Latest news with #RussiaSanctions
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Fico Blasts EU ‘For Liking War,' Vetoes Russia Sanctions
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico strongly criticized the EU's proposed 18th sanctions package on Russia, calling previous sanctions ineffective. Speaking in Bratislava, Fico questioned how many more sanctions would be needed before realizing they don't work. He contrasted the EU's approach to Ukraine with its diplomatic pressure in the Iran-Israel conflict, expressing frustration that similar ceasefire efforts weren't made for Ukraine. Fico also denounced bans on Russian officials, calling them meaningless. Slovakia and Hungary jointly blocked the sanctions, opposing the EU's plan to phase out Russian energy by 2027, once again highlighting growing divisions within the bloc.#EUSanctions #RussiaSanctions #EUPolitics #Slovakia #Hungary #Fico #UkraineWar #UkraineConflict #CeasefireNow #PeaceForUkraine Read More
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Zelenskyy meets Trump on NATO sidelines; Putin will skip BRICS in Brazil
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and United States President Donald Trump have held talks on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, with sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, and arms procurement for Kyiv on the agenda. Zelenskyy said he discussed how to achieve a 'real peace' and 'protect our people' with Trump on Wednesday. The meeting, which reportedly lasted 50 minutes, was a second attempt after Zelenskyy failed to meet Trump earlier this month in Canada when the US president abruptly left a G7 summit as the Israel-Iran conflict raged, just days before the US militarily intervened with strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. Speaking at news conference ending his participation at the NATO summit, Trump said it is possible that Russian President Vladimir Putin has territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine, adding that he plans to speak to Putin soon about ending the war. Zelenskyy noted earlier that Moscow and Kyiv have not moved any closer to a ceasefire, saying, 'The Russians once again openly and absolutely cynically declared they are 'not in the mood' for a ceasefire. Russia wants to wage war. This means the pressure the world is applying isn't hurting them enough yet, or they are trying very hard to keep up appearances.' NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the security bloc's 'military edge is being aggressively challenged by a rapidly rearming Russia, backed by Chinese technology and armed with Iranian and North Korean weapons' before the summit. On Putin, Rutte was blunt, 'I don't trust the guy,' he said, adding that the Russian leader wouldn't be happy with the outcome of the NATO summit. NATO endorsed a higher defence spending goal of five percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035 – a response to a demand by Trump and to Europeans' fears that Russia poses a growing threat to their security. Putin to stay at home In the meantime, Putin will not travel to next week's BRICS summit in Brazil as an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) still hangs over him, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday. The ICC issued the warrant in 2023, just over a year after Russia launched its full-scale invasion and war against Ukraine. Putin is accused of deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine to Russia, a war crime. Moscow vehemently denies allegations of war crimes, and the Kremlin, which did not sign the ICC's founding treaty, has dismissed the warrant as null and void. But weighing the risk that he might be arrested if he travels to another country that is a signatory to the ICC treaty, Putin has always erred on the side of caution, only travelling where he is safe from being apprehended. Putin concluded an official visit to Mongolia last September undisturbed as his hosts ignored the arrest warrant, despite Mongolia being an ICC member. The Kremlin on Wednesday also said the US was not yet ready to dismantle obstacles to the work of their respective embassies, as efforts to normalise relations between the two have stalled after initial signs that Trump's second term as US president would lead to a major thaw after tensions during the administration of former US President Joe Biden. The war grinds on In the latest developments on the ground in the war, Russian missile strikes on southeastern Ukraine killed 17 people in the city of Dnipro and injured more than 200, damaging dozens of buildings and infrastructure facilities on Tuesday. Two people were killed in a Russian attack on the city of Samara. Russia says it intercepted dozens of drones overnight across its territory, including the Voronezh region on the border of eastern Ukraine. Russian forces say they captured the village of Dyliivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, a key battleground dating back to the first eruption of conflict in 2014.
