Columbian Peninsula is about 27,000 square kilometers and it merges into the Black sea. A year into the war, the region has come and again become a battleground, peninsula, of course reminds Ukraine of the land that it lost to Russian annexation in 2014.

Ukraine's possible counteroffensive, holds military drills in Zaporizhzhia | World News | WION

<p>Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “long and meaningful” telephone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on April 26 has set the cat among the pigeons in the US-led West that is fighting a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine.</p>

<p>The question is no longer whether China can broker peace in Ukraine. More pertinent would be to ask what will follow the Xi-Zelensky talk, now that Xi has emerged at the top of the list of prospective peacemakers in Ukraine.</p>

<p>Just months ago, few would have seen China as a peace broker between Ukraine and Russia. But after China brought together Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing and set the two West Asian powers on the path to normalising their relations, there can be no doubt that China is serious. Xi appears to have a plan, if not a solution, for at least cessation of hostilities if not peace.</p>

<p><strong>Gravitas: Do Russia, China want to dominate the Arctic?</strong></p>

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<p>Soon after Xi’s two-day state visit to Moscow last month—during which he referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as his “dear friend” and proposed a general, if not vague, 12-point peace plan — Zelensky invited him to Kyiv for talks. He pointed out that the two had made no contact after the war began in February 2022 although they had been in touch before that.</p>

<p>Neither needed to mention that China is Ukraine’s largest trading partner and has vital economic interests to protect in that country. China is also heavily invested in major transport infrastructure projects in Ukraine. These are long-term interests and call for a long-term perspective, which may explain Xi’s readiness to work towards building strategic ties with Ukraine. And, what better way to do it than as a peace broker at this critical juncture.</p>

<p>Given the growing distrust between Kyiv and Washington and also between the US&nbsp;and its leading allies in Europe, as exposed by the recently leaked Pentagon documents, Zelensky decided to bite the bullet and woo the Chinese president. He had good reasons to, for China proclaimed itself to be firmly on the “side of peace,” although it had not condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine. While Xi flaunted his bond&nbsp;with Putin, he made it known that he was neutral on the Russian “military operation” in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-and-russia-ink-maritime-cooperation-deal-in-the-arctic-586942">China and Russia ink maritime cooperation deal in the Arctic</a></strong></p>

<p>When Xi said that Kyiv should “seize the opportunity and build up favourable conditions for the political settlement,” it was, doubtless, a reference to the growing distrust between Ukraine and the US.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Substantively, in his talk with Zelensky, Xi reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position that “mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political foundation of China-Ukraine relations.” On the Ukraine war, Xi impressed on Zelensky that China’s “core stance is to facilitate talks for peace”, as per the 12-point plan set out on February 24. He also made it clear that Beijing would be proactive in pressing for dialogue and negotiation as the only way forward.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Xi proposed that China will “make its efforts for early ceasefire and restoration of peace”. Of course, few expect this to happen in the near term. But the fact that China will send a Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs to Ukraine and other countries for in-depth exchanges with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, is a clear signal of Xi’s earnestness.</p>

<p>Taller European leaders such as France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz may be inclined to support the Chinese initiative, given their explicit aversion to being trapped in the bloc-versus-bloc politics of the US.</p>

<p>Game on.</p>

<p><strong>Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.</strong></p>

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Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “long and meaningful” telephone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on April 26 has set the cat among the pigeons in the US-led West that is fighting a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “long and meaningful” telephone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on April 26 has set the cat among the pigeons in the US-led West that is fighting a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. The question is no longer whether China can broker peace in Ukraine. More pertinent would be to ask what will follow the Xi-Zelensky talk, now that Xi has emerged at the top of the list of prospective peacemakers in Ukraine. Just months ago, few would have seen China as a peace broker between Ukraine and Russia. But after China brought together Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing and set the two West Asian powers on the path to normalising their relations, there can be no doubt that China is serious. Xi appears to have a plan, if not a solution, for at least cessation of hostilities if not peace. Gravitas: Do Russia, China want to dominate the Arctic? × Soon after Xi’s two-day state visit to Moscow last month—during which he referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as his “dear friend” and proposed a general, if not vague, 12-point peace plan — Zelensky invited him to Kyiv for talks. He pointed out that the two had made no contact after the war began in February 2022 although they had been in touch before that. Neither needed to mention that China is Ukraine’s largest trading partner and has vital economic interests to protect in that country. China is also heavily invested in major transport infrastructure projects in Ukraine. These are long-term interests and call for a long-term perspective, which may explain Xi’s readiness to work towards building strategic ties with Ukraine. And, what better way to do it than as a peace broker at this critical juncture. Given the growing distrust between Kyiv and Washington and also between the US and its leading allies in Europe, as exposed by the recently leaked Pentagon documents, Zelensky decided to bite the bullet and woo the Chinese president. He had good reasons to, for China proclaimed itself to be firmly on the “side of peace,” although it had not condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine. While Xi flaunted his bond with Putin, he made it known that he was neutral on the Russian “military operation” in Ukraine. Also Read | China and Russia ink maritime cooperation deal in the Arctic When Xi said that Kyiv should “seize the opportunity and build up favourable conditions for the political settlement,” it was, doubtless, a reference to the growing distrust between Ukraine and the US. Substantively, in his talk with Zelensky, Xi reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position that “mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political foundation of China-Ukraine relations.” On the Ukraine war, Xi impressed on Zelensky that China’s “core stance is to facilitate talks for peace”, as per the 12-point plan set out on February 24. He also made it clear that Beijing would be proactive in pressing for dialogue and negotiation as the only way forward. Xi proposed that China will “make its efforts for early ceasefire and restoration of peace”. Of course, few expect this to happen in the near term. But the fact that China will send a Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs to Ukraine and other countries for in-depth exchanges with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, is a clear signal of Xi’s earnestness. Taller European leaders such as France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Olaf Scholz may be inclined to support the Chinese initiative, given their explicit aversion to being trapped in the bloc-versus-bloc politics of the US. Game on. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Spotlight |  Xi overture to Zelensky: More than meets the eye

<p>The head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell, was the subject of two Russian pranksters who pretended to be the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on a phone call. The duo,&nbsp;who are supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin, compelled the head of the Federal Reserve to speak on issues like inflation and how Russia managed its economy in the face of sanctions.</p>

<p>The Fed claimed that it appeared as though Powell's footage had been manipulated. Additionally, it was unable to verify the accuracy of the viral clips of the Fed chief.</p>

<p>According to a BBC report,&nbsp;Powell was heard praising Elvira Nabiullina, the head of Russia's central bank, for running the nation's economy in the face of Western sanctions, in one of the viral audio recordings that were widely circulated on Russian television.</p>

<p>Powell discussed a dramatic slowdown in US GDP in another video, which came after the Fed tried to control price increases.</p>

<p>“We would tell you that a recession is almost as likely as very slow growth,” Powell said of expectations for 2023.</p>

<p>“I think that is partly because of us having raised rates quite a bit but this is what it takes to get inflation down,” the Fed chairman said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">RUSSIAN PRANK CALL THREAD w/Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell - ALL 4 RELEASED PARTS:<br />
<br />
PART 1: The US economy, inflation &amp; at least 2 future interest rate hikes discussed! <a href="https://t.co/noIW0dQDxm">pic.twitter.com/noIW0dQDxm</a></p>
— Truth is Everything! (@_Tweets_Truth) <a href="https://twitter.com/_Tweets_Truth/status/1651619896407519232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>“Chair Powell participated in a conversation in January with someone who misrepresented himself as the Ukrainian president,” a Fed spokesperson said.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-will-likely-die-republican-nikki-haley-makes-this-shocking-prediction-587345">&nbsp;'Biden will likely die...': Republican Nikki Haley makes this shocking prediction</a></p>

