Tag: Volodymyr Zelenskyy

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Modi meets Zelenskyy in New York

This was the second meeting between the two leaders in about a month…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Monday.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders in about a month. PM Modi had visited Ukraine on August 23 and reiterated India’s willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace in the Ukraine conflict.

Modi had visited Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelenskyy in first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in the year 1992.

A joint statement issued following PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine had said that both Leaders expressed mutual interest in working towards elevating bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.

They reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, and openness.

The statement had said that Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.

“The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit,” the statement had said.

“Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace. He reiterated India’s willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace,” it added.

A joint statement issued by Quad leaders after their meeting hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 21 said that they stand for adherence to international law and respect for principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereignty of all states, and peaceful resolution of disputes.

Modi is on a three-day visit to the United States, during which he had bilateral meetings with several leaders, including President Biden. (ANI)

PM holds talks with Vietnam President   

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Vietnamese President To Lam on the sidelines of the UN’s Summit of the Future, saying the meeting will add momentum to the relations between the two countries.

After their meeting, Modi wrote on X: “We took stock of the full range of India-Vietnam friendship. We look forward to adding momentum in sectors such as connectivity, trade, culture, and more.”

The two nations are deepening their ties in many areas with a multi-pronged strategic partnership.

The background to the meeting is the visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Minh Chinh to India in July when a joint statement by him and PM Modi spoke of strengthening “the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in all areas”.

“The leaders agreed that the current geo-political realities call for closer cooperation between India and Vietnam,” the joint statement had read.

“They recognised convergence in their world view,” it said.

The Prime Ministers’ statement reiterated their commitment to the Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030 and strengthening defence cooperation.

“Two-way trade turnover has increased 2.5 fold since the two countries upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016, reaching nearly $15 billion in 2023,” according to Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Thanh Binh quoted by the publication Voice of Vietnam.

The minister said that “large Indian corporations are enhancing cooperation with Vietnam in strategic fields such as renewable energy, processing, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, seaport infrastructure, and logistics”.

He also said that Vietnamese companies were also investing in India, with the automobile maker Vinfast Group committing $2 billion to a factory in Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, speaking at the UN’s Summit of the Future which aims to chart the path forward for the UN and world seeking relevance, PM Modi placed India at the centre of the global striving for development and peace. He said that on behalf of the “one-sixth” of humanity, they will work for “all humanity and for global prosperity”.

Modi said: “India will continue to work in thought, words and deeds to protect the rights of all humanity and for global prosperity.”

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‘Europe No Longer A Continent Of Peace: Zelensky Tells French Parliament

The Ukrainian President said that “Russian regime does not see any limits, and even Europe is no longer enough.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday told the French parliament that Europe was a continent at war and that Russia would not stop its aggression at the borders of his country.

“We live in a time when Europe is no longer a continent of peace, unfortunately,” Zelensky said in an address to French lawmakers.

“Again, Europe’s cities are being destroyed, and villages are burned,” he said of Russia’s bombing of Ukraine. He also decried the abduction of Ukrainian children in occupied territories.

“This is against Ukraine now. But this can be aimed at other countries tomorrow, and we already see clearly the direction of the aggression – the Baltic countries, Poland, the Balkans,” he said.

“The Russian regime does not see any limits, and even Europe is no longer enough,” Zelensky said, pointing to Russian military actions in Syria and Moscow’s growing footprint in the Sahel region of Africa.

Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin was also trying to “weaken” countries through food and energy insecurity.

He said the world has been too “afraid” to forcefully respond to Putin.

ALSO READ: Biden pledges continued Ukraine support

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US confirmed to join Swiss Peace Summit, says Zelenskyy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine expects President Biden to attend the summit in Switzerland….reports Asian Lite News

The United States has confirmed its presence at the Ukraine Peace Summit later this month, but it is not certain whether President Joe Biden himself will attend it, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.

Zelenskyy was speaking at a press conference at Asia’s premier security summit, Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore.

