President Donald Trump has once again called for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, saying he's ready to speak directly to both sides. Labeling the ongoing situation as “crazy,” Trump criticized Russia over deadly missile strikes in Kryvyi Rih that killed 20 civilians, including 9 children. As Ukraine urges a swift US response, hopes rise around Trump's claim that a ceasefire deal is close.

Trump renews push for Russia-Ukraine ceasefire amid deadly Kryvyi Rih strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump announces a potential meeting between Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference, aiming for peace discussions. However, Kyiv denies any planned talks with Russia. This announcement has triggered reactions from global leaders and intensified debates on Ukraine’s independence and peace efforts.

Russia-Ukraine war: Trump’s Ukraine peace plan sparks debate at Munich talks

Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which has been captured by Russian forces, holds great importance.

It is not just the site of the world's worst nuclear accident but also seems to be a factor in the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is still radioactive. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The defunct plant is the site of a deadly fire and explosion in 1986. &nbsp;Let’s explore why Chernobyl is crucial. &nbsp;

Chernobyl is located on the shortest route from Belarus to Ukrainian capital Kyiv. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-forces-capture-chernobyl-nuclear-power-plant-in-ukraine-says-official-456282" hreflang="en">Russian forces capture Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, says official</a>

Russia is using fastest invasion route from Belarus, which is a staging ground for Russian troops, to Kyiv, said Western military analysts, regarding seizing Chernobyl. &nbsp;

"It was the quickest way from A to B," said James Acton from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In April 1986, the fourth reactor at Chernobyl, which is 67 miles (108 km) north of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, exploded during a botched safety test. It had sent clouds of radiation billowing across much of Europe. It reached the eastern United States. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-premeditated-ukraine-conflict-us-uk-hit-russia-with-new-sanctions-456254">For 'premeditated' Ukraine conflict, US, UK hit Russia with new sanctions</a>

The catastrophe seems to have contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union just a few years later. &nbsp;

Ukraine's other reactors are not in exclusion zones. They also contain nuclear fuel, which is a lot more radioactive. "The risks of fighting around them are significantly higher," Acton said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;2,600-square kilometre 'exclusion zone' at the plant, where security is much weaker than at other points along Ukraine's international borders, made it the primary target, as per experts.&nbsp;

The capture of Chernobyl may also be a signal from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the West and NATO to not interfere with his plans.&nbsp;

As per experts, Russians also want to ensure that nuclear safeguards are in place and they will not be responsible for any accidents. &nbsp;

And that they won't give the Ukrainians an opportunity to blow up the damaged reactor number four, which blew up back in 1986 as an act of defensive deterrence to contaminate the nearby areas to halt the rapid advance of the Russian military, added analysts.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which has been captured by Russian forces, holds great importance. It is not just the site of the world's worst nuclear accident but also seems to be a factor in the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which has been captured by Russian forces, holds great importance. It is not just the site of the world's worst nuclear accident but also seems to be a factor in the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is still radioactive. The defunct plant is the site of a deadly fire and explosion in 1986. Let’s explore why Chernobyl is crucial. Chernobyl is located on the shortest route from Belarus to Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Also Read: Russian forces capture Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, says official Russia is using fastest invasion route from Belarus, which is a staging ground for Russian troops, to Kyiv, said Western military analysts, regarding seizing Chernobyl. "It was the quickest way from A to B," said James Acton from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank. In April 1986, the fourth reactor at Chernobyl, which is 67 miles (108 km) north of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, exploded during a botched safety test. It had sent clouds of radiation billowing across much of Europe. It reached the eastern United States. Also Read: For 'premeditated' Ukraine conflict, US, UK hit Russia with new sanctions The catastrophe seems to have contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union just a few years later. Ukraine's other reactors are not in exclusion zones. They also contain nuclear fuel, which is a lot more radioactive. "The risks of fighting around them are significantly higher," Acton said. The 2,600-square kilometre 'exclusion zone' at the plant, where security is much weaker than at other points along Ukraine's international borders, made it the primary target, as per experts. The capture of Chernobyl may also be a signal from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the West and NATO to not interfere with his plans. As per experts, Russians also want to ensure that nuclear safeguards are in place and they will not be responsible for any accidents. And that they won't give the Ukrainians an opportunity to blow up the damaged reactor number four, which blew up back in 1986 as an act of defensive deterrence to contaminate the nearby areas to halt the rapid advance of the Russian military, added analysts. (With inputs from agencies)

Explainer: Why is Chernobyl nuclear power plant important?   