<p>“It was a friendly conversation and took place in a context of our standing in support of the Ukrainian people in this challenging time. No sensitive or confidential information was discussed,” the spokesperson further said.</p>

<p>The Fed spokesperson added that “the matter has been referred to appropriate law enforcement, and out of respect for their efforts, we won’t be commenting further.”</p>

<p>Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov,&nbsp;known as Vovan and Lexus, were the pranksters who pretended to be Zelensky and spoke with Powell.</p>

<p>For many years, the pair has been successful in convincing foreign officials to speak with them. In 2018, the UK declared it thought the Kremlin was behind a prank call to Boris Johnson, who was the country's foreign secretary at the time.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;US, South Korea security pact will worsen situation, says Kim Jong Un's sister</strong></p>

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<p>Vovan and Lexus frequently share footage of their practical jokes only for the purpose of embarrassing Western policymakers. They impersonated Zelenskyy once more in a conversation with Christine Lagarde, the head of the European Central Bank, earlier this year.</p>

<p>Additionally, they made a spoof call to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pretending to be the late Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.</p>

<p>They&nbsp;tricked&nbsp;Andrzej Duda, the president of Poland, into believing he was on call last year.</p>

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The head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell, was the subject of two Russian pranksters who pretended to be the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on a phone call.

The head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell, was the subject of two Russian pranksters who pretended to be the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on a phone call. The duo, who are supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin, compelled the head of the Federal Reserve to speak on issues like inflation and how Russia managed its economy in the face of sanctions. The Fed claimed that it appeared as though Powell's footage had been manipulated. Additionally, it was unable to verify the accuracy of the viral clips of the Fed chief. According to a BBC report, Powell was heard praising Elvira Nabiullina, the head of Russia's central bank, for running the nation's economy in the face of Western sanctions, in one of the viral audio recordings that were widely circulated on Russian television. Powell discussed a dramatic slowdown in US GDP in another video, which came after the Fed tried to control price increases. “We would tell you that a recession is almost as likely as very slow growth,” Powell said of expectations for 2023. “I think that is partly because of us having raised rates quite a bit but this is what it takes to get inflation down,” the Fed chairman said. RUSSIAN PRANK CALL THREAD w/Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell - ALL 4 RELEASED PARTS: PART 1: The US economy, inflation & at least 2 future interest rate hikes discussed! pic.twitter.com/noIW0dQDxm — Truth is Everything! (@_Tweets_Truth) April 27, 2023 × “Chair Powell participated in a conversation in January with someone who misrepresented himself as the Ukrainian president,” a Fed spokesperson said. ALSO READ | 'Biden will likely die...': Republican Nikki Haley makes this shocking prediction “It was a friendly conversation and took place in a context of our standing in support of the Ukrainian people in this challenging time. No sensitive or confidential information was discussed,” the spokesperson further said. The Fed spokesperson added that “the matter has been referred to appropriate law enforcement, and out of respect for their efforts, we won’t be commenting further.” Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, known as Vovan and Lexus, were the pranksters who pretended to be Zelensky and spoke with Powell. For many years, the pair has been successful in convincing foreign officials to speak with them. In 2018, the UK declared it thought the Kremlin was behind a prank call to Boris Johnson, who was the country's foreign secretary at the time. ALSO WATCH | US, South Korea security pact will worsen situation, says Kim Jong Un's sister Vovan and Lexus frequently share footage of their practical jokes only for the purpose of embarrassing Western policymakers. They impersonated Zelenskyy once more in a conversation with Christine Lagarde, the head of the European Central Bank, earlier this year. Additionally, they made a spoof call to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pretending to be the late Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. They tricked Andrzej Duda, the president of Poland, into believing he was on call last year. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH: US Fed chair Jerome Powell pranked by Russian impersonators posing as Zelensky

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, the first known call between the two leaders since the start of Russia's invasion. The nearly one-hour discussion, which reportedly included Xi advocating for peace negotiations, was met by Russian accusations that Ukraine was undermining efforts to end the fighting. Beijing says it is neutral in the Ukraine conflict and Xi has never condemned the Russian invasion, but the Chinese leader has come under increased pressure from Western nations to step in and mediate.

China’s Xi Jinping calls Ukrainian President Zelensky, US and EU hails the talks

China's Xi Jinping speaks with Ukraine's Zelensky for first time since Russia's invasion

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's top aide said the US and the entire Western world pursued a wrong nuclear policy that led to instability in the region. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky said the US encouraged Ukraine to give up on nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union collapsed, offering safeguards in return. However, this was misinterpreted by Russia, leading to a chain of events that has seemingly led to the current war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Podolyak took to Twitter to share his analysis: "The United States, unfortunately, along with other Western countries, encouraged Ukraine to give up nuclear and other weapons to ensure security and stability in the region under safeguards. This was a wrong policy that was misinterpreted by the aggressor and led to a major war in Europe."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The only way to ensure security in Europe today is through the return of respect for international law: return of the occupied territories back to Ukraine, bringing war criminals to justice, and the country's full membership in #NATO. Absolutely clear position and effective bipartisan support," he added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It takes great courage to openly recognize the mistakes of the past. The House of Representatives’ resolution is unequivocal: The United States, unfortunately, along with other Western countries, encouraged Ukraine to give up nuclear and other weapons to ensure security and…</p>
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) <a href="https://twitter.com/Podolyak_M/status/1651131077023473664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Podolyak made the assessment in the backdrop of US lawmakers introducing a draft bipartisan resolution which states that Ukraine should be "restored to its internationally recognised 1991 borders".&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, the draft resolution states that after Ukraine's victory in the war, the country should be integrated into NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions, which corresponds to the US long-term policy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We introduce this resolution to explain the importance of preserving territorial integrity. I believe it is important, in particular, for the American people, who must understand that the entire territory of Ukraine must be returned to Kyiv's jurisdiction," said Republican congressman Joe Wilson who co-wrote the document.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-1-killed-10-injured-after-russian-missile-strikes-museum-in-kupiansk-585936"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Ukraine war: Two killed, 10 injured after Russian missile strikes museum in Kupiansk</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Ukraine's denuclearisation</strong></h2>

<p>It was in 1991 that the Soviet Union was finally balkanised which led to the creation of an independent Ukraine which had the now-annexed regions of Crimea, the Donbas, and the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.</p>

<p>At the time of its creation, Ukraine briefly held the title of the third-largest nuclear power in the world. Still reeling from the effects of disintegration, Moscow had left thousands of nuclear arms on Ukrainian soil.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ukraine could have easily dominated the world order with the stockpile of nuclear arsenal it had. However, in the years to come, the USA, UK and other Western powers persuaded it to give up on nuclear ambitions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/role-of-technology-in-the-russia-ukraine-war-585219"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Role of technology in the Russia-Ukraine war</strong></a></p>

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<p>Consequently, in 1994, Kyiv decided to completely denuclearise with the Western world guaranteeing security under the agreement known as the Budapest Memorandum.</p>

