Ukraine war briefing: Trump says he will send Patriot missile defence systems to Kyiv
US senators touted a bipartisan bill that would arm Trump with 'sledgehammer' sanctions to use against Russia, ahead of the latest visit to Ukraine by US special envoy Keith Kellogg. Trump said he would make a 'major statement … on Russia' on Monday. Republican senator Lindsey Graham – a top ally of Trump – said on Sunday he had majority backing in the Senate for his bill, which was gaining momentum as US-led peace efforts in Ukraine struggled. The bill would allow Trump 'to go after Putin's economy and all those countries who prop up the Putin war machine', he told broadcaster CBS. Trump has indicated he would be open to the sanctions bill after repeatedly saying he is 'disappointed' with Putin over Moscow's deadly missile barrages against Ukraine.
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte is set to meet Trump this week on the heels of the US president announcing plans to sell Nato allies weaponry that it can then pass on to Ukraine. Nato said Rutte would be in Washington on Monday and Tuesday and would meet with Trump, secretary of state Marco Rubio and defence secretary Pete Hegseth as well as Congress. French defense minister Sebastien Lecornu, meanwhile, said in an interview published on Sunday in La Tribune Dimanche that European officials had been making the case to the Trump administration to bolster air defence capabilities with any coming packages. He said France was in a 'capacity hole' and would have to wait until next year before being able to provide Ukraine new ground-to-air missiles.
Ukraine's SBU security service has announced it tracked down and killed Russian agents they said had assassinated one of their members. A two-strong team – a man and a woman – had killed Col Ivan Voronich in Kyiv on Thursday, it said. 'A special operation was conducted this morning, during which members of the Russian FSB agent group put up resistance and they were eliminated,' the SBU statement on Sunday said. It did not specify how many people had been killed but the SBU posted a video in which two bodies were visible. The team that killed Voronich had spent time getting to know his daily schedule and routes, the SBU said.
The UN nuclear watchdog said it had heard hundreds of rounds of small arms fire late on Saturday at Ukraine's Russian-occupied nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia. The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Sunday that the large number of shots – repeatedly fired for about an hour from 10pm local time – was unusual and that it was seeking further information.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov met with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Sunday to discuss Ukraine as well as relations with the US. Lavrov arrived in China after a visit to North Korea, where he received assurances of support in its conflict with Ukraine. Lavrov and Wang Yi's talks included 'the outlook for settling the Ukrainian crisis', Russia's foreign ministry said.
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The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Trump's presence at Chelsea's trophy lift was a fitting coda to a misguided tournament
For the first four weeks of the 2025 Club World Cup, there had been the danger that the tournament would soon be largely forgotten. There is no danger of that after the final. There had been unease after the 2022 World Cup final at the way Qatar inserted itself into the trophy presentation by draping a bisht over Lionel Messi, but at least the Emir kept his distance. Donald Trump, by contrast, placed himself front and centre of the celebrations – and he was soon joined by the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, who has a pathological fear of missing out, and must follow his great ally in all things. And so we were presented with a grimly perfect image of this misguided tournament, a celebrating football team struggling to be seen from behind the politicians who took centre stage. The confusion of Cole Palmer and Reece James at Trump's continued presence was clear. History, and not just football history, will not forget such shameless grandstanding, or Fifa's complicity in allowing football to be hijacked by a national leader. It was a day the ramifications of which will be sifted for years. As a footballing spectacle, it was remarkable, a game in which Palmer produced a performance to elevate him to global stardom, in which Robert Sánchez did much to quiet his many critics, in which Enzo Maresca announced himself as a tactician of the highest rank. There had been plenty of intrigue earlier in the tournament – Al-Hilal's last-16 victory over Manchester City and Real Madrid's capitulation in the semi-final perhaps most notably – but they had always been undercut by doubts as to how seriously each side was taking it. But PSG's determination to add the world title to the Champions League crown they won in May was obvious and, in the final, they were outplayed to a startling degree. Luis Enrique's side had essentially been untouchable since the turn of the year, not just winning games but looking sharper than opponents, on another tactical level. They had outclassed Madrid in the semi-final to the extent that the game was done within 20 minutes. Yet the final was lost by half-time as their left flank was repeatedly