Latest news with #Merezhko
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Ukraine Braces for Impact of U.S. Weapons Pause
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. With U.S. weapons and missile flows stanched at Ukraine's borders, Kyiv is bracing for how it will keep its air defenses firing in the face of intense Russian bombardment and its guns leveled at slowly advancing Russian forces. "I hope it's a temporary halt related to the need to make some calculations with regard to American stockpiles," said Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of Ukraine's parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee. "I also hope that those people who have taken this decision fully realize what consequences it might have for Ukraine, including safety of civilian population, if we don't get on time the necessary munitions," Merezhko told Newsweek. On Tuesday, the U.S. confirmed it had paused the delivery of some of Ukraine's most in-demand equipment and supplies. Politico first reported that a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles had raised concerns over a dip in the Department of Defense's stockpiles, and that an initial decision to hold back some military aid pledged during the previous administration was made almost a month ago. The stoppage applies to aid Ukraine receives both through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and through donations pulled from U.S. military stocks, according to the report. Under USAI, Washington has been able to buy equipment for Ukraine from American industry players. The U.S. has provided about $67 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, the State Department said in a March news release. U.S. forces—and, crucially, the country's stockpiles—have also been heavily involved in the Middle East, including by intercepting missiles heading for Israel. Ukrainian air defense intercepting a Shahed drone midair in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 30, 2023. Ukrainian air defense intercepting a Shahed drone midair in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 30, 2023. AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka "This decision was made to put America's interests first following a review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said. "The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned—just ask Iran." Last month, the U.S. carried out large-scale strikes on several Iranian nuclear sites. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday it had not "received any official notifications about the suspension or revision of the delivery schedules of the agreed defense assistance." The delayed weapons include rounds for 155 mm howitzers, more than 100 Hellfire missiles and precision-guided rounds known as GMLRS, NBC News reported. The U.S. has also paused its deliveries of short-range Stinger missiles widely used by Ukraine and dozens of Patriot air defense missiles, vital for protecting major Ukrainian cities from Russia's most advanced weapons. Getting more of the U.S.-made Patriot systems, credited with knocking out Russia's hypersonic missiles, has consistently been one of Ukraine's top priorities. Russia has hammered Ukraine with intensive waves of aerial strikes in recent weeks as ceasefire talks have failed to yield any progress toward an agreement. Ukraine's air force said on Tuesday that Kyiv shot down 4,750 air targets in June alone, including almost 100 Kh-101 cruise missiles and 14 short-range ballistic missiles. Air defense is the primary concern among Ukrainian officials, although Moscow has continued plugging away with small but steady advances along the front lines in the east. Kyiv's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday it had requested more information from the U.S., and that it was "critically important" to strengthen its air defense network. "Even a partial suspension of U.S. military aid could be critical for Ukraine," said Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker for the country's southern Odesa region. "Russia continues to bombard our cities almost every night, drones are shot down over Ukraine, and roughly once a week, Russia carries out massive missile attacks," he told Newsweek. "In other words, we are being denied the means to defend ourselves." "I sincerely hope the United States will consider providing air defense support, as we urgently need it, especially to protect our civilians," Goncharenko added. "Russia will definitely use any delay in providing American military aid to Ukraine and might intensify bombardments of civilian objects," Merezhko said. Patriot missiles are the "most vulnerable point" in the aid blockage, Ivan Stupak, a former official with Ukraine's SBU security service, told Newsweek. When asked about Patriot missiles during the NATO summit in The Hague last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was "going to see if we can make some available." "They're very hard to get," he added. "We need them, too. We were supplying them to Israel." Stockpiles Running Out? The outbreak of fresh violence in the Middle East has used up interceptor missiles of many types, but mainly those fired by the American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, which intercept ballistic missiles, and missiles fired from ships, said Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow with the British think tank the Royal United Services Institute. While Patriot missiles have occasionally been used in the Middle East, a "considerable number" were sent to Ukraine, Kaushal told Newsweek. But the U.S. has replenished some of its stocks through buying back missiles, diverting shipments from export customers and benefiting from increased production rates for Patriot missiles, he continued. "Inventory stockpiles are not critically low," Kaushal said. But the demand for Patriots is "growing significantly," not least in the Indo-Pacific, he added. The exact number of munitions in the U.S. arsenal is not public knowledge. Former Pentagon official Jim Townsend told Newsweek that the Department of Defense has always been concerned about Patriot missile stocks, particularly for use in the Indo-Pacific and against Houthi rebels launching missiles from Yemen. "We've always been thin on