Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been caught up in a security scare after a train behind the one he was travelling in was hit by a Russian drone in Ukraine.

The former UK prime minister was going from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv to Poland at night when there were drone strikes in the border region, Ukrainian Railways said.

A drone on Sunday struck a passenger train at Yahodyn station, on the Polish border, shortly after the train carrying Mr Johnson had left ahead of schedule.

No casualties were reported, but the strike has prompted a warning about the increasing threat to Europe posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Johnson is reported to have been travelling on the same train as the prime minister’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell, former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt, and one of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s closest advisers, Gunter Sautter, as well as European diplomats.

The group had been in Kyiv to discuss possible peace negotiations with Russia with the Ukrainian government, according to German newspaper Der Spiegel.

The newspaper said the line between Kyiv and Warsaw had been attacked and a train was struck.

Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said that Russian strikes were hitting closer to NATO and EU member Poland.

“Putin’s terror is literally knocking on the doors of the European Union and NATO,” he said.

Ukraine’s railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia said in a post on Telegram it was “quite possible” that the drone had been aimed at Mr Johnson’s train. 

The company said the train “had departed the station earlier than scheduled due to real-time adjustments to train timetables necessitated by the constant threat of Russian strikes”.

Mr Johnson condemned the attack as “random and senseless”.

He said on X: “I don’t know what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning.

“What we can say for sure is that this is the kind of random and senseless attack Ukrainians are enduring every day – even on civilian railways.

“So far Putin has been responsible for the deaths of 1,700 staff of Ukrzaliznytsia – Ukrainian Railways. They and their daily passengers are absolutely heroic.”

Mr Bildt posted a video of a train being evacuated after what appeared to be an explosion on X, and wrote: “This wasn’t our train, but the one just minutes after us by the border crossing.

“It was evacuated as the Russian drone approached and no one was hurt. Very good safety system. Our train just had an evacuation warning but could proceed to Dorohusk. The Russian attacks against Ukraine are intensifying.”

Polish foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said the Russian threat was already “inside the house”.

Mr Sikorski accused Moscow of waging a “hybrid war” against European nations that went further than cyberattacks, disinformation and espionage to “arson incidents in Poland”, “attempts to bring down airliners in Lithuania”, and “an attempt to derail a moving train in Poland” – representing an “escalation” in Russian activities.

Earlier on Sunday, a truck less than a mile from Ukraine’s border with Poland was ‌also hit, with operations at the Dorohusk-Yahodyn crossing point being briefly stopped, said border guards.

Russia’s defence ministry said it had targeted infrastructure facilitating military cargoes from Europe in western Ukraine.

With the frontline largely static, both Moscow and Kyiv have intensified long-distance ‌strikes in recent weeks to try to shift momentum in the war.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian diesel infrastructure, saying the attacks were causing a shortage of the fuel.

“I’ve asked President Zelenskyy not to hit the diesel plants, refineries. Diesel is being driven up by the fact that it’s having a hard time coming out of Russia, and that’s the case that hurts the world.”

A wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in recent months has reduced that country’s fuel production, triggering gasoline shortages across the country.

Ukraine, which faces regular Russian attacks on its own energy infrastructure, says refineries are legitimate military targets. (Sky News)

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The Russian capital was ablaze Thursday, after Ukraine launched what appeared to be its largest attack on the city since the Kremlin invaded its neighbor more than four years ago. 

Waves of Ukrainian drones hit a major oil refinery in Moscow for the second time this week, sending thick clouds of black smoke and flames rising over the city through the morning. Local commercial flights were also disrupted.

Kyiv cast the attack as revenge for strikes on a historic monastery that had drawn global condemnation. It comes as President Donald Trump signals renewed engagement with the conflict, boosting European hopes that he may back tougher action against Russia to try and force it to the negotiation table.

A video geolocated by NBC News showed a drone flying into a plume of smoke over the Kapotnya refinery, which is in the southeast of Moscow and just 10 miles away from the Kremlin.

The facility is seen already engulfed in flames, as air defense rockets are fired at the drone before it crashes on site, throwing up a ball of fire.

Ukraine has been striking oil facilities deep inside Russia after a leap in drone capabilities, an intensifying campaign that Kyiv’s allies say has given the country “new momentum” in the war. It has led to widespread damage to energy infrastructure, helping to spark a fuel crisis centered in occupied Crimea.

Successful attacks on Moscow remain rare, however, with the capital protected by layers of air defense.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 190 drones have been shot down on approach to Moscow overnight, with several reaching the oil refinery. State news agency Tass called it “the most massive drone attack on the Moscow region in two years.”

The capital’s major airports went into temporary shutdown Thursday morning “to ensure flight safety,” Russia’s transportation ministry said.

A day earlier, Russia’s aviation authority announced restrictions on flights by light ​private aircraft and drones in ‌Moscow and surrounding regions — a possible sign the Kremlin is looking to ramp up protections for the capital. Ukrainian drones first attacked the refinery on Tuesday.