over-run. Khvicha Khvaratskelia, whose defensive work is usually so striking, didn't make a single tackle or interception (PSG's front three as a whole managed just one regain between them) and Fabián Ruiz was bypassed so that Nuno Mendes, who for a year has seemed obviously the best left-back in the world, was repeatedly exposed, sometimes to Malo Gusto but sometimes, more dangerously, to Palmer. Palmer produced one of the great final performances, scoring the first with a great finish, the second with a great finish after a dummied pass of almost comical effectiveness and then setting up the third with a barrelling run and perfectly calibrated pass for João Pedro. Perhaps PSG were disadvantaged by having played in the second semi-final; perhaps in the extreme heat an extra 24 hours of rest makes a huge difference. Still, it's been a long time since anybody has taken Luis Enrique's PSG apart like that – even if it took two exceptional saves from Sánchez to prevent PSG getting a second-half goal that might have made the denouement more anxious than it was. There have been plenty who have doubted Maresca's tactical approach, his apparent over-caution, his obsession with avoiding risk. But on Sunday, he clearly got the gameplan right. Using Pedro Neto as an auxiliary wing-back helped negate the forward surges of Achraf Hakimi but it was on the other flank, the way space was created for Palmer, that the game was won. These were moments that will define careers and, in so doing, offer legitimacy and prestige to the Club World Cup. As world champions, after a performance like that, with a squad of such depth, Chelsea have to be considered serious contenders for the Premier League title. But in the end, the football seemed an afterthought. There is always something uncomfortable to the European mind in the militarism of US sporting fanfare (which has begun, regrettably, to seep into the FA Cup final). Why was the Star-Spangled Banner played before kick-off? When has the host's anthem ever previously been played like that at a Fifa event? Why was there a fly-over of military planes? Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion By the trophy presentation, that had become something much more sinister. Was the US hosting football, or was football hosting the US? Or rather a particular vision of the US represented by Trump? Fifa has just opened offices in Trump Tower: Infantino's alliance with the president is both committed and alarming. And having pushed through his vision of the Club World Cup with all its flaws without meaningful consultation, what next for Fifa? Checks and balances simply don't apply any more. This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@ and he'll answer the best in a future edition.
Scottish Sun
20 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Trump shipping long-range missiles to Ukraine will change face of war' after ‘p****d' Don's patience with Putin runs out
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE long-range weapons Donald Trump is reportedly planning to send to Ukraine could deal a major blow to Russia, military experts told The Sun. Trump, who appears to be growing increasingly frustrated with tyrant Vladimir Putin, is set to announce an "aggressive' new weapons plan to support Ukraine. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Dozens were injured in Kyiv following a massive ballistic missile and drone attack launched by Russia last week Credit: East2West 10 Fires broke out in at least 13 locations across five districts in Kyiv after the attack Credit: Reuters 10 Soldiers of Ukraine's 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a Grad multiple rocket launcher towards Russian positions at the frontline in Donetsk region Credit: AP 10 Donald Trump speaks with the media at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland Credit: Reuters He has promised to send MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems - which are used to stop incoming missiles - to Ukraine. But he has also suggested that the US would supply "very sophisticated" military hardware to Ukraine. Patriot rockets - which act as America's primary air defence system - were successfully used in the Middle East to shoot down missiles that Iran fired at a US airbase in Qatar. But the military package for Ukraine will also likely include long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, two sources told Axios. Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a decorated British Army commander, said the shipment of these long-range missiles would have profound "psychological and physical effects" on Ukraine. Mr de Bretton-Gordon told The Sun: "These weapons can strike Moscow - over 400 miles from the border. That allows the Ukrainians to strike drone factory production and ammunition sites, and others. "So this will have both psychological as well as physical effects. "People in Moscow will realise that they potentially could be targeted. Trump slams Putin's 'bulls***' and trashes the tyrant's 'meaningless' promises to end Ukraine war in savage attack "And when you also add to it the American bombings on Iranian sites that were supposed to be impregnable, it shows that American missile and drone technology rather superior to the Russian air defence system." The former army chief said these weapons will put real pressure on Russia, adding: "The metric has now