logo
Trump says US will send more weapons to Ukraine

Trump says US will send more weapons to Ukraine

Straits Times6 hours ago
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
US President Donald Trump (right) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in The Hague on June 25.
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on July 8 said the United States will send additional weapons to Ukraine, after the White House announced a halt to some arms shipments for Kyiv the previous week.
'We're going to have to send more weapons – defensive weapons primarily,' he told journalists at the White House.
'They're getting hit very, very hard,' he said of Ukraine, while saying he is 'not happy' with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Russia's smaller neighbour in 2022 and has shown little willingness to end the conflict despite pressure from Mr Trump.
Ukraine is contending with some of Russia's largest missile and drone attacks of the three-year war, and a halt to the provision of munitions posed a potentially serious challenge for Kyiv.
Under former president Joe Biden, Washington committed to providing more than US$65 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.
But Mr Trump – long sceptical of assistance for Ukraine – has not followed suit, announcing no new military aid packages for Kyiv since he took office in January of this year. AFP
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Philippines summons Chinese envoy after ex-senator sanctioned
Philippines summons Chinese envoy after ex-senator sanctioned

Straits Times

time40 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

Philippines summons Chinese envoy after ex-senator sanctioned

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox China said it has prohibited former Philippine Senator Francis Tolentino from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The Philippine government has summoned China's envoy to Manila, expressing concern over Beijing's recent rare move to sanction a former senator who it accused of improper behavior on issues related to China. While implementing sanctions is within China's prerogative, 'the imposition of punitive measures against democratically elected officials for their official acts is inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue that underpin relations between two equal sovereign states,' said Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said in a statement read by Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro at a regular briefing on July 8. China last week said it has prohibited former Philippine Senator Francis Tolentino from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Mr Tolentino, who lost his reelection bid in the May midterm elections, had led Senate inquiries on alleged Chinese spying in the Philippines. He also sponsored a legislation establishing Philippine maritime zones in the South China Sea, which was criticised by Beijing. Ms Lazaro said 'it is the mandate of senators and other elected officials to inquire on matters of national and public interest'. She added that the foreign affairs department remains committed to addressing differences with China 'through diplomacy and dialogue'. Beijing lays sweeping claims in the resource-rich South China Sea that were rejected by an international tribunal ruling in 2016. The competing claims between the two nations have led to encounters between their ships in the contested waters. BLOOMBERG Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World 25% on Japan and Malaysia, 40% on Laos: Trump's tariff letters to Asia add pressure for deals by Aug 1 Singapore Grab to trial driverless shuttle for staff between Media Circle office and one-north MRT station Singapore Ong Beng Seng's new pre-trial conference date set for July 23 Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray Singapore MRT services resume on 5-station stretch of North-South Line after track fault Asia Thai authorities vow crackdown on cannabis-infused products after toddler hospitalised World Netanyahu says he nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize Singapore Fastest charger to be added to Singapore's EV charging network by Q4 in 2025

China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals
China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals

Straits Times

time41 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The average US tariff on China now stands at 51.1 per cent, while the average Chinese duty on US goods is 32.6 per cent BEIJING – China warned the Trump administration on July 8 against reigniting trade tension by restoring tariffs on its goods in August, and threatened to retaliate against nations that strike deals with the United States to cut China out of supply chains. Washington and Beijing agreed to a trade framework in June that restored a fragile truce. But with many details still unclear, traders and investors on both sides of the Pacific are watching to see if it will unravel or lead to a lasting detente. On July 7, President Donald Trump began notifying trade partners of sharply higher US tariffs from Aug 1, after he delayed all but 10 per cent of his April duties on most countries to give them time to strike deals with the world's largest economy. China, initially singled out with tariffs exceeding 100 per cent, has until Aug 12 to reach an agreement with the White House to keep Mr Trump from reinstating additional import curbs imposed during tit-for-tat tariff exchanges in April and May. 'One conclusion is abundantly clear: Dialogue and cooperation are the only correct path,' the official People's Daily said in a commentary, referring to the exchanges in the current round of China-US trade tension. The article was signed 'Zhong Sheng', or 'Voice of China', a term the paper uses to express views on foreign policy. Reiterating Beijing's view that Mr Trump's tariffs amount to 'bullying', the paper added: 'Practice has proven that only by firmly upholding principled positions can one truly safeguard one's legitimate rights and interests'. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World 25% on Japan and Malaysia, 40% on Laos: Trump's tariff letters to Asia add pressure for deals by Aug 1 Singapore Grab to trial driverless shuttle for staff between Media Circle office and one-north MRT station Singapore Ong Beng Seng's new pre-trial conference date set for July 23 Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray Singapore MRT services resume on 5-station stretch of North-South Line after track fault Asia Thai authorities vow crackdown on cannabis-infused products after toddler hospitalised World Netanyahu says he nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize Singapore Fastest charger to be added to Singapore's EV charging network by Q4 in 2025 The remarks set the stage for another round of tariff war should Mr Trump stick to what the ruling Communist Party's official daily said was 'a so-called final deadline'. The average US tariff on Chinese exports now stands at 51.1 per cent, while the average Chinese duty on US goods is 32.6 per cent, with both sides covering all their trade, the Peterson Institute for International Economics said. The paper also took a swipe at regional economies that are considering striking tariff reduction deals with the United States that cut China out of their supply chains. Vietnam earlier secured a tariff reduction to 20 per cent from 46 per cent with a deal for goods 'transshipped' through it, typically originating from China, to be subjected to a levy of 40 per cent. 'China firmly opposes any side striking a deal that sacrifices Chinese interests in exchange for tariff concessions,' the paper said. 'If such a situation arises, China will not accept it and will respond resolutely to protect its legitimate interests.' REUTERS

Thailand confident of securing lower US tariff with trade offers
Thailand confident of securing lower US tariff with trade offers

Straits Times

time41 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

Thailand confident of securing lower US tariff with trade offers

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The US was Thailand's largest goods export market in 2024, accounting for about 18 per cent of the country's total shipments. BANGKOK - Thailand remains optimistic about securing a lower tariff rate than the 36 per cent levy announced by President Donald Trump based on an offer to bring down import tax on most US goods to zero, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. The South-east Asian nation expects to wrap up trade negotiations before the Aug 1 deadline set by the US, Mr Pichai told a local television channel on July 8 . Mr Trump has set the levy on Thailand without taking into account its revised proposals to increase market access by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers on a number of goods, he said. In a last-minute bid to avoid the punitive tariff, Thailand had submitted a revised proposal to the US on July 6 to boost bilateral trade volume and reduce its US$46 billion (S$58.7 billion) trade surplus by 70 per cent within five years. The offers included greater market access for US farm and industrial goods, as well as increased purchases of energy and Boeing jets. The latest Thai proposal 'is a good deal for the US and Thailand will lower import tariffs on 90 per cent of US products', Mr Pichai said, adding he was 'a bit shocked' by the letter setting the tariff unchanged at 36 per cent. The US was Thailand's largest goods export market in 2024 , accounting for about 18 per cent of the country's total shipments. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World 25% on Japan and Malaysia, 40% on Laos: Trump's tariff letters to Asia add pressure for deals by Aug 1 Singapore Grab to trial driverless shuttle for staff between Media Circle office and one-north MRT station Singapore Ong Beng Seng's new pre-trial conference date set for July 23 Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray Singapore MRT services resume on 5-station stretch of North-South Line after track fault Asia Thai authorities vow crackdown on cannabis-infused products after toddler hospitalised World Netanyahu says he nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize Singapore Fastest charger to be added to Singapore's EV charging network by Q4 in 2025 Thailand's exports have surged about 15 per cent in the first five months of the year, driven by front-loading of orders following a 90-day pause in high tariffs proposed by the Trump administration. Clinching a lower US tariff rate is key to insulating Thailand's trade-dependent economy from further downside. Growth is already under pressure from South-east Asia's highest household debt and sluggish domestic consumption. Thai officials have estimated that tariff levels of 36 per cent could shave of at least one percentage point off gross domestic product this year. Investors have also been concerned by political turmoil following the court-ordered suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over alleged ethical misconduct in handling a border dispute with Cambodia. BLOOMBERG

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store