The attacks come at a tricky time for the Kremlin, which is facing growing internal discontent with Vladimir Putin’s leadership and handling of the war.

Kyiv has been open about what it calls its “long-range sanctions” against Russia.

“This is a fully justified response to Russian attacks on our cities and communities, and another important result of our warriors’ work against facilities that sustain Russia’s war machine,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post X Thursday, sharing a video of the Russian capital burning and covered in smoke.

All of Ukraine’s partners “have noted the precision and effectiveness of our mid-range strikes and long-range sanctions” in recent days, he added, signaling that the U.S. is now on Ukraine’s side.

“If Ukraine is burning, then your Moscow will be burning too,” Zelenskyy said later Thursday, in an audio note shared with reporters.

Washington-led efforts to settle the conflict have been stalled by the Trump administration’s focus on the Iran war in recent months.

But with the peace agreement now signed with Tehran, Trump said he would refocus on Russia’s war and appeared newly aligned on the issue with allies at the Group of Seven summit this week. Just hours before the refinery strike, Zelenskyy said he held “an important coordination call” with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, “that can bring about significant change.”

The stunning footage of the refinery fire appeared on social media Thursday despite the ban on sharing videos and photos showing “results of drone strikes” that came into force in Moscow last month to “prevent disinformation.” In most videos, people behind the camera can be heard gasping and swearing at what they are seeing.

Other footage showed Moscow residents seemingly unfazed by the smoke in the background. Some casually rolled down the sidewalks on their scooters, as others talked on their phones and waited at bus stations.

“One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is ‘What is going on?’” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X.

“I can answer. Your country started a war of aggression against ours,” he added. “For years, it has been killing our people. Now that you know what’s going on, ask Putin when he is planning to end it.” (CNBC)

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war, in an open letter posted as the Russian leader was speaking to the media at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. It comes a day after Ukrainian strikes on the Russian city.

“We can all see that Russians are finally becoming less comfortable with this reality — with the fact that the war is bringing more and more negative consequences to Russia,” Zelensky wrote. “They do not like the fact that there is no end in sight to your war.”

The Ukrainian leader said Putin “regularly” postpones deadlines to capture Ukrainian regions, specifically Donetsk.

“And you will not capture it this year either,” he said.

Zelensky called for a direct meeting with Putin to end the war and stressed that peace shouldn’t wait until the US turned its attention from Iran to the Ukraine-Russia war.

“We see that the United States is fully focused on the issue of Iran, and it would be wrong to simply wait until the war in Europe returns to the center of its attention,” Zelensky said.

“Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting,” he wrote, adding that it should take place in a third country and that a clear date should be set. During those meetings, Zelensky said a full ceasefire needs to be in place.

“An attempt to establish real silence is the best way to begin talking to one another.”

The Kremlin has seen Zelensky’s letter and Putin will be briefed on it, Russian state outlet TASS cited Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying. He also said that if Zelensky wants to meet Putin, “he can come to Moscow.”

Zelensky reiterated in the letter that him traveling to the Russian capital is a non-starter.

Meanwhile in St. Petersburg, Putin said proposals made by US President Donald Trump to end the war could “be the basis” for peace agreements but would require compromise from both countries.

“We generally agreed to these compromises. We just need to convince the Ukrainian side of this, and that’s it,” he said. “But overall, I believe they could very well be the basis for agreements between Russia and Ukraine and could put an end to this conflict.” (CNN)

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Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina on Thursday said she was resigning in response to her coalition government breaking up. 

“I am resigning, but I am not giving up,” Silina said in a televised statement. 

Silina, of the center-right New Unity party, was left without a ruling majority in the parliament as of Wednesday, when the left-wing Progressive party said it was withdrawing its support. 

This followed the removal of former Defense Minister Andris Spruds, a member of the Progressives, over the handling of incidents of stray Ukrainian drones flying into Latvia from Russia.

Two major Russian oil facilities in the Baltic are located near the borders to Estonia and Latvia. The flight path from Ukraine runs along Latvia’s eastern border; drone defense systems can scramble the vehicles’ navigation. 

What did Silina say? 

The prime minister issued similar comments about her resignation online, blaming her political opponents for the government crisis. 

“My priority now and always has been the well-being and security of the people of Latvia. Parties and coalitions change, but Latvia remains,” Silina wrote. “At present, political jealousy and narrow party interests have taken precedence over responsibility. Seeing a strong and professional candidate for the post of Minister of Defense, political talkers chose not a solution, but a crisis.”

The prime minsiter had suggested a military officer to replace Spruds but members of the Progressives rejected him.

Silina said she had always “behaved responsibly” towards her coalition partners and had “held together very different political forces, because my task was to ensure that the country moved forward.” 

Silina had forced Spruds to resign, saying that Latvia’s drone defense had not been deployed quickly enough to neutralize the threat. She took on the role of defense minister herself on an interim basis. 

The Progressives argued that Silina had made Spruds a scapegoat for wider failings. 

