- 4 months ago
On Five Live, the broadcast focuses on India's 79th Independence Day, highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's longest address from the Red Fort. The speech centered on the 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat' initiative, pushing for self-reliance in technology and manufacturing. A significant announcement was the plan for a next-generation GST reform, which he called a "Diwali gift to all of India," with a government proposal suggesting a new two-rate structure of 5% and 18%. For the first time, the Prime Minister also praised the RSS from the Red Fort, calling it one of the world's biggest NGOs, which ignited political criticism from opposition parties. Additionally, the program covers the summit in Anchorage, Alaska, between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, addresses terms for a possible ceasefire in the Ukraine war, which began in February 2022. The agenda extends beyond the conflict to include trade, economic cooperation, and the future of the Strat Treaty on nuclear arms, which is set to expire in February 2026. This marks the first time in a decade a Russian president has been on US soil. The summit's outcome also holds implications for India, which faces US tariffs over its import of Russian oil.
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00:00We're done! We're done! We're done! We're done!
00:30We're done!
01:00Independence Day with much fun fervour, with educational institutions, offices and government establishments holding flag-hoisting ceremonies and cultural events. Celebrations were held at the offices of various political parties and ministries. Let's take a look at some of these pictures.
01:16Yes, Congress leaders, including Party Chief Malik Arjun Kharage, Lok Sabha, Elopi, Rahul Gandhi, Ajay Markan and others participate in Independence Day celebrations at the party office. However, they were not seen at the event at Red Fort.
01:30Can you bend it?
01:34Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta hoisted the tri-colour on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day. During the occasion, she pledged to rejuvenate River Yamuna, make the national capital's infrastructure the best in the country and ensure progress in all sectors.
01:49External Affairs Minister Dr. Ayesha Shankar hoisted the national flag at his residence in New Delhi on the occasion of India's 79th Independence Day, joining millions across the country in celebrating the spirit of independence and national pride.
02:13Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta hoisted the tri-colour at his residence on the occasion of 79th Independence Day in Lucknow, extended his greetings to the people of Delhi.
02:43Delhi Chief Malik Arjun Kharage,
03:13The important thing has happened through the day, especially the highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address. Remember, this has been the longest address that he's delivered in the 12 speeches at Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day.
03:24and the main focus of Prime Minister Modi's Independence Day address
03:29that was Atmanirbhar Bharat push.
03:31Prime Minister Narendra Modi's renewed call for self-reliance
03:35under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative
03:37urging India's youth, scientists and government departments
03:41to develop cutting-edge indigenous technologies.
03:45Getting you all the details in this news report.
03:54A clarion call from Lalkila to develop Swadeshi goods.
04:11Keeping it the main focus of his Independence Day speech,
04:14Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to explore ideas to make India self-reliant.
04:24on the first stage.
04:32During their address, Modi stressed that it was high time to prove India's mettle in
05:00global markets with quality products.
05:03Prime Minister cautioned against over-dependence on other countries, warning that it brings
05:07hidden pitfalls.
05:08The remarks come amid the raging tariff war with the United States.
05:13Modi urged professionals to build their own platforms instead of depending on foreign
05:18ones.
05:19Emphasizing that Operation Sindhur showcased the resounding success of weapons developed
05:47at home, Prime Minister Modi urged scientists and engineers to make indigenous jet engines
05:53for made-in-Bharat fighter jets.
05:55I am a leader of my country's youth, my talented young people, my engineers and professionals
06:04and the government's citizens too.
06:08It is my belief that our own, made in India, fighter jets, jet engines, we should not be able to do it.
06:27Modi pointed out that the government was working in mission mode in the semiconductor sector and made in India chips would hit markets.
06:35Modi pointed out that the government was working in the mission mode in the semiconductor sector.
06:42Six other semi-conductor units are running down to the ground.
06:48Four new units have already been given the green signal.
06:56Modi underlined that the Indian nuclear energy market is open for the private sector, taking the nation one step closer to becoming a superpower.
07:17Bureau Report, India Today.
07:47These units include tobacco, paan masala and the others will have a 40% GST levied on it.
07:52Items that will have lesser GST henceforth that include farming items, health related items, handicraft insurance that will also be provided as per this new proposal and GST council that is set to meet in September.
08:08This comes on the very important day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech announced plans for a major overhaul of the goods and services tax system.
