Kenya Insights

Tag: Vladimir Putin

  • Putin Rejects Zelensky Meeting Proposal

    Putin Rejects Zelensky Meeting Proposal

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyin the near future, saying there is no reason for direct talks until the terms of a peace agreement are worked out.

    Putin made the remarks on Friday at an economic forum in Saint Petersburg, a day after Zelensky publicly called for a face-to-face meeting to end the four-year war between the two countries.

    “I see no point in meeting. “Let the experts work, develop some solutions, and then we can meet,” Putin said.

    The Russian leader maintained that military operations will continue until Moscow achieves its objectives in Ukraine.

    “Military actions will end some day, we assume. Without a doubt, they will end once we have achieved the goals we have set for ourselves,” Putin stated.

    Russia has continued to demand control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, alongside political and military restrictions on Kyiv. Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected those demands, describing them as unacceptable.

    Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Credit: Genya SAVILOV / AFP

    On Thursday, Zelensky directly appealed to Putin to hold talks.

    “Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting,” Zelensky said in his message.

    The Ukrainian leader’s proposal has received support from several Western leaders, including Donald Trumpand Emmanuel Macron. Zelensky is also expected to meet Macron, Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz in London as efforts to revive peace negotiations continue.

    Beyond the conflict, Putin used the forum to dismiss concerns about Russia’s economy despite the impact of war-related spending and Western sanctions.

    “We, of course, hear criticism from all sides that everything has collapsed,” Putin said, insisting that Russia was pursuing a “sovereign” economic path.

    The war, which began in February 2022, has killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions, and devastated large areas of eastern and southern Ukraine. Despite ongoing international efforts to broker peace, the latest exchange between the two leaders suggests that a direct meeting remains unlikely in the immediate future.

  • Putin Says Energy Crisis Has Arrived But Russia Is Ready To Work With Europe

    Putin Says Energy Crisis Has Arrived But Russia Is Ready To Work With Europe

    Summary

    • Putin says oil output relying on Hormuz Strait could stop in a month
    • Russia says it is ready to supply oil and gas to Europe
    • Putin says Russian firms should make use of situation
    • Putin says high oil prices may be ​temporary

    MOSCOW, March 9 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the U.S.-Israeli war ‌on Iran had triggered a global energy crisis and cautioned that oil production dependent on transport through the Strait of Hormuz could soon come to a halt.

    Putin said that Russia — the world’s second-largest oil exporter and holder of the biggest natural gas reserves — was ready to work ​again with European customers if they wanted to return to long-term cooperation.

    Western powers, however, have spent the past ​four years sharply reducing their reliance on Russian oil and gas in response to Moscow’s ⁠war in Ukraine and subsequent EU and G7 sanctions.

    The loss of the European market has deprived Russia of its ​most lucrative customers and forced it to sell oil and gas at steep discounts to Asia.

    Speaking at a televised meeting with ​government officials and the heads of Russia’s leading oil and gas producers, Putin said that Russia had repeatedly warned that destabilising the Middle East could lead to an energy crisis with grave implications for the global economy — a turn of events he said had now ​materialised.

    Oil prices exceeded $100 per barrel on Monday to reach peaks unseen since 2022 as the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts ​for roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, has been effectively closed due to the Iran war.

    “Oil production ‌dependent on ⁠the Strait of Hormuz risks halting completely within the next month. It has already begun to decline, and storage facilities in the region are filling with oil that cannot be transported…is extremely difficult to transport, or is extremely expensive to transport,” Putin said.

    He said Russian companies should take advantage of the current situation in the Middle East, though he noted ​that the spike in prices ​was probably temporary. Oil ⁠and gas revenues make up around a quarter of total federal budget proceeds.

    G7 nations said on Monday they were prepared to implement “necessary measures” in response to surging global oil prices, ​but stopped short of committing to release emergency reserves.

    “We’re ready to work with Europeans too. ​But we ⁠need some signals from them that they’re ready and willing to work with us and will ensure this sustainability and stability,” Putin said.

    Last week he instructed the government to consider switching remaining Russian oil and gas flows away from Europe, before the ⁠European Union ​starts enforcing its decision to completely ban Russian fossil fuels.

    Before the Ukraine ​war, Europe was buying more than 40% of its gas from Russia, but combined sales of pipeline gas and LNG from Russia accounted for only ​13% of total EU imports in 2025.

  • Putin Has Already Started World War III, Zelensky Says

    Putin Has Already Started World War III, Zelensky Says

    Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has declared that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has “already started” what could amount to a third world war, warning that Ukraine is currently standing as the frontline defence against a broader global conflict.

    He made this comment on X on Monday while addressing the escalating tensions sparked by Russia’s invasion of his country. Zelensky said there are ‘different views on World War III,’ but stressed his personal conviction that the conflict is already underway.

    “There are different views on World War III. I believe Putin has already started it,” he said.

    The Ukrainian leader framed the ongoing war not merely as a regional conflict, but as a battle with far-reaching global implications.

    He posed what he described as the central question for the international community: ‘How much territory can he seize, and how to stop him?”

    Zelensky argued that the stakes go beyond preventing a Russian military victory. According to him, the deeper concern is Moscow’s broader ideological ambition.

    “Not to prevent Russia from winning, but because Russia wants to impose its own world and change people’s lives, which they like and choose for themselves,” he said.

    Reiterating his long-held position, Zelensky added: “That is why I believe, and have long believed, that Putin has already started this war.”

    He maintained that Ukraine’s resistance is serving as a barrier against a wider international confrontation.

    “And we are preventing him from turning this into a broader, full-scale World War III. Today, we are the outpost stopping Putin,” the Ukrainian president stated.

    Zelensky’s remarks come amid continued fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces, with global powers closely monitoring developments due to fears of further escalation.

    The war between Russia and Ukraine has led to widespread deaths and destruction.

    Despite repeated meetings between the two countries aimed at ending the conflict, no resolution has been reached to bring it to a complete halt.

  • Wife Of Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Says He Was Killed By Poisoning

    Wife Of Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Says He Was Killed By Poisoning

    The wife of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny on Wednesday (September 17) said that lab tests conducted on biological samples secretly taken from him reveal he was poisoned while imprisoned in a remote Arctic facility in February 2024.

