Page 113 - Latest Updates on Ukraine peace talks

Ukraine aid left out of funding package, raises questions about US support

Congressional supporters of Ukraine say they won't give up after a bill to keep the federal government open excluded President Joe Biden's request to provide more security assistance to the war-torn nation. Still, many lawmakers acknowledge that winning approval for Ukraine assistance in Congress is growing more difficult as the war between Russia and Ukraine grinds on. Republican resistance to the aid has been gaining momentum in the halls of Congress. Voting in the House this past week pointed to the potential trouble ahead. Nearly half of House Republicans voted to strip USD 300 million from a defence spending bill to train Ukrainian soldiers and purchase weapons. The money later was approved separately, but opponents of Ukraine support celebrated their growing numbers. Then, on Saturday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy omitted additional Ukraine aid from a measure to keep the government running until Nov. 17. In doing so, he closed the door on a Senate package that would have ...

India participates in 5th Moscow Format Consultation meeting on Afghanistan

Taliban-appointed acting minister for Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan, representatives of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Turkey also attended the meeting

Ukraine hosts defence industry forum to ramp up weapons production for war

Ukraine hosted an international defence industry conference as part of a government effort to ramp up weapons production within the country to repel Russia's full-scale invasion and reduce foreign dependence on arms deliveries. The event marked a new development in support of Ukraine, with the previous focus being on the delivery of weapons, repair of damaged equipment and military training of Ukrainian soldiers. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the opening of the International Defence Industries Forum, said that around 250 defense companies from more than 30 countries had gathered Friday in Kyiv. Defence ministers and representatives of several countries also attended the event. Heroism alone cannot intercept missiles. Ukraine needs capabilities, high quality, high quantity, and quickly. There is no defence without industry, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who spoke by video link during the forum on the day after his visit to Kyiv. Stoltenberg said that Wen

Putin meets ex-Wagner commander, orders forming units for combat missions

He said that he wanted to discuss "social guarantees" for anyone who had fought to "defend the fatherland," according to a partial transcript of the meeting

Russian President Putin meets top Wagner commander, discusses Ukraine

The Kremlin said the meeting took place late on Thursday

War in Ukraine pushes India to obtain more self-propelled guns to arsenal

The South Asian country wants to obtain another 400 of these guns, which would make the equipment about a sixth of all artillery pieces in the Indian armory

Nato chief meets with Zelenskyy to discuss 'ending Russia's aggression'

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the status of the war and needs of troops on Thursday, the day after Russia accused Ukraine's Western allies of helping plan and conduct last week's missile strike on the Black Sea Fleet's headquarters on the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Zelenskyy said that Stoltenberg agreed to make efforts to get NATO members to help provide additional air defence systems to protect Ukraine's power plants and energy infrastructure that were badly damaged in relentless and deadly attacks by Russia last winter. He also reminded the secretary-general of the persistent drone, missile and artillery attacks that often strike residential areas and were blamed Thursday for at least three civilian deaths in the past day. In the face of such intense attacks against Ukrainians, against our cities, our ports, which are crucial for global food security, we need a corresponding intensity of pressure on Russia and a ...

Back on track: Vande Bharat's Russian woes may see light at end of tunnel

RVNL said that a share purchase agreement was finally signed between the two partners

House panel to scrutinise India's Ukraine response, strategic preparedness

India's strategic operational preparedness in view of the current security scenario, its response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the cyber-security scenario in the country will come under the scanner of parliamentary panels. The Parliamentary Committee on Defence, chaired by BJP member Jual Oram, will also review the working of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), examine the role of the Indian Army in ensuring defence of the country and also study the resettlement policies, healthcare facilities and pensionary avenues for ex-servicemen, and the agnipath scheme in the Armed Forces. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by BJP member P P Chaudhary, will examine the government's efforts in countering global terrorism at regional and international levels, India's position in ongoing climate change negotiations, Russia-Ukraine conflict, its global impact and India's response; concerns and issues pertaining Indian students studying ...

Can Tiruppur recover from disruption wreaked by pandemic and war?

