Latest news with #Putin
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Everything is fine as long as…': Putin accuses West of encouraging separatism, attacks NATO expansion plans
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the West of encouraging separatism in Russia and attacked NATO for increasing its defence spending citing Moscow's 'aggressiveness.' Putin said that Russia's repeated security concerns regarding NATO's activities were ignored by the West.(via REUTERS) Putin also hit out at the Western nations for repeatedly 'betraying Russia' by not honouring their promises regarding NATO expansion and resolving the conflict in Ukraine. 'No one has wished to pay attention to the Islamic State, as long as it operates against Russia. Explosions in Moscow, and all that. This is still happening today,' Putin told reporters at the Belarus capital Minsk, according to news agency PTI. 'No one wants to pay attention to this. Everything is fine, as long as it is against Russia,' the President said on the sidelines of the summit of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Also Read: Vladimir Putin offered Donald Trump 'help with Iran'. US President's reply was this "The same happened when the collective West encouraged separatism in our country, and such an instrument of the fight against Russia as terrorism," he further said. Putin also said that Russia will no longer play 'one-sided' games with the West, according to state-run television Russia Today. "Western nations have repeatedly betrayed Russia by not fulfilling their promises related to NATO expansion and resolving the Ukraine conflict,' he said. He also said that NATO is using alleged Russian "aggressiveness" to justify plans to increase defence spending and bolster its military presence in Europe. "No one is saying a word about how we've come up to the Russian special military operation," the Russian President reportedly said. He added that the roots of the conflict in Ukraine goes back decades when Moscow was "blatantly lied to" about NATO expansion. "What followed was one expansion wave after another," he stated. He further said that Russia's security concerns about the bloc's activities have been consistently ignored and met with silence. 'Isn't it aggressive behaviour? That is precisely aggressive behaviour, which the West does not want to pay attention to," he added.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scholz: No illusions about Putin's plans after Ukraine
Former German chancellor Olaf Scholz issued a strong warning against harbouring illusions about the further plans of Russian President Vladimir Putin at a party event on Saturday. The Kremlin leader wants to hold on to his partial conquest of Ukraine and would "like it to be even bigger," said Scholz in Berlin, where he was bid farewell from office by his Social Democrats (SPD). However, Putin must not succeed in shifting borders by force, Scholz said. In doing so in Ukraine, he had cancelled decades of understanding in post-war Europe. Consequences have been drawn from this turning point, he noted. "The Bundeswehr [German armed forces] will become stronger and cooperation within NATO has reached new dimensions. That is also right," said Scholz, stressing the importance and magnitude of the task. He also called on high earners to contribute more to financing the nation's defence capability instead of seeking tax cuts. "That's an interesting mathematical calculation," said Scholz. "I certainly believe that we are being called upon to show new solidarity in our country." Under Scholz, who was succeeded by Chancellor Friedrich Merz in May, Germany's ruling coalition committed to a €100-billion ($117-billion) development plan for the Bundeswehr. It also increased its arms exports to Ukraine following the 2022 invasion ordered by Putin. During the conference, delegates are discussing divisive issues including the party stance on Russia. Germany's SPD has been criticized for historical sympathies towards Moscow harboured within the party, especially in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On Friday, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius firmly rejected calls for a shift in policy towards Russia, pointing to the realities presented by Putin. Pistorius was responding to SPD grandee Ralf Stegner, the co-author of a position paper calling for a shift in Germany's approach to Russia.
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Just when the world desperately needs wise elders, its fate is in the hands of old and ruthless patriarchs
Let's attempt something delicate: talking about age without slipping into ageism. Never before in modern history have those with the fate of the world in their hands been so old. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are both 72. Narendra Modi is 74, Benjamin Netanyahu 75, Donald Trump 79, and Ali Khamenei is 86. Thanks to advances in medical science, people are able to lead longer, more active lives – but we are now also witnessing a frightening number of political leaders tightening their grip on power as they get older, often at the expense of their younger colleagues. This week, at their annual summit, the leaders of Nato – including Emmanuel Macron and Mette Frederiksen (both 47), Giorgia Meloni (48) and Pedro Sánchez (53) – were forced to swallow Trump's demand for increased military spending. The average age of Nato heads of state is 60. Germany's Friedrich Merz is 69, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is 71. All bowed to a new 5% defence spending target – an arbitrary figure, imposed without serious military reasoning or rational debate, let alone serious democratic debate at home. It was less policy, more deference to the whims of a grumpy patriarch. Nato's secretary general, Mark Rutte – himself just 58 – went so far as to call Trump 'Daddy'. That's not diplomacy. That's submission. This generational clash plays out in other arenas. Ukraine's 47-year-old president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is resisting the imperial ambitions of septuagenarian Putin. Septuagenarian Xi eyes a Taiwan led by a president seven years his junior. Netanyahu, three-quarters of a century old, is overseeing devastation in Gaza, where almost half the population