&w=3840&q=100)
New round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks to happen in Turkey on Wednesday: Zelenskyy
Russia and Ukraine will hold a fresh round of peace talks in Turkey on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, in what would be the third such meeting following inconclusive sessions in Istanbul earlier this year.
Zelenskyy made the announcement during his daily address on Monday (July 21), stating that Ukrainian Security Council chief Rustem Umerov had briefed him on the upcoming talks and ongoing preparations. 'Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday,' he said, adding that more details would be shared on Tuesday (July 22).
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The talks come as both sides continue to accuse each other of bad faith and with fighting still raging on multiple fronts. The previous rounds of discussions, held in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2, ended without substantive progress, despite strong pressure from US President Donald Trump to broker a ceasefire.
So far, the only tangible outcome of negotiations has been limited prisoner exchanges. Meanwhile, Russia has intensified its aerial assaults and captured additional territory in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin has reiterated its demands that Ukraine surrender four occupied regions, in addition to Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. It also insists that Ukraine abandon its Nato aspirations– a red line Kyiv has refused to cross.
Ukrainian officials have expressed scepticism about Russia's intentions, even after the Kremlin said last week it was open to further talks following Trump's ultimatum. The US president warned that Moscow had 50 days to reach a ceasefire agreement or face sweeping new sanctions. He also promised renewed arms shipments to bolster Ukrainian defences, including Patriot missile systems.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that expectations for a breakthrough should remain tempered. 'A lot of diplomatic work lies ahead,' he told reporters, suggesting that fundamental differences between the two sides remain unresolved.
With inputs from AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
26 minutes ago
- NDTV
A Month After Ceasefire With Israel, Iranians Fear Another War
Iran: The ceasefire that ended Iran's 12-day war with Israel has held for nearly a month without incident, but many Iranians remain uneasy, struggling with uncertainty as fears of another confrontation linger. "I don't think this ceasefire will last," said Peyman, a 57-year-old resident of Shiraz in Iran's south, one of numerous cities hit last month as Israel unleashed an unprecedented bombing campaign against its staunch rival. The Israeli offensive targeted key nuclear facilities and military sites, killing top commanders and nuclear scientists and hundreds of other people, while also wreaking havoc in some residential areas. The attacks triggered the fiercest fighting in history between the longtime foes, ending with a ceasefire announced on June 24. But Israel has signalled it could return to fighting if Iran attempts to rebuild nuclear facilities or carry out any actions deemed a threat, such as moving to develop an atomic bomb -- an ambition Tehran has consistently denied it was pursuing. Iran, in turn, has vowed to deliver a harsh response if attacked again. Nuclear diplomacy with the United States -- which briefly joined the war with strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites -- has stalled, deepening a sense of uncertainty about what lies ahead. "I am scared the war would start again," said Hamid, a 54-year-old government employee who gave only his first name. "It will lead to the death of more innocent people and the destruction of the country's infrastructure." During the war, Israel struck major Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, hitting military sites, government buildings, and the state television headquarters. More than 1,000 people were killed in Iran, according to authorities. Retaliatory missile and drone attacks killed 29 people in Israel. 'Don't want to flee again' Many residents fled Tehran, seeking refuge in other parts of the country, even though few regions were untouched by the blasts and smoke-covered skies. Nearly a month later, a series of fires that broke out across Iran in recent days -- including one at a major oil facility -- have triggered speculations which officials were quick to dismiss, denying any acts of sabotage. "This war really frightened me," said 78-year-old housewife Golandam Babaei, from the western Kermanshah province. She lived through the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, a painful memory for many of her generation. "I kept telling myself, please God, do not let the past repeat itself," Babaei told AFP. The war with Israel, although much shorter and fought mostly with air strikes and missiles rather than by ground forces, revived grim memories of the conflict with Iraq. That war, triggered by an Iraqi invasion in 1980, killed an estimated 500,000 people on both sides. It featured chemical warfare and prolonged front-line bombardments, scarring Iranians in the then-nascent Islamic Republic born out of the 1979 revolution. Since then, for decades, Iran had managed to keep conflicts away from its territory. But now, after the 12-day war with Israel, some Iranians feel a profound sense of vulnerability. "I kept thinking I don't want to flee again, we have nowhere to go. I cannot run to the mountains like the past," said Babaei. Uncertain future For Ali Khanzadi, a 62-year-old war veteran, the conflict with Israel highlighted a change compared to the 1980s, when "we didn't have any advanced military equipment" to fight the Iraqis. Khanzadi, who was wounded in battle in 1983, said that the war with Israel, while much shorter, had a more sinister dimension. Unlike in the past, modern military technology means "they can kill a child in his sleep remotely using a drone," he said. In the face of the Israeli threats and attacks, Iranian authorities have repeatedly invoked national unity. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the offensive was aimed at toppling the Islamic republic's clerical system, and urged Iranian diplomats and military officials to proceed with "care and precision" as the country cautiously moves on. Tehran has said it remained open to nuclear diplomacy with the United States, which the war had derailed, but officials have expressed concerns over renewed attacks and demanded unspecified US guarantees to resume negotiations. Ordinary Iranians appear to share fears that the conflict could erupt again. "I hope that this will not happen," said Hamid. Babaei said she was praying "for peace, for us to remain safe in our homes".