Indian exporters anyway have limited pricing power, as they face competition from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar

Ukrainian boat captain found guilty in Hungary for 2019 Danube collision

The captain of a river cruise boat that collided with another vessel in Hungary's capital in 2019, killing at least 27 people most of them South Korean tourists, was found guilty on Tuesday of negligence leading to a fatal mass catastrophe and sentenced to five years in prison. Judge Leona Nemeth with the Pest Central District Court found that the negligence of the Ukrainian captain, Yuriy Chaplinsky, had caused his river cruise boat, the Viking Sigyn, to collide with the tourist boat Hableany (Mermaid) from behind, causing it to sink into the Danube River within seconds. The court acquitted Chaplinsky of 35 counts of failure to render aid. He may appeal. The collision occurred May 29, 2019, when the Hableany, carrying mostly the South Korean tourists, sank after being struck beneath Budapest's Margit Bridge by the much larger Viking Sigyn. Seven South Koreans were rescued from the water in the heavy rain following the collision, and 27 people were recovered dead including the ...

US offers Poland rare loan of $2 billion to modernise its military

The Biden administration announced Monday that it is offering a $2 billion loan to Poland, which has been a hub for weapons going into Ukraine, to support the ally's defense modernisation. The State Department said in a statement that Poland is a stalwart ally of the U.S. whose security is vital to the collective defense of NATO 's eastern flank, and that such funding is reserved for Washington's most important security partners. The U.S. government is also providing Warsaw up to $60 million for the cost of the loan in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) which would support urgent procurements of defense articles and services from the United States, the State Department said. The $60 million is a loan subsidy meant to ensure that Warsaw can secure favourable terms for the loan. Poland has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of the country, handing over large numbers of its own tanks, fighter jets and other equipment. It has also been a hub for most of

EU comm in China calls for balanced trade, warns Ukraine could divide them

The European Union's trade commissioner called for a more balanced economic relationship with China on Monday, noting a trade imbalance of nearly 400 billion euros (USD 425 billion), while also warning that China's position on the war in Ukraine could endanger its relationship with Europe. Valdis Dombrovskis, in a speech at China's prestigious Tsinghua University, said that the EU and China face significant political and economic headwinds that could cause them to drift apart. The strongest, yet not the only, headwind is Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and how China positions itself on this issue, he said, according to a prepared text of his remarks. Dombrovskis is in China to co-chair high-level economic and trade talks on Monday with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. EU leaders have expressed concern about the bloc's growing trade deficit with China, which reached 396 billion euros last year. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently announced an ...

Russia's Lavrov to visit North Korea in Oct as part of follow-up measure

He made the remarks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Lavrov said that his upcoming visit to North Korea follows the agreement between Putin and Kim Jong Un

Ex-Wagner commander arrested in Norway over attempt to cross into Russia

Andrei Medvedev, fled Russia after the Russian guards opened fire on him in his account of his January flight from Russia over the country's Arctic border with Norway

LIVE: Court extends TDP Chief Naidu's judicial custody till October 5

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Pope blames weapons industry for Russia-Ukraine war, martyrdom of Ukrainian

Pope Francis has labelled the weapons industry as being a key driver of the martyrdom of Ukraine's people in Russia's war, saying even the withholding of weapons now is going to continue their misery. Francis appeared to refer to Poland's recent announcement that it is no longer sending arms to Ukraine when he was asked about the war during brief remarks to reporters while returning home from Marseille, France. Francis acknowledged he was frustrated that the Vatican's diplomatic initiatives hadn't borne much fruit. But he said behind the Russia-Ukraine conflict was also the weapons industry. He described the paradox that was keeping Ukraine a martyred people that at first many countries gave Ukraine weapons and now are taking them away. Francis has long denounced the weapons industry as merchants of death, but he has also asserted the right of countries to defend themselves. I've seen now that some countries are pulling back, and aren't giving weapons, he said. This will start a

Russia's Lavrov lambasts West but barely mentions Ukraine in UNGA speech

Lavrov accused the West of trying to force themselves as mediators between the two countries, which he said was not needed

Ukraine strikes Russia's Black Sea Fleet HQ, kills several leaders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday (local time) said that Russia's aggression must end with Ukraine's victory

Trudeau pledges Canada's support for Ukraine, punishment for Russia

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced several support measures for Ukraine, including military, economic and humanitarian assistance, while also pledging an additional show of diplomatic backing through steps intended to punish Russia over the war. We're continuing to impose costs on Russia and ensuring that those responsible for this illegal, unjustifiable invasion do not benefit from it, Trudeau said Friday during during a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ottawa, the Canadian capital. Zelenskyy also addressed Canada's Parliament on Friday. He flew into Ottawa late Thursday after meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden and lawmakers in Washington. He spoke at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday. Canada and Ukraine agreed to establish a working group with G7 partners to study seizure and forfeiture of Russian assets, including from the Russian Central Bank, Trudeau said. Canada also added 63 Russian individuals and entities to t