Australia, Ukraine negotiate non-binding security pact
Defence experts say such a pact could help bolster collaboration between the two nations to boost Australia's capabilities.
Largely redacted briefing material prepared for Foreign Minister Penny Wong ahead of her December 2024 trip to Ukraine confirms the possibility of a security pact, but details remain classified.
Of the 28 bilateral security arrangements finalised with Ukraine as of late 2024, none were legally binding or included mutual defence or security obligations, one briefing document noted.
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko didn't comment on any specific provisions that had been proposed due to the sensitivities of negotiations.
But he pointed to broad areas of collaboration such as intelligence sharing, drone technology and humanitarian assistance that have been covered in similar bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and other nations.
The British pact pledged increased co-operation between defence companies and the Ukrainian army, including building military repair facilities and providing cyber defence technology.
Humanitarian provisions are outlined in Japan's agreement, which pledges to provide medical treatment for wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Japan and Ukraine also agreed to share and protect classified intelligence.
Ukraine has developed sophisticated drone capabilities after the three-and-a-half-year war that followed Russia's invasion.
"The innovation we have, no one in the world has it", Mr Myroshnychenko told AAP.
DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornik said the war showed drones had become central to modern warfare, "necessitating rapid innovation in counter-drone technologies".
The Australian company bolstered Ukraine's defences by giving soldiers the ability to detect and disable enemy drones.
A bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Australia would significantly elevate the company's ability to "operate more directly and responsively on the ground", Mr Vornik said.
He pointed to an arrangement in place between DroneShield and Ukrainian operators to ensure technology could be rapidly updated to tackle emerging threats.
Naval warfare expert Jennifer Parker said there were important lessons Australia could learn from Ukraine, but warned Canberra "can't lift and shift the capabilities they are using because our geography is fundamentally different".
Ukraine's use of naval drones was effective at hitting Russian ships and key infrastructure such as ports, but Australia would need to project power far beyond its coastline in a conflict, she said.
"Australia needs to defend the sea lines of communications, so we need to control certain parts of the ocean for certain periods of time - you can't do that with drones, you need ships," she said.
Naval drones could help protect key choke-points around Australia but the benefit of intelligence sharing and defence co-operation with Ukraine would come from lessons in cyber warfare and how to mobilise a local defence industry to build weapons at scale to avoid becoming over-reliant on imports, she said.
Australia is negotiating a security agreement with Ukraine to boost defence co-operation and codify support following Russia's invasion.
Defence experts say such a pact could help bolster collaboration between the two nations to boost Australia's capabilities.
Largely redacted briefing material prepared for Foreign Minister Penny Wong ahead of her December 2024 trip to Ukraine confirms the possibility of a security pact, but details remain classified.
Of the 28 bilateral security arrangements finalised with Ukraine as of late 2024, none were legally binding or included mutual defence or security obligations, one briefing document noted.
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko didn't comment on any specific provisions that had been proposed due to the sensitivities of negotiations.
But he pointed to broad areas of collaboration such as intelligence sharing, drone technology and humanitarian assistance that have been covered in similar bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and other nations.
The British pact pledged increased co-operation between defence companies and the Ukrainian army, including building military repair facilities and providing cyber defence technology.
Humanitarian provisions are outlined in Japan's agreement, which pledges to provide medical treatment for wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Japan and Ukraine also agreed to share and protect classified intelligence.
Ukraine has developed sophisticated drone capabilities after the three-and-a-half-year war that followed Russia's invasion.
"The innovation we have, no one in the world has it", Mr Myroshnychenko told AAP.
DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornik said the war showed drones had become central to modern warfare, "necessitating rapid innovation in counter-drone technologies".
The Australian company bolstered Ukraine's defences by giving soldiers the ability to detect and disable enemy drones.
A bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Australia would significantly elevate the company's ability to "operate more directly and responsively on the ground", Mr Vornik said.
He pointed to an arrangement in place between DroneShield and Ukrainian operators to ensure technology could be rapidly updated to tackle emerging threats.
Naval warfare expert Jennifer Parker said there were important lessons Australia could learn from Ukraine, but warned Canberra "can't lift and shift the capabilities they are using because our geography is fundamentally different".
Ukraine's use of naval drones was effective at hitting Russian ships and key infrastructure such as ports, but Australia would need to project power far beyond its coastline in a conflict, she said.
