Trump says US will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine
Mr Trump did not give a number of Patriot missiles he plans to send to Ukraine, but he said the United States would be reimbursed for their cost by the European Union.
The US President has grown increasingly disenchanted with Russian President Vladimir Putin because Mr Putin has resisted Mr Trump's attempts to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked for more defensive capabilities to fend off a daily barrage of missile and drone attacks from Russia.
"We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because Putin really surprised a lot of people," Mr Trump said.
"He talks nice and then bombs everybody in the evening. But there's a little bit of a problem there. I don't like it," President Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington.
"We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100% for that, and that's the way we want it," he added.
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Irish Independent
44 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Simon Harris says 30pc tariff would stop trade from functioning between the EU and US and warns of job losses
The EU and US had been engaged in negotiations ahead of a deadline last week, but US president Donald Trump announced he was pushing back the imposition of a higher rate of tariffs until August 1. Mr Trump also said he would impose 30pc tariffs on the bloc if a deal is not reached, in a move that EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said would make trade between the two regions almost 'impossible'. If negotiations on a deal fail and the EU imposes countermeasures worth €72bn, this would hurt both the US and the EU, Mr Harris will tell ministers today. Speaking on Newstalk's The Pat Kenny Show, the Tánaiste said the 30pc tariffs "would, in many ways, stop trade from functioning between Europe and the US". 'There is a very significant difference between baseline 10pc tariffs and an extraordinary level of tariffs of 30pc on the European Union," Mr Harris said. 'We've got to really pull together now as a country, and we've got to pull together as a European Union and work our way through this. I believe it's still possible to have a negotiated agreement, because the trade relationship between Ireland and the US - and the US and the EU - matters. 'It matters in both directions, but it is a deeply concerning development that when the European Union was engaging in good faith - and was very close to what we believed was a framework agreement - that this development has now happened over the course of the weekend," he said. He said that Ireland and the European Union are facing a "moment of major economic challenge" if the 30pc tariffs on EU exports are imposed. However, Mr Harris added: 'I think in his heart of hearts, [president Donald Trump] knows, as a businessman, that tariffs of that level would not just disrupt trade, but in many ways stop trade as we know it from functioning between Europe and the US." Ministers will also be updated on plans to engage with the pharmaceutical industry later this week, a sector Mr Harris will say is an area of significant concern for Ireland. ADVERTISEMENT There is a real resolve to continue with those negotiations in good faith Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon, who is in Brussels for the EU Agri-Fish council, said the mood has been one of calm. Mr Heydon said the EU believed the announcement over the weekend was a negotiating tactic. 'There is a real resolve to continue with those negotiations in good faith. In one way, nothing has changed. Because it is still about August 1,' he told the Irish Independent. 'It's not that long ago, 50pc was being threatened. Now 30pc is in a letter. We have to continue to negotiate in good faith,' he added. Mr Heydon said while more time to negotiate is welcome, there is significant concern over the uncertainty it is causing businesses. 'Every business can deal with changes if they know what the future looks like, but the future keeps changing,' he said. 'We were glad there was an extension to August 1, that we avoided a cliff-edge date, but at some stage, we do need a final decision here. We do need clarity about the future for our companies, because there's been so much turmoil this year that's not good for supply chains.' Mr Heydon said while talks will continue, it was important the US knew that the EU would have a firm response to high tariffs, which will come in the form of a list of retaliatory measures. 'In all negotiations, you try and avoid escalating them, but the other side has to know that at some point you do have options open to you,' he said. 'The European Union recognises its strength and recognised [its strength] on Brexit, and it will recognise it in its negotiations with the US. 'That's why the counter list comes up. There has to be that possibility of a firm response should the other tariffs come into play.' Speaking yesterday, following a meeting with US ambassador to Ireland Ed Walsh, Simon Harris said the EU has to 'prepare for all scenarios'. 'The message I relayed to the US ambassador is a consistent one and a very straightforward one: we in Ireland, we in Europe, want a deal,' he said. 'We want a trade deal that is good for Ireland, good for Europe, good for the United States of America, and I believe there is a clear landing zone in relation to that.' He continued: 'I believe there was a landing zone very nearly there last week, and it's regrettable that wasn't arrived at.' However, he remains confident that a deal can happen in the days ahead. The European Commission is due to publish an expanded list of counter- tariffs that would be implemented if an agreement is not reached. If there isn't a deal Europe also has options at its disposal Mr Harris said the 'optimal position' would be to get to a deal where 'we can rip up that list and never need to see it implemented'. 'A countermeasure list is an important step of saying to president Trump: 'Hang on, we want a deal here, we want a way forward, but if there isn't a deal Europe also has options at its disposal',' he added. The Tánaiste said the Government will also analyse the list and engage with the commission over any 'areas of concern for Ireland' that arise. Mr Harris said the pharma sector remains an area of significant concern. 'Europe must remain calm, must remain united – our strength is in being united, 460 million of us – and must of course prepare for all scenarios,' he said. Earlier, European commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection, Michael McGrath said the bloc's response to 30pc tariffs would be 'firm, quick and robust'.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Ukrainians welcome US aid but see Trump's 50-day ultimatum to Putin as too long
