Latest news with #militaryoffensive
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
After talks with Zelenskyy and Macron, US senators warn: Putin ‘is preparing for more war'
PARIS — Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling at the peace table while preparing a new military offensive in Ukraine, two senior U.S. senators warned Sunday, arguing that the next two weeks could shape the future of a war that has already smashed cities, displaced millions and redrawn Europe's security map. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke to The Associated Press in Paris after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and touring neighborhoods shattered by what they called the worst Russian bombardments since the full-scale invasion began. In Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron — who they say is '100% aligned' with them on the war — the senators warned the window to prevent a renewed assault is closing. A sweeping U.S. sanctions bill could be the West's last chance to choke off the Kremlin's war economy, they said — adding that they hope their firsthand findings will shift momentum in Washington and help bring a skeptical President Donald Trump on board. 'What I learned on this trip was he's preparing for more war,' Graham said of Putin. Blumenthal called the sanctions proposed in legislation 'bone-crushing' and said it would place Russia's economy 'on a trade island.' 'It is crunch time for Putin and for the world because Russia is mounting a new offensive,' he said. At the heart of their push is a bipartisan sanctions bill, backed by nearly the entire U.S. Senate but still facing uncertain odds in Washington. It would impose 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports — targeting nations like China and India that account for roughly 70% of Russia's energy trade and bankroll much of its war effort. Graham called it 'the most draconian bill I've ever seen in my life in the Senate.' 'The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin,' he said. 'We're going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine.' With peace talks yielding little and Trump's approach to Ukraine highly uncertain, Graham and Blumenthal have stepped into the breach — blunt emissaries on a lonely mission. Political opposites moving in lockstep, they're crossing Europe, and the aisle, with the moral urgency of two men trying to forestall another Russian offensive before it's too late. Peace talks are scheduled to resume Monday in Istanbul. But Ukrainian officials say Moscow has yet to submit a serious proposal — a delay both senators described as deliberate and dangerous. 'Putin is playing President Trump,' Blumenthal said. 'He's taking him for a sucker.' The senator said Putin 'is, in effect, stalling and stonewalling, prolonging the conversation so that he can mount this offensive and take control of more territory on the ground.' Graham added: 'We saw credible evidence of a summer or early fall invasion, a new offensive by Putin. ... He's preparing for more war.' Trump has yet to endorse the sanctions bill, telling reporters Friday: 'I don't know. I'll have to see it.' Graham said the legislation was drafted in consultation with Trump's advisers. Graham backed the president's diplomatic instincts but said, 'By trying to engage Putin — by being friendly and enticing — it's become painfully clear he's not interested in ending this war.' Blumenthal hoped the bipartisan support for Ukraine at least in the Senate — and the personal testimonies they plan to bring home to Congress and the Oval Office— may help shift the conversation. 'He needs to see and hear that message as well from us, from the American people,' he said of Putin. In Kyiv, the senators said, the war's human toll was impossible to ignore. Graham pointed to what Ukrainian officials and Yale researchers estimate are nearly 20,000 children forcibly deported to Russia — calling their return a matter of justice, not diplomacy. Blumenthal described standing at mass grave sites in Bucha, where civilians were executed with shots to the head. The destruction, he said, and the stories of those who survived, made clear the stakes of delay. 'Putin is a thug. He's a murderer.' Both said that failing to act now could pull the U.S. deeper into conflict later. If Putin isn't stopped in Ukraine, Blumenthal said, NATO treaty obligations could one day compel American troops into battle. After a one-hour meeting with Macron in Paris, both Graham, of South Carolina, and Blumenthal, of Connecticut, said they left convinced Europe was ready to toughen its stance. 'This visit has been a breakthrough moment because President Macron has shown moral clarity in his conversations with us,' Blumenthal said. 'Today, he is 100% aligned with that message that we are taking back to Washington.' Blumenthal pointed to the rare bipartisan unity behind the sanctions bill. 'There are very few causes that will take 41 Republicans and 41 Democrats and put them on record on a single piece of legislation,' he said. 'The cause of Ukraine is doing it.' Ahead, Ukrainian military leaders are set to brief Congress and a sanctions vote could follow. 'President Trump said we'll know in two weeks whether he's being strung along,' Graham said. 'There will be more evidence of that from Russia on Monday.'