"Australia needs to defend the sea lines of communications, so we need to control certain parts of the ocean for certain periods of time - you can't do that with drones, you need ships," she said.
Naval drones could help protect key choke-points around Australia but the benefit of intelligence sharing and defence co-operation with Ukraine would come from lessons in cyber warfare and how to mobilise a local defence industry to build weapons at scale to avoid becoming over-reliant on imports, she said.
Australia is negotiating a security agreement with Ukraine to boost defence co-operation and codify support following Russia's invasion.
Defence experts say such a pact could help bolster collaboration between the two nations to boost Australia's capabilities.
Largely redacted briefing material prepared for Foreign Minister Penny Wong ahead of her December 2024 trip to Ukraine confirms the possibility of a security pact, but details remain classified.
Of the 28 bilateral security arrangements finalised with Ukraine as of late 2024, none were legally binding or included mutual defence or security obligations, one briefing document noted.
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko didn't comment on any specific provisions that had been proposed due to the sensitivities of negotiations.
But he pointed to broad areas of collaboration such as intelligence sharing, drone technology and humanitarian assistance that have been covered in similar bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and other nations.
The British pact pledged increased co-operation between defence companies and the Ukrainian army, including building military repair facilities and providing cyber defence technology.
Humanitarian provisions are outlined in Japan's agreement, which pledges to provide medical treatment for wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Japan and Ukraine also agreed to share and protect classified intelligence.
Ukraine has developed sophisticated drone capabilities after the three-and-a-half-year war that followed Russia's invasion.
"The innovation we have, no one in the world has it", Mr Myroshnychenko told AAP.
DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornik said the war showed drones had become central to modern warfare, "necessitating rapid innovation in counter-drone technologies".
The Australian company bolstered Ukraine's defences by giving soldiers the ability to detect and disable enemy drones.
A bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Australia would significantly elevate the company's ability to "operate more directly and responsively on the ground", Mr Vornik said.
He pointed to an arrangement in place between DroneShield and Ukrainian operators to ensure technology could be rapidly updated to tackle emerging threats.
Naval warfare expert Jennifer Parker said there were important lessons Australia could learn from Ukraine, but warned Canberra "can't lift and shift the capabilities they are using because our geography is fundamentally different".
Ukraine's use of naval drones was effective at hitting Russian ships and key infrastructure such as ports, but Australia would need to project power far beyond its coastline in a conflict, she said.
"Australia needs to defend the sea lines of communications, so we need to control certain parts of the ocean for certain periods of time - you can't do that with drones, you need ships," she said.
Naval drones could help protect key choke-points around Australia but the benefit of intelligence sharing and defence co-operation with Ukraine would come from lessons in cyber warfare and how to mobilise a local defence industry to build weapons at scale to avoid becoming over-reliant on imports, she said.
Australia is negotiating a security agreement with Ukraine to boost defence co-operation and codify support following Russia's invasion.
Defence experts say such a pact could help bolster collaboration between the two nations to boost Australia's capabilities.
Largely redacted briefing material prepared for Foreign Minister Penny Wong ahead of her December 2024 trip to Ukraine confirms the possibility of a security pact, but details remain classified.
Of the 28 bilateral security arrangements finalised with Ukraine as of late 2024, none were legally binding or included mutual defence or security obligations, one briefing document noted.
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko didn't comment on any specific provisions that had been proposed due to the sensitivities of negotiations.
But he pointed to broad areas of collaboration such as intelligence sharing, drone technology and humanitarian assistance that have been covered in similar bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and other nations.
The British pact pledged increased co-operation between defence companies and the Ukrainian army, including building military repair facilities and providing cyber defence technology.
Humanitarian provisions are outlined in Japan's agreement, which pledges to provide medical treatment for wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Japan and Ukraine also agreed to share and protect classified intelligence.
Ukraine has developed sophisticated drone capabilities after the three-and-a-half-year war that followed Russia's invasion.
"The innovation we have, no one in the world has it", Mr Myroshnychenko told AAP.
DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornik said the war showed drones had become central to modern warfare, "necessitating rapid innovation in counter-drone technologies".
The Australian company bolstered Ukraine's defences by giving soldiers the ability to detect and disable enemy drones.
A bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Australia would significantly elevate the company's ability to "operate more directly and responsively on the ground", Mr Vornik said.