08:19Where we are learning that GST council may drop the 12% slab so far and more tax reforms that are likely to come in after that meeting that happens in September.
08:31But a further development that has already taken place where the government has sent its proposal to the GST council.
08:38An insight scoop coming in on India today where this means that the GST rates going forward will be at 5% and 18%.
08:49Let me cut across to Aishwarya Paliwal with further details of what this proposal includes and how this will make it much easier for the consumer, for businesses.
08:59Well, definitely, you know, this will make it much, much easier.
09:03And the reason why we will see this happening is because once the GST rates come down, then we will see the prices of the commodities coming down.
09:10What government sources have told India today is that they were getting a lot of feedback, a lot of surveys were being done,
09:15and all of them were speaking about the fact that they do need the GST rates to come down.
09:19The compliance also will increase many folds. More people will come under the tax net.
09:23That is also something that the government at the moment is looking at.
09:27And that's the reason why they now believe that we will see the consumption going up.
09:31And because of that, we will also see more people paying the tax.
09:34And also those items, Aisha, which you and I use, the common man uses, all those items will now see a reduction in the prices.
09:41And that's the reason why the government has said, and the Prime Minister, in fact, has given a timeline that this Diwali will be double bonanza.
09:47Let me also tell you this is not something which has been done in the past one week or even in the past one month.
09:52But this is something that the government was very keenly looking at over the past few months.
09:56And now they are saying that they have sent a very detailed, a very comprehensive proposal to the council, the GOM.
10:02Now the council will look at it.
10:04They are hopeful that the next GST council meeting, which will take place in September in that meeting,
10:08a stamp of approval will be given by the GST council.
10:11Oh, yes, absolutely.
10:12Thank you for those details.
10:13Certainly comes in as a relief.
10:15And of course, until it is implemented, the meeting that is to happen in September.
10:20Yes, during the Independence Day speech, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a major GST overhaul
10:27that he said is in the works, calling it a Diwali gift to all of India.
10:32From removing slabs to rationalizing essential goods, the reform could mean more money in your pocket.
10:38India Today getting you this report.
10:40This Diwali, it is not just lights and laddos lifting spirits.
10:59A lighter tax load might brighten wallets too.
11:02Prime Minister Modi today announced the next-gen GST regime, hinting at a structural revamp of the goods and services tax system.
11:11The previous 8 months, we have been building a regular tax system for the next 2nd year.
11:12We have made and the next generation of the GST reforms.
11:15We have been building a great sustainable tax system we have done.
11:18We had to build a entire tax system, so the rest of our people went through.
11:19We have a great system and the Sofer team.
11:21In other words, the new members went through, we have gathered from the simple-fiber system.
11:24We have gathered the same in the process of the GST reform and the new government reform.
11:25They have been according to the and so-called generation of imp видео and the negativos.
11:26Sent.
11:29The Penalists in the context of the GST reforms will be given itself as distance from the people of the government.
11:31The government of the government and the so-called government reformist of the government government government.
11:32So what is cooking in this tax kitchen?
11:46Sources tell India today that the government is planning mega reforms.
11:50This includes removal of the 12% slab, rate rationalization for health and life insurance
11:56and overall rate rationalization by rejigging the rate of essential items.
12:04According to government sources, a two-day GST council meeting in September will finalize
12:09the details, a move expected to benefit households, MSMEs and boost consumption across the board.
12:16The opposition, on the other hand, said that the reforms are long time coming, calling
12:22the move damage control for the US tariff strike.
12:24GST was always ill-conceived and flawed.
12:28The fact that 50% of the poorest Indians pay for 64% of the GST tells you how flawed this
12:34structure is.
12:35Something that Rahul Gandhiji has been saying.
12:37He has said this is a Gabbar Singh tax.
12:39He has also said that the Prime Minister takes a while to realize what is right or wrong.
12:43But none of it should be seen in unison.
12:45This is coming from a place where he knows tariffs in India are going to be tough.
12:49He knows he will have to do a tough bargain.
12:52He spoke about GST.
12:53You know, those things need to be spoken during the budget time, not during this time.
12:59This time, international issues, Indian issues, such kind of things should have been spoken,
13:06which I think, you know, he didn't speak about.
13:09Experts, on the other hand, say this could revive demand and make compliance easier.
