US negotiators are attempting to broker a 30-day partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine amid ongoing hostilities, with separate talks underway with both sides in Riyadh. The primary sticking point remains defining the targets that would be off-limits during the ceasefire. While the US advocates for protecting energy and critical infrastructure, Russia insists on limiting the deal to energy infrastructure alone, whereas Ukraine seeks to extend protections to railways and ports. Meanwhile, fighting along the frontline continues to escalate, marked by intensified guided bomb attacks and drone strikes.
As peace talks progress in Riyadh, this episode of *World Today* delves into what lies ahead in the three-year-long conflict.
As peace talks progress in Riyadh, this episode of *World Today* delves into what lies ahead in the three-year-long conflict.
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00:00A very good evening. I'm Geeta Mohan and you're watching World Today Now. What is happening
00:20on the ground in Riyadh? U.S. negotiators worked on a proposed partial ceasefire in
00:26the three-year-old war in Ukraine on Monday, meeting representatives from Russia one day
00:31after holding talks separately with a team from Kiev, that's Ukraine. It has been a struggle
00:37to reach even a limited 30-day ceasefire, which Moscow and Kiev agreed to in principle
00:44last week, with both sides continuing to attack each other with drones and missiles. One major
00:50sticking point is what targets would be off-limits to strike even after U.S. President Donald
00:56Trump spoke with the country's leaders because the parties disagree. While the White House
01:02said energy and infrastructure would be covered, Kremlin declared that the agreement referred
01:07more narrowly to energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he would
01:13also like to see infrastructure like railways and ports protected. The sentiment on the
01:25front lines in Zaporozhye remains skeptical while U.S. mediated talks on a ceasefire between
01:31Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia is going on. The situation at the Zaporozhye front
01:40line has become very complicated. The enemy is conducting attacks along the whole Zaporozhye
01:44front line with tanks and fighting vehicles. Guided bomb attacks on both the front line
01:49areas and the city of Zaporozhye itself have increased. Satellite imagery captured on Sunday
01:57showed fire and smoke rising from an oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar region. The spark was
02:04caused last week by a drone attack that authorities blamed on Ukraine. Saudi talks are to detail a
02:11proposed 30-day ceasefire and strikes on energy infrastructure of both countries as well as a
02:17longer-term peace deal. Ukraine believes a ceasefire focusing specifically on energy
02:23infrastructure would benefit Russia more. This ceasefire for energy now in the favor of Russia.
02:31In these three years, of course, we lost a lot. We lost a lot of generation capacity. It was a
02:38hundredth attack to our high-voltage power grid. It was a lot of attack to our gas production
02:44units. But the result is we adopted. We already know how to opposite to this attack, how to defend
02:52our objects, what to do, how to maintenance, how to deliver power to the people. You can see that
02:59we move through this winter without any big outages. The Monday talks between US and Russia
03:05follows a day after the Americans met Ukrainian representatives to reach a maritime ceasefire
03:11in the Black Sea. Bureau Report, India Today.
03:19And joining me now live from Riyadh is Igor Zdanov. He is a correspondent with Russia Today. Igor,
03:25thank you so much for joining us. You're in Riyadh. Hectic parlays underway. Could these
03:30Riyadh talks really produce a breakthrough that many are hoping for?
03:37Well, I have to say that the gravity of these talks is surely underlined by the very fact that
03:43they have been going on between the Russians and the Americans for over six hours. In fact,
03:48the groups, the delegations have had to take already two breaks. And so far, there is still
03:54no end in sight of these talks. So while they are happening behind closed doors and the media are
04:00not allowed in, it really is indicative as how both the Americans and the Russians are really
04:06treating the situation, that they really go deep, deep into every detail. Otherwise, this meeting
04:14would have been already over. So there have been reports that after this round of talks is done
04:21and dusted, the Americans could go and meet with the Ukrainian delegation again, having already
04:28met with them yesterday. So really, it seems that the sides are sorting things out. And there has
04:35been some cautious optimism voiced by the Americans. The Russians have been rather tight-lipped
04:40about their expectations of the talks. Or the Ukrainians, for that instance, they have not
04:45shared much detail as to what had been happening yesterday. But when it comes to the Americans,
04:50they have been saying that they expect some real progress. And I mean, for everyone who is hoping
04:56for a ceasefire and for truce and eventually a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine,
05:02they hope for the same thing. They hope for some, again, real progress.