changed and Trump's decision could make a huge difference." Ex-military intelligence officer Colonel Philip Ingram told The Sun how these long-range weapons could help strike Russian missile and drone launchpads - the ones that are used to launch nightly attacks on Ukraine. He said: "The Ukrainians are already attacking to hit Russian military logistics, defence industry bases. "And with these sophisticated weapons, they will have increased capability of doing so. "It will impact the ability of the Russians to prosecute these increasingly large drone and rocket attacks on a nightly basis. "And then that's the best way for the Ukrainians to stop it." Trump is now set to make a "major statement" on Russia - and is expected to reveal more details about the military package. More weapons that Kyiv could receive in the coming days include precision-guided GMLRS missiles and thousands of high-explosive Howitzer rounds. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios that he is "really p****d at Putin", and that the announcement is going to be really "very aggressive". 10 10 Trump said he was 'very disappointed' with Vladimir Putin Credit: AFP 10 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomes the American aid package Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Trump reiterated that he was "very unhappy" with Putin since their phone call two weeks ago made no progress on the Ukraine peace deal - something the US president has pushed for since returning to power. Instead, Putin has snubbed peace and is instead steadily increasing his overnight bombing raids - which could soon hit 1,000 a day. Last week, Trump accused Putin of throwing "bullshit" at Washington on Ukraine and making "meaningless" promises. "We get a lot of bull**** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth," Trump told reporters during a televised cabinet meeting at the White House. "He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless." "We're going to send some more weapons [to Ukraine]. "We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They're hit very hard now." Moscow had no immediate reaction to Trump's strongly worded comments about Putin, but the Kremlin said that sending arms to Ukraine only serves to prolong the conflict. 10 Russia is launching the drones in a deadly new development in the war Credit: Alamy 10 Some of the devastation caused by the new wave of Russian attacks on Kyiv Credit: Alamy "It is obvious of course that these actions probably do not align with attempts to promote a peaceful resolution," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying in a briefing. Putin, who himself proposed direct talks with Kyiv to end the war a few weeks ago, has now suggested that diplomacy will not help Moscow achieve its war goals. He has instead increased the intensity of his attacks - hammering Ukraine with almost daily drones and ballistic missile blitzes. Last week, the Russians launched 741 drones and missiles at Ukraine - the biggest single attack of the 40-month war. Some 400 were fired the next day. Over the weekend, 600 drones and 26 missiles including Kh-101 cruise missiles were launched in one of the most intense bombing raids since the inception of the war. Trump also urged Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth to push defence contractors to increase production of armaments. "We have to step them up, Pete, and let them make it at a much higher rate," he said. "Putin is not treating human beings right. He's killing too many people. So we're sending some defensive weapons and I've approved that," Trump added. Experts hope the shipment of these new weapons - and fresh sanctions - could put the Russians back at the negotiating table. 10 An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv on Thursday Credit: Reuters
The Guardian
24 minutes ago
- The Guardian
US undocumented farm workers feel ‘hunted like animals' amid Trump's immigration raids
Undocumented farm workers feel they're being 'hunted like animals', they told the Guardian, as Donald Trump's administration ramps up its crackdown on immigration. Raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) have caused workers to lose hours and income, and forced them into hiding at home, according to interviews. With many US farms reliant on undocumented workers to function, the US president and his administration have sought to reassure their owners in recent months. But Trump's pledge to put farmers 'in charge' of immigration enforcement alarmed workers' rights advocates, who suggested they were being asked to surrender 'their freedom to their employer' just to stay in the country. 'We really feel like we're being hunted, we're being hunted like animals,' said an undocumented farm worker in Ventura county, California, who requested to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. An Ice raid at a cannabis farm in the county last week resulted in a worker suffering severe injuries after falling from a greenhouse and later dying. The raids sparked protests, with federal agents using smoke canisters in a bid to disperse a crowd of hundreds of protesters. 'You can't go out peacefully to do things, or go to work with any peace of mind anymore. We're stressed out and our kids are stressed out. No one is the same since these raids started,' the worker added. 