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Israel's key airport attacked: Houthi millitants launch missile at Tel Aviv; bombing destroys port's dock again
Israel on Tuesday intercepted a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthi militant group towards Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, the Israeli military confirmed. The interception followed air raid sirens sounding across multiple regions of the country. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the strike, saying the group had targeted the airport using a 'Palestine 2' hypersonic ballistic missile. Saree had made a similar claim just hours earlier. — IDF (@IDF) Meanwhile, A Houthi security official, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told AFP that "the bombing destroyed the port's dock, which had been rebuilt following previous strikes." The attempted strike came a day after Israel launched an airstrike on Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port. The operation was part of Israel's ongoing retaliation against the Iran-backed Houthis, who have been attacking vessels headed to Israeli ports and firing missiles into Israeli territory. The Houthis recently resumed deadly attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, targeting ships they accuse of having links to Israel, to put pressure on Israel to end the Gaza war.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
"Will Crush Your Economy": US Senator's Big "Russia" Warning To India, China
Washington: US Senator Lindsey Graham has warned that American President Donald Trump will impose steep tariffs on Moscow's trading partners --including India and China-- if they don't stop buying Russian oil amid Russia's war in Ukraine. The Republican lawmaker said the Trump administration was planning to impose a 100 per cent tariff on oil-related imports, fueling Russian President Vladimir Putin's campaign against Kyiv. Graham had earlier proposed a bill calling for 500 per cent tariffs on goods from countries continuing to trade with Russia, including India and China. "Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oil - China, India, and Brazil... Here's what I would tell China, India and Brazil: If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we're going to tear up the hell out of you, and we're going to crush your economy," Graham said during an interview with Fox News. Lindsey Graham: Here's what I would tell China, India and Brazil. If you keep buying cheap Russian oil… we will tariff the hell out of you and we're going to crush your economy — Acyn (@Acyn) July 21, 2025 He claimed the three countries account for around 80 per cent of Russia's crude exports, which keeps "Putin's war machine going." "What you (India, China and Brazil) are doing is blood (Putin) not going to stop until somebody makes him stop." In a direct warning to Russia, Graham said, "The game has changed when it comes to you, President Putin. You have played President Trump at your own peril. You made a major league mistake, and your economy is going to continue to be crushed." Graham claimed that by "invading countries that do not belong to him", Putin was trying to recreate the former Soviet Union. "Putin wants to take countries that are not his. In the mid-90s, Ukraine gave up 1,700 nuclear weapons with a promise that its sovereignty would be respected by Russia. Putin broke that promise," the Republican added. Trump And NATO's Warming The fiery remarks seem to signal the Trump administration's growing frustration with Putin's disinterest in ending the war, which Trump once promised to end on the first day of his second term. It's been nearly seven months since Trump returned to the White House, and the conflict is getting worse, with Russia intensifying drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Tired of Moscow's reluctance to reach a truce deal, Trump last week announced new weapons for Ukraine and threatened "biting" secondary tariffs of 100 per cent on the buyers of Russian oil unless there is a peace deal in 50 days. Following this, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte threatened countries such as Brazil, China and India with secondary sanctions if they continued to do business with Russia. "My encouragement to these three countries... please make the phone call to Vladimir Putin and tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks, because otherwise this will slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way," Rutte added. India's Reaction India responded to NATO chief Rutte's remarks on possible sanctions over India's trade with Russia and cautioned against "double standards". The Foreign Ministry last week said, "We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate that securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us." The Ministry warned of double standards regarding the matter and said, "In this endeavour, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets and by prevailing global circumstances. We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter."