He pointed to an arrangement in place between DroneShield and Ukrainian operators to ensure technology could be rapidly updated to tackle emerging threats.
Naval warfare expert Jennifer Parker said there were important lessons Australia could learn from Ukraine, but warned Canberra "can't lift and shift the capabilities they are using because our geography is fundamentally different".
Ukraine's use of naval drones was effective at hitting Russian ships and key infrastructure such as ports, but Australia would need to project power far beyond its coastline in a conflict, she said.
"Australia needs to defend the sea lines of communications, so we need to control certain parts of the ocean for certain periods of time - you can't do that with drones, you need ships," she said.
Naval drones could help protect key choke-points around Australia but the benefit of intelligence sharing and defence co-operation with Ukraine would come from lessons in cyber warfare and how to mobilise a local defence industry to build weapons at scale to avoid becoming over-reliant on imports, she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
32 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Flipping heck: tech giant wants to upsize your phone
One of the world's largest smartphone makers will bet on bigger screens, smaller forms and artificially intelligent features to convince Aussies to upgrade the contents of their pockets. But the more advanced devices will come at a greater cost when they launch on August 1 and experts warn competitors are finally paying more attention to the once niche market. Samsung unveiled its latest folding smartphones in New York early on Thursday, including the Galaxy Z Fold7 that will feature an eight-inch (20cm) fold-out screen for the first time and Google AI features that use its camera to 'see'. The South Korean tech giant also showed off two versions of its folding Flip phone, including a discounted model. Increasing the size of the screens up front and inside the company's top model foldable came in response to customer demand, Samsung Australia mobile experience head Eric Chou said, along with a slimmer body closer to a standard phone in size. "This is really built for customers who have been loyal, have been using a foldable form factor and can provide us with insights," he told AAP. "Effectively, they want a bigger screen (and) better camera, without compromising the fact that it is foldable." The big-screen phone will also be significantly slimmer than its predecessor at 8.9mm when folded, will be 24 grams lighter and add a 200-megapixel camera, though it will also command up to $250 more, with its top model priced at $3549. The smaller Z Flip7, from $1799, will add larger screens up front and inside, and a larger battery. Both folding phones would add AI features, Mr Chou said, including photo-editing and language tools as well as access to Google's Gemini Live AI assistant that can use the phones' cameras for additional information. "Gemini Live is able to see what you see and is able to see what's on screen and provide contextual recommendations," he said. "Having that (AI) multimodal agent that's been built in, essentially... you can interact with the device and get the things you need through voice and the camera." Despite being one of the first companies to release a folding phone in 2019, Samsung faces significant competition from rivals including Motorola, Huawei and Google, which released a foldable phone with an eight-inch screen in Australia last year. Research from Future Market Insights predicts the folding phone market will grow by 26 per cent between 2025 and 2035, with annual growth of more than seven per cent in Australia. But increasing the size and durability of folding screens and reducing the size of the devices would be vital to achieving that growth, Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi said. "Consumers are going to be spoilt for choice when it comes to the form factor of their next handset," he told AAP. "The question is whether the foldable phone will stick for them, whether or not people buy it and continue to buy them rather than switch back to the standard phone format." One of the world's largest smartphone makers will bet on bigger screens, smaller forms and artificially intelligent features to convince Aussies to upgrade the contents of their pockets. But the more advanced devices will come at a greater cost when they launch on August 1 and experts warn competitors are finally paying more attention to the once niche market. Samsung unveiled its latest folding smartphones in New York early on Thursday, including the Galaxy Z Fold7 that will feature an eight-inch (20cm) fold-out screen for the first time and Google AI features that use its camera to 'see'. The South Korean tech giant also showed off two versions of its folding Flip phone, including a discounted model. Increasing the size of the screens up front and inside the company's top model foldable came in response to customer demand, Samsung Australia mobile experience head Eric Chou said, along with a slimmer body closer to a standard phone in size. "This is really built for customers who have been loyal, have been using a foldable form factor and can provide us with insights," he told AAP. "Effectively, they want a bigger screen (and) better camera, without compromising the fact that it is foldable." The big-screen phone will also be significantly slimmer than its predecessor at 8.9mm when folded, will be 24 grams lighter and add a 200-megapixel camera, though it will also command up to $250 more, with its top model priced at $3549. The smaller Z Flip7, from $1799, will add larger screens up front and inside, and a larger battery. Both folding phones would add AI features, Mr Chou said, including photo-editing and language tools as well as access to Google's Gemini Live AI assistant that can use the phones' cameras for additional information. "Gemini Live is able to see what you see and is able to see what's on screen and provide contextual recommendations," he said. "Having that (AI) multimodal agent that's been built in, essentially... you can interact with the device and get the things you need through voice and the camera." Despite being one of the first companies to release a folding phone in 2019, Samsung faces significant competition from rivals including Motorola, Huawei and Google, which released a foldable phone with an eight-inch screen in Australia last year. Research from Future Market Insights