Ukraine: Zelenskyy proposes new prime minister – DW – 07/14/2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday that he had asked Yuliia Svyrydenko to become the new prime minister.
"I have proposed that Yuliia Svyrydenko lead the government of Ukraine and significantly renew its work. I look forward to the presentation of the new government's action plan in the near future," Zelenskyy wrote on X.
Yuliia Svyrydenko is currently Ukraine's economy minister, with her role becoming especially prominent in the media this year because of the mineral deal that eventually came to be signed by the US and Ukraine.
A televised spat between the leaders of the US and Ukraine in Washington had ended discussions on the deal in February, when the agreement was originally meant to be signed.
But Svyrydenko has been credited as the person to have traveled to Washington shortly after the spat to get the job done.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been eyeing changes to his cabinet as Ukraine continues to try and fend off Russian forces for the fourth year of war.
Zelenskyy last week announced during a gathering of leaders in Rome that he was considering replacing his current ambassador to the US.
"We need a person (as US ambassador) to be strong and to be in the context of the most important thing, in the context of strengthening Ukraine — through weapons, first of all. Therefore, one of my ideas is that it can be Ukraine's defense minister."
But other names have also been floated for the job for the country's next ambassador to the US as well, and a final decision is pending.
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Svyrydenko is 39 years old and has held a number of posts in the state administration of Chernihiv region in the north, where she was born.
She then quickly rose through the ranks and became deputy head of the presidential office, and in 2021, became the economy minister and deputy prime minister.
Svyrydenko would replace incumbent Denys Shmyhal, who was appointed as the country's prime minister in 2020.
Her candidacy would still have to be approved by Ukraine's parliament before she can step into the role.
Once approved, she would become Ukraine's second female prime minister after Yulia Tymoshenko, who led the country in the years after the 2004 Orange Revolution.
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23 minutes ago
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Hungary: Orban's new hate campaign against Ukraine – DW – 07/15/2025
After an ethnic Hungarian conscript died in unexplained circumstances in Ukraine, Hungary's leader has renewed his campaign against the neighboring country. DW's research shows he has been spreading falsified videos. Hungary has only just concluded a months-long campaign against Ukraine aimed at blocking it from joining the EU. The autocratic prime minister, Viktor Orban, and his political apparatus have been portraying their neighboring country as a mafia state, overrun with hordes of dangerous criminals who would rob, kidnap, and kill Hungarian people. If people thought this was the nadir of Orban's anti-Ukraine propaganda, they are in for a disappointment. The Hungarian leadership is portraying the death of a recruit of Hungarian origin in Ukraine on July 6 as an attack on the Hungarian nation as a whole, declaring Ukraine to be a sort of evil empire. And he's taking this stance, even though the circumstances of the man's death are not clear. Orban has claimed that "a Hungarian citizen was beaten to death in Ukraine." With no proof whatsoever, he is accusing Ukraine and the EU of covering up this supposed crime. He published a post on Facebook, on a black background, that read: "The truth cannot be silenced!" Pro-government Hungarian media have published hundreds of highly emotional articles about the conscript's death. Sandor Fegyir, Ukraine's ambassador to Budapest, was summoned — an unequivocal sign of anger in diplomatic circles. Hundreds of furious people, led by Orban's chief propagandist, Zsolt Bayer, demonstrated outside the Ukrainian embassy in the Hungarian capital. In a letter to the dead man's parents, the Hungarian president, Tamas Sulyok, wrote that he was "utterly horrified" by what he had heard about the circumstances leading to their son's death. "Such a thing cannot happen in Europe," he said, adding that it "completely contradicts all human values" represented by European nations. So what actually happened? The man in question was a 45-year-old named Jozsef Sebestyen from the city of Berehove in the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine, home to almost 100,000 ethnic Hungarians. Berehove