One of the stray drones caused a fire at a disused oil storage site in eastern Latvia. The incidents raised questions about the country’s defense readiness. 

What happens next?

Latvian President Edgar Rinkevics, who is tasked by the constitution to select a leader of the government, will meet representatives of all parliamentary parties on Friday. 

The three-party coalition was already under strain over a variety of policies. 

Silina’s center-right New Unity party was the largest in the alliance, with 25 seats, followed by the agrarian ZZS Union of Greens and Farmers with 16. The Progressives only held nine seats in Riga’s parliament, but all of these were still needed as well as at least one extra vote from outside the main coalition in order for the government to command a slim majority. 

Elections were already scheduled for October of this year, with the controversy seemingly firing an early starting pistol for the campaign. (DW)

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The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka has called on the European Union and its representatives in Colombo to refrain from what it described as “irresponsible allegations” after the EU Delegation accused Moscow of forcibly deporting 20,000 children and concealing information about them.

In a press release, the Russian Embassy rejected the claims as “baseless and false,” insisting that Russia has been rescuing children from the war and continues to do so. 

It expressed gratitude to Qatari mediators for their support in reuniting children with their families.

The statement urged the EU to avoid disseminating untrue information and suggested that officials in Brussels should instead focus on the plight of Ukrainian children in European countries. 

It also accused the EU of misleading the Ukrainian people with “false promises” of imminent accession to the bloc.

“The Embassy reserves its right to a rigid reaction to any attempts to organize anti‑Russian messages or actions,” the statement concluded. (Newswire)

PRESS RELEASE of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka

On the accusations made by the Delegation of the EU in Sri Lanka against the Russian Federation in social media "X" (former Twitter)

The Delegation of the European Union in Sri Lanka has accused Russia…https://t.co/jiCAIpBfj8 pic.twitter.com/U3VlXprjfs

— Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka (@RusEmbSriLanka) May 14, 2026

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has extended his gratitude to Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for the latter’s greetings on Ukraine’s Independence Day.

In a statement on ‘X’, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine values the friendly relations and cooperation with Sri Lanka, based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace and prosperity. 

“We are confident that our relations hold potential for further development, bringing benefits to both nations,” he added. 

In a letter addressed to the Ukrainian President, extending his greetings for Ukraine’s Independence Day, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he is confident the longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two nations will continue to deepen their shared pursuit of peace, progress, and prosperity for their people. 

“It is my earnest hope that the challenges and hardships presently confronted by Ukraine would be resolved soon, restoring peace, harmony and stability of the country,” President Dissanayake added. (Newswire)

I thank President @anuradisanayake for the warm and sincere greetings on Ukraine’s Independence Day. Ukraine values the friendly relations and cooperation with Sri Lanka, based on mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace and prosperity. We are confident that our relations… pic.twitter.com/3SzKMJuG3y

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2025

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President Donald Trump on Monday reduced to less than two weeks his deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to either reach a peace deal with Ukraine or face massive “secondary tariffs” on Moscow’s trade partners.

Trump previously gave Putin a 50-day deadline, which was set to expire in early September.

But he signalled Monday that things were taking too long, saying “I’m going to make a new deadline of about …10 or 12 days from today.”

“I’m disappointed in President Putin,” Trump said in Scotland alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

“Russia and Ukraine — I would have said five times we had a deal,” Trump said. “I spoke to President Putin a lot. Got along with him very well.”

“Then President Putin launches rockets into a city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people — in a nursing home, or wherever — and there are bodies lying all over the street,” he said.

“There’s no reason they’re waiting,” Trump said. “I want to be generous, but we just don’t see any progress being made.”

He later said that he likely will formally announce the revision in the deadline “tonight or tomorrow,” adding that the U.S. would impose sanctions along with the secondary tariffs.

“But there’s no reason to wait. If you know what the answer is going to be, why wait?” Trump said.

Trump imposed a 50-day deadline on Putin on July 14. At that time, he said that buyers of Russian exports would face tariffs “at about 100%” if there were no ceasefire deal with Ukraine by September.

Trump once avoided criticizing Putin. But in recent months, he has made his frustrations known as Russia’s war on Ukraine has intensified.

Trump has complained that Putin will suggest in their phone calls that he is open to ending hostilities with Ukraine, but then will quickly order new military actions. (CNBC)

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United States President Donald Trump has said he will send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine as his administration signals growing disillusionment with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to negotiate an end to Moscow’s invasion.

“We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday.

“Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening,” Trump said.

“So, there’s a little bit of a problem there. I don’t like it.”

Trump said he had not decided on the number of Patriot batteries he would send to Ukraine, but “they’re going to have some because they do need protection”.

Trump’s comments come after he last week confirmed that his administration had decided to sell weapons to NATO allies in Europe for them to pass on to Kyiv.

Trump is set to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte this week for discussions expected to focus on his plans to supply weapons to Kyiv.

Rutte’s trip to Washington, DC comes as Trump has teased that he will make a “major statement” on Russia on Monday.