A Turkish court on Tuesday lifted the house arrest of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-consulate-employee-in-turkey-charged-with-espionage-194446">US consulate</a> staffer charged with terrorism offences, just days before President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggis-killers-will-pay-the-price-says-turkish-president-228875">Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a> is due to meet US counterpart Donald Trump, an embassy official told AFP.

Mete Canturk is one of three consulate staffers arrested for links to a group accused of an attempted coup in 2016.&nbsp;

Canturk, a Turkish citizen, still faces trial and is barred from leaving the country, with his next hearing set for October 2.&nbsp;

US charge d'affaires Jeffrey Hovenier welcomed the decision to release him from house arrest.

"We continue to see no evidence to support the charges brought against him and we reiterate our call for this process as well as other processes involving our unjustly detained staff to be resolved quickly, transparently and fairly," said Hovenier.

Relations between Ankara and Washington have been strained over several issues, including Turkey's purchase of a Russian missile defence system and US support for a Kurdish militia in Syria.

Erdogan is due to meet Trump this week on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.&nbsp;

A Turkish-American former NASA scientist, Serkan Golge, detained in Turkey for nearly three years on similar terrorism charges, was released in May.&nbsp;

Another Istanbul consulate staffer, Metin Topuz, who also faces espionage charges, is due back in court this week.

A third staffer, Hamza Ulucay, from the Adana consulate, has already been sentenced to 4.5 years for "aiding a terror organisation".

They are suspected of links to US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for orchestrating the failed coup.

A Turkish court on Tuesday lifted the house arrest of a US consulate staffer charged with terrorism offences, just days before President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to meet US counterpart Donald Trump, an embassy official told AFP.

A Turkish court on Tuesday lifted the house arrest of a US consulate staffer charged with terrorism offences, just days before President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to meet US counterpart Donald Trump, an embassy official told AFP. Mete Canturk is one of three consulate staffers arrested for links to a group accused of an attempted coup in 2016. Canturk, a Turkish citizen, still faces trial and is barred from leaving the country, with his next hearing set for October 2. US charge d'affaires Jeffrey Hovenier welcomed the decision to release him from house arrest. "We continue to see no evidence to support the charges brought against him and we reiterate our call for this process as well as other processes involving our unjustly detained staff to be resolved quickly, transparently and fairly," said Hovenier. Relations between Ankara and Washington have been strained over several issues, including Turkey's purchase of a Russian missile defence system and US support for a Kurdish militia in Syria. Erdogan is due to meet Trump this week on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. A Turkish-American former NASA scientist, Serkan Golge, detained in Turkey for nearly three years on similar terrorism charges, was released in May. Another Istanbul consulate staffer, Metin Topuz, who also faces espionage charges, is due back in court this week. A third staffer, Hamza Ulucay, from the Adana consulate, has already been sentenced to 4.5 years for "aiding a terror organisation". They are suspected of links to US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for orchestrating the failed coup.

Turkey court lifts house arrest on United States consulate staffer

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-fall-on-weak-demand-growth-rise-in-us-crude-stocks-226381">Oil prices fell</a> for a second day on Thursday, extending declines of as much as 4% in the previous session, on continued increases in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-prices-fall-on-surging-us-crude-stockpiles-economic-concerns-220779">US &nbsp;crude stockpiles</a> and concerns about lower demand growth.

Brent crude futures were down 6 cents, or 0.1%, at $59.91 a barrel by 0336 GMT after earlier rising slightly. Prices fell 3.7% on Wednesday to settle at $59.97, the international benchmark's lowest close since Jan. 28.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 8 cents, or 0.2%, at $51.06 a barrel. They fell 4% in the previous session to $51.14, the lowest close since Jan. 14.

