Russia open to peace with Ukraine but ‘our goals' must be achieved, says Kremlin
Mr Peskov told state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin: '(Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy.
'The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear.'
President Donald Trump has recently hardened his stance towards Moscow (Alex Brandon/AP)
The Kremlin has insisted any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. It also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join Nato and accept strict limits on its armed forces, demands Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected.
Mr Trump threatened Russia on July 14 with steep tariffs and announced a rejuvenated pipeline for American weapons to reach Ukraine, hardening his stance towards Moscow after months of frustration following unsuccessful negotiations aimed at ending the war.
The direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul resulted in several rounds of prisoner exchanges, but little else.
Mr Trump said he would implement 'severe tariffs' unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days. He provided few details on how they would be implemented, but suggested they would target Russia's trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy.
In addition, Mr Trump said European allies would buy 'billions and billions' of dollars of US military equipment to be transferred to Ukraine, replenishing the besieged country's supplies of weapons. Included in the plan are Patriot air defence systems, a top priority for Ukraine as it fends off Russian drones and missiles.
Doubts were recently raised about Mr Trump's commitment to supply Ukraine when the Pentagon paused shipments over concerns that US stockpiles were running low.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
18 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Trump threatens to hold up stadium deal over Washington name change
Mr Trump also said that he wants Cleveland's baseball team to revert to its former name, the Indians, saying there was a 'big clamouring for this' as well. The Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians have had their current names since the 2022 seasons and both have said they have no plans to change them back. Mr Trump said the Washington football team would be 'much more valuable' if it restored its old name. 'I may put a restriction on them that if they don't change the name back to the original Washington Redskins, and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, Washington Commanders, I won't make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington,' Mr Trump said on his social media site. His latest interest in changing the name reflects his broader effort to roll back changes that followed a national debate on cultural sensitivity and racial justice. The team announced it would drop the Redskins name and the Indian head logo in 2020 during a broader reckoning with systemic racism and police brutality. The Commanders and the District of Columbia government announced a deal earlier this year to build a new home for the football team at the site the old RFK Stadium, the place the franchise called home for more than three decades. Mr Trump's ability to hold up the deal remains to be seen. President Joe Biden signed a bill in January that transferred the land from the federal government to the District of Columbia. The provision was part of a short-term spending bill passed by Congress in December. While DC residents elect a mayor, a city council and commissioners to run day-to-day operations, Congress maintains control of the city's budget. Josh Harris, whose group bought the Commanders from former owner Dan Snyder in 2023, said earlier this year the name was here to stay. Not long after taking over, Mr Harris quieted speculation about going back to Redskins, saying that would not happen. The team did not immediately respond to a request for comment following Trump's statement. The Washington team started in Boston as the Redskins in 1933 before moving to the nation's capital four years later. The Cleveland Guardians' president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, indicated before Sunday's game against the Athletics that there were not any plans to revisit the name change. 'We understand there are different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago, but obviously it's a decision we made. We've got the opportunity to build a brand as the Guardians over the last four years and are excited about the future that's in front of us,' he said. Cleveland announced in December 2020 it would drop Indians. It announced the switch to Guardians in July 2021. In 2018, the team phased out 'Chief Wahoo' as its primary logo. The name changes had their share of supporters and critics as part of the national discussions about logos and names considered racist. Mr Trump posted on Sunday afternoon that 'The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change. What he doesn't understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!' Matt Dolan, the son of the late Larry Dolan, no longer has a role with the Guardians. He ran the team's charity endeavours until 2016. Matt Dolan was a candidate in the Ohio US Senate elections in 2022 and 2024, but lost.
