Russia Claims Capture Of Sumy Settlement Near Kursk Region; Payback For Ukraine's 2024 Stunner
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Economic Times
20 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Putin doubts potency of Trump's ultimatum to end the war
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Remove Ads Forces advance 'He's made threats before' Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to bow to a sanctions ultimatum expiring this Friday from U.S. President Donald Trump, and retains the goal of capturing four regions of Ukraine in their entirety, sources close to the Kremlin told has threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions and impose 100% tariffs on countries that buy its oil - of which the biggest are China and India - unless Putin agrees to a ceasefire in Russia's war in determination to keep going is prompted by his belief that Russia is winning and by scepticism that yet more U.S. sanctions will have much of an impact after successive waves of economic penalties during 3-1/2 years of war, according to three sources familiar with discussions in the Russian leader does not want to anger Trump, and he realises that he may be spurning a chance to improve relations with Washington and the West, but his war goals take precedence, two of the sources goal is to fully capture the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which Russia has claimed as its own, and then to talk about a peace agreement, one of the sources said."If Putin were able to fully occupy those four regions which he has claimed for Russia he could claim that his war in Ukraine had reached his objectives," said James Rodgers, author of the forthcoming book "The Return of Russia".The current talks process, in which Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have met three times since May, was an attempt by Moscow to convince Trump that Putin was not rejecting peace, the first source said, adding that the talks were devoid of real substance apart from discussions on humanitarian says it is serious about agreeing a long-term peace in the negotiations but that the process is complicated because the two sides' stances are so far apart. Putin last week described the talks as stated demands include a full Ukrainian withdrawal from the four regions and acceptance by Kyiv of neutral status and limits on the size of its military - demands rejected by a sign that there may yet be an opportunity to strike a deal before the deadline, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Russia this week, following an escalation in rhetoric between Trump and Moscow over risks of nuclear war."President Trump wants to stop the killing, which is why he is selling American-made weapons to NATO members and threatening Putin with biting tariffs and sanctions if he does not agree to a ceasefire," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in response to a request for Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story. All the sources spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the who in the past has praised Putin and held out the prospect of lucrative business deals between their two countries, has lately expressed growing impatience with the Russian president. He has complained about what he called Putin's "bullshit" and described Russia's relentless bombing of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities as "disgusting".The Kremlin has said it noted Trump's statements but it has declined to respond to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko last week called on the world to respond with "maximum pressure" after the worst Russian air strike of the year killed 31 people in Kyiv, including five children, in what she called Russia's response to Trump's first source said Putin was privately concerned about the recent deterioration of U.S. ties. Putin still retains the hope that Russia can again befriend America and trade with the West, and "he is worried" about Trump's irritation, this person with Moscow's forces advancing on the battlefield and Ukraine under heavy military pressure, Putin does not believe now is the time to end the war, the source said, adding that neither the Russian people nor the army would understand if he stops the author, said Putin has invested his political reputation and legacy in the war in Ukraine."We know from his previous writings and statements that he sees himself as part of a strong tradition of standing up to the West and the rest of world to defend Russia's interests," he Kremlin leader values the relationship with Trump and does not want to anger him, however, "he simply has a top priority - Putin cannot afford to end the war just because Trump wants it," the second Russian source said.A third person familiar with Kremlin thinking also said Russia wanted to take all four regions and did not see the logic in stopping at a time of battlefield gains during Russia's summer has suffered some of its biggest territorial losses of 2025 in the past three months, including 502 square kilometres in July, according to Black Bird Group, a Finland-based military analysis centre. In total, Russia has occupied around a fifth of military General Staff has told Putin that the Ukrainian front will crumble in two or three months, the first person Russia's recent gains remain relatively minor in purely territorial terms, with only 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) of Ukraine taken since the start of last year, less than 1% of the country's overall territory, according to a June report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think and Western military sources, acknowledge that Russia is making gains, but only gradually and with heavy casualties. Russian war bloggers say Moscow's forces have been bogged down during its current summer offensive in areas where the terrain and dense urban landscape favoured Ukraine, but assess that other areas should be faster to sanctions threat was "painful and unpleasant," but not a catastrophe, the second source said. The third source said there was a feeling in Moscow that "there's not much more that they can do to us".It was also not clear if Trump would follow through on his ultimatum, this person said, adding that "he's made threats before" and then not acted, or changed his source also said it was hard to imagine that China would stop buying Russian oil on instructions from Trump, and that his actions risked backfiring by driving oil prices a consequence of previous rounds of sanctions, Russian oil and gas exporters have taken big hits to their revenues, and foreign direct investment in the country fell by 63% last year, according to U.N. trade