'We are stressed and worrying if it continues like this, what are we going to do because the rent here is very expensive and it has affected us a lot. How are we going to make ends meet if this continues?' Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, said: 'President Trump is a tireless advocate for American farmers – they keep our families fed and our country prosperous. He trusts farmers and is committed to ensuring they have the workforce needed to remain successful.' The Department of Agriculture and Ice did not respond to requests for comment. Most of the more than 2.6 million farm workers in the US are Hispanic, non-citizen immigrants. Around 40% of US farm workers are estimated to be undocumented. Last month, the Trump administration called for Ice arrest quotas of 3,000 per day, up from 1,000. Following criticism of the raids, Trump claimed that changes were coming to how raids were conducted in agriculture, hospitality and food service, though a directive issued by Ice to stop targeting such sites was reversed. Trump recently claimed the administration is looking into legislation to defer immigration enforcement on farms to farmers. 'Farmers, look, they know better. They work with them for years,' he said at a rally in Iowa on 3 July. The US president is 'clearly' trying to give corporate leaders 'as close to slavery … that he can give to them,' claimed Rosalinda Guillen, a farm worker from Washington, community organizer and founder of the non-profit Community to Community. 'Giving workers an opportunity who are already here in this country the ability to work and support their families and stay in this country by giving up their dignity and their freedom to their employer? If that isn't a definition of slavery, I don't know what is.' Trump has indicated that his administration could issue temporary passes to immigrant workers. 'Even Trump consumes products being produced by farm workers, without realizing who produced these for him,' Lázaro Álvarez, a member of the Workers' Center of Central New York and Alianza Agrícola, who has worked on a farm for more than a decade, said. 'They have really demonized us with the word 'criminals',' Álvarez said. 'Despite the fact we are undocumented, we pay taxes. We are invisible to the government until we pay taxes, and we don't receive any benefits.' Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers, a labor union representing farm workers, said: 'Everything that he's doing to detain these workers is unconstitutional. They don't have a document signed by a judge. They don't have a court order. They want to just eliminate protections of farm workers who are currently here and have been working in the field for 20 to 30 years. 'These workers who have not committed any crime are being taken by people who are masked, are not wearing a uniform and don't have a marked vehicle, so they are essentially being kidnapped.' The impacts of these raids on farm workers will reverberate, Romero warned, from the communities being affected to consumers who rely on the work of farm workers. 'There's a lot of fear of going to work,' said Dr Sarait Martinez, executive director of Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño (CBDIO), which works in the Central valley and on the central coast of California with Indigenous farmworkers. She added that family dynamics among farm workers have been changing due to the Ice raids, as parents will alternate between who goes to work and who stays home with the children, to ensure they aren't both arrested, and separated from their children. 'This administration is targeting and just racially profiling anyone at this point that is brown, and it's intimidating workers,' said Martinez. 'There's a broader agenda of this administration, who and how they want workers to be employed in the country, and I think we need to be aware of that, and we need to be organizing.' Luis Jiménez, an undocumented farm worker in central New York for 21 years, said the raids have affected the mental health of many undocumented farm workers. 'A lot of people come here to work and their families back home depend on the work and the support of them, so it would be a tragedy if they were arrested and deported,' he said. 'We don't know who is going to report us or at what moment if we go out we will be reported to Ice because of the propaganda the federal government has been carrying out against the immigrant community.' 'There are many people who are racist but do not realize it affects them, too,' added Jiménez. 'The immigrant community and migrant labor supports the agricultural industry and makes the economy grow. And if the economy is good, then those people are better off financially. 'And there are people who don't care about that because of the simple fact of wanting to get immigrants out of this country.' Back in Ventura county, the undocumented farm worker warned of far-reaching consequences should Trump press ahead with his crackdown. 'If there are no immigrants, there is no food, there are no houses, no hotels, no people who do the work in restaurants,' they said. 'Without us, food is going to be more expensive. We're essential. 'We worked through Covid. We worked through the wildfires in Los Angeles. We get up at 4am every day. No one else is willing to work the eight-, 10-hour days the way we do. We're not criminals. We're hardworking people trying to give our kids a better life. And we contribute a lot to this country.'