Ukrainians welcomed US President Donald Trump's pledge of more US-made weapons in their fight against Russia's invasion, even though it is unclear what exactly they will get and how quickly. The time frame for further arms deliveries that European countries have agreed to pay for is crucial. Russia is making a summer push to break through along the 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line, and its drones and missiles are hammering Ukrainian cities more than at any time in the past three years. Firefighters put out the fire of a city hospital following a Russian attack in Sumy region, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Mr Trump for his 'willingness to support Ukraine'. In Kyiv, resident Nina Tokar, 70, said that with more US weapons going to Ukraine, 'maybe this will all end faster'. However, following Mr Trump's threat late last week to impose major sanctions on Russia for failing to reach a deal to end the fighting, the American president said that Moscow would get 50 days to come to a settlement or face 'very severe' economic sanctions. While some believe strict tariffs on Moscow could be a game changer, the postponement until September struck others as being too long. For Russia, Mr Trump's delay of new sanctions is a reprieve. Senior Russian politician Konstantin Kosachev said: 'Oh, how much can change both on the battlefield and with the mood of those leading the US and Nato in 50 days.' Russian state television pointed out that Mr Trump's decision would bring a bigger financial burden for Europe. Russia currently holds about 20% of Ukraine. Ukraine's depleted army has recently been losing more territory, but there is no sign of a looming collapse on the front line, analysts say. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke to Mr Trump after the Republican leader's Oval Office announcement on Monday, expressing gratitude for the decision to send more Patriot air defence missiles that are vital to defend Ukrainian cities. Mr Zelensky said on Telegram: 'We discussed … the necessary measures and decisions to provide greater protection for people from Russian attacks and strengthen our positions. 'We agreed to talk more often and co-ordinate our steps in the future.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump have a notoriously fraught relationship Mystyslav Chernov/AP) Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky have had a notoriously fraught relationship, and Washington's consent to providing more weaponry has eased Kyiv's worries. Even so, some Ukrainians felt the US decision won't alter the course of the war. 'If we take the situation as a whole, it hardly looks like this will fundamentally change anything,' Kyiv resident Oles Oliinyk, 33, told The Associated Press. Nina Tokar, 70, was also sceptical. 'I have very little faith in (Mr Trump). He says one thing today, and tomorrow he may say something else.' A Ukrainian army officer fighting in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region said the 50-day delay on sanctions 'is a very long time'. 'They (the Russians) will say, 'Give us two more weeks,' and then in two weeks, 'Give us another week.' It will drag on until October or November,' he told AP, using only the call sign 'Cat' in keeping with the rules of the Ukrainian military. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp agreed. 'I do believe that the 50 days that Mr Trump has announced is rather long. It's up to September 2. I think that's rather long.' Firefighters tackle a fire following a Russian attack in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) Much remains to be worked out about how the weapons, especially the Patriot systems, will be provided, Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in Brussels on Tuesday. But, in an indication that Europe is relieved that the US hasn't walked away from the conflict, he added: 'The most important thing is that we now have an American readiness to deliver these most needed weapons.' Some European countries, such as Hungary and Slovakia, still rely heavily on Russia for energy supplies and could be hit hard by Mr Trump's threatened secondary sanctions on countries that buy its oil and gas — an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said Mr Trump's 50-day delay was a 'signal for Europe to prepare ourselves, because we still have some member states that are exposed to imports of oil and oil products from Russia.' German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said it remains to be seen whether Mr Trump's announcement will be a turnaround but 'what is decisive is that the tone has changed'. The president's threat to impose sanctions after 50 days is 'significant progress,' Mr Pistorius told ARD television.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Ukraine's PM Shmyhal resigns as part of major government reshuffle
Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal said on Tuesday he had submitted a resignation letter, as part of the country's largest wartime governmental reshuffle expected this week. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday nominated First deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko to replace Shmyhal. Svyrydenko, who is also the economy minister, is a close and long-standing ally of Zelenskiy.