itself, just a few kilometers from the border with Hungary, has a population of 23,000, and around half are ethnic Hungarians. Sebestyen ran a guesthouse, and, like many ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia, he had both Ukrainian and Hungarian citizenship. Like most Ukrainian citizens of fighting age, he was registered with the Ukrainian military administration (TZK) after the outbreak of full-scale war in February 2022. In mid-June of this year, he was stopped by TZK personnel at a roadside checkpoint in Berehove. Sebestyen was mobilized, declared fit for military service, and sent for basic training. On July 6, he died in a psychiatric clinic in Berehove. Those are the verified facts. As far as all other aspects of the case are concerned, accounts differ widely, and have not been verified. On July 9, the Hungarian pro-government portal Mandiner published a report that claimed Jozsef Sebestyen had been beaten with iron bars, so badly that he subsequently died of his injuries. The report cited and was based on a Facebook post by Sebestyen's sister Marta. However, this post either does not exist, or has been deleted. DW reached out to Marta Sebestyen, but she did not reply. We also contacted the editors of Mandiner, whose response was to publish an article declaring that they would not allow the issue to be "trivialized." After this, Mandiner also published videos that it said showed Jozsef Sebestyen after he was physically abused. In one video, he is seen kneeling in a field with paramedics and people in military uniform asking him questions. He has no visible injuries. After a while, he lets himself fall onto the grass. Two other videos show him crawling on all fours, on terrain that could be a training camp. He appears exhausted and confused. The videos do not show or indicate that he was subjected to violence. It is not clear who filmed these videos. Nonetheless, they have been circulated all over Hungary and shown repeatedly in pro-government media, including the news programs of the public-service broadcaster MTVA, as supposed evidence of the brutality of the Ukrainian military. Reports by the MTVA news program Hirado also include a video of a man in a hospital, probably in intensive care. Captions on the video say it shows Sebestyen "in hospital shortly before his death," which was on July 6. However, DW has established that the video was first published on a Ukrainian Telegram channel on May 22, 2025. The owner of this channel, Vitaliy Glagola, has told DW that the video shows a different man, and that it is being misused by the Hungarian media. This video has also been posted by Viktor Orban on his TikTok and social media accounts. The news program Hirado has also misused a second video taken from Glagola's channel. This too was published on May 22, well before Sebestyen was mobilized. At the time of writing, neither the broadcaster MTVA nor the Hungarian office for government communication has responded to DW's written enquiries. In a statement dated July 10, 2025, the leadership of the Ukrainian land forces denied abusing Sebestyen in any way. The statement says he was brought to a training unit on June 15, 2025, and that he deserted three days later. It says he presented at the district hospital in Berehove on June 24, feeling unwell, and was transferred from there to a psychiatric hospital, where he died of a pulmonary embolism on July 6, "with no sign of any injuries indicative of violence." The Ukrainian foreign ministry accuses Hungary of exploiting the Sebestyen case in a "manipulative manner and for political purposes." Indeed, Viktor Orban not only claims that "a Hungarian was beaten to death in Ukraine" — he goes on to assert that "such a country cannot be allowed to become an EU member." It is a continuation of his campaign to prevent Ukraine from joining the EU. So far, though, despite intense propaganda, this has been only moderately successful. But the Sebestyen case is different. Many Hungarians are very emotionally invested in the concerns of ethnic Hungarians in neighboring countries. Orban's regime has revived the issue of the "Trianon trauma" — a taboo subject for many years. It's one that has resonated strongly with the people. Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory and population under the terms of the Treaty of Trianon, which was signed after World War One, in 1920. These days, around two million ethnic Hungarians live in neighboring countries. Many Hungarians have been shocked and dismayed by the death of Jozsef Sebestyen. However, many are also starting to weary of Viktor Orban. It remains to be seen whether his latest campaign will change that.
