Latest news with #Moscow-friendly
Korea Herald
16-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Trump says Ukraine should not target Moscow
WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Ukraine should not target Moscow, after the Kremlin charged that a new US plan to supply weapons to Kyiv along with sanctions threats against Russia would delay peace efforts. Trump on Monday gave Russia 50 days to strike a peace deal with Ukraine, voicing exasperation with Moscow, and announcing that NATO members would supply Kyiv with new military aid. In what would be an even more extraordinary shift, the Financial Times reported that Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about providing US missiles to hit Moscow. But asked by reporters at the White House if Zelenskyy should look at striking the Russian capital, Trump replied, "No, he shouldn't target Moscow." Trump had taken office vowing to end the conflict swiftly and to stop the flow of billions of dollars of US weapons to Ukraine. The Republican put heavy pressure on Zelenskyy and initially touted his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under pressure from Trump, Moscow and Kyiv opened talks on the conflict, which has ground on for more than three years, but the only concrete result has been prisoner exchanges. Russia has rejected calls for a ceasefire and launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine in recent months. Moscow said it needed more time to respond fully to Trump's Monday announcement, but suggested it was not conducive to diplomacy. "It seems that such a decision made in Washington and in NATO countries and directly in Brussels will be perceived by Kyiv not as a signal for peace but for the continuation of the war," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "President Trump's statement is very serious. We certainly need time to analyze what was said in Washington," he told reporters in Moscow's first reaction to the comments. Trump warned that if no deal was concluded, he would slap severe tariffs on Russia's remaining trade partners in a bid to impede Moscow's ability to finance its military offensive. Pumped up by huge state spending on soldiers and weapons, as well as by redirecting vital energy exports to the likes of China and India, Russia's economy has so far defied US and EU attempts to push it into a deep recession through sanctions. Most European allies have cheered the return of a hard US line, although Slovakia, led by Moscow-friendly populist Robert Fico, has resisted new EU sanctions on Russia. But EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also called for the United States to help fund the new weapons. "We welcome President Trump's announcement to send more weapons to Ukraine, although we would like to see US share the burden," Kallas said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. "If you promise to give the weapons, but say that it's somebody else who is going to pay for it, it is not really given by you." Trump has been pushing allies to step up defense spending -- and to buy from US manufacturers -- and has long said the US shoulders too much of NATO's burden. Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden -- which joined NATO after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in 2022 -- all said they wanted to participate in Trump's plan. Sweden's Defense Minister Pal Jonson in a statement to Agence France-Presse said his country "would contribute" and said Ukraine was in "great need of more air defense," given Russia's "constant bombings and attacks." Tens of thousands have been killed since Russia launched its offensive, with millions forced to flee their homes in eastern and southern Ukraine, which has been decimated by aerial attacks and ground assaults. In Moscow, residents dismissed Trump's statement as little more than politics. "It's a game of chess," Svetlana, an aviation engineer said. Trump "gave 50 days, and then there will be more. ... We are waiting for the next move of our president," the 47-year-old said. Ukrainian soldiers fighting in the east were hopeful but cautious about Trump's position. "I don't believe him. There have been too many promises that haven't been kept," said one soldier with the call sign "Shah." Others were worried it might be too little, too late. "Of course it's good, but at the same time, time has been lost. Those Patriots could have been sent sooner and could have helped a lot," another fighter called "Master" told AFP. Ruslan, a 29-year-old soldier, said, "If there is even the slightest chance to improve the situation for us and worsen it for them, then that's already positive."