<p>In hindsight, it proved to be a costly error as Moscow, during the ongoing war has repeatedly insinuated that Kyiv may potentially use nuclear weapons supplied by the Western world. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, earlier this week asserted that the possibility of nuclear war breaking out was growing every day.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's top aide said the US and the entire Western world pursued a wrong nuclear policy that led to instability in the region. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky said the US encouraged Ukraine to give up on nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union collapsed, offering safeguards in return.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's top aide said the US and the entire Western world pursued a wrong nuclear policy that led to instability in the region. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky said the US encouraged Ukraine to give up on nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union collapsed, offering safeguards in return. However, this was misinterpreted by Russia, leading to a chain of events that has seemingly led to the current war. Podolyak took to Twitter to share his analysis: "The United States, unfortunately, along with other Western countries, encouraged Ukraine to give up nuclear and other weapons to ensure security and stability in the region under safeguards. This was a wrong policy that was misinterpreted by the aggressor and led to a major war in Europe." "The only way to ensure security in Europe today is through the return of respect for international law: return of the occupied territories back to Ukraine, bringing war criminals to justice, and the country's full membership in #NATO. Absolutely clear position and effective bipartisan support," he added. It takes great courage to openly recognize the mistakes of the past. The House of Representatives’ resolution is unequivocal: The United States, unfortunately, along with other Western countries, encouraged Ukraine to give up nuclear and other weapons to ensure security and… — Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) April 26, 2023 × Podolyak made the assessment in the backdrop of US lawmakers introducing a draft bipartisan resolution which states that Ukraine should be "restored to its internationally recognised 1991 borders". According to Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, the draft resolution states that after Ukraine's victory in the war, the country should be integrated into NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions, which corresponds to the US long-term policy. "We introduce this resolution to explain the importance of preserving territorial integrity. I believe it is important, in particular, for the American people, who must understand that the entire territory of Ukraine must be returned to Kyiv's jurisdiction," said Republican congressman Joe Wilson who co-wrote the document. ALSO READ | Ukraine war: Two killed, 10 injured after Russian missile strikes museum in Kupiansk Ukraine's denuclearisation It was in 1991 that the Soviet Union was finally balkanised which led to the creation of an independent Ukraine which had the now-annexed regions of Crimea, the Donbas, and the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. At the time of its creation, Ukraine briefly held the title of the third-largest nuclear power in the world. Still reeling from the effects of disintegration, Moscow had left thousands of nuclear arms on Ukrainian soil. Ukraine could have easily dominated the world order with the stockpile of nuclear arsenal it had. However, in the years to come, the USA, UK and other Western powers persuaded it to give up on nuclear ambitions. WATCH | Role of technology in the Russia-Ukraine war × Consequently, in 1994, Kyiv decided to completely denuclearise with the Western world guaranteeing security under the agreement known as the Budapest Memorandum. In hindsight, it proved to be a costly error as Moscow, during the ongoing war has repeatedly insinuated that Kyiv may potentially use nuclear weapons supplied by the Western world. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, earlier this week asserted that the possibility of nuclear war breaking out was growing every day. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'West encouraged Ukraine to give up nuclear arms': Zelensky's adviser blames US for surrendering advantage

In one of the fiercest battles in Eastern Ukraine, Zelensky's men are holding out in Bakhmut against the encircling Russian forces that have laid siege to the city. Visuals coming in from Bakhmut area show the situation on ground. Watch the video to know more.

Battle of Bakhmut intensifies: Russian tanks encircle city as Russia sends support to troops | WION

<p>India will send school buses as well as other supplementary humanitarian aid in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking aid. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The request came in the form of a letter that Meenakashi Lekhi, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, received from Emine Dzhaparova, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, during her three-day trip to India.</p>

<p>A variety of subjects were covered during the meeting, including bilateral and global matters of shared interest, according to the news agency ANI.</p>

<p>India has promised to provide more comprehensive humanitarian aid, including school buses, to Ukraine.</p>

<p>Dzhaparova took to Twitter to post her thanks on Tuesday post the meeting. Her tweet read, "Had a fruitful meeting with @M_Lekhi. Briefed Minister on #Ukraine's efforts to fight unprovoked aggression. Discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, in a particular culture. Bookshelves and audio guides under the patronage of @ZelenskaUA will be available soon in India."</p>

<p>Dzhaparova spoke with Secretary (West), MEA Sanjay Verma in-person over the course of her three-day trip. International issues of shared interest as well as topics in the economy, defence, and humanitarian aid were on the agenda.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Russia Ukraine War: Ukrainian Prisoner of War allegedly beheaded on camera, video surfaces online</strong></p>

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<p>The deputy foreign minister of Ukraine informed Secretary (West) on the situation there as the conflict with Russia heated further.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Inter-Governmental Commission between New Delhi and Kyiv will meet again at a mutually agreed-upon time in India, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs. During the discussion, both parties decided to hold the following round of Foreign Office Consultations in Kyiv on a later date that would be agreed upon by both parties.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-successfully-tests-advanced-icbm-weeks-after-suspending-participation-in-new-start-pact-581660">Russia ‘successfully’ tests ‘advanced’ ICBM weeks after suspending participation in New START pact</a></p>

<p>The MEA statement said, "The Ukrainian Deputy FM also proposed that rebuilding infrastructure in Ukraine could be an opportunity for Indian companies. Secretary (West) shared that India has provided medicines, and medical equipment and would provide school buses, etc. to Ukraine."</p>

<p>Following a visit to the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies, Dzhaparova spoke at the Indian Council of World Affairs. She emphasised Ukraine's aim to forge a stronger and more enduring relationship with India during her visit.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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India will send school buses as well as other supplementary humanitarian aid in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking aid.

India will send school buses as well as other supplementary humanitarian aid in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking aid. The request came in the form of a letter that Meenakashi Lekhi, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, received from Emine Dzhaparova, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, during her three-day trip to India. A variety of subjects were covered during the meeting, including bilateral and global matters of shared interest, according to the news agency ANI. India has promised to provide more comprehensive humanitarian aid, including school buses, to Ukraine. Dzhaparova took to Twitter to post her thanks on Tuesday post the meeting. Her tweet read, "Had a fruitful meeting with @M_Lekhi. Briefed Minister on #Ukraine's efforts to fight unprovoked aggression. Discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, in a particular culture. Bookshelves and audio guides under the patronage of @ZelenskaUA will be available soon in India." Dzhaparova spoke with Secretary (West), MEA Sanjay Verma in-person over the course of her three-day trip. International issues of shared interest as well as topics in the economy, defence, and humanitarian aid were on the agenda. ALSO WATCH | Russia Ukraine War: Ukrainian Prisoner of War allegedly beheaded on camera, video surfaces online The deputy foreign minister of Ukraine informed Secretary (West) on the situation there as the conflict with Russia heated further. The Inter-Governmental Commission between New Delhi and Kyiv will meet again at a mutually agreed-upon time in India, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs. During the discussion, both parties decided to hold the following round of Foreign Office Consultations in Kyiv on a later date that would be agreed upon by both parties. ALSO READ | Russia ‘successfully’ tests ‘advanced’ ICBM weeks after suspending participation in New START pact The MEA statement said, "The Ukrainian Deputy FM also proposed that rebuilding infrastructure in Ukraine could be an opportunity for Indian companies. Secretary (West) shared that India has provided medicines, and medical equipment and would provide school buses, etc. to Ukraine." Following a visit to the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies, Dzhaparova spoke at the Indian Council of World Affairs. She emphasised Ukraine's aim to forge a stronger and more enduring relationship with India during her visit. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India to send school buses to Ukraine as part of additional humanitarian aid

Ukraine has asked for more humanitarian aid from India. Zelensky has also offered aid in return. Will India invest in Ukraine while it's at war? Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas: Zelensky writes letter of help to India

Following a New York Times report that classified War documents with covert U.S. NATO plans to assist the Ukrainian military were leaked on social media platforms, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with some of the nation's top security brass to discuss how to prevent leaks of military information.

