Contents tagged with Putin

  • Putin's helicopter caught in epicenter of Ukrainian drone attack during Kursk visit

    Russian President Vladimir Putin was aboard a helicopter caught in the "epicenter" of efforts to repel a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack during his visit to the Kursk region on May 20, reported Russian air defense division commander Yuri Dashkin.

    According to Dashkin, the president's helicopter was "literally at the epicenter of countering a massive enemy drone attack." He stated, "The intensity of the attack increased significantly as the helicopter of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief flew …

  • Kyiv: Ukraine seeks expanded peace talks with Russia

    Ukraine is gearing up for a potential meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.

    Sybiha stated that Kyiv is considering an expanded format for talks, potentially with international mediators. "We allow for the possibility of this meeting being in an expanded format. We would very much like President Trump to join it, and we have always insisted that Europe must be at the table of possible future …

  • Putin makes landmark visit to Kursk region after Russian Defense Ministry declares area secure

    Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kursk region for the first time since the Russian Defense Ministry announced it was free from the Ukrainian armed forces, the Kremlin press service reported on Wednesday, May 21. The Kremlin clarified that the visit took place "the day before." During his trip, Putin met with "representatives of volunteer organizations" and the acting governor of Kursk region, Alexander Khinshtein, according to the Kremlin.

    In addition, Putin held a meeting with …

  • Russia's ambitious plan to capture four Ukrainian regions by year's end met with skepticism

    Bloomberg reported that Russia aims to capture four Ukrainian regions by the end of the year. Speaking with the Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne, Ukrainian Armed Forces reserve colonel and military expert Serhiy Hrabskiy expressed skepticism about Russia's ability to achieve this plan within the stated timeline.

    On May 19, Bloomberg reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he has the upper hand on the front lines and thinks he can fully capture four Ukrainian regions by the year's …

  • Zelensky accuses Putin of using talks as stalling tactic, calls for firm international pressure

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of using "negotiations" to bide time to prolong the war and occupation. Zelensky noted that leaders discussed yesterday's conversation between him and U.S. President Donald Trump.

    He stressed the importance of coordinating diplomatic efforts to achieve real results, saying, "We're working with our partners to ensure pressure forces Russia into changing its behavior. Sanctions matter, and I'm grateful to everyone making them more impactful …

  • Kremlin: potential Zelensky-Putin meeting hinges on several preconditions

    A potential meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin could take place, but under specific conditions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced.

    According to Russian state media, Peskov emphasized that such a meeting would only be feasible if "certain agreements" are reached beforehand. He underscored that the discussions should be seen as "a result of hard work by both delegations which needs to yield significant agreements from both sides." …

  • Russia faces setback as 'Baikal' aircraft project stalls amid rising costs and corruption allegations

    Russian officials have acknowledged a standstill in the development of the "Baikal" aircraft, a project personally overseen by President Vladimir Putin, which was intended to enhance the nation's connectivity amidst its geographical fragmentation.

    The authorities have admitted the failure of the "Baikal" (LMS-901) light multipurpose aircraft initiative, originally planned to replace the Soviet-era AN-2, first designed in Kyiv by the Ukrainian Antonov design bureau. Yuri Trutnev, the …

  • Kremlin: Russian delegation to meet Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul on May 15

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed Russia’s readiness to enter into negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, without any preconditions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov conveyed the message during a press briefing, emphasizing that the composition of the Russian delegation remains undisclosed, pending instructions from President Putin himself. "Nothing has changed in this regard. We will provide the details once we receive the relevant directives from the president. No …

  • Russia's key demands in upcoming Istanbul talks: 'denazification' of Ukraine and territorial claims

    Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergey Ryabkov, has articulated Moscow's firm stance ahead of anticipated talks in Istanbul slated for May 15. Speaking at a press briefing, Ryabkov said that Russia intends to emphasize the "denazification of the Kyiv regime" and will push for the recognition of occupied Ukrainian territories as part of the Russian Federation.

    "The issues remain unchanged... Specifically addressing the root causes of this conflict, resolving matters related to the …

  • Putin's absence threatens Istanbul peace talks amid pressure from Zelensky and Trump

    Russian leader Vladimir Putin has derailed plans for a meeting in Istanbul despite demands from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former US President Donald Trump. After Zelensky expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with Putin in Turkey, and Trump hinted at his presence in the city, the main question arose: Will the Russian leader attend? Today it appears clear that Putin is not planning to hold talks, effectively sabotaging the meeting.

    Zelensky is ready to speak exclusively …