NDTV
15-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Trump Says Ukraine Should Not Target Moscow
Washington: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Ukraine should not target Moscow, after the Kremlin charged that a new US plan to supply weapons to Kyiv along with sanctions threats against Russia would delay peace efforts. Trump on Monday gave Russia 50 days to strike a peace deal with Ukraine, voicing exasperation with Moscow, and announcing that NATO members would supply Kyiv with new military aid. In what would be an even more extraordinary shift, the Financial Times reported that Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about providing US missiles to hit Moscow. But asked by reporters at the White House if Zelensky should look at striking the Russian capital, Trump replied: "No, he shouldn't target Moscow." Trump had taken office vowing to end the conflict swiftly and to stop the flow of billions of dollars of US weapons to Ukraine. The Republican put heavy pressure on Zelensky and initially touted his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under pressure from Trump, Moscow and Kyiv opened talks on the conflict, which has ground on for more than three years, but the only concrete result has been prisoner exchanges. Russia has rejected calls for a ceasefire and launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine in recent months. Moscow said it needed more time to respond fully to Trump's Monday announcement, but suggested it was not conducive to diplomacy. "It seems that such a decision made in Washington and in NATO countries and directly in Brussels will be perceived by Kyiv not as a signal for peace but for the continuation of the war," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "President Trump's statement is very serious. We certainly need time to analyze what was said in Washington," he told reporters in Moscow's first reaction to the comments. Trump warned that if no deal was concluded, he would slap severe tariffs on Russia's remaining trade partners in a bid to impede Moscow's ability to finance its military offensive. Pumped up by huge state spending on soldiers and weapons, as well as by redirecting vital energy exports to the likes of China and India, Russia's economy has so far defied US and EU attempts to push it into a deep recession through sanctions. - Burden on Europe? - Most European allies have cheered the return of a hard US line, although Slovakia, led by Moscow-friendly populist Robert Fico, has resisted new EU sanctions on Russia. But EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also called for the United States to help fund the new weapons. "We welcome President Trump's announcement to send more weapons to Ukraine, although we would like to see US share the burden," Kallas said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. "If you promise to give the weapons, but say that it's somebody else who is going to pay for it, it is not really given by you." Trump has been pushing allies to step up defense spending -- and to buy from US manufacturers -- and has long said the United States shoulders too much of NATO's burden. Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden -- which joined NATO after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in 2022 -- all said they wanted to participate in Trump's plan. Sweden's Defense Minister Pal Jonson in a statement to AFP said his country "would contribute" and said Ukraine was in "great need of more air defense," given Russia's "constant bombings and attacks." - 'Game of chess' - Tens of thousands have been killed since Russia launched its offensive, with millions forced to flee their homes in eastern and southern Ukraine, which has been decimated by aerial attacks and ground assaults. In Moscow, residents dismissed Trump's statement as little more than politics. "It's a game of chess," Svetlana, an aviation engineer said. Trump "gave 50 days, and then there will be more... We are waiting for the next move of our president," the 47-year-old said. Ukrainian soldiers fighting in the east were hopeful but cautious about Trump's position. "I don't believe him. There have been too many promises that haven't been kept," said one soldier with the call sign "Shah." Others were worried it might be too little, too late. "Of course it's good, but at the same time, time has been lost. Those Patriots could have been sent sooner and could have helped a lot," another fighter called "Master" told AFP. Ruslan, a 29-year-old soldier, said: "If there is even the slightest chance to improve the situation for us and worsen it for them, then that's already positive." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Euronews
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Suspect in shooting of Slovakia's Fico stands trial on terror charges
The man who shot and seriously injured Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico last year went on trial on Tuesday on a terrorism charge that could see him imprisoned for life. Juraj Cintula, 72, shouted "long live democracy, long live freedom" as he arrived at the Specialised Criminal Court in Slovakia's central city of Banská Bystrica. Cintula is accused of shooting Fico on 15 May 2024, as the prime minister greeted supporters following a government meeting in the town of Handlová, located 140 kilometres northeast of the capital. Fico was shot four times, including in the abdomen. He was taken to hospital, where he underwent a five-hour surgery, followed by another two-hour surgery two days later. In testimony read by a prosecutor at the trial, Cintula said he disagreed with the state's policies, including the cancellation of a special prosecution office dealing with corruption, the end of military support for Ukraine and the government's approach to culture. "I decided to harm the health of the prime minister but I had no intention to kill anyone," Cintula had said, according to the testimony shared by the prosecutor. The defendant refused to testify at the court on Tuesday but confirmed that what he told investigators about his motive was true. Cintula was initially charged with attempted murder. Prosecutors later dropped that charge and said they were instead pursuing the more serious charge of engaging in a terror attack, based on evidence the investigators obtained. At the trial, Cintula's lawyer said the defence rejected the terrorism charge. The court has set hearings for Tuesday and Wednesday, with further dates possible later this year before a verdict is reached. Slovak officials initially said that they believed the shooting was a politically motivated attack committed by a "lone wolf". However, they announced later that a third party might have been involved in "acting for the benefit of the perpetrator". Fico previously said he "had no reason to believe" that it was an attack by a lone shooter and repeatedly blamed the liberal opposition and media for the assassination attempt. The prime minister has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia and beyond. He returned to power for the fourth time after his leftist Smer party won the 2023 parliamentary election after campaigning on a pro-Russia and anti-Western platform. Fico's critics say that he has abandoned Slovakia's pro-Western course and is following the same Moscow-friendly direction as Hungary under its Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Thousands of people have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest Fico's pro-Russian stance and other policies.
