Page 61 - Vladimir Putin

Prigozhin who called for rebellion confirms his troops reached Russian city

The owner of the Wagner private military contractor who called for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia's defense minister, confirmed Saturday morning that he and his troops have reached a key Russian city after crossing the border from Ukraine. Yeveny Prigozhin posted a video of himself in Rostov-on-Don at the Russian military headquarters that oversees the fighting in Ukraine. He claimed that his forces had military facilities in the city under their control, including the air field. Other videos posted on social media showed military vehicles, including tanks, on the streets outside. Russia's security services had responded to Prigozhin's declaration of an armed rebellion by calling for his arrest. In a sign of how seriously the Kremlin took the threat, security was heightened in Moscow and in Rostov-on-Don. It was not immediately clear how he was able to enter the southern Russian city or how many troops he had with him. While the outcome of the confrontation was still ...

Russia accuses Wagner Group chief Prigozhin of mounting an armed uprising

President Vladimir Putin was getting round-the-clock updates from security officials on their efforts to counter "the attempt at an armed mutiny" by Yevgeny Prigozhin

Infighting among Putin's lieutenants reveals signs of 'deep dysfunction'

The video was shocking not just for what it showed but also for what was said. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the outspoken millionaire head of the private military contractor Wagner, stood in front of the bloodied bodies of his slain troops in Ukraine and yelled expletive-riddled insults at Russian military leaders, blaming them for the carnage. They came here as volunteers and they died to let you lounge in your red wood offices, Prigozhin shouted. You are sitting in your expensive clubs, your children are enjoying good living and filming videos on YouTube. Those who don't give us ammunition will be eaten alive in hell! It was a disquieting display for Russians used to more than two decades of rigidly controlled rule by President Vladimir Putin years with little sign of infighting among his top lieutenants. Prigozhin's video in May and his other rants against the military leadership have been met with silence from Putin, as well as the brass. Some see Putin's failure to squelch the infig

Russia sought to kill high-ranking intelligence official in Florida

A failed plot to assassinate a C.I.A. spy in 2020 in part led to expulsions of the agency's chief in Moscow and his Russian counterpart in Washington

African leaders visit Russia to discuss peace plan, after Ukraine trip

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday is set to host a group of African leaders who travelled to Russia on a self-styled peace mission after their trip to Ukraine. Seven African leaders presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypt's prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda visited Ukraine on Friday to try to help end their nearly 16-month-old war. The African leaders travelled to St. Petersburg on Saturday to meet with Putin who attended a business forum in Russia's second-largest city. The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives such as one by China and carried particular importance for Africa that relies on food and fertiliser deliveries from Russia and Ukraine. The war has impeded exports from one of the world's most important breadbaskets. This conflict is affecting Africa negatively, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said at a news confer

Press Putin on release of political prisoners: Zelenskyy to African leaders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to a group of African leaders to ask his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to free political prisoners from Crimea and beyond saying it could be an important part of their trip to Russia on Saturday. Seven African leaders presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypt's prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda visited Ukraine on Friday as part of a self-styled peace mission to both Ukraine and Russia to try to help end their nearly 16-month-old war. The African leaders were traveling to meet with Putin on Saturday in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives such as one by China, and it carried extra importance for the African countries: They rely on food and fertilizer deliveries from Russia and Ukraine, whose war has impeded exports from one of the world's most important

Russia maintains economic stability despite challenges: Vladimir Putin

Russia's GDP could achieve a growth rate of about 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent this year, which will enable the country to retain its place among the world's leading economies, he said

First batch of tactical nuclear weapons moved to Belarus, says Putin

To this, the US government says there is no indication that the Kremlin plans to use nuclear weapons to attack Ukraine

Can use nuclear weapons but won't, says Russia President Vladimir Putin

He also said Russia's military could destroy parts of central Kyiv but had chosen not to for various reasons.

