Latest news with #YuryUshakov
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Trump needs to act now. Putin won't stop
President Donald Trump has had it with Vladimir Putin. After a nearly one-hour phone call with his Russian counterpart, Trump expressed disappointment with Putin's obstinate continuation of the Ukraine War and admitted: 'I didn't make any progress with him at all.' The Kremlin rushed to calm the waters and claimed that Russia was still interested in peace negotiations with Ukraine. Nonetheless, Putin's aide Yury Ushakov still emphasised the contrast between Trump's push for a swift ceasefire in Ukraine and the Kremlin's desire to eliminate the root causes of the Ukraine War. Russia's latest actions suggest that Trump's frustrations are warranted. During the early hours of Friday morning, Russian forces pummelled Ukraine with 550 Shahed drones and ballistic missiles. This attack was Russia's largest aerial assault of the war, and broke the record set earlier this week of 537 drones and missiles. Even though Russia has not taken much-feared apocalyptic steps like using tactical nuclear weapons or triggering a meltdown in the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, it is steadily escalating its war against Ukrainian civilians. There are also alarming indicators that Russia's aggression is likely to worsen in the weeks and months ahead. Ukrainian electronic warfare specialist Sergey Beskrestnov warned that Russia has established component supply chains and personnel networks to rapidly increase production of Shahed drones. Beskrestnov warned that these measures could soon lead to Russia launching aerial attacks with 800 drones on Ukrainian cities. Russia has combined these aerial assaults with the more intense use of prohibited military technologies and the steady expansion of Ukraine's frontlines. Dutch and German intelligence assessments reveal that Russia is expanding its use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian soldiers. What is especially concerning is the use of drones with choking agents to drive Ukrainian soldiers out of trenches and shoot them. While Russia remains primarily focused on securing offensive gains in Donetsk, it is trying to stretch Ukraine's military capabilities wherever possible. Earlier this week, the Kremlin claimed that it established full control over the Donbas region of Luhansk. It has also reportedly amassed 50,000 troops to attack the northeastern Ukrainian region of Sumy and claimed control over its first village in the east-central Ukrainian industrial heartland of Dnipropetrovsk. Russia's multi-pronged offensive reflects the resilience of its war economy and support from its external backers. Even though Russian minister of economic development Maxim Reshetnikov warned of an imminent recession at last month's St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Russia can still afford its $144 billion military budget. Salary cuts have not led to insubordination within the ranks of Russia's weapons manufacturers or to massive declines in military enlistment. North Korea's impending deployment of tens of thousands of new forces to Ukraine and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's warnings about the consequences of a Russian defeat suggest that Putin's allies are staying put. The same cannot be said about Ukraine's most important backer: the United States. Due to growing concerns about munitions shortages in the US army, under secretary of defence for policy Elbridge Colby just halted some key precision missile and air defence shipments to Ukraine. Colby's decision stunned many senior US officials and reportedly occurred without the blessing of national security advisor and secretary of state Marco Rubio. In a further blow to Kyiv, America is wavering on Germany's plan to purchase two Patriot systems and hundreds of missiles from the US for Ukraine. German journalist Julian Ropcke warned that American-German negotiations on Patriot deliveries might come to a complete halt. This means that Kyiv's rapidly dwindling missile stocks might not be replenished and Russian attacks on Ukraine's decision-making centres could inflict lethal harm. It also poses an existential threat to the port of Odesa and its critical economic infrastructure for Black Sea grain exports. Trump's anger with Putin's pursuit of war at all costs is welcome news for Ukrainians, but they need to be backed by actions. The Americans must now channel those frustrations into providing Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defend its cities and repel Russia's offensive advances.
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Russia helped create the US, Putin tells Trump
Vladimir Putin has claimed in a phone call with Donald Trump that Russia played a role in the formation of the United States. Speaking a day before America celebrates Independence Day, the Russian leader reportedly congratulated Mr Trump about its national holiday, held on July 4. According to a report by Tass, a state-owned news agency, Yury Ushakov, the Russian presidential aide, said during the call 'it was noted from our side that Russia played an important role in the formation of American statehood including during the War of Independence 250 years ago, and then during the Civil War, which ended 160 years ago'. He added: 'It was stated that our countries are linked not only by the alliance in the First and Second World Wars, but also by deeper historical roots.' It was not immediately clear how Mr Trump responded or what Mr Putin was referring to, although some historians such as Paul Behringer have written about a 'distant friendship' between the two countries. 'During the 19th Century, as the US began to spread across the North American continent and Russia established colonies in Alaska, America remained officially neutral during the Crimean War. 'However, there was widespread public support for Russia. 'Russia also supported the Union during the US Civil War and in 1867 Russia agreed to sell Alaska to the US for $7.2 million.' Putin will not 'back down' The call had been arranged for the leaders to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, three years after Russia invaded. Mr Ushakov added that during the call Putin said he would not 'back down' from its goals. He added: 'Our president also said that Russia will achieve the goals it has set: that is, the elimination of the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs.' Putin has previously claimed he invaded Ukraine because it was set to join Nato, even though that was not a certainty. During the 2024 election campaign Mr Trump often said he could secure a ceasefire in just a day after returning to the White House. Yet Putin has appeared unwilling to either end its military operations or hold meaningful negotiations about a peace plan. This week it was reported the US was freezing the dispatch of some military equipment to Ukraine. The decision was taken after the US assessed its own stockpiles of some weapons were running low. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian leader, said he hoped to speak with Mr Trump on Friday.
