News

Trump signs order to cut staff at VOA

2025/03/17 17:00

U.S. government-funded broadcaster Voice of America is shutting down after 83 years in service. The virtual shutdown follows an executive order from the Trump administration on Friday directing the U.S. Agency for Global Media which houses VOA to operate with the legally required MINIMUM staff. Accordingly almost the entire staff of one-thousand-300 people at VOA have reportedly been placed on paid leave.

U.S. launches airstrikes against Houthis to secure maritime navigation in Red Sea

2025/03/17 17:00

Also in the Middle East. U.S. fighter jets targeted several Houthi drones launched from Yemen this past Sunday amid attacks on American Navy ships following U.S. bombings of Houthi militant sites in Yemen. Our Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. Powerful explosions occurred across many regions of Yemen, including its capital, Sanaa, over the weekend. U.S. forces carried out more than 170 airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Middle Eastern country. The U.S. targeted military bases, specifically their missile and drone capabilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The operation was aimed at deterring attacks on international shipping routes in the Red Sea and to secure maritime navigation there. President Trump said the U.S. responded to Houthi attacks on American ships and aircraft in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Trump's national security adviser, Michael Waltz, told ABC News on Sunday that Iran should be held responsible for supporting the rebel group. "This was an overwhelming response that actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out. And the difference here is, one, going after the Houthi leadership, and two, holding Iran responsible. It is Iran that has repeatedly funded, resourced, trained, and helped the Houthis " The Houthi-run Health Ministry reported that the strikes resulted in at least 53 deaths and injured over 100 people. In retaliation to the airstrikes, the self-styled Yemeni Armed Forces stated that they would target all American warships in the Red and Arabian Seas. "The Yemeni Armed Forces will not hesitate to target all American warships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea in retaliation to the aggression against our country." These forces carried out a military operation on Sunday, local time, with multiple ballistic missiles and drones, launched at the American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its battle-group. However, the U.S. stated that 11 drones were shot down by U.S. aircraft, while the missiles malfunctioned and fell into the sea. The United Nations expressed concern over the U.S. and Houthi clashes and urged for a halt to all military activities. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if ceasefire deal is implemented

2025/03/17 17:00

In other news. The Palestinian militant group Hamas will release an American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel abides by the ceasefire agreement. This is according to the Associated Press based on the remarks of a senior Hamas official who also called for talks on the second phase of the ceasefire deal to start on the day of this release and to last a maximum of 50 days. He further demanded Israel allow essential aid to flow into Gaza and to retreat from the Rafah crossing.

Trump, Putin to hold phone talks this week

2025/03/17 17:00

In the latest bid to ink a truce between Ukraine and Russia talks over the phone are reportedly poised to take place between the U.S. and Russian leaders this week. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump has said recent negotiations with Russia to end the war with Ukraine are going well. He also expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree to a ceasefire. According to U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on Sunday, the two leaders are expected to hold phone talks this week. Witkoff met Putin in person in Moscow last week, to further discuss a potential ceasefire deal that will finally put a halt to over three years of war. The envoy expressed optimism over the phone call, saying that "the presidents are going to have a really good and positive discussion this week." He also voiced confidence that a deal would be reached "in the coming weeks." Witkoff explained that Washington is also in communication with Kyiv, adding that while the situation is complicated, the gap between the two sides is narrowing. U.S. negotiators are set to meet with counterparts from both Ukraine and Russia during the coming week to further engage in ceasefire talks. Meanwhile, the European Union is set to discuss measures to provide additional weapons to Ukraine worth over 43 billion U.S. dollars during its foreign ministers' meeting and a leaders summit. On Thursday, the military chiefs from countries participating in the "Coalition of the Willing" will meet in the UK to discuss post-war peacekeeping. While plans for deploying peacekeeping troops to key locations and training Ukrainian forces are being discussed, the process is expected to face several hurdles as many countries are reluctant to send troops. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trials begin for military, police officials taking part in alleged "insurrection"

2025/03/17 17:00

And today the Seoul Central District Court began.. the trials of several military and police authorities on charges of insurrection amid the short-lived martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3rd. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was at court earlier this afternoon amid allegations that he sought to keep lawmakers from entering the parliament to vote against the martial law. Former head of the Korea Defense Intelligence Command Noh Sang-won was also at the court here in Seoul and later this week suspended commissioner of the National Police Agency Cho Ji-ho is scheduled to appear at court.