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Putin is preparing for more war, U.S. senators warn, urging swift sanctions and global action
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., left, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C thumb up during a news event at the US embassy to France, Sunday, June 1, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Adamson) PARIS — Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling at the peace table while preparing a new military offensive in Ukraine, two senior U.S. senators warned Sunday, arguing that the next two weeks could shape the future of a war that has already smashed cities, displaced millions and redrawn Europe's security map. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke to The Associated Press in Paris after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and touring neighborhoods shattered by what they called the worst Russian bombardments since the full-scale invasion began. In Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron — who they say is '100 per cent aligned' with them on the war — the senators warned the window to prevent a renewed assault is closing. A sweeping U.S. sanctions bill could be the West's last chance to choke off the Kremlin's war economy, they said. 'What I learned on this trip was he's preparing for more war,' Graham said of Putin. Blumenthal called the sanctions proposed in legislation 'bone-crushing' and said it would place Russia's economy 'on a trade island.' 'It is crunch time for Putin and for the world because Russia is mounting a new offensive,' he said. At the heart of their push is a bipartisan sanctions bill, backed by nearly the entire U.S. Senate but still facing uncertain odds in Washington. It would impose 500 per cent tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports — targeting nations like China and India that account for roughly 70 per cent of Russia's energy trade and bankroll much of its war effort. Graham called it 'the most draconian bill I've ever seen in my life in the Senate.' 'The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin,' he said. 'We're going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine.' Peace talks or stalling tactic? Peace talks are scheduled to resume Monday in Istanbul. But Ukrainian officials say Moscow has yet to submit a serious proposal — a delay both senators described as deliberate and dangerous. 'Putin is playing President Trump,' Blumenthal said. 'He's taking him for a sucker.' The senator said Putin 'is, in effect, stalling and stonewalling, prolonging the conversation so that he can mount this offensive and take control of more territory on the ground.' Graham added: 'We saw credible evidence of a summer or early fall invasion, a new offensive by Putin. ... He's preparing for more war.' Trump has yet to endorse the sanctions bill, telling reporters Friday: 'I don't know. I'll have to see it.' Graham said the legislation was drafted in consultation with Trump's advisers. Graham backed the president's diplomatic instincts but said, 'By trying to engage Putin — by being friendly and enticing — it's become painfully clear he's not interested in ending this war.' Blumenthal hoped the bipartisan support for Ukraine at least in the Senate — and the personal testimonies they plan to bring home to Congress and the Oval Office— may help shift the conversation. 'He needs to see and hear that message as well from us, from the American people,' he said of Putin. A moral reckoning In Kyiv, the senators said, the war's human toll was impossible to ignore. Graham pointed to what Ukrainian officials and Yale researchers estimate are nearly 20,000 children forcibly deported to Russia — calling their return a matter of justice, not diplomacy. Blumenthal described standing at mass grave sites in Bucha, where civilians were executed with shots to the head. The destruction, he said, and the stories of those who survived, made clear the stakes of delay. 'Putin is a thug. He's a murderer.' Both said that failing to act now could pull the U.S. deeper into conflict later. If Putin isn't stopped in Ukraine, Blumenthal said, NATO treaty obligations could one day compel American troops into battle. They see resolve in Europe After a one-hour meeting with Macron in Paris, both Graham, of South Carolina, and Blumenthal, of Connecticut, said they left convinced Europe was ready to toughen its stance. 'This visit has been a breakthrough moment because President Macron has shown moral clarity in his conversations with us,' Blumenthal said. 'Today, he is 100% aligned with that message that we are taking back to Washington.' Blumenthal pointed to the rare bipartisan unity behind the sanctions bill. 'There are very few causes that will take 41 Republicans and 41 Democrats and put them on record on a single piece of legislation,' he said. 'The cause of Ukraine is doing it.' Ahead, Ukrainian military leaders are set to brief Congress and a sanctions vote could follow. 'President Trump said we'll know in two weeks whether he's being strung along,' Graham said. 'There will be more evidence of that from Russia on Monday.' Thomas Adamson, The Associated Press
