After Clash With Zelensky, Trump Says 'Crimea Will Stay With Russia'

The recent interview with US President Donald Trump by TIME magazine has caused debate regarding the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Trump stated that "Crimea will stay with Russia” as part of potential peace negotiations with Ukraine, adding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky understands this reality. 

The Crimean peninsula has been a point of contention between Ukraine and Russia for years, with Russia annexing the region in 2014. Trump's comments suggest that he believes Crimea's fate is already sealed, with Russia maintaining control over the region. He pointed out that the people of Crimea largely speak Russian, implying that this demographic factor contributes to the region's ties with Russia. However, he also took a swipe at his predecessor, Barack Obama, saying, "But this was given by Obama. This wasn't given by Trump."

Zelensky has consistently maintained that recognising occupied territory as Russian is a red line for Ukraine, and Trump's comments may be seen as an attempt to push Ukraine towards negotiations.

In contrast to his comments on Crimea, Trump has also criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing to assault Ukraine. In a statement, Trump said, "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let's get the Peace Deal DONE!"

In response, Zelensky pointed out on Thursday that Ukraine had accepted a US ceasefire proposal 44 days ago as the first step toward peace talks, but Russian attacks have continued.

Trump also said that Ukraine will never join NATO and added, “From day one, that's what caused the war to start—talks of NATO membership".

Speaking to reporters Friday as he left the White House to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, Trump said there is no deadline for the conclusion of peace talks.

“I just want to do it as fast as possible,” Trump said. Negotiators are “pretty close” to a deal, he said.

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BluSmart Co-Founder Puneet Jaggi Detained From Delhi Hotel: Sources

EV cab service BluSmart co-founder Puneet Jaggi has been detained from a hotel in Delhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case linked to Gensol Group, another company that he co-founded.

The ED also searched properties of Gensol in Delhi, Gurugram, and Ahmedabad, sources said. The action came in a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), they said.

Mr Jaggi had been staying in the Delhi hotel for the last one week, sources said.

Power Finance Corporation filed a complaint with the Delhi Police and the Economic Offences Wing some days ago, sources said, adding Mr Jaggi's brother Anmol Jaggi is in Dubai and has not yet returned to India.

This ED investigation began on the basis of a report by the capital markets regulator SEBI, which alleged fund diversion, transfer of money to shell firms, share price manipulation, and running personal expenses from loan funds.

Sources said the ED may start a fresh investigation for alleged money laundering.

The ED has traced the wives of the Jaggi brothers in Pune, and they are likely to be questioned too, sources said.

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Attari Border Shut: Government's Big Measure Against Pak After J&K Attack

The Attari Border between India and Pakistan, located in Punjab, will be closed from tonight as part of retaliatory measures against Pakistan following the shocking terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam - the worst since the 2019 Pulwama strike -- in which 26 people died. 

Besides closure of Attari border, suspension of Indus water treaty and refusal to issue SAARC visas were among the range of measures India will take against Pakistan, the Cabinet Committee on Security decided this evening. The committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had met to formulate India's response to the attack.

"The Integrated Check Post Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before 01 May 2025," the foreign ministry announced after the meeting. 

The suspension of Indus Water Treaty - a water sharing agreement that sends the waters of Indus to the parched heartland of Pakistan - is the strongest measure. This is the first time the water treaty is being suspended - the measure is seen as second only to cutting off diplomatic relations. 

The government will brief the political parties regarding the decisions, sources said. 

Around 2.30 pm yesterday, terrorists had opened fire at tourists traversing a meadow in Baisaran valley on ponies. A Nepali national, a man helping the pony riders, and 24 tourists from across 14 states had died. 

The terrorists had shot the men on the head, after apparently asking them to recite Islamic verses. Visuals of women in shock, sitting beside the bodies of their husbands, were widely circulated online, evoking outrage.

The Resistance Front (TRF) -- a terror group seen as proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba -- has claimed responsibility for the attack, which has sent shock waves across the country.

Earlier today, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh made it clear that India will retaliate. Without naming Pakistan, he said, "I assure people that the Government of India will take every step that is necessary and appropriate. And we will not only get those who have carried out this incident, we will also reach out to those who, sitting behind the scenes, have conspired to commit such nefarious acts on the soil of India".

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"Brutal Crime, Has No Justification": Putin On Pahalgam Terror Attack

Russian president Vladimir Putin reached out to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening, expressing condolences for the deaths in the massive terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Twenty-six people -- most of them tourists -- died in Kashmir's Pahalgam today as terrorists struck. Several others were injured. 

