Ukraine-Russia battle newest: Trump hails ‘very good calls’ with Moscow on ceasefire however nonetheless ‘a long way to go’
Donald Trump has hailed “very good calls” with Moscow on a potential 30-day ceasefire but admits there is still “a long way to go”.
At a wide-ranging press conference at the Department of Justice on Friday night, the US president said: “There would have been no war at all if I was president.
“We had a good relationship [Putin] has respect for this country.”
He added the talks were making good progress, saying: “I think we’ve had some good results. But there’s still a long way to go. The fighting is unbelievable.
“I’ve asked [Putin] not to kill those surrounded soldiers”, Mr Trump said, appearing to reference Russia’s advance in Kursk.
Vladimir Putin said Russia would spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk if Kyiv told them to surrender.
Volodymyr Zelensky urged the US and other allies to apply pressure to Moscow, reiterating his belief that Mr Putin would delay reaching a ceasefire as long as possible.
Keir Starmer warns Putin not to play games as he hosts talks on Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has warned Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Ukraine as he urged Western leaders to ramp up economic pressure to force him to the negotiating table.
The prime minister accused the Russian leader of “playing games” over peace talks, as he prepared to host a virtual summit of around 25 countries on Saturday.
The countries in the “coalition of the willing”, which include Britain, France, Australia and Canada, will discuss how to help Kyiv deter future Russian aggression in the event of any peace deal.
“We can’t allow President Putin to play games with President Trump’s deal. The Kremlin’s complete disregard for President Trump’s ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace,” he said.
I will spare Ukrainian troops if they are ordered to surrender, says Putin
Russia will spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in its western Kursk region if Kyiv tells them to surrender, president Vladimir Putin has said.
US president Donald Trump had urged him to avoid a “horrible massacre” there.
Mr Putin accused Ukrainian troops of carrying out crimes against civilians but said he understood the call by Mr Trump to take humanitarian considerations into account.
“In this regard, I would like to emphasise that if (the Ukrainian troops) lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and decent treatment in accordance with international law and the laws of the Russian Federation,” Mr Putin said.
“To effectively implement the appeal of the US president, a corresponding order from the military-political leadership of Ukraine is needed for its military units to lay down their arms and surrender.”
Pressuring Russia into being constructive is key, says Zelensky
Ukraine’s President Zelensky has insisted it is crucial to pressure Russia into being constructive, to “put an end all these Russian manipulations that could only prolong the war”.
“Today has been a day full of diplomacy and negotiations that could bring us closer to peace,” he said.
“Now on the table is the US proposal for unconditional ceasefire in the sky, at sea, and on the frontlines. Ukraine accepts this proposal, and from here, we can begin a swift move towards guaranteed security, the end of this war and a reliable peace.
“Our teams worked very well at the meeting in Saudi Arabia, and contacts with the American side are ongoing. We are committed to a constructive approach.”
Two children and nine adults injured in Zelensky’s home town
The toll of people injured in President Zelensky’s home town, Kryvyi Rih, has now been put at 11, including two children.
Serhiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk region, posted photos showing damage to high-rise apartment buildings, private homes and a building that appeared to house a number of businesses.
Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s military administration, said two areas took direct hits. One of the sites hit was a night club, he said.
Ukraine’s red lines for any peace deal
The Independent has learnt of four key issues Kyiv will not negotiate on:
G7 calls on Putin to agree to truce
Top diplomats from the Group of 7 industrialised democracies have called on Vladimir Putin to agree to the US ceasefire proposal.
Their statement read: “G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence.
“G7 members called for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully.”
The diplomats discussed, but did not detail, imposing further sanctions on Russia — including the possibility of selling seized Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defence — should Russia not accept and respect a ceasefire and providing additional support for Ukraine in that event.
Four people injured as Zelensky’s home town targeted
A Russian missile struck a residential area in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, injuring four people, the regional governor says.
Governor Serhiy Lysak published a photo showing damage to a building that appeared to house businesses.
Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s military administration, warned people to remain inside shelters because of the danger of a repeat strike at the site, a recurring Russian practice.
Kryvyi Rih, president Volodymyr Zelensky’s home town, has been the target of repeated attacks. A Russian missile attack on Wednesday killed one person.
‘Trump is being manipulated by Putin’
Donald Trump’s former national security advisor John Bolton has said his former “doesn’t do plans” and would be easily manipulated by Vladimir Putin on the terms of any ceasefire.
“What we’re seeing now is Vladimir Putin manoeuvring to get to the point where he has a one-on-one phone conversation with Trump,” he told Sky News.
Asked whether he thinks Russia’s president is manipulating Trump, Bolton replied: “I think so.
“If you look at the American position on the war, the only regret in the Kremlin is they didn’t ask for more.
“Trump thinks Putin is his friend. That’s not Putin’s view, he thinks Trump is an easy mark and is preparing a way to make Trump make further concessions to make even a brief ceasefire even more palatable to Russia.”
He added: “Trump doesn’t do plans. He thinks relations between states are the real equivalent of the personal relationships between the leaders.”
Source: independent.co.uk
