Washington: US President Donald Trump has slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying the Ukrainian leader’s statement on Crimea is “very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia”. This time the Trump-Zelenskyy clash was over Crimea, with the US President convinced that the region should be considered as Russian territory, while Zelensky refused to agree with him, reiterating that Ukraine will stand firm on its core principles, Xinhua news agency reported.

Trump wrote on Wednesday in a post on Truth Social that “Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognise Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?” “It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about,” wrote Trump, adding that “The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.”

As negotiators met for the latest round of talks in London, reports suggest that the US proposal that was laid out had two key points in agreement with Moscow’s stand — the first being Kyiv officially recognising Crimea as Russian territory, and the second — that Ukraine can never become a NATO member.

Both these points were rejected by Ukraine, which infuriated President Trump, who had already threatened to withdraw the US from negotiations over Kyiv’s obstinacy. Trump chided the Ukrainian President for not agreeing with him about Crimea now being a part of Russia. “Crimea was lost years ago and is not even a point of discussion,” President Trump asserted. Trump also noted that the statement made by Zelenskyy would do nothing but prolong the “killing field” and “nobody wants that!”

“We are very close to a Deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE,” he noted. Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Kyiv is prepared to engage in talks in any format once a potential ceasefire with Russia is established, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported. But he stressed that Ukraine will not legally recognise the occupation of Crimea by Russia as it contradicts the nation’s Constitution.

The exchange led to President Trump scolding President Zelenskyy, saying that the US is trying to stop the killing in his country. “We are very close to a deal” for peace, Trump said, putting the blame on the Ukrainian President for being stubborn, as talks seem to be heading for a stalemate. President Trump took to social media to post a scathing attack on Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.

“Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is boasting on the front page of The Wall Street Journal that, ‘Ukraine will not legally recognise the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here.’ This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Russia seized control of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 without any significant resistance from Ukraine at the time. The move was condemned by several nations, with only a handful of countries recognising Russia’s claim to Crimea.

Meanwhile, echoing Donald Trump’s sentiment, US Vice President J.D. Vance said it was time for Russia and Ukraine to either agree to the US peace proposal “or for the US to walk away from the process entirely”.

Vance said that America’s proposal called for freezing territorial lines “at some level close to where they are today” and a “long-term diplomatic settlement that hopefully will lead to long-term peace”. He went on to say that “The only way to really stop the killing is for the armies to both put down their weapons, and to freeze this thing”.

In response to the US Vice President, Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, wrote in a post on X that he made it clear to US negotiator Steve Witkoff in London that Ukraine “will stand firm on its core principles during the negotiations” that relate to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Since taking office in January, Trump has sharply altered the US approach to the Ukraine war. Instead of punishing moves against Russia like his predecessor Joe Biden, Washington is now pressing Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire, even if it is unacceptable to Kyiv. The US is seemingly in a hurry to broker a deal — any deal — irrespective of whether it may be a good one for Russia or a good one for Ukraine.

President Trump, who had pledged to “end the Russia-Ukraine war in days”, wants to be seen as a power broker for peace globally. Meanwhile, ever since Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s phone call and Washington’s foreign policy tilt towards Moscow, European nations have scrambled to find ways to support Kyiv, which finds itself staring at an increasingly uncertain future.

Manish Ranjan’s aunty Sunita Devi and uncle Alok Kumar Priyadarshi at their house in Sasaram on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. 
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Relatives of Manish Ranjan, who was among the 26 people killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam in Kashmir, demanded immediate action against those found responsible for the brutal incident. Employed with the Intelligence Bureau in Hyderabad, Manish was on a vacation with his family members.

His ancestral village Aruhi is located under Kargahar police station in Rohtas district of Bihar. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Ranjan’s father, Manglesh Kumar Mishra, retired as a senior teacher from the Intermediate College in Jhalda, West Bengal. He lives there with his family. Manish is the eldest of three brothers.

Speaking to The Hindu over phone, Manish’s uncle, Alok Kumar Priyadarshi, said, “Manish had gone to Kashmir along with his family. He had also asked me to come with him but my health did not allow, so I did not go. He was born in Sasaram and did initial schooling there as well. However when he was very young, Mangleshji took his entire family to Purulia in West Bengal.”

Mr. Priyadarshi said he got the information about his nephew’s death from the television when I was scanning the news channel. “Then I called my bhai sahab (Manglesh). First, he did not pick up the phone, but later I spoke to him. He was not in a good condition to speak and was very nervous.

Mr. Priyadarshi added, “Bhai Sahab said he had got the news in the evening itself but was hiding it so that we should not panic. We all started crying.”

Manish’s late grandfather Paras Nath Mishra lived in Sasaram and retired as the headmaster of a government school. Manish used to visit Sasaram to meet his uncle and aunty.

Mr. Priyadarshi said, “All the terrorists should be shot dead and hanged, we want justice. All the terrorists should be eliminated from Kashmir.”

Manish’s aunty, Sunita Devi, also demanded justice for the victims.

