Latest news with #UkraineCrisis
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
West could be behind Ukraine's anti-graft rallies – ex-Austrian FM
Recent protests in Ukraine sparked by Vladimir Zelensky's crackdown on anti-corruption agencies may have been orchestrated by Western countries, former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl has claimed in an interview with TASS. Thousands reportedly took to the streets across Ukraine last week after Zelensky placed the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under executive oversight. The decision followed a series of raids by security services targeting NABU staff. Protesters accused Zelensky of betraying the country and demanded he reverse the law. Zelensky defended his actions by claiming the anti-corruption bodies had come under Russian influence. His critics, however, described the overhaul as an authoritarian consolidation of power. The move has also been criticized in the West, as the independent agencies are a prerequisite for Ukraine's integration into the EU. 'It looks rather strange for a country and leadership that are heavily dependent on the West [to take this step],' Kneissl told TASS on Monday. She went on to suggest that the protests may not have been spontaneous. 'It's possible that they were organized,' she said. Opponents of the bill have drawn parallels to Ukraine's 2014 Maidan uprising, which led to the ousting of then-President Viktor Yanukovich. Kneissl echoed this view, noting that the Euromaidan protests were 'very well organized, generously funded,' and likely supported by US Embassy staff. She pointed to widely shared images of US diplomat Victoria Nuland handing out cookies to protesters in Kiev. The latest protests at home and backlash from abroad have since forced Zelensky to backpedal on the clampdown and introduce a new bill that contains 'full-fledged guarantees of the independence of anti-corruption agencies' and is designed to 'keep out' any alleged Russian interference. Kneissl, who served as Austria's foreign minister from 2017 to 2019, is known for her close ties to Russia. She sat on the board of state-owned oil giant Rosneft until resigning in 2022. That year, she left Austria and eventually settled in a village in Ryazan Region, Russia, citing death threats and professional isolation.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Zelensky Ultimate Loser': Ex-Pentagon Official Drops Bombshell; Reveals Ukraine Will Lose War
Former Pentagon official Michael Maloof has predicted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's political future is nearing its end, calling him the "ultimate loser" in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Maloof claimed Zelenskyy has lost legitimacy, holds no strategic leverage, and is only trying to stall for time while the West's support declines. He pointed to controversial reforms that contradict international agreements as a key reason for Western hesitation. Maloof also warned of growing internal unrest in Ukraine and suggested that citizens may soon demand a return to stable governance.#Zelenskyy #UkraineCrisis #MichaelMaloof #Pentagon #RussiaUkraineWar #UkrainePolitics#ZelenskyyResignation #InternalUnrest #UkraineConflict #Geopolitics #WestVsRussia #PutinZelenskyy
Russia Today
07-07-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Ukraine plagued by ‘palace politics' and purges
Ukraine's leadership is increasingly mired in 'palace politics,' bitter infighting, and purges that threaten to fracture the country from within, The Economist reported on Sunday, citing multiple sources. Much of the turmoil is reportedly linked to Andrey Yermak, the powerful head of Vladimir Zelensky's office, who is seen as actively sidelining other key figures close to the Ukrainian leader. While Russia continues to push back Ukrainian forces along the front line, the deepening political chaos in Kiev could spell even greater danger for Ukraine, the outlet stated. According to The Economist, the internal rift was illustrated by three developments last month: reports of an impending cabinet reshuffle with Yulia Sviridenko tipped as the next prime minister, yet another failed attempt to remove Ukraine's spy chief, Kirill Budanov, and most notably, the corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Chernyshov. Chernyshov, previously known for his efforts to repatriate Ukrainians from the West, was accused of fraud tied to a housing project he approved while serving as urban development minister. The charges emerged while he was on official business in Europe, leading to what The Economist called the 'absurd image' of Ukraine's minister for repatriating citizens contemplating his own self-exile. Three officials told the magazine that while there was no evidence Yermak ordered the probe, he allowed the case to advance while freezing others, effectively neutralizing Chernyshov. The outlet's sources claimed that Chernyshov's true 'offense' was trying to position himself as an alternative conduit for relations with Washington, potentially undermining Yermak. Chernyshov's fall from grace also reportedly paved the way for Sviridenko, described as Yermak's protégé, to rise further. According to the outlet, Yermak has also on numerous occasions tried to oust Budanov. Sources close to Yermak labeled Budanov an unstable 'revolutionary' intent on building his own political machine, while insiders in the intelligence service portrayed him as one of the few willing to confront Ukraine's leadership with hard truths. However, Budanov has managed to survive through a mix of pressure tactics and political maneuvering, The Economist reported, adding that repeated White House warnings not to fire him also played a major role. While The Economist described Yermak as 'domestically… stronger than ever,' an earlier report by Politico suggested that the US has been 'frustrated' with the official. American officials interviewed by the magazine described Yermak as abrasive, poorly informed about US politics, and prone to lecturing – with some fearing he failed to accurately convey American positions to Kiev.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Russia Gains Momentum In Eastern Ukraine Offensive; Chasiv Yar Witnesses Bloody Clash
Russian forces are making significant advances in eastern Ukraine, according to Denis Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic. He claims several settlements near Konstantinovka have been taken, and progress is underway in Chasiv Yar. Pushilin and his advisor report that Ukrainian troops have been pushed to the western outskirts of Chasiv Yar. The Russian Defense Ministry also announced the capture of Sobolevka in the Kharkiv region and Poddubnoye in Donetsk. These developments signal growing pressure on Ukrainian defenses across key areas of the eastern front.#UkraineWar #Kharkiv #RussiaUkraine #DroneAttack #ShahedDrones #Airstrike #RussiaStrikes #UkraineCrisis #WarInUkraine #MilitaryConflict #UkraineUnderAttack #BreakingNews #EasternEurope #CiviliansInWar #russiaukrainewar