"This brutal crime has no justification whatsoever. We expect that its organisers and perpetrators will face a deserved punishment," read the message from the Russian President.

"I would like to reiterate our commitment to further increasing cooperation with Indian partners in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Please convey words of sincere sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased as well as wishes for a speedy recovery of all injured," he had added.

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Trump Issues 8-Pointer 'Non-Tariff Cheating' Warning Amid 90-Day Pause

US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued an eight-point 'non-tariff cheating' list, warning countries of non-tariff-related offences that could spoil relations with the US. The warning came days after Trump announced a 90-day pause on his sweeping tariffs on all countries, barring China.

In the eight-point list, Trump mentioned currency manipulation - an accusation he has made previously on some countries for deliberately devaluing their currencies to make their exports more competitive while making US products costlier abroad. Another warning is about Value-Added Taxes (VATs) that are applied to imports but refunded on exports in many nations.

The Republican leader also warned countries of dumping below cost, export and other government subsidies, protective agricultural standards, counterfeiting, piracy, and IP theft, and transshipping to evade tariffs.

He also warned of protective technical standards, citing Japan's 'bowling ball test' - a claim Trump made first in 2018.

According to Trump, Japan uses a so-called "bowling ball test" to cheat US auto companies out of selling cars to Japanese consumers. "They take a bowling ball from 20 feet up in the air and drop it on the hood of the car. If the hood dents, the car doesn't qualify. It's horrible," he had said.

NON-TARIFF CHEATING:

1. Currency Manipulation
2. VATs which act as tariffs and export subsidies
3. Dumping Below Cost
4. Export Subsidies and Other Govt. Subsidies
5. Protective Agricultural Standards (e.g., no genetically engineered corn in EU)
6. Protective Technical Standards…

— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 20, 2025

Trump's 90-day pause on tariffs

On April 9, Trump announced a 90-day pause on his sweeping tariffs on all countries, barring China - a move that had seemed nearly impossible. According to Trump, who had introduced the slew of tariffs to address the alleged trade imbalance with the US, over 75 countries had negotiated and not retaliated against him - which led to the pause. During the 90 days, a significantly reduced reciprocal tariff of just 10 per cent would be in effect, he said.

A growing alarm inside the Treasury Department over the developments in the bond market was reportedly the only factor that made Trump hit a pause on his reciprocal tariff regime.

"The bond market is very tricky, I was watching it. The bond market right now is beautiful. But yeah, I saw last night where people were getting a little queasy. We didn't have access to lawyers, or it was just wrote up. We wrote it up from our hearts, right? It was written from the heart, and I think it was well written too, but it was written from the heart," the US President said while addressing reporters after tariff pause announcement.

US-China tariff war

Trump's administration is locked in a war of sky-high reciprocal tariffs with superpower rival China that has unnerved world markets.

While Trump put a pause on his tariffs on all countries, he announced an immediate increase in tariffs on China to 125 per cent, up from the previously declared 104 per cent, and later to a whopping 145 per cent after Beijing retaliated to his sweeping "Liberation Day" worldwide levies.

"Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World's Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America. At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the US and other countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable. China wants to make a deal. They just don't know how quite to go about it...President Xi Jinping is a proud man. They don't know quite how to go about it, but they'll figure it out," Trump had said.

Amid the ongoing conflict, Trump said that he was confident the two countries could make a deal to end a bitter trade war.

"Yeah, we're talking to China. I would say they have reached out a number of times," he said.

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Biker, Assaulted By "Drunk" Men, Traced Accused On Instagram Using AI tools

What could have been a fun breakfast ride turned into a nightmare for a group of eleven bikers in Gurugram after they were forced to stop by allegedly drunk men who beat them up and damaged their luxury bikes, whose costs range from Rs 10 to Rs 25 lakh.

"They hit me with an iron bat. I survived because of my helmet," Hardik Sharma, who was seriously injured in the incident, told NDTV.

He said that he was also "threatened with a knife". "They also said that they will shoot me if I shoot their videos," he said. The videos of the incident have gone viral on social media.

Mr Sharma also detailed how he traced the accused on Instagram using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools

Insisting that he and his group were attacked without any instigation, he narrated the events that led to the assault.