predicts the folding phone market will grow by 26 per cent between 2025 and 2035, with annual growth of more than seven per cent in Australia. But increasing the size and durability of folding screens and reducing the size of the devices would be vital to achieving that growth, Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi said. "Consumers are going to be spoilt for choice when it comes to the form factor of their next handset," he told AAP. "The question is whether the foldable phone will stick for them, whether or not people buy it and continue to buy them rather than switch back to the standard phone format." One of the world's largest smartphone makers will bet on bigger screens, smaller forms and artificially intelligent features to convince Aussies to upgrade the contents of their pockets. But the more advanced devices will come at a greater cost when they launch on August 1 and experts warn competitors are finally paying more attention to the once niche market. Samsung unveiled its latest folding smartphones in New York early on Thursday, including the Galaxy Z Fold7 that will feature an eight-inch (20cm) fold-out screen for the first time and Google AI features that use its camera to 'see'. The South Korean tech giant also showed off two versions of its folding Flip phone, including a discounted model. Increasing the size of the screens up front and inside the company's top model foldable came in response to customer demand, Samsung Australia mobile experience head Eric Chou said, along with a slimmer body closer to a standard phone in size. "This is really built for customers who have been loyal, have been using a foldable form factor and can provide us with insights," he told AAP. "Effectively, they want a bigger screen (and) better camera, without compromising the fact that it is foldable." The big-screen phone will also be significantly slimmer than its predecessor at 8.9mm when folded, will be 24 grams lighter and add a 200-megapixel camera, though it will also command up to $250 more, with its top model priced at $3549. The smaller Z Flip7, from $1799, will add larger screens up front and inside, and a larger battery. Both folding phones would add AI features, Mr Chou said, including photo-editing and language tools as well as access to Google's Gemini Live AI assistant that can use the phones' cameras for additional information. "Gemini Live is able to see what you see and is able to see what's on screen and provide contextual recommendations," he said. "Having that (AI) multimodal agent that's been built in, essentially... you can interact with the device and get the things you need through voice and the camera." Despite being one of the first companies to release a folding phone in 2019, Samsung faces significant competition from rivals including Motorola, Huawei and Google, which released a foldable phone with an eight-inch screen in Australia last year. Research from Future Market Insights predicts the folding phone market will grow by 26 per cent between 2025 and 2035, with annual growth of more than seven per cent in Australia. But increasing the size and durability of folding screens and reducing the size of the devices would be vital to achieving that growth, Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi said. "Consumers are going to be spoilt for choice when it comes to the form factor of their next handset," he told AAP. "The question is whether the foldable phone will stick for them, whether or not people buy it and continue to buy them rather than switch back to the standard phone format." One of the world's largest smartphone makers will bet on bigger screens, smaller forms and artificially intelligent features to convince Aussies to upgrade the contents of their pockets. But the more advanced devices will come at a greater cost when they launch on August 1 and experts warn competitors are finally paying more attention to the once niche market. Samsung unveiled its latest folding smartphones in New York early on Thursday, including the Galaxy Z Fold7 that will feature an eight-inch (20cm) fold-out screen for the first time and Google AI features that use its camera to 'see'. The South Korean tech giant also showed off two versions of its folding Flip phone, including a discounted model. Increasing the size of the screens up front and inside the company's top model foldable came in response to customer demand, Samsung Australia mobile experience head Eric Chou said, along with a slimmer body closer to a standard phone in size. "This is really built for customers who have been loyal, have been using a foldable form factor and can provide us with insights," he told AAP. "Effectively, they want a bigger screen (and) better camera, without compromising the fact that it is foldable." The big-screen phone will also be significantly slimmer than its predecessor at 8.9mm when folded, will be 24 grams lighter and add a 200-megapixel camera, though it will also command up to $250 more, with its top model priced at $3549. The smaller Z Flip7, from $1799, will add larger screens up front and inside, and a larger battery. Both folding phones would add AI features, Mr Chou said, including photo-editing and language tools as well as access to Google's Gemini Live AI assistant that can use the phones' cameras for additional information. "Gemini Live is able to see what you see and is able to see what's on screen and provide contextual recommendations," he said. "Having that (AI) multimodal agent that's been built in, essentially... you can interact with the device and get the things you need through voice and the camera." Despite being one of the first companies to release a folding phone in 2019, Samsung faces significant competition from rivals including Motorola, Huawei and Google, which released a foldable phone with an eight-inch screen in Australia last year. Research from Future Market Insights predicts the folding phone market will grow by 26 per cent between 2025 and 2035, with annual growth of more than seven per cent in Australia. But increasing the size and durability of folding screens and reducing the size of the devices would be vital to achieving that growth, Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi said. "Consumers are going to be spoilt for choice when it comes to the form factor of their next handset," he told AAP. "The question is whether the foldable phone will stick for them, whether or not people buy it and continue to buy them rather than switch back to the standard phone format."
