about the strikes on military airfields. "Regarding the strikes on military airfields, this issue was also discussed. Donald Trump reiterated that Americans were not informed in advance about them. Naturally, the leaders agreed to continue contacts on the Ukraine issue, both at the highest level and through other channels as well," he said. They also held a conversation on Russia-US cooperation. "Furthermore, the Presidents exchanged views on the prospects for restoring Russia-US cooperation in various areas, which, according to both Presidents, possess enormous potential," he said. He said that Putin and Trump also confirmed their willingness to remain in constant communication. "In conclusion, both leaders characterised the exchange of views as positive and highly productive.
Russia Today
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Moscow outlines basis for peace negotiations with Kiev
Peace negotiations with Ukraine should consider both the current realities on the ground and the groundwork laid during the 2022 Istanbul talks, an aide to the Russian president, Yury Ushakov, has said. He made the remarks after Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Kiev the opportunity to resume direct talks 'without any preconditions.' Speaking in the early hours of Sunday, Putin proposed a new round of talks that would take place on May 15 in Istanbul. Ushakov told Russia's Channel 1 that any peace talks with Ukraine should take into account the points that were worked out by the sides during the 2022 negotiations, which Kiev unilaterally walked away from. 'The real situation' on the ground should 'obviously' be considered as well, he added. Also on Sunday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the 'objectives of negotiations are clear – to eliminate the root causes of the conflict' and to protect Russian interests. He went on to suggest that Ukraine is not really independent, and much would depend on the decisions of its Western backers. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed that his country is ready to host talks between Moscow and Kiev. In a televised address, Putin stressed that Moscow is 'set on serious negotiations with Ukraine,' and is seeking a 'long-term, sustainable peace' that addresses the root causes of the conflict. He did not rule out that the talks, if resumed, could yield 'a new ceasefire' honored by both sides, which could pave the way to a comprehensive peace settlement. 'The decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their supervisors,' the Russian president said. In 2022, Moscow and Kiev reached a draft peace deal in Istanbul, in which Ukraine reportedly agreed to neutrality and limitations on its armed forces, while Russia offered the withdrawal of its troops and security guarantees. However, Kiev abruptly walked away from the talks – a move which Russian officials claim was encouraged by then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is said to have urged Kiev to 'just continue fighting.' In November 2023, David Arakhamia, an MP allied with Vladimir Zelensky and who led the Ukrainian delegation, confirmed that this was the case. Johnson, however, has denied the allegations.
Russia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Putin and Trump exchange greetings on Victory Day
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have congratulated each other on Victory Day, an aide to the Russian president, Yury Ushakov, told journalists on Friday. The two leaders extended the greetings through aides, according to the official. The presidents shared 'heartfelt words, mutual greetings on a common holiday, great holiday,' Ushakov told the Russian Channel 1 broadcaster. Washington has not officially commented on the matter. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Muscat Daily
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
Russian, US delegations begin latest round of talks in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, KSA – Russia and the US began the latest round of bilateral talks on Monday in Saudi Arabia. Russian state news agency TASS reported that the negotiations started in Riyadh in a closed format and that Saudi security officials requested journalists at the venue to leave the premises. On Thursday, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov, following a phone call with US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, announced that the new round of talks would take place on March 24 in Riyadh. The meeting is aimed 'mainly to work out the prospects for the possible implementation of the well-known initiative concerning the safety of navigation in the Black Sea', Ushakov said in a Kremlin statement, referring to the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The meeting between the two delegations follows separate talks between Kyiv and Washington's delegations in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, which Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov described as 'productive'. 'President Volodymyr Zelensky's goal is to secure a just and lasting peace for our country and our people – and, by extension, for all of Europe. We are working to make that goal a reality,' said Umerov on Facebook. Zelensky urges pressure on Russia Meanwhile, Zelensky on Sunday called on Ukraine's allies to apply new pressure on Moscow to stop the war. The call came after nearly 150 Russian drones targeted Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight, killing at least seven people. 'New decisions and new pressure on Moscow are needed to put an end to these strikes and this war,' Zelensky posted on social media ahead of talks on a partial ceasefire. In a post on Instagram earlier, Zelensky also said, over 1,580 guided aerial bombs, nearly 1,100 attack drones, and 15 missiles of various types were used against the Ukrainian people this week alone, stressing that all of this weaponry contains at least 102,000 foreign components. 'That's why sanctions against Russian terrorists must be more effective. Every loophole that allows them to bypass the sanctions regime must be eliminated,' he wrote. 'Difficult negotiations' Meanwhile, Russia downplayed expectations of a quick resolution to the war in Ukraine, saying talks were just beginning and that 'difficult negotiations' lay ahead. 'We are only at the beginning of this path,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state TV. According to Peskov, Russia's 'main' focus in its talks with the United States would be to discuss the possible resumption of a 2022 Black Sea grain deal, which would ensure safe navigation for Ukrainian agricultural exports in the Black Sea. US expects real progress in talks US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff said he expects Ukraine and Russia to make progress on a ceasefire in the Black Sea at the talks in Saudi Arabia. 'I think you're going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that, you'll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire,' he told Fox News. Witkoff also said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants peace and is not planning to invade 'all of Europe'. 'I feel that he wants peace,' Witkoff said. Meanwhile, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said the United States is discussing a range of confidence-building measures aimed at ending the war, including the future of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. Earlier, Putin rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for a full and immediate 30-day ceasefire. Instead, he proposed halting strikes only on energy facilities. But on the eve of the negotiations, both sides launched new drone attacks. Agencies