    Navalny, a leading critic of President Vladimir Putin, died under suspicious circumstances during a 19-year prison term, which many view as political retaliation.

    Known for exposing corruption in Putin’s circle and mobilising mass protests, Navalny’s demise has remained unexplained by Russian authorities, who claim he suddenly fell ill during a prison yard walk on February 16.

    Before the burial, Yulia Navalnaya revealed that Navalny’s supporters managed to discreetly send biological samples abroad for testing.

    “The labs in two countries concluded that Alexei was deliberately poisoned,” she said in a social media video.

    Though she did not disclose the specifics of the samples or the poison identified, she called on the laboratories to publicly confirm their findings and name the toxin.

    Navalnaya also shared unverified images purportedly showing Navalny’s prison cell after his body was taken away, highlighting a visible pool of vomit and citing prison staff accounts describing seizures.

    Navalny had previously survived a Novichok nerve agent poisoning in 2020 during a Siberian campaign tour, after which he was flown to Germany for recovery.

    Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny Photograph: (AFP)
    Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny Photograph: (AFP)

    He was imprisoned upon his return to Russia in 2021 on charges widely regarded as politically motivated.

    While incarcerated, Navalny continued his anti-Putin activism and condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine. Officials say he died suddenly after falling ill during an outdoor walk.

    Delays in releasing his body to his family raised further doubts among supporters. Navalnaya maintains Putin ordered her husband’s assassination, an allegation the Kremlin denies.

    Since Navalny’s death, the government intensified repression of his associates, branding his wife a “terrorist and extremist,” and imprisoning his lawyers and journalists covering his cases.

    Many of Navalny’s relatives and key supporters have fled Russia. The opposition, weakened by internal divisions, struggles to maintain influence in exile.

  • Trump Says Putin ‘Playing With Fire’ in New Jab at Russian Leader

    Trump Says Putin ‘Playing With Fire’ in New Jab at Russian Leader

    US President Donald Trump warned Vladimir Putin Tuesday that he was “playing with fire,” launching a fresh broadside at his Russian counterpart over stalled Ukraine peace efforts.

    Trump’s latest comments came after he called the Kremlin leader “CRAZY” over the weekend following a mass Russian air attack on Kyiv, and warned that Moscow risked new sanctions.

    “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD,” Trump said on his Truth Social network Tuesday.

    “He’s playing with fire!”

    Trump did not specify what the “really bad” things were, or make any specific threats.

    But the Wall Street Journal and CNN both reported that Trump was now considering fresh sanctions against Russia as early as this week, while stressing that he could still change his mind.

    Trump had told reporters on Sunday he was “absolutely” considering increasing sanctions on Moscow.

    The US president’s recent rebukes mark a major change from his previous attitude towards Putin, whom he often speaks of with admiration and has previously held off criticizing.

    Trump has however expressed increasing frustration with Moscow’s position in deadlocked truce negotiations with Kyiv.

    That frustration boiled over at the weekend when Russia launched a record drone barrage at Ukraine, killing at least 13 people.

    “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday night.

    Russia’s attacks have continued despite a phone call between Trump and Putin eight days ago in which the US leader said the Russian president had agreed to “immediately” start ceasefire talks.

    (AFP)

  • Kremlin Calls Trump ‘Emotional’ After US President Says Putin is ‘Crazy’

    Kremlin Calls Trump ‘Emotional’ After US President Says Putin is ‘Crazy’

    The Kremlin claimed Donald Trump was showing signs of “emotional overload” after he called Vladimir Putin “absolutely crazy” following Moscow’s largest aerial assault on Ukraine.

    The US president said on Truth Social on Sunday that “something has happened” to Putin, after Russia killed 13 in Ukraine with 367 drones and missiles. “He has gone absolutely crazy,” Trump said. “Needlessly killing a lot of people.”

    Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, said the comments were “connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved”.

    Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, meanwhile said that Ukraine’s allies had removed all range limits on supplied arms, amid reports he would give Kyiv Taurus missiles.

    Trump’s comments followed Russia’s largest combined aerial attack since its full-scale invasion of February 2022. At least 13 people were killed and dozens injured in Ukraine during the night between Saturday and Sunday after Russia fired 367 drones and missiles.

    Between Sunday evening and Monday morning, Russia launched 355 drones against Ukraine, killing 10. The Ukrainian air force said it was the largest attack yet conducted with drones alone.

    Peskov said the latest aerial assaults were a response to Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s “social infrastructure”.

    The Russian defence ministry said that air defence systems destroyed 20 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions.

    Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, said on Sunday there was no “military sense” to Russia’s aerial attacks – rather they were “an obvious political choice… by Putin, a choice by Russia… to continue the war and destroy lives.”

    In an apparent response to the Russian attacks over the weekend, German chancellor Merz said there were “no longer” range restrictions on arms supplied to Ukraine.

    “This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia… with very few exceptions, it didn’t do that until recently. It can now do that,” Merz said.

    Reuters reported that Zelensky was due to travel to Berlin on Wednesday, although this has not been confirmed.

    The BBC approached the Chancellery for comment on whether Merz’s statement suggested an announcement was imminent on the supply of Taurus missiles – something that the previous German government refused to do.

    Last year, the UK said that Ukraine had the right to decide how to use British supplied weapons in its defence. In November, then-US president Joe Biden gave Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles supplied by the US to strike Russia, albeit with limitations.

    The Taurus missile has a range of about 500km – a far greater distance than other systems supplied by Ukraine’s allies. Russia said supply of the weapon would be “a dangerous move”.

    Emergency workers at a site where private houses were destroyed in a Russian strike in the Kyiv region on Sunday
    Emergency workers at a site where private houses were destroyed in a Russian strike in the Kyiv region on Sunday

    Speaking in New Jersey late on Sunday, Trump said of Putin: “I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”

    He also said he was considering increasing US sanctions on Russia – something he has repeatedly threatened to do before.

    Trump posted his “crazy” remark shortly afterwards, adding on Truth Social: “I’ve always said that he wants all of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!”

    But the US president also had strong words for Zelensky, saying that he was “doing his country no favours by talking the way he does”.

    “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop,” Trump wrote of Zelensky.