13:14After personal tax got a much-needed revamp and relief earlier this year,
13:44it seems it is GST's turn to get the Prime Minister's review.
13:48Hopefully, this Diwali will not just bring fireworks in the skies, but some sparks on your savings too.
13:55Bureau Report, India Today.
14:14A political firestorm.
14:15Take a look at this report.
14:22Twelve years, twelve speeches.
14:25But not one word about the RSS until now.
14:29For the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke that silence.
14:38And not with a passing remark, but with a glowing tribute.
14:42Calling the RSS, one of the world's biggest NGOs, crediting it for nation-building.
14:51Saying it has served India for a hundred years.
14:55And that he was honoured to salute their service on Independence Day.
14:59But that praise has set off a political firestorm.
15:27Both Congress MP Manikam Tagore and AIMIM Chief OAC called this tribute an insult to freedom fighters.
15:37They accused the RSS of standing aloof from the independence struggle and of spreading division, not unity.
15:44Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav hit out too, stating that the RSS was neither secular nor socialist.
15:51The words got sharper, the fight got personal.
16:11It is unfortunate because the same RSS was banned by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
16:19He has not just undermined one of India's foremost freedom fighters, Vallabhbhai Patel, who had banned the RSS.
16:26His attempts to legitimize it will fail because this is the same organization that inspired India's first terrorist to kill Mahatma Gandhi.
16:34Nonetheless, the Prime Minister's effusive praise, per the RSS, has gone a long way in quashing rumours of a rift with the sang chief,
16:45even though it has come at the cost of a political firestorm.
16:49Bureau Report, India Today.
16:51I may now get you breaking details of how Donald Trump is leaving for Alaska for two stocks with Vladimir Putin.
17:05That is all set to happen.
17:07In fact, U.S. President Donald Trump, who will be meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin,
17:12a meeting that is very keenly being watched on what happens as part of it.
17:18Now, the two are scheduled to meet on Friday in Alaska.
17:21It is a high-stakes and high-risk summit that could prove decisive for the future of Ukraine
17:27and the entire globe that is watching this meeting very, very carefully.
17:32Those are the pictures on your screens as U.S. President Donald Trump has set off for Alaska for two stocks with Vladimir Putin.
17:42The summit that is set to take place at Joint Base Almendorf-Richardson in Anchorage,
17:47Alaska's largest military installation and a Cold War base for surveillance of the Soviet Union.
17:53Vladimir Putin will also step onto Western soil for the first time since he had ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
18:02Thousands of people who have lost their lives as part of this war that has been ongoing for more than two years.
18:08Russia has not relented.
18:09Rather, they have made rapid gains.
18:12Now, we are also learning that several activities that are underway in the city that is bracing for the two leaders as part of this big meet.
18:22And it is to an extent where flight restrictions to hotels all have been booked out,
18:31all set to welcome Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in that high-stakes meet that is set to take place.
18:37This is Anchorage playing host to Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
18:44In fact, Trump who is expected to land at 10 a.m. local time and Putin who will land about 50 minutes later than Donald Trump.
18:54Let me cut across to India Today Global Editor Pranayupadhyay with further details as Donald Trump is all set to leave and everyone watching what will turn out in this meeting very, very closely.
19:08Definitely, Suha Shah, this is a high-stakes meeting as, you know, rightly put by Donald Trump himself.
19:14He said that the high stakes are there as far as this meeting is concerned.
19:17And after a decade, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be on U.S. soil and he would be meeting a U.S. president after four years.
19:27And this is after six years, he would be meeting President Donald Trump again, you know.
19:33So definitely, this is going to be a very high-stakes meeting.
19:37But what will be the outcome of this meeting?
19:38There are a lot of things on agenda and if you see the composition of team accompanying both the principles, you could see that the trade secretary is there, the finance secretary, U.S. treasury secretary is there.
19:53On the other side, the Russian finance minister is also accompanying Russian President Vladimir Putin.
19:58Sergey Lavrov, who is the foreign minister of Russia, is already there in Anchorage, in Alaska.
20:03So definitely, on foreign policy side, on the trade and commerce side, on the economic cooperation.
20:09So length and breadth of the relationship will be discussed on this week's meeting besides the agenda of Ukraine war and the possible ceasefire solution.
