Ukraine-Russia war live updates: Putin to send top negotiator to Washington as US anger grows

Not less than 11 extra Ukrainian kids have been introduced dwelling from elements of Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine the place they’d been taken with out permission, Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of workers stated yesterday.

“As we speak we’ve got yet one more piece of excellent information,” Andriy Yermak, the chief of workers, wrote on his Telegram channel.

“Inside the framework of the president of Ukraine’s Convey Children Again UA initiative, one other 11 Ukrainian kids had been introduced again from quickly occupied areas (of Ukraine) and the territory of the Russian Federation,” he stated.

Among the many kids, Mr Yermak stated, had been brothers aged 10 and 12 whose father died after being tortured for expressing pro-Ukrainian views.

Additionally introduced dwelling, Mr Yermak wrote, was a pregnant mom who had been prevented from leaving occupied Ukraine as a result of she had refused to take out Russian identification papers, and her two-year-old toddler.

The mom gave beginning to a different little one in Ukrainian-held territory.

Mr Yermak thanked the workplace of Ukraine’s ombudsman for its assist in arranging the return of the kids.

Russia has not issued a press release on returning Ukrainian residents.

Half of the US Senate, together with 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats, banded collectively to introduce potential sanctions on Russia which might be imposed if it refuses to interact in good religion negotiations with Ukraine.

Led by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, the group stated it might impose main and secondary sanctions in opposition to Russia if Moscow doesn’t have interaction in talks or initiated one other try to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.

“The sanctions in opposition to Russia require tariffs on international locations who buy Russian oil, gasoline, uranium and different merchandise. They’re onerous hitting for a purpose,” the 2 senators stated in a press release, a uncommon second of bipartisanship in a divided Congress.

“The dominating view in america Senate is that Russia is the aggressor, and that this horrific struggle and Putin’s aggression should finish now and be deterred sooner or later,” they stated.

Donald Trump has hailed “good cooperation” between Russia and Ukraine as he underlined his need to cease the struggle.

Talking from the White Home as he introduced tariffs on US imports of products from all over the world, Mr Trump stated: “We’ll get it stopped.”

He added: “It is a mindless struggle that might have by no means occurred if I used to be president and it should not be allowed to go on.

“And I feel we have been given good cooperation by Russia and by Ukraine, however we’ve got to get it stopped.

“It is humanity. It is humanity. It is a horrible factor.”

A US go to by Vladimir Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev is “attainable”, the Kremlin stated on Wednesday.

Contacts between Moscow and Washington are persevering with, a Kremlin spokesperson added.

Reuters reported that Dmitriev is anticipated in Washington this week for talks with Donald Trump’s administration.

Ukrainian girls are taking jobs as soon as reserved for males, who’re being drafted to the entrance strains within the struggle with Russia – from driving tractors to working in coal mines.

Kateryna Koliadiuk – a 19-year-old Ukrainian agronomy pupil – noticed an advert searching for girls to enrol in a tractor driving course and determined to strive.

However the industrial car was large and complicated, and he or she wasn’t positive she may function it.

“At first I used to be so scared. At first I couldn’t do that,” she stated. She now drives with authority, her manicured fingers resting on the wheel.

Not less than one particular person was killed and several other injured, together with an toddler and a 7-year-old boy, in Russia’s in a single day drone assaults on Ukraine, regional officers stated early as we speak.

A forty five-year-old civilian was killed and two injured in a strike on a settlement close to the frontline within the Zaporizhzhia area, the governor of the southeastern Ukrainian area stated on his Telegram channel.

An toddler, a toddler and 6 different civilians had been injured in a Russian drone assault on Kharkiv, regional officers there stated, in what gave the impression to be the most recent in a collection of bombings of town not removed from Russia’s border.

Russian forces unleashed an hour-long barrage of drones on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second metropolis, late on Wednesday, triggering a variety of fires however inflicting no casualties within the second such assault in the midst of the day, the regional governor stated.

“Within the area of only one hour, the enemy deployed 17 (Iranian-designed) Shahed drones,” Oleh Syniehubov wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

“Many of the strikes had been within the Kyiv district. Native fires broke out. Fortuitously, there have been no casualties,”

The identical district had come underneath assault earlier within the day, with officers reporting 5 individuals injured.

Kharkiv withstood Russian assaults within the first weeks of Moscow’s February 2022 full-scale invasion, however didn’t fall into Russian fingers.

Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President’s Workplace, Ihor Brusylo, spoke on nationwide tv to say they’ve handed proof to the US about Russia violating a

“The power ceasefire… which Ukraine and america agreed upon, was violated by the Russian aspect. All the mandatory info was transferred to the American aspect. I feel the response is not going to be lengthy in coming, as a result of even American companions who had been diplomatically disposed in direction of the opportunity of guaranteeing such a ceasefire are working out of endurance,” he stated.

In response to the official, all proof confirms that Russia will not be interested by a ceasefire or in bringing the struggle to an finish.

“I hope worldwide companions is not going to delay something, and extra resolute measures will nonetheless be taken in opposition to the aggressor state, which pursues its insidious coverage regardless of the agreements reached throughout the negotiations,” Brusylo burdened.

Volodymyr Zelensky has stated {that a} minerals deal that Ukraine and the US are negotiating does not point out his nation’s Nato membership sooner or later.

“As for this settlement and the Nato query, there is no such thing as a point out of Nato on this settlement, and there by no means was,” Mr Zelensky stated, confirming earlier studies.

“A call (relating to the deal) might be made within the coming days.”

His remarks come a number of days after a supply within the presidential workplace advised the Kyiv Unbiased that Ukraine is “not tying” the minerals deal to Nato.