Latest news with #EconomicSanctions
Russia Today
19 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Trump under ‘improper pressure' from EU and NATO
US President Donald Trump is facing 'improper pressure' from the European Union and NATO leaders to adopt a hardline stance on the Ukraine conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. On Monday, Trump announced future deliveries of advanced weapons systems to Ukraine, which the US president said would be funded by European NATO members. Trump also issued an ultimatum threatening Russia and its trading partners with new economic sanctions unless the Ukraine conflict is resolved within 50 days. 'Clearly, [Trump] is under enormous – improper, I would say – pressure by the European Union and current NATO leaders,' Lavrov said during a press conference following a ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tianjin, China. He added that the 'regime' of Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky continues to request weapons donations 'at the mounting expense of Western taxpayers.' Lavrov noted that Russia has previously received multiple ultimatums involving deadlines and demands for concessions on what it considers its core strategic objectives in the Ukraine conflict. He downplayed the effectiveness of new sanctions, arguing they are more likely to impact European economies than Russia's. 'Trump clearly explained that Europe will be paying for all of that,' Lavrov said. 'European economists and political experts who are objective acknowledge that this sanctions war is damaging the nations who initiated it. We are already dealing with an unprecedented number of sanctions, and I am certain we can handle more.' The minister reaffirmed Moscow's position that NATO instigated the crisis by threatening Russia's national security through its meddling in Ukraine. The West has pursued a containment strategy against Russia for decades and ignored repeated warnings from Moscow, Lavrov added.
CNA
a day ago
- Business
- CNA
Trump gives Russia 50 days to make Ukraine deal or face 100% tariffs
15 Jul 2025 12:48AM (Updated: 15 Jul 2025 07:08AM) WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump told Russia on Monday (Jul 14) to end its Ukraine war within 50 days or face massive new economic sanctions as he laid out plans for new infusions of weaponry for Kyiv via NATO. Trump said he was "very, very unhappy" with President Vladimir Putin, underlining his insistence that his patience had finally snapped with the Russian leader's refusal to end his three-year-old invasion of Ukraine. "We're going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about 100 per cent," Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The Republican added that they would be "secondary tariffs" that target Russia's remaining trade partners - seeking to cripple Moscow's ability to survive already sweeping Western sanctions. President Donald Trump (right) shakes the hand of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on Jul 14, 2025, in Washington. (Photo: AP/Evan Vucci) Trump and Rutte also unveiled a deal under which the NATO military alliance would buy billions of dollars of arms from the US, including Patriot anti-missile batteries, and then send them to Ukraine. "This is really big," said Rutte, as he touted a deal aimed at easing Trump's long-held complaints that the US is paying more than European and NATO allies to aid Ukraine. Germany, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Britain were among the buyers helping Ukraine, added the NATO chief. "If I was Vladimir Putin today and heard you speaking ... I would reconsider that I should take negotiations about Ukraine more seriously," said Rutte. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he had spoken with Trump and was "grateful" for the arms deal. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin would play a "decisive role" in the new weapons plan. But European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Trump's sanctions deadline was too far into the future. "Fifty days is a very long time if we see that they are killing innocent civilians every day," she said. Trump attempted a rapprochement with Putin shortly after starting his second term, in a bid to honour his election campaign pledge to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours. His pivot towards Putin sparked fears in Kyiv that he was about to sell out Ukraine, especially after Trump and his team berated Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Feb 28.
News24
2 days ago
- Business
- News24
Trump gives Russia 50 days to resolve Ukraine war
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP US President Donald Trump on Monday told Russia to resolve its Ukraine war within 50 days or face massive new economic sanctions as he laid out plans for new infusions of weaponry for Kyiv. 'We're very, very unhappy' with Russia, Trump told reporters as he met with NATO chief Mark Rutte in the White House. 'We're going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about 100%,' said Trump, adding that they would be 'secondary tariffs' that target Russia's remaining trade partners - thereby seeking to cripple Moscow's ability to survive already sweeping Western sanctions. Trump and Rutte also unveiled a deal under which the NATO military alliance would buy arms from the United States - including Patriot anti-missile batteries - and then distribute them to Ukraine to help it battle Russia's invasion. 'This is billions of dollars worth of military equipment that is going to be purchased from the United States, going to NATO... and that's going to be quickly distributed to the battlefield,' Trump said. READ | Russia hits Ukraine with 'most massive enemy attack' of 728 drones as Trump patience wears thin Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, said Ukraine would get 'massive numbers' of weapons under the deal. Trump launched a bid at rapprochement with Putin shortly after starting his second term in January, as he sought to honour his election campaign promise to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours. His pivot towards Putin sparked fears in Kyiv that he was about to sell out Ukraine, especially after Trump and his team berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office in February. 'Assassin' But Trump has shown growing anger and frustration with Putin in recent weeks as the Russian leader, instead of halting his three-year invasion, instead stepped up attacks. Trump added of Putin on Monday: I don't want to say he's an assassin, but he's a tough guy. Last week, Trump teased an announcement on Monday about Russia. He then announced on Sunday that he would send vital Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine to help it fend off escalating barrages of Russian attacks. Washington has also U-turned from an announcement earlier this month that it would pause some arms deliveries to Kyiv. Rutte's visit to the White House is the first since the former Dutch prime minister described Trump as 'daddy' at a NATO summit in The Hague in June. READ | Trump does U-turn, now promises to send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine Moscow has unleashed record waves of drone and missile strikes over the past few weeks, with the number of Ukrainian civilians killed or wounded in June hitting a three-year high, according to UN figures. Trump's announcement on Monday came as his special envoy, Keith Kellogg, arrived in Kyiv to meet Zelensky. Zelensky hailed the 'productive meeting', saying they had discussed 'strengthening Ukraine's air defence, joint production, and procurement of defence weapons in collaboration with Europe.' The Ukrainian leader also said he was 'grateful to President Trump for the important signals of support and the positive decisions for both our countries.' 'Better late than never' One Ukrainian soldier deployed in the war-scarred east of the country, who identified himself by his call sign Grizzly, welcomed Trump's promise of fresh air defence systems. 'Better late than never,' he told AFP. The 29-year-old added: Because while we are here defending the front line, our families are unprotected. Thanks to the Patriots they are giving us, our families will be safer. Russian forces, meanwhile, said on Monday they had captured new territory in eastern Ukraine with the seizure of two villages, one in the Donetsk region and another in the Zaporizhzhia region. Its forces also killed at least three civilians in the eastern Kharkiv and Sumy regions on Monday, regional Ukrainian officials announced. In Kyiv, Zelensky also proposed a major political shake-up, recommending economy minister Yulia Svyrydenko take over as the country's new prime minister. Svyrydenko said on social media that Ukraine was facing a 'crucial time.'
