“There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally,” Mr Zelensky said on X, shortly after Donald Trump demanded Ukraine agree to Mr Putin’s offer of direct talks between the two countries.
The US president urged Ukraine to agree to Mr Putin’s proposal “immediately”. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!, he said.
Ukraine and Europe have proposed a 30-day ceasefire, which was backed by Washington, while Mr Putin said Russia was seeking “serious negotiations” and suggested direct talks in Istanbul on Thursday – marking the first time he has agreed to direct talks on Ukraine.
This comes as Mr Trump appeared to mock the Russian leader’s Second World War victory parade in Moscow attended by world leaders. Mr Trump said it was unlikely Ukraine could make a deal with Mr Putin because the Russian leader was “too busy celebrating the victory of World War II”.
Russian drone attack on Ukraine freight train injures driverA Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s railway infrastructure in the Donetsk region injured a locomotive driver of a civilian freight train, Ukrainian Railways said this morning.
“Truce proposals are being ignored, hostile attacks on railway infrastructure … continue,” Ukrainian Railways, Ukrzaliznytsia said on its Telegram channel.
The attack just a day after European leaders joined president Volodymyr Zelensky in demanding a 30-day ceasefire starting today.
Arpan Rai12 May 2025 06:38
Putin risks overplaying his hand with Trump over peace conditions, his former Trump advisor saysJohn Bolton, a former Trump national security adviser, said Russian president Vladimir Putin risks “overplaying his hand” during the negotiations to establish peace with Ukraine.
“As this war drags on, I think his position does get weaker,” The Hill reported Mr Bolton as saying.
“The real question is whether, between the efforts of the United States, the efforts of Europe to get a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, it’s going to happen.”
“Putin has already gotten a lot of concessions for what he wants. He wants to hold on to the territory Russia’s seized in Ukraine,” Mr Bolton said.
But he added that time is running out. “I think at this point, he may be at risk of overplaying his hand with Trump.”
John Bolton served as national security adviser to Donald Trump in his previous administration between 2018 to 2019 (AP)Arpan Rai12 May 2025 06:22
Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine: ‘Never again war’In his first Sunday blessing, Pope Leo XIV called for a just peace in Ukraine and the release of prisoners of war and kidnapped children.
“I also appeal to the great powers of the world, repeating the eternal call ‘Never again war’”, said Leo from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, addressing approximately 100,000 people who gathered below.
Pope Leo also quoted Pope Francis, who condemned a series of conflicts that are devastating the world today, calling it “the third world war in parts.”
“I carry in my heart the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people,” he said. “May everything possible be done to achieve a true, just and lasting peace as soon as possible.”
He also called for the return of Ukrainian children home.
Pope Leo XIV appears at the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica for his first Sunday blessing (AP)Arpan Rai12 May 2025 06:10
German chancellor says Putin’s proposal for direct talks with Ukraine a ‘good sign’German chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday called a proposal by Russian president Vladimir Putin to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul a “good sign.”
During an overnight news conference in Moscow, Mr Putin proposed the resumption of direct peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul, starting on Thursday.
In a press release published by the German government’s press and information office, Mr Merz was quoted as saying that Berlin and the so-called coalition of the willing called for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
“If the Russian side now signals a willingness to talk, that is initially a good sign. But it is far from sufficient,” he further said.
PM Keir Starmer meets with French president Emanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz onboard a train to KyivArpan Rai12 May 2025 06:00
Trump craves recognition as the peacemaker president. Will diplomatic wins in South Asia and Ukraine spur him on?Standing under the dome of the Capitol Building, the bombastic, newly sworn-in 47th President of the United States, previously its 45th commander-in-chief, delivered a dark and partisan address before the throng of lawmakers and dignitaries.
There was a nod to one particular complaint, sandwiched between promises to build the strongest military the world has ever seen and a desire for an expansionist America, Trump said: “We will measure our success, not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”
He continued: “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be, a peacemaker and a unifier.”
On the surface, an admirable mission statement, but underneath lies a personal motive and related gripe. President Trump has made no secret that one thing he really desires is a Nobel Peace Prize.