He also said that Kyiv has confirmation from 106 countries regarding participation in the summit.

“As of now we have confirmation from 106 countries of the world that will attend Swiss Summit, as of today…on the level of leaders we have now confirmation of 70-75 leaders that is presidents…heads of States,” Zelenskyy said at the press conference.

He said Ukraine expects President Biden to attend the summit in Switzerland.

“The United States have confirmed their participation in the summit on a high level for now we do not have the approval of the president himself, but we expect the president to be… we hope for it but it is important that the United States confirm their participation on the highest level,” he added.

The international peace conference on Ukraine is scheduled to take place in Switzerland on June 15-16.

President Zelenskyy also raised concerns about China’s stand against the conference and alleged that Beijing is calling on countries not to participate in the peace conference.

“As regards China, they did not confirm their presence on any level so these are two different positions. The United States of America…they have contacts with certain states where they encourage them to take part in the peace Summit…China, unfortunately vice versa, is working for the countries not to come to the peace Summit so there is a great difference between these two positions,” he further said.

The Ukrainian President also stressed that Kyiv needs the support of Asian countries towards ending the conflict. He said Ukraine has never demanded weaponry from the Asian nations but only political and humanitarian support.

“We need the support of Asian countries. It is much needed we respect each voice each territory each of the countries in the region. We want Asia to know what is going on in Ukraine, we want Asia to support the end of the war, we want Asian leaders to attend the peace Summit,” Zelenskyy said.

“We know that many Asian countries do not support Ukraine with Weaponry we have never pressured them never demanded it. We always ask for first and foremost political support, humanitarian support,” he added.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also warned that China’s backing of Russia will prolong the conflict in Ukraine.

“With China’s support to Russia, the war will last longer. That is bad for the whole world and the policy of China – who declares that it supports territorial integrity and sovereignty and declares it officially. For them it is not good,” Zelenskyy said.

“Regrettably, it is unfortunate that such a big independent powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of Putin,” he added.

Earlier, China indicated that it might not attend the Ukraine Peace Summit set to be held in Switzerland in June.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China has informed relevant parties of Beijing’s consideration and concerns as there is an “apparent gap between the meeting’s arrangement and what China stands for as well as the universal expectation in the international community.”

Addressing a press briefing, Mao Ning said China attaches great importance to Switzerland organising the first Summit on Peace in Ukraine and always maintains that the international peace conference needs to meet the three important elements of recognition from Russia and Ukraine, equal participation of all parties, and fair discussion of all peace plans.

Earlier in April, Switzerland Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis announced that Switzerland will host a high-level international conference in June with more than 100 countries invited to help chart a path towards peace in Ukraine after more than two years of war.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict — that started on February 24, 2022 after Moscow launched ‘special military operations’ against Kyiv — has dragged on for over three years and has caused heavy damage to infrastructure and civilian casualties in both countries. (ANI)

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Zelenskyy Slams Carlson-Putin Interview as ‘Nonsense

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.(photo: https://www.instagram.com/zelenskiy_official/)

In Carlson’s recent interview with Putin, the Russian president spouted propaganda about his country’s current war with Ukraine and went after the U.S….reports Asian Lite News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the recent interview between former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Russian President Vladimir Putin, denouncing it as “two hours of nonsense” during an exclusive interview with Fox News’s “Special Report” anchored by Bret Baier, as reported by The Hill.

“I don’t have time to hear more than two hours of bull–about us, about the world, about the United States, about our relations and this interview with a killer,” Zelenskyy said during an interview in Ukraine on Fox News’s “Special Report” with anchor Bret Baier.

In Carlson’s recent interview with Putin, the Russian president spouted propaganda about his country’s current war with Ukraine and went after the U.S. The former cable TV host was quickly criticized for giving Putin a platform.

Zelenskyy’s comments also follow the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose passing President Biden has blamed on Putin.