Ukraine Prez Zelensky meets security brass to discuss ways to prevent leaks of military information

The Russia-Ukraine war continues to intensify. As shelling advances, several Ukrainian regions are fading away. The battle for Bakhmut has proven to be one of the bloodiest & longest battles in Ukraine war. Kyiv's forces have held out against a Russian onslaught with heavy losses on both sides and the city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky now seeks to get aid from Western powers.

What is the Western Warplane Coalition that Ukraine's Zelensky urges to form?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s state visit Wednesday to Warsaw blew up into a political crisis when Poland’s agriculture minister quit on the same day over his inability to cut the amount of Ukrainian agricultural products flooding into the country.

Zelensky visits Poland to thank ally and meet Ukrainians

Ukrainian President Zelensky has shown his concerns over Russia dominating parts of Bakhmut. Zelensky says that Russia's capture of Bakhmut will open roads for Putin to dominate rest of East Ukraine. Will Zelenskyy lose Bakhmut to Putin? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Is it almost the end of Bakhmut?

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news and top headlines from all across the globe. Zelensky awards medals to Ukrainian soldiers.

Zelensky awards medals to soldiers; Firefighters battle wildfires in Spain | WION Speed News

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian troops were holding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant "hostage" and its safety could not be guaranteed until they left it. The accusation came after Zelenksy visited the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro.

Russia-Ukraine War: Zelensky accuses Russia of holding Zaporizhzhia hostage

<p>In an interview with Japanese newspaper&nbsp;Yomiuri Shimbun, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv cannot start a counter-offensive against Moscow until Western allies send more military support. He also said that the situation in the eastern part of the country is “not good” and that he has appealed to the United States and European countries to ramp up their supply of ammunition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes as the eastern region of the war-torn country has witnessed some of the fiercest battles, including one for the key city of Bakhmut. However, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Lt Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi, on Friday said in a Facebook post, that the situation in the eastern city is “stabilising”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While acknowledging the situation on Ukraine’s frontlines, Zaluzhnyi also said that it “is the toughest in the Bakhmut direction” and that it is due to the “tremendous efforts” of the Ukrainian forces “we are managing to stabilise the situation”. Reports also suggest that Ukraine has been witnessing mounting casualties in the region.</p>

<p>“We are waiting for ammunition to arrive from our partners,” said Zelensky to the Japanese newspaper.&nbsp;The Ukrainian president also spoke about how tanks provided by Germany and others are expected to be deployed on the battlefield from April, adding, “We need tanks for the “de-occupation of Ukraine.” When asked about the expected counter-offensive, Zelensky said, “We can’t start yet, we can't send our brave soldiers to the front line without tanks, artillery and long-range rockets.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports of speculation about Ukraine’s counter-offensive, particularly about the time and place it might happen, have also left Kyiv’s defence ministry irate. Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar took to social media and urged people to stop discussing potential plans. She added, “Please stop asking experts questions about a counter-offensive on the air, please stop writing blogs and posts on this topic, please stop publicly discussing the military plans of our army,” reported BBC.<br />
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During the interview, Zelensky also spoke about China's&nbsp;12-point peace plan which does not call for&nbsp;the withdrawal of Russian troops or the returning of all territory seized by Moscow and said, “Our sovereignty and territorial integrity comes first.”&nbsp;<br />
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Zelensky also said that he did not receive a message from Beijing about&nbsp;a proposal to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine and that even after&nbsp;"straight messages" through the diplomatic channels he wanted to speak with Chinese President&nbsp;Xi Jinping, he did not&nbsp;get a response.<br />
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<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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In an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv cannot start a counter-offensive against Moscow until Western allies send more military support.

In an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv cannot start a counter-offensive against Moscow until Western allies send more military support. He also said that the situation in the eastern part of the country is “not good” and that he has appealed to the United States and European countries to ramp up their supply of ammunition. This comes as the eastern region of the war-torn country has witnessed some of the fiercest battles, including one for the key city of Bakhmut. However, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Lt Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi, on Friday said in a Facebook post, that the situation in the eastern city is “stabilising”. While acknowledging the situation on Ukraine’s frontlines, Zaluzhnyi also said that it “is the toughest in the Bakhmut direction” and that it is due to the “tremendous efforts” of the Ukrainian forces “we are managing to stabilise the situation”. Reports also suggest that Ukraine has been witnessing mounting casualties in the region. “We are waiting for ammunition to arrive from our partners,” said Zelensky to the Japanese newspaper. The Ukrainian president also spoke about how tanks provided by Germany and others are expected to be deployed on the battlefield from April, adding, “We need tanks for the “de-occupation of Ukraine.” When asked about the expected counter-offensive, Zelensky said, “We can’t start yet, we can't send our brave soldiers to the front line without tanks, artillery and long-range rockets.” Reports of speculation about Ukraine’s counter-offensive, particularly about the time and place it might happen, have also left Kyiv’s defence ministry irate. Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar took to social media and urged people to stop discussing potential plans. She added, “Please stop asking experts questions about a counter-offensive on the air, please stop writing blogs and posts on this topic, please stop publicly discussing the military plans of our army,” reported BBC. During the interview, Zelensky also spoke about China's 12-point peace plan which does not call for the withdrawal of Russian troops or the returning of all territory seized by Moscow and said, “Our sovereignty and territorial integrity comes first.” Zelensky also said that he did not receive a message from Beijing about a proposal to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine and that even after "straight messages" through the diplomatic channels he wanted to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he did not get a response. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine cannot launch counter-offensive without more weapons: Zelensky

The United Nations has said that it is deeply concerned about summary executions of prisoners of war by both Russian and Ukrainian forces. Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of mistreating prisoners of war since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine a year ago. The head of the UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine stated her organisation had recently recorded killings by both sides.

'Summary executions' of Prisoners of War; UN accuses Ukrainian & Russian Armed Forces | Details

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with President Volodymyr Zelensky during his unannounced visit to Kyiv on March 21. At a joint news conference following the meeting, Kishida said Japan would allocate $30 million to purchase non-lethal weaponry for Ukraine through the NATO trust fund.

Fumio Kishida: We can't accept Russian Intimidation

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with President Volodymyr Zelensky during his unannounced visit to Kyiv

Japan PM meets Zelensky; What Trump's arrest would look like?

Japanese PM meets Zelensky, pledges more aid to Ukraine

Will China's peace plan work? Putin says he has viewed the plan carefully & with respect. But, will he sit down for talks with Zelensky? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Will China's peace plan work? | Will Putin sit down for talks with Zelensky?

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news and top headlines from all across the globe. Russian bombers fly over sea of Japan, Zelensky hails Prime Minister Kishida, says talks were 'productive', Earthquake with magnitude 6.6 strikes northern Afghanistan.