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Trump issues Russia deadline as Gaza truce talks enter second week
In this episode of W News, presented by Jono Hayes, we cover US President Donald Trump's warning to Russia: resolve the Ukraine war within 50 days or face sweeping new economic sanctions. Trump also unveiled plans for additional US weapons support for Kyiv. We also report on the faltering Gaza ceasefire talks, now in their second week. Mediators in Qatar are struggling to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas, as both sides accuse each other of stalling a deal for a 60-day truce and hostage release after 21 months of war. Guests: Nick Harper – Correspondent John Kavulich – Senior Editor for Outcome Modeling Analysis at Issue Insight Blake Sifton – Correspondent Patrick Fok – Correspondent
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
What to know about Iran's nuclear sites
Israel attacked multiple Iranian nuclear and military sites on Friday as tensions reached new heights over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. Israeli leaders said the attack was necessary to head off what they claimed was an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs. Iran long has insisted its program is peaceful and U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Tehran was not actively pursuing the bomb. The attack came one day after the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors censured Iran for the first time in 20 years for not working with its inspectors. Iran immediately announced it would establish a third enrichment site in the country and swap out some centrifuges for more-advanced ones. The U.S. and Iran had been in talks that could have resulted in the U.S. lifting some of its crushing economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran drastically limiting or ending its enrichment of uranium. Here's a look at some major Iranian sites and their importance in Tehran's program. Natanz enrichment facility Iran's nuclear facility at Natanz, located some 220 kilometers (135 miles) southeast of Tehran, is the country's main enrichment site. Part of the facility on Iran's Central Plateau is underground to defend against potential airstrikes. It operates multiple cascades, or groups of centrifuges working together to more quickly enrich uranium. Iran also is burrowing into the Kūh-e Kolang Gaz Lā, or Pickax Mountain, which is just beyond Natanz's southern fencing. Natanz has been targeted by the Stuxnet virus, believed to be an Israeli and American creation, which destroyed Iranian centrifuges. Two separate sabotage attacks, attributed to Israel, also have struck the facility. Fordo enrichment facility Iran's nuclear facility at Fordo is located some 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Tehran. It also hosts centrifuge cascades, but isn't as big a facility as Natanz. Buried under a mountain and protected by anti-aircraft batteries, Fordo appears designed to withstand airstrikes. Its construction began at least in 2007, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, although Iran only informed the U.N. nuclear watchdog about the facility in 2009 after the U.S. and allied Western intelligence agencies became aware of its existence. Bushehr nuclear power plant Iran's only commercial nuclear power plant is in Bushehr on the Persian Gulf, some 750 kilometers (465 miles) south of Tehran. Construction on the plant began under Iran's Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the mid-1970s. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the plant was repeatedly targeted in the Iran-Iraq war. Russia later completed construction of the facility. Iran is building two other reactors like it at the site. Bushehr is fueled by uranium produced in Russia, not Iran, and is monitored by the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency. Arak heavy water reactor The Arak heavy water reactor is 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Tehran. Heavy water helps cool nuclear reactors, but it produces plutonium as a byproduct that can potentially be used in nuclear weapons. That would provide Iran another path to the bomb beyond enriched uranium, should it choose to pursue the weapon. Iran had agreed under its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers to redesign the facility to relieve proliferation concerns. Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center The facility in Isfahan, some 350 kilometers (215 miles) southeast of Tehran, employs thousands of nuclear scientists. It also is home to three Chinese research reactors and laboratories associated with the country's atomic program. Tehran Research Reactor The Tehran Research Reactor is at the headquarters of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the civilian body overseeing the country's atomic program. The U.S. actually provided Iran the reactor in 1967 as part of America's 'Atoms for Peace' program during the Cold War. It initially required highly enriched uranium but was later retrofitted to use low-enriched uranium over proliferation concerns. ___ The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___
