Page 47 - Latest Updates on Ukraine peace talks

'Egg on my face': Tharoor on opposing India's stance on Russia-Ukraine war

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor Tuesday conceded that he was left with "an egg on his face" in opposing India's stance when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out and said due to the policy that was adopted, the country is now in a position where it can make a difference to lasting peace. Tharoor had criticised India's stance when the Russia attacked Ukraine and called for condemnation of the aggression. During an interactive session at the Raisina Dialogue here, the former minister of state for external affairs said, "I am still wiping the egg of my face because I am one person in the parliamentary debate who actually criticised the Indian position at the time back in February 2022." The Thiruvananthapuram MP said his criticism was based on the "well-known grounds that there was a violation of the UN charter, there had been a violation of the principle of inviolability of borders, of the sovereignty of a member state namely Ukraine, and we had always stood for the inadmissibility of the u

Ukraine's allies consider seizing Russia's frozen assets worth $300 billion

With US support for Ukraine in doubt, Kyiv's European allies are weighing whether to seize USD 300 billion in frozen Russian assets and use the money to compensate Ukraine, support its military and help rebuild shattered homes and towns. For now, the assets are still on ice, with opponents of seizure warning that the move could violate international law and destabilize financial markets. Here are key things to know about the debate surrounding the Kremlin assets that were frozen shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022: What are the assets and where are they? Originally, the money was in short-term government bonds held as reserves for the Russian central bank. By now, most of the bonds have have matured and turned into cash piling up in custodian banks. Some 210 billion euros are in European Union member states, with the biggest chunk, some 183 billion euros, at Euroclear, a Belgian clearinghouse for financial transactions. Other amounts are at financial institutio

UK, EU to ramp up pressure on Russia and boost defence initiatives

The talks will coordinate cooperation on Ukraine and discuss efforts to increase economic pressure on Russia, UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement

Trump's talk of dividing assets prompts concern before his call with Putin

Kyiv and its European allies are worried that Trump will try to force them into a deal on Russia's terms, leaving Ukraine weakened and vulnerable to the Kremlin in the future

PM Modi helped persuade Putin against using nuclear weapon: Polish minister

Bartoszewski stated that Putin had "threatened" to use tactical nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory, but calls from India and China influenced his decision to reconsider

Trump says he plans to speak with Putin on Mar 18 about ending Ukraine war

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday that Putin would speak with Trump by phone but declined to comment on Trump's remarks about land and power plants

Trump to talk to Putin on March 18 as he pushes for end to Ukraine war

President Donald Trump said he would speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday as he pushes to end the war in Ukraine. The US leader disclosed the upcoming conversation to reporters while flying from Florida to Washington on Air Force One on Sunday evening. We will see if we have something to announce maybe by Tuesday. I will be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday, Trump said. "A lot of work's been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end. Although Russia failed in its initial goal to topple Ukraine with its invasion three years ago, it still controls large swaths of the country. Trump said land and power plants are part of the conversation around bringing the war to a close. We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants, he said. Trump described it as "dividing up certain assets.

Zelenskyy names Andrii Hnatov as new chief of general staff of armed forces

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Andrii Hnatov as the new chief of the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces, as the country looks to restructure and strengthen its military while its engaged in combat in Russia's Kursk region and facing increasing pressure in Donetsk. Hnatov replaced Anatoliy Barhylevych, who held the position since February 2024. The appointment was announced by the general staff via its Telegram channel Sunday. We are systematically transforming the Armed Forces of Ukraine to enhance their combat effectiveness, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said. Barhylevych will now serve as the general inspector of Ukraine's Defense Ministry. Umerov emphasized that Barhylevych would remain part of the team, overseeing military standards and strengthening discipline in the army. Oleksandr Syrskyi remains in place as commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces. Zelenskyy has made frequent personnel changes within the Ukrainian government and military since Ru

We connect well as nation comes first for both of us: PM Modi on Trump

Apart from elaborating on his rapport with the US President, the PM covered other international issues, such as his efforts at fostering peace with Pakistan

Trump, Putin to discuss Russia-Ukraine war this week, says US envoy

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to speak this week as the US tries to broker a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff. It would be the second publicised call between the two leaders since Trump began his second term in January. Trump and Putin spoke in February and agreed to start high-level talks over ending the war in Ukraine. I think the two presidents are going to have a really good and positive discussion this week, Witkoff said Sunday on CNN's State of the Union. Witkoff this week met with Putin in Russia for talks aimed at ending the country's invasion of Ukraine and said he expects to see a deal soon. The president uses the timeframe weeks and I don't disagree with him. I am really hopeful that we are going to see some real progress here, Witkoff said. When Witkoff appeared later Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation, he again spoke about a prospective Putin-Trump call but did not offer specific

