US sanctions bill will affect Ukraine peace efforts if implemented: Kremlin
Graham said in an interview with ABC News on Sunday that President Donald Trump had told him the sanctions bill — which would impose 500% tariffs on countries like China and India that buy Russian oil — should be brought forward for a vote.
Graham called Trump's decision 'a big breakthrough' which he said was part of efforts to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table on Ukraine and give Trump 'a tool' to bring that about.
He stressed however that Trump had a waiver and could decide whether to sign it into law if and when it passes Congress.
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eNCA
27 minutes ago
- eNCA
US halting some shipments of military aid to Ukraine
USA - The White House said Tuesday it is halting some key weapons shipments to Ukraine that were promised under the Biden administration for Kyiv's battle against the Russian invasion. Stopping the delivery of munitions and other military aid including air defense systems likely would be a blow to Ukraine as it contends with some of Russia's largest missile and drone attacks of the three-year-old war. "This decision was made to put America's interests first following a DOD (Department of Defense) review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe," White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told AFP in an email. The curtailment of military aid signals a possible shift in the priorities of US President Donald Trump, who has pressed for Russia and Ukraine to speed up stalled peace talks. The Republican has moved on to playing a greater role in orchestrating a possible ceasefire in Gaza and toning down Iran-Israel tensions after a deadly 12-day conflict between the arch foes. The Pentagon review determined that stocks had become too low on some previously pledged munitions, and that some pending shipments now would not be sent, said a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity, according to Politico, which first reported the halt of military aid. "The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned - just ask Iran," Kelly said, making a reference to the recent US bombings and missile strikes against the Islamic republic's nuclear facilities. Politico and other US media reported that missiles for Patriot air defense systems, precision artillery and Hellfire missiles are among the items being held back. Last week at a NATO summit in the Netherlands, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Trump and appeared to get a vague response from the US leader on Patriot air defense systems. "We're going to see if we can make some available," Trump said of the missiles that Kyiv desperately seeks to shoot down Russian attacks. "They're very hard to get," Trump added. - Thousands of drones - A Russian drone attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv region killed one person and wounded another, its governor said early Wednesday. The attack follows Ukrainian drone strikes which killed three people and wounded dozens in the Russian city of Izhevsk on Tuesday, striking more than 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the front line -- one of the deepest attacks inside Russia to date. An AFP analysis published Tuesday found that Russia dramatically ramped up aerial attacks in June, firing thousands of drones as Ukraine's stretched air defense systems and exhausted civilian population felt the Kremlin's increased pressure. An April report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found that Ukraine is being outgunned by Russia, despite spending more of its GDP on defense than any other country in the world. Ukraine's military expenditure in 2024 was $64.7 billion, SIPRI said, and Kyiv has relied heavily on its allies in Europe and the United States for weapons and aid. Russian leader Vladimir Putin blamed the West for fanning the flames of war with that support, telling French president Emmanuel Macron Tuesday that the West has "for many years ignored Russia's security interests." The White House's tone has openly shifted on Ukraine with the Trump presidency. Back in 2022, then president Joe Biden affectionately embraced Zelensky at the White House as his administration announced another $2 billion in weapons for Ukraine. During Zelensky's Washington visit earlier this year, he was belittled on-camera by Trump and Vice President JD Vance during an Oval Office meeting, who ganged up to accuse the Ukrainian leader of ingratitude. Asked by AFP for comment on the halt of shipments and why it was occurring, the Pentagon did not respond directly.
TimesLIVE
32 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
US halts some missile shipments to Ukraine over low stockpiles, sources say
The Pentagon has halted some shipments of air defence missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that US stockpiles are too low, two people familiar with the decision said on Tuesday. The slowing of some weapons shipments promised to Kyiv by former President Joe Biden's administration came in recent days, they said, adding air defence interceptors to help knock down Russian drones and projectiles are among the items delayed. In an email, the Pentagon said it was providing President Donald Trump with options to continue military aid to Ukraine in line with the goal of ending Russia's war there. 'At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving the objective while also preserving US forces' readiness for administration defence priorities,' said Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary for policy. Russia, which controls about a fifth of Ukraine, continues to advance gradually, gaining ground in recent weeks in Ukraine's southeastern regions of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk and ramping up air attacks nationwide. All weapons aid was briefly paused in February with a second longer pause in March. The Trump administration resumed sending the last of the aid approved under Biden. No new policy has been announced. Politico reported the pause on Tuesday.
TimesLIVE
an hour ago
- TimesLIVE
Trump suggests slashing Tesla subsidies, Musk says 'cut it all'
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested the government efficiency department should review the subsidies to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's companies to save money, reigniting a war of words between the world's most powerful person and its richest. Trump's remarks came after Musk, a Republican mega-donor, renewed his criticism of the sweeping tax-cut and spending bill and vowed to unseat lawmakers who supported it despite campaigning on limiting government spending. Tesla shares fell more than 6% before the market open as the feud could add fresh hurdles for the business empire of Musk, whose main source of wealth, the electric automaker, is betting on the success of robotaxis being tested in Texas. The US Transportation Department regulates vehicle design and will play a key role in deciding if Tesla can mass-produce robotaxis without pedals and steering wheels, while Musk's rocket firm SpaceX has about $22 billion in federal contracts. 'Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to SA,' Trump said in a Truth Social post, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency. 'No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!' In response, Musk said on his own social media platform X, 'I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now.' Trump said Musk was upset because he lost the EV mandate in the recent tax and spending bill and warned the Tesla CEO 'could lose a lot more than that'. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also pushed back on Musk's criticism that the bill would balloon the deficit, saying, 'I'll take care of' the country's finances. Trump had in early June threatened to cut Musk's government contracts when their relationship erupted into an all-out social media brawl over the tax-cut bill, which non-partisan analysts estimate would add about $3 trillion to the US debt. The rift had resulted in Tesla shares erasing $150 billion in market value, as investors feared a tougher regulatory road for the self-driving robotaxi that underpin much of the company's valuation. The stock recovered after Musk walked back some of his jabs, saying he had gone 'too far'. 'Musk cannot stop himself. He is getting on Trump's bad side again. Tesla international sales have fallen significantly and if he loses US subsidies, US sales are likely to fall as well,' said Stock Trader Network Chief Strategist Dennis Dick, who holds Tesla shares. 'Musk needs Trump, Trump does not need Musk,' he said. Tesla sales have dropped for a sixth straight month in Sweden and Denmark in June, data on Tuesday showed. Analysts expect the company to report a drop in second-quarter delivery figures on Wednesday. SHORT-LIVED TRUCE After weeks of relative silence, Musk rejoined the debate on Saturday as the Senate took up the package, calling it 'utterly insane and destructive' in a post on X. On Monday, Musk said lawmakers who campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill 'should hang their heads in shame!' 'And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,' Musk said. He also called again for a new political party, saying the bill's massive spending indicated 'that we live in a one-party country — the PORKY PIG PARTY!!' The criticism marked a dramatic shift after the billionaire spent nearly $300 million on Trump's re-election campaign and led the administration's controversial DOGE initiative. Musk has argued that the legislation would greatly increase the national debt and erase the savings he says he achieved through DOGE. It remains unclear how much sway Musk has over Congress or what effect his opinions might have on the bill's passage. But Republicans have expressed concern that his on-again, off-again feud with Trump could hurt their chances to protect their majority in the 2026 midterm congressional elections.