On Sunday, Axios, citing two unnamed sources, reported that Trump’s announcement would include “offensive weapons” for Ukraine. (Al Jazeera)

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North Korea has confirmed for the first time that it sent troops to Russia to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine, and that its forces had contributed to taking back Russian territory held by Ukraine’s military in the Kursk region.

In a statement provided to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday, the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party said that the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, had sent troops into combat alongside Russian forces as part of a mutual defence treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang.

The KCNA quoted Kim as saying that soldiers were deployed to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area in cooperation with the Russian armed forces”.

“They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honour of the motherland,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

North Korea “regards it as an honour to have an alliance with such a powerful state as the Russian Federation”, KCNA said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June last year, committing the two countries to come to each other’s assistance, militarily, in the event of war.

According to South Korea’s official Yonhap News Agency, Kim also said that a monument would be built soon in the capital, Pyongyang, to honour those who had fought against Ukraine.

“Flowers praying for immortality will be placed before the tombstones of the fallen soldiers, effectively acknowledging troops killed in combat,” Yonhap reports, noting that North Korea had so far remained silent about the thousands of soldiers it had sent to Russia in October.

Ukrainian officials said earlier this year that some 14,000 North Koreans were deployed against its forces, including 3,000 reinforcements who were sent to replace the North Koreans’ early battlefield losses.

Lacking armoured vehicles and unfamiliar with drone warfare, the North Koreans had taken heavy casualties early on in fighting but adapted quickly, according to reports, and later contributed to reclaiming Russia’s Kursk region from occupying Ukrainian forces.

Estimates of the casualty rate among North Korean forces fighting for Russia have varied widely.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in January that about 300 North Korean soldiers were killed in combat and another 2,700 had been injured.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put the number of killed or wounded North Koreans at 4,000, while the United States estimated a lower figure of about 1,200 casualties.

North Korea’s statement follows Russia’s chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov, on Saturday hailing the “heroism” of the North Korean soldiers, who he said “provided significant assistance in defeating the group of Ukrainian armed forces”, while reporting to Putin that Kursk had been regained from Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine’s General Staff quickly countered, saying that its defensive operation in certain areas in Kursk was continuing.

The US State Department said in a statement on Sunday evening that North Korea and other “third countries” had “perpetuated” Russia’s war on Ukraine and that it must end, as should Moscow’s support for Pyongyang. (Al Jazeera)

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President Donald Trump says the United States will “take a pass” on trying to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war if either Moscow or Kyiv makes it too difficult to end the conflict.

Trump was speaking after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented – following talks with European allies in Paris – that Washington would “move on” if a truce did not seem “doable” within days.

The US president refused on Friday to cast blame on either Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the February 2022 full-scale invasion of pro-Western Ukraine, or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But he insisted both sides had to make progress.

“Now, if, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say: ‘You’re foolish. You’re fools. You’re horrible people’ – and we’re going to just take a pass,” Trump said.

“But, hopefully, we won’t have to do that.”

Rubio further suggested on Friday that Trump’s patience towards the negotiations is running thin.

“If it’s not possible, if we’re so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the president is probably at a point where he’s going to say, ‘Well, we’re done,’” he said.

Trump told reporters on Friday, however, that he did not want to say he was walking away from the talks. He said he still believes there is a good chance to end the conflict.

“It’s coming to a head right now,” he said.

US Vice President JD Vance also said he was “optimistic” a resolution could be reached, while speaking on a trip to Rome. (Al Jazeera)

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The US and Ukraine have signed “memorandum of intent” that Kyiv’s Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko described as paving “the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.”

The two countries previously agreed to a deal to allow the US to access Kyiv’s natural resources and critical minerals, in what Trump calls payment for US aid to Ukraine during former President Joe Biden’s term.

But the deal fell through, after a public clash between  Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in February.

“It is very important that the document notes the desire of the American people to invest together with the Ukrainian people in a free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine,” Svyrydenko said on X.

Trump also said that the long-awaited minerals deal could be signed as early as next week.

“We have a minerals deal, which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters that the deal was “substantially what we’d agreed on previously.” He added that the signing could come by next Friday. (DW)

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine would be grateful to Sri Lanka for more active support in ensuring a just and lasting peace in the country based on the UN Charter and international law.

President Zelenskyy made the remark during a meeting held on Monday (24 Mar) after receiving the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Ukraine.

The President congratulated the newly appointed Sri Lankan Ambassador on the beginning of diplomatic missions in Ukraine and expressed hope for the activation of cooperation between the countries.

During his conversation with the Sri Lankan Ambassador, the President noted that Ukraine is holding constructive negotiations with the United States and is ready to do everything possible to achieve peace as soon as possible. 

Our country has proposed steps that would lay the necessary foundation for further negotiations and expects support for this position from other states.

The President also mentioned that Ukraine is interested in developing bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, education, food security, and medical rehabilitation. (Newswire)

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Ukraine agreed Tuesday to an immediate 30-day ceasefire negotiated by the U.S. if Russia accepts the plan, officials said.