Ukraine's allies agree to tighten economic pressure on Russia for ceasefire

Starmer said Western nations are gathering political and military momentum, and after additional commitments toward a post-conflict Ukraine were made

Russia, Ukraine continue aerial attacks with ceasefire prospects uncertain

Early on Sunday, three people were injured, including a 7-year-old, in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian border region of Belgorod

Can't allow Russia to play games with peace, says UK PM Keir Starmer

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a virtual meeting with world leaders from 25 countries on Saturday to bolster a so-called Coalition of the Willing against Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. We can't allow President Putin to play games with President Trump's deal, said Starmer from 10 Downing Street in London. Leaders representing Ukraine, the European Union (EU) Commission, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Canada, Australia and New Zealand were expected to have joined the meeting to discuss the peace deal being negotiated by US President Donald Trump. The call comes ahead of a military planning session next week when these countries will decide on the nature of troop deployments to support peace in the region. If Putin is serious about peace, it's very simple: he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire; and the world is watching, he said. Starmer accused the Russian administration at the Kremlin of a complete disregard fo

Russia, Ukraine trade heavy aerial blows amid proposed ceasefire talks

Russia and Ukraine traded heavy aerial blows overnight Saturday, with both sides reporting more than 100 enemy drones over their respective territories. The attack comes less than 24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss details of the American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine. Volgograd regional Gov Andrei Bocharov confirmed that falling drone debris had sparked a fire in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the city close to a Lukoil oil refinery, but provided no further details. Nearby airports temporarily halted flights, local media outlets reported. No casualties were reported. The Volgograd refinery has been targeted by Kyiv's forces on several occasions since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, most recently in a drone attack on February 15. Russia's Defence Ministry said that it had shot down 126 Ukrainian drones, 64 of which were destroyed over the Volgograd region

Putin calls on Ukrainian troops to surrender as Trump pushes for ceasefire

Putin calls for Ukrainian troops in Kursk to surrender, as Trump urges a ceasefire, warning of a humanitarian crisis

Was 'sarcastic' when promising end to Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hrs: Trump

President Donald Trump said Friday that he was being a little bit sarcastic when he repeatedly claimed as a candidate that he would have the Russia-Ukraine war solved within 24 hours - and even before he even took office. Trump was asked about the vow he repeatedly made on the campaign trail during an interview for the Full Measure television programme as his administration is still trying to broker a solution 54 days into his second term. Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that," Trump said in a clip released ahead of the episode airing Sunday. What I really mean is I'd like to get it settled and, I'll, I think, I think I'll be successful. It was a rare admission from Trump, who has a long record of making exaggerated claims. Trump said at a CNN town hall in May 2023, They're dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I'll have that done - I'll have that done in 24 hours. That is a war that's dying to be settled. I will get it settled before

Had productive talks with Putin, war in Ukraine could end: Donald Trump

Trump said that he "strongly requested" Putin to spare the lives of thousands of Ukrainian troops, or else it would be a "horrible massacre"

US envoy to relay Putin's Ukraine ceasefire stance to Trump: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss details of the American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine, asking him to convey Moscow's thoughts to Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday. Putin asked Witkoff late Thursday to give additional messages to US President Donald Trump, Peskov told reporters, after the Russian leader said at a news conference that he supported a truce in principle but set out a host of details that need to be clarified before it is agreed. Ukraine, under severe military pressure on parts of the front line three years after Russia's full-scale invasion, has already endorsed the proposal. Russia's army has gained battlefield momentum, and analysts say Putin likely will be reluctant to rush into a ceasefire while he feels he has an advantage. The Russian army, backed by North Korean troops, are now close to completely driving Ukrainian forces from their foothold in Russia's Kursk border regio

Russia leans on cryptocurrencies for oil trade to evade western sanctions

Russia's move comes after Venezuela accelerated its use of digital currency in crude and fuel exports after Washington reimposed sanctions

Manipulative, scared: Zelenskyy slams Putin's response to US ceasefire deal

Vladimir Putin conditionally backed the US ceasefire plan, saying Russia agreed in principle but sought clarifications and conditions, stressing the need to address the conflict's root causes