Xi reiterates China's adherence to UN; Is Xi more commanding than Putin? | WION Speed News

Beijing's approach towards the Ukraine war has centred around avoiding any direct condemnation of Russia. At the same time, china has managed to cast the U.S. As a strategic rival. As per the wall street journal, Xi Jinping plans to speak with Zelensky for the first time since Ukraine war broke out. Reuters earlier reported that the Chinese president is eyeing a Russia visit. Xi will likely speak with Zelensky after he visits Moscow. China recently published a 12-point position paper that called for urgent peace talks & a political settlement to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Last month, Zelensky expressed hopes to meet Xi Jinping, calling it important for world security. There are concerns in the west that china could step off the sidelines & begin providing arms and ammunition to Moscow. China & Russia struck a 'no limits' partnership in February of 2022. Xi has met Putin in person 39 times since becoming president, most recently in September during a summit in central Asia.

Xi Jinping plans to speak with Zelensky: WSJ Report | Chinese President eyeing Moscow visit

The United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen makes a surprise visit to Ukraine to reaffirm Washington's support and extend its economic support to Kyiv amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. Yellen also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key government officials in Kyiv.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen makes surprise Kyiv visit, meets Zelensky

Is China's peace gambit on Ukraine working? Zelensky says he's willing to consider Beijing's peace proposal. Macron too has backed the plan. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Zelensky 'open' to China's 12 peace proposals

<p>A year ago, country star Brad Paisley watched the news on television as Russian troops invaded Ukraine and, like many people around the world, he felt helpless at the images of people fleeing their homes.</p>

<p>“The world felt like it was in a new place that it hadn’t been in decades,” the three-time Grammy winner recalls.</p>

<p>On Friday, the one-year anniversary of the war’s start, Paisley is releasing a new song called 'Same Here,' featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking proudly about his country and people.</p>

<p>The song is Paisley’s first from his new record, <em>Son of the Mountains</em>, to be released later this year on Universal Music Group Nashville.</p>

<p>The West Virginia native wrote the song with Lee Thomas Miller (co-writer on Paisley hits 'The World' and 'Perfect Storm') and Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith. It’s a three-part narrative that reflects on universal similarities, despite distance and language.</p>

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<p>While it doesn’t mention Ukraine specifically, the song ends with Paisley and Zelenskyy in conversation, recorded during a video call. Zelenskyy talks about Ukrainians’ desire for freedom, adding “There is no distance between our two countries in such values.”</p>

<p>“There’s just no differences,” Paisley told The Associated Press. “You can put us in different places with different flags and different languages, but we have so many similarities.”</p>

<p>Paisley is one of several celebrity ambassadors for Ukraine’s United24 crowdfunding effort, and has donated his time to other fundraising efforts to assist Ukrainians. But even he thought it would be a long shot to have the direct involvement of Zelenskyy, who has traveled the world advocating for Ukraine’s military and recovery efforts.</p>

<p>“I think he understands that art is how you reach the most people, especially in the heart,” Paisley said of Zelenskyy, who was an actor and comedian before becoming president.</p>

<p>“He can give as many speeches as he can give, but it’s a lot easier to hear something with a melody maybe.”</p>

<p>Zelenskyy didn’t just sign off on the song; he also suggested some changes to it, Paisley said.</p>

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<p>Paisley’s royalties for the song will be donated to United24 to help build housing for thousands of displaced Ukrainians whose homes were destroyed in the war, he said. Using his platform to advocate for causes important to him has always been part of his career, whether it was opening a free grocery store in Nashville with his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, or fighting hunger by donating 1 million meals during the pandemic.</p>

<p>“I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t sort of swing for the fence with things like this,” Paisley said. “For me, I’m happiest dealing with stuff as a songwriter that’s very true and very, very passionate. And sometimes I don’t know if you’d call it risky, but it’s more like it’s bigger than me.”</p>

<p>Paisley brings his passion on stage during live shows. He’s been changing the lyrics to his hit song 'American Saturday Night,' for instance, to replace a reference to the USSR. to “There’s a Ukrainian flag hanging up behind the bar.”</p>

<p>The new record will be his debut on UMG since moving from Sony’s Arista label, and he said 'Same Here' reflects the kinds of big universal themes on it.</p>

<p>“We do deal with stuff going on in the world,” Paisley said. “How do you sing about things that are truly big — a big deal right now — that also don’t feel like maybe they’re the type of thing that you would be singing about typically? And yeah, on this album I have kind of really dug deep and tried to say something.”</p>

<p>Paisley, who has visited US&nbsp;troops in Afghanistan, said he’s been invited to visit Ukraine, which he’d like to do. In the meantime, he hopes the song’s message will bolster the country now facing down year two of the war.</p>

<p>“That’s where it gets really rewarding... feeling like maybe the heart of this helps paint the picture they want to paint,” Paisley&nbsp;said.</p>

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A year ago, country star Brad Paisley watched the news on television as Russian troops invaded Ukraine and, like many people around the world, he felt helpless at the images of people fleeing their homes.

A year ago, country star Brad Paisley watched the news on television as Russian troops invaded Ukraine and, like many people around the world, he felt helpless at the images of people fleeing their homes. “The world felt like it was in a new place that it hadn’t been in decades,” the three-time Grammy winner recalls. On Friday, the one-year anniversary of the war’s start, Paisley is releasing a new song called 'Same Here,' featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking proudly about his country and people. The song is Paisley’s first from his new record, Son of the Mountains, to be released later this year on Universal Music Group Nashville. The West Virginia native wrote the song with Lee Thomas Miller (co-writer on Paisley hits 'The World' and 'Perfect Storm') and Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith. It’s a three-part narrative that reflects on universal similarities, despite distance and language. While it doesn’t mention Ukraine specifically, the song ends with Paisley and Zelenskyy in conversation, recorded during a video call. Zelenskyy talks about Ukrainians’ desire for freedom, adding “There is no distance between our two countries in such values.” “There’s just no differences,” Paisley told The Associated Press. “You can put us in different places with different flags and different languages, but we have so many similarities.” Paisley is one of several celebrity ambassadors for Ukraine’s United24 crowdfunding effort, and has donated his time to other fundraising efforts to assist Ukrainians. But even he thought it would be a long shot to have the direct involvement of Zelenskyy, who has traveled the world advocating for Ukraine’s military and recovery efforts. “I think he understands that art is how you reach the most people, especially in the heart,” Paisley said of Zelenskyy, who was an actor and comedian before becoming president. “He can give as many speeches as he can give, but it’s a lot easier to hear something with a melody maybe.” Zelenskyy didn’t just sign off on the song; he also suggested some changes to it, Paisley said. Paisley’s royalties for the song will be donated to United24 to help build housing for thousands of displaced Ukrainians whose homes were destroyed in the war, he said. Using his platform to advocate for causes important to him has always been part of his career, whether it was opening a free grocery store in Nashville with his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, or fighting hunger by donating 1 million meals during the pandemic. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t sort of swing for the fence with things like this,” Paisley said. “For me, I’m happiest dealing with stuff as a songwriter that’s very true and very, very passionate. And sometimes I don’t know if you’d call it risky, but it’s more like it’s bigger than me.” Paisley brings his passion on stage during live shows. He’s been changing the lyrics to his hit song 'American Saturday Night,' for instance, to replace a reference to the USSR. to “There’s a Ukrainian flag hanging up behind the bar.” The new record will be his debut on UMG since moving from Sony’s Arista label, and he said 'Same Here' reflects the kinds of big universal themes on it. “We do deal with stuff going on in the world,” Paisley said. “How do you sing about things that are truly big — a big deal right now — that also don’t feel like maybe they’re the type of thing that you would be singing about typically? And yeah, on this album I have kind of really dug deep and tried to say something.” Paisley, who has visited US troops in Afghanistan, said he’s been invited to visit Ukraine, which he’d like to do. In the meantime, he hopes the song’s message will bolster the country now facing down year two of the war. “That’s where it gets really rewarding... feeling like maybe the heart of this helps paint the picture they want to paint,” Paisley said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Country singer Brad Paisley releases new song featuring Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has given qualified support to the peace plan proposed by China and he said that he plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. This came after Beijing at the United Nations General Assembly reiterated its support for diplomatic negotiations and offered solutions to end the war.

