US floats unfreezing some Russian assets to restart Ukraine peace talks, FT reports
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The United States has proposed that European countries unfreeze some Russian sovereign assets immobilised after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and transfer them to a vehicle overseen by Washington in an attempt to revive peace talks, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people briefed on the matter.
European delegates rebuffed the plan, which was pitched by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, FT said.
Russia’s Lavrov, China’s Wang discuss cooperation, Ukraine, Iran at Asia security meeting
The Russian and Chinese foreign ministers discussed the state of bilateral cooperation as well as the crises in Ukraine and Iran during an Asia security meeting, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping reaffirmed their strategic alliance at a regional summit last August and both praised prospects for closer cooperation.
The statement on Wednesday said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met in Azerbaijan at a meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia
Commercial ship caught fire in Romanian waters, following string of Black Sea incidents
A commercial ship anchored in Romanian territorial waters caught fire and the crew evacuated, Romanian authorities said, the latest in a series of incidents in the Black Sea underlying shipping risks near NATO’s eastern flank.
Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruta said it was unclear whether the ship, identified as the Comoros-flagged chemical and oil tanker Yara J, had been hit by a drone and that an investigation was pending.
Multiple drones breached Romanian airspace on Wednesday near its border with Ukraine.
Nord Stream may have been lawful target, argue lawyers for Ukrainian accused of bombing
Lawyers for a Ukrainian ex-military officer accused of leading the bombing of Russia’s Nord Stream pipeline in September 2022 argued at the start of his trial in Germany that “an aggressor’s infrastructure” may have been a lawful target.
FRANCE 24’s Juliette Brown reports.
Starlink restriction ‘no surprise’ after Musk condemned Ukraine strikes on Russian data centres
Restrictions reported by Ukraine on its use of the US satellite internet system Starlink have exposed Kyiv’s reliance on the technology for both offensive and defensive operations in its fight against Russia’s invasion, analysts and observers say.
Speaking with FRANCE 24’s Mark Owen, David Galbreath Professor of War and Technology at the University of Bath, said that “it is no surprise” that Starlink services had been throttled after SpaceX boss Elon Musk called the targeting by Ukrainian drones of data services in Russia “a step too far”.
Musk suggests US govt behind any slowdown in Ukraine’s Starshield system
SpaceX boss Elon Musk said that any disruptions reported by Ukraine in using the Starshield satellite communications system would be the responsibility of the US government, not his company.
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” Musk said, referring to US President Donald Trump.
Musk drew a distinction between the Starshield system, which Ukraine relies on for battlefield communications, and the parallel Starlink civilian satellite system, which Ukraine also deploys but is not allowed for offensive operations. Both were designed by Musk’s SpaceX.
Musk says Starshield systems owned and controlled by US government
Ukraine says Starlink access has improved but SpaceX maintaining speed limits
Ukraine’s connection to SpaceX’s Starlink network “has improved,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said, noting however that Elon Musk’s company is maintaining limits on the speed that drones can travel while staying connected to the service.
“SpaceX continues to maintain the 161 km/h limit. Throughout the day, the actual limits were significantly lower. However, as of now, we note that at speeds up to 160 the quality of the connection has improved,” the defence ministry told reporters.
France cannot keep financing Ukraine, presidential candidate Marine Le Pen says
France cannot keep financing Ukraine due to the “perilous” state of the euro zone’s second-biggest economy, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said.
“We can no longer finance Ukraine,” Le Pen told reporters in Brussels.
“France today is in an extremely perilous situation,” sheadded, referring to the country’s high deficit and weak economic growth.
Zelensky agrees he feels betrayed by Trump diesel deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed that he felt betrayed after US President Donald Trump announced a diesel-supply deal with heavily sanctioned Moscow.
Asked by journalist Piers Morgan if he felt betrayed, Zelensky said: “Really yes, really between us, but it’s a little bit more complicated than just my emotions or my feelings.”
FBI says director Patel in Virginia, not Russia
FBI Director Kash Patel was in Virginia for a law enforcement-related event, the US law enforcement agency said on Wednesday, denying a media report that he had traveled to Russia.
Video from an ABC News’ affiliate in Virginia also showed Patel at an event in Lynchburg.
MS NOW, citing two unnamed sources, had reported earlier that the FBI chief had landed in Russia for a two-day meeting in Moscow and St. Petersburg hosted by the FSB.
“Here’s where Kash Patel actually is … Liberty U, doing a law enforcement appreciation event,” the agency said in a post.
Zelensky asks Musk to ‘switch on’ Starlink system
Ukraine counts on US partnership amid ‘some difficulties’, Zelensky says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country counted “on partnership with the United States”, but acknowledged Ukraine was experiencing “some difficulties”.
Meeting with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Downing Street in London, Zelensky said Ukraine had suffered “massive attacks today and it is a pity we had also some difficulties, that I want to discuss with Andy about Starlink and about intelligence”.
There had been “a lot of different surprises on which you can’t count when you have real partnership, and we count on partnership with the United States,” he added.
Ukraine’s Zelensky says it is ‘painful’ for Trump to choose a different side
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview that it was “painful” when US President Donald Trump took another side in Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia, after Trump said Zelenskiy should be replaced.
Zelensky told Piers Morgan Uncensored: “It’s painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side.”
He also said that he was OK with Trump being in the middle of Ukraine and Russia, but added: “If you are in the middle, you have to stay in the middle.”
Gymnastics body says refused Russian visas down to local authorities
World Gymnastics said that the decision to refuse visas for three Russian gymnasts competing at the world championships in Rotterdam was the responsibility of the authorities in the Netherlands.
“The issuance of visas to all participants is a process determined solely by the Dutch authorities,” the gymnastics body said in a press release.
“World Gymnastics is not in a position to explain why a select number of application requests have been refused.”
Zelensky says he regrets difficulties over Starlink and intelligence sharing
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said it was a pity his country had experienced difficulties with Starlink services and intelligence, saying he had been surprised by developments in his partnership with the United States.
“It’s a pity that we had also some difficulties … about Starlink, about intelligence, I mean a lot of different surprises on which you can’t count when you have real partnership and we count on partnership with the United States,” he said.
“We just want to be very honest, very clear and be strong partners.”
Zelensky was speaking in London alongside British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with Britain seeking to show support for the Ukrainian leader as his relationship with the US deteriorates.
FBI director arrives in Russia for a meeting, MS NOW reports
US FBI Director Kash Patel has arrived in Russia for a meeting, MS NOW reported, citing two sources.
Reuters has not verified the report, and representatives for the FBI could not be immediately reached for comment.
Civilian killed in drone attack on Russia’s Bryansk region, local governor says
A 58-year-old female civilian was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Bryansk region, regional governor Yegor Kovalchuk said.