Russia Today
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kremlin reveals how Putin will take part in BRICS summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil via video link, according to his foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov. This year's event, which will be the trade and development group's 17th annual summit, is set to take place in Rio de Janeiro in July. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be representing the country at the summit, Ushakov told Vesti in an interview on Wednesday. Putin will not travel to Brazil due to unresolved issues concerning an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the presidential aide said. 'The president will participate via video link. This is related to difficulties related to the requirements of the ICC,' Ushakov said. 'The Brazilian government could not take a clear position that would allow our president to participate in this meeting.' In 2023, the Hague-based institution's top prosecutor, Karim Khan, issued arrest warrants for Russia's president, as well as Russian children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, on charges of unlawful deportation and transfer of minors during the Ukraine conflict. Moscow has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, explaining that it evacuated the children out of the war zone for their own safety. Moscow is in the process of compiling a list of children currently in Ukraine who need to be reunited with their families in Russia, Lvova-Belova said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum last week. The list will be passed on to Kiev's negotiating team at the next round of direct talks, she said. Furthermore, five of the 339 children Kiev demanded be sent back to Ukraine during the last round of negotiations in Istanbul are being prepared for return, Lvova-Belova said. Russia is not a signatory to the ICC's founding treaty and does not recognize its jurisdiction. Other non-signatories include the US, China, and Israel. US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the judicial body and its top prosecutor in February for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Khan accused both of war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict, along with three Hamas leaders.
Times of Oman
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Trump seeks Russian hand in thawing frozen US-Iran nuclear talks
Moscow: Aide to the President, Yury Ushakov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had a telephonic conversation where they exchanged views on US-Iran deal on nuclear programme and that Trump sought Russia's helping hand in that matter. Ushakov said that their conversation focused on the stalled talks between the US and Iran. "In addition to Ukraine, a number of international issues were discussed, with a focus on the stalled talks between the United States and Iran on the Iranian nuclear programme. Donald Trump believes that Russia's assistance may be necessary here, and he would appreciate it if Russia could work with the Iranian side accordingly," he said. Ushakov said that their conversation involved a discussion on Ukraine conflict on the second round of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul. "Naturally, it began with a discussion of the situation around Ukraine. Vladimir Putin provided detailed information on the outcomes of the second round of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul," he said. "The fourth telephone conversation between our President and US President Donald Trump concluded. In case you want to know, this time it lasted approximately 70 minutes," he added. Ushakov said that Ukraine derailed these talks and attacked civilian infrastructure instead. "It was emphasised that Ukraine tried to derail these talks by carrying out targeted attacks on entirely civilian targets and civilians on direct orders from the Kyiv regime. These attacks unequivocally constitute an act of terrorism under international law and, in our view, the Kyiv regime has essentially degenerated into a terrorist organisation. The Russian side did not fall for the provocations and, as you know, the second round has effectively taken place in Istanbul," he said. Ushakov said that Putin and Trump's telephonic conversation was an extensive one and the corresponding memorandums will be analysed in Moscow and Kyiv. "To reiterate, our President extensively covered the content and the outcomes of the talks and emphasised that, overall, these talks were productive. The corresponding memorandums exchanged hands and will be analysed in the capitals - Moscow and Kyiv - and then, we hope, both sides can continue the talks," he said. Trump said that he was not informed about the strikes on military airfields. "Regarding the strikes on military airfields, this issue was also discussed. Donald Trump reiterated that Americans were not informed in advance about them. Naturally, the leaders agreed to continue contacts on the Ukraine issue, both at the highest level and through other channels as well," he said. They also held a conversation on Russia-US cooperation. "Furthermore, the Presidents exchanged views on the prospects for restoring Russia-US cooperation in various areas, which, according to both Presidents, possess enormous potential," he said. He said that Putin and Trump also confirmed their willingness to remain in constant communication. "In conclusion, both leaders characterised the exchange of views as positive and highly productive.
Russia Today
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Moscow outlines basis for peace negotiations with Kiev
Peace negotiations with Ukraine should consider both the current realities on the ground and the groundwork laid during the 2022 Istanbul talks, an aide to the Russian president, Yury Ushakov, has said. He made the remarks after Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Kiev the opportunity to resume direct talks 'without any preconditions.' Speaking in the early hours of Sunday, Putin proposed a new round of talks that would take place on May 15 in Istanbul. Ushakov told Russia's Channel 1 that any peace talks with Ukraine should take into account the points that were worked out by the sides during the 2022 negotiations, which Kiev unilaterally walked away from. 'The real situation' on the ground should 'obviously' be considered as well, he added. Also on Sunday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the 'objectives of negotiations are clear – to eliminate the root causes of the conflict' and to protect Russian interests. He went on to suggest that Ukraine is not really independent, and much would depend on the decisions of its Western backers. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed that his country is ready to host talks between Moscow and Kiev. In a televised address, Putin stressed that Moscow is 'set on serious negotiations with Ukraine,' and is seeking a 'long-term, sustainable peace' that addresses the root causes of the conflict. He did not rule out that the talks, if resumed, could yield 'a new ceasefire' honored by both sides, which could pave the way to a comprehensive peace settlement. 'The decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their supervisors,' the Russian president said. In 2022, Moscow and Kiev reached a draft peace deal in Istanbul, in which Ukraine reportedly agreed to neutrality and limitations on its armed forces, while Russia offered the withdrawal of its troops and security guarantees. However, Kiev abruptly walked away from the talks – a move which Russian officials claim was encouraged by then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is said to have urged Kiev to 'just continue fighting.' In November 2023, David Arakhamia, an MP allied with Vladimir Zelensky and who led the Ukrainian delegation, confirmed that this was the case. Johnson, however, has denied the allegations.
