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US President Donald Trump on Friday renewed his criticism of Ukraine’s approach to his diplomatic push to end the war, saying that it has been “easier” to deal with Moscow, while claiming that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin wants to get the war “stopped and settled”, The Indian Express reported.

“I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine, and they don’t have the cards,” he said addressing reporters at the Oval Office.

Trump has been stressing for weeks that Ukraine’s position in the conflict is weak and dependent on US support.

The US president underscored his earlier statement threatening Russia with sanctions and tariffs for bombing Ukraine, saying that he is “trying to help” Kyiv.

“Ukraine has to get on the ball and get a job done,” he said, according to The Indian  Express.

Trump also warned Russia, saying it(Russia) “is bombing the hell out of Ukraine” – and that he’s told them they “can’t do that”.

“I think he’s doing what anyone else would do – he’s hitting them harder than he’s been hitting them, and anyone in that position would be doing right now,” Trump said, describing Russian attacks.

“And I think probably anybody in that position would be doing that right now. He wants to get it ended. And I think Ukraine wants to get it ended, but I don’t see – it’s crazy. They’re taking tremendous punishment. I don’t quite get it.”

This comes hour after Trump announced ‘considering sanctions’ on Russia after bombardment of Ukraine.

In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump appeared to criticise Russia’s latest bombardment.

He posted: “Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.

Trump’s vague threat was in contrast to the punitive steps he has already taken against Ukraine, including an end to US military supplies announced earlier this week and the intelligence shutdown.

North Korea unveiled for the first time a nuclear-powered submarine under construction, a weapons system that can pose a major security threat to South Korea and the U.S, Associated Press reported.

The state media agency on Saturday released photos showing what it called “a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine,” as it reported leader Kim Jong Un’s visits to major shipyards where warships are built.

The Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, didn’t provide details on the submarine, but said that Kim was briefed on its construction.

The naval vessel appears to be a 6,000-ton-class or 7,000-ton-class one which can carry about 10 missiles, said Moon Keun-sik, a South Korean submarine expert who teaches at Seoul’s Hanyang University. He said that the use of the term “the strategic guided missiles” meant it would carry nuclear-capable weapons.

“It would be absolutely threatening to us and the U.S.,” Moon said.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said that “we’re aware of these claims and do not have additional information to provide at this time.

“The U.S. is committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea,” Hughes said, according to Associated Press.

A nuclear-powered submarine was among a long wish list of sophisticated weaponry that Kim vowed to introduce during a major political conference in 2021 to cope with what he called escalating U.S.-led military threats. Other weapons were solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, spy satellites and multi-warhead missiles. North Korea has since performed a run of testing activities to acquire them.

North Korea obtaining a greater ability to fire missiles from underwater is a worrying development, because it’s difficult for its rivals to detect such launches in advance.

Questions about how North Korea, a heavily sanctioned and impoverished country, could get resources and technology to build nuclear-powered submarines have surfaced.

Moon, the submarine expert, said that North Korea may have received Russian technological assistance to build a nuclear reactor to be used in the submarine in return for supplying conventional weapons and troops to support Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine.

He also said that North Korea could launch the submarine in one or two years to test its capability before its actual deployment.

North Korea has an estimated 70-90 diesel-powered submarines in one of the world’s largest fleets. However, they are mostly aging ones capable of launching only torpedoes and mines, not missiles, Associated Press reported.

In 2023, North Korea said that it had launched what it called its first “ tactical nuclear attack submarine,” but foreign experts doubted the North’s announcement and speculated that it was likely a diesel-powered submarine disclosed in 2019. Moon said that there has been no confirmation that it has been deployed.

North Korea has conducted a slew of underwater-launched ballistic missile tests since 2016, but all launches were made from the same 2,000-ton-class submarine which has a single launch tube. Many experts call it a test platform, rather than an operational submarine in active service

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has taken updates on the law and order situation in Baitadi district.

In the course of monitoring of Khodpe Police Post this morning, Home Minister Lekhak enquired about the situation of law and order in the district and gave necessary instructions, said Chief District Officer, Dirgha Raj Upadhyay.

"Home Minister Lekhak gave necessary instructions on the issue of peace, security, disaster management and drug abuse prevention," he added.

The Home Minister left Baitadi for Bajhang. A program has been scheduled to establish a temporary office for the reconstruction of houses for earthquake victims in Bajhang, said Minister Lekhak's Personal Secretary, Janak Raj Bhatta. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ahead of diplomatic-level talks later in the week with US officials, Hindustan Times reported.

“Next week, on Monday, my visit to Saudi Arabia is planned to meet the crown prince. After that, my team will remain in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace,” Zelenskiy said.

US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said earlier on Thursday that a meeting with the Ukrainians was planned for next week in Saudi Arabia. He also said discussions were underway with Kyiv for a peace agreement framework and an initial ceasefire.

Witkoff said that Trump was pleased by Zelensky's letter after last Friday's disastrous meeting in the White House. “He felt that Zelensky's letter was a very positive first step. There was an apology. There was an acknowledgement that the United States has done so much for the country of Ukraine and a sense of gratitude,” he said, according to Hindustan Times.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others are expected to depart for Riyadh on Tuesday to attend the meeting, which will include Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski, Reuters reported.

Trump confirms Saudi visit

Donald Trump said he would visit the Kingdom probably over the next month and a half but did not mention a date.

“I'm going to Saudi Arabia. I said, I'll go if you pay a trillion dollars, $1 trillion to American companies, (spreading) the purchase over a four-year period, of a trillion dollars. They've agreed to do that, so I'm going to be going there,” Trump said, suggesting a major investment deal with Saudi Arabia.