U.S. hints at new trade deals as reciprocal tariffs set to impact S. Korea

2025/03/17 10:00

The U.S. may start bilateral talks on new trade deals after imposing tariffs on major partners, including South Korea. Seoul's trade minister, who wrapped up his trip to Washington, says the Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs on the country are expected to take effect starting April, as planned. Our Lee Soo-jin starts us off. The United States is considering forging new trade agreements, which could also impact Free Trade Agreement partners like South Korea. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a CBS interview on Sunday local time, said that the U.S. could potentially engage in bilateral agreements with countries after resetting a "new baseline of fairness and reciprocity." He emphasized that bilateral negotiations would not begin until reciprocal tariffs were fully implemented on countries like Canada, Mexico, and most of the EU, suggesting the tariffs could serve as a bargaining tool. He also stated that the reciprocal tariffs are not targeted towards specific nations, but apply to all countries. South Korea's trade minister Cheong In-gyo, who visited Washington to request an exemption from the tariffs, said on his return that the reciprocal tariffs on South Korea, are likely to take effect on April 2nd as President Donald Trump previously announced. "The goal of reducing the trade deficit through reciprocal tariffs has not changed. Since President Trump directly oversees these tariffs, it's highly likely that his policies will be carried out as planned." While there were no discussions on specific items like automobiles or beef, he said that the U.S. highlighted how South Korea's sanitary policies and technical regulations have made it difficult for the U.S. to access the Korean market. Cheong's trip to the U.S. to meet with his counterpart follows Trump's accusation earlier this month that South Korea imposes tariffs four times higher than those of the U.S., a claim that Korea disputed. South Korea's effective tariff rate on U.S. imports stands at 0-percent-79 percent as of 2024, in line with the two countries' FTA, a sharp drop from the 2-point-48 percent in 2015. While it is unclear whether South Korea's FTA with the United States will be revised or replaced by a completely new deal, given that it was already revised during Trump's first term, it is highly likely that further adjustments will be considered in response to the changing trade dynamics. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

U.S. launches wave of air strikes on Yemen's Houthis

2025/03/17 10:00

Over the weekend, the United States launched airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, aiming to deter attacks on international shipping routes in the Red Sea. The Houthis have vowed to retaliate. On Saturday local time, U.S. forces conducted airstrikes targeting sites in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The operation aimed to destroy the Houthis' military infrastructure, specifically their missile and drone capabilities, to secure maritime navigation in the Red Sea. The Houthi-run Health Ministry reported that the strikes resulted in at least 31 deaths and injured over 100 individuals. The Houthis said in a televised statement on Sunday that the recent attacks were a "blatant aggression" and claimed to have launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting a U.S. aircraft carrier and vessels in retaliation, without providing evidence.

On-point: Will Constitutional Court rule on the impeachment of President Yoon this week?

2025/03/17 10:00

As we just heard in the previous report, South Korea's constitutional court is expected to soon rule on whether to approve or reject the National Assembly's motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. For more on this, we're joined by attorney An Jun-seong. Mr. An, thanks for joining us this morning. 1. Why is it taking longer than expected for the Constitutional Court to make its final ruling on President Yoon? 2. Some say there's a possibility that the court is taking time to make a 'unanimous' decision. What's your take on this? 3. When can we expect the court to make the final ruling? Could it be later this week? 4. The court recently dismissed eight out of 13 motions to impeach state officials. Could this affect the verdict on the president in any way? 5. Could you briefly explain to our viewers what happens after the ruling? (Will he be immediately removed from office if the court rules against Yoon? And what happens if the court rules for the president?) Alright. I'm afraid that's all the time we have for this morning. Thank you so much for your insight. We appreciate it.

