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The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Russia warns of 'unpredictable consequences' if Iran-Israel conflict escalates
Russia 's ambassador to the UN said on Tuesday he sees no willingness from Israel to engage in mediation efforts to end its conflict with Iran, warning of 'unpredictable consequences' as hostilities intensify. 'This thing should be stopped, because it has absolutely unpredictable consequences, given that we're talking about nuclear sites that are under threat and given that the ballistic exchange continues with heavy casualties on both sides,' Vasily Nebenzya told reporters in New York. The remarks come as retaliatory attacks between Israel and Iran continue, and as international calls grow for de-escalation. It also comes as President Donald Trump has indicated the US could enter the conflict. Moscow is seeking to be a mediator, but its overtures have yet to translate into concrete talks. 'There was a conversation between President [Vladimir] Putin and President Trump the other day, and President Putin said that we are ready to do what we can to facilitate … so in that sense, yes, we are co-ordinating, but we don't have any mediation efforts on the ground,' he said. Iran provided critical drone support to Russia during the first year of Moscow's war in Ukraine, helped it establish a domestic drone factory, and signed a 20-year strategic partnership in January, deepening defence and political ties between the two allies. Yet months after that agreement, as Iran faces unprecedented Israeli strikes threatening its stability, Russia has offered little beyond diplomatic statements and phone calls, leaving Tehran increasingly isolated. Moscow is walking a tightrope, Iulia-Sabina Joja, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told The National, as it weighs support for Tehran against protecting its broader regional interests amid Iran's declining influence. Any prolonged instability in the Middle East, especially involving Iran, could undermine Russia's delicate balancing act in the region, Ms Joja said. 'Russia has to play now a very difficult balancing game,' she said. 'On the one hand, they want to support Iran but have to be on the winning side in the Middle East to pursue their interests, and Iran is looking weak, with its interests on the losing side across the region, particularly in Syria with the Assad regime and other elements.' At the same time, Moscow's immediate priority remains its war in Ukraine, where it aims to prolong the conflict while stringing along the US with illusory negotiations. 'For them to be able to do that for as long as possible, which is their aim, they have to play nice, or at least pretend to play nice, with the United States,' Ms Joja said. 'That's why we're seeing them take a step back or adopt a more reluctant position than some expected in their partnership with Iran.' If the US joins Israel in striking Iran, Ms Joja said direct Russian intervention is unlikely. 'The US and Israel have the upper hand,' she said of their air superiority. Still, any escalation of the conflict would necessarily make Moscow uncomfortable, as it would jeopardise Russia's goals in Ukraine and its broader Middle East ambitions, including access to warm-water trade routes, she added.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ISW: Low-level delegation indicates that Russia is not interested in sincere negotiations
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have noted that Russia's decision to send a low-level delegation to a new round of peace talks in Istanbul indicates that the Russian Federation is not interested in sincere negotiations. Source: ISW Quote: "Russian officials continue to signal the Kremlin's uncompromising position ahead of proposed talks in Istanbul on 2 June, suggesting that the upcoming Istanbul meeting is very unlikely to yield substantive results in support of an enduring peace in Ukraine." Details: Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said during a meeting of the UN Security Council on 30 May that Russia was ready to fight Ukraine for as long as necessary and that Ukraine could either accept peace, presumably on Russia's terms, or face inevitable defeat on the battlefield. Nebenzya also said that the United States had recently opened its eyes to the root causes of the Russo-Ukrainian war and repeated Russian ruler Vladimir Putin's demands that the West stop arming Ukraine and cease efforts to build up forces as preconditions for a ceasefire. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on 29 May that the Russian delegation to the proposed bilateral talks in Istanbul on 2 June would be the same as the Russian delegation to the previous talks held in Istanbul on 15 and 16 May. Quote: "Russian officials' decision to reiterate long-standing demands and send the same low-level delegation to the next Istanbul meeting indicates that Russia remains disinterested in engaging in good-faith negotiations. ISW continues to assess that Russia remains dedicated to protracting peace negotiations to support continued offensive operations in Ukraine and extract additional concessions from Ukraine and the West." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Russia's envoy to UN lists ceasefire demands for Ukraine
Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, has stated that Russia is "in principle" ready to consider a ceasefire with Ukraine, but only if the other side takes reciprocal steps. Source: Russian media, citing Nebenzya in a speech Quote: "In principle, we are ready to consider the possibility of establishing a ceasefire regime, which could subsequently allow us to move towards a sustainable resolution of the root causes of the conflict. But for this, we must see reciprocal steps from the other side. For the duration of the ceasefire, at the very least, Western countries must stop supplying weapons to the Kyiv regime and Ukraine must halt mobilisation." Details: Nebenzya said that Russia is not satisfied with a scenario that would allow Ukraine to "catch its breath, lick its wounds and stop the collapse of the eastern front". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Russia may 'consider' ceasefire if Ukraine stops mobilization, arms deliveries, ambassador says
Russia is prepared to consider a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine, but only if Kyiv stops receiving Western weapons and halts mobilization, Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's envoy to the United Nations, said on May 30, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. "In principle, we are ready to consider the possibility of establishing a ceasefire, which would subsequently allow for a sustainable resolution of the root causes of the conflict," Nebenzya said at a U.N. Security Council meeting. Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, convened the meeting to accuse European nations of undermining peace efforts. The Russian ambassador said that any ceasefire would require Western governments to end their support for Ukraine's armed forces. "During the ceasefire, it is essential that Western countries stop supplying weapons to the Kyiv regime (the Ukrainian government) and that Ukraine halt its mobilization," Nebenzya said. The statement comes just days ahead of the next round of peace talks in Istanbul on June 2. Despite the stated offer, Nebenzya also pledged that Moscow would "continue and intensify military operations for as long as necessary." Ukraine swiftly rejected the demand as disingenuous. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the remarks a "slap in the face to all who advocate for peace," including countries like China and Brazil, which have pressed both sides to end the war. "When the entire world insists that it is time to stop the killing immediately and engage in meaningful diplomacy, Russia uses the highest fora to spew such belligerent rhetoric," Sybiha wrote on X. "We insist that the pressure on Moscow be increased already now. They do not understand normal attitude or diplomatic language; it is time to speak to them in the language of sanctions and increased support for Ukraine." Despite growing global calls for a truce, Russia has so far rejected Ukraine's U.S.-backed proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire. The Kremlin has instead escalated its aerial assaults across Ukrainian territory and is reportedly preparing a new summer offensive. Moscow is expected to present a draft "ceasefire memorandum" at the June 2 talks in Istanbul. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on May 29 that the proposal would be delivered by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, who led Russia's delegation at the previous round of talks. President Volodymyr Zelensky's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said on May 29 that Kyiv is open to the talks but insists that Russia share the memorandum ahead of the meeting. According to Reuters, Moscow's demands for ending the war include Ukraine's withdrawal from four partially occupied regions, a pledge to abandon NATO ambitions, and the lifting of key Western sanctions — conditions Kyiv and its allies have categorically rejected. Read also: Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Russia & China Blast Israel's Gaza Aid Plan Backed By U.S.
/ May 15, 2025, 06:40AM IST At the UN General Assembly, Russia and China slammed Israel's Gaza aid proposal, accusing it of turning humanitarian assistance into a tool of war. Russia's UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya alleged that Israel was trying to make the UN an accomplice to its military operations in Gaza. China's envoy Fu Cong echoed the concern, warning against the weaponisation of aid. Watch