"It was a brutal move, sheer panic," said Stephen Innes, managing partner at Vanguard Markets.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday reported crude stockpiles rose unexpectedly for a second week in a row, climbing 2.2 million barrels last week after analysts had forecast a decrease of 481,000 barrels.

At 485.5 million barrels, US commercial stocks were at their highest since July 2017 and about 8% above the five-year average for this time of year, it said.

On Tuesday, the EIA cut its forecasts for 2019 world oil demand growth.

The negative outlook is prompting hedge fund managers to exit oil positions at the fastest rate since the fourth quarter of 2018 due to increasing fears about the health of the global economy.

The escalating trade war between the United States and China, the world's two biggest oil consumers, is causing the most concern among oil analysts, with consultants and banks cutting their demand growth forecasts.

Goldman Sachs said on Wednesday an uncertain macroeconomic outlook and volatile oil production from Iran and others could cause the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to roll oversupply cuts it has enacted with other producers.

OPEC and non-member producers including Russia have limited their oil output by 1.2 million barrels per day this year to prop up prices.

OPEC is set to meet at the end of June through a meeting of the wider producers that agreed to the cuts, known as OPEC+, may not occur until early July.

While officials from some OPEC members have said that the larger OPEC+ group will likely roll over the cuts, Algeria has proposed increasing the reductions, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

However, Goldman believes the producers will maintain the current supply levels.

"Fundamental uncertainty on the current and forward states of the global oil market is high," Goldman said.

"We believe that this will lead the group to roll forward its current agreement, with likely no change to country level quotas given the difficulty in determining required production levels in coming months," the bank's analysts said.

Oil prices fell for a second day on Thursday, extending declines of as much as 4% in the previous session, on continued increases in US crude stockpiles and concerns about lower demand growth.

Oil prices fell for a second day on Thursday, extending declines of as much as 4% in the previous session, on continued increases in US crude stockpiles and concerns about lower demand growth. Brent crude futures were down 6 cents, or 0.1%, at $59.91 a barrel by 0336 GMT after earlier rising slightly. Prices fell 3.7% on Wednesday to settle at $59.97, the international benchmark's lowest close since Jan. 28. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 8 cents, or 0.2%, at $51.06 a barrel. They fell 4% in the previous session to $51.14, the lowest close since Jan. 14. "It was a brutal move, sheer panic," said Stephen Innes, managing partner at Vanguard Markets. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday reported crude stockpiles rose unexpectedly for a second week in a row, climbing 2.2 million barrels last week after analysts had forecast a decrease of 481,000 barrels. At 485.5 million barrels, US commercial stocks were at their highest since July 2017 and about 8% above the five-year average for this time of year, it said. On Tuesday, the EIA cut its forecasts for 2019 world oil demand growth. The negative outlook is prompting hedge fund managers to exit oil positions at the fastest rate since the fourth quarter of 2018 due to increasing fears about the health of the global economy. The escalating trade war between the United States and China, the world's two biggest oil consumers, is causing the most concern among oil analysts, with consultants and banks cutting their demand growth forecasts. Goldman Sachs said on Wednesday an uncertain macroeconomic outlook and volatile oil production from Iran and others could cause the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to roll oversupply cuts it has enacted with other producers. OPEC and non-member producers including Russia have limited their oil output by 1.2 million barrels per day this year to prop up prices. OPEC is set to meet at the end of June through a meeting of the wider producers that agreed to the cuts, known as OPEC+, may not occur until early July. While officials from some OPEC members have said that the larger OPEC+ group will likely roll over the cuts, Algeria has proposed increasing the reductions, according to four sources familiar with the matter. However, Goldman believes the producers will maintain the current supply levels. "Fundamental uncertainty on the current and forward states of the global oil market is high," Goldman said. "We believe that this will lead the group to roll forward its current agreement, with likely no change to country level quotas given the difficulty in determining required production levels in coming months," the bank's analysts said.

Oil extends decline after slump on high inventories, demand outlook

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un arrived in Vladivostok on Wednesday in advance of a summit later this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Watch this video to know more.

Kim Jong-Un in Russia for talks

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