Page 4 - Kiev Ukraine

Ukraine strikes Russian territory with ATACMS missiles for first time

Since supplying Ukraine with ATACMS missiles in 2023, this marks the first time US President Joe Biden has authorised their use deeper into Russian territory

Japan's minister visits Kyiv to stress mutual concern over N Korean troops

Japan's foreign minister arrived in Kyiv on Saturday to discuss North Korea's deepening military alliance with Russia, including the deployment of thousands of troops to support Moscow's war in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, to reaffirm Japan's strong support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion and to discuss further sanctions against Moscow, Japan's Foreign Ministry said. High on the agenda was Tokyo's grave concern over growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, the ministry said. According to US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence assessments, up to 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia as part of a major defence treaty between the countries. Last week, Ukrainian officials said Ukraine and North Korean troops engaged in small-scale fighting while Ukraine's army fired artillery at North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk border region, where Ukraine launched a surprise push on Augus

Russia open to hearing Trump's proposals for ending war, says official

Russia is open to hearing President-elect Donald Trump's proposals on ending the war, an official said, as a Russian drone killed one person and wounded 13 in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa and the European Union foreign policy chief held talks in Kyiv on support for Ukraine after the change in US leadership. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow and Washington were exchanging signals on Ukraine via closed channels. He did not specify whether the communication was with the current administration or Trump and members of his incoming administration. Russia is ready to listen to Trump's proposals on Ukraine provided these were ideas on how to move forward in the area of settlement, and not in the area of further pumping the Kyiv regime with all kinds of aid, Ryabkov said on Saturday in an interview with Russian state news agency Interfax. Odesa regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said high-rise residential buildings, private houses and warehouses in the Black Sea port city

Former Russian president Medvedev warns US, asks to avoid World War 3

The 2-1/2-year-old war in Ukraine is entering what Russian officials say is its most dangerous phase as Russian forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine

North Korea sent troops to help Russia in Ukraine war, confirms Nato

NATO on Monday confirmed that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia to aid in its war against Ukraine and that some have already been deployed in Russia's Kursk region, where Russia is fighting a Ukrainian incursion. Today, I can confirm that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, and that North Korean military units have been deployed to the Kursk region, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters. Rutte said that the move represents a significant escalation in North Korea's involvement in the conflict and marks a dangerous expansion of Russia's war. His remarks came after a high-level South Korean delegation including top intelligence and military officials as well as senior diplomats briefed the alliance's 32 national ambassadors at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

As N Korea sends 3,000 troops, Russian lawmakers ratify pact with Pyongyang

Russian lawmakers on Thursday ratified a pact with North Korea envisioning mutual military assistance, a move that comes as the US confirmed the deployment of 3,000 North Korean troops to Russia. The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, voted quickly to endorse the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty that Russia's President Vladimir Putin signed with North Korean leader King Jong Un on a visit to Pyongyang in June. The upper house is expected to follow suit soon. The pact obliges Russia and North Korea to immediately provide military assistance using all means if either is attacked. It marked the strongest link between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War. The US said Wednesday that 3,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia and are training at several locations, calling the move very serious and warning that those forces will be fair game if they go into combat in Ukraine. Russia and North Korea have previously rejected assertions

India in good position to listen to both Russia, Ukraine, says German envoy

German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann has noted that Germany has always said India is in a "very good position" to basically listen to both sides when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Though he does not know what New Delhi is intending to do, but Berlin would "welcome any engagement", he added. Ambassador Ackermann interacted with media at his residence here, ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to India. On October 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Scholz will co-chair the seventh Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC). The IGC is a whole-of-government framework under which ministers from both sides hold discussions in their respective areas of responsibility and report on the outcome of their deliberations to the prime minister and the chancellor. In response to a query on India's potential role towards seeking a resolution of the over two-year-long conflict, Ackermann said, "We all know that Prime Minister (Modi) is coming back from Kazan... BRICS ..

Only US green light on Nato invitation will sway Germany: Zelenskyy

Ukraine's president is hoping allies will take a more positive stance on his so-called victory plan after the US election, but concedes that its key demand an invitation to join NATO is not welcome by some key Western partners, in particular Germany. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was also likely looking at the postelection scenario in the US to assess the possibility of cease-fire talks with Ukraine. He assessed that if partial cease-fire deals could be reached over attacks on energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping routes, it would signal the end of the hot phase of the war. Zelenskyy spoke to journalists on Monday and his comments were embargoed until Tuesday. On NATO, Zelenskyy said France, Britain and Italy have shown signs of support. Germany has reservations, however, and Zelenskyy believes only a US green light will convince Berlin to accept the idea. "The German side is sceptical about our NATO membership that's a fact. I believe their stance is softer than it was

West's failure in Ukraine: Selling out Kyiv would be a shameful betrayal

Fewer American weapons are available for shipment to Kyiv, and the eyes of Western governments are focused overwhelmingly on Israel and Iran

France pledges support for Ukraine's plan to end Russian invasion

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot pledged his support for Ukraine's plan for ending the two and a half-year war with Russia, telling reporters in Kyiv on Saturday that he will work with Ukrainian officials to secure other nations' backing for the proposal. Unveiled by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week, Kyiv's so-called victory plan hopes to compel Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine through negotiations. The proposal is being considered by Ukraine's Western partners, whose help is vital for Kyiv to resist its bigger neighbour. A key element would be a formal invitation into NATO, which Western backers have been reluctant to consider until after the war ends. A Russian victory would be a consecration for the law of the strongest and would push the international order toward chaos, Barrot said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha. That is why our exchanges should allow us to make progress on President Zelenskyy's ..