Patriot," he said. "This is not about stockpiles," said retired U.S. Army General Ben Hodges, who formerly headed U.S. Army Europe. "It's a choice of this administration to placate Russia, at the expense of Ukraine," Hodges told Newsweek. Trump and his senior officials have appeared unwilling to exert painful pressure on Russia during ceasefire negotiations, despite Trump's clear desire to reach an accord and bring Europe's largest land conflict since World War II to an end. Trump said last week that it was "more difficult than people would have any idea" to secure a deal, adding, "Vladimir Putin has been more difficult." Trump has typically veered away from heaping criticism on the Kremlin leader but has swiped at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. While Russian missiles and drones rain down across Ukraine, the Russian army is "still grinding forward" in the east, John Foreman, a former U.K. defense attaché to Moscow and Kyiv, told Newsweek. A Russian-appointed official said earlier this week that Russian forces had seized all of the Luhansk region, one of two eastern Ukrainian regions forming the Donbas area, Ukraine's industrial heartland. The claim has not been corroborated by other sources, including Russia's community of influential military bloggers. Russia says it annexed Luhansk and three other regions in the east in 2022, but the move is not internationally recognized. Moscow has not established full control over any of the regions it has claimed as annexed. Russia has for many months controlled about 99 percent of Luhansk, according to analysis published by the Institute for the Study of War think tank, but it has struggled to capture the remaining land. Russia has also contended with shortages of munitions, despite warping its economy by putting it on a teetering war footing. Its advance is costing Moscow dearly, said Daniel Rice, a former aide to Ukraine's commander in chief and the president of American University Kyiv. "Firing tens of thousands of artillery shells daily depletes even a massive magazine," he told Newsweek. "Russia had to solve this by partnering with North Korea." Russia has received extensive deliveries of shells and short-range ballistic missiles from Pyongyang. Last year, North Korea became the first country not directly involved in Russia's invasion of Ukraine to commit troops to the front line.
NDTV
25-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Donald Trump Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize? What It Means
US President Donald Trump has been nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The nomination, submitted by Republican Congressman Buddy Carter, credits Trump with playing an "extraordinary and historic role" in halting a rapidly escalating conflict in the Middle East. In a formal letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Representative Carter wrote, "President Trump's influence was instrumental in forging a swift agreement that many believed to be impossible." The Georgia lawmaker praised Trump's leadership in helping de-escalate what could have become a full-scale regional war, adding that "such a breakthrough demands both courage and clarity. President Trump demonstrated both, offering the world a rare glimpse of hope." But there was a twist. Senior Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko, one of Trump's former backers for the Nobel bid, withdrew his nomination, citing a loss of faith in the President's ability to deliver on his promise to end the war in Ukraine. In November, Mr Merezhko, the head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, nominated Trump, hoping he would broker peace between Ukraine and Russia when elected. "I have lost any sort of faith and belief in Trump and his ability to secure a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv," Merezhko told Newsweek. He accused Trump of failing to act on his campaign promise to end the war within 24 hours. "Trump is evading, he is dodging, the need to impose sanctions on Russia," he said. Though Ukraine accepted a US-proposed peace deal in March, Russia hasn't responded. In May, Trump warned, "If Putin is stalling, we'll respond a little bit differently," but no action followed. Merezhko also slammed Trump's muted response to Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, saying he chose "the path of appeasement." Being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize means an eligible person has formally submitted a name for consideration. It doesn't imply endorsement or increase the chance of winning, as hundreds are nominated each year. The Nobel Committee reviews entries privately, and only the official shortlist and winner, announced in October, hold real significance. The Iran-Israel ceasefire, announced by Trump on Monday, came only two days after he ordered a US military strike on three Iranian nuclear sites in support of Israeli operations. The president proposed calling the resolution the "12-Day War," and said he believed it was a turning point in avoiding a wider war in the region. Earlier, Trump expressed deep sorrow for not being nominated even after his anti-war rhetoric over the years. " I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do," he wrote Friday on Truth Social, referencing his past diplomatic efforts, including the 2020 Abraham Accords and attempts to mediate conflicts between India-Pakistan and Serbia-Kosovo. "I should have gotten it four or five times... They won't give me a Nobel Peace Prize because they only give it to liberals," Trump later told reporters. To date, three US presidents have received the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, Woodrow Wilson in 1919, and Barack Obama in 2009. Trump's nomination also came on the heels of an endorsement by the Pakistani government. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had earlier praised Trump's diplomatic interventions, particularly for reducing tensions between India and Pakistan, and formally nominated him for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. That support, however, quickly took a turn. A day after the Pakistani endorsement, Trump ordered the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry issued a sharp rebuke, condemning the US actions as "deeply disturbing."
