
Ukraine's Zelensky meets with U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal
July 11 (UPI) -- Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on Friday.
The meeting, called the Coalition of the Willing, also was attended by U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg.
Zelenskyy said that strengthening Ukraine's air defense is a top priority.
Ukrainian intelligence says Russia plans to launch attacks with up to 1,000 drones at a time. Ukraine's defense against these attacks are interceptor drones, but there must be more investment in their production, according to a statement from Zelensky. He also said Ukraine is ready to purchase a large defense package from the United States.
To prevent Russia's ongoing attacks, Zelensky said there needs to be more sanctions against Russia. Graham and Blumenthal discussed a bill they are sponsoring that addresses that.
"We also touched on the bill introduced by Senators Graham and Blumenthal regarding additional restrictive measures against Russia and those supporting its war effort," Zelensky said on X. "Without a doubt, this is exactly the kind of leverage that can bring peace closer and make sure diplomacy is not empty."
Blumenthal added that other nations at the conference were supportive of the bill.
"Deeply inspired & energized by strong solidarity among European heads of state -- hearing from Sen. Graham & me about our Russia Sanctions bill at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome," he said on X. "Powerful commitment to Ukraine's cause & our legislation."
He hinted that the sanctions would hurt Russia-supporting nations.
"Momentum building for our Russia Sanctions bill, shown by repeated statements of support from heads of state in Rome at the Ukraine Recovery Conference," he tweeted. "Bone crushing sanctions should help halt China, India & Brazil from fueling Russia's war machine by buying its oil & gas."
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its attacks, launching record numbers of drones at Kyiv and other civilian targets. The United States has begun sending arms to Ukraine after a pause.
The Ukraine Recovery Conference is a two-day event focused on building political and private-sector support for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNBC
30 minutes ago
- CNBC
World's largest olive oil producer warns U.S. consumers of a double whammy from Trump tariffs
Spain's Deoleo, the world's largest olive oil producer, says U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose 30% tariffs on imports from the European Union could translate into higher prices for U.S. consumers — as well as limited access to a superfood staple. Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on the 27-member bloc from Aug. 1, in what would mark a steep jump from the current 10% duty. The EU has long been scrambling to reach a trade deal with the U.S. and is considering its options ahead of Trump's deadline, including the prospect of countermeasures. Huge uncertainty persists over whether the U.S. and EU can strike a deal over the coming days, although a blockbuster framework agreement between the U.S. and Japan has raised hopes of a breakthrough. Deoleo, the maker of household olive oil brands such as Bertolli and Carbonell, told CNBC that the Trump administration's trade measures could have an impact on American consumers, particularly given limited U.S. production. "It is worth noting that approximately 95% of the olive oil consumed in the U.S. is imported, so such policies will affect end users," Deoleo CEO Cristóbal Valdés told CNBC by email. The Spanish company said the U.S. accounts for more than a quarter of its total revenue, making it a strategically important market. Around 40,000 acres (16,187 hectares) of olives are planted exclusively in the U.S. for olive oil production, according to the American Olive Oil Producers Association. By comparison, the EU is known to be the leading producer, consumer and exporter of olive oil, with roughly 4 million hectares (9.88 million acres) dedicated to the cultivation of olive trees across the region. Most of the world's supply of olive oil comes from the Mediterranean, with southern European countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece among the world's leading producers of the precious commodity. Spain, in particular, is the biggest olive oil producer in the EU and a global reference for prices. As part of its preparation for a higher tariffs rate, Deoleo's Valdés said the company intends to ramp up its communication, marketing and consumer engagement efforts to ensure olive oil remains an everyday staple. "Beyond institutional dialogue, we are strengthening our value proposition in the U.S. through consumer awareness campaigns about the benefits of olive oil and a renewed commitment to our brands—especially Bertolli, which today represents trust and consistency for American consumers," Valdés said. Deoleo's chief executive also said the olive oil producer would continue to keep all strategic options open, while working on logistics and supply chain improvements to respond to different market scenarios. "However, beyond tactical decisions, our main priority is to protect American consumers' access to a food product that is essential to their health. Access to olive oil should not be penalized — it should be promoted," Valdés said. As U.S. tariffs on EU goods first came into effect in early April, analysts at commodity data firm Expana warned that a reduction in U.S. olive oil imports could have "serious repercussions" for the global market. They cited market players as saying that such a shift could create a supply glut in the EU, leading to further downward price pressure and intensifying competition among producers. It's not just olive oil exporters that have been rattled by Trump's latest tariff threats, however. Irish whiskey firms, Italian cheesemakers and French wine producers are among those who have sounded the alarm over the potential impact.