    Despite Kyiv’s European allies preparing further sanctions for Russia, the US has said it will either continue trying to broker these peace talks, or “walk away” if progress does not follow.

    Peskov said on Monday that Russia was “truly grateful” to the Americans and “personally to President Trump” for their help in organising and launching this negotiation process.

    Last week, Trump and Putin had a two-hour phone call to discuss a US-proposed ceasefire deal to halt the fighting.

    The US president said he believed the call had gone “very well”, adding that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start” negotiations toward a ceasefire and “an end to the war”.

    Ukraine has publicly agreed to a 30-day ceasefire but Putin has only said Russia will work with Ukraine to craft a “memorandum” on a “possible future peace” – a move described by Kyiv and its European allies as delaying tactics.

    The first direct Ukrainian-Russian talks since 2022 were held on 16 May in Istanbul, Turkey.

    Aside from a major prisoner of war swap last week, there was little or no progress on bringing a pause in fighting closer.

    Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory. This includes Crimea – Ukraine’s southern peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.

    (BBC)

  • Trump Calls Putin ‘Crazy’ After Largest Russian Attack on Ukraine

    Trump Calls Putin ‘Crazy’ After Largest Russian Attack on Ukraine

    US President Donald Trump has said he is “not happy” with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, following Moscow’s largest aerial attack yet on Ukraine.

    In a rare rebuke, Trump said: “What the hell happened to him? He’s killing a lot of people.” He later called Putin “absolutely crazy”.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said Washington’s “silence” over recent Russian attacks was encouraging Putin, urging “strong pressure” – including tougher sanctions – on Moscow.

    At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in Ukraine overnight Sunday after Russia fired 367 drones and missiles – the highest number in a single night since Putin launched a full-scale invasion in 2022.

    Air sirens warning of incoming drones and missiles sounded again in many regions of Ukraine early on Monday.

    At least three people, including a child, were injured in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.

    Speaking to reporters in New Jersey late on Sunday, Trump said of Putin: “I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”

    Asked about whether he was considering increasing US sanctions on Russia, Trump replied: “Absolutely.” The US president has repeatedly threatened to do this before – but is yet to implement any restrictions against Moscow.

    Shortly afterwards, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social that Putin “has gone absolutely crazy”.

    “I’ve always said that he wants all of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!”

    But the US president also had strong words for Zelensky, saying that he “is doing his country no favours by talking the way he does”.

    “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop,” Trump wrote of Zelensky.

    Emergency crews work at the site where private houses were destroyed in a Russian strike in the Kyiv region, Ukraine. Photo: 25 May 2025
    Emergency crews work at the site where private houses were destroyed in a Russian strike in the Kyiv region, Ukraine. Photo: 25 May 2025

    Despite Kyiv’s European allies preparing further sanctions for Russia, the US has said it will either continue trying to broker these peace talks, or “walk away” if progress does not follow.

    Last week, Trump and Putin had a two-hour phone call to discuss a US-proposed ceasefire deal to halt the fighting.

    The US president said he believed the call had gone “very well”, adding that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start” negotiations toward a ceasefire and “an end to the war”.

    Ukraine has publicly agreed to a 30-day ceasefire.

    Putin has only said Russia will work with Ukraine to craft a “memorandum” on a “possible future peace” – a move described by Kyiv and its European allies as delaying tactics.

    The first direct Ukrainian-Russian talks since 2022 were held on 16 May in Istanbul, Turkey.

    Aside from a major prisoner of war swap last week, there was little or no progress on bringing a pausing in fighting closer.

    Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory. This includes Crimea – Ukraine’s southern peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.

  • Russia and Ukraine to ‘Immediately’ Start Ceasefire Talks, Says Trump

    Russia and Ukraine to ‘Immediately’ Start Ceasefire Talks, Says Trump

    US President Donald Trump says Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” start negotiating towards a ceasefire and an end to the war, after a two-hour phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

    Trump, who described the conversation as having gone “very well”, also said conditions for peace would need to be negotiated between the two parties.

    Despite the note of optimism from Trump, who also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, any ceasefire or peace deal does not appear close.

    Putin said he was ready to work with Ukraine on a “memorandum on a possible future peace agreement”, while Zelensky said “this is a defining moment”, and urged the US not to distance itself from talks.

    In his remarks, the Russian president did not address demands from the US and European countries for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

    After his one-on-one call with Trump, Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s desire for a “full and unconditional ceasefire”, and warned if Moscow is not ready, “there must be stronger sanctions”.

    Speaking earlier before Trump’s conversation with Putin, Zelensky said he had asked that any decisions about Ukraine were not made without his country, calling them “matters of principles” for Ukraine.

    He added he did not have any details on a “memorandum” but said once they have received anything from the Russians, they will “be able to formulate their vision accordingly”.

    Writing on his Truth Social page after the call, Trump said: “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,” adding he had informed Zelensky of this in a second call, which also included other world leaders.

    He added: “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.”

    Zelensky said the negotiation process “must involve both American and European representatives at the appropriate level”.

    “It is crucial for all of us that the United States does not distance itself from the talks and the pursuit of peace, because the only one who benefits from that is Putin,” he explained.

    Talking at a White House event later in the day, Trump said the US would not be stepping away from brokering talks between Russia and Ukraine, but that he has a “red line in his head” on when he will stop pushing on them both.

    He also denied that the US was stepping back from its negotiating role.

    In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly warned that the US would step away from negotiations as he became increasingly frustrated at the lack of developments from both Moscow and Kyiv in the way of peace.

    When asked on what he believes on Russia, he said he thinks Putin has had enough of the war and wants it to end.

    Meanwhile, Putin – who described the call with Trump, which he took from a music school on a visit to the city of Sochi, as “frank, informative and constructive” – also spoke of the potential for a ceasefire.

    “We have agreed with the US president that Russia will offer and is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum on a possible future peace agreement,” he said.

    This, he added would define “a number of positions” including “principles of the settlement and a timeline for concluding a possible peace agreement…including a possible ceasefire for a certain period of time, should relevant agreements be reached”.

    Zelensky held a second call with Trump after the US president spoke to Putin, which also included President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and the leaders of France, Italy, Germany and Finland.