DW
3 hours ago
- DW
Ukraine updates: EU fails to approve new Russia sanctions – DW – 07/15/2025
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said the 27-member bloc did not come to an agreement on an 18th round of sanctions against Russia. Member state Slovakia has been holding up the sanctions package. DW has more. European Union foreign ministers gathered in Brussels for a summit that discussed the bloc's support for Ukraine and tougher sanctions on Russia. At the end of the working day on Tuesday, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said the 27-member bloc failed to approve an 18th sanctions package against Russia, as Russia's assault on Ukraine continues. Slovakia has been holding up the package, but Kallas said an agreement could still be reached tomorrow. Meanwhile, Trump reportedly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a July 4 call if Ukraine's forces could potentially strike the Russian cities of Moscow or St. Petersburg. The White House has pushed back on media reporting on the call, saying it is being taken out of context. The EU has failed to approve a new round of sanctions of Russia, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said after a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels. Kallas said she was "really sad" that there wasn't an agreement today. She said she was still "optimistic," however, that had a deal would be reached tomorrow. In order to adopt the sanctions, the 27 EU members states would have to agree on adopting the punitive measures against Moscow. Slovakia has been reportedly holding up the sanctions due to concerns over a EU proposal to end imports of Russian gas by January 1, 2028. US President Donald Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if Ukraine's military could potentially strike the Russian cities of Moscow or St. Petersburg, according to reports from the and . "Volodymyr, can you hit Moscow?... Can you hit St. Petersburg too?" Trump said in a July 4 call with Zelenskyy, the FT reported, citing several sources. "Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons," Zelenskyy replied. The also reported on the call, citing a source. The reported that the call between Zelenskyy and Trump conveyed "Trump's determination to squeeze Putin." The White House has disputed FT's framing of the Trump-Zelenskyy call. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the FT is "notorious for taking words wildly out of context." "President Trump was merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing," Leavitt told the . "He is working tirelessy to stop the killing and end this war." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Trump has grown tired with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the Kremlin-ordered invasion of Ukraine continues. During his reelection campaign in 2024, Trump ran on the promise to end the war in Ukraine. Trump announced on Monday that the US will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine to defend itself, with the weapons being paid for by the European Union. The US president on Monday vowed 'very very severe' tariffs against Russia if a Ukraine truce deal is not achieved within 50 days. US President Donald Trump has threatened Vladimir Putin's Russia with tariffs unless it agrees to a peace deal with Ukraine. This has led many to wonder if this sudden turnaround signals the end of the so-called "bromance" between the two leaders. Analyst Boris Vormann tells us that it looks like a major shift, even though Donald Trump has never articulated a foreign policy vision. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has delivered a eulogy to his country and its people to mark Ukraine's Day of Statehood as it continues to face the full-scale Russian invasion launched in 2022. Zelenskyy spoke of the bond between the many generations that had lived in the country. "This day is about connection," he said. "About every stage of our statehood and about the bond that unites dozens of generations: those who lived in this land a thousand years ago and those who live here today." "A bridge through time, standing on three unshakable pillars: Ukrainians were here, Ukrainians are here, Ukrainians will be here," he added. He went on to say that Ukrainians were motivated to keep going not by praise from the country's allies about how brave and resilient they are but by the desire for self-preservation. "[...] Ukrainians are holding on not for that, not for the loud accolades directed at us. We are simply people defending our home. And we cannot do otherwise — because we do not want otherwise. We do not want Russia here. That is the whole truth," he said. His address also expressed gratitude to the "millions of Ukrainians" involved in defending the country. "It is a great cause, carried by you. The heroes at the front. Those holding the line. Those intercepting missiles and 'Shaheds' every night. Those extinguishing fires, those clearing rubble. And every citizen who has endured throughout this difficult time," he said. "Happy Statehood Day, fellow citizens!" Russian forces have taken control of two villages in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, much of which is controlled by Russian-backed separatists. In posts on Telegram, the Russian Defense Ministry said its troops had taken Voskresenka and Petrivka. The ministry said Ukraine had lost "up to 125 troops" during the offensive to "liberate" Petrovka. In Voskresenka, up to 185 Ukrainian troops were lost, the ministry said. The battlefield reports could not be independently verified. More now on the Ukrainian drone attacks overnight, which Russian authorities say left 18 people injured. Russia says it shot down 55 Ukrainian drones over five regions in the country's south and southwestern regions. The falling debris damaged homes and commercial buildings in Voronezh, where 16 people were injured. "Sixteen people, including a teenager, were hurt as a result of the attack," Voronezh regional Governor Alexander Gusev said on Telegram. Gusev said most of the injuries were minor, involving cuts and shrapnel wounds. "But there are also injuries of a different nature and serious cases," he added. "One man is in a coma, another has a lung injury." Unverified video shared by a Telegram channel with ties to Russia's security services showed an airborne object smashing into a building on a residential street in Voronezh, the regional capital city. The crash ignited a large fireball. Voronezh's mayor Sergei Petrin said a kindergarten was damaged. In the neighboring region of Lipetsk, a drone crashed into an industrial area of the city of Yelets, leaving one person injured, Lipetsk governor Igor Artamonov said on Telegram. In Bryansk, a region which borders Ukraine and Belarus, one woman was injured in a drone attack on Sluchevsk village, according to Bryansk governor Alexander Bogomaz. Russia has said it needs time to respond to US President Donald Trump's 50-day deadline to end the war in Ukraine or face more sanctions. During the remarks on Monday, Trump also unveiled plans to provide Kyiv with more weapons and impose "very severe" tariffs on Russia's trading partners. Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Trump's statement is "very serious." "We certainly need time to analyse what was said in Washington." Trump's sanctions and tariffs threat marks a significant shift in approach towards Russia and its invasion of Ukraine, as the White House has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin and the Kremlin over the lack of progress in peace talks. Peskov insisted that Russia, which has rejected previous US ceasefire proposals, is willing to negotiate. Russia is "waiting for proposals from the Ukrainian side on the timing of the third round of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations," Peskov said. Russia and Ukraine have held two rounds of direct talks in recent months, but those meetings in Turkey have failed to yield a peace deal. Ukraine has accused Russia of making unrealistic demands, including abandoning its ambitions to join NATO and agreeing to giving up territory in eastern Ukraine that has been occupied by Russian forces for years. The Kremlin spokesman also said Trump's remarks on Monday would likely encourage Kyiv and hinder attempts to bring about a ceasefire. "It seems that such a decision made in Washington and in NATO countries and directly in Brussels will be perceived by Kyiv not as a signal for peace but for the continuation of the war," he said. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp has also welcomed Donald Trump's announcement that the US will provide NATO countries with weapons for Ukraine. "We need to ramp up pressure on Russia," Veldkamp said. That's the "only way forward," he said, although he did say that Trump's 50-day deadline is "rather long." Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Veldkamp said, "We will look into what we can do also in relation to Mr. Trump's announcements and take it from there," adding that "we're looking into that with a positive inclination." Veldkamp pointed out that the Netherlands has already provided significant military support to Kyiv. He highlighted Patriot missile systems, missile batteries, F-16 fighter planes, portable missiles known as MANPADS, as well as drone cooperation. Asked by DW's Finlay Duncan, reporting from Brussels, about whether it appears that the Trump administration's views are aligning closer with those of Europe, Veldkamp said he is "very glad there's convergence" between Washington and Brussels. He said he "appreciates" that the US seems to finally understand that "Putin is dragging his feet" when it comes to earnestly working towards a ceasefire. Veldkamp also said he was pleased to see the bipartisan support in the US for a sanctions package that has the support of 87 out of 100 senators. "It's very important that the US is on the move and that we're on the move together as EU," he said, adding that he hopes the bloc will approve the 18th sanctions package "sooner rather than later." Latvian deputy Foreign Minister Artjoms Ursulskis has said Riga is confident any remaining issues blocking the approval of an 18th round of sanctions on Russia will be dealt with. Ursulskis, is attending the Brussels meeting instead of Foreign Minister Baiba Braze, who is visiting the US this week. Slovakia has reportedly been holding up the passage of the European Commission's June proposal amid concerns over sanctions on Russian oil. But Ursulskis said ministers would "iron out" those "small details on economic impacts." He also said the focus on the next round of sanctions should be Russia's so-called shadow fleet. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Moscow has used a number of opaquely owned and often non-insured ships to sell its oil while circumventing Western sanctions imposed in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. "It's not just about sanctioning ships, but companies helping to circumvent sanctions," Ursulskis said, which help "bring in a lot of money for the Russian economy." He said the 18th package of sanctions, once approved, would be "much bigger in its direct impact." "If we shrink Russia's economy, it will be less able to finance war," Ursulskis said. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys has welcomed Donald Trump's shifting stance towards Russia, saying "there is still a dance for two with the US." On Monday, Trump announced he would be imposing tariffs and sanctions on Russia and its trading partners unless a ceasefire in Ukraine is reached within 50 days. Budrys said the EU needs "to sync with the Americans and their timeline," calling Trump's deadline a "signal for Europe to prepare itself" in case the sanctions and tariffs do take effect. He pointed out that there are still EU member states that rely on oil from Russia. While the ministers are hoping to agree on a proposed 18th round of sanctions against Russia's energy and financial sectors, Budrys said the bloc should already "start preparing a 19th package." Despite the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to change his approach to the war, Budrys insisted that the sanctions "are effective." "Putin has to react when sanctions packages come along," the Lithuanian minister said, adding that "they have secondary effects" and are a factor "Putin listens to." Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, speaking to reporters upon his arrival at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, has said his country is ready to purchase US weapons for Ukraine. His remarks come after US President Donald Trump said Monday that the US would sell weapons, including Patriot missiles, to NATO countries, who would then provide them to Kyiv. "I am proud to say we're the biggest supporter of Ukraine per capita, so of course we're willing to do that," Rasmussen said, adding that "it goes hand in hand with the Danish Model." The Danish Model is a mechanism to provide direct support for Ukraine's defense industry Ukraine says the mechanism will provide a total of €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) in 2025, some of which will be sourced from profits generated by seized Russian assets. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Denmark has provided approximately €9 billion in military support and around €867 million in civilian contribution, according to Denmark's foreign ministry. Rasmussen clarified that while Denmark does not have any of its own Patriot missiles, his government should "lean into that" and "provide the money" to purchase the highly advanced missile defense systems. "We must work out the details," Rasmussen explained. But, he added, it is "important we have American readiness to deliver these weapons." The Danish minister also said Trump's new messaging on Russia and Ukraine is "very, very important in terms of accepting providing weapons, but also the sanctions scheme." Read more about Patriot missiles and why they are key to helping Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has said he is "not done" with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The remarks, made during an interview with the BBC that was published on Tuesday, came hours after he had said he was "very unhappy" with Russia during a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump, who had previously pledged to end the war in Ukraine in a day, has tried to bring about peace talks and a ceasefire. But his attempts have fallen on deaf ears in Moscow, with Russia escalating its air strikes on Ukraine last week after Trump and Putin had spoken on the phone. During the interview with the BBC, Trump was asked if he was done with the Russian leader. "I'm disappointed in him, but I'm not done with him. But I'm disappointed in him," Trump said. Asked how he would convince Putin to "stop the bloodshed," Trump said "We're working on it." "We'll have a great conversation. I'll say: 'That's good, I'll think we're close to getting it done,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kyiv," the US president said. Amid his growing frustration over the lack of progress with peace talks, Trump on Monday said he was sending new weapons for Ukraine and threatened tariffs and sanctions on Russia and any countries that trade with it unless Moscow agrees to a peace deal within 50 days. The assertive posture is a major policy shift from Trump, who has previously suggested that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war, echoing Russia's narrative. He also tried to walk back pro-Ukraine policies favored by Trump's predecessor Joe Biden, including supporting Kyiv's membership in NATO and insisting that Russia withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Tuesday that the bloc's members are close to agreeing on a new round of sanctions against Russia. Foreign ministers from the EU's 27 member states are meeting in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the bloc's support for Ukraine, among other issues. The European Commission in June proposed the 18th package of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin's refusal to agree to a ceasefire. The sanctions target Moscow's energy exports as well as its banking sector and military industry. The sanctions proposal includes a price cap on Russian oil of 15% below the average market price, as well as bans on transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines. "We hope to reach a political agreement on the 18th sanctions package. We are very, very close. I hope it comes today," Kallas said before the meeting. One member state — reported to be Slovakia — has yet to agree to the sanctions package over concerns about the price cap on Russian oil. When asked about the price cap, Kallas said "it's alive." "We have made proposals, but it is a question of whether we can overcome the veto of one member state or not. But we are trying to work on that," the former Estonian prime minister said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is also due to take part in Tuesday's talks. Sybiha plans to join the meeting by video-link. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday. Lavrov, who visited Russia's ally North Korea last week, is in China to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). "Lavrov conveyed to the Chinese leader a friendly greeting and best wishes from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin," the Russian ministry said in a statement. "The two sides discussed a number of issues concerning bilateral political contacts ... including preparations for the Russian President's upcoming visit to the People's Republic of China." The Russian president is due to travel to China for a SCO leaders' summit in September. Since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and Ukraine's Western allies imposed a range of sanctions against Russia, Moscow has increasingly relied on support from China and North Korea. An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian southwestern regions of Lipetsk and Voronezh has left several people injured and damaged homes and other buildings, Russian authorities said Tuesday. Russia's Defense Ministry said on Telegram that a total of 55 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over five Russian regions, as well as the Black Sea. Regional governor Governor Alexander Gusev 12 drones were destroyed over the Voronezh border region, where "several people sustained minor injuries due to debris from a downed UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles)." Several apartments in residential buildings in Voronezh, which is the administrative center of the region of the same name, were damaged, as were houses in the city's suburbs, Gusev said. In the neighboring Lipetsk region, a drone crashed in an industrial zone in the city of Yelets, regional governor Igor Artamonov said on Telegram, adding that one person was injured in the attack. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine about the Russian reports of the attack, and the full extent of the damage caused was unclear.