“Reports of his death, if they’re true, and I have no reasons to believe they’re not–Russian authorities are going to tell their own story,” Biden said in remarks from the White House.

“But make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Putin is responsible. What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality. No one should be fooled,” he continued.

The president also referred to Putin as a “crazy SOB,” at a fundraiser in San Francisco on Wednesday when speaking about climate change.

“This is the last existential threat, it is climate. We have a crazy SOB like that guy Putin, and others, and we always have to worry about nuclear conflict, but the existential threat to humanity is climate,” Biden said.

The Kremlin hit back at Biden for the “SOB” comment Thursday, saying that he was trying “to look like a Hollywood cowboy.”

The tensions between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States continue to escalate amidst political rhetoric and geopolitical maneuvers, underscoring the complex dynamics shaping international relations in the 21st century. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Kremlin slams Biden’s comments on Putin

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Yoon makes surprise visit to Ukraine in show of support

Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrived in Ukraine following a three-day official visit to Poland, reports Asian Lite News

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Saturday, sending a strong signal of support for the war-torn nation, his office said.

Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrived in Ukraine following a three-day official visit to Poland, according to senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye.

He met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later in the day to discuss areas where South Korea can provide additional aid, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Earlier Saturday, Yoon visited the site of mass killings in Bucha, near Kyiv, before visiting Irpin, a civilian residential area that has been subject to large-scale missile attacks, the press secretary said.

He was also scheduled to lay a wreath at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine in Kyiv.

Further details are yet to be disclosed.

Yoon has shown strong support for Ukraine in line with his campaign for freedom, human rights and the rule of law in solidarity with like-minded nations.

South Korea has provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in its protracted war with Russia but denied the country’s requests for lethal weapons.

This will be the second Yoon-Zelensky meeting after one held on the sidelines of a G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, in May.

At the time, Yoon promised additional non-lethal aid, including demining equipment and ambulances.

Yoon’s visit to Ukraine came at the end of a two-leg trip that earlier took him to Lithuania for the NATO Summit and then to Poland for an official visit.

ALSO READ: Turkey preparing to host Putin in August

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Erdogan: Ukraine deserves NATO membership

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the Turkish city of Istanbul,

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the Turkish city of Istanbul, reports Asian Lite News

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Zelensky spent this week visiting NATO countries, courting support ahead of a NATO summit in Lithuania next week where members are expected to reaffirm that Ukraine will eventually join, the CNN reported.

The Turkish President said: “Without a doubt, Ukraine deserves to be in NATO.”

Zelensky said he was “happy to hear” that Turkey supports Ukraine’s bid to join during a joint press conference.

This is Zelensky’s first visit to Turkey since the war broke out between his country and Russia in February 2022, but he has often spoken on the phone with Erdogan, whose country has been pushing for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

The two presidents met on Friday night at the Vahdettin Palace on the Asian side of the city, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Finishing a busy day in Turkey,” Zelensky tweeted, followed by another tweet of an image of the two leaders shaking hands. “Coordination of positions on the peace formula, the NATO summit, security guarantees, and the grain initiative” were discussed, he said.

Meanwhile, the White House said that Ukraine’s entry into NATO will be discussed at the alliance’s ensuing summit but it won’t come out as a member.

Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor, said that the summit to be held next week in Vilnius will highlight NATO’s readiness to consider Ukraine’s membership, which he termed a “milestone” in itself. Sullivan said, “The NATO Summit will dive into the question of NATO’s relationship with Ukraine, both the question of its pathway towards future membership and the question of an ongoing partnership that has existed for several years.”

“Ukraine’s pathway to NATO will be discussed at the summit, but Kyiv still has further steps that it needs to take before membership and Ukraine will not be joining NATO coming out of this summit,” he added.

Sullivan noted that Ukraine would have the chance to talk about the reforms that are still essential for Kyiv to match NATO standards.

