President Trump says he is focused on stopping the “death march” in Ukraine “as soon as possible.”
But for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, cease-fire talks with Mr. Trump are a means to much broader ends.
Russian and American officials met in Saudi Arabia on Monday to deepen their negotiations about technical details of a partial cease-fire to halt attacks on energy facilities and on ships in the Black Sea. While Ukraine says it’s ready for a full truce, Mr. Putin has made it clear that he will seek a wide range of concessions first.
The upshot: The Kremlin appears determined to squeeze as many benefits as possible from Mr. Trump’s desire for a Ukraine peace deal, even as it slow-walks the negotiations. Viewed from Moscow, better ties with Washington are an economic and geopolitical boon — one that may be achieved even as Russian missiles continue pounding Ukraine.
Interviews last week with senior Russian foreign-policy figures at a security conference in New Delhi suggested that the Kremlin saw negotiations over Ukraine and over U.S.-Russia ties as running on two separate tracks. Mr. Putin continues to seek a far-reaching victory in Ukraine but is humoring Mr. Trump’s cease-fire push to seize the benefits of a thaw with Washington.
Vyacheslav Nikonov, a deputy chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the lower house of the Russian Parliament, said that Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin were developing a “bilateral agenda” that was “not connected to Ukraine.”
“Ukraine is running its course,” Mr. Nikonov said in an interview on the sidelines of the New Delhi conference, called the Raisina Dialogue. “The offensive is ongoing,” Mr. Nikonov added. “But I think that for Putin, relations with America are more important than the question of Ukraine specifically.”
Engaging with Mr. Trump, Moscow’s thinking seems to go, could unlock economic benefits as basic as spare parts for Russia’s Boeing jets and geopolitical gains as broad as a reduction in NATO’s presence in Europe. What’s less clear is whether Mr. Trump will use those hopes as leverage to get a better deal for Ukraine, and whether he will at some point lose patience with Mr. Putin.
“Mr. Trump likes quick deals,” said Aleksandr A. Dynkin, an international affairs specialist who advises the Russian Foreign Ministry. “If he sees that there are big difficulties, he may be disappointed and cast this problem aside.”
As a result, Mr. Putin seems to be pulling out all the stops to hold Mr. Trump’s interest.
Meeting in Moscow with the White House envoy Steve Witkoff this month, Mr. Putin handed over a “beautiful portrait of President Trump” commissioned from a Russian artist, Mr. Witkoff said in an interview released on Saturday.
“It was such a gracious moment,” Mr. Witkoff told the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
On Ukraine, Mr. Putin has shown no sign of budging from his far-reaching goals — a guarantee that Ukraine will never join NATO, a rollback of the Western alliance in Central and Eastern Europe, limits on Ukraine’s military, and some level of influence over Ukraine’s domestic politics.
Feodor Voitolovsky, director of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow, said that Russia would seek a “road map” to a broader deal before agreeing to any cease-fire.
He also said that Russia could accept a United Nations peacekeeping force in Ukraine as long as it did not include troops from NATO countries.
