Kremlin denies US claims that Russia is stalling in Ukraine peace talks
Kremlin denies US claims that Russia is stalling in Ukraine peace talks
MOSCOW - The Kremlin on July 1 denied claims by US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine that Russia was stalling in peace talks, adding that Moscow had fulfilled all the agreements reached so far in the negotiations.
Mr Trump's senior envoy for Ukraine, Mr Keith Kellogg, said on June 30 that "Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine."
Asked about the remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was grateful to Mr Trump's team for helping to facilitate talks but that Moscow was not stalling the talks.
"No one is delaying anything here," Mr Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
"We are naturally in favor of achieving the goals that we are trying to achieve through the special military operation via political and diplomatic means. Therefore, we are not interested in drawing out anything."
Mr Peskov noted that the dates of the third round of talks still needed to be agreed. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Quad ministers condemn April attack in Indian Kashmir without naming Pakistan
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar speaks as Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stand together at the start of their meeting of the Indo-Pacific Quad at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque WASHINGTON - The Quad grouping of the United States, India, Japan and Australia called on Tuesday for the perpetrators of an Islamist militant attack that killed 26 in India-administered Kashmir to be brought to justice without delay. The April 22 attack sparked heavy fighting between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry as India blamed it on Pakistan, which denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. The U.S. State Department issued a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the grouping, who met in Washington, but stopped short of naming Pakistan or blaming Islamabad. "The Quad unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism," the ministers said in the statement. They called on all members of the United Nations to cooperate actively with "all relevant authorities" in delivering justice to the "perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this reprehensible act", without any delay. India is an increasingly important U.S. partner in Washington's effort to counter China's rising influence in Asia while Pakistan is a U.S. ally. On May 7, Indian jets bombed sites across the border that New Delhi described as "terrorist infrastructure", setting off an exchange of attacks between the two countries by fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery that killed dozens until a ceasefire on May 10. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World US Senate approves divisive Trump spending Bill World Trump escalates feud with Musk, threatens Tesla and SpaceX support Business Cathay Cineplexes gets demand for $3.4 million in arrears from Jem landlord Singapore 3,800 private candidates in Singapore to take O- and A-level exams in 2025 Multimedia Right on track: Meet the new JB-Singapore RTS Link train Business Binance to keep hundreds of staff in Singapore despite crackdown, sources say Singapore 'He fought till the end': Man who survived acid attack as a baby dies of cancer at 26 World Trump urges Hamas to accept 'final proposal' for 60-day Gaza ceasefire The ceasefire was first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on social media after Washington held talks with both sides, but India has differed with Trump's claims that it resulted from his intervention and threats to sever trade talks. India's position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their problems directly and with no outside involvement. On Monday, India's foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, restated its position that trade was not a factor in the ceasefire. "Relationships will never be free of issues," he said, referring to the United States, adding, "What matters is the ability to deal with it and to keep that trend going in the positive direction." REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Vietnam approves dual citizenship law to attract skilled foreign workers
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Vietnam is undergoing the largest reform in nearly 40 years. Vietnam has approved amendments to its nationality law, permitting both Vietnamese citizens living abroad and foreigners to hold dual citizenship, as part of efforts to attract more skilled workers to the country. According to Nikkei Asia, the legal changes, enacted last week, have removed requirement to renounce foreign citizenship for nationality applicants. Furthermore, the amendments eliminate the language proficiency and minimum residency requirements. Vietnam is undergoing the largest reform in nearly 40 years, which includes changes to laws, government structures, and a relaxation of investment regulations to stimulate economic growth. This year, Vietnam aims for an 8 per cent economic growth rate, with expectations of double-digit growth in the coming years, aiming to become a high-income nation by 2045. Vietnamese leaders see advanced technology as the key to progress, but the country is currently lacking individuals with cutting-edge experience in science and technology. The change in nationality law is seen as the first step in attracting more foreigners to live and work in Vietnam. The Vietnamese government believes this move will allow the country to leap ahead of its competitors in technology by 2030, especially in artificial intelligence and semiconductors. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World US Senate approves divisive Trump spending Bill World Trump escalates feud with Musk, threatens Tesla, SpaceX support Business Cathay Cineplexes gets demand for $3.4 million in arrears from Jem landlord Singapore 3,800 private candidates in Singapore to take O- and A-level exams in 2025 Multimedia Right on track: Meet the new JB-Singapore RTS Link train Business Binance to keep hundreds of staff in Singapore despite crackdown, sources say Singapore 'He fought till the end': Man who survived acid attack as a baby dies of cancer at 26 World Trump urges Hamas to accept 'final proposal' for 60-day Gaza ceasefire On June 30, Mr To Lam, the General Secretary of the Communist Party and the highest-ranking leader in Vietnam, said: 'I urge overseas Vietnamese to return to their homeland, reconnect with their roots, support each other, and engage with the people in the country to make Vietnam stronger.' He added: 'The homeland is always open to welcome 'citizens far from home' to work together in building and developing the country.' Vietnam has historically been concerned about the security risks posed by dual nationals, as the country has faced long periods of foreign invasions. In the past century, Vietnam has fought wars against France, Japan, the US, Cambodia, and China, and the country was only unified 50 years ago. Additionally, Vietnam was involved in military conflicts until the 1980s. Today, many Vietnamese families send their children abroad to study, with many choosing the US, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe. A significant number of young Vietnamese have stayed abroad, working for major tech companies such as Google, Meta, IBM, and Microsoft, and are heavily involved in science, technology, and finance. Some have also immigrated permanently. According to a report from the state committee on overseas Vietnamese, there are approximately 6 million Vietnamese living in 130 countries and territories, with 80 per cent residing in developed countries. In reality, dual nationality holders can still live in Vietnam, but they face bureaucratic challenges and are restricted in certain rights. Foreigners living in Vietnam also face various restrictions, including stringent visa requirements, limited access to real estate, and restrictions on banking services, such as stricter requirements for opening bank accounts, accessing home loans, or obtaining attractive interest rates for savings accounts. However, last week, lawmakers relaxed name regulations to make it easier for foreigners to apply for Vietnamese nationality. Previously, Vietnam had strict regulations regarding the names of its citizens. Resolution 57, one of the key pillars of the country's reforms issued in December, focuses on developing science and technology and states that Vietnam will create a 'special mechanism' to attract skilled Vietnamese expatriates and foreigners to live and work in the country. This includes adjustments to nationality policies, granting the right to own homes and land, offering attractive salaries, and improving the work environment. However, government officials, military personnel, and security staff will still be required to hold Vietnamese citizenship, with some exceptions. THE NATIO N/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
US halts some missile shipments to Ukraine over low stockpiles, sources say
The Pentagon has halted some shipments of air defense missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that US stockpiles are too low, two people familiar with the decision said on Tuesday (Jul 1). The slowing of some weapons shipments promised to Kyiv by former President Joe Biden's administration came in recent days, they said, adding that air defense interceptors to help knock down Russian drones and projectiles are among the items delayed. In an email, the Pentagon said it was providing President Donald Trump with options to continue military aid to Ukraine in line with the goal of ending Russia's war there. "At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving US forces' readiness for administration defense priorities," said Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary for policy. Russia, which already controls about a fifth of Ukraine, continues to advance gradually, gaining ground in recent weeks in Ukraine's southeastern regions of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk, and ramping up air attacks nationwide. All weapons aid was briefly paused in February with a second longer pause in March. The Trump administration resumed sending the last of the aid approved under Biden. No new policy has been announced.