05:07Right. Igor, Kherson, Zaporozhye, Donetsk and Luhansk, these are four territories that now
05:13are under Russian control or are part of Russian territories after the referendum in 2022. Now,
05:19will Russia really agree to cede land should the talks move forward,
05:24especially the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant?
05:29Well, the issue of these territories, which Russia has officially, Russia officially considers all
05:35these regions its own territory. And now with the new administration in power in Washington,
05:41they hear Russia's concerns. They hear Russia on this issue. And in fact, one of Donald Trump's
05:49special representatives and envoys recently in an interview to Tucker Carlson, a prominent
05:54American journalist, he has talked about this extensively, that Russia is in control,
06:00often physically is in control of much of those territories. And that this is something that
06:08Russia is very important, is very crucial. And the United States are hearing that. And it is
06:14obvious that they are bringing this up in their conversations with the Ukrainians. Now, of course,
06:21again, these conversations mostly happen behind closed doors. So we have no way of knowing really
06:28as to what is being said there. But given the fact, we can only use circumstantial evidence as
06:34to try and make up our minds as to what is being said there. But given that the Americans have been
06:41rather cautiously optimistic about it, what I can say is apparently the two sides are reaching,
06:48are reaching towards the point in time when they find some common ground on these issues.
06:55Right. Igor Zajinov, thank you so much for joining us here on the network. We'll keep
06:59coming back to you maybe to get a sense of what's happening on the ground since you're in Riyadh.
07:05Shifting focus, but staying on the subject. Ukraine has received a fresh batch of American-made
07:11F-16 jets this week. But there's a problem. Unlike Russia, which parades its fighter jets in combat,
07:17Ukraine's new American-made warplanes remain unseen. No battle footage, no confirmed engagements,
07:24just silence. So what's really going on? Are these jets being kept in reserve for a decisive moment
07:30or is Kiev struggling to use them at all? Rudrashesh Kanjalal gets us this report.
07:37And this is a very important story because we will be getting you the report on what is happening
07:44with the F-16s. There is a major issue when it comes to whether if Ukraine is combat ready and
07:52if Ukrainian pilots are ready to fly the F-16s. That's one of the major reasons it's rumored that
08:00there could be a problem in actually getting the F-16s to fly. For now, it feels like the Ukrainian
08:08skies have been abandoned completely while we see Russian jets, Russian missiles, and Russian
08:18aircrafts really in the skies in Ukraine and bombard Ukraine. Here is the report.
08:49Ukraine's air force has received another batch of American-made F-16s, but here's the catch.
08:56Where are they? Unlike Russia, which proudly flaunts its fighter jets in combat, Ukraine
09:04has yet to showcase its new warplanes in action. No footage, no official battle reports, only silence.
09:13So, what's really going on? Are these fighter jets being hidden for strategic reasons? Or is Ukraine
09:22struggling to use them at all? At the forefront are MiG-35s and Su-35s, frequently showcased
09:30by the Russian Defense Ministry as they dominate Ukrainian airspace. But amid all these updates,
09:39something is missing. The much-hyped F-16s.
09:47President Zelensky recently announced that another batch of F-16s has arrived. Countries like the
09:55Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium have pledged these American fighter jets to Ukraine. Kyiv
10:01faces a dilemma. Keeping these jets hidden means they stay safe, but also grounded.
10:09And grounded jets don't win wars. Then, there's the uncomfortable truth.
10:17F-16s are vulnerable. Last August, Ukraine reportedly lost one of these prized jets
10:24during a massive Russian assault. Details remain classified, but the loss
10:30raised serious questions. Are these jets truly combat-ready for this war?
10:37Another major issue, Ukraine's airstrips. Unlike Russian aircraft, which are built
10:44for rugged conditions, F-16s require smooth NATO-standard runways. A single loose pebble
10:52can destroy their engines. And with Ukrainian airbases constantly under attack,
11:00operating these jets isn't just difficult, it's dangerous.
11:05And then comes the biggest challenge, air superiority. A former Ukrainian Air Force
11:12spokesperson has admitted that F-16s aren't designed to counter Russian jets head-on.
11:20Here's why. Russia's Su-35s carry R-37M missiles with a staggering 300-kilometer range.