The Independent
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
PM denies coalition of the willing is dead as UK pushes for lower Russian oil cap
Talks to tighten the oil price cap on Russia are ongoing, Sir Keir Starmer said as he denied his plans for a so-called 'coalition of the willing' to protect Ukraine were dead. The Prime Minister said he 'strongly' believes that restrictions on the price of Russian crude oil should be strengthened to deplete the revenues Vladimir Putin uses to fund his war machine. The UK announced sanctions on 30 fresh targets linked to the Kremlin on Tuesday in a bid to ramp up pressure on Moscow as it continues resist calls for an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. A wider package of measures which Sir Keir suggested would be forthcoming from allies gathered at the G7 summit in Canada is yet to materialise after splits opened up in the approach to Russia on Monday. Downing Street said Britain also plans to 'move with partners to tighten the oil price cap' after the group of the world's wealthiest countries agreed in 2022 to restrict the price Russian crude oil to 60 dollars a barrel. Speaking to reporters with him in Kananaskis, Sir Keir was asked whether such a move would be possible without the backing of the US, which has indicated its reluctance to impose further sanctions on Moscow. 'Obviously today we're going to focus on Ukraine,' Sir Keir said. 'We've got President (Volodymyr) Zelensky coming in. We're putting in extra sanctions today, including sanctions on the shadow fleet. 'Others will be doing, similar actions in coming days. And so that does ramp up the pressure. 'On the oil price, obviously, we're still looking at how we're going to make that work. But I strongly believe that we have to put those sanctions in place. We're having those discussions with President Zelensky today.' Before abruptly leaving the summit on Monday, US President Donald Trump suggested he wanted to wait to 'see whether or not a deal is done' with Ukraine before targeting the Kremlin with further action. His remarks are awkward for Sir Keir, with whom he appeared to announce the completion of the US-UK deal, after the Prime Minister said G7 allies would seek to target Russian energy revenues. Talks to broker a possible peace in Ukraine have stalled as Moscow continues to pound the country with missile and drone attacks and holds out on US-backed proposals for an unconditional truce. Meanwhile, the UK and France have been leading efforts to assemble a so-called 'coalition of the willing' made up of nations prepared to send peacekeeping troops to Kyiv to enforce a potential truce. Asked whether those plans were dead in the water, Sir Keir told reporters: 'On the coalition of the willing, no, not at all. That is obviously intended to answer the question, how do you ensure that if a deal is reached, a deal is kept so it's a lasting deal? 'Because the concern, has always been, that there have been deals, if you like, before, Putin has then subsequently breached them. 'So how do you stop that happening again? And the military planning is still going on, as you would expect, so that, when the time comes, we're ready to act.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is attending the G7 conference in Kananaskis, along with leaders from Canada, the US, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain. The Russian invasion will be at the top of the agenda on Tuesday. Earlier, the UK announced sanctions targeting 20 oil tankers in Russia's shadow fleet, as well as measures to tighten the net around companies managing the vessels, Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ. Britain also targeted two UK residents – Vladimir Pristoupa and Olech Tkacz – who the Government said had operated 'a shadowy network of shell companies' aiding Moscow. The branch of the Russian defence ministry leading the country's underwater intelligence gathering operations, known as Gugi, has also been sanctioned. Sir Keir said: 'These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin's war machine, choking off his ability to continue his barbaric war in Ukraine. 'We know that our sanctions are hitting hard, so while Putin shows total disregard for peace, we will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws. 'The threat posed by Russia cannot be underestimated, so I'm determined to take every step necessary to protect our national security and keep our country safe and secure.'
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Starmer's push for fresh Russia sanctions at G7 summit hits Trump roadblock as US president says he wants to 'wait' because they 'cost us a lot of money'... then snubs Zelensky meeting to leave Canada early
Keir Starmer 's push for fresh Russia sanctions have hit a Trump roadblock after the US president complained they 'cost us a lot of money'. The PM has been talking up the prospect of 'squeezing' Vladimir Putin at the G7 summit in Canada this week. But Mr Trump has struck a starkly different tone, suggesting during the gathering that the dictator should not have been ejected from the powerful group of nations. Speaking alongside Sir Keir overnight, Mr Trump was asked about ramping up sanctions and replied: 'Well Europe is saying that, but they haven't done it yet. 'Let's see them do it first.' Mr Trump added: 'I'm waiting to see whether or not a deal is done… and don't forget, you know, sanctions cost us a lot of money. 'When I sanction a country that costs the US a lot of money, a tremendous amount of money. 'It's not just, let's sign a document. You're talking about billions and billions of dollars. Sanctions are not that easy. It's not just a one-way street.' Following the photo op with Sir Keir, to unveil details of the US-UK trade deal, Mr Trump opted to leave the summit early and return to Washington amid the crisis between Israel and Iran. He is missing the G7 discussions on Ukraine today, and a planned meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. Downing Street would not expand on what a mooted European sanctions package is likely to include but said it would aim to keep 'up the pressure on Russian military industrial complex'. A No10 spokesman earlier dismissed suggestions that the limited detail about the announcement reflected divisions within the G7 on the issue of Moscow. 'I don't agree with that characterisation at all,' the official said. 'It's just a point of fact that the G7 has only just begun. 'The sessions are just beginning now, and it would be premature to get ahead of what those sessions will yield.' In a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday, Mr Trump said the decision to oust Russia from the former G8 had been a 'mistake'. Moscow was expelled from the group following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Sir Keir said: 'The fact is, Russia doesn't hold all the cards. 'So, we should take this moment to increase economic pressure and show President Putin it is in his, and Russia's interests, to demonstrate he is serious about peace. 'We are finalising a further sanctions package and I want to work with all of our G7 partners to squeeze Russia's energy revenues and reduce the funds they are able to pour into their illegal war.' UK intelligence has assessed Russia's forces as likely having sustained approximately 1,000,000 casualties since it launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, but it continues pounding Ukraine with drone and missile attacks. Mr Zelensky is expected to attend the conference in Kananaskis, along with leaders from Canada, the US, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain. The Ukrainian president has accepted a US-backed ceasefire proposal and offered to talk directly with Mr Putin, but the Russian leader has so far shown no willingness to meet him and resisted calls for an unconditional truce.
Bloomberg
17-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
EU Oil Price-Cap Bid Loses Steam Without US Backing
Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union. An EU proposal to lower a Group of Seven oil-price cap to $45 per barrel from $60 and tighten the screws on Russia's revenues could be losing steam, we're told. The US is opposing the move and some member states are hesitant to move forward without President Donald Trump's backing. The surge in oil prices over Middle East tensions adds a new level of complexity, making arguments for going it alone with G-7 nations other than the US more difficult. One diplomat told us that several member states are worried that a lower price threshold could push crude prices even higher. Before exiting the G-7 summit in Canada early, Trump indicated he's in no rush to impose tougher sanctions on Russia. On the sidelines, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Trump, and the EU's trade chief Maros Sefcovic sat down with US counterpart Jamieson Greer to discuss trade negotiations ahead of a July 9 deadline, when the US could hit the bloc with 50% tariffs on most EU exports.