As part of the plan, the U.S. immediately lifted its pause on sharing intelligence with Ukraine, and will resume security assistance to that country, which was invaded by Russia more than three years ago.

“Ukraine is ready to start talking and stop shooting,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after more than seven hours of negotiations in that city between high-level American and Ukrainian delegations.

Both U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to conclude “as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources,” according to a joint statement by the two nations’ governments.

Zelenskyy in a statement said the planned ceasefire would halt all hostilities, “not just for missiles, drones and bombs, not just in the Black Sea, but along the entire front line.”

“Ukraine welcomes this proposal. We see it as a positive step, and we are ready to take it,” Zelenskyy said. “The United States must now persuade Russia to do the same. If Russia agrees, silence will take effect immediately.”

“Today, we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations to end this conflict in a way that’s enduring and sustainable and accounts for their interests, their security, their ability to prosper as a nation,” Rubio said.

“And hopefully we’ll take this offer now to the Russians, and we hope that they’ll say yes, that they’ll say yes to peace,” Rubio said. “The ball is now in their court.” 

In a joint statement, the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations said the interim, monthlong ceasefire “can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties.”

“The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace,” the statement said.

Zelenskyy in his nightly televised address to Ukraine said, “Our position is absolutely clear: Ukraine has sought peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything to achieve peace as quickly and reliably as possible — so that war never returns.”

According to the joint statement issued by Ukraine and the U.S., the two delegations “also discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts as part of the peace process, particularly during the above-mentioned ceasefire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.” (CNBC)

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Western leaders scrambled to back Ukraine after Friday’s acrimonious meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky deepened the already yawning fault lines between Washington and many of its key allies.

The remarkable Oval Office exchange highlights a tricky balancing act facing Western capitals since Trump’s return to office in January: maintaining steadfast support for Zelensky and Kyiv against Russian aggression, while not alienating a famously transactional president who appears increasingly sympathetic to President Valdimir Putin, tolerates little criticism and is upturning decades of transatlantic security alliances.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who met Trump in the White House on Thursday in one of the trickiest visits by a British leader to Washington in decades, spoke with both the US president and Zelensky following their shouting match, according to a Downing Street spokeswoman.

Starmer “retains his unwavering support for Ukraine and is playing his part to find a path forward to a lasting peace, based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine,” the spokeswoman said.

The UK is set to host a summit of European leaders on Sunday to discuss support for Kyiv. Zelensky is expected to attend what’s likely to be a much more welcoming setting for the Ukrainian leader, with Starmer having urged Trump against accepting any peace deal in Ukraine that would “reward” Russia or its allies.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a key Trump ally in Europe, also called for a summit with the US and European nations to discuss the war in Ukraine, saying that division makes the West weaker.

Europe’s leaders and officials have been blindsided by a staggering collapse in American support for Ukraine in the past weeks, after almost three years of ironclad backing by the previous administration of Joe Biden. Many still cannot understand why US President Donald Trump has turned so furiously on Zelensky and conceded key concessions to Putin before even starting talks.

Zelensky has spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron and to European Council President António Costa following his scathing exchange with Trump at the White House, according to a Ukrainian source with knowledge of the situation.

“There is an aggressor, which is Russia, and an attacked people, which is Ukraine,” Macron later said in a statement.

“Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians do,” wrote German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X. “Therefore we are working on a common path to a lasting and just peace. Ukraine can rely on Germany – and on Europe.”

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, said in a statement that it’s “clear that the free world needs a new leader.” European Union leaders also issued a joint statement urging Zelensky to “be strong.”

Zelensky has also spoken to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, a source said.

“Ukraine, you’ll never walk alone,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said, while Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna cautioned that if “Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine.”

There was swift vocal support too from key US allies outside Europe, including from all other members of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence sharing network that are among Washington’s most trusted partners.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would “continue to stand with Ukraine.”

“Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine. For three years now, Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience. Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all,” Trudeau wrote on X.

Australia’s prime minister reiterated his country’s support for Kyiv, saying it will “continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

“We stand unequivocally with Ukraine in their struggle, because we regard that as a struggle for the upholding of international law,” Anthony Albanese said.

Meanwhile New Zealand’s leader Christopher Luxon said his nation remained “steadfast in its support for Ukraine as it defends itself in a war that Russia started.”

‘Ukraine, you’ll never walk alone’

A notable exception to the wave of European solidarity was Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a far-right populist and Trump ally, who took to X to stand with the US president.

“Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” Orban wrote. “Today President (Trump) stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!”

The tense exchange with Trump boosted Zelensky’s backing among many at home, with Ukraine’s lawmakers rallying behind Kyiv’s leader.

“We are proud of our president. We are proud that he has guts to stand up for Ukraine,” Oleksandr Merezhko, the head of the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, told CNN’s Jim Sciutto on Friday.

Merezhko said there’s “absolutely no doubt” that the Ukrainian parliament will back Zelensky.