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Putin is preparing for more war, US senators warn, urging swift sanctions and global action
PARIS (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling at the peace table while preparing a new military offensive in Ukraine, two senior U.S. senators warned Sunday, arguing that the next two weeks could shape the future of a war that has already smashed cities, displaced millions and redrawn Europe's security map. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke to The Associated Press in Paris after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and touring neighborhoods shattered by what they called the worst Russian bombardments since the full-scale invasion began. In Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron — who they say is '100% aligned' with them on the war — the senators warned the window to prevent a renewed assault is closing. A sweeping U.S. sanctions bill could be the West's last chance to choke off the Kremlin's war economy, they said. 'What I learned on this trip was he's preparing for more war,' Graham said of Putin. Blumenthal called the sanctions proposed in legislation 'bone-crushing' and said it would place Russia's economy 'on a trade island.' 'It is crunch time for Putin and for the world because Russia is mounting a new offensive,' he said. At the heart of their push is a bipartisan sanctions bill, backed by nearly the entire U.S. Senate but still facing uncertain odds in Washington. It would impose 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports — targeting nations like China and India that account for roughly 70% of Russia's energy trade and bankroll much of its war effort. Graham called it 'the most draconian bill I've ever seen in my life in the Senate.' 'The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin,' he said. 'We're going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine.' Peace talks or stalling tactic? Peace talks are scheduled to resume Monday in Istanbul. But Ukrainian officials say Moscow has yet to submit a serious proposal — a delay both senators described as deliberate and dangerous. 'Putin is playing President Trump,' Blumenthal said. 'He's taking him for a sucker.' The senator said Putin 'is, in effect, stalling and stonewalling, prolonging the conversation so that he can mount this offensive and take control of more territory on the ground.' Graham added: 'We saw credible evidence of a summer or early fall invasion, a new offensive by Putin. ... He's preparing for more war.' Trump has yet to endorse the sanctions bill, telling reporters Friday: 'I don't know. I'll have to see it.' Graham said the legislation was drafted in consultation with Trump's advisers. Graham backed the president's diplomatic instincts but said, 'By trying to engage Putin — by being friendly and enticing — it's become painfully clear he's not interested in ending this war.' Blumenthal hoped the bipartisan support for Ukraine at least in the Senate — and the personal testimonies they plan to bring home to Congress and the Oval Office— may help shift the conversation. 'He needs to see and hear that message as well from us, from the American people,' he said of Putin. A moral reckoning In Kyiv, the senators said, the war's human toll was impossible to ignore. Graham pointed to what Ukrainian officials and Yale researchers estimate are nearly 20,000 children forcibly deported to Russia — calling their return a matter of justice, not diplomacy. Blumenthal described standing at mass grave sites in Bucha, where civilians were executed with shots to the head. The destruction, he said, and the stories of those who survived, made clear the stakes of delay. 'Putin is a thug. He's a murderer.' Both said that failing to act now could pull the U.S. deeper into conflict later. If Putin isn't stopped in Ukraine, Blumenthal said, NATO treaty obligations could one day compel American troops into battle. They see resolve in Europe After a one-hour meeting with Macron in Paris, both Graham, of South Carolina, and Blumenthal, of Connecticut, said they left convinced Europe was ready to toughen its stance. 'This visit has been a breakthrough moment because President Macron has shown moral clarity in his conversations with us,' Blumenthal said. 'Today, he is 100% aligned with that message that we are taking back to Washington.' Blumenthal pointed to the rare bipartisan unity behind the sanctions bill. 'There are very few causes that will take 41 Republicans and 41 Democrats and put them on record on a single piece of legislation,' he said. 'The cause of Ukraine is doing it.' Ahead, Ukrainian military leaders are set to brief Congress and a sanctions vote could follow. 'President Trump said we'll know in two weeks whether he's being strung along,' Graham said. 'There will be more evidence of that from Russia on Monday.'
