Page 18 - Ukraine

Zelenskyy urges ceasefire, calls for direct talks with Russia in Trump call

In a post on X, Zelenskyy stressed that pressure on Russia, including stronger sanctions, was essential in achieving lasting peace

Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks to begin immediately: Trump after Putin call

President Donald Trump said Monday that Russia and Ukraine will immediately begin ceasefire negotiations after what he described as an excellent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that lasted more than two hours. Trump also spoke with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in hopes of making progress toward a ceasefire. The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of, Trump said in a social media post. Trump said the call was excellent, adding, "If it wasn't, I would say so now, rather than later. The conversations came after the White House said the US leader has grown frustrated with both leaders over the continuing war in Ukraine. After the call, Putin said Russia was ready to continue discussing an end to the fighting, but he indicated there was no major breakthrough in what he termed a very informative and very frank conversation with

Donald Trump to call Putin to push for Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Trump's remarks followed a failed Istanbul meeting between Russia, Ukraine, NATO and the US; he plans to speak to Putin, Zelenskyy and NATO leaders to seek a 30-day truce

Russia launches one of biggest drone assault on Ukraine, at least 1 killed

Russia overnight into Sunday launched its most intense drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022. Russia fired a total of 273 exploding drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine's air force said. Of those, 88 were intercepted and a further 128 lost, likely having been electronically jammed. According to Kyiv regional Gov. Mykola Kalashnyk, one woman was killed in a drone attack on the region and three other people were wounded. The barrage came after the first direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in years on Friday failed to yield a ceasefire.

Rubio, Lavrov discuss Ukraine ceasefire talks, prisoner exchange deal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the outcome of Friday's direct negotiations between delegations of Kiev and Moscow in Istanbul. In the first ever direct talks in three years, Russian and Ukrainian delegation at their meeting lasting less than two hours agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war from each side and draft their respective proposals for a ceasefire to end the fighting which has entered into its fourth year. At Friday's talks, Ukraine demanded a direct meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Vladimir Putin. Marco Rubio welcomed the agreements reached on the exchange of prisoners of war and the intention of each side to prepare its own proposals outlining the conditions necessary for a ceasefire. "He reaffirmed Washington's readiness to continue supporting efforts towards a negotiated settlement, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement posted on its web portal said. From his side, Minister Lavrov ..

Ukrainian F-16 goes down after technical issue; pilot ejects safely

Ukranian news website The Kyiv Independent reported, citing the Air Force that the Ukrainian Air Force "lost contact" with an F-16 aircraft during a mission to repel a Russian aerial attack overnight

Ukraine-Russia political drama masks on ground realities as war continues

Since US-brokered talks began in March, Ukraine's strategy has been to convince the Trump administration that Vladimir Putin is unreliable and that Kyiv is serious about peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has few options, analysts and officials say, but to draw US President Donald Trump's ire against Putin, while depending on Europe's united and stalwart support. In the latest round, Zelenskyy not only accepted Putin's offer to hold direct talks in Turkiye, after the US endorsed the idea, but raised the stakes and challenged the Russian leader to a face-to-face. The gesture failed to move Putin and the Istanbul talks were demoted to a technical meeting Friday that failed to yield substantial results on ending the war. The US has expressed frustration with the stalled talks and threatened to withdraw if results aren't achieved. On Friday, Trump told reporters after boarding Air Force One to return to Washington from Abu Dhabi that he may call Putin soon. He and I will me

Russia, Ukraine hold 1st direct peace talks in 3 yrs amid low expectations

Russia and Ukraine are due to hold their first direct peace talks in three years Friday, gathering in Istanbul for Turkish-brokered negotiations, but officials and observers expect them to yield little immediate progress on stopping the more than 3-year war. A Ukrainian delegation led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov was due to meet with a low-level Russian team headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. The latest push to end the fighting got off to a rocky start on Thursday, when Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face. Delegations from the two countries also flew to different Turkish cities and put together teams of significantly different diplomatic heft for possible talks. Although expectations for a possible Putin-Zelenskyy meeting were low, the apparent lack of traction in peace efforts frustrated hopes of bold steps being taken in Turkiye toward reaching a settlement. The two sides are far apart in