Wall Street Journal
30 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Beijing's Trade Tactics, Ukraine Stance Cast Pall Over Europe-China Ties
BRUSSELS—China and Europe face a common threat from President Trump's tariffs. That isn't enough to bring the two economies closer. Instead, European frustration is mounting over Beijing's support for Russia's war in Ukraine and what officials view as a flood of low-cost products on global markets.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ukraine demands Zelensky-Putin talks, Russia proposes brief truces
Ukraine on Wednesday proposed direct talks within weeks between its President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin, but Moscow tempered prospects for progress at a fresh round of talks in Istanbul on Wednesday. A Russian negotiator said his country agreed to the latest in a series of prisoner exchanges with Ukraine and proposed brief ceasefires allowing dead and wounded soldiers to be recovered. Host country Turkey urged steps towards a lasting ceasefire and peace deal, but the Kremlin played down any expectations of a breakthrough after three-and-a-half years of war. Ukraine's lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, told reporters: "Priority number one is to organise the meeting of the leaders, of presidents", in comments after the talks. He said Kyiv had proposed to hold the talks by the end of August, with US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also participating. Moscow's lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky told reporters the sides had lengthy discussions but added: "The positions are quite distant. We agreed to continue contacts." He said both countries agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners of war each and that Moscow offered to hand Kyiv the bodies of 3,000 killed soldiers. "We once again proposed to the Ukrainian side... to establish short 24- to 48-hour ceasefires on the line of contact, so that medical teams are able to collect the wounded and so that commanders can come take the bodies of their soldiers," he added. - Trump deadline - The two sides previously met in the Turkish city in May and June, but at those talks managed to agree only on other exchanges of prisoners and soldiers' bodies. Trump last week gave Russia 50 days to end the war or face sanctions, but the Kremlin has not indicated it is willing to compromise. "No one expects an easy road. It will be very difficult," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about his expectations for the talks. Opening the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said: "Our aim is to end this bloody war, which has a very high cost, as soon as possible." He added: "The ultimate goal is a ceasefire that will pave the way for peace." A source in the Ukrainian delegation told AFP ahead of the talks: "Everything will depend on whether Russia stops speaking in ultimatums and takes a constructive position. "This will determine whether results can be achieved at this meeting." Moscow has said a lot of work is needed before even discussions can take place about possible talks between Putin and Zelensky, who last met in 2019. After the previous round of talks the sides exchanged their draft terms for ending the conflict, which the Kremlin said were "diametrically opposed". The two sides have radically different positions. Russia has effectively called on Ukraine to retreat from the four Ukrainian regions Moscow claims to have annexed in September 2022, a demand Kyiv has called unacceptable. Ukraine has ruled out any negotiations on territory until after a ceasefire and says it will never recognise Russia's claims over occupied territory -- including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Russia's full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022, has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, killing tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians. - Russia claims advances - Wednesday's negotiations come as the White House steps up pressure on Russia to agree a compromise. Trump announced last week he was giving Russia until September to strike a peace deal with Kyiv or face sanctions. The US leader has been trying to broker an end to the war since his inauguration in January, but has failed to extract any concessions from the Kremlin, despite repeated phone calls with Putin. Russia has meanwhile intensified its bombardment of Ukrainian towns and cities, while advancing across several different areas of the front line. Between late Tuesday and early Wednesday, Russia fired 71 drones at four different regions of Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said. The Russian defence ministry said Wednesday it had captured the village of Varachyne in Ukraine's northern Sumy region, where Moscow has been advancing for weeks. A Russian drone attack on the Sumy region cut power to more than 220,000 people earlier Wednesday, Zelensky said. bur-rlp/sbk Solve the daily Crossword