
Ukraine proposes truce talks with Russia after negotiations stalled in June
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Saturday that Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov had made an offer for a meeting with Russian negotiators for next week.
"Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire," Zelenskyy said in his evening address to the nation, Al Jazeera reported. "The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions."
Ukraine's leader also reiterated his readiness to have a face-to-face sit-down with Putin. "A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace-lasting peace," he said.
There was no immediate response from Russia, as per Al Jazeera.
Umerov, a former defence minister, was appointed last week as the head of the National Security and Defence Council and tasked with adding more momentum to the negotiations.
He headed his country's delegation in two previous rounds of talks in Turkiye earlier this year, which yielded little more than an agreement to exchange prisoners and soldiers' remains.
In previous rounds, Russia outlined a list of hardline demands that were not acceptable to Ukraine, calling on it to cede four Ukrainian regions it claims as its own and reject Western military support, as per Al Jazeera.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday indicated that Moscow agreed with a statement by Zelenskyy that peace efforts needed "more momentum".
The shift came after United States President Donald Trump, who initially appeared to adopt a conciliatory approach towards Russia after entering office, upped the pressure on Moscow.
This week, Trump set a 50-day deadline for Moscow to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine or face "100 per cent tariffs" and the prospect of secondary sanctions being imposed on countries that buy Russian oil.
He also promised to ramp up arms shipments to the war-battered country.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the ministry, said on Thursday that Russia would not accept the "blackmail" of Washington's sanctions ultimatum, and the decision to resume weapons deliveries was a signal to Ukraine to "abandon the peace process".
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Observer
4 hours ago
- Observer
Ukraine drone attack disrupts Volgograd railway power
KYIV: Falling debris from destroyed Ukrainian drones disrupted railway power supply and train operations in part of the Volgograd region, the administration of the region in Russia's south said on Sunday. There were no injuries as a result of the attacks, the administration said on the Telegram messaging app, citing Governor Andrei Bocharov. Russia's defence ministry said on Telegram that its air defence units had destroyed nine Ukrainian drones over the region. In total Russia downed 99 drones overnight over 12 Russian regions, the Crimean Peninsula and the Black Sea, the ministry said. Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia said on Telegram that it had suspended flights soon after midnight at the airport in the city of Volgograd, the administrative centre of the Volgograd region. The flights had not resumed on Sunday morning. Because of the attack, trains were delayed in parts of the region, RIA state news agency reported. The extent of the damage inflicted by the Ukrainian drone attack was not clear. The Russian defence ministry reports only how many drones its units destroy, not how many Ukraine launches. There was no comment from Ukraine. Kyiv has often said that its attacks are in response to Moscow's relentless strikes on Ukraine since Moscow attacked in 2022 and are aimed at destroying infrastructure key to Russia's war efforts. Russia prefers political and diplomatic means to resolve conflict in Ukraine, but Kyiv and the West rejected that path, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "Our preferred route is through political and diplomatic means," Peskov said, according to TASS state news agency. Peskov added, without providing evidence, that Moscow continues its military operation in Ukraine because "all proposals for dialogue were rejected, both by Ukraine and by Western countries." Meanwhile, Russian air defence units downed 291 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, the Russian Defence Ministry said. "Air defence systems downed two guided aircraft bombs, three projectiles of Czech-made Vampire multiple rocket launch systems and 291 fixed-wing drones," the ministry said on its Telegram channel. It added that Russian warplanes and drones struck drone production facilities and control centres within Ukraine. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday its forces had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine, including one in Dnipropetrovsk region where Moscow says its troops have begun to make advances. Ukrainian forces made no acknowledgement that the villages had changed hands, but reported heavy fighting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an assessment of the situation along the 1,000 km front line, said the logistics hub of Pokrovsk remained the focal point of battles. He also said Ukrainian forces had recorded "successful actions" in Sumy region on Ukraine's northern border, where Russian forces have established a foothold in recent weeks. The front-line clashes were reported three days after the two sides held their third direct meeting in Turkey aimed at resolving the nearly 3 ½ year-old war. Both sides reported progress in swaps of prisoners or the remains of war dead, but no breakthroughs were announced in terms of a ceasefire or a meeting of the two countries' leaders. Russia said on Sunday a major annual navy parade had been cancelled for "security reasons", without specifying the threat or concern. "It has to do with the general situation. Security reasons are of utmost importance," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian news agencies. The parade was meant to be the highlight of Russia's Navy Day, which falls on the last Sunday of July each year and honours the country's sailors. But local authorities in the coastal city of Saint Petersburg, where the warships and submarines were scheduled to pass, said on Friday the parade had been cancelled without giving a reason. Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared in a video message hailing the "bravery" and "heroism" of Russia's sailors participating in the offensive in Ukraine. "We are celebrating the holiday in a working atmosphere," Putin said later on Sunday, in a video address to Russian forces involved in large-scale naval manoeuvres called "July Storm". The drills, launched earlier this week in the Baltic and Caspian seas as well as in the Arctic and Pacific oceans, involved more than 150 ships and over 15,000 troops, Putin said. "Our main task is to ensure Russia's security and firmly protect the sovereignty and national interests," Putin said in Saint Petersburg, where he was travelling on Sunday, according to the Kremlin. — Agencies


Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
"With Trump, we agreed that the US will buy drones from us," says Zelensky
Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday announced that the United States has agreed to purchase combat drones from Ukraine, in a deal potentially worth up to $30 billion, RT reported. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky said he had reached an understanding with US President Donald Trump regarding the sale. "With Trump, we agreed that the US will buy drones from us," he told reporters, adding that a contract worth "$10-30 billion is now being drafted," according to RT. Earlier this month, Zelensky had revealed ongoing talks with Trump over a "mega deal" on drone procurement. As per RT citing the New York Post, American defense officials have warned that US drone technology lags behind that of Russia and China, prompting efforts to accelerate purchase and development. During the conference in Kyiv, Zelensky underlined Ukraine's urgent financial needs, noting the country requires substantial funding to manage its defense and budgetary requirements. "Forty billion [is needed] for the deficit, 25 for drones, missiles, electronic warfare. That's already 65 billion," he said. RT reported that Zelensky has made multiple requests for these funds from European leaders and international institutions. The Ukrainian president also stressed that Western countries should help cover the salaries of Ukrainian servicemen. "So far, they don't pay for the salaries. They pay for the weapons. And we say - salaries too, because [our troops] are weapons," he argued, as quoted by RT. The announcement comes as the US scales back direct financial aid to Ukraine. Trump has emphasized that future support to Ukraine "will be a business for us," pointing out that the US will no longer cover the cost of Patriot air defense systems, which will instead be paid for by the European Union and NATO members, RT reported. Meanwhile, Russia continues to criticize the West's financial and military backing of Kyiv. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has stated that funding Ukraine's weaponry is equivalent to financing the "death" of the country.


Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
Thailand declares martial law in 8 Cambodia border regions
The death toll in Cambodia from clashes with Thailand has risen to 13, Cambodia's Defense Ministry said on Saturday. Cambodia had earlier reported only one fatality. A spokesperson said the casualties included eight civilians and five soldiers. This brings the total killed in clashes between the two nations to 32. In Thailand, at least 19 people have been killed, including 13 civilians and six Thai soldiers. Cambodia's envoy to the UN wants 'immediate ceasefire' Cambodia's envoy to the United Nations said Friday that his country wants an "immediate ceasefire" with Thailand. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the crisis on Friday. After the closed-door meeting, Cambodian Ambassador Chhea Keo said: "Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire — unconditionally — and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute." Keo questioned how Thailand, a regional military heavyweight, could accuse Cambodia, a smaller neighbor, of initiating the fighting. "(The Security Council) called for both parties to (show) maximum restraint and resort to a diplomatic solution. That is what we are calling for as well," Chhea Keo said. None of the other Security Council meeting attendees spoke to reporters. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes on the Thai-Cambodian border after fighting erupted between the neighboring countries. DW's Georg Matthes traveled to the Thai city of Ubon to meet some of those affected by the conflict. Thailand says it will consider Malaysian proposal for a ceasefire Thailand's Foreign Ministry said Friday it agrees in principle with a Malaysian proposal for a ceasefire and will consider it, but that a truce must be based on "appropriate on-the-ground conditions."