"We were going to Panchgaon in Manesar from Ambience Mall for breakfast when a black Scorpio tried to disbalance us near Dwarka Expressway by swerving their vehicle. We stopped on the side to let them pass. But they stopped their SUV in front of us. They were drunk and had glasses in their hands," Mr Sharma said.

"They got out of the vehicle and started hitting one of my friends. When we intervened, they started damaging our bikes. Meanwhile, some of my friends fled the scene to avoid damage to the bikes, as they are very expensive. Each bike costs around Rs 20 to Rs 25 lakh," he added.

Mr Sharma said that he could have avoided serious injuries, but he was attacked again when he went back to save one of his friends.

"I also left, but a friend was left behind. So, I stopped my bike and went back on foot to save him. But by the time I could reach him, he had left, and one of the drunk men took my bike. They started damaging it. They hit me with an iron bat. I survived because of my helmet. They kicked me, hit my hand with the bat," he said.

They left after warning him not to shoot their videos. "They said, 'We will shoot you if you shoot our videos'".

He also alleged that it took him 12 hours to get the First Information Report registered against the men.

"I had to go to several police stations as they were telling me that the area doesn't fall under their jurisdiction. The whole process was going on from 8 am and completed at 8 pm. Then the FIR was lodged."

'Traced Accused Through AI'

Hardik Sharma said that he identified his attackers even before the police could, using AI tools.

"We use some paid AIs on which if you upload photos or videos, it can lead you to the social media of the person in them if they have a public profile. So, we found them on Instagram and we also gave the police the details. We showed them the media of the gym where they worked out," he said.

But even after all of this, there have been no arrests, he rued.

"I don't even know why they started hitting us. They didn't say anything, just started attacking us. I also want them to pay for the damage to my bike. It's a very expensive bike. It costs Rs 11 lakh. They damaged the bike and damaged the accessories worth Rs 3 to 4 lakh that I installed. The damage rounds up to around Rs 4 to Rs 5 lakh," he said.

The police have said that they have identified the accused through CCTV footage, and efforts are on to arrest them.

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For 1st Time In Years, Putin Says 'Open To Direct Peace Talks' With Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin, under pressure from Washington to show willingness to make peace in Ukraine, proposed on Monday bilateral talks with Kyiv for the first time in years, and said he was open to more ceasefires after a one-day Easter truce.

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed Kyiv was sending a delegation to London to meet with the United States and other Western countries on Wednesday.

The London talks are a follow-up to a meeting in Paris last week in which the U.S. and European states discussed ways to end the more than three-year-old war.

Putin, speaking to a Russian state TV reporter, said fighting had resumed after his surprise 30-hour Easter ceasefire, which he announced unilaterally on Saturday.

Both countries accused the other of violating Putin's truce, which Kyiv had largely dismissed from the outset as a stunt.

Washington said it would welcome an extension of the truce. Zelenskiy, who has called for it to be extended to a 30-day ceasefire on civilian targets, said continued Russian attacks during Sunday's ceasefire showed Moscow was intent on prolonging the war.

In his comments, Putin said Moscow was open to any peace initiatives and expected the same from Kyiv.

"When the president said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Interfax news agency.

Zelenskiy made no reference to Putin's remarks on bilateral talks in his comments on X announcing the Ukrainian delegation for the London talks.

"Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States - we are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace," Zelenskiy wrote, adding that he had good discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Earlier on Monday, Zelenskiy said that his forces were instructed to continue to mirror the Russian army's actions.

"The nature of Ukraine's actions will remain symmetrical: ceasefire will be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defence. Actions always speak louder than words," he said on X.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both said on Friday that Washington could walk away from peace talks altogether if the sides do not make more progress within days. Trump struck a more optimistic note Sunday, saying that "hopefully" the two sides would make a deal "this week".

Russia has yet to row back from its demands, including that Ukraine cede all the land Putin claims to have annexed and accept permanent neutrality. Ukraine says that would amount to surrender and leave it undefended if Moscow attacks again.

Asked about Trump's remarks on a possible peace deal soon, Peskov told reporters that he would make no comments, "especially about the timeframe".

"President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results."

While there were no air raid alerts in Ukraine on Sunday, Ukrainian forces reported nearly 3,000 violations of Russia's ceasefire with the heaviest attacks seen along the Pokrovsk part of the frontline, Zelenskiy said earlier on Monday.

Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had shot at Russian positions 444 times and said it had counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks, saying also that there were deaths and injuries among the civilian population.

Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield reports.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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