20:19So this talk or this, you know, high-stakes meeting will not be limited only to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
20:25But both the leaders are likely to discuss the other issues as well, including the Arctic Council composition, along with that the Arctic energy and mineral resource usage and other aspects of it.
20:40And also Russia and Ukraine, which Russia and U.S. have the treaty, which is called the Strat Treaty, regarding the nuclear weapon and it's keeping the nuclear weapon stockpile in check.
20:52So, that treaty is also due to expire in February 2026 and ahead of that, both the leaders are likely to discuss that.
21:00The statement given by Russian President Vladimir Putin clearly indicates that, you know, he is willing to discuss all the issues with his, you know, U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump.
21:11And he is also, he has expressed hope that there could be a positive solution, there could be a positive outcome of it.
21:18However, President Donald Trump has said that, you know, there are only 25% chances that there could be a big, big breakthrough.
21:25But we know that as far as the Russia-Ukraine conflict is concerned, this meeting is going to give us the direction that how this can be, can be reached to a solution.
21:34What could be that solution? But before sealing any, you know, formula or any ceasefire agreement, the trilateral meeting is required, which President Donald Trump also indicated that after meeting President Vladimir Putin,
21:47he would be calling up President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and thereafter he will try and make both the leaders sit together and have a solution.
21:55Pranik, continue talking to us because this is a high-stakes meeting and Trump in his full promise before he came to power had said that,
22:05the moment I come to power, I will solve this issue within 24 hours.
22:09He had also boasted of his equation with Vladimir Putin. Things didn't turn out that way.
22:14But can it turn around in this meeting is what everyone is waiting to watch.
22:19We also heard from Sergey Lavrov who said that we have nothing to be nervous because we are very clear about our position.
22:26What is going to be the strategy of the United States and who all are accompanying Donald Trump for this meeting?
22:33Who all are accompanying President Donald Trump?
22:35So Secretary Scott Bisson, who is the Secretary of Treasury, he is accompanying Howard Lutton, who is the Commerce Secretary of the United States.
22:41Besides that, Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, he is also accompanying.
22:45And also, CIA Director, John Ratcliffe, he is also accompanying President Donald Trump to Anchorage for this high-stake meeting.
22:54Besides that, the Russian President is being accompanied by his Defense Minister, his Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, you mentioned, is already there in Anchorage.
23:03Besides that, his Special Advisor, Kirill Dimitrov, is also accompanying President Vladimir Putin.
23:09And if you see, besides these, you know, besides these statements, there has been a lot of back-channel talks between both the sides, Russians and the U.S. side.
23:18And on 6th of August, when Special Envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, when he visited Moscow, he had a personal audience, he had a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
23:31And thereafter, there was a confirmation by Kremlin that soon there is going to be a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, and which later on confirmed by the U.S. side as well.
23:42And that's why, within 7 days, this thing was worked out.
23:45But besides, before that, there were a lot of things went in for the preparation of these things.
23:50U.S. President, you rightly pointed it out, that it was his pole promise.
23:54He said those things, that, you know, I can end this war with just a phone call to Vladimir Putin and to Vladimir Zelensky.
24:03This war would not have started if he would have been the President of the United States in White House.
24:10But it happened.
24:11And even yesterday, he expressed the hope, he expressed his willingness to engage with the Russian side.
24:17But he also warned the Russian side that if the talks fail, then there would be serious consequences for Russia.
24:24Because we know that on the Hill, on the Capitol Hill, the Sanctioning Russia Act is, which is a bipartisan act,
24:31which is there for the consideration, which allows 500% tariffs on Russia and also the secondary tariffs on countries,
24:39those who would do business with Russia.
24:41So definitely, it has, you know, we, as Indian, we, India also have interest in this summit,
24:48because we are having, we are facing this additional 25% tax, tariff, just because we are buying Russian oil.
24:56Right.
24:56Pranay, I request you to please stay on, as we also have Sergei Strokin.
24:59He's a Russian journalist.
25:01He joins us on the broadcast.
25:03Sergei, I want to get updates from your end to how Russia is planning to approach this very important meeting with Donald Trump.
25:08In fact, Donald Trump had also in the past acknowledged his frustration with Vladimir Putin and one of severe consequences if he does not accept to cease fire.
25:17A lot rests on this meeting that is to happen.