is under 18. In Iran an 86 year old rules over a population with an average age of 32. Cameroon's Paul Biya, 92, has been in power since 1982 in a country where the median age is 18 and life expectancy just 62. There is no gerontocratic conspiracy at work here – no senior citizens' club bent on global domination. But there is something disturbing about a world being dismantled by the very people whose lives were defined by its postwar architecture. Khamenei was six when the second world war ended. Trump was born in 1946, the year the United Nations held its first general assembly. Netanyahu was born a year after Israel was founded. Modi was born in 1950, as India became a republic. Putin entered the world in October 1952, months before Stalin died. Xi in June 1953, just after. And Erdoğan was born in 1954, two years after Turkey joined Nato. These men are the children of the postwar world – and as they near the end of their lives, they seem determined to tear it down. It almost looks like revenge. Dylan Thomas urged us to 'Rage, rage against the dying of the light'. Rarely has the line felt so literal. Yes, the rules-based international order was always messier in practice than on paper. But at least the ideal existed. There was a shared moral framework – shaky, yes, but sincere – built on the conviction that humanity must never repeat the atrocities of the first half of the 20th century and that dialogue and diplomacy were better. That conviction has now evaporated, not least in the minds of those who should cherish it most. This is an unprecedented moment. The architects of the previous global disorder – Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Mao – were all in their 30s or 40s when they rose to power. A new generation built a new world, and lived with its consequences. Today, that new world is being unmade by an old generation – one that will not live to see the wreckage it leaves behind. It's easier to shout 'drill, baby, drill' when you're statistically unlikely to experience the worst of climate collapse. Après nous le déluge, as the French say. You might think that a generation so fortunate to benefit from longevity would leave behind a legacy of care, gratitude and global stewardship. Instead, we are witnessing the worst resurgence of repression, violence, genocide, ecocide and contempt for international law in decades – waged, more often than not, by ruthless septuagenarians and octogenarians who appear more interested in escaping prosecution than preserving peace. But it doesn't have to be this way. After leaving office, Nelson Mandela founded the Elders, a network of former world leaders working to promote peace, justice and human rights. Inspired by African traditions of consensus and elder wisdom, the Elders are an example of how age can bring clarity, compassion and conscience – not just clout. The problem isn't old age. It's how some have chosen to wield it. The world doesn't need more ageing strongmen clinging to power. It needs elders who are willing to let go – and guide. The kind who think about legacy not as personal glory, but as the world they leave behind. In this age of age, what we need is not domination, but wisdom. And that, in the end, is what separates a ruler from a leader. David Van Reybrouck is philosopher laureate for the Netherlands and Flanders. His books include Revolusi: Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World and Congo: The Epic History of a People Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Metro
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Metro
Humiliated Putin loses warplanes worth £148,000,000 despite stepping up security
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Vladimir Putin has lost four warplanes worth £37 million each despite stepping up their defences after Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb. A pair of Su-34 fighters were destroyed and two more damaged after an attack on on Marinovka military airfield in Volgograd. Ukraine used long range drones to fly more than 200 miles to inflict the latest £148 million blow to Putin's aerial firepower. It came less than a month after Russia supposedly tightened its military air base security after 40-plus strategic bombers and spy planes were hit in Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb. Russia responded by hitting Ukrainian civilians with a strike on a 21-storey residential block in Odesa, killing a married couple and leaving at least 14 others wounded including children aged three and seven. Furious Russian military analysts confirmed the damage to the Su-34 multi-role fighters used on the frontline for bombing missions against Ukraine, including dropping guided aerial bombs. The latest attack was admitted by pro-war Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber which raged that the hit 'could and should have been prevented'. 'There is no point in commenting on Marinovka….and it would be nice if not only the [Ukrainians] were held accountable….otherwise, it will continue like this.' The channel expressed fury at the 'multi-billion dollar' losses Putin's forces are suffering. Ukraine's SBU security service said: 'The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and the SBU used long-range drones to attack Russian fighter jets. 'The attack also caused a fire in the technical and operational part of the enemy airfield, which is a critical infrastructure for a military facility. 'This is where the enemy prepares aircraft for flights, carries out their routine maintenance and repair work.' Ukraine staged the successful strike despite Russia reportedly boosting security around its key air bases. The Su-34s are the backbone of Russia's tactical strike aviation. In Operation Spiderweb drones were launched from trucks positioned close to at least four Russian airfields. In Odessa, fire swept through a residential building after the Russia strike. More Trending The bodies of a married couple – sleeping when Putin's forces struck – were pulled from the rubble. At least 14 were wounded in the strike, with dozens evacuated. Putin has repeatedly targeted civilians in a sign that he has no intention of seeking peace and intends to carry on with his bid to invade and subjugate Ukraine. 'A couple was killed – their bodies were pulled from the rubble of a damaged apartment building,' said Ukraine's national police. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Which countries have reintroduced conscription in Europe? MORE: Putin stages deadly war games after NATO agrees to increase defence spending MORE: Map shows safest countries to be in if global conflict breaks out