North Wales Chronicle
19 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Trump threatens to hold up stadium deal over Washington name change
Mr Trump also said that he wants Cleveland's baseball team to revert to its former name, the Indians, saying there was a 'big clamouring for this' as well. The Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians have had their current names since the 2022 seasons and both have said they have no plans to change them back. Mr Trump said the Washington football team would be 'much more valuable' if it restored its old name. 'I may put a restriction on them that if they don't change the name back to the original Washington Redskins, and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, Washington Commanders, I won't make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington,' Mr Trump said on his social media site. His latest interest in changing the name reflects his broader effort to roll back changes that followed a national debate on cultural sensitivity and racial justice. The team announced it would drop the Redskins name and the Indian head logo in 2020 during a broader reckoning with systemic racism and police brutality. The Commanders and the District of Columbia government announced a deal earlier this year to build a new home for the football team at the site the old RFK Stadium, the place the franchise called home for more than three decades. Mr Trump's ability to hold up the deal remains to be seen. President Joe Biden signed a bill in January that transferred the land from the federal government to the District of Columbia. The provision was part of a short-term spending bill passed by Congress in December. While DC residents elect a mayor, a city council and commissioners to run day-to-day operations, Congress maintains control of the city's budget. Josh Harris, whose group bought the Commanders from former owner Dan Snyder in 2023, said earlier this year the name was here to stay. Not long after taking over, Mr Harris quieted speculation about going back to Redskins, saying that would not happen. The team did not immediately respond to a request for comment following Trump's statement. The Washington team started in Boston as the Redskins in 1933 before moving to the nation's capital four years later. The Cleveland Guardians' president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, indicated before Sunday's game against the Athletics that there were not any plans to revisit the name change. 'We understand there are different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago, but obviously it's a decision we made. We've got the opportunity to build a brand as the Guardians over the last four years and are excited about the future that's in front of us,' he said. Cleveland announced in December 2020 it would drop Indians. It announced the switch to Guardians in July 2021. In 2018, the team phased out 'Chief Wahoo' as its primary logo. The name changes had their share of supporters and critics as part of the national discussions about logos and names considered racist. Mr Trump posted on Sunday afternoon that 'The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change. What he doesn't understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!' Matt Dolan, the son of the late Larry Dolan, no longer has a role with the Guardians. He ran the team's charity endeavours until 2016. Matt Dolan was a candidate in the Ohio US Senate elections in 2022 and 2024, but lost.
Scotsman
20 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Protests planned in Scottish cities ahead of Donald Trump visit to Scotland
A major police operation is underway to minimise disruption during Trump's visit Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Coordinated anti-Trump protests are being held in Edinburgh and Aberdeen this weekend, marking the arrival of the US President in Scotland. Last week, the White House confirmed Mr Trump will visit both of his golf courses in Scotland - Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire - between July 25 and 29. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Trump is scheduled to meet both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney while in Aberdeen. Large-scale protests are expected during the visit. Since the dates of the President's visit have been confirmed, a group of campaigners from across the UK have joined forces under a banner called the 'Stop Trump Coalition'. It has organised two protests in Scotland on Saturday, at Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen and outside the US consulate in Edinburgh, which are expected to kick off at noon. Organisers said activists, made up of trade unionists, climate campaigners and pro-Palestine groups, will respond to the President's agenda and follow him 'wherever he goes' during his trip. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They said the protests were just one part of a multi-day 'festival of resistance' coinciding with the visit. Similar protests took place in 2018, when thousands of Scots took to the streets while Mr Trump was in Scotland for a two-day golf trip at his Turnberry resort. Protesters gathered in Edinburgh for a 'carnival of resistance' when Donald Trump visited Scotland seven years ago | PA Meanwhile, Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable, Emma Bond, said its policing plan will seek to 'balance rights to peaceful protest' while maintaining public safety and minimising disruption. The activist coalition is calling specifically on the First Minister, John Swinney, to boycott the visit by refusing to meet with the US president. A spokesperson for the group said: 'The people of Scotland don't want to roll out a welcome mat for Donald Trump, whose government is accelerating the spread of climate breakdown and fascism around the world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We encourage all those who can to come to Aberdeen to show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland — and those who can't should join demonstrations wherever they are.' The statement went on to urge the First Minister to turn down what the group branded a 'humiliating photo opportunity' with the US leader. Last week, the First Minister said it was 'in Scotland's interest' to meet with the President, and would use the opportunity to raise concerns around the situation in the Middle East as well as the impact on tariffs on sectors like Scotch whisky. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government has been working collaboratively on arrangements with partners including Police Scotland on the visit of the President of the United States. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There are plans for the First Minister to meet with the President when he is in Scotland. It is important that the opportunity to promote the interests of Scotland is taken during this visit." Mr Trump will visit both his golf courses in Scotland | PA A huge police operation is underway in preparation for the visit. The chair of the Scottish Police Federation, David Threadgold, told Scotland on Sunday that all officers in Scotland could be affected for the duration of the trip, with some officers potentially being asked to work 12-hour shifts. He said: 'This is a huge policing event for Scotland and we will require mutual aid because of the huge demand on my colleagues. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Very few if any cops will not be impacted by next week's visit and beyond.' He added that ensuring officers can eat, drink and rest will be a 'challenge'. The Herald revealed on Monday that Police Scotland has made a request to the Police Service of Northern Ireland seeking officers to provide additional support during the visit. Flying restrictions over the Trump International Golf Links site in Aberdeenshire are already in force and will remain in place until August 10. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The President will return to the UK in September for an official state visit, where he will meet the King at Windsor Castle.