    “I want to thank President Trump for his tireless efforts to bring a ceasefire to Ukraine,” von der Leyen said, adding: “It’s important that the US stays engaged.”

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Pope Leo’s offer to host potential peace talks was a gesture welcomed by the US and the other leaders in the call, and “judged positively”.

    Earlier this month, the new Pope offered the Vatican as a venue for possible peace talks after Putin turned down Zelensky’s offer to meet face-to-face in Turkey for negotiations.

    (BBC)

  • Zelensky Commits to Easter Truce, Accuses Russia of Breaking It

    Zelensky Commits to Easter Truce, Accuses Russia of Breaking It

    Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday his forces would observe a surprise Easter truce announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin that is set to last until midnight on Sunday, even as air-raid sirens sounded in Kyiv.

    The truce would be the most significant pause in the fighting throughout the three-year conflict.

    But just hours after the order was meant to have come into effect, air-raid sirens sounded in the Ukrainian capital and Zelensky accused Russia of having maintained its artillery fire and assaults on the frontline.

    Also on Saturday, Russia and Ukraine held a large exchange of prisoners, each side saying they had handed back more than 240 captured fighters.

    The order to halt all combat over the Easter weekend came after months of efforts by US President Donald Trump to get Moscow and Kyiv to agree a truce. On Friday, Washington even threatened to withdraw from talks if no progress was made.

    “Today from 18:00 (17:00 Paris time) to midnight Sunday (23:00 Paris time), the Russian side announces an Easter truce,” Putin said earlier Saturday in televised comments during a meeting with the Russian chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov.

    Zelensky responded by saying Ukraine would follow suit, and proposed extending the truce beyond Sunday. But the Ukrainian leader also accused Russia of having already broken its promises.

    ‘Give peace a chance’

    Air-raid sirens sounded in Kyiv and several other regions Saturday evening.

    “Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided,” Zelensky said.

    Putin had said the truce for the Easter holiday celebrated on Sunday was motivated by “humanitarian reasons”.

    He said he expected Ukraine to comply but Russian troops “must be ready to resist possible breaches of the truce and provocations by the enemy”.

    Zelensky in a social media post wrote: “If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly – mirroring Russia’s actions.”

    He pointed out that Putin earlier rejected a proposed 30-day full and unconditional ceasefire and urged Russia to extend the ceasefire.

    “If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20,” Zelensky said, adding that “30 days could give peace a chance”.

    ‘Killings will continue’

    Oleksandr Prokudin, governor of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, said Saturday evening there had been several Russian drone attacks since Moscow had announced the truce.

    “Unfortunately, we do not observe any lull” in the fighting, he said.

    Soldiers in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk close to the front line, were greeted the announcement with scepticism.

    Putin “might do it to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we don’t trust (Russia),” said Dmitry, a 40-year-old soldier.

    Putin’s truce announcement came day after Russia abandoned a moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy targets, which in any case each side had accused the other of having failed to respect.

    Putin said the latest truce proposal would show “how sincere is the Kyiv’s regime’s readiness, its desire and ability to observe agreements and participate in a process of peace talks”.

    Previous attempts at holding ceasefires for Easter in April 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 were not implemented after both sides failed to agree on them.

    ‘No trust’

    Ukraine last month agreed to Trump’s proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, only for Putin to reject it.

    “There is no trust in words coming from Moscow,” Zelensky said. “We know all too well how Moscow manipulates, and we are prepared for anything. Ukraine’s Defense Forces will act rationally – responding in kind.

    “Every Russian strike will be met with an appropriate response,” he added.

    In Kramatorsk, one soldier, Vladislav, 22, recalled a ceasefire agreement soon after the start of armed hostilities in 2014, the year Russia seized the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine.

    That truce had collapsed days afterwards, he said.

    “I feel like it’s going to start again after a while, and it’s going to go on and on,” he said of the conflict.

    Earlier on Saturday, Ukraine and Russia said they had each returned 246 soldiers being held as prisoners of war in a swap mediated by the UAE.

    Zelensky said the total of returned POWs now stood at 4,552.

    Russia also said it had retaken the penultimate village still under Ukrainian control in its Kursk frontier region.

    Kyiv had hoped to use its hold on the region as a bargaining chip in the talks.

    (FRANCE 24 with AFP) 

  • Five takeaways from the Munich Security Conference

    Five takeaways from the Munich Security Conference

    In Summary

    • US and Russian officials are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia next week to begin negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine.
    • However, Ukraine and European politicians have not been invited to attend, despite insisting they must be involved for any ceasefire to be credible.

    A series of US declarations rocked last week’s Munich Security Conference and caused discord among the European politicians in attendance.

    Now US and Russian officials are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia next week to begin negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine.

    However, Ukraine and European politicians have not been invited to attend, despite insisting they must be involved for any ceasefire to be credible.

    Instead, they will meet in Paris on Monday for an emergency summit to discuss the conflict and the continent’s security.

    Here are five takeaways from Munich.

    1. End of an era

    Nato, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was formed in 1949 with the primary aim of blocking expansion in Europe by the former Soviet Union.

    Now numbering 32 members, including several Eastern European countries, members agree that if one of them is attacked, the others should help defend it.

    But after this week the post-World War Two security architecture for Europe is no more. America is still in Nato but Europe can no longer automatically rely on the US to come to its aid.

    In Brussels, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Nato’s European members to spend much more on defence, saying they would have to provide the “overwhelming” share of military funding for Ukraine.

    2. Ukraine policy upended

    The US and Russia are going to make a deal to end the war in Ukraine, whether Europe and Ukraine like it or not.

    The talks in Saudi Arabia will end a three-year freeze in talking to Vladimir Putin, despite urgent warnings by Kyiv that the Russian leader is not to be trusted.

    They follow a phone call between Donald Trump and Putin on Wednesday.

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be joined by national security adviser Mike Waltz and the US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, US officials said.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has repeatedly said he would not accept any deal struck without his country’s input, said Kyiv had not been invited to the talks.

    3. Spend more now

    Europe, everyone agrees, needs to rapidly raise its defence spending if it has any hope of deterring a newly emboldened Russia.

    The current Nato-mandated minimum of 2% of GDP is likely to rise to 3%. Russia currently spends more than twice that on defence in percentage terms.

