Ukraine

EU Urges 'Strong Action' from US Against Russia if no Ukraine Truce

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday called for the United States to take "strong action" against Russia if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. "America said that if Russia doesn't agree on an unconditional ceasefire, then there are going to be consequences. So we want to see those consequences, also from ...

China Says Backs Direct Talks Between Russia, Ukraine on Ending War

China said on Tuesday it backed direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump announced the two would "immediately" start peace talks after he spoke with Vladimir Putin. "China supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. Trump framed his two-hour conversation on Monday ...

Zelensky Warns U.S. Against Disengagement from Ukraine Peace Efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday issued a warning to the United States, cautioning that any withdrawal from peace efforts would play directly into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking after former U.S. President Donald Trump held calls with both Zelensky and Putin as part of a new initiative to end the ...

Europe’s Election Sunday Marked by Tension

Sunday, May 18 saw three significant referendums held across the European Union – in Romania, Poland and Portugal. In each case, pro-European candidates came out on top, prevailing over a far right that continues to gain ground across the continent. At a time when Europe is navigating the turbulence of war in Ukraine and increasingly strained ...

Istanbul Talks End Quickly as Russia Makes "Unacceptable" Demands

Russians and Ukrainians sat face-to-face for under two hours Friday in Istanbul for the first direct talks in over three years aimed at ending their war, with expectations low for breakthroughs. Kyiv is seeking an "unconditional ceasefire" in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II, which has also destroyed large swathes of Ukraine and ...

Zelensky Urges Strong International Response if Istanbul Talks with Russia Fail

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday called for a “strong response” from the international community if the planned talks with Russia in Istanbul fail. “If it turns out that the Russian delegation is only there for appearances and cannot deliver any results today, then everyone must respond,” he said from Tirana. “There ...

Ankara Calls for Ceasefire 'As Soon As Possible' in Ukraine at Talks with Russia

Ankara called on Friday for a ceasefire “as soon as possible” in Ukraine at the opening of Turkish-mediated talks in Istanbul between Kyiv and Moscow—the first such talks since the spring of 2022. “It is of crucial importance that a ceasefire be implemented as soon as possible,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, stressing that ...

Trump Says Wants to Meet Putin 'as Soon as we Can Set it Up'

"As soon as we can set it up I would actually leave here and go," Trump said in response to a question about meeting the Russian leader. Trump has repeatedly said he was willing to travel to Turkey to join the first direct Russian-Ukrainian peace talks in more than three years, insisting "nothing's going to happen" before he meets the Russian ...

Ukraine Peace Talks: What are Kyiv and Moscow's Positions?

Delegations from Kyiv and Moscow are in Istanbul on Friday, set to hold their first direct talks on the possibility of ending the war in Ukraine for more than three years. Expectations are low for the talks -- initially proposed by Vladimir Putin -- after the Russian leader declined Volodymyr Zelensky's call for a presidential summit in Turkey ...