Political leaders "will accept" Court's verdict on Pres. Yoon's impeachment, as tens of thousands rally over weekend

2025/03/17 10:00

With President Yoon's impeachment case stretching beyond three months longer than the cases for previous leaders public and political tension is growing by the day, with tens of thousands rallying for and against Yoon's removal over the weekend. Our Oh Soo-young has more. The mood is restless as the nation awaits the Constitutional Court's ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, following his December 3rd Martial Law last year. With no indication of when the eight-member bench will issue its verdict, which was widely expected last Friday, the Court's deliberation period has stretched beyond two weeks longer than it took for the impeachment trials of former presidents Park Geun-hye and Roh Moo-hyun. As the Court typically announces the ruling schedule at least two days in advance, the earliest date would be later this week, mostly likely on Friday. In any case, it's highly probably the bench will deliver the ruling before April 18th when two justices retire. With judgment day draws closer, police estimate 44-thousand protesters gathered in Gwanghwamun Square over the weekend, calling for Yoon's impeachment, while some 60-thousand rallied against it, as public opinion remains deeply divided. To minimize the turmoil expected after the ruling, political leaders are being urged to send a clear message that they will accept the Court's verdict no matter what. The ruling People Power Party leadership said Sunday they have already expressed their commitment to accepting the Court’s ruling multiple times and emphasized this remains the party’s official stance. "Whether it is a joint press conference between ruling and opposition party leaders or a joint statement, we will issue a message of acceptance in some form." Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung has also expressed his willingness to accept the ruling during a YouTube broadcast, while floor leader Park Chan-dae said respecting the Court's decision is a given. Still both sides of the political spectrum are stepping up pressure on the judicial bench. Over the weekend, some ruling party lawmakers continued to protest against impeachment, holding marathon demonstrations outside the Constitutional Court for the sixth straight day. Meanwhile opposition lawmakers staged an 8-point-7 mile march from the National Assembly to Gwanghwamun Square, urging Yoon's removal. As for the President, Yoon has remained silent and has not issued public messages while the Court deliberates on his fate. His lawyer has previously said the President would accept the Court's decision. A presidential official told local media the leader remains at his residence, and is calmly waiting for the verdict. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Trump, Putin to hold phone talks this week

2025/03/17 10:00

In other news. Washington says U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak over the phone this week,.. regarding a potential ceasefire deal with Ukraine. European leaders and military chiefs are also holding a series of meetings this week to discuss ways to secure postwar peace amid ceasefire agreement speculation. Lee Seung-jae has the details. U.S. President Donald Trump has said recent negotiations with Russia to end the war with Ukraine are going well. He also expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree to a ceasefire. According to U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on Sunday, the two leaders are expected to hold phone talks this week. Witkoff met Putin in person in Moscow last week, to further discuss a potential ceasefire deal that will finally put a halt to over three years of war. The envoy expressed optimism over the phone call, saying that "the presidents are going to have a really good and positive discussion this week." He also voiced confidence that a deal would be reached "in the coming weeks." Witkoff explained that Washington is also in communication with Kyiv, adding that while the situation is complicated, the gap between the two sides is narrowing. U.S. negotiators are set to meet with counterparts from both Ukraine and Russia during the coming week to further engage in ceasefire talks. Meanwhile, the European Union is set to discuss measures to provide additional weapons to Ukraine worth over 43 billion U.S. dollars during its foreign ministers' meeting and a leaders summit. On Thursday, the military chiefs from countries participating in the "Coalition of the Willing" will meet in the UK to discuss post-war peacekeeping. While plans for deploying peacekeeping troops to key locations and training Ukrainian forces are being discussed, the process is expected to face several hurdles as many countries are reluctant to send troops. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if ceasefire deal is implemented

2025/03/17 10:00

Palestinian militant group Hamas has said it will only release an American-Israeli and the bodies of four hostages, if Israel implements the ceasefire agreement. According to the Associated Press citing a senior Hamas official on Sunday, the militant group believes that their offer is an "exceptional deal" aimed at getting the truce back on track. The official added that long-delayed talks over the second phase of the ceasefire need to begin on the day of the release, and should last no longer than 50 days. Hamas also called on Israel to stop barring the entry of humanitarian aid, and withdraw from the Rafah crossing.