Putin touts Russian economy, says Ukraine's president is 'shame to Jews'

President Vladimir Putin on Friday touted Russia's prospects at the country's main international economic forum despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine. Western officials and investors steered clear of this year's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that for decades has been Russia's premier event for attracting foreign capital and is sometimes likened to the Davos World Economic Forum. The Kremlin earlier also banned journalists from countries that Russia regards as unfriendly from covering the proceedings that began Wednesday and continue through Saturday. Moscow has imposed that designation on scores of countries including the United States, Canada, European Union members and Australia in connection with sanctions imposed over the fighting in Ukraine. Nonetheless, Putin said at the forum's plenary session, "We haven't turned onto the self-isolation path. Quite the opposite we have widened contacts with reliable and responsible partner

Putin admits Russia's shortcomings as Ukraine presses counteroffensive

In the past, Moscow has frequently been accused of exaggerating its battlefield successes, and western officials were quick to portray the Ukrainian push as far more successful

Putin mixes threats of new offensive in Ukraine with offers of peace talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday alternated threats of a new Russian offensive to grab more Ukrainian land with statements about the Kremlin's readiness for peace talks. Speaking during a far-ranging meeting with Russian military correspondents and war bloggers, he made some of the most extensive comments about the conflict and his goals since sending the troops into Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Here is a quick look at some of Putin's key statements: UKRAINIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE Putin asserted that Ukraine has suffered "catastrophic" losses in its counteroffensive. He said Ukrainian troops amassed reserves to launch the "large-scale" operation on June 4, but he claimed that the effort has failed to score gains and that Ukraine has lost 10 times more soldiers than Russia. His claims could not be verified. Putin declared that Ukraine lost 160 battle tanks and over 300 other armoured vehicles, while Russia only lost 54 tanks. He alleged that the Ukrainian armour losses

Kim Jong-un voices willingness to build stronger strategic ties with Russia

Kim said the Russian people's struggle to counter hostile forces' move to deprive Moscow of its sovereignty and security has entered a "new decisive phase"

Ukraine launched 'counteroffensive' but 'failed' to accomplish goals: Putin

He praised the Russian military and weaponry in actions against the Ukrainian counteroffensive

China offers South Africa help to bolster security for BRICS summit

China on Friday said it is ready to work with South Africa to bolster the security for the BRICS summit in August in light of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Russian President Vladimir Putin. BRICS is an international grouping comprising China, India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. The 15th BRICS summit is set to take place in Johannesburg in August this year. The possible attendance of Putin who is the subject of a war crimes arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) has put South Africa's handling of the warrant and summit security under the spotlight. The ICC issued a warrant on Putin in March, accusing him of the unlawful deportation of children and transfer of people from the territory of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. As a signatory to the ICC, South Africa will be obliged to execute the warrant if Putin visits the country for the BRICS Summit. On Thursday, the South African Police Minister Bheki Cele who is on a

Russian tactical nuclear weapons to be deployed to Belarus in July: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow will deploy some of its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus next month, a move that the Belarusian opposition described as an attempt to blackmail the West. Putin said during a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that work on building facilities for the nuclear weapons will be completed by July 7-8, and they will be moved to the territory of Russia's neighbor and ally quickly after that. The move comes as Ukraine has stepped up attacks in several sectors of the front line in what some observers see as the start of its long-expected counteroffensive. Russia used Belarus' territory to send its troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and has kept forces and weapons on the territory of its ally. Everything is proceeding as planned, Putin said in televised remarks as he hosted Lukashenko at his residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. On July 7-8 the preparations of the relevant facilities will be completed and

Erdogan discusses Ukrainian crisis with Putin, grain export key highlight

Erdogan emphasised that Türkiye is determined to continue to make necessary efforts to establish a just peace between Russia and Ukraine

Possible Putin trip in spotlight as Russia, China ministers to meet in SA

The Russian and Chinese foreign ministers are expected to meet with their counterparts from the BRICS economic bloc in Cape Town on Thursday, a precursor to a larger summit of developing nations' leaders in South Africa in August that Russian President Vladimir Putin may attend while under indictment by the International Criminal Court. South Africa has suggested without saying explicitly that it won't arrest Putin, if he decides to travel for the main BRICS summit in Johannesburg, despite being obliged to do so as a signatory to the ICC's Rome treaty. BRICS is a bloc of emerging economies made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and their leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, have been invited to the Aug. 22-24 summit. Any Putin trip and the Kremlin hasn't said if he will attend would focus more attention on South Africa's relationship with Moscow. There are clear concerns in the West that Africa's most developed economy is aligning with Russia and pulling other

Belarusian President taken to hospital after meeting with Putin: Report

Tsepkalo's message said, "The organized measures to rescue the Belarusian dictator were aimed at averting speculation about the possible involvement of the Kremlin in his poisoning"

Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Japan to attend G7 summit this weekend: Report

Zelensky will make the trip to seek a continued supply of aid and arms to the war-torn country