Putin praises Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine ahead of Friday’s Alaska summit.

LONDON, AUGUST 14 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised U.S. President Donald Trump for trying to end the war in Ukraine, more than three years after Russia’s invasion. The comments came as the two leaders prepared for an important U.S.–Russia summit in Alaska on Friday.

After meeting with top Russian officials on Thursday, Putin said in a short video released by the Kremlin that Trump’s administration was making “energetic and sincere efforts” to stop the fighting and reach agreements that benefit all sides. Putin also suggested that an agreement on nuclear arms control with the U.S. could help create long-term peace between Russia, the U.S., Europe, and the world.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders were working to make sure their interests are considered in the talks.

European leaders express concerns

On Thursday, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Zelenskyy to London in a show of support for Ukraine, ahead of the Trump-Putin meeting. Zelenskyy also recently participated in virtual talks with Trump and European leaders, where Trump promised to prioritize a ceasefire during the Alaska summit.

After the virtual meetings, Trump warned that Russia could face “very severe consequences” if Putin refuses to stop the war. While leaders like Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron called the discussions constructive, there is still uncertainty about how Trump will handle negotiations. European leaders worry that any U.S.-Russia deal could favor Moscow and ignore Ukraine’s and Europe’s security.

The Kremlin has tempered expectations, saying no documents are planned to be signed and it would be wrong to predict results. The summit in Alaska will start at 11:30 a.m. local time, with a one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin, followed by a meeting of their delegations, a working breakfast, and a joint news conference.

Protecting Ukraine’s borders

Starmer has said the summit could help achieve a ceasefire but warned that any agreement must protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. He emphasized that international borders cannot be changed by force. Ukraine has long insisted that Western security guarantees must be part of any lasting peace, but many governments have been hesitant to commit troops.

French President Macron said Trump clarified that NATO would not be involved in future security guarantees, but the U.S. and other parties should participate. Trump, however, did not make any security commitments during his comments to reporters.

Ukrainians remain skeptical

Many Ukrainians are doubtful about the summit’s impact. Oleksandra Kozlova, a Kyiv resident, said she has “lost hope” that the talks will bring meaningful progress. Another resident, Anton Vyshniak, said the priority should be saving soldiers’ lives, even if it means making territorial concessions.

Ongoing conflict and prisoner exchanges

Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine secured the release of 84 people from Russian captivity, including soldiers and civilians, some held since 2014. Russia confirmed it received 84 soldiers in return.

Meanwhile, Russian strikes in Ukraine’s Sumy region injured several people, including a 7-year-old girl. In Russia, a Ukrainian drone attack damaged apartment buildings in Rostov-on-Don, wounding 13 civilians.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First National Bamboo Conference Happening Now

KHOTANG, February 28 – The First National Bamboo Conference is currently being held in Diktel Bazaar, running from February 27 to March 1. The event was officially opened at the Khotang Multi-Purpose Covered Hall, and an exhibition showcasing various bamboo products is taking place nearby at the Matikore playground. The event is organized mainly by Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality. Even the welcome gate and stage at the venue are built using bamboo. The exhibition features 51 stalls displaying items made from bamboo, along with local agricultural products. Mayor Tirtha Raj Bhattarai shared that traditional Nepali bamboo swings—lingle ping and rote ping—have been set up for entertainment. Over 300 guests from outside the district are attending the conference. During the event, bamboo experts will present 23 papers under the theme: “Where there is bamboo, there is life; where there is life, there is bamboo.” Other co-organizers include the Forest Research and Training Centre (Bab...
Read more

Gold prices keep going up

  Kathmandu, June 18 — Gold prices have been rising in the international market since June 10, and this has also pushed up prices in Nepal. When the market opened today, the price of gold had gone up by Rs 900 per tola (11.66 grams) compared to Tuesday, while silver rose by Rs 65 per tola. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, gold is now being traded at Rs 195,500 per tola, and silver at Rs 2,225 per tola. International reports show that gold is currently priced at 3,393 US dollars per ounce in the global market.
Read more

Dengue cases are spreading rapidly in Chitwan.

Narayangadh (Chitwan), July 20 In the fiscal year 2024/25, a total of 3,889 people were confirmed to have dengue in Chitwan district. According to the Public Health Office, 3,020 of these cases were local residents—1,548 men and 1,472 women. The remaining 869 cases involved people from other districts—412 men and 457 women. Bharatpur Metropolitan City recorded the highest number of cases with 1,171 infections, while Madi Municipality had the fewest, with just 37 cases. One person died from the disease during the year. A total of 17,353 dengue tests were conducted throughout the year. Ram KC, a Vector Control Inspector at the Public Health Office, mentioned that the previous year had 1,831 confirmed cases out of 23,840 tests. Dengue was first detected in Nepal in 2004, in a Japanese tourist visiting Chitwan. The Public Health Office emphasized that the best way to prevent dengue is by protecting yourself from mosquito bites.
Read more