Trump announces U.S. will hit back against EU's retaliatory tariffs on U.S., escalating trade war

2025/03/14 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We begin with the ongoing global trade war. President Trump warns of a 200-percent tariff on European wine and champagne if the EU proceeds with the 50-percent levy on American whisky. All this started with U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium products this week. Park Kun-woo explains. The U.S.-led trade war is intensifying as President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that he would not reconsider reciprocal tariffs set to be imposed on April 2nd. "We've been ripped off for years and we're not going to be ripped off anymore. Aluminum or steel or cars. We're not going to bend." Trump also uploaded a post on social media, threatening that he would soon impose a 200 percent tariff on alcohol products "coming out of France and other EU-represented countries" saying that would be great for U.S. wine and champagne businesses. That's in response to plans announced by the European Commission on Wednesday to retaliate with tariffs on U.S. goods worth 28 billion U.S. dollars, including a 50 percent tariff on whiskey from April. This came after the U.S. started imposing a 25-percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports from Wednesday. EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to South Africa, said on Thursday the EU would defend its interests while adding that it is also open to negotiations. She also said the bloc's trade commissioner plans to speak with his U.S. counterpart on related issues over the phone on Friday. And, with the trade war intensifying trade officials from South Korea visited Washington to discuss tariff issues. "If we're taking an exam, there must be some grading criteria. We need to first understand that criteria, and based on that, we should quickly correct any mistakes and need to persuade them on the points where we can." He added that they plan to request reciprocal measures to minimize the impact of the upcoming U.S. reciprocal tariffs. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Putin agrees with proposed 30-day ceasefire plan; Zelenskyy calls response deceptive

2025/03/14 20:00

In other news. Russian President Vladimir Putin has come up with his own demands for the 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and Ukraine, asking concessions from Kyiv. Choi Soo-young tells us more. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agreed in principle with the U.S.' proposed 30-day Ukraine ceasefire plan, but further terms and details need to be worked out. "We agree with the proposals to stop hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this ceasefire should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original roots of this crisis." On Thursday, at a news conference in Moscow, he said the idea was correct and he supported it, but he needs to discuss it with U.S. President Donald Trump, referring to him as "our American partner." Putin added that Ukraine would need to accept future conditions before the ceasefire agreement could be reached. He said that a decision should be made on how to handle isolated Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, one of the areas of contention, which he claimed Russia had regained full control of. He also stated that the ceasefire must be ensured, as Ukraine might use the period to secure more troops and supplies of weapons. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Putin is tactically preparing to reject the ceasefire deal. Zelenskyy said Putin is the one who will make the situation worse. "We have all just heard very predictable and highly manipulative words from Russia in response to the idea of a ceasefire on the front. We do not set conditions that complicate things; Russia does. Putin has stolen years of peace and continues this war day by day." He criticized Putin's response as deceptive, stating that the Russian leader was effectively refusing to accept the ceasefire proposal but responded in this way because he was afraid to tell the U.S. that he wanted to continue the war. Putin is expected to discuss the Ukraine conflict and ceasefire with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

S. Korea, U.S. conduct joint military exercises aimed at enhancing nighttime strike capabilities

2025/03/14 20:00

The army forces of South Korea and the U.S. have held a special target exercise, aimed at enhancing strike capabilities in nighttime conditions. South Korea's Army Special Warfare Command said Friday that around 250 troops from the two countries as well as 16 aircraft took part in the drill, including South Korea's CH-47 Chinook helicopters and the U.S. Black Hawks. The training involved clearing paths in pitch-black darkness using advanced equipment to swiftly and precisely strike the enemy's critical facilities. The joint 'special target exercise' was conducted over the past four days, from Monday through Wednesday.

