Notwithstanding how the current impasse is solved, at some point in the future, Russia will realise that just as centuries ago it developed the paradigm of securing its heartland's safety through annexing vast buffer zones between itself and the enemy, a more modern security is possible only through friendly relations and sustainable peace, observes Shyam G Menon.
Notably, Ukrainian forces disabling bridges across the Dnipro river and attacking Russian supply lines made it very difficult for Russia to defend the occupied territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu to introduce a 36-hour ceasefire along the entire line of contact between the warring sides in Ukraine from January 6-7, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
India has improved its ranking in the World Happiness Report 2025, climbing to 118th from 126th last year. However, it still lags behind neighbouring countries like Nepal, Pakistan, and Ukraine. Finland has topped the list for the eighth consecutive year. The report emphasizes the impact of caring and sharing on happiness, highlighting how sharing meals increases happiness. It also notes a decline in wellbeing in the United States, which has dropped to its lowest ever position at 24th.
Images from the the Shanghai-Keqiao Diamond League meeting in Shaoxing, China, on Saturday.
Russian forces occupied large swathes of the Sumy region after Russian invaded Ukraine, before Ukrainian forces retook control of the area in April. Russia has since concentrated its war effort in the south and east of the country.
As the Russian invasion approaches its one-year anniversary and with little let-up in fighting, the Ukrainian economy continues to suffer.
Ukraine would not rule out boycotting the Olympic Games if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete in the Paris 2024 Games, its sports minister said.
Indian Armed Forces brought down a number of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means.
'And this will persist given the two-and-a-half-front threat we face.'
'He may respect others, but he is unlikely to admire them'
Chinese import tariffs have unwittingly come to India's assistance to help boost imports of US liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at rates cheaper than what it pays for supplies from West Asia, according to industry sources and shipping data.
If the meeting takes place, then it will be the first one between the two leaders after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek crushed Dayana Yastremska 6-0, 6-2 and 2023 champion Elena Rybakina powered past Britain's Katie Boulter 6-0, 7-5 to reach the fourth round of Indian Wells on Sunday in displays of dominance.
'It brings precarious peace because the red lines have shifted. 'The next Pahalgam attack would mean a full scale war.'
We have already suffered considerable collateral damage as a result of the war, and its continuance will continue to dampen our prospects for faster economic growth. We have a direct and legitimate interest in its early cessation, counsels former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
The latest glimpses of recently liberated villages and towns by Ukraine's armed forces in the Kharkiv region.
'Trump administration wanted a positive tone at this summit, but there was still some anxiety that there could be some awkward moments -- and there were not.'
The Ukrainian Air Force on Thursday said that Russia launched a massive missile attack on the city of Dnipro, involving intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
'Trump's desire to withdraw the US from some arenas on the global stage will result in ceding space to China.'
Pakistan was waiting for an opportunity to bring the Jammu and Kashmir issue to the global agenda and resorted to the terrorism route to provoke India, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
Thousands of lives have been lost, large areas in Ukraine have been destroyed, but Vladimir Putin refuses to end a cruel and senseless war.
'There is no question that Putin's preference will be to avoid unpleasantness with Trump, leave alone a collision course,' observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Scenes from the NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023.
The funeral mass of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday, concluded at St Peter's Square on Saturday with the bells of St Peter's Basilica tolling to signal the end of the 2 hours and 10 minutes long service.
Ukrainians from the eastern and central parts of the country have increasingly fled to the country's western cities, that have so far been considered safer, as Russian forces advance toward Kyiv from three sides.
Russian attacks have intensified across Ukraine in recent days.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf marches through time to trace the bitter history between Russia and its West European neighbours.