Forbes
2 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Saturday, May 31. Russia's War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine
SLOVIANSK, UKRAINE - MAY 31: A view of the damaged following the Russian aerial attacks with KAB 250 ... More in a residential area of Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on May 31, 2025. (Photo by Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images) Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 1,193. Russia's Attacks on Ukraine and War Developments Aiming to create a "buffer zone," Russian forces have seized villages near Sumy, Ukraine's northern regional capital. As 50,000 Russian troops accumulate on Ukraine's border, the Sumy region prepares for a renewed large-scale offensive. More than 200 settlements are under evacuation orders after Russia advanced deeper into Ukrainian territory. The Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState reports that 57 square miles have been captured and another 45 are under attack in border areas. On May 29, Russia launched a series of deadly attacks across Ukraine, killing at least seven civilians. A glide bomb strike in the southern Zaporizhia region killed two, a ballistic missile strike on a farm in the southern Mykolaiv province killed one worker and explosives dropped by drone in the southern Kherson province killed two local residents. The day before, Russian troops killed two residents in the northern Sumy region. Ukraine has deployed its first AI-powered drone, capable of delivering and coordinating two strike drones at distances up to 185 miles while slashing mission costs to just $10,000. Ukraine's Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the system's debut on May 29, highlighting its autonomous target selection and capacity for reuse. Ukraine's latest innovation emerges amid the exponential growth of its defense sector, with 800 domestic enterprises producing $9 billion worth of weapons in 2024 and plans underway to procure 4.5 million drones in 2025 through a $2.7 billion state-funded initiative. Settlement of the War in Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding a written commitment halting NATO's eastward expansion and partial sanctions relief as key conditions for ending the war in Ukraine, according to sources familiar with internal negotiations. Despite battlefield advances, Putin has reportedly agreed in principle to begin drafting a peace framework following a two-hour call with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has voiced frustration over Putin's refusal to engage with Kyiv directly and recent large-scale Russian attacks. Following Trump's call, Moscow proposed resuming direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2 to exchange ceasefire draft proposals, according to Russian officials. The previous round of bilateral talks on May 16 ended without agreement, but Kremlin negotiators now say they are prepared for 'substantive discussion' on a package deal and awaiting Kyiv's response. China Deepens Tech Support for Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused China of cutting off drone sales to Ukraine and Western allies while continuing to supply Russia, including via production lines on Russian territory with Chinese oversight. Zelenskyy's claims, backed by European officials, highlight concerns over Beijing's export of dual-use technologies such as Mavic drones and motor components, which are widely used on the battlefield for surveillance and strikes. China denies providing lethal aid to Moscow. The U.S. and EU, however, have sanctioned several Chinese firms for supporting Russia's drone production efforts. Recent reporting by Forbes Ukraine substantiates Zelenskyy's allegations, revealing that Russia's Iranian-built Shahed drones (deployed in record numbers during a late May barrage) now rely more heavily on Chinese electronics. Analysis of drone wreckage from attacks in March, 2025, showed that 10 of 15 identified components originated from Chinese companies. This use of Chinese parts represents a clear shift from earlier models, which contained more U.S. and European components. Experts suggest that Russia is compensating for Western export controls by deepening technological reliance on Chinese suppliers, many of which help circumvent sanctions through dual-use goods and Western parts re-exported through third countries. Beijing's support extends beyond electronics. In 2024 alone, China exported $4.6 billion worth of critical goods to Russia, including CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines used for precise fabrication of complex parts and microelectronics used in weapons production. Given that up to 90% of the precision components in Russian high-tech weapons are now Chinese-made, some experts claim that China's role has evolved from cautious neutrality to crucial support of Russian aggression. Germany's New Military Aid Package Germany will provide Ukraine about $5.7 billion in military aid, including funding for Ukrainian production of long-range missiles and air defense systems, following an agreement signed by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov. Approved by the Bundestag, the package also includes support for Ukrainian repair centers and satellite communications. The new military aid package for Ukraine follows Chancellor Friedrich Merz's pledge during a joint press conference with President Zelenskyy on May 28 to fund the development of Ukrainian long-range missiles. Earlier reporting by the German newspaper Bild revealed Berlin's plans to invest in Ukraine's own production of cruise missiles with ranges up to 1,500 miles. By Danylo Nosov, Alan Sacks
Sky News
5 days ago
- General
- Sky News
Could a ceasefire deal in Gaza be close?
👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈 As international criticism of Israel's latest military offensive in Gaza mounts, Richard and Yalda ask how likely a ceasefire is in the coming weeks. Also, one of Richard's contacts tells him how Israel is using talking drones in Gaza which he describes as 'like something from Black Mirror'. Yalda unpacks her interview with a Hamas official, who has an interesting revelation about negotiations. Meanwhile, Richard gives his thoughts on a possible US-Iran nuclear deal. He also unveils the life of the super-rich in Iran's capital. Later on, they both try to make sense of the latest drama between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. To get in touch or to share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@ Episodes of The World With Richard Engel And Yalda Hakim will be available every Wednesday on all podcast platforms.