Ukraine President Zelensky's qualified support to China's plan, says 'planning to meet Xi Jinping'

Ukraine cautiously welcomes China's proposal, Zelensky says 'Interest to broker peace not bad'

<p>If photo opportunities could stop wars and resolve complex diplomatic tangles, they would have done so long ago. This is the thought that comes to me after US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit&nbsp;to Kyiv and promised more military aid for Ukraine and more economic sanctions against Russia to end their war that is reaching its first anniversary this week.</p>

<p>This is not exactly a happy marriage for us to be celebrating anniversaries but there is much in Biden's body language that invites dark humour. There's a lot that it did not reveal, including the complicated nature of the situation that has put all of Europe in economic and political turmoil, apart from the United States' own poor track record as a global supercop.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Biden declares ‘Kyiv stands’ in surprise visit to Ukraine</strong></p>

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<p>The imagery of refugees literally falling off a flying aircraft while trying to escape the return of the Taliban after the departure of US troops from Afghanistan will remain as rich as that of the naked girl running after a Vietnam War bombing incident. Both are photographs that tell us of flaming American failure. Diplomatic hell paved with Uncle Sam's good intentions can make many a historian or military expert's career. But peace? No, sir.</p>

<p>Biden walking the streets of Kyiv and patting President Volodymyr Zelensky on the back like a patronising baseball coach would have looked good had this been an American university playoff. Sadly, this is a different arena far removed from the Transatlantic insurance that an ocean in the middle offers for the wonks at the State Department. &nbsp;Joe Biden is not GI Joe. There is no American blood falling on Ukraine's fertile soil.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/biden-in-ukraine-a-perfect-photo-op-but-why-now-is-it-too-little-too-late-563977">Biden in Ukraine: A perfect photo-op, but why now? Is it too little, too late?</a></strong></p>

<p>The big question is: Who will bell the cat a.k.a. Vladimir Putin? As things stand, the Russia-Ukraine war is in a situation that would in typical diplospeak be described as a stalemate, logjam or gridlock. There is no end in sight, and there is no clue on what is going on inside Putin's mind, as Biden himself elegantly admitted. &nbsp;Somalia, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Iran stand testimony to the limits of a lapsed superpower. But I would not waste words like 'stalemate' on a situation where blood is flowing every day. Moscow and Europe have economic guns pointing to each other's head thanks to the fuel linkages and geographic proximity between the two. Putin's hold over his country shows no sign of weakening significantly. Moscow cannot capture Kyiv or the hearts of Ukrainians. Putin's stated military objective of "de-Nazification" of Ukraine is either non-existent or was achieved months ago. In the practical world of wise diplomacy, Putin would be offered an honourable exit with some assurances so that sovereign Ukraine can resume its poise without everyday bloodshed or constant fear. That might also lead to loud sighs of relief from Scandinavia. For all that, what we need is enlightened diplomacy, not bumbling bravado.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/ukraine-and-pakistan-friends-enemies-or-frenemies-564017">Ukraine and Pakistan: Friends, enemies or frenemies?</a></strong></p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi came closest to a somewhat credible response when he muttered something about this not being an era of wars to Putin. Was that a flash in the diplomatic pan? The smartest thing would now be for beleaguered European Union or its prime economic engine, Germany, to reach out to India and do something meaningful to truly figure out what Putin wants and give him an honourable exit and/or assurance package. &nbsp;India's G-20 presidency offers a pinhole for light to enter the dark tunnel behind Biden's photogenic overtures. India's rivalry or coldness towards China, and Beijing's own reticence in being too involved in things away from its borders may well earn some brownie points for it to bridge a horrible trust deficit between the West and Moscow. Involving Japan in the equation might give peace a further nudge.</p>

<p>There is a limit to which a neutral country can get involved in this, but the EU, Scandinavia, Russia and Ukraine itself have the most skin in the game and therefore the imperative for action. &nbsp;India can perhaps walk its talk as the voice of the Global South in the G-20 grouping by actually talking to the real Global South -- the vast comity of nations in the UN General Assembly below the glass ceiling above which sits the fractured Security Council whose influential members are inept powers lacking credibility or a spirit of consensus.</p>

<p>Giving peace a chance may be a better idea than war games behind glossy photo ops.</p>

<p><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong>&nbsp;</p>

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If photo opportunities could stop wars and resolve complex diplomatic tangles, they would have done so long ago. This is the thought that comes to me after US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv and promised more military aid for Ukraine and more economic sanctions against Russia to end their war that is reaching its first anniversary this week.

If photo opportunities could stop wars and resolve complex diplomatic tangles, they would have done so long ago. This is the thought that comes to me after US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv and promised more military aid for Ukraine and more economic sanctions against Russia to end their war that is reaching its first anniversary this week. This is not exactly a happy marriage for us to be celebrating anniversaries but there is much in Biden's body language that invites dark humour. There's a lot that it did not reveal, including the complicated nature of the situation that has put all of Europe in economic and political turmoil, apart from the United States' own poor track record as a global supercop. Watch | Biden declares ‘Kyiv stands’ in surprise visit to Ukraine × The imagery of refugees literally falling off a flying aircraft while trying to escape the return of the Taliban after the departure of US troops from Afghanistan will remain as rich as that of the naked girl running after a Vietnam War bombing incident. Both are photographs that tell us of flaming American failure. Diplomatic hell paved with Uncle Sam's good intentions can make many a historian or military expert's career. But peace? No, sir. Biden walking the streets of Kyiv and patting President Volodymyr Zelensky on the back like a patronising baseball coach would have looked good had this been an American university playoff. Sadly, this is a different arena far removed from the Transatlantic insurance that an ocean in the middle offers for the wonks at the State Department. Joe Biden is not GI Joe. There is no American blood falling on Ukraine's fertile soil. Also Read | Biden in Ukraine: A perfect photo-op, but why now? Is it too little, too late? The big question is: Who will bell the cat a.k.a. Vladimir Putin? As things stand, the Russia-Ukraine war is in a situation that would in typical diplospeak be described as a stalemate, logjam or gridlock. There is no end in sight, and there is no clue on what is going on inside Putin's mind, as Biden himself elegantly admitted. Somalia, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Iran stand testimony to the limits of a lapsed superpower. But I would not waste words like 'stalemate' on a situation where blood is flowing every day. Moscow and Europe have economic guns pointing to each other's head thanks to the fuel linkages and geographic proximity between the two. Putin's hold over his country shows no sign of weakening significantly. Moscow cannot capture Kyiv or the hearts of Ukrainians. Putin's stated military objective of "de-Nazification" of Ukraine is either non-existent or was achieved months ago. In the practical world of wise diplomacy, Putin would be offered an honourable exit with some assurances so that sovereign Ukraine can resume its poise without everyday bloodshed or constant fear. That might also lead to loud sighs of relief from Scandinavia. For all that, what we need is enlightened diplomacy, not bumbling bravado. Also Read | Ukraine and Pakistan: Friends, enemies or frenemies? Prime Minister Narendra Modi came closest to a somewhat credible response when he muttered something about this not being an era of wars to Putin. Was that a flash in the diplomatic pan? The smartest thing would now be for beleaguered European Union or its prime economic engine, Germany, to reach out to India and do something meaningful to truly figure out what Putin wants and give him an honourable exit and/or assurance package. India's G-20 presidency offers a pinhole for light to enter the dark tunnel behind Biden's photogenic overtures. India's rivalry or coldness towards China, and Beijing's own reticence in being too involved in things away from its borders may well earn some brownie points for it to bridge a horrible trust deficit between the West and Moscow. Involving Japan in the equation might give peace a further nudge. There is a limit to which a neutral country can get involved in this, but the EU, Scandinavia, Russia and Ukraine itself have the most skin in the game and therefore the imperative for action. India can perhaps walk its talk as the voice of the Global South in the G-20 grouping by actually talking to the real Global South -- the vast comity of nations in the UN General Assembly below the glass ceiling above which sits the fractured Security Council whose influential members are inept powers lacking credibility or a spirit of consensus. Giving peace a chance may be a better idea than war games behind glossy photo ops. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Biden gives war a chance in Kyiv, but it is time to talk peace in Ukraine