Axios
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Iran-Israel ceasefire reignites MAGA push for a Trump Nobel Peace Prize
The shaky ceasefire between Iran and Israel may become fodder for President Trump 's quest for one of his white whales: the Nobel Peace Prize. The big picture: Volatility in the Middle East and the years-long Russia-Ukraine war persist despite Trump administration pressure. And after years of public lobbying for the prize, Trump has not joined the small group of presidents who have earned one. The latest: Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) announced Tuesday he had nominated the president for the Nobel Peace Prize over the ceasefire brokered between Israel and Iran — one that now hangs in an uncertain fragility. Carter also pointed to what he described as Trump's "historic role" in "preventing the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism from obtaining the most lethal weapon on the planet." Catch up quick: Trump's Monday announcement of a ceasefire came just around two days after his administration made the historic decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. But within hours, Israel accused Iran of breaking the ceasefire. Under pressure from Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu significantly scaled back planned retaliation, Axios' Barak Ravid reported. A frustrated Trump on Tuesday told reporters, "We have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f--k they are doing." Context: Trump's administration officials and allies have repeatedly called for the president to receive the prize, which they've argued is not fairly awarded. Trump's fixation has roots in the fact that former President Obama received the award just months into his presidency for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and his push to curb nuclear weapons. Just last week, Trump lamented, "I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do, including Russia/Ukraine, and Israel/Iran." Axios' Alex Isenstadt reports that Trump's critics say he doesn't deserve the prize because it's unclear how he'll achieve lasting peace — and how past Moscow-friendly moves would weigh on a Norwegian jury. Zoom out: Members of governments, other institutions and certain individuals — such as people who have been awarded the prize — can nominate any living person or active organization. The government of Pakistan on Friday announced its intent to recommend Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his intervention amid a flare between India and Pakistan earlier this year. But two days later, it condemned the U.S. attacks on Iranian facilities, urging "recourse to dialogue, diplomacy" as the "only viable pathway to resolve the crises in the region." A Ukrainian politician, Oleksandr Merezhko, also nominated Trump for the prize last year — though he reportedly told Newsweek on Tuesday he has withdrawn the nomination after losing faith in the president's ability to secure a ceasefire in Russia's war in Ukraine. Other U.S. lawmakers have recently and in past years thrown Trump's hat in the ring for the award, including Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who in March cited the president's efforts in the Middle East and in the Russia-Ukraine war in a letter pushing his consideration for the prize.
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Can Nato keep Trump on-message about Russia threat?
Since coming back into office on Jan 20, US President Donald Trump has upended the West's approach towards Russia's war on Ukraine by opening the door to closer ties with Moscow. PHOTO: EPA-EFE BRUSSELS - When leaders from Nato's 32 countries gather for a summit in The Hague next week, most want to send a clear message: Russia is the main threat to their alliance. But the loudest voice in the room likely won't be on the same page. Since coming back to office, US President Donald Trump has upended the West's approach towards Russia's war on Ukraine by undercutting Kyiv and opening the door to closer ties with Moscow. While the volatile leader has expressed some frustration with Russia's Vladimir Putin for refusing a ceasefire, he has steered clear of punishing the Kremlin. At a Group of 7 summit this week, Mr Trump made waves by saying the group of industrialised countries should never have expelled Russia. Ahead of the Hague gathering, diplomats at Nato have been wrangling over a five-paragraph summit statement, with many countries pressing for a full-throated assertion of the menace from Moscow. That, they say, will help explain the main thrust of the meeting: an agreement for countries to ramp up defence spending to satisfy Mr Trump's demand for it to reach 5 per cent of GDP. Statement on Russia 'threat' Since the Kremlin launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the alliance has called Russia 'the most significant and direct threat to allies' security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area'. But this time around the United States – backed up by Moscow-friendly Hungary and Slovakia – has been intent on watering that down. Diplomats have been juggling with variants such as referring to 'threats, including Russia' or mentioning 'the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security'. The verbal nuances may seem slight, but they mean a lot to those countries being asked to massively ramp up spending and those on Nato's eastern flank most threatened by the Kremlin. Nato has warned that Russia could be ready to attack an alliance country within five years. 'If we can get Trump to sign off on calling Russia a long-term threat then that would be a good result,' a senior European diplomat told AFP. 'Near threat' As US peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine have stalled, the diplomat said that Washington appeared to have 'moved a centimetre in our direction' on taking a stronger stance on Russia. 'Of course more hawkish countries want to go further – but just getting Trump to agree that would still be fine,' the diplomat said. Part of the US reasoning is that Washington is more worried about the threat China poses worldwide – and that Russia is more a problem just in Europe. 'Russia is the near threat,' said US ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker. 'But China is obviously a big challenge for all of us, and we need to be allied and address those threats as well.' Mr Camille Grand of the European Council on Foreign Relations said that beneath the diplomatic fine-tuning, Nato was being confronted by a 'fundamental question'. 'How does the United States view Russia?' he said. 'So far, we haven't really got an answer.' Even if Nato does opt for stronger wording on Moscow, there is always the possibility that Mr Trump could show up in The Hague and directly contradict it. But the debate could come into sharper focus in the months after the summit when the United States could announce a pull-back of forces in Europe as part of a review of its global deployments. Division on Ukraine One area where Washington appears clearly not on board with most other allies is on backing Ukraine. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is set to attend on the sidelines of the summit but his involvement is being kept to a minimum to avoid a bust-up with Mr Trump. Diplomats said there should be a reference in the summit statement linking new defence spending to helping Ukraine – but there will be no talk of Kyiv's long-term push to join Nato. 'The US does not see Ukrainian security as essential to European security,' said Mr Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to Nato. 'Our European allies do, so they feel that if Putin is allowed to prevail in Ukraine, or if Ukraine does not survive as a sovereign, independent state, they are at risk.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