Arpan Rai12 May 2025 05:43
Kremlin says Moscow will ‘continue’ invasion while blaming Ukraine for not being ‘ready’ for peaceA Kremlin spokesperson said in a new interview that Ukraine is to blame for a failure to make progress in peace talks and vowed that the Russian offensive would “continue” – despite Kyiv’s support for a US-backed deal.
With their respective nations still yet to reach a formal ceasefire, Ukraine and Russia’s ambassadors appeared for dueling interviews Sunday on ABC News.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, spoke to ABC’s Martha Raddatz in Moscow.
“Ukraine is trying to escape from negotiations,” he claimed. Mr Raddatz interjected: “Ukraine says they’re ready for a ceasefire right now, a 30 days ceasefire.”
“But they’re not ready for immediate negotiations,” Mr Peskov said. “President Putin is doing whatever is possible to solve the problem, to achieve a settlement through peaceful and diplomatic means. But having no peaceful and democratic means at hand, we have to continue military operation.”
Arpan Rai12 May 2025 05:40
Turkish president says ‘historic’ peace talks to take place this weekTurkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has spoken of his country’s role in hosting direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
“A historic turning point has been reached on the path to ending the war between Ukraine and Russia, and this opportunity should be seized… Turkey is ready to do everything possible, including negotiations, to ensure a ceasefire and lasting peace,” Mr Erdogan said during the conversation with French president Emmanuel Macron.
Nato member Turkey has maintained cordial ties with both Kyiv and Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
It has voiced support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and provided it with military help, while opposing sanctions on Russia.
Russia’s president Vladimir Putin meets with Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan (AFP/Getty Images)Arpan Rai12 May 2025 05:21
Trump ‘starting to doubt’ that Ukraine will reach deal with RussiaDonald Trump has said he was “starting to doubt” that Ukraine will reach a ceasefire deal with Russia, and he urged Ukraine to meet with Russian officials in Turkey on Thursday to negotiate.
“I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH.”
Mr Trump said that meeting would mean the two parties as well as European leaders and the US would then be “able to determine whether or not a deal is possible.”
The US president said that meeting would mean the two parties as well as European leaders and the US would then be “able to determine whether or not a deal is possible”.
US president Donald Trump speaks while signing legislation relating to household consumer energy policies in the Oval Office of the White House (AFP via Getty Images)Arpan Rai12 May 2025 05:02
UK to host EU foreign ministers on defence and Ukraine before summitForeign secretary David Lammy is set to host European peers today to discuss support for Ukraine and greater regional defence cooperation in the run-up to prime minister Keir Starmer’s summit with European Union leaders next week.
Mr Lammy was due to hold talks with representatives of France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the EU, Britain’s foreign ministry said.
“We are facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent,” Mr Lammy said in a statement. “The challenge we face today is not only about the future of Ukraine – it is existential for Europe as a whole.”
Mr Lammy planned to announce further sanctions targeting actors supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the statement said.
The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland travelled to Kyiv on Saturday to back Ukraine’s call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire on Saturday, with the backing of US president Donald Trump.
Britain’s foreign secretary David Lammy arrives to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street (Getty Images)Arpan Rai12 May 2025 04:53
11,000 troops, 200 tanks, and dozens of foreign leaders: Putin stages Moscow parade in ‘belligerent’ show of forceVladimir Putin presided over a massive show of tanks, missiles and troops in Moscow on Friday in a “belligerent” show of force alongside Chinese president Xi Jinping to bolster Russia’s global image as the Ukraine war grinds on.
Putin was joined by dozens of foreign leaders, who witnessed more than 11,000 troops on display in Red Square, in Russia’s Second World War Victory Day parade that involved soldiers from 13 other countries, and included 200 tanks among the presentation of presentation of military power.
As a reminder of Russia’s nuclear threat, huge Yars nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles launchers rolled across Red Square, while Iranian-made drones used to attack Ukraine were carried on trucks in a nod to the conflict.
Arpan Rai12 May 2025 04:47