Zelenskyy unveils 'victory plan' as Ukraine faces precarious moment in war

Zelenskyy, who has unrelentingly called for a "fair" end to the war, says his plan is needed to force the Kremlin to negotiate in good faith

PM's meetings with Putin, Zelenskyy 'beginning of communication': EAM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meetings with the top leaders of Russia and Ukraine were "beginnings of a communication process" between two countries engaged in a serious conflict that has had enormous consequences, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. In an interactive session at The Conclave 2024 organised by news channel Pratidin Time, Jaishankar said Prime Minister Modi was one of the very few world leaders who has the "ability" to speak to both the leaders, who "trust" him. "What are we trying to do? You don't necessarily have to mediate... sometimes you have to communicate. We are actually, simultaneously talking to two countries who are having a conflict," he said to a question on India's role in "mediation" in the Ukraine conflict. Jaishankar said Prime Minister Modi has had at least three meetings with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said National Security Adviser Ajit Doval also met Puti

Ukraine shoots down Russian fighter plane, Moscow claims gains in east

Ukrainian forces said they shot down a Russian fighter plane on Saturday while Russia claimed it made gains in Ukraine's east. The Russian bomber was shot down near the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk province, head of the Kostiantynivka Military Administration Serhiy Horbunov was quoted as saying by Ukraine's public broadcaster, Suspilne. Photos showed charred remains of an aircraft after it landed on a house that caught fire. Also in the partially occupied Donetsk province, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed on Saturday that it had taken control of the village of Zhelanne Druhe. If confirmed, the capture would come three days after Ukrainian forces said they were withdrawing from the front-line town of Vuhledar, some 33 kilometers (21 miles) from Zhelanne Druhe, following a hard-fought two-year defense. Although unlikely to change the course of the war, the loss of Vuhledar is indicative of Kyiv's worsening position, in part the result of Washington's refusal to grant Ukrain

Residents told to stay indoors as air pollution blankets Ukrainian capital

Authorities in Ukraine advised residents in the capital Kyiv to stay indoors Friday as air pollution, partly caused by fires in the region, blanketed the city. Ukraine's Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources said the pollution was a result of the burning of peatlands and other wildfires in the region combined with autumn temperature fluctuations. The capital woke up to thick smog with the rancid smell of blazing fires in the air. Some people were spotted wearing masks. The Ukrainian capital topped a list of the most polluted major cities early Friday in a real-time database by IQAir, a Swiss company that monitors air quality levels. Its air quality appeared to have improved somewhat since as the city came down in the ranking later in the day. Kyiv's Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change said that the likely cause of this is fires in the Kyiv region. Fires have been reported in the Vyshhorod district, around 20 kilometers (around 12 miles) n

India can play a role in resolving Ukraine conflict: Italian PM Meloni

China and India have a role to play in resolving the conflict, Meloni was quoted as saying in Italian media

Ukraine expresses concern over transfer of Iranian missiles to Russia

In a statement emailed to reporters, the ministry said the deepening military co-operation between Tehran and Moscow was a threat to Ukraine, Europe and the Middle East

Ukraine's aggressive push into Russia leaves allies impressed, but worried

With Russian forces pressing an offensive of their own in Ukraine's east, using superior numbers to crack Kyiv's lines, some European officials expressed concern

Ukraine vows to increase military production after deadly Russian attack

Funeral services were held Saturday for victims of one of the deadliest Russian airstrikes since the war in Ukraine began, as Ukraine's president vowed to increase domestic military production by creating underground weapons factories. The funerals took place in the eastern Ukrainian city of Poltava for the victims of a Russian missile attack on a military training facility that left over 50 dead and more than 300 injured. Hundreds of mourners, including grieving families, local residents, and officials, gathered at the Cathedral of the Assumption in the city, some 350 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Kyiv, for the solemn ceremony. Sobbing relatives, many holding red carnations, stood over caskets placed outside the church, draped in yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flags. An air raid siren sounded during the service. Local residents knelt in silent tribute as hearses carrying the victims passed by on their way to a military cemetery outside the city for burial. Russia has intensified

Ukraine destroys Russian drones, continues to face long-range attacks

Scores of drones were shot down over Ukraine Saturday as the country continues to face increased long-range bombardment from invading Russian forces. The Ukrainian Air Force said that 67 drones were launched over the country overnight, with air defences active in 11 regions across the country, including in the capital, Kyiv. Fifty-eight drones were shot down, with three more destroyed by electronic weapons systems, it said. Debris from one drone was photographed on the street outside Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. Ukraine's parliamentary press service confirmed that drone fragments had been found but said there were no casualties and no damage to the parliament building. The bombardment follows a week of increased long-range attacks across Ukraine, including a missile strike on a Ukrainian military academy and hospital Tuesday in the city of Poltava that killed 55 people and wounded 328 more. Another attack Wednesday on Lviv a city near the border with NATO member Polan

Failed to slow Russia's eastern advance: Putin on Ukraine's Kursk incursion

Putin, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, said that Russian forces were now gradually pushing Ukrainian soldiers out of Kursk, where on Aug. 6 Ukraine launched the biggest attack