    In January, Trump urged Nato’s European members to spend 5% of their national income on defence. Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte has also urged member states to boost their defence spending.

    But Europe as a whole has already overtaken the US in terms of aid to Ukraine. In total, it has allocated €70bn ($73bn; £58bn) in financial and humanitarian aid as well as €62bn in military aid. This compares to €64bn in military aid from the US as well as €50bn in financial and humanitarian allocations.

    4. That JD Vance speech

    US Vice President JD Vance’s blistering attack on Europe’s policies on Friday was called “ill-judged” and “insulting” by many of the delegates at the Munich Security Conference.

    They had hoped he would reassure them the US was not abandoning Ukraine.

    Instead, he spent the majority accusing European governments – including the UK’s – of retreating from their values, and ignoring voter concerns on migration and free speech.

    The address was met by silence in the hall, and later denounced by several politicians at the conference.

    But the speech appealed to others on both sides of the Atlantic and Donald Trump called it “brilliant”.

    5. Disunity and discord

    While the Munich conference was occupied by the geopolitical, Donald Trump announced plans to bring in a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports from March.

    It was evidence there are now very obvious rifts between Washington’s positions and Europe’s on several issues, from trade to dealing with Russia.

    It is a divide that the UK is struggling to bridge, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer telling reporters both relationships were important and Britain was “not choosing between the US and the EU”.

    But the Trump team’s own messaging is sometimes contradictory, rowing back on grand pronouncements the day after they have been made.

    (BBC)

  • Trump Says He and Putin Have Agreed To Begin ‘Negotiations’ On Ending Ukraine War

    Trump Says He and Putin Have Agreed To Begin ‘Negotiations’ On Ending Ukraine War

    US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday about starting negotiations immediately to end the war in Ukraine.

    US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to start negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine immediately in an hour-and-a-half phone call Wednesday.

    Donald Trump discussed the war in Ukraine on Wednesday in phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the new US president’s first big step towards diplomacy over a war he has promised to end.

    In a post on his social media platform, Trump said he and Putin had “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelensky, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now.”

    Zelensky’s office said Trump and Zelensky had spoken by phone for about an hour.

    The Kremlin said Putin and Trump had agreed to meet, and Putin had invited Trump to visit Moscow.

    Trump has long said he would quickly end the war in Ukraine, without saying how he would accomplish this.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Trump’s Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders was unrealistic and the US administration did not see NATO membership for Kyiv as part of a solution to the war.

    Speaking at a meeting of Ukraine’s military allies at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Hegseth delivered the clearest and bluntest public statement so far on the new US administration’s approach to the nearly three-year-old war.

    “We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective,” Hegseth told a meeting of Ukraine and more than 40 allies at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

    “Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”

    No peace talks have been held since the early months of the war, now approaching its third anniversary. Former US President Joe Biden and most Western leaders held no direct discussions with Putin after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

    Ukraine succeeded in the war’s first year in pushing Russian forces back from the outskirts of Kyiv and recapturing swathes of Russian-occupied territory.

    But Moscow has mostly had the upper hand on the battlefield since a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023, making slow but steady gains in intense fighting that has killed or injured hundreds of thousands of troops on both sides and laid Ukrainian cities to waste.

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    Russia occupies around a fifth of Ukraine and has demanded Kyiv cede more territory and be rendered permanently neutral under any peace deal. Ukraine demands Russia withdraw from captured territory and wants NATO membership or equivalent security guarantees to prevent Moscow from attacking again.

    In recent interviews, Kyiv appears to have accepted that it will not be admitted to NATO soon but has emphasised its need for military support under a peace deal.

    “If Ukraine is not in NATO, it means that Ukraine will build NATO on its territory. So we need an army as numerous as the Russians have today,” Zelensky said in an interview with The Economist published on Wednesday.

    “And for all this, we need weapons and money. And we will ask the U.S. for this,” Zelensky said, describing that as his “Plan B”.

    Hesgeth, in his comments in Brussels, said the bulk of future military support for Ukraine would have to come from European allies.

    (Reuters)

  • Putin Says If Trump Was Reelected In 2020, Ukrainian Crisis Might Not Have Occurred

    Putin Says If Trump Was Reelected In 2020, Ukrainian Crisis Might Not Have Occurred

    If Donald Trump had been reelected as US president in 2020, the Ukraine crisis that erupted in 2022 might not have occurred, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

    In an interview with the Russian Rossiya 1 TV channel on Friday, Putin said that Russia remains open to peace talks on the Ukraine war.

    He said that Moscow has never rejected contact with the US administration but the previous one opted not to pursue such engagement.

    About his relationship with Trump, Putin said it was “strictly business-like, yet pragmatic and trust-based,” adding “I cannot but agree with him that if he had been president, if his victory had not been stolen from him in 2020, then maybe there would not have been the Ukraine crisis that broke out in 2022.”

    He pointed out that Trump in his previous term imposed a significant number of sanctions on Russia.

    “I do not think that decision was in the best interests of Russia, or the US. By the way, (Joe) Biden picked up the baton and imposed even more restrictions on us. We are all aware of the results – a lot of those decisions were detrimental to the economy of the US itself,” Putin said.

    The dollar’s position as a global currency weakened following Washington’s decision to prevent Russia from using it as a unit of payment, Putin said.

    “We did not refuse to use the US dollar. The previous administration prevented us from using it as a unit of payment. But I will not go into that now. All I can say is that we hear the current president say he is ready to work together. We remain open to that,” he stressed.

    On Ukraine, Putin emphasized that Russia has consistently demonstrated a readiness for dialogue, but certain obstacles remain.

    “For instance, it is well known that back when he was a fairly legitimate head of state, the current leader of the Kyiv regime issued an executive order prohibiting talks. How can talks be resumed now that they have been outlawed?” he asked.

    “The current Kyiv regime appears quite content to receive hundreds of billions from its benefactors and – excuse me for using this homely phrase – to pig out on this money like there is no tomorrow,” Putin added.

    The Russian president urged Ukraine’s financial backers to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to act. “I believe he will have no choice but to comply.”