“We are united behind our president but at the same time, we hope that wisdom and common sense will prevail.”

Ukraine’s military, who have spent more than three years holding back a far larger Russian force with the help of US and European aid, also maintained a message of defiance, at least on public channels.

“Trump understands the aggressive manner of negotiations and is trying to crush Zelensky,” said Stanislav Buniatov, another Ukrainian military officer, in a Telegram post. “There would have been no heated talks if Trump had offered at least a ceasefire on the contact line with minimal amendments.”

One military officer, who goes by the callsign Aleks, said on Telegram he doesn’t “give a damn” about the kind of peace Trump offers.

“It’s better to fight to death than to freeze the war and then be drained again in three years,” he said. (CNN) 

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A bomb hidden in an electric scooter has killed a senior general in charge of nuclear protection forces in Moscow, Russia’s investigative committee said.

Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who was chief of the Troops of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence, was killed on Tuesday outside an apartment building on Ryazansky Prospekt.

“Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological protection forces of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, and his assistant were killed,” the investigative committee said.

According to a law enforcement official, the explosive device “had a capacity of some 300 grams in TNT equivalent”, Russian outlet Tass news agency reported.

Photographs posted on Russian Telegram channels showed a shattered entrance to a building littered with rubble and two bodies lying in the blood-stained snow.

A criminal case has been opened.

Russia’s radioactive, chemical and biological defence troops are special forces who operate under conditions of radioactive, chemical and biological contamination.

On Monday, Ukrainian prosecutors charged Kirillov in absentia with the alleged use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine said, according to the Kyiv Independent.

Russia denies those accusations. (Al Jazeera)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Monday.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders in about a month. PM Modi had visited Ukraine on August 23 and reiterated India’s willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace in the Ukraine conflict.

PM Modi had visited Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelenskyy in first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in the year 1992.

A joint statement issued following PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine had said that both Leaders expressed mutual interest in working towards elevating bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.

They reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, and openness.

The statement had said that PM Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.

“The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit,” the statement had said.

“Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace. He reiterated India’s willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace,” it added.

Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in conflict for over two years.

A joint statement issued by Quad leaders after their meeting hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 21 said that they stand for adherence to international law and respect for principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereignty of all states, and peaceful resolution of disputes.

“We express our deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including the terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. Each of us has visited Ukraine since the war began, and seen this first-hand; we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also note the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries,” the statement said.

“In the context of this war, we share the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. We underscore the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterate that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state,” it added.

President Biden hosted Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, PM Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the Quad Leaders’ Summit on Saturday in his home town Wilmington, Delaware.

PM Modi is on a three-day visit to the United States, during which he had bilateral meetings with several leaders, including President Biden. (ANI)

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Ukraine for talks with the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, raising questions over New Delhi’s potential role in bringing about an eventual ceasefire in the Eastern European country.

The arrival of Modi, who leads the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, coincides with Ukraine’s National Flag Day, marks not only his first visit since Russia launched its February 2022 invasion but the first by an Indian prime minister to the country. India has carefully maintained a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, advocating a peaceful resolution to the conflict through dialogue.

The country was present at the Ukraine Peace Summit in Geneva in June, a summit that Zelensky lobbied hard for, though India did not sign the joint statement that emerged from the event. China, which has also sought to portray itself as a mediator in the conflict, did not attend, citing Russia’s lack of an invitation.

India’s discounted purchases of Russian oil have helped sustain Moscow’s isolated post-invasion economy. Trade overall has also been booming, with India’s Trade Ministry reporting a record $65.7 billion of bilateral turnover last year. Russia has for decades been the main arms supplier for India, now the world’s top weapons buyer.

The U.S., which seeks to maintain strong ties with QUAD partner India in a bid to counter China’s expansive moves in the Indo-Pacific, has called on New Delhi to use its leverage to push Russia toward a ceasefire.

“So India has a long-standing relationship with Russia. I think that’s well-known,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said ahead of Modi’s Russia visit last month.

He reiterated Washington’s call to “utilize that relationship with Russia, that longstanding relationship and the unique position that they have, to urge President Putin to end his illegal war and to find a just peace, a lasting peace to this conflict; to tell [Russian President] Vladimir Putin to respect the UN Charter, to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

Zelensky took to X, formerly Twitter, to criticize Modi’s visit.

“It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day,” he wrote.

Analysts have pointed out, however, that New Delhi is “walking a tightrope” when it comes to relations with its decades-old Russian partner at a time of deepening ties between Moscow and Beijing.

“[India] has been warming to the West in recent years, especially given rising border tensions with China,” Shashi Tharoor, a former United Nations under-secretary-general and an ex-Indian minister of state, wrote for Project Syndicate last week. “But, at the same time, India cannot disavow its relationship with Russia, however much this displeases the U.S.”

However, Modi, during his talks with Putin in July, secured several concessions and seemingly chided the Russian leader over the war, calling the deaths of children killed in a Russian strike on a hospital “unbearable.”