The Advertiser
32 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Pope tells Zelenskiy Vatican could host Ukraine talks
Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. Russian forces targeted Ukraine with 728 drones early on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Officials reported one person killed by drone debris in western Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said it had struck military airfields. Closer to the battle zone, eight people were reported killed by drones and guided bombs in the Ukrainian-held part of the frontline Donetsk region. Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: "I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise." Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. Russian forces targeted Ukraine with 728 drones early on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Officials reported one person killed by drone debris in western Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said it had struck military airfields. Closer to the battle zone, eight people were reported killed by drones and guided bombs in the Ukrainian-held part of the frontline Donetsk region. Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: "I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise." Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. Russian forces targeted Ukraine with 728 drones early on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Officials reported one person killed by drone debris in western Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said it had struck military airfields. Closer to the battle zone, eight people were reported killed by drones and guided bombs in the Ukrainian-held part of the frontline Donetsk region. Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: "I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise." Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. Russian forces targeted Ukraine with 728 drones early on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Officials reported one person killed by drone debris in western Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said it had struck military airfields. Closer to the battle zone, eight people were reported killed by drones and guided bombs in the Ukrainian-held part of the frontline Donetsk region. Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: "I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise."
Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
US politics live: Bombshell audio reveals Trump threat to ‘bomb the sh*t out of Moscow and Beijing'
Welcome to our live coverage of US politics. A bombshell audio recording of US President Donald Trump threatening to 'bomb the sh-- out of Moscow and Beijing' has been released, along with Vladimir Putin's gobsmacked reaction. A recording of a private meeting during a fundraiser appears to expose what Mr Trump actually told Russia and China in phone calls in his first term, The Sun reports. The audio from 2024 captures Mr Trump revealing what he claimed to have said during his 2017-2021 presidency to his Russian counterpart. He's heard saying: 'With Putin I said, 'If you go into Ukraine, I'm going to bomb the s*** out of Moscow. I'm telling you I have no choice.'' Later in the recording, the US President can also be heard claiming he gave a similar warning to China's President Xi Jinping if he invaded Taiwan. The release of the recordings comes after Russia pummelled Ukraine overnight with its largest missile and drone attack in more than three years of war, claiming to have targeted an airfield in a region bordering Poland. Earlier, Mr Trump said he would ramp up arms deliveries to Ukraine and accused Mr Putin of spouting 'bulls--t' on Ukraine. The latest strike, which regional officials said had killed one civilian in the Khmelnytsky region, beat a previous Russian record of firing 550 drones and missiles at Ukraine set last week. The air force announced that Russia attacked with 728 drones and 13 missiles, specifying that its air defence systems intercepted 711 drones and destroyed seven missiles. 'This is a telling attack — and it comes precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all,' President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media. Mr Zelensky, who was visiting Rome and met with Pope Leo XIV, called for Ukraine's allies to step up sanctions on Russia, particularly on its energy sector — an important revenue stream for the Russian war chest. 'Our partners know how to apply pressure in a way that will force Russia to think about ending the war, not launching new strikes,' Mr Zelensky said. Follow our live updates. Originally published as US politics live: Bombshell audio reveals Trump threat to 'bomb the sh*t out of Moscow and Beijing'