    “Until this executive order is rescinded, it is rather difficult to talk about starting and, more importantly, finishing these talks in a proper way. Preliminary plans may, indeed, be outlined, but engaging in serious talks remains a particularly difficult proposition, especially considering the ban imposed by the Ukrainian side,” he said.

    Despite these challenges, Putin expressed hope for constructive engagement between Russia and the US on several shared concerns, including strategic stability, economic matters, and energy production.

    “We are not just among the largest energy producers, we are also among the largest energy consumers, which means overly high prices are bad for both our economies, because energy is used to produce other goods inside the country. Overly low prices are bad, too, because they undermine the energy companies’ investment potential. We have things to discuss. There are other issues in the energy sector that may be of mutual interest,” Putin stated.

    Putin also expressed skepticism about Trump’s threats regarding additional sanctions on Russia, doubting that Trump would take measures detrimental to the US economy.

    “It makes sense for us to meet based on the realities of today, to sit down and discuss without haste the areas that are of interest to the US and Russia. We are ready to do that. But, again, this, first of all, depends on the decisions and choices of the current US administration,” he concluded.

  • We Can Do It The Easy Way, Or The Hard Way, Trump Tells Putin To End Ukraine War Immediately Or Face Consequences

    We Can Do It The Easy Way, Or The Hard Way, Trump Tells Putin To End Ukraine War Immediately Or Face Consequences

    US President Donald Trump on Wednesday demanded that Russia “settle now” and end the war in Ukraine, warning of high taxes, tariffs and sanctions on Russian exports if a resolution is not soon achieved.

    “I’m not looking to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, and always had a very good relationship with President Putin – and this despite the Radical Left’s Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process,” Trump said on Truth Social.

    “All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries. Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better. It’s time to ‘MAKE A DEAL.’ NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!” he added.

    The post was one day after the US president indicated that additional sanctions on Russia are “likely” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not come to the negotiation table to end the war in Ukraine.

    Trump was asked by reporters at the White House if he would impose further sanctions on Moscow should Putin refuse to engage in peace talks.

    “Sounds likely,” he said, without elaborating.

    Asked if he believed the war should be frozen, he responded: “The war should have never started. If you had a competent president, which you didn’t, the war wouldn’t have happened. The war in Ukraine would have never happened if I were president.”

    He criticized former President Joe Biden, saying Putin “disrespected” his leadership.

    On whether he would keep sending weapons to Ukraine, Trump said his administration would “look into that,” adding, “We’re talking to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy. We’re going to be talking with President Putin very soon, and we’ll see what, how it all happens.”

    “One thing I do feel is the European Union should be paying a lot more than they’re paying,” he added.

    Trump vowed to end the war in Ukraine and said he would engage in talks with Putin and Zelenskyy, although he has not provided a timeline or specifics.

    “President Zelenskyy would like to have peace. He’s told me that very strongly. But it takes two to tango,” he told reporters.

    Asked when he would meet Putin, Trump said: “Anytime they want, I’ll meet.”

    “Millions of people are being killed. It’s a vicious situation,” he said, accusing the US of underreporting the death toll.

    “The real killing now is on the war front. It’s a very flat land, and the only thing that stops a bullet is somebody’s body, and you have young soldiers. So, Russia’s lost about 800,000 soldiers now. Ukraine’s lost about 600,000 or 700,000. I think the numbers are lower than they’re giving out,” he added.

  • Russia Jails Three Lawyers Who Represented The Late Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny

    Russia Jails Three Lawyers Who Represented The Late Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny

    Three lawyers who once represented the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were jailed Friday in Russia as part of the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent that has reached levels unseen since Soviet times.

    Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin and Alexei Liptser were jailed from 3 1/2 to five years by a court in the town of Petushki, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Moscow. They were arrested in October 2023 on charges of involvement with extremist groups, as Navalny’s networks were deemed by authorities.

    The case was widely seen as a way to increase pressure on the opposition to discourage defense lawyers from taking political cases.

    At the time, Navalny was serving a 19-year prison term on several criminal convictions, including extremism. He died in a Russian prison camp in February 2023.

    The independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported that Kobzev said in his final statement in court on Jan. 10 that “we are being tried for transmitting Navalny’s thoughts to other people.”

    Navalny’s networks were deemed extremist following a 2021 ruling that outlawed his organizations — the Foundation for Fighting Corruption and a network of regional offices — as extremist groups.

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    That ruling, which exposed anyone involved with the organizations to prosecution, was condemned by Kremlin critics as politically motivated and designed to stifle Navalny’s activities.

    According to Navalny’s allies, authorities accused the lawyers of using their position to pass information from him to his team.

    Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner and outspoken opponent of President Vladimir Putin, was arrested in 2021 upon his return from Germany, where he was recuperating from a nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He was ordered to serve 2 1/2 years in prison.

    After two more trials, his sentence was extended to 19 years. He and his allies said the charges were politically motivated and accused the Kremlin of seeking to jail him for life.

    In December 2023, Navalny was moved from a penal colony in the Vladimir region east of Moscow to one above the Arctic Circle, where he died in February at the age of 47 under still-unexplained circumstances. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, and members of his team alleged he was killed on orders from the Kremlin. Officials have rejected the accusation.

    Two other Navalny lawyers, Olga Mikhailova and Alexander Fedulov, are on a wanted list but no longer live in Russia. Mikhailova, who defended Navalny for a decade, said she was charged in absentia with extremism.

    Kobzev, Liptser and Sergunin have been deemed to be political prisoners, according to human rights advocates from Memorial, Russia’s most prominent rights group that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. The group demands their immediate release.

    (AP)

  • Trump Calls For Immediate Ukraine Ceasefire

    Trump Calls For Immediate Ukraine Ceasefire

    (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end “the madness”, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy and the Kremlin to list their conditions.

    Trump made his comments just hours after meeting Zelenskiy in Paris for their first face-to-face talks since Trump won last month’s U.S. election. Trump has vowed to bring about a negotiated end to the conflict, but so far has not provided details.

    “Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, adding that Kyiv had lost some 400,000 soldiers. “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.”

    “I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!” Trump added, referring to Russian President Putin.

    Trump, in Paris for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, sat down with Zelenskiy on Saturday for about an hour, along with host President Emmanuel Macron.

