Latest news with #RussiaUkraineConflict
Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
More Russian POWs brought back from Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine exchanged more prisoners of war on Friday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. A similar swap was carried out the previous day. The ministry's statement did not specify the number of troops returned by each side but did contain footage of more than a dozen Russian soldiers boarding a bus. Both exchanges were conducted based on an agreement that Moscow and Kiev reached during their direct talks in Istanbul earlier this month, the ministry noted. In both cases, the Russian soldiers were transported to Belarus, where the ministry said they were offered psychological and medical care before being returned to Russia for rehabilitation. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky also reported the exchange while likewise declining to provide any numbers. The humanitarian exchanges since the June 2 negotiations have also included repatriation of the remains of slain soldiers. Russia has returned the remains of over 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers and received 57 in return.
Times of Oman
12 hours ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
PM Modi, Croatia PM underscore importance of inking India-EU FTA within a year
Zagreb : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic underscored the importance of concluding a mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement. PM Modi and Plenkovic welcomed the renewed momentum in the strategic partnership between India and the EU. "The two leaders welcomed the renewed momentum in the strategic partnership between India and the EU, two of the largest democracies, open market economies, and pluralistic societies. They underscored the importance of concluding a mutually beneficial India-EU FTA within the course of the year, as agreed during the historic visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February 2025," the statement read. The two expressed support for a just and lasting peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Middle East. They reiterated their commitment to promote a free Indo-Pacific region based on mutual respect. "The two Prime Ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including war in Ukraine. They expressed support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on respect for international law, principles of the UN Charter and territorial integrity and sovereignty. The two leaders expressed concern about the deterioration of security situation in the Middle East and called for de-escalation between Israel and Iran. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promote a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific built on international law and mutual respect for sovereignty and peaceful resolution of disputes underpinned by effective regional institutions," the statement read. As per the statement, the two sides emphasised the urgent need for reforms in the UN system, particularly the UN Security Council to make it inclusive and transparent. "The two sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to multilateralism and support for a rules-based international order. They emphasised the urgent need for reforms in the UN system, particularly the UN Security Council including its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, to make it more inclusive, transparent, effective, accountable, efficient and better aligned with contemporary geopolitical realities," the statement read. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the partnership between India and Croatia. "The Indian side expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to them by the Croatian side. The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at the outcomes of the visit, and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the partnership between India and Croatia," the statement read. PM Modi paid an official visit to Croatia on June 18. This marked the first-ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia to strengthen the growing momentum of high-level exchanges between the two nations.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russia to hand Ukraine list of children for return – children's rights commissioner
Russia is working on a new list of children it will submit to Ukraine so they may be reunited with their families, Children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova told media on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Thursday. Since the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, Moscow has evacuated children from the combat zone and relocated them to safety until they could be reunited with their families. Kiev, however, has accused Russia of 'kidnapping'. 'We have children currently in Ukraine who need to be reunited with their Russian families,' said Lvova-Belova, noting that Russia plans to submit a list of names during the next round of direct talks. Five children among 339 listed by Ukraine at the latest round of talks in Istanbul are now being prepared for return, she confirmed. Following the latest talks Moscow's chief negotiator for the Ukraine conflict, Vladimir Medinsky noted Ukraine's previous accusations of over a million of 'stolen children' as being primarily for 'propaganda purposes.' Moscow and Kiev have agreed to carry out a series of exchanges, focusing on seriously injured, ill and younger captives. Russia also unilaterally repatriated the bodies of more than 6,000 fallen Ukrainian troops. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow received only 57 bodies of Russian soldiers in return. Russian authorities have regularly reported on efforts undertaken to reunite displaced children with their families. In February this year Lvova-Belova announced that 17 children from 11 families had been reunited with relatives in Russia, while 95 more were connected to relatives in Ukraine and other countries under a Qatar-mediated agreement. She has repeatedly called Kiev's claims of abductions a 'systemic myth' and pledged to continue facilitating family reunifications. In 2023, Lvova-Belova was named alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as key suspects in an investigation into the alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of minors during the Ukraine conflict. Russia, however, has dismissed the claims as politically motivated, explaining that it evacuates children from the conflict zone to protect them. Russian officials have also stressed that displaced children are not adopted in Russia but placed under temporary guardianship or foster care until they can be returned to their families.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Putin says he's open to meeting Zelensky, even as he denies his legitimacy
Days after a Russian attack on Kyiv destroyed apartment blocks and killed 28 people, Russian President Vladimir Putin denied in remarks published Thursday that Moscow was targeting civilians and said he was open to meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, even while still questioning his legitimacy. Putin spoke to international news agencies late Wednesday on the margins of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum as the U.S.-sponsored peace process has been faltering, with little progress toward any kind of cessation of hostilities.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Trump says Russia being thrown out G8 was a ‘big mistake'
Watch U.S. President Donald Trump says the Russia-Ukraine conflict wouldn't have happened if Russia remained in the G8.