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Humiliation for Putin as £37m jets destroyed in strike before vengeful tyrant kills two in blitz on Ukraine tower block
UKRAINE has successfully blitzed a pair of Russia's prized Su-34 fighter jets - costing a humiliated Vladimir Putin £74million. Russia's despot hit back with a terrifying revenge strike which killed a married couple in a deadly attack on a Ukrainian tower block. Advertisement 6 Russian Su-34 bomber Credit: Getty 6 The Russian despot hit back with a terrifying revenge strike which killed a married couple in a deadly attack on a Ukrainian tower block in Odesa Credit: Reuters 6 A resident walks inside his decimated apartment building in Odesa Credit: Reuters The twisted tyrant decimated a 21-storey residential block in Odesa and left it up in flames as 14 others, including a child as young as 3, were rescued and rushed to hospital. Two other children were also among the wounded in the overnight attack, regional Governor Oleh Kiper said. Russia has drastically increased its drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks amid growing issues around securing a lasting ceasefire. Kyiv has continued to defend themselves valiantly against enemy attacks with them landing a humiliating blow to the Kremlin. Advertisement They launched a tactical drone attack on Russia's Marinovka military airfield in the Volgograd region in Friday. Ukraine used long range drones to fly 200 miles to inflict millions of pounds worth of damage to Putin's aerial firepower. The blitz targeted a set of four Su-34 fighter jets which are each worth a reported £37million. Furious Russian military analysts confirmed that two of the Su-34 multi-role fighters used on the frontline for bombing missions against Ukraine were destroyed. Advertisement The two others also suffered damage. Pro-war Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber raged that the hit 'could and should have been prevented'. Bodies pulled from under rubble after Vladimir Putin bombs Kyiv killing 28 as EU chief says 'fight or learn Russian' The channel expressed fury at the 'multi-billion dollar' losses Putin's forces are suffering each week to their military arsenal. Ukraine's SBU security service also commented on the successful strikes as they said: 'The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and the SBU used long-range drones to attack Russian fighter jets. Advertisement 'The attack also caused a fire in the technical and operational part of the enemy airfield, which is a critical infrastructure for a military facility. 'This is where the enemy prepares aircraft for flights, carries out their routine maintenance and repair work.' It came less than a month after Russia supposedly tightened its military air base security after 40-plus strategic bombers and spy planes were hit in Kyiv's audacious Operation Spiderweb. In Operation Spiderweb - one of the most stunning attacks of the war - drones were launched from trucks positioned close to at least four Russian airfields. Advertisement It crippled much of Putin's doomsday bomber flee with 41 of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks on tarmac. Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia - caused by only 117 cheaply made drones. 6 The twisted tyrant decimated a 21-storey residential block in the overnight attack Credit: Reuters 6 Ukraine used long range drones to fly 200 miles to inflict millions of pounds worth of damage to Putin's aerial firepower Credit: East2West Advertisement Putin has launched countless revenge strikes since he was embarrassed by the attack. Last week, he unleashed the deadliest Russian strike on Kyiv in 2025 as 28 people were killed in airstrikes. Russia blasted 27 locations in Kyiv, with 440 drones and 32 missiles hammering the city for nine hours, according to Ukrainian officials. Buildings and critical infrastructure facilities were damaged. Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it 'one of the most terrible strikes on Kyiv'. Days earlier, Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv was bombarded with 48 kamikaze drones, missiles and guided bombs. The assault killed three people and injured 21. Inside Russia's faltering war By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter THE Russian invasion of Ukraine has been advancing at an incredibly slow pace - with Kyiv's "dronegrinder" warfare miring Putin's summer offensive. The rate at which Moscow is capturing land has been dubbed "slower than a snail" - all while the human cost of Russian casualties is sky high. After 448 days of fighting inside Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, the Russians reportedly only managed to take control of 50 per cent of the city. Which means the troops, on average, are only able to take 0.00629 square miles of land per day - which is a painfully low conversion rate. Even snails, which have a speed of 0.03 miles per hour, can cover more land than what the Russians have gained in the region. Meanwhile, Kyiv has ramped up its defences as it seeks to thwart Vladimir Putin's final killer summer offensive, which military analysts say could start as early as July. Ukraine's fierce resistance forced Russian troops to stop in the Sumy region's border area, Kyiv's military Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky revealed. The military boss said that the Ukrainian armed forces managed to tie down a 50,000-strong force and stabilise the frontlines "as of this week". But, some 125,000 Russian soldiers are reportedly now massing along the Sumy and Kharkiv frontiers, according to Ukraine's military intelligence. Ukrainians have tasked a special defence group to strengthen fortifications near the frontlines, build anti-drone corridors and 'kill zones' It comes amid fears that Vladimir Putin may launch a fresh summer offensive to try and take as much land as he can before agreeing to a ceasefire. 6