    Trump and Zelenskiy shook hands and smiled, but it was unclear how the conversation had gone. Accounts of the talks from the French and Ukrainian sides said only that the discussions had been good and productive.

    Zelenskiy reacted to Trump’s message on Sunday saying peace was not just a piece of paper, but needed guarantees.

    “When we talk about effective peace with Russia, we must first and foremost talk about effective guarantees for peace. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else,” he said on X.

    “It (the war) cannot simply end with a piece of paper and a few signatures. A ceasefire without guarantees can be reignited at any moment, as Putin has already done before. To ensure that Ukrainians no longer suffer losses, we must guarantee the reliability of peace and not turn a blind eye to occupation.”

    It appeared Trump’s figure of 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers lost in the war meant both killed and wounded. Zelenskiy said 43,000 soldiers had been killed in the war and that there had been 370,000 wounded soldiers.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov convened a conference call with reporters to address Trump’s comments.

    Peskov said Russia was open to talks, but that they had to be based on agreements reached in Istanbul in 2022 and on current realities on the battlefield where Russian forces have been pushing forward at their fastest rate since the early days of the war in 2022.

    Putin has said repeatedly that a preliminary agreement reached between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in the first weeks of the war at talks in Istanbul, which was never implemented, could serve as the basis for future talks.

    “Our position on Ukraine is well known,” said Peskov.

    “The conditions for an immediate stop to hostilities were set out by President Putin in his speech to the Russian Foreign Ministry in June of this year. It is important to recall that it was Ukraine that refused and continues to refuse negotiations,” he said.

    Putin has said that Ukraine must not join the NATO military alliance and that Russia should be left fully in control of four Ukrainian regions his troops partially control at the moment for a peace deal to be done.

    Peskov noted that Zelenskiy had banned contacts with the Russian leadership through a special decree, which Peskov said would have to be revoked if talks were to proceed.

  • ‪Russia’s Oreshnik Missile: What We Know‬

    ‪Russia’s Oreshnik Missile: What We Know‬

    BBC—On Thursday, the Ukrainian city of Dnipro was hit by a Russian air strike which eyewitnesses described as unusual, triggering explosions that went on for three hours.

    The attack included a strike by a missile so powerful that in the aftermath Ukrainian officials said it bore the characteristics of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

    Western officials were quick to deny this, saying that such a strike would have triggered a nuclear alert in the US.

    Hours after the strike, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a TV address, said that Russia had launched a “new conventional intermediate-range” missile with the codename Oreshnik, meaning hazel tree in Russian.

    Putin said that the weapon travelled at a speed of Mach 10, or 2.5-3km per second (10 times the speed of sound), adding that “there are currently no ways of counteracting this weapon”.

    He said that a major military-industrial site in Dnipro, used to manufacture missiles and other armaments, had been hit. He described the attack as a test which was “successful” because the “target was reached”.

    Speaking a day later to senior defence officials, he said tests of the missile would continue, “including in combat conditions”.

    Putin’s description of the weapon notwithstanding, there seems to be no clear consensus about what it actually is.

    Ukrainian military intelligence maintains that the missile is a new type of ICBM known as Kedr (cedar). They say it was travelling at Mach 11 and took 15 minutes to arrive from the launch site, more than 1,000km (621,370 miles) away in the Astrakhan region of Russia.

    They said the missile was equipped with six warheads, each with six sub-munitions.

    This assumption is backed up by BBC Verify’s examination of video footage of the strike. Most of it is blurry or of poor quality, but it clearly shows six flashes against the night sky, each comprised of a cluster of six individual projectiles.

    The location that was hit is an industrial area to the southwest of Dnipro city.

    Damage caused by Thursday’s attack on Dnipro, carried out by the Oreshnik in combination with other missiles

    Why is speed important?

    If Putin’s description is correct, the missile is at the upper edge of the definition of hypersonic, and few things can achieve this.

    Speed is important because the faster a missile travels, the quicker it gets to target. The quicker it gets to target, the less time a defending military has to react.

    A ballistic missile generally gets to target by following an arcing path up into the atmosphere and a similar one down towards its destination.

    But as it descends, it picks up speed and gains kinetic energy, and more kinetic energy gives it more options. This allows it to manoeuvre down towards the target – by performing some kind of defending wriggle – that makes interception by surface-to-air missile systems (such as Ukraine’s US-built Patriot defence missile system) particularly difficult.

    This is not new for militaries that have to defend against such threats of course, but the greater the speed, the harder it becomes.

    That is why Putin has likely placed emphasis on its speed in announcing this new type of missile.

    Some 80% of the missiles fired by Russia have been intercepted by Ukraine, an extraordinary figure. But these faster speeds of ballistic missiles are intended to try to bring that percentage down.

    What is the new missile’s range?

    Russian military expert Ilya Kramnik told the newspaper Izvestiya it is likely that the new missile, whose development has been classified until now, is at the upper end of medium-range missiles.

    ‘It is likely that we are dealing with a new generation of Russian intermediate-range missiles [with a range of] 2,500-3,000km [1,550-1,860 miles] and potentially extending to 5,000km [3,100 miles], but not intercontinental,” he says.

    This could put almost the whole of Europe within range, but not the US.

    “It is obviously equipped with a separating warhead with individual guidance units,” Kramnik added.

    He suggested that it could be a reduced version of the Yars-M missile complex, which is an ICBM.

    Russia was reported to have started production of a new version of this missile complex last year which included much more mobile independent warheads.

    Another expert, Dmitry Kornev, told the paper the Oreshnik could have been created on the basis of the shorter-range Iskander missiles – already commonly used on Ukraine – but with a new-generation engine.

    An Iskander with an enlarged engine was used at the Kapustin Yar test site in southern Russia last spring, he said, adding that this may well have been the Oreshnik. Thursday’s missile was fired into Ukraine from the same site.

    How effective could it be?

    Military analyst Vladislav Shurygin told Izvestiya that the Oreshnik was capable of overcoming any existing modern missile defence systems.

    It could also destroy well-protected bunkers at great depths without using a nuclear warhead, he said, although there is no evidence of underground facilities being destroyed at the Dnipro plant.

    Another Russian analyst, Igor Korotchenko, told Tass news agency the missile had multiple independently guided warheads, adding that the “practically simultaneous arrival of the warheads at the target” was extremely effective.