11:29Ukrainian F-16s, armed with AIM-120 missiles, max out at 120 kilometers.
11:38That means Russian pilots can engage before Ukraine's jets even detect them.
11:44Even with NATO backing, Ukraine is struggling to counter Russia's evolving tactics.
11:52So, the big question remains, is Ukraine holding back its F-16s for a decisive moment?
12:00Or are these jets simply unfit for the battlefield?
12:04The F-16s remain a mystery, powerful on paper, but missing in action.
12:11And in a war of perceptions, that silence speaks volumes.
12:16Bureau Report, India Today Global.
12:24The Russia-Ukraine war has turned ordinary citizens into defenders of their homeland.
12:30Among them is a remarkable group of women who are making global headlines. They call themselves
12:36the Bucha Witches, Ukraine's first all-women air defense unit.
12:41Their mission is to take down Russian drones and protect their war-ravaged city.
12:47So, who are these women and what drives them to fight? Our next report.
12:55Bucha, a once peaceful suburb of Kiev, became one of the darkest symbols of Russia's invasion
13:03of Ukraine. When Russian forces occupied the town in early 2022,
13:09they left behind a trail of death and destruction.
13:21Reports claim that over 450 civilians, including men,
13:26women and children, were killed in what Ukraine calls war crimes.
13:33In the wake of this brutality, a group of determined women rose up, not as victims,
13:43but as defenders. Meet the Bucha Witches, Ukraine's first all-women air defense unit.
13:51They are volunteers, not professional soldiers. Mothers, teachers, business owners and students,
13:59all united by one goal, protecting their home from Russian attacks.
14:06Many of these women have suffered unimaginable personal losses,
14:11but instead of retreating into despair, they chose to fight back.
14:15Here, battle-hardened Ukrainian veterans drill them relentlessly. The instructors yell,
14:21push them to their physical and mental limits, preparing them for the reality of war.
14:32These women are trained to use Maxim M1910 machine guns, early 28th century weapons,
14:40now repurposed to take down drones.
14:48They face some of Russia's most dangerous aerial threats, including Iranian-made Shahid drones
14:54and Russian Geren drones, which travel up to 150 kilometers per hour and carry deadly explosives.
15:02Ukraine's armed forces are also trained to use M1910 machine guns,
15:08Ukraine's armed forces have seen a significant rise in female enlistment
15:12since the war began. Over 65,000 women now serve, with 4,000 in combat roles.
15:20The Bucha Witches are part of this growing movement. Women who once lived ordinary lives
15:26are now standing on the front lines, ready to defend their country.
15:30For these women, the war is personal. They are not just defending their country,
15:40they are avenging their families, their neighbors and their way of life.
15:44They call themselves witches, perhaps because of the fear they instill in the enemy.
15:49But for the people of Ukraine, they are warriors, defenders and symbols of resilience.
15:56Their battlefield is the sky, their weapons are repurposed relics and their spirit is
16:02unbreakable. The Bucha Witches are rewriting history, one downed drone at a time.
16:08With Rudrashish Kanchelal, Euro Report, India Today Group.
16:13With Rudrashish Kanchelal, Euro Report, India Today Group.
16:23Egypt has put forward a new proposal aimed at restoring the Gaza ceasefire deal. Following
16:29the escalation in violence after Israel resumed air and ground operations against Hamas last
16:35Tuesday, Egypt made the proposal according to reports. After the Israeli strike on Nasser
16:41Hospital killing five, including a Hamas political member, Hamas released a video of
16:48the Israeli hostages with the message, time is running out. Gaza health officials said Israel
16:55has killed nearly 700 Palestinians since it resumed its attacks, including at least 400
17:02women and children. Palestinian health authorities have claimed that Israeli strikes have killed at
17:08least 65 people in the enclave in the past 24 hours alone.
17:18Black smoke tinges on the exterior walls of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis of Gaza
17:24stand witness to Sunday's Israel airstrike that killed five people,
17:28including a Hamas political leader. Relatives mourn the dead.
17:38If one person was killed in the US or in London or in France, if one innocent person was killed,
17:46the world would rise. Meanwhile, daily we mourn thousands, hundreds of our people across the Gaza
17:52Strip, and no one takes any action as if this is ongoing bloodshed day and night,
17:58is not part of humanity, as if they were not humans.