data. Around $300 billion of central bank assets have been frozen in foreign Russia's ability to wage war has been unimpeded, thanks in part to ammunition supplies from North Korea and imports from China of dual-use components that have sustained a massive rise in weapons production. The Kremlin has repeatedly said that Russia has some "immunity" to has acknowledged Russia's skill in skirting the measures. "They're wily characters and they're pretty good at avoiding sanctions, so we'll see what happens," he told reporters at the weekend, when asked what his response would be if Russia did not agree to a first Russian source noted that Putin, in pursuing the conflict, was turning his back on a U.S. offer made in March that Washington, in return for his agreement to a full ceasefire, would remove U.S. sanctions, recognise Russian possession of Crimea - annexed from Ukraine in 2014 - and acknowledge de facto Russian control of the territory captured by its forces since source called the offer a "fantastic chance," but said stopping a war was much more difficult than starting it.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Israel-Gaza war: 'Must take all necessary actions to defeat Hamas,' says Katz; backs Netanyahu's plan
Israel Katz Israeli defence minister Israel Katz on Tuesday said that Israel must take "all necessary actions" to defeat Hamas, adding that he would present Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a new plan to achieve that objective. "The defeat of Hamas in Gaza, along with creating the conditions for the return of the hostages, are the main objectives of the war in Gaza and we must take all necessary actions to achieve them," Katz said during a visit to an army position in Gaza. His comments came a day after Israeli media reported that the military may move to occupy the entire Gaza Strip. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to update Israel's Gaza war plan, ahead of a UN Security Council meeting focused on the hostages still being held in the Palestinian enclave. Speaking at a cabinet meeting with the war entering its 22nd month, Netanyahu said he would instruct the military later in the week on how 'to achieve the three war objectives we have set.' According to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 and the Jerusalem Post, the 'updated strategy' under discussion involves re-occupying the whole of Gaza, including parts of Gaza City where the military suspects hostages are being held. The reports also noted that the Israeli cabinet would meet on Tuesday to endorse the proposed plan. However, there was no immediate official confirmation. The Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry condemned what it described as a 'leaked' re-occupation plan and urged the international community to intervene to prevent a renewed military occupation. Netanyahu is under growing domestic and international pressure to secure the release of the remaining hostages and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the population is facing starvation. Meanwhile, Israel, with backing from the United States and Panama, is preparing to convene a UN Security Council session on Tuesday to bring international attention to the plight of the hostages. Netanyahu reiterated on Monday that Israel's core war goals remain 'the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.' His statement followed a letter from hundreds of retired Israeli security chiefs to US President Donald Trump, urging him to pressure Netanyahu to end the war.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
H-1B visa tension rises amid US lawmaker's call to curb Indian tech hiring
NYT News Service A social media post by US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has intensified political scrutiny over the H-1B visa programme, widely used by Indian professionals. On August 4, Greene wrote on X, 'End Indian H-1B visas replacing American jobs instead,' while reposting former President Donald Trump's call for higher tariffs on Indian exports over its oil trade with statement, though not tied to any legislative move, has drawn strong reactions from Indian students, legal professionals, and tech workers in the United States. It also coincides with remarks from Trump's aide Stephen Miller, who in a Fox News interview accused India of undermining US interests on trade and immigration.'India portrays itself as being one of our closest friends in the world. But they don't accept our products, they impose massive tariffs on us. We also know they engage in a lot of cheating on immigration policy,' Miller said. India continues to be the top source of H-1B visa recipients. According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), nearly 70% of all H-1B visas approved in FY 2024 were granted to Indian nationals. The programme is often a key step for international students transitioning from academic training to full-time employment in the US. Greene's statement emerged in the context of rising US-India trade tensions, with Trump demanding tariff retaliation for India's energy imports from Russia. While Greene tied her comment to American job losses, Miller's interview offered further criticism of India's economic and immigration practices. Though no new visa restriction has been introduced, the political messaging has prompted concern. US lawmakers have recently debated reforms such as more transparency in the H-1B lottery, better wage protection for domestic workers, and broader access for STEM graduates trained in US institutions. No policy change yet, but messaging matters As of August 2025, the F-1 visa and the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programmes remain operational. Indian students and professionals applying for H-1B visas continue to follow the existing process. However, experts advise staying informed through USCIS updates and seeking legal or academic guidance for long-term Greene and Miller's remarks do not carry immediate policy consequences, they reflect growing scrutiny around skilled migration programmes and outsourcing. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Can Coforge's ambition to lead the IT Industry become a reality? BlackRock returns, this time with Ambani. Will it be lucky second time? Amazon is making stealthy moves in healthcare, here's why! The trader who blew the whistle on Jane Street Stock Radar: Globus Spirits breaks out from 9-month consolidation; check target & stop loss for long positions Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus These large-caps have 'strong buy' & 'buy' recos and an upside potential of more than 25% Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 36% in 1 year