About the author
Adenta Building Collapse Linked to Illegal Construction and Ignored Stop-Work Orders
A preliminary investigation into the collapse of a three-storey building at Adenta New Site in the Greater Accra Region has revealed that the project was carried out without the required regulatory approvals and in defiance of official stop-work directives issued by local authorities. The findings were released by a Joint Technical Investigative Committee comprising structural engineering experts and representatives from the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-Gh), and the Architecture Registration Council (ARC). According to the committee, the incident highlights serious violations of Ghana’s building regulations and raises concerns about compliance and enforcement within the construction sector. The building collapsed on June 3, 2026, trapping five occupants beneath the debris. The victims included three adults and two children. Rescue teams successfully pulled four individuals from the rubble alive and transported them to the […]
Kpandai Residents Encouraged to Promote Unity and Peace for Sustainable Development
Residents of Kpandai in the Northern Region have been encouraged to put aside tribal, linguistic and political differences and work collectively toward the development of their communities. The call was made by the Parish Priest of St. Kizito Parish, Rev. Fr. Moses Nseaminya, during the launch of the St. Kizito Parish Feast, Partnership and Cultural Day Celebration. The event seeks to promote peace, social cohesion and stronger relationships among the various ethnic groups living within the district. Speaking during the launch, Rev. Fr. Nseaminya emphasized that diversity should be viewed as a strength that can drive development rather than a source of conflict and division. He noted that although residents come from different cultural backgrounds and hold varying political views, they all share a common goal of improving the welfare and future of Kpandai. According to the parish priest, meaningful […]
ECG Explains Power Outages in Greater Accra and Western Regions Following Technical Faults
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has attributed ongoing power interruptions in parts of the Greater Accra and Western regions to separate technical faults affecting its distribution network. In a statement issued on Monday, June 8, 2026, the power distributor said a technical fault at the Nsawam Primary Station has disrupted electricity supply to several communities within the Accra West operational area. The affected communities include Hebron, Medie, Samsam, Satellite, Koleman and nearby areas, where residents have been experiencing intermittent power outages. According to ECG, engineering teams have been deployed to the station and are actively working to identify and rectify the fault to restore stable electricity supply as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, in the Western Region, a broken high-tension (HT) electricity pole at Ankasa has caused a separate power disruption, affecting multiple towns and communities across the area. Communities […]
Burkina Faso forme 8 000 jeunes VDP agricoles pour renforcer l’autosuffisance alimentaire
La cérémonie officielle de sortie de la 3e cohorte des Volontaires pour la Défense de la Patrie (VDP) agricoles et de fin de formation de 8 000 jeunes en entrepreneuriat agricole s’est tenue le 5 juin 2026 à l’École nationale de formation agricole (ENAFA) de Matourkou. L’initiative s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’Initiative présidentielle pour l’agriculture et l’autosuffisance alimentaire, portée par les autorités burkinabè. Cette formation vise à renforcer les capacités des jeunes dans le secteur agricole tout en les impliquant dans une dynamique de production locale et de souveraineté alimentaire. Une jeunesse formée entre agriculture, civisme et engagement citoyen Le directeur exécutif du Bureau national des grands projets du Burkina Faso, Hamidou Sawadogo, a salué l’engagement des bénéficiaires. Selon lui, le programme traduit la volonté des autorités de transformer durablement le secteur agricole afin de réduire la dépendance alimentaire […]
Clément Zongo dédicace trois ouvrages littéraires à Ouagadougou
Le journaliste-chroniqueur burkinabè Clément Zongo a procédé, le 6 juin 2026 à Ouagadougou, à la dédicace de trois ouvrages intitulés La fille aux cheveux châtains, Les Chroniques de Clément Zongo et Juste un coup de plume. La cérémonie, organisée dans la grande salle du Centre national des arts du spectacle et de l’audiovisuel (CENASA), a réuni des acteurs du monde culturel, des professionnels des médias ainsi que de nombreux passionnés de littérature. De son vrai nom Alexis Yaméogo, Clément Zongo est titulaire d’une maîtrise en sciences et techniques de l’information et de la communication. Conseiller des affaires culturelles, il s’est distingué au fil des années grâce à plusieurs récompenses obtenues dans le domaine littéraire. Un roman consacré à la lutte contre les préjugés liés à l’albinisme Parmi les œuvres présentées figure La fille aux cheveux châtains, un roman qui aborde […]
Three Rescued as Rescue Teams Search for Trapped Victims After North Industrial Area Building Collapse
Rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate and extract individuals believed to be trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Accra’s North Industrial Area following a structural failure that has left several people injured. According to Alex King Nartey of the Ghana National Fire Service's communications team, three people have so far been rescued from the scene and are currently receiving medical treatment. However, emergency responders fear that at least three more individuals may still be trapped under the debris. Speaking at the site, Mr. Nartey explained that rescue operations have been slowed by the absence of earth-moving equipment needed to remove large sections of collapsed concrete and debris safely. He disclosed that the Fire Service has requested assistance from the military, while the Mayor of Accra has also facilitated the deployment of heavy machinery to support the […]