Even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to attend the summit to establish that his country should join the alliance when its conflict with Russia ends, Sullivan said the White House expects Sweden’s NATO membership to win final approval in the foreseeable future.

He also said Turkey and Hungary can “possibly” drop their opposition at the forthcoming summit.

“If not, we believe it will happen in the not-too-distant future,” said Sullivan, adding that there was “fundamental goodwill” towards Sweden’s move within the alliance.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland ended decades of military non-alignment and submitted applications to join NATO last year.

Finland officially joined the bloc in April, but Turkey and Hungary prevented Sweden from joining because of the requirement for unanimity in support of new members.

Due to a long-standing disagreement over Stockholm’s decision to allow alleged Kurdish militants to dwell in the Nordic nation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preventing Sweden from entering the European Union.

ALSO READ: Zelensky pressures Biden over Ukraine’s NATO bid

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Zelensky discusses Ukraine’s integration with EU leaders

Russian athletes should have no place in 2024 Olympics: Volodymyr Zelensky

Zelensky said that he received a report from von der Leyen on the second part of the questionnaire that Ukraine had filled out to become a candidate for EU membership…reports Asian Lite News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed cooperation and Kiev’s European integration.

Speaking after the talks, which took place in Kiev on Thursday ahead of the Ukraine-European Union summit, Zelensky said the visit of von der Leyen and other EU officials to Ukraine marks an important milestone in Ukraine’s European integration.

Zelensky said that he received a report from von der Leyen on the second part of the questionnaire that Ukraine had filled out to become a candidate for EU membership.

“This is good news. This report will become the basis for the work of our government,” he said.

At their meeting, Zelensky and von der Leyen talked about trade liberalisation between Ukraine and the EU, financial cooperation, and energy security.

The two sides also touched upon the issues of Ukraine’s post-conflict reconstruction and new sanctions against Russia.

The Ukraine-EU summit, scheduled to take place in Kiev on Friday, will discuss economic, financial, social, energy and humanitarian issues.

Preparations for the next phase of Ukraine’s integration with the EU will also be a topic of the summit, according to the presidential press service.

In June 2022, EU leaders accepted Ukraine as a candidate for membership in the bloc.

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‘I count on India’s participation in peace formula’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Glasgow, Scotland on November 02, 2021. (PIB)

The statement said Russia “illegally occupies the seat of the USSR in the UN Security Council”, since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991…reports Asian Lite News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the phone call sought India’s help in the implementation of a peace formula with Russia.

“I had a phone call with PM Modi & wished him a successful G20 presidency. It was on this platform that I announced the peace formula and now I count on India’s participation in its implementation. I also thanked for humanitarian aid and support in the UN,” tweeted the Ukrainian President. In October, Zelenskyy said that Kyiv will not conduct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Reacting to the referendum in four Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine — Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, Zelenskyy noted that all the aggressor’s decisions aimed at attempting illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories are null and void and do not change reality.

Zelenskyy emphasised that under such conditions, Ukraine will not conduct any negotiations with the current President of the Russian Federation, and noted that our state has always been committed to a peaceful settlement through dialogue, said a Zelenskyy readout.

“However, Russia did not stand for dialogue and put forward an ultimatum instead, deliberately undermining this process. During my speech at the session of the UN General Assembly, I outlined our clear formula for peace. We are ready to work together with our partners to achieve it,” added the President of Ukraine.

Earlier on Monday, Ukraine called for Russia to be removed from the United Nations, where Moscow can veto any resolution as a permanent member of the Security Council.

“Ukraine calls on the member states of the UN… to deprive the Russian Federation of its status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and to exclude it from the UN as a whole,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The statement said Russia “illegally occupies the seat of the USSR in the UN Security Council”, since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Meanwhile, three Russian servicemen were killed on Monday after a Ukrainian drone was shot down by air defenses as it approached a military airfield in Saratov Oblast, deep inside Russian territory, according to Russian state news agencies, citing the defense ministry.