He also said the solution to the war “cannot be found on the battlefield.”

The statement was “meant to signal that India had not cast his lot entirely with Russia and doesn’t support it unconditionally,” Rajan Menon, Emeritus Anne and Bernard Spitzer Chair in Political Science at the City College of New York, told Newsweek. He also pointed to the dozen batches of humanitarian aid India donated to war-torn Ukraine in 2022.

There is a “convergence of interest” as Modi and Zelensky sit down for talks, Menon said.

“Ukraine, for its part, knows that it needs far more success in building support in the Global South, in which India is a leading voice,” Menon said.

Meanwhile India seeks a greater role in global leadership and hopes to “retain as much diplomatic flexibility as possible as the war in Ukraine continues,” he added.

Chris Weafer, CEO of Eurasia-based strategic consultancy Macro-Advisory, believes Modi has two objectives for his Kyiv trip.

One is to “demonstrate Indian neutrality, especially to a Western audience. The other is to try and find a way forward to a cease-fire and a peace process and to explore if India may have a role as a peace mediator,” Weafer told Newsweek, adding this was “undoubtedly” a topic during the prime minister’s discussions with Putin last month.

There is also an economic incentive for India to help bring the war to a close. Bilateral trade with Russia soared last year on the back of its energy purchases, with India in July topping China as the largest importer of Russian oil.

But this resulted in nearly $60 billion deficit. Sanctions on cross-border transactions are frustrating India’s efforts to boost its exports to the trade partner.

Newsweek reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry and Indian presidential office with written requests for comment.

According to Ukraine’s presidential office, Modi and Zelensky are expected to “discuss issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation” and sign multiple documents.

Modi’s visit comes as Ukraine pushes its initiative in Russia’s southwestern region of Kursk. In the weeks since Ukrainian forces mounted their August 6 surprise incursion into the region, some two hundred thousand locals have evacuated.

Meanwhile, Russian forces have been making gains in Donbas, one of the regions wrested from Ukraine in the early stages of the war. (News Week)

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday express confidence that India had a role to bring peace to the conflict ridden region.

Speaking to ANI, in Kyiv, the Ukranian President said, “India will play its role. I think that India began to recognise that this is not just conflict, this is real war of one man and his name is Putin against whole country whose name is Ukraine. You are a big country. You have a big influence and you can stop Putin and halt his economy, and put him really in his place.”

The Ukranian President was echoing the strong message of peace given by PM Narendra Modi during his bilateral meeting with him at the Mariinskyi Palace.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told Zelenskyy that dialogue was the only solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

“India was never neutral, we have always been on the side of peace,” PM Modi told Zelenskyy in their bilateral meeting.

The PM further said that India was ready to play an active role in the path to peace and progress.

“People from other countries also know that India has actively planned peace efforts and you also know that our approach has been people-centric. I want to assure you and the entire world that this is India’s commitment and we believe that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is of utmost importance to us and we support it. Some time back, when I met President Putin in support of this, I had told him that this was not the time for war. Recently, when I went to Russia for a meeting, I said there too in clear words that the solution to any problem is never found on the battlefield. The solution comes only through talks, dialogue, and diplomacy and we should move ahead in that direction without wasting time. Both sides should sit together and find ways to come out of this crisis… Today I would like to discuss with you specifically the path to peace and progress. I want to assure you that India is ready to play an active role in every effort for peace. If I can personally contribute to this, I would like to do so. As a friend, I can assure you,” PM Modi said to President Zelenskyy.

Earlier the Ukranian President called the visit of PM Modi as a historic event.

“Today, history was made. The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi made his first visit to Ukraine since our country’s independence, on the eve of our Independence Day. Today, we reached an agreement on four documents between Ukraine and India, covering the medical field, agricultural cooperation, humanitarian relations, and culture. Following the visit, we also agreed on a joint statement focusing on the development of a strategic partnership, bilateral trade, and continued military-technical cooperation. India supports Ukraine’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. And this is critical because everyone in the world must equally respect the UN Charter,” he said in a post on X.

The strong positive message sent out by the Ukranian President signifies the key role India has in pushing for peace and progress in the region. (Times of Oman)

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World War III has either begun or is on the brink, depending on whom you ask. Local conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East appear poised to spill over into regional wars.

Against this global backdrop of escalating tension, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi finds himself at the centre of a significant geopolitical endeavour.

In a world where alliances are increasingly shaped by a complex interplay of historical ties, economic interests, and moral imperatives, Modi’s upcoming visit to Ukraine—following a controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin—has drawn both criticism and cautious optimism.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a pointed statement, described Modi’s embrace of Putin as “a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts.” This article explores the broader implications of this encounter and Modi’s impending visit to Ukraine, where he is expected to act as a mediator in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Modi’s Meeting with Putin: A Controversial Embrace

The backdrop to Zelensky’s statement is Modi’s recent visit to Moscow, where he engaged in talks with Vladimir Putin. During this meeting, Modi made a significant statement, asserting that “war is not the solution” and emphasising the need for dialogue and diplomacy.