    Justin Crump, CEO and founder of the risk advisory company Sibylline, told BBC Verify that the missile had the capacity to seriously challenge Ukraine’s air defences.

    “Russia’s short range ballistic missiles have been one of the more potent threats to Ukraine in this conflict,” he said. “Faster, more advanced systems would increase that an order of magnitude.”

  • US Embassy In Kyiv Shuts Down Over Anticipated Air Attack

    US Embassy In Kyiv Shuts Down Over Anticipated Air Attack

    (Reuters) – The U.S. embassy in Kyiv has received information of a potential significant air attack on Wednesday and will be closed, the U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs said in a statement.

    “Out of an abundance of caution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place,” the department said in a statement published on the website of the U.S. embassy in Kyiv.

    “The U.S. Embassy recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.”

    The warning comes a day after Ukraine used U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory, taking advantage of newly granted permission from the outgoing administration of U.S. President Joe Biden on the war’s 1,000th day.

    Russia had been warning the West for months that if Washington allowed Ukraine to fire U.S., British and French missiles deep into Russia, Moscow would consider those NATO members to be directly involved in the war in Ukraine.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said in October that Moscow will respond to Ukraine’s strikes with U.S.-made weapons deep into Russia.
    On Tuesday, Putin lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike in response to a broader range of conventional attacks, with nuclear risks rising amid the highest tensions between Russia and West in more than half a century.
  • Putin Hails ‘courageous’ Trump After Election Win

    Putin Hails ‘courageous’ Trump After Election Win

    • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a “very warm” and “productive conversation” with the president-elect.
    • US Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated allegations of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia in 2016, but said in a report three years later that had found no evidence of conspiracy.

    Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, calling him a “courageous man”.

    Speaking at an event in the Russian city of Sochi, the Russian president said that Trump was “hounded from all sides” during his first term in the White House.

    Putin also said that Trump’s claim that he can help end the war in Ukraine “deserves attention at least”.

    During his campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly said he could end the war “in a day” but has never elaborated on how that could happen.

    During Putin’s address, which lasted several hours and covered a wide range of topics, he also spoke of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in July, saying it “made an impression” on him.

    After being shot, Trump punched his fist into the air and mouthed the words “fight, fight, fight”, before being hauled away by Secret Service agents.

    “He behaved, in my opinion, in a very correct way, courageously, like a man,” Putin said.

    Asked if he was ready to have discussions with Donald Trump, Putin replied: “We’re ready, we’re ready.”

    Trump had already said on Thursday that he was prepared to speak with Putin, telling NBC News: “I think we’ll speak”.

    The Kremlin was widely accused of interfering in the 2016 presidential election to boost Donald Trump’s campaign against Hilary Clinton, claims rejected by Moscow.

    US Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigated allegations of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia in 2016, but said in a report three years later that had found no evidence of conspiracy.

    Elsewhere on Thursday, leaders gathering for the European Political Community in Budapest discussed Trump’s return to the White House.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a “very warm” and “productive conversation” with the president-elect.

    “But we have to do everything to ensure that the results of our interaction between Ukraine and America, the whole of Europe and America, are productive and positive,” he added.

    Many in Ukraine and Europe are worried that Trump might slow, if not halt, the flow of American military aid to Kyiv upon taking power in January.

    UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer assured Zelensky at the summit that the UK’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia remains “iron-clad”.

    Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban – who previously said he celebrated Trump’s win by “tapping into the vodka supply happily” – said the US and Europe now face tough talks on trade.

    Orban, who is a close ally of Trump, told a press conference that “the trade issue with the US will come up and it will not be easy”.

    Before winning the election, Trump said he would impose tariffs of 10% on all imports.

    “There was an agreement that Europe should assume greater responsibility for its own peace and security in the future. To put it even more bluntly, we cannot expect Americans to be the only ones to take care of us,” Orban said.

  • Musk in regular contact with Russian president since 2022: Report

    Musk in regular contact with Russian president since 2022: Report

    American tech billionaire Elon Musk has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022, a report said Thursday.

    According to The Wall Street Journal, the talks cover personal matters, business interests and geopolitical tensions.

    The discussions were reportedly confirmed by multiple current and former officials from the US, Europe and Russia.

    The report, citing two people familiar with the matter, said that at one point, Putin requested that Musk refrain from activating his Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    This year, Musk has become a key supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s election campaign and could potentially play a role in a future Trump administration if he is reelected.

    While the US and its allies have worked to isolate Putin in recent years, Musk’s ongoing dialogue with the Russian leader could signal a possible re-engagement, aligning with Trump’s stated interest in negotiating solutions on critical issues like the Ukraine war, said the report.

    The Journal said the contacts are also raising potential national security concerns among some in the Biden administration, given Putin’s position as a primary US adversary.

    The SpaceX owner has also established strong business connections with US military and intelligence agencies, which gives him visibility into some of the US’s most sensitive space programs, said the report.

    Musk’s contacts with the Kremlin seem to be a closely guarded secret within the government, with several White House officials stating they were unaware of them.

    According to the report, Musk did not respond to requests for comment.

  • Putin Vows To Reach Everyone Behind Crocus City Concert Hall Attack

    Putin Vows To Reach Everyone Behind Crocus City Concert Hall Attack

    Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged on Tuesday “to reach” those who “ordered” the March 22 terrorist attack at the concert hall in Moscow region.

    Speaking at a meeting with the Interior Ministry Board in Moscow, Putin emphasized the importance of establishment of “all the links in the chain,” including “the ultimate criminal beneficiaries of this atrocity.”

    “There is no doubt we will reach them,” he stressed.

    According to the Russian president, the organizers and perpetrators of the terrorist attack pursued the goal of dividing the Russian society, “sewing discord and panic, strife and hatred.” “We must not let them do that,” he stressed.

    Putin said actions of all services and commercial organizations responsible for the Crocus City Hall’s security will be analyzed and assessed.

    “We paid a very high price. And the whole analysis of the situation should be extremely objective and professional,” he said.

    At least 144 people were killed and more than 550 others injured when gunmen opened fire at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast. Russia has charged four people for being directly involved in the attack.