In pics | Major Russian attacks across Ukraine

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<p>It was nearly a year ago, on February 24, 2022, when tanks and armoured vehicles rolled into the Ukrainian territory along with nearly 200,000 soldiers. Russian President Vladimir Putin was brimming with confidence of an impending victory, and his forces progressed up to Kyiv without much resistance, but by April they had to retreat and shift focus to the separatist region of Donbas. Putin’s dream triumph has been eluding him as the Ukrainian troops withstood the initial onslaught and came up with a strong counteroffensive with the help of arms and warfare inputs from the West. As a consequence, the war has stretched much beyond Putin’s calculations and imagination, turning out to be much costlier than anticipated, while measures like conscription bred discontent among Russians at home, further adding to his woes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Cutting the umbilical cord&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Cut to December 25, 2022, Ukrainians for the first time celebrated Christmas earlier, cutting their umbilical cord with the Russian tradition, venting their anger and resentment over the massive devastation in their homeland, loss of dear ones and livelihood, homes being reduced to rubble and suffering the vagaries of the extreme winter cold without power and heating.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pictures capturing the massive destruction, pain and agony send a chill down the spine and remind us about the grisly, despicable repercussions of war. It takes so much to build, and just a whim to destroy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was a subdued Xmas celebration in Ukraine, but one that was marked by exceptional resilience, courage and indefatigability amidst suffering. Many had lost a family member, kin, friend, neighbour, or benefactor, in the massive waves of strikes by Russian missiles, rockets and kamikaze drones, but they still lit candles despite their hearts seething with pain, just to spite the enemy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-reminds-france-of-napoleon-slams-emmanuel-macron-for-regime-change-remark-563666">Russia slams Emmanuel Macron for his remarks, says Moscow remembers Napoleon’s fate</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Families of fallen Ukrainian soldiers decorated Christmas trees on their graves as heavens showered snow as if it were sharing their grief. Volunteers in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv made a Christmas tree out of camouflage nets that were donated to soldiers fighting on the frontline after the holidays. It was a poignant, pensive Christmas for Ukrainians.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A fortnight later, Russia also celebrated Christmas, on January 7, since its Orthodox Church still follows the Julian calendar and not the Gregorian calendar in which Xmas falls on December 25. Going by the celebrations in Russia, there was not even the faintest inkling of the country being at war, but this picture is just superficial.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Every war bleeds the economy within, during and afterwards. The so-called “special operations” have resulted in massive casualties for Moscow’s forces also, as Putin had to order a partial mobilisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Loss of Russian men and machines</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Remember, Moscow had a strong army of 850,000 active troops before the invasion. When war gets extended to a year, the costs are obviously high and though Russians may be living a normal life now — as there is no war action on Russian soil — the costs of the war will pinch them sometime eventually.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the estimates of UK intelligence officials, the Russian regular forces along with the Wagner troops may have suffered around 175,000-200,000 casualties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ukraine has been using weapons supplied by several countries and managed to repulse the attack as Russia lost captured ground in a massive counter-offensive.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Conscription of 300,000 recruits and the deployment of Wagner Group mercenaries revealed that casualties in the Russian army had been massive. And now, as the West is again lining up fleets of Challenger, Leopard and Abrams tanks, more fatalities would follow. Since the mobilisation call led to protests and Russian men used all possible ways to flee, there would be more reliance on the mercenaries and the Wagner group would further grow in stature and pose a challenge to the Russian army.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russia is estimated to have lost nearly 40% of its fleet of tanks in the Ukraine war, as per a count by the specialist think tank, the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS).&nbsp;</p>

<p>It lost the missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black SeaFleet, in April when it was hit by Ukrainian missiles. Putin’s spending on war material has also gone up as he has been procuring Kamikaze drones and missiles from Iran and Pyongyang.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Macron: Russia should be defeated in Ukraine, not crushed at home</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Fall from grace, dent in image&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The invasion has hit Russia in other ways as well, as it has also lost its position of pre-eminence in the comity of nations. Its image of a powerful country in the region in the post-Soviet space has been hit hard. Moreover, Putin is aligning with rogue nations and those looked at with a doubt as he builds a new axis, bringing Moscow into its closest ever relations with China, North Korea and Iran. Russia, Iran, and North Korea are facing restrictive economic sanctions and are tying up for trade to circumvent the punitive measures besides working together on tactical and strategic levels. The G-7 nations are weighing sanctions on Chinese, Iranian and North Korean firms for aiding Russia’s military.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It’s not difficult to fathom what Putin wanted by invading Ukraine, but Russians definitely would not like seeing their country being clubbed with North Korea and Iran.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Former comedian Vs leader flaunting macho image</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The war can make or mar image, there will be twists and turns as it progresses but providence seems to have been favouring Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, a former actor and comedian. The war has given him a grand entry on the stage of geopolitics all of a sudden, and he has been making the right moves. His leadership has won him acclaim and he has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance. Zelensky was named the Time Person of the Year for 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He shed suit and tie and switched to wearing army-green T-shirts and sweatshirts in public appearances since the onset of the war in solidarity with his troops fighting Russians, and the world has seen him wearing the same clothes for the past 10 months, even while visiting abroad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Commentators even drew a parallel between his attire and Winston Churchill's historic appearance at the White House during World War II in a siren suit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Putin, known to be fond of his macho image, has been presenting himself as a tough leader, while scolding a minister during a meeting that was captured live. The war has kept him away from his macho pursuits as he had been photographed shirtless while riding a horse, firing darts with a crossbow at a grey whale from a motorboat, flooring the opponent in a Sambo wrestling session.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What will Russia and Putin gain and lose?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Ukraine is devastated and may well take a decade or more to bounce back. Rebuilding Ukraine after the destruction caused by the Russian invasion will cost around $349 billion, said a joint assessment by the World Bank, European Commission and Ukraine government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Russian economy, on the other hand, will contract further due to the price cap on its crude oil and the EU’s embargo on oil and petroleum products. The effect of sanctions will become more evident on the ground gradually as public finances will shrink, and domestic manufacturing will be under stress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Munich Security Conference saw nations pledging all support for Ukraine, expediting weapons’ supply and imposing tougher sanctions on Moscow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It will also be held accountable for war crimes as leaders mentioned Bucha and Mariupol.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The earlier the war ends the better for both Ukraine and Russia, and the world as well, since till then the possibility of the conflict escalating will keep lurking.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><em>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)&nbsp;</em></strong></p>