Despite this, Modi’s warm interaction with Putin, including the symbolic gesture of a bear hug, sent shock waves through the Western hemisphere, especially in light of Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine. For Zelensky, who has tirelessly worked to garner international support against Russia’s invasion, Modi’s actions were nothing short of a betrayal. NATO diehards agreed.

Zelensky’s description of Putin as “the world’s most bloody criminal” reflects the deep wounds inflicted by the Russian invasion, which has led to significant loss of life, the destruction of infrastructure, and the displacement of millions of Ukrainians.

In this context, Modi’s perceived closeness to Putin raises questions about India’s stance on the conflict and its implications for global peace efforts.

India, however, has maintained a delicate balance in its foreign policy. As the world’s largest democracy, it has traditionally upheld the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Yet, India’s historical ties with Russia, rooted in Cold War alliances and substantial defence cooperation, complicate its diplomatic position.

Modi’s engagement with Putin can be seen as an effort to preserve this longstanding relationship while navigating the turbulent waters of international diplomacy.

The Significance of Modi’s Upcoming Visit to Ukraine

Amid the backlash following his meeting with Putin, Modi’s scheduled visit to Ukraine next week is a critical opportunity to demonstrate India’s commitment to global peace and stability.

The visit, during which Modi will engage directly with President Zelensky, is being framed as a potential turning point in the conflict, with Modi positioned as a mediator who could potentially bridge the divide between Kyiv and Moscow.

For Zelensky, Modi’s visit offers a chance to secure India’s support in his quest for a resolution to the conflict. India, with its growing global influence and strategic importance, could play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of peace negotiations.

Zelensky will likely seek assurances from Modi that India will use its leverage with Russia to press for an end to hostilities and a return to meaningful dialogue.

However, the path to peace is fraught with challenges. Zelensky’s scepticism, as evident in his strong words, reflects the deep mistrust that has developed between Ukraine and those perceived to be sympathetic to Russia.

Modi will need to navigate this mistrust carefully, ensuring that his actions in Ukraine are not seen merely as a counterbalance to his earlier meeting with Putin, but as a genuine effort to broker peace.

The Challenges of Mediation

Mediating between Russia and Ukraine is no small task. The conflict, which began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and escalated in 2022 with Russia’s full-scale invasion, has deep roots in historical grievances, territorial disputes, and geopolitical ambitions.

The war has not only devastated Ukraine but has also strained Russia’s relations with the West, leading to widespread sanctions and a reconfiguration of global alliances. Countries like France, Germany, and Italy, once seen as close to Russia, have all dramatically pulled up their drawbridges.

Modi’s challenge will be to find common ground between two leaders who have fundamentally opposing views on the conflict’s origins and resolution.

For Putin, the war is about reclaiming what he views as Russia’s rightful influence over its near abroad, a perspective deeply intertwined with his vision of Russian national identity. For Zelensky, the war is an existential struggle for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and future as a democratic nation aligned with the West.

To succeed, Modi will need to leverage India’s unique position as a country that has maintained relations with both Russia and Ukraine, as well as with Western powers. India’s status as a non-aligned nation, coupled with its rising global influence, positions Modi as a potentially neutral mediator. However, neutrality will require careful diplomatic manoeuvring, as any perceived bias could derail peace efforts and further entrench the conflict.

A Moment of Truth

As Modi prepares for his visit to Ukraine, the stakes could not be higher. His actions in the coming weeks will not only shape the future of the Russia-Ukraine conflict but also define India’s role on the global stage. Zelensky’s criticism underscores the high expectations placed on Modi and the delicate balance he must maintain between competing interests.

If Modi can successfully mediate a peace deal, it would be a monumental achievement, solidifying India’s status as a global power capable of influencing major international conflicts. However, failure could deepen the mistrust between Ukraine and its allies, casting a shadow over India’s diplomatic efforts. But even in failure, trying to avert World War III is a noble effort.

In the end, Modi’s visit to Ukraine will be a test of his diplomatic acumen and India’s ability to navigate the complex geopolitics of the 21st century. It is a moment of truth, not just for Modi, but for the broader international community, as the world watches to see if peace can be achieved in one of the most contentious and devastating conflicts of our time.

Chris Blackburn has worked in the Indian subcontinent for over 20 years. He has been awarded for his work on security, human rights, and democracy. He has led programmes combatting religious extremism and communalism in India and Bangladesh. He is also a co-founder of Global Friends of Afghanistan (GFA), a non-profit organisation based in the United States of America. (EU Today)

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kyiv on Friday in an attempt to balance ties with Washington and Moscow, but has ruled out a role mediating an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter.

The South Asian nation has, however, agreed to relay messages between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the people said, asking not to be named as discussions are private. Indian officials have called for dialog and diplomacy to end the war that began with Russia’s Feb. 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 

Raed more : https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-19/modi-will-visit-ukraine-for-first-time-since-russia-s-invasion (Bloomberg)

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