25:21How is Russia approaching it?
25:24Thanks for having me.
25:26To start with, there's a lot of outcry in the world over this meeting, summit meeting, which is already called historic.
25:36With all that euphoria, while trying not to be too optimistic, I want to highlight that this would be the first full-fledged U.S.-Russian summit in the last 10 years.
25:49Can you imagine?
25:50That's a decade.
25:53And that's a fundamental change in the whole story of ill-fated U.S.-Russian relations, which during President Biden reached their lowest point.
26:05If we look at the situation from this perspective, we will understand that this summit is not only about Ukraine, while obviously Ukraine is a key issue.
26:18This is about restoring and revamping the dialogue window between Russia and America.
26:28We want, and we make itself clear, that we want U.S.-Russian relations not to be the hostage to Ukrainian crisis.
26:38And this is a fundamental shift since President Biden made it entirely focused on Ukraine.
26:45And we've seen that relations were crippled because of the stubborn American position on Ukraine.
26:51They were saying not a single decision on Ukraine without Ukraine.
26:57There was a sanction war.
26:59But apart from that, Russia and America, as the key global nuclear powers, which used to share the global responsibility for the stability and international crisis,
27:17were unable to at least conduct at least minimum dialogue.
27:24So probably this would not be the case anymore after President Putin and President Trump meet in Alaska.
27:32Let me add to that.
27:33There's a lot of misconception, especially in the Western media, and a lot of distortion when they discuss who stands to win and who stands to lose more.
27:43Probably you've seen all those publications that Putin is trying to outsmart President Trump, that Putin is the sole winner.
27:53Well, I can hardly subscribe for this theory for a simple reason that it is not only Russia and America who stand to win, but the whole world.
28:04Is China going to win if this is a success?
28:08Obviously, yes.
28:09If India, the same thing.
28:10Brazil, other countries also.
28:13The world, in the last years, the world was crippled with the sanction wars, with a lot of tension, with muscle flexing.
28:23So all of us, all of us, all the humanity want to side with relief.
28:29That's why I think we should stop talking about who stands to win more.
28:36Right.
28:36It will either win-win situation for all of us, Russians, Americans, Europeans, Chinese, Indians, or lose for everyone.
28:46Oh, yes, absolutely.
28:46And I'd like to take this point to my colleague, Pranay, who continues to be with us on the broadcast.
28:51Pranay, there is a reason that the whole world is watching this meeting very closely.
28:55India also, that will bear the consequences of it.
28:59We've seen all that has happened over importing Russian oil and the ongoing tariffs war with the United States.
29:07We await what eventually turns out on that decision.
29:10And like I said, an implication of tonight's meeting that will also have an impact on this decision.
29:16Definitely, Susha.
29:18And India has been a collateral as far as this case is concerned, because the previous Biden administration acknowledged India's help in buying Russian oil,
29:27because it actually helped the global economy and it actually helped the crude oil prices globally.
29:33Because India bought oil.
29:34India is one of the largest purchasers of energy from the international market.
29:39And India's oil purchase will actually help to stabilize the oil prices in the international crude market.
29:44But President Donald Trump is holding another view.
29:47And that's why he started holding India responsible for, you know, fueling the so-called Russian war machine.
29:54I don't know how he has worked out this formula, because the $2 trillion economy of Russia is not being funded and fueled by Indian oil purchase,
30:01which amounts to be only like $50 or $55 billion.
30:05But U.S. President Donald Trump not only holds this opinion, but he also, you know, added the additional 25% tariff on India.
30:14And after that, you know, India is facing definitely difficulty and we are engaging with the U.S. side as well.
30:21But recently, after the 6th of August meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff,
30:29and U.S. and Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Putin, called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
30:34And they had a, you know, a brief conversation about the updates on the Ukraine front as well.
30:39He also briefed him about his probable and possible meeting with the U.S. President Donald Trump,
30:43and as well as the international and regional issues of mutual, you know, concern and mutual interest.
30:49So, definitely, Russia is also aware about the fact that, you know, any secondary tariff, you know, added by U.S. side
30:56will actually strain the relation with other countries as well,
31:00and also the economy of the partner countries who are doing business with Russia.
