Russian invasion

Negotiations
Negotiations on Ukraine give Russian currency a clear boost

The Russian ruble has risen to its highest level against the US dollar in six months, writes AFP. Since Trump took office in the White House, the currency has increased by 14 percent, after a plunge due to Joe Biden's sanctions on the Russian oil sector.

According to analysts that AFP and Bloomberg spoke to, this is due to the latest developments surrounding the Ukraine war, in particular the Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia this week.

On Tuesday, one dollar was worth just over 88 rubles, but Oleg Kuzmin at Renaissance Capital believes that the ruble could weaken again if the talks do not lead to any real breakthroughs.

Kellogg and Zelensky cancel press conference

Volodymyr Zelensky met with US envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg on Thursday. However, after the meeting, Kellogg's team announced that the planned press conference after the meeting was canceled, reports AP.

It is not clear why the press conference is being canceled. However, relations between the United States and Ukraine are strained after Donald Trump accused Ukraine of starting the war in 2022, Zelensky responded by saying that Trump is in a “disinformation bubble”, to which Trump called Zelensky a dictator.

According to Ukraine, the press conference was canceled at the request of the United States.

Zelensky: Ready to sign security agreement with the United States

Volodymyr Zelensky had a good meeting with the White House’s envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg, the Ukrainian president wrote in a post on X.

He wrote that they talked about “several important details”, including the situation on the fronts and possible investment and security agreements with the United States. Ukraine is ready for a strong and effective agreement, the president wrote.

“I am grateful to the United States for all the help and support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people”.

Voices on the Ukraine War
Report: US wants to stop wording calling Russia the aggressor

The White House is contradicting other G7 countries and does not want to describe Russia as the aggressor in a forthcoming statement, according to Financial Times sources.

This concerns a specific letter in which the US opposes the phrase “Russian aggression”. Every year since the full-scale invasion began, the G7 countries have made a joint statement with such wording, on the anniversary of February 24.

– The Americans are blocking that wording, but we are working on it and still hope for an agreement.

The information comes after Donald Trump this week falsely claimed that Ukraine started the war.