Seoul urges Pyongyang to release detained S. Koreans following UN condemnation

2025/03/14 20:00

The government has renewed its call for the immediate release of three South Korean missionaries detained in North Korea for over a decade. The Ministry of Unification strongly condemned Pyongyang's unlawful actions on Friday and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the South Korean nationals. This follows the recent adoption of an opinion by the UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which condemned their detention as unjustifiable. Released Thursday, the opinion demands their release, compensation, and an independent investigation.

Trump reaffirms ties with Kim Jong-un; Seoul stresses denuclearization

2025/03/14 20:00

Mr. Trump has referred to North Korea as a nuclear power again as he touted his ties with Kim Jong-un. Our Kim Jung-sil covers his latest remarks and the response from South Korea's Unification Ministry. U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed confidence in his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "I had a great relationship with Kim Jong-un, North Korea. If I wasn't elected, if Hillary got in, you would have had a nuclear war with North Korea." Speaking to reporters in Washington on Thursday, Trump emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue, referring to North Korea as a "nuclear power," a recognition with significant diplomatic implications. In response, a spokesperson from the South Korean Ministry of Unification reaffirmed the nation's unwavering commitment to North Korea's denuclearization. "North Korea's denuclearization remains a steadfast principle upheld by South Korea, the U.S., and the international community. Our government will continue to strengthen close cooperation with the new U.S. administration to achieve this objective." Trump also reflected on how his diplomatic efforts, including several meetings with Kim Jong-un during his first term, contributed to the success of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. "The meeting caused the Olympics, which was in South Korea, to become a tremendous success. Nobody was buying tickets for the Olympics because they didn't want to be nuked. And I met (with Kim) and not only did the Olympics become successful, but North Korea participated in the Olympics." However, the first U.S.-North Korea summit took place in June 2018, four months after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics concluded, in February. While discussions about renewed dialogue continue, experts suggest that priorities like trade tariffs may delay progress. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Acting President Choi vetoes special probe into political broker and first couple

2025/03/14 20:00

Onto the political front. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has vetoed a bill calling for a special probe into an obscure political broker called Myung Tae-kyun. The veto was largely expected and came on Friday at a Cabinet meeting during which Choi pointed out that Myung was already under investigation by the prosecution. Last month, the main opposition Democratic Party unilaterally passed the bill seeking to investigate allegations of election fraud involving President Yoon Suk Yeol , First Lady Kim Keon Hee , and Myung.

Trump announces U.S. will hit back against EU's retaliatory tariffs on U.S., escalating trade war

2025/03/14 17:00

We begin with the latest twist in an escalating trade war between the U.S. and the European Union. Mr. Trump has warned of a 200-percent tariff on European wine champagne and more IF the EU proceeds with its 50-percent tariff on American whiskey in retaliation of course for current U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. Park Kun-woo has our top story. The U.S.-led trade war is intensifying as President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that he would not reconsider reciprocal tariffs set to be imposed on April 2nd. "We've been ripped off for years and we're not going to be ripped off anymore. Aluminum or steel or cars. We're not going to bend." Trump also uploaded a post on social media, threatening that he would soon impose a 200 percent tariff on alcohol products "coming out of France and other EU-represented countries" saying that would be great for U.S. wine and champagne businesses. That's in response to plans announced by the European Commission on Wednesday to retaliate with tariffs on U.S. goods worth 28 billion U.S. dollars, including a 50 percent tariff on whiskey from April. This came after the U.S. started imposing a 25-percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports from Wednesday. EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to South Africa, said on Thursday the EU would defend its interests while adding that it is also open to negotiations. She also said the bloc's trade commissioner plans to speak with his U.S. counterpart on related issues over the phone on Friday. And, with the trade war intensifying trade officials from South Korea visited Washington to discuss tariff issues. "If we're taking an exam, there must be some grading criteria. We need to first understand that criteria, and based on that, we should quickly correct any mistakes and need to persuade them on the points where we can." He added that they plan to request reciprocal measures to minimize the impact of the upcoming U.S. reciprocal tariffs. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

