Latest news with #Sputnik
Nikkei Asia
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
Putin tells Trump that Russia has to respond to Ukrainian attacks
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a video meeting with members of the government on June 4. (Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/pool via Reuters) MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday that he would have to respond to high-profile Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's nuclear-capable bomber fleet and a deadly bridge bombing that Moscow blamed on Kyiv. The war in Ukraine is intensifying after nearly four months of cajoling and threats to both Moscow and Kyiv from Trump, who says he wants peace after more than three years of the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two.
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Putin says Russia plans to cut military spending from next year
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting dedicated to the foundation of cultural, educational institutions and museums via a video link at his residence outside Moscow, Russia, June 25, 2025. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS/ File Photo MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia was looking to cut its military expenditure from next year, contrasting that with NATO's plan to ramp up defence spending over the next decade. NATO allies on Wednesday agreed to raise their collective spending goal to 5% of gross domestic product in the next 10 years, citing what they called the long-term threat posed by Russia and the need to strengthen civil and military resilience. In his first reaction to that move, Putin told a press conference in Minsk that the NATO spending would go on "purchases from the USA and on supporting their military-industrial complex", and this was NATO's business, not Russia's. "But now here is the most important thing. We are planning to reduce defence spending. For us, next year and the year after, over the next three-year period, we are planning for this," he said. Putin said there was no final agreement yet between the defence, finance and economy ministries, "but overall, everyone is thinking in this direction. And Europe is thinking about how to increase its spending, on the contrary. So who is preparing for some kind of aggressive actions? Us or them?" Putin's comments are likely to be greeted with extreme scepticism in the West, given that Russia has massively increased defence spending since the start of the Ukraine war. The conflict shows no sign of ending and has actually intensified in recent weeks, as negotiations have made no visible progress towards a ceasefire or a permanent settlement. Putin said Russia appreciated efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war. "He recently stated that it turned out to be more difficult than it seemed from the outside. Well, that's true," Putin said. Trump said this week that he believed Putin wanted to find a way to settle the conflict, but Ukraine and many of its European allies believe the Kremlin leader has no real interest in a peace deal and is intent on capturing more territory. Putin said Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were in constant contact, and Moscow was ready to return the bodies of 3,000 more Ukrainian soldiers. ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN Russia is seeing a sharp slowdown in economic growth as the budget comes under pressure from falling energy revenues and the central bank is trying to bring down inflation. Russia hiked state spending on national defence by a quarter in 2025 to 6.3% of gross domestic product (GDP), the highest level since the Cold War. Defence spending accounts for 32% of total 2025 federal budget expenditure. Defence plants have been working round-the-clock for the past several years, and the state has spent heavily on bonuses to attract soldiers to sign up and on compensation for the families of those who are killed. Putin acknowledged that Russia had paid for the military spending increase with higher inflation. The finance ministry raised the 2025 budget deficit estimate to 1.7% of gross domestic product in April from 0.5% after reducing its energy revenues forecast by 24%, and it plans to tap into fiscal reserves this year to balance the budget. The next draft budget is due to appear in the autumn. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Putin says Russia plans to cut military spending from next year
FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting dedicated to the foundation of cultural, educational institutions and museums via a video link at his residence outside Moscow, Russia, June 25, 2025. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS/ File Photo MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia was looking to cut its military expenditure from next year, contrasting that with NATO's plan to ramp up defence spending over the next decade. NATO allies on Wednesday agreed to raise their collective spending goal to 5% of gross domestic product in the next 10 years, citing what they called the long-term threat posed by Russia and the need to strengthen civil and military resilience. In his first reaction to that move, Putin told a press conference in Minsk that the NATO spending would go on "purchases from the USA and on supporting their military-industrial complex", and this was NATO's business, not Russia's. "But now here is the most important thing. We are planning to reduce defence spending. For us, next year and the year after, over the next three-year period, we are planning for this," he said. Putin said there was no final agreement yet between the defence, finance and economy ministries, "but overall, everyone is thinking in this direction. And Europe is thinking about how to increase its spending, on the contrary. So who is preparing for some kind of aggressive actions? Us or them?" Putin's comments are likely to be greeted with extreme scepticism in the West, given that Russia has massively increased defence spending since the start of the Ukraine war. The conflict shows no sign of ending and has actually intensified in recent weeks, as negotiations have made no visible progress towards a ceasefire or a permanent settlement. Putin said Russia appreciated efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war. "He recently stated that it turned out to be more difficult than it seemed from the outside. Well, that's true," Putin said. Trump said this week that he believed Putin wanted to find a way to settle the conflict, but Ukraine and many of its European allies believe the Kremlin leader has no real interest in a peace deal and is intent on capturing more territory. Putin said Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were in constant contact, and Moscow was ready to return the bodies of 3,000 more Ukrainian soldiers. ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN Russia is seeing a sharp slowdown in economic growth as the budget comes under pressure from falling energy revenues and the central bank is trying to bring down inflation. Russia hiked state spending on national defence by a quarter in 2025 to 6.3% of gross domestic product (GDP), the highest level since the Cold War. Defence spending accounts for 32% of total 2025 federal budget expenditure. Defence plants have been working round-the-clock for the past several years, and the state has spent heavily on bonuses to attract soldiers to sign up and on compensation for the families of those who are killed. Putin acknowledged that Russia had paid for the military spending increase with higher inflation. The finance ministry raised the 2025 budget deficit estimate to 1.7% of gross domestic product in April from 0.5% after reducing its energy revenues forecast by 24%, and it plans to tap into fiscal reserves this year to balance the budget. The next draft budget is due to appear in the autumn. (Additional reporting by Lucy Papachristou, Maxim Rodionov, Anastasia Teterevleva, Anastasia Lyrchikova and Elena Fabrichnaya; writing by Mark Trevelyan and Gleb Bryanski; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
The Star
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Putin says Russia is ready to hold more talks with Ukraine, return more bodies
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Union summit, in Minsk, Belarus June 27, 2025. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS
Newsweek
a day ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iran Gives Position on New Nuclear Talks With US
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. Iran's foreign minister has ruled out any imminent return to nuclear negotiations with the United States, calling talk of renewed diplomacy after the war with Israel "speculation" and insisting that "there has not even been talk of negotiations." Abbas Araghchi's comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two countries and suggested that discussions with Tehran could resume as early as next week. Newsweek has reached out to the State department for comment. Why It Matters The pause in direct conflict has not eased global concerns as Iran's refusal to resume nuclear talks signals a major setback. Tehran's rejection shows that U.S. pressure has hardened its stance, narrowing oversight after damage to its nuclear sites and suspended inspections. For Washington, this undermines months of diplomacy and weakens efforts to contain nuclear risks. The international community now faces fewer tools to prevent Iran's nuclear advancement, setting a troubling precedent where military action, not dialogue, shapes engagement limits. An Iranian flag hangs on a building which was hit by an Israeli strike last week, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. An Iranian flag hangs on a building which was hit by an Israeli strike last week, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Vahid Salemi/AP Photo What to Know In an interview with Iranian state TV, Araghchi denied any agreement to restart nuclear negotiations, pushing back on Washington's expectations. The conflict, sparked by Israeli strikes on June 13 and followed by U.S. attacks on Iran's nuclear sites, abruptly ended talks aimed at reviving a deal. "The situation has completely changed and it is not possible to reach an agreement as easily as in the past," he said. Araghchi accused the U.S. and Israel of deliberately provoking the conflict despite ongoing diplomacy. When European mediators urged Iran to halt the fighting and return to talks, he responded, "What do you mean? We were in the middle of diplomacy! They were the ones who started the war." Despite rejecting formal negotiations, Araghchi stressed that diplomatic channels remain open. Messages continue to pass through mediators like Oman's Foreign Minister, who led the previous five rounds of talks. A planned sixth round in Oman was canceled after the outbreak of conflict. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting with Russia's President at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 23, 2025. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting with Russia's President at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 23, to nuclear sites Araghchi also acknowledged that the U.S. strikes inflicted "serious harm" on its nuclear facilities. "This damage has not been minor—serious harm has been done to our facilities," he said, noting that Iran's Atomic Energy Agency is conducting a thorough assessment of the destruction. In the U.S., debate continues over the strikes' effectiveness. President Trump declared the attacks "obliterated" their targets, but some senior Democrats remain skeptical about how much was truly destroyed. What People Are Saying Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: "No agreement has been made to restart negotiations, and there has not even been talk of negotiations. There is no point in negotiating now." President Donald Trump: "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated." Democrat Senator Chris Murphy: "The president was deliberately misleading the public when he said the program was obliterated." What Happens Next The U.S. faces a tough path as Iran rejects talks and hardens its stance after recent strikes. Washington must balance pressure on Tehran with regional concerns, risking further instability. How the U.S. handles this will impact the future of the nuclear deal and Middle East security