31:05So, I think he is also mindful about the fact, as our expert rightly pointed it out,
31:09that the kind of composition we are looking on the Russian side,
31:14President Putin is traveling with his defense minister, he is traveling with his finance minister,
31:18he is also traveling with his special envoy, Kirill Dimitrev.
31:22So, clearly, he is looking at this meeting in terms of bilateral engagement with the United States,
31:28larger issues, right from the international cooperation between U.S. and Russia
31:32to the bilateral trade cooperation between the two countries,
31:35and also the Arctic, you know, and the Arctic cooperation between and the energy or mineral resource usage
31:43in that region with the United States.
31:46So, definitely, President Putin is looking at this meeting with a larger agenda
31:50and where the Russia-Ukraine conflict will definitely be on the table,
31:55but the conversation will not be restricted to Russia-Ukraine conflict alone.
32:00Right. In fact, Pranay, do stay on as we quickly give our viewers a sense of
32:06why the entire world is eyeing the Trump-Putin meeting very closely
32:09and what exactly is on the cards as far as this particular meeting is concerned.
32:14Now, the first agenda, of course, is a discussion on the possible terms for ceasefire.
32:21U.S. has been urging Russia to call for ceasefire as far as the Russian-Ukraine war is concerned.
32:27Will Russia do that is the big question.
32:30The second agenda is potential territorial security and political guarantees
32:35that will be discussed between the two leaders
32:38and how exactly do they agree on these particular terms.
32:43The third agenda, of course, is Russia's position and conditions for ending hostility.
32:49So far, Russia has not budged from its position.
32:52As much as we understand that Donald Trump has boasted off his equation with Vladimir Putin,
32:56but that has not helped Russia in any way to move from where they stand as far as the Russia-Ukraine war is concerned.
33:03The fourth agenda, evaluate any proposal before talking to Zelensky, EU, NATO.
33:10Now, this is extremely important because so far sideline conversations have been happening.
33:15But this is the U.S. talking to the most important stakeholder, that is Russia.
33:21And once what comes out of this meeting is clear, then talks following that will happen with Zelensky, with EU, with NATO.
33:30And the last agenda is also the potential role for NATO and the EU in any future deal,
33:38which again will be extremely important because this will, like we said, have implications not just on Russia, Ukraine, United States,
33:47but the entire world in that perspective.
33:51Let me go back to Sergei Strokin, who continues to be with us on the broadcast.
33:56Sergei, you know, because Donald Trump has boasted off his equation with Vladimir Putin so much so that he's blamed Joe Biden
34:03for not using his diplomatic tactics well to be able to end the war between Russia and Ukraine,
34:10saying that the U.S. has also lost a lot of money because of this war.
34:13Now, what are the likely chances that Russia will budge from its position?
34:17Because we heard from Sergei Lavrov, who has asked, are you nervous?
34:21And he said, no, because we are very clear about what we want.
34:25Well, when it comes to the most difficult situation and when it comes to the conflicts like Ukrainian, Russia-Ukrainian conflict,
34:38the key issue, obviously, is territorial dispute.
34:44And Ukrainian crisis is not an exception.
34:47As things stand now, there is no any indication that Ukrainian side is in a position,
34:55is willing to negotiate any questions of the swap of the territory.
35:01Just a bit of a background to you.
35:05Before Alaska summit, we had two rounds, three, actually, three rounds of negotiations,
35:11Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul.
35:14We tried to talk to Ukrainians, but there was no any single sentence, even not a single word,
35:23in their proposals which were related to the future of Ukraine, to the swap of the territories.
35:29The only thing which were saying, we just need immediate ceasefire, immediate ceasefire.
35:35That's all.
35:37And just before Alaska summit, President Zelensky made his nationwide appeal,
35:44saying that I am not in a position to discuss all territorial issues because this is banned by Ukrainian constitution.
35:53I can't go against the Ukrainian constitution.
35:57Then, when you are asking me what sort of breakthrough can come, it takes two more tango.
36:03If the Ukrainian side is saying, we are not discussing this, this is a non-starter, we are not going to discuss this.
36:09All right.
36:09Then, there should be some fundamental changes in their position.
36:12Irrespective, we are hoping that it does not end in a stalemate and there is some sort of a conclusion that is beneficial for all.
36:20Sergey, I want to thank you for joining us on the broadcast as we come to an end of this edition of Five Life.
36:26Thank you so much for staying tuned.
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