World News: NHS England to be scrapped as role returns to government control

2025/03/14 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a major shakeup of the country's public healthcare system by abolishing NHS England, the central body overseeing the National Health Service. On Thursday local time, Prime Minister Starmer unveiled plans to scrap NHS England and integrate its functions into the Department of Health and Social Care, aiming to streamline healthcare administration. NHS England was established in 2012 to grant the NHS operational independence and has 15,000 staff. While the restructuring aims to eliminate bureaucratic repetition and redirect resources to frontline services, the announcement was met with mixed reactions, with the British Medical Association endorsing the move, hoping that it will improve staff retention and patient outcomes and the UK's largest healthcare union, Unison, voiced concerns over potential job losses. The European Union and South Africa convened their first bilateral summit in 7 years on Thursday to strengthen economic and strategic ties. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town for the 8th EU-South Africa summit, where the EU announced a substantial investment package, to support South Africa's development initiatives. They included a commitment to an investment package worth 5.1 billion U.S. dollars, to be allocated to key sectors, such as energy, and healthcare. The summit also addressed the broader geopolitical context, particularly the escalating trade tensions with the U.S., including President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose a 200% tariff on European alcohol. In Italy, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck a region near Naples in the early hours of Thursday local time with at least 11 people treated for minor injuries. The quake's epicenter was near the coastal town of Pozzuoli, west of Naples, occurring around 1:25 A.M. The earthquake caused minor structural damage, including cracks in buildings and the collapse of facades. This was the strongest tremor in the area in 40 years. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely. An American influencer in Australia is receiving scrutiny, after she posted a video of herself removing a baby wombat from its mother, causing public outrage and prompting Australian authorities to review her visa status. The video, now deleted from her social media, shows Sam Jones picking up the baby wombat at night while its distressed mother chases after her. Wildlife experts criticized the act as potentially harmful and illegal, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Australia's Home Affairs department is reviewing the conditions of Jones' visa, to determine if immigration laws were breached. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Putin agrees with proposed 30-day ceasefire plan; Zelenskyy calls response deceptive

2025/03/14 17:00

In other news. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cast doubt on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin's latest remarks about supporting the U.S.-proposed ceasefire. Our Choi Soo-young explains starting with Mr. Putin's words. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agreed in principle with the U.S.' proposed 30-day Ukraine ceasefire plan, but further terms and details need to be worked out. "We agree with the proposals to stop hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this ceasefire should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original roots of this crisis." On Thursday, at a news conference in Moscow, he said the idea was correct and he supported it, but he needs to discuss it with U.S. President Donald Trump, referring to him as "our American partner." Putin added that Ukraine would need to accept future conditions before the ceasefire agreement could be reached. He said that a decision should be made on how to handle isolated Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, one of the areas of contention, which he claimed Russia had regained full control of. He also stated that the ceasefire must be ensured, as Ukraine might use the period to secure more troops and supplies of weapons. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Putin is tactically preparing to reject the ceasefire deal. Zelenskyy said Putin is the one who will make the situation worse. "We have all just heard very predictable and highly manipulative words from Russia in response to the idea of a ceasefire on the front. We do not set conditions that complicate things; Russia does. Putin has stolen years of peace and continues this war day by day." He criticized Putin's response as deceptive, stating that the Russian leader was effectively refusing to accept the ceasefire proposal but responded in this way because he was afraid to tell the U.S. that he wanted to continue the war. Putin is expected to discuss the Ukraine conflict and ceasefire with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.