Int'l Business Times
5 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Rome, Navalny Widow Blast Italy Invite For Pro-Kremlin Maestro
Italy's culture minister joined the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Tuesday in condemning an invitation for maestro Valery Gergiev to perform near Naples, saying it risked being propaganda for Moscow. Russian conductor Gergiev, a personal friend of President Vladimir Putin who has since December 2023 led Moscow's world famous Bolshoi Theatre, has been shunned by the West since the start of the Ukraine war for failing to denounce Russia's invasion. But he has been invited to conduct what organisers described as an "unforgettable symphony concert" on July 27 at the former royal palace of Reggia di Caserta, near Naples in southern Italy. Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation has called for the concert to be cancelled and his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, pressed the case in an editorial on Tuesday in Italian daily La Repubblica. "Any attempt to turn a blind eye to who Valery Gergiev is when he's not conducting and to pretend that this is merely a cultural event with no political dimension... is pure hypocrisy," she wrote. Just hours later, Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli issued a statement warning the concert "risks sending the wrong message". "Ukraine is an invaded nation and Gergiev's concert could transform a high-level... musical event into a platform for Russian propaganda," he said. "For me, this would be deplorable." Giuli is a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government, which has strongly backed Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022. He noted the concert was part of a programme of events promoted and paid for by the region of Campania. Campania regional leader Vincenzo De Luca, from the centre-left Democratic Party, has defended the concert, saying that "culture is a tool to keep dialogue open". On social media on Friday, he noted an Israeli conductor was also on the programme, adding: "We don't ask those men of culture to answer for the political choices of those who lead their respective countries." He repeated his position on Tuesday, condemning Putin's actions in Ukraine but saying that refusing to engage in dialogue "only serves to fuel the rivers of hatred". But Navalnaya, whose husband died in an Artic penal colony last year in what she and his supporters say was a killing on Putin's orders, was scathing. "As Putin's cultural ambassador, Valery Gergiev implements Russia's soft power policy. One of his current goals is to normalise the war and Putin's regime," she wrote. She described the Caserta concert as a "test balloon" for boosting Putin's image in Europe and noted it was being praised by Russian authorities. "Forgive me, but if the Kremlin is happy with you in 2025, then you are definitely doing something wrong," she wrote. Other members of the Democratic Party have called for the concert to be cancelled, as have other cultural figures outside Italy. Peter Gelb, general manager of New York's Metropolitan Opera and a staunch supporter of Ukraine, told AFP that Gergiev "is no less than an artistic stand-in for Putin". He added: "There can be no 'cultural exchange' with mass murderers and kidnappers of children, which is the current modus operandi of the Russian regime." Gergiev has stood by Putin's policies for more than two decades and performed propaganda concerts in honour of Russian military victories in the past. In one of his most criticised moves, Gergiev conducted a concert in the ruins of Syria's Palmyra after Moscow's intervention in the country on the side of dictator Bashar al-Assad. He also conducted a triumphant concert in Georgia's Tskhinvali region after the Russian invasion in 2008, just a few metres (feet) from a detention centre where Georgian civilians were being held.