Related
Iran FM accuses ‘serpent’ Netanyahu of tricking US into war
Araghchi alleged that Netanyahu privately boasted in Hebrew about influencing Washington, while publicly praising US President Donald Trump’s leadership in English.arabnews+1 “In Hebrew, Netanyahu openly crows that he suckered the US Administration into a war on Iran on behalf of Israel,” Araghchi said in a post on X. He further alleged that the Israeli leader had spoken about influencing America through “1,000 hours of airtime on US networks.”english.aawsat+1 Araghchi contrasted those alleged remarks with Netanyahu’s public comments in English commending President Trump’s leadership, ending his message with the word, “Serpent.” The accusation comes amid renewed tensions after US forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.abs-cbn+3 The US said the launchers were being prepared to fire rockets carrying sea mines into the strategic waterway, while Iran later launched missiles and drones toward US […]
US strikes Iran for first time in a month, Tehran retaliates
US Central Command said Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces were preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz when American forces struck the launchers on Sunday.globalnation.inquirer+1 The strikes came as hostilities between Washington and Tehran had appeared to be subsiding, nearly six months into the conflict. CENTCOM said it was closely monitoring the area and remained ready to protect the free flow of commercial shipping through the vital waterway.abs-cbn+3 Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps subsequently launched a missile-and-drone attack targeting US air bases in Jordan, according to Iranian state media. Jordan said its military intercepted eight missiles after they entered the country’s airspace, with no damage reported. The US action was its first military strike against Iran since late July, after President Donald Trump shifted towards an economic-pressure campaign aimed at securing concessions from Tehran. The Strait […]
Nigerian man sentenced to 8 years in US prison for $7.5m charity scam
Adejorin was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completing his 96-month prison term, following his conviction on wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and unauthorised computer-access charges.dailyvoice+2 US District Judge Theodore Chuang sentenced Adejorin on Friday after a federal jury found him guilty in December 2025 following a six-day trial in Maryland. The 32-year-old was extradited from Ghana to the United States in August 2024 to face the charges.patch+2 Prosecutors said the fraud took place between June and August 2020 and targeted a Maryland-based charitable organisation that provided investment services for another charity in New York. Adejorin allegedly accessed employee email accounts, registered fraudulent lookalike web domains and impersonated staff of the New York charity.dailyvoice+3 Using the compromised accounts and fake identities, he sent instructions requesting withdrawals and transfers from the Maryland organisation. The scheme caused more […]
Nepal floods: Nearly 1,500 missing, including tourists, as death toll rises
Rescuers used helicopters to search for survivors and deliver emergency supplies after a wall of ice, mud and rock collapsed into a Himalayan river, triggering devastating floods in Nepal and neighbouring Tibet. The disaster struck on Wednesday along a route linking Kathmandu with Lhasa that is popular with trekkers and pilgrims. Nepalese authorities said more than 650 foreign nationals remained unaccounted for, while the number of missing local residents was still being assessed.reuters+1 In Nepal, officials had located around 100 previously missing Indian visitors and 25 Chinese workers in the worst-hit Trishuli area. India said 288 of its nationals were still missing in Nepal, while a further 200 were stranded in China. Across the border in Tibet’s Gyirong County, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported 558 people missing, including 260 foreign nationals. Reuters reported that the missing foreign visitors in Nepal […]
Iran denies negotiating with US after Trump announces talks
Tehran rejected Trump’s claim that talks were set to begin as part of efforts to end the conflict, saying no negotiations are currently taking place with Washington. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the country is “not currently negotiating with the United States,” adding that Iran’s talks are instead with Oman over passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The denial came after Trump said he had postponed further strikes to allow diplomacy to continue and claimed new discussions would start Monday. The exchange came amid a war that Reuters described as being in its sixth month, with tensions also affecting oil markets after Trump’s remarks. Iran’s response suggests there is still a gap between Washington’s public claims and Tehran’s position on the status of talks.
US introduces $20,000 visa bond for Nigerians, others over overstay concerns
The United States says the new rule is aimed at curbing visa overstays and improving compliance among visitors from countries flagged for high overstay rates and weak identity or document verification systems. Under the policy, consular officers will decide whether an applicant must post a refundable bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, depending on factors such as travel purpose, employment, income and ties to the home country. The bond will be refunded without interest if the visitor leaves the US within the approved period and complies with visa conditions, but it will be forfeited if the holder overstays or violates the terms of the visa. The policy formalises and expands a pilot programme launched in August 2025, which the US State Department says showed a sharp drop in overstays among affected applicants. It also said the pilot reduced demand significantly, […]