The incident took place in the western port city of Engels, some 500 miles (more than 800 kilometers) southeast of Moscow, located on the Volga River. It is the second such attempted attack on the city, which houses the Engels-2 military airfield, a strategic bomber airbase, this month, reported CNN.

Earlier this month, CCTV footage appeared to show an explosion lighting up the sky in Engels. At the time, Gov. Busargin also reassured residents that no civilian infrastructure was damaged and that “information about incidents at military facilities is being checked by law enforcement agencies.”  (ANI)

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Zelensky calls for meeting with Putin to end war

Zelensky denounced plans by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to visit Moscow on Tuesday, before Kyiv…reports Asian Lite News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday called again for a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in an effort to “put an end to the war”.

“I think that whoever started this war will be able to end it,” he told a news conference at a metro station in the heart of the Ukrainian capital.

He was “not afraid to meet” Putin if it would lead to a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, he added.

“From the beginning, I have insisted on talks with the Russian president,” said Zelensky.

“It’s not that I want (to meet him), it’s that I have to meet him so as to settle this conflict by diplomatic means. We have confidence in our partners, but we have no confidence in Russia,” he added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Kyiv Sunday, the day the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its third month, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would also visit, he told reporters. It will be the first official visit by US government officials since the February 24 invasion.

A US State Department official declined to comment.

Zelensky denounced plans by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to visit Moscow on Tuesday, before Kyiv.

“It is simply wrong to go first to Russia and then to Ukraine,” he said. “There is no justice and no logic in this order.”

Zelensky repeated his warning that they would break off talks if Russia killed the remaining Ukrainian soldiers in the besieged Black Sea port of Mariupol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNSAHy35MTo

“If our men are killed in Mariupol and if these pseudo-referendums are organised in the (southern) region of Kherson, then Ukraine will withdraw from any negotiation process,” he said.

He was ready to exchange Ukraine’s soldiers defending the city “in whatever format” to save “these people who find themselves in a horrible situation, surrounded”.

Ukrainian officials earlier Saturday accused Russia of thwarting a fresh attempt to evacuate civilians from Mariupol.

ALSO READ-UN chief set to meet Zelensky, Putin

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Johnson meets Zelensky in Kiev

Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine. Picture supplied by the Ukrainian government.

This visit comes as the Johnson government has announced defensive aid to Ukraine with a new £100m package, reports Asian Lite News

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday.

Johnson said that he has travelled to Ukraine to meet President Zelenskyy in person and show solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

“Today I met my friend President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. We’re setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his country’s struggle against Russia’s barbaric campaign,” Johnson tweeted.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets Volodymyr Zelensky in Keiv, Ukraine. Picture supplied by the Ukrainian government.

The Embassy of Ukraine to the United Kingdom tweeted a picture of Boris Johnson sitting alongside Zelenskyy in an office. This visit comes as the Johnson government has announced defensive aid to Ukraine with a new £100m package.

The new support will include: more NLAW anti-tank missiles, additional Javelin anti-tank systems, additional loitering munitions, additional Starstreak air defence systems, and additional non-lethal aid including ballistic helmets, body armour and night-vision goggles.

This package amounts to more than £100 million and has been designed in consultation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to ensure that it meets their military needs. This builds on the £350 million of military aid and around £400m of economic and humanitarian support that the UK has already provided.

As well as providing bilateral lethal aid, the UK Armed Forces – alongside Polish, US and international partners – have established an International Donor Coordination Centre in Stuttgart.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets Volodymyr Zelensky in Keiv, Ukraine. Picture supplied by the Ukrainian government.

This plays a leading role in the international effort and ensures that the military aid delivered to Ukraine is as coordinated and effective as possible. The team from 104 Logistics Brigade was established following the first International Donor Conference convened by the Defence Secretary in February.

UK Prime Minister: “Putin has steeled our resolve, sharpened our focus and forced Europe to begin to rearm to guarantee our shared security.” (ANI)