The mortal remains are expected to reach his father’s house in Jhalda on Thursday (April 24, 2025).

It has been 17 seasons, countless heartbreaks, and still no Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy. Yet, every year, as the summer heat rises, so does the roar of the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) faithful fans. Clad in red and gold, with voices hoarse from chanting “RCB, RCB” and hearts full of hope with slogans like “Ee Sala Cup Namde” (This time, the cup is ours), RCB fans return match after match, season after season, undaunted by the scoreboard. In a world where loyalty often hinges on success, the RCB fan base stands out to be resilient, passionate, and endlessly optimistic.

RCB, currently playing its 18th season, is one of the most popular and passionately supported franchises in the IPL. Based in Bengaluru, the team was founded in 2008 and is owned by United Spirits, a subsidiary of British beverage company Diageo. Despite boasting some of the biggest names in cricket over the years, including Anil Kumble, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and Faf du Plessis, RCB has never won an IPL title, which has often made them the subject of memes and heartbreak in equal measure.

The team had reached the finals three times in 2009, 2011, and 2016, but narrowly missed the crown each time. Their tagline, “Ee Sala Cup Namde, “ has become a rallying cry and meme rolled into one, capturing both the hope and humour of the RCB journey. And for their fans, the journey has always mattered more than the destination. 

Passion and team spirit

We spoke to the “12th man army”, as RCB fondly calls its fans from across the State, questioning why they continue to support the franchise despite not bringing home a cup.

Speaking to The Hindu, Rakhi Chadaga, a 29-year-old HR professional, said, “For us RCB fans, it is not about winning the cup. Of course, that would be icing on the cake. But it is more about how RCB plays each game, the thrill of it. From the good old days of Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Chris Gayle, ABd to the forever favourite Virat, we support RCB for the B (Bangalore) not the C (cup).”

Tejas Narayanappa, a data engineer, said, “I am an RCB fan because, let’s face it, if you are born in India, you are pretty much destined to support cricket, and if you’re from Bengaluru, RCB is the team you are drawn to! It’s almost like a rite of passage. Growing up in the city, watching matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, and cheering for the team, it’s part of Bengaluru and our identity.” 

Fans during the match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bangalore on April 20, 2013.
| Photo Credit:
K. BHAGYA PRAKASH

Inspiration to many

Veeresh Badiger, a 27-year-old video editor, has been a fan of RCB since 2013. “For me, it all started with fantastic players like AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. As I grew up, I realised RCB is not just about star players, but it is about passion, team spirit, and giving your all every season. Watching them over the years taught me a lot – staying loyal, never giving up, living in the moment, working hard, and believing in yourself.” Veeresh added that these lessons helped him become mentally stronger and apply the same in my life. “RCB has become more than a team for me; it has played a big role in my personal growth,” he added.  

“From watching Karnataka’s legends like Dravid and Kumble to witnessing Virat Kohli grow from a young under-19 player into a symbol of loyalty and passion, RCB has always felt personal. With ABd and Chris Gayle redefining T20 entertainment, this team did not just play, they inspired. More than anything, RCB stands for the spirit of never giving up. No matter the season, no matter the odds, they fight till the end. And every time I see that red and gold jersey, I believe in them all over again,” said Anurag Sharma a theatre artist.

Srinivasachari G., from Nangali Village, Kolar, said it always feels like he is part of the RCB family. “I’m emotionally attached to the team, and going to Chinnaswamy feels like home. Every year, we carry a lot of emotions, every win, every loss, every game we feel and enjoy wholeheartedly. Yes, we don’t have a trophy, but the team with zero trophies has the highest number of fan following across the country, RCB is the Heart of IPL,” he said.

RCB fans during the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on May 4, 2014.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

Fans of all ages 

While RCB is known for having fans who have been following the franchise since 2008, older and younger fans have also been growing for the team. Ravi Subramaniam, at 72, is a die-hard RCB fan.

“I have seen cricket from the days of B.S. Chandrasekhar and E.A.S. Prasanna. But there is something about RCB that keeps me young at heart. I have not followed RCB from the beginning, I started watching the matches a couple of years ago with my children and grandchildren just to spend some time with family. But they had me hooked. We may not have a trophy, but we have heart. And as long as there is a match at Chinnaswamy, I will be there, with my flag, my whistle, and my hope,” he said cheerfully.

RCB fans during the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on May 29, 2016.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

Huda Syed, at 15, is as passionate a fan as Subramaniam. The 10th grade student said, “I have been an RCB fan literally since I was born, not because of the trophies, but because of the passion and energy this team brings to the field. Supporting RCB is more than just backing a team, it is about believing in potential, loving the game, and standing by your favourites through every high and low. Watching legends like Virat Kohli give their all every single match, win or lose, has been nothing short of inspiring. Yes, we have not lifted the IPL trophy yet, but the loyalty, the Chinnaswamy roar, and the unwavering belief of the fans make us champions in spirit. RCB is a feeling, not just a franchise. And we will always say it loud ‘Ee Sala Cup Namde.”