Progress for Ukraine talks in Paris uncertain with US focus shifting to Venezuela
Paris (AP): Ukraine's allies are meeting on Tuesday in Paris for key talks that could help determine the country's security after a potential ceasefire with Russia. But prospects for progress are uncertain with the Trump administration's focus shifting to Venezuela.
Before the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, French President Emmanuel Macron had expressed optimism about the latest gathering of so-called “coalition of the willing” nations. For months, they have been exploring how to deter any future Russian aggression should it agree to stop fighting Ukraine.
In a December 31 address, Macron said that allies would “make concrete commitments” at the summit “to protect Ukraine and ensure a just and lasting peace."
Macron's office said on Tuesday's meeting will gather an unprecedented number of officials attending in person, with 35 participants, including 27 heads of state and government. The US will be represented by President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Macron's office said the US delegation was initially set to be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who changed his plans for reasons related to the military intervention in Venezuela.
Participants seek concrete outcomes on five key priorities once fighting ends: ways to monitor a ceasefire; support for Ukraine's armed forces; deployment of a multinational force on land, at sea and in the air; commitments in case there's another Russian aggression; and long-term defence cooperation with Ukraine.
But whether that's still achievable on Tuesday isn't so clear now, as Trump deals with the aftermath of his decision to effect leadership change in Venezuela.
Ukraine seeks firm guarantees from Washington of military and other support seen as crucial to securing similar commitments from other allies. Kyiv has been wary of any ceasefire that it fears could provide time for Russia to regroup and attack again.
Recent progress in talks
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Before the US military operation targeting Maduro, Witkoff had indicated progress in talks about protecting and reassuring Ukraine.
In a Dec. 31 post, Witkoff tweeted that “productive” discussions with him, Rubio, and Kushner on the US side and, on the other, national security advisers of Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine had focused on “strengthening security guarantees and developing effective deconfliction mechanisms to help end the war and ensure it does not restart.”
France, which, with the United Kingdom, has coordinated the monthslong, multination effort to shore up a ceasefire, has only given broad-brush details about the plan's scope. It says Ukraine's first line of defence against a Russian resumption of war would be the Ukrainian military and that the coalition intends to strengthen it with training, weaponry and other support.
Macron has also spoken of European forces potentially being deployed away from Ukraine's front lines to help deter future Russian aggression.
Important details unfinalized
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during the weekend that potential European troop deployments still face hurdles, important details remain unfinalized, and “not everyone is ready” to commit forces.
He noted that many countries would need approval from parliament even if leaders agreed to military support for Ukraine. But he recognised that support could come in forms other than troops, such as “through weapons, technologies and intelligence.”
Zelenskyy said that post-ceasefire deployments in Ukraine by Britain and France, Western Europe's only nuclear-armed nations, would be “essential” because some other coalition members ”cannot provide military assistance in the form of troops, but they do provide support through sanctions, financial assistance, humanitarian aid and so on.”
“Speaking frankly as president, even the very existence of the coalition depends on whether certain countries are ready to step up their presence," Zelenskyy said. "If they are not ready at all, then it is not really a coalition of the willing.”
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Bengaluru: CCB police busts black marketing of IPL tickets, 11 arrested
Bengaluru: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested 11 people, including one from Madhya Pradesh, for allegedly selling tickets in black for the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings held at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 5.
According to police, a total of 28 tickets worth Rs 4.5 lakh and eight mobile phones were seized from the accused.
Acting on tipoff that match tickets were being sold at double the original price within the limits of Cubbon Park and Chamarajpet police stations, the CCB police conducted a raid ahead of the match, sources said.
A total of seven cases have been registered in connection with the incident.
Under the jurisdiction of Cubbon Park police station, 10 accused were arrested. Police seized seven mobile phones, 18 IPL tickets of various denominations, and WhatsApp screenshots allegedly used for online ticket sales.
In a separate action under the Chamarajpet police station limits, one person was arrested for selling IPL tickets at increased prices. Police recovered 10 tickets, one mobile phone, and WhatsApp screenshots from the accused, CCB sources added.