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's Nobel Peace Prize nomination withdrawn
Donald Trump's Nobel Peace Prize nomination has been withdrawn by a senior Ukraine politician who accused the US president of appeasing Vladimir Putin. Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of Ukraine's foreign affairs committee, said he had lost 'any kind of faith' in Mr Trump's ability to end the war. He nominated Mr Trump in late 2024, revealing to The Telegraph that he believed it would encourage the president-elect to follow through on a pledge to end the war. Since then, Mr Trump has largely abandoned peace talks after repeated rounds of failed negotiations and a very public falling out in the Oval Office with Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president. 'This appeasement of aggression encourages Putin to continue the attack. Trump just turns a blind eye to all of it,' Mr Merezhko said in a letter to the Nobel committee. 'I lost any kind of faith that Trump will deliver in any of his promises.' Despite failings in Ukraine, Mr Trump's push this week to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel after 12 days of fighting has prompted fresh calls for a Nobel Peace Prize. On Tuesday, Buddy Carter, a US Republican politician, wrote to the Nobel committee to nominate Mr Trump for his 'extraordinary and historic role' in bringing to an end 'the armed conflict between Israel and Iran and preventing the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism from obtaining the most lethal weapon on the planet'. Addressing Mr Trump's efforts in the Middle East, Mr Merezhko said: 'I understand his position in relation to Israel. It is the right thing to do in order to help Israel to survive because Iran has said they want to destroy Israel. 'I wish he would do the same for Ukraine. Russia also wants to destroy Ukraine. Russia and Iran help each other. Trump should be consistent and help Ukraine.' The US bombed Tehran's nuclear sites on Saturday amid fighting between Israel and Iran. Iran fired ballistic missiles at a US air base in Qatar in retaliation but no one was injured and Washington was warned of the attack in advance. Mr Trump subsequently announced that the two nations had agreed to down weapons but lambasted them both on Tuesday morning as they continued to trade fire. Mr Merezhko said: 'Ukraine did everything Trump wanted. We agreed to all the ceasefire demands, including the mineral deal.' Mr Merezhko nominated Mr Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize to acknowledge his role in the Abraham Accords and to encourage him to bring peace to Ukraine. 'My goal was to give a push in the direction of peace with the nomination. He has failed to deliver on his promises,' he said. 'This seriously undermines US credibility on the world stage. Each day we're being bombarded but Trump doesn't care.' Mr Trump was widely mocked for writing 'Vladimir, stop!' on social media after a bombardment of Kyiv earlier in 2025. Mr Trump rarely rebukes Putin publicly and his envoy, Steve Witkoff, flew to St Petersburg in May for a meeting with the Russian leader. Russia launched a missile attack on Ukraine's south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region on Tuesday. According to reports, the strikes killed 11 people and injured more than 160 others. Mr Merezhko said the continued strikes were why he had lost faith in Mr Trump. 'My goal with the nomination was to give a push in the direction of peace. My hope was that [Mr Trump] was sincere,' he said. 'He has failed to deliver on his promises. 'I cannot in all good conscience support President Trump's nomination for nor receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize.' Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's foreign minister, called on Nato leaders meeting in The Hague, including Mr Trump, to put 'pressure on the aggressor'. 'We urge this week's Nato and EU summits to reach decisions that project strength,' he said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
India Today
24-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize and loses out on another
US President Donald Trump was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by US Representative Buddy Carter, a Republican from Georgia. The nomination was submitted following Trump's announcement of a ceasefire deal between Iran and his letter to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, Carter wrote that Trump played an "extraordinary and historic role" in ending the armed conflict between the two nations and in "preventing the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism from obtaining the most lethal weapon on the planet."advertisementCarter praised Trump's leadership, saying, "President Trump's influence was instrumental in forging a swift agreement that many believed to be impossible. President Trump also took bold, decisive actions to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions." The Israel-Iran ceasefire is in effect, US President Donald Trump insisted on Tuesday, minutes after he blamed the long-time foes for violating the truce announced by him earlier in an effort to end the conflict that has raged on for nearly two war began when Israel carried out a preemptive strike on Iran, citing concerns that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon. The conflict escalated quickly as both countries traded barrages of missiles and drones over several United States later joined the conflict, targeting three of Iran's nuclear sites with airstrikes. In response, Iran attacked US base in Qatar on Monday. Although it gave advance notice to US and Qatari officials. No injuries were SAYS TRUMP EMBODIED NOBEL VALUESadvertisementIn his nomination letter, Carter said, "President Trump's leadership through the crisis exemplifies the very ideals that the Nobel Peace Prize seeks to recognise: the pursuit of peace, the prevention of war, and the