Russia Today
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine isn't Israel. And that's exactly the problem
US President Donald Trump secured his image as a 'peacemaker' by swiftly de-escalating tensions in the Israel-Iran conflict. However, the methods he employed have little to do with the system of international law that the West swears by when condemning Russia's own military operation. So, why has the situation in the Middle East become calmer while the Ukraine crisis rages on? Perhaps the answer lies in a comment Trump made during a NATO summit, when he said that 'something needs to be done' about Ukraine because the situation is 'completely out of control'. Out of US control, to be precise. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proved to be a more predictable partner for Trump. Unlike Ukraine, Israel cannot depend on consistent support from Europe; for the past several years, Europe has assessed the actions of the Israeli military with increasing restraint and sometimes outright criticism. Tel Aviv didn't have another external 'guardian', and this significantly strengthened Washington's position. The loss of US support would have jeopardized Israel's entire security architecture, and a conflict with the White House was a risk Netanyahu couldn't afford to take. The asymmetrical goals of the parties also played an important part. Israel declared that it wanted to eradicate the Iranian regime – an ambitious yet unrealistic goal. In contrast, Iran didn't seek to escalate the conflict; it aimed to maintain internal stability and minimize losses – a goal Tehran successfully achieved, but one that Israel may have failed at. Nevertheless, both sides managed to save face. Netanyahu announced the destruction of key facilities of Iran's nuclear program. Although leaks published in the American media have suggested that Tehran evacuated sensitive materials ahead of time, Iran officially acknowledged some of the damage. Whether this statement was made as a strategic move for de-escalation or as an acknowledgment of real losses is of secondary importance. The key point is that both Israel and Iran have chosen not to escalate the conflict further. It's likely that both sides calculated the risks involved. Israel did not anticipate such a strong retaliatory response and realized it could not destabilize the Islamic Republic on its own. Iran, for its part, was probably unprepared for a war that could draw in the US. Washington, meanwhile, had no desire to get embroiled in a full-blown Middle Eastern campaign. Trump managed to propose a way out: de-escalation without a formal agreement, but with terms that allowed each party to claim victory. The Ukraine crisis isn't just a bilateral issue; it involves many players. Beyond the US, the European Union has become a key player. According to Member of the European Parliament Csaba Demeter, the EU contributes €134 billion of the total €267 billion in aid – about 10% of the EU's seven-year budget. It's understandable that Brussels is reluctant to abandon its pursuit of 'Russia's strategic defeat,' even if it doesn't explicitly state this. Many of the EU's diplomatic moves, like proposals for an unconditional ceasefire, demonstrate an effort to regroup rather than seek compromise. Unlike Trump, European elites still consider the Ukraine crisis manageable. While in the Middle East they were concerned about the destabilization of energy markets and thus favored de-escalation, in Ukraine the EU actively supports the continuation of the conflict. Just recall how German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has repeatedly stated that Ukraine must negotiate from a position of strength – a stance he uses to justify Berlin's willingness to supply Kiev with long-range weapons. French President Emmanuel Macron has echoed that line, consistently emphasizing his country's role in arming Ukraine's military. Trump has fewer tools at his disposal compared to the situation with Israel. Sure, he can say that this isn't his war; but if Ukraine loses, it will go down in his biography as 'the second Afghanistan.' That's why the US is hesitant to leverage its influence: a thorough audit of the billions of dollars in aid provided to Ukraine hasn't been initiated yet, despite corruption allegations growing louder in Kiev. Such an audit could significantly impact Zelensky's behavior and push him toward negotiations. The question of Zelensky's legitimacy also remains: Zelensky's presidential term expired in May 2024, a fact that Moscow has often noted. Currently, there are no signs that Trump is ready to instigate a political process, but perhaps his calls for 'doing something' also pertain to this aspect. Unlike the conflict that has flared up in the Middle East, the Ukraine conflict is not just a temporary crisis; it poses a long-term challenge to the framework of European security. The Israeli-Iranian standoff hasn't changed the balance of power in the region, but the Ukrainian conflict has reshaped Eastern Europe in the political, military, and psychological sense. Neither side is willing to return to how things were before. The process of constructing a new security system on the European continent that accommodates the interests of all parties involved is a fundamental task; a simple ceasefire won't solve these issues. Russia has made it clear that it will not settle for a temporary ceasefire that merely looks like peace. Long-term guarantees are needed to prevent the conflict from recurring, which means Kiev must reassess both its foreign and domestic strategies. For now, neither the EU nor Washington has demonstrated any real willingness to head in that direction. While he understands the complexity of the situation, Trump is cautious about getting involved in negotiations. He has expressed frustration with both sides, as if saying – I tried, but no one was interested. This approach has allowed the US to shift responsibility for the crisis onto Europe, implying: now it's your war – you go find a solution. Brussels recognizes this signal and is doing everything it can to keep Washington focused on Ukraine. But as time goes on, it becomes increasingly clear that Trump does not want to take on the role of chief mediator in this conflict. He has not provided any clear signals regarding a long-term strategy. His position remains chaotic and reactive, making it even harder to predict the future actions of the United States.