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It was nearly a year ago, on February 24, 2022, when tanks and armoured vehicles rolled into the Ukrainian territory along with nearly 200,000 soldiers. Russian President Vladimir Putin was brimming with confidence of an impending victory, and his forces progressed up to Kyiv without much resistance, but by April they had to retreat and shift focus to the separatist region of Donbas.

It was nearly a year ago, on February 24, 2022, when tanks and armoured vehicles rolled into the Ukrainian territory along with nearly 200,000 soldiers. Russian President Vladimir Putin was brimming with confidence of an impending victory, and his forces progressed up to Kyiv without much resistance, but by April they had to retreat and shift focus to the separatist region of Donbas. Putin’s dream triumph has been eluding him as the Ukrainian troops withstood the initial onslaught and came up with a strong counteroffensive with the help of arms and warfare inputs from the West. As a consequence, the war has stretched much beyond Putin’s calculations and imagination, turning out to be much costlier than anticipated, while measures like conscription bred discontent among Russians at home, further adding to his woes. Cutting the umbilical cord Cut to December 25, 2022, Ukrainians for the first time celebrated Christmas earlier, cutting their umbilical cord with the Russian tradition, venting their anger and resentment over the massive devastation in their homeland, loss of dear ones and livelihood, homes being reduced to rubble and suffering the vagaries of the extreme winter cold without power and heating. Pictures capturing the massive destruction, pain and agony send a chill down the spine and remind us about the grisly, despicable repercussions of war. It takes so much to build, and just a whim to destroy. It was a subdued Xmas celebration in Ukraine, but one that was marked by exceptional resilience, courage and indefatigability amidst suffering. Many had lost a family member, kin, friend, neighbour, or benefactor, in the massive waves of strikes by Russian missiles, rockets and kamikaze drones, but they still lit candles despite their hearts seething with pain, just to spite the enemy. ALSO READ | Russia slams Emmanuel Macron for his remarks, says Moscow remembers Napoleon’s fate Families of fallen Ukrainian soldiers decorated Christmas trees on their graves as heavens showered snow as if it were sharing their grief. Volunteers in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv made a Christmas tree out of camouflage nets that were donated to soldiers fighting on the frontline after the holidays. It was a poignant, pensive Christmas for Ukrainians. A fortnight later, Russia also celebrated Christmas, on January 7, since its Orthodox Church still follows the Julian calendar and not the Gregorian calendar in which Xmas falls on December 25. Going by the celebrations in Russia, there was not even the faintest inkling of the country being at war, but this picture is just superficial. Every war bleeds the economy within, during and afterwards. The so-called “special operations” have resulted in massive casualties for Moscow’s forces also, as Putin had to order a partial mobilisation. Loss of Russian men and machines Remember, Moscow had a strong army of 850,000 active troops before the invasion. When war gets extended to a year, the costs are obviously high and though Russians may be living a normal life now — as there is no war action on Russian soil — the costs of the war will pinch them sometime eventually. As per the estimates of UK intelligence officials, the Russian regular forces along with the Wagner troops may have suffered around 175,000-200,000 casualties. Ukraine has been using weapons supplied by several countries and managed to repulse the attack as Russia lost captured ground in a massive counter-offensive. Conscription of 300,000 recruits and the deployment of Wagner Group mercenaries revealed that casualties in the Russian army had been massive. And now, as the West is again lining up fleets of Challenger, Leopard and Abrams tanks, more fatalities would follow. Since the mobilisation call led to protests and Russian men used all possible ways to flee, there would be more reliance on the mercenaries and the Wagner group would further grow in stature and pose a challenge to the Russian army. Russia is estimated to have lost nearly 40% of its fleet of tanks in the Ukraine war, as per a count by the specialist think tank, the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS). It lost the missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black SeaFleet, in April when it was hit by Ukrainian missiles. Putin’s spending on war material has also gone up as he has been procuring Kamikaze drones and missiles from Iran and Pyongyang. WATCH | Macron: Russia should be defeated in Ukraine, not crushed at home × Fall from grace, dent in image The invasion has hit Russia in other ways as well, as it has also lost its position of pre-eminence in the comity of nations. Its image of a powerful country in the region in the post-Soviet space has been hit hard. Moreover, Putin is aligning with rogue nations and those looked at with a doubt as he builds a new axis, bringing Moscow into its closest ever relations with China, North Korea and Iran. Russia, Iran, and North Korea are facing restrictive economic sanctions and are tying up for trade to circumvent the punitive measures besides working together on tactical and strategic levels. The G-7 nations are weighing sanctions on Chinese, Iranian and North Korean firms for aiding Russia’s military. It’s not difficult to fathom what Putin wanted by invading Ukraine, but Russians definitely would not like seeing their country being clubbed with North Korea and Iran. Former comedian Vs leader flaunting macho image The war can make or mar image, there will be twists and turns as it progresses but providence seems to have been favouring Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, a former actor and comedian. The war has given him a grand entry on the stage of geopolitics all of a sudden, and he has been making the right moves. His leadership has won him acclaim and he has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance. Zelensky was named the Time Person of the Year for 2022. He shed suit and tie and switched to wearing army-green T-shirts and sweatshirts in public appearances since the onset of the war in solidarity with his troops fighting Russians, and the world has seen him wearing the same clothes for the past 10 months, even while visiting abroad. Commentators even drew a parallel between his attire and Winston Churchill's historic appearance at the White House during World War II in a siren suit. Putin, known to be fond of his macho image, has been presenting himself as a tough leader, while scolding a minister during a meeting that was captured live. The war has kept him away from his macho pursuits as he had been photographed shirtless while riding a horse, firing darts with a crossbow at a grey whale from a motorboat, flooring the opponent in a Sambo wrestling session. What will Russia and Putin gain and lose? Ukraine is devastated and may well take a decade or more to bounce back. Rebuilding Ukraine after the destruction caused by the Russian invasion will cost around $349 billion, said a joint assessment by the World Bank, European Commission and Ukraine government. The Russian economy, on the other hand, will contract further due to the price cap on its crude oil and the EU’s embargo on oil and petroleum products. The effect of sanctions will become more evident on the ground gradually as public finances will shrink, and domestic manufacturing will be under stress. The Munich Security Conference saw nations pledging all support for Ukraine, expediting weapons’ supply and imposing tougher sanctions on Moscow. It will also be held accountable for war crimes as leaders mentioned Bucha and Mariupol. The earlier the war ends the better for both Ukraine and Russia, and the world as well, since till then the possibility of the conflict escalating will keep lurking. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

If Ukraine does lose the war, will Putin really be the winner?

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