European leaders to meet in Albania on Russia-Ukraine security concerns

The leaders of 47 European countries and organisations will gather Friday for a one-day summit in the Albania's capital to discuss security and defense challenges across the continent, with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine at the top of the agenda. The theme of the European Political Community, or EPC, summit in Tirana is New Europe in a new world: unity cooperation joint action. The gathering will also address ways to improve the continent's competitiveness and tackle unauthorised migration. But the EPC will also be a setting for leaders to meet bilaterally, or in small groups, to weigh in on major security issues. The inaugural summit in Prague in 2022 saw the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia holding rare talks in an effort to ease tensions between the longtime adversaries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is among the leaders invited to the event in Tirana. On the eve of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Zelenskyy to meet face-to-fa

Zelenskyy names delegation for talks in Turkey, says ceasefire top priority

The Istanbul delegation will be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and will include military and intelligence officials

Ukraine-Russia historic peace talks: No Trump or Putin involved?

For the first time since 2022, Ukraine and Russia are set to hold direct peace talks, but without Trump and Putin. Will this meeting be successful or end in failure? Watch for updates.

Trump says he's not surprised Putin will skip Ukraine peace talks in Turkey

Trump had earlier suggested that he might attend the talks himself but said Thursday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is already in Turkiye meeting with NATO officials

Only face-to-face meeting with Putin can deliver peace, says Zelenskiy

President Putin, who has questioned Zelenskiy's legitimacy, has not said whether he will take part

UN aviation body indicts Russia for 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17

The International Civil Aviation Organization held Russia accountable for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, confirming its role in the tragic incident that killed 298 passengers

Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks: Zelenskyy urges Trump to visit Turkey

In the message which was posted on X, Zelenskyy also alleged "Russian shelling and assaults continue"

Russian drones attack Ukraine after Kremlin turns down ceasefire proposal

Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in nighttime attacks, the Ukrainian air force said Monday, after the Kremlin rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the more than three-year war. There was no response from the Kremlin, meanwhile, to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's challenge for Russia's President Vladimir Putin to meet him for face-to-face peace talks in Turkey this week. The US and European governments have made a concerted push to stop the fighting, which has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides as well as more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians. Russia's invading forces have taken around one-fifth of Ukraine. In a flurry of diplomatic developments over the weekend, Russia shunned the ceasefire proposal tabled by the US and European leaders but offered direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday. Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded Russia accept a ceasefire starting Monday before holding peace talks. Moscow ...

Did Macron hide cocaine on train to Ukraine? French media fact-checks claim

A viral video sparked claims that French President Emmanuel Macron hid a cocaine pouch during the Ukraine visit. The French media debunked the rumour, calling it an 'absurd conspiracy'

Trump's Ukraine peace push coming to a head as Zelenskyy challenges Putin

Following a weekend of hectic diplomacy, Zelenskyy said he will travel to Istanbul on May 15 where Putin has proposed direct negotiations between the two countries

Zelenskyy hopes for ceasefire, says he'll be 'waiting for Putin' in Turkey

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy said he is hoping for a full and temporary ceasefire with Russia starting Monday, adding he would be in Turkiye to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin personally. His comments came after US President Donald Trump insisted Ukraine accept Russia's latest offer of holding direct talks in Turkiye on Thursday. Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded Russia accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday before holding talks, but Moscow effectively rejected the proposal and called for direct negotiations instead. It was not clear if Zelenskyy was conditioning his presence in Turkiye on the Monday ceasefire holding. We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Trkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses, he wrote on X. Trump

Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine, Gaza; extends Mother's Day wishes

Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff that featured some symbolic gestures suggesting a message of unity in a polarized Catholic Church. I, too, address the world's great powers by repeating the ever-present call never again war,' Leo said from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica to an estimated 100,000 people below. It was the first time that Leo had returned to the loggia since he first appeared to the world on Thursday evening following his remarkable election as pope, the first from the United States. Then, too, he delivered a message of peace. Leo was picking up the papal tradition of offering a Sunday blessing at noon, but with some twists. Whereas his predecessors delivered the greeting from the studio window of the Apostolic Palace, off to the side of the piazza, Leo went to the very centre of the square and the heart of the church. He also offered a novelty by singing the .