advancement of international harmony." "In a region plagued by historical animosity and political volatility, such a breakthrough demands both courage and clarity," he said. This is not Trump's first nomination for the prize. Earlier this year, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., also nominated him for his 2024 electoral win. She cited it had an "astonishingly effective impact" on global NOMINATION WITHDRAWN However, Trump's Peace Prize aspirations hit a roadblock when Oleksandr Merezhko, a top Ukrainian lawmaker and head of the country's parliamentary foreign committee, withdrew his own nomination of to Newsweek, Merezhko said, "I have lost any sort of faith and belief in Trump and his ability to secure a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv."Merezhko had nominated Trump back in November. He believed that the newly elected US president could end the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Trump promised during his campaign to stop the war within 24 hours of taking office. But according to Merezhko, no meaningful progress has is evading -- he is dodging -- the need to impose sanctions on Russia," he said as quoted by Ukraine agreed to a peace deal proposed by the US back in March, Russia still hasn't agreed to it. Trump's tone shifted from confidence to frustration as time passed. He warned in May that he would reassess if Russia was delaying the peace process, saying, "If Putin is stalling, we'll respond a little bit differently." But no action followed after the two-week window also criticised Trump's apparent lack of response to Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, accusing him of choosing "the path of appeasement." Trump has remained focused on the Middle East, where he continues to call for Iran and Israel to stick to the ceasefire. He posted on his social media platform Truth Social, "PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!"Tensions flared again on Tuesday as Israel accused Iran of breaking the fragile ceasefire, a claim Tehran denied. However, Trump said that Israel would not attack Iran and all Israeli planes were turning back NOMINATED BY PAKISTAN TOOAmid the controversy, Pakistan government announced that it would nominate Trump for next year's Nobel Peace Prize. Officials in Islamabad credited Trump's "decisive diplomatic intervention" in reducing tensions between Pakistan and Trump a "genuine peacemaker," Pakistan praised his commitment to conflict resolution through dialogue. However, India has played down Trump's role in the the US president rued that he won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for "stopping" the war between India and Pakistan, repeating the claim despite being fact-checked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue days ago. - EndsMust Watch
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Donald Trump's Nobel Peace prize dream crumbles as nomination is abruptly withdrawn amid global uproar
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Trump tried to be friends with Russia Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads U.S. focus shifts to Middle East FAQs Donald Trump's shot at winning the Nobel Peace prize is gone. At least for this year. The person who nominated him took back the nomination because Trump did not help stop the war between Ukraine and Merezhko, a top Ukrainian lawmaker, nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize last November. On Monday, Merezhko withdrew Trump's nomination. He said he lost faith in Trump's ability to stop the war between Ukraine and Russia, as stated by a Newsweek promised in January to end the war in just 24 hours after he returned to the White House. But the peace talks did not go anywhere, and Trump got frustrated with how slow the progress was. Ukraine agreed to a U.S. plan to make peace in March, but Russia has not agreed and others saw Trump trying to get closer to Russia, and he avoided punishing Russia with sanctions. Merezhko said Trump was "dodging" the need to punish Russia. In late May, Trump said he would take two weeks to see if Russia was tricking him. That deadline passed without results, as per the report by Foreman, a former British defense officer, said Putin probably ignored Trump's two-week deadline. Merezhko said Trump did not react much to big attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, and that Trump chose to "appease" went to The Hague, Netherlands, for a big NATO meeting on Tuesday after announcing a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Trump posted online, "PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!" about the Iran-Israel ceasefire. Iran denied breaking the ceasefire, but Israel's defense minister said Israel would fight back hard if Iran breaks it, according to the report by officials worry that the U.S. is focusing more on the Middle East and sending fewer weapons to Ukraine. Fighting in the Middle East could make oil prices go up, which would help Russia's economy. Ukraine wants to avoid that. The European Union paused plans to limit the price of Russian oil because of fears about rising oil prices, according to the report by said online, "EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I'M WATCHING." Ukraine said it attacked an oil depot in Russia's Rostov region on Monday night. Pakistan's government said on Friday it will recommend Trump for next year's Nobel Peace Prize for his work in helping stop violence between Pakistan and India, as per the report by called Trump a "genuine peacemaker" and praised his "commitment to conflict resolution through dialogue." India, however, said Trump's role in the ceasefire talks was not very important.A senior Ukrainian lawmaker who nominated Trump lost faith in him and took back the nomination because Trump did not help stop the war between Ukraine and Merezhko, head of Ukraine's parliamentary foreign committee, nominated Trump for the prize last November.