18:01Smoke rose from Nasser Hospital on Sunday as people inside the complex attempted to clear
18:11rubble. Israel claimed it has targeted a key figure of Hamas. The Gaza health ministry said
18:18the strike hit the surgery department at the hospital.
18:24A missile directly hit the second floor of all Yassin buildings,
18:28the emergency building. The missile directly hit the male surgery unit,
18:32and you can see the unit was totally destroyed, and 90% of patients have been moved safely,
18:38and there are martyrs and injured in this place.
18:46The Israeli military said its attack followed extensive intelligence
18:50and used precise munitions to minimize harm at the site.
18:54Hamas confirmed that Ismail Barhom, a member of its political office,
18:59had been killed in the attack. Israel's defense minister confirmed
19:04that Barhom recuperating from an earlier injury in the hospital was the reason.
19:11Israel also released video of northern base division tanks unloaded in a field,
19:15and a caption that read, preparations of the 36th division for operations in the Gaza Strip.
19:24After two months of relative calm in the war, many Gazans have again been displaced.
19:32After Israel effectively abandoned a ceasefire and launched a new all-out air and ground campaign
19:38against Hamas from 18th March. Bira report, India Today.
19:43Turkey is boiling with massive protests. More than 1,100 have been detained in Turkish protests
19:55so far. Turkey's interior minister said 1,133 people had been detained since protests began
20:02on the 19th of March. Those detained include nine journalists who covered overnight protests
20:08across various cities. There have been large-scale demonstrations in cities across Turkey
20:14since last Wednesday over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the main political rival
20:20of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On Sunday, a court jailed him pending trial on corruption
20:26charges that he denies. Imamoglu's main opposition, Republican People's Party,
20:32has been calling for protests against the court decision to arrest the mayor, which they label
20:38politicized and undemocratic.
20:51And this is America going all out. Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President J.D. Vance and the
20:57second lady, will be traveling to Greenland this week with one of her children. The U.S.
21:02second lady will watch the island's national dog sled race and celebrate Greenlandic culture
21:08and unity, but this visit isn't entirely innocent. U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and
21:14Energy Secretary Chris Wright are also visiting Greenland. They're checking out a U.S. military
21:20base and exploring Greenland's valuable natural resources. Greenland Prime Minister called the
21:25U.S. delegation's trip to the island highly aggressive and raised particular objection
21:31to Waltz's visit. Other Greenlandic officials are also frustrated. The country just had elections
21:37and a new government isn't even formed yet. They see the timing of these visits as disrespectful
21:43and suspicious. U.S. President Donald Trump has been talking about acquiring Greenland for years.
21:49In his first term, he openly floated the idea of buying it from Denmark. When Danish leaders
21:54dismissed the idea, he doubled down. Now, in his second term, he's still pushing. Privately, Trump
22:00has told advisors to find a way to make Greenland an American territory. Now, another news coming in
22:09again from the United States of America, but related to India, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
22:14has spoken on reciprocal tax. He's been talking about how April 2nd is just around the corner and
22:21that it is American Liberation Day. This is what Howard Lutnick has said just ahead of the talks
22:28where we will see Brendan Lynch in India talking to Indian officials. India will be seeking carve
22:35out, which means relief on the reciprocal tariff that could be leveled against India or levied
22:42against India on the 2nd of April as well. Listen in to Howard Lutnick.
22:46It's so exciting is April 2nd is just around the corner and that's American Liberation Day. That's
22:53the day when the rest of the world starts to treat America with respect and your leadership,
23:00understanding how the rest of the world treats us and what balance and what fair trade finally is
23:05going to be is going to take care of America. It's going to launch the external revenue service
23:11to start to build the power and prestige of America back. And I'm honored to be helping you
23:18on that course.
23:21And that brings us to the close of this edition of World Today. But before I go,
23:25we leave you with these viral visuals of video of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. He is seen attempting to
23:33balance a fork and two spoons on the tip of his finger. The video of Musk's balancing act is
23:40reportedly from US President Donald Trump's exclusive Mar-a-Lago candlelight dinner where
23:45guests paid a million dollar seat. In one of the videos, Trump sits a little further away
23:51while Musk concentrates on balancing the cutlery. With that, goodbye and take care.
24:15Transcribed by https://otter.ai