Latest news with #USWeapons
News24
08-07-2025
- Business
- News24
Russia warns Europe to avoid ‘pumping Ukraine full of weapons' as US announces arms shipments
Russia is weighing its response to US weapons being sent to Ukraine. US President Donald Trump announced that defensive weapons would be shipped to Ukraine. The Kremlin argued that any weapons sent to Ukraine would prolong the war. The Kremlin said on Tuesday that it would take time to clarify what weapons the US was supplying and would supply to Ukraine after US President Donald Trump said Washington would have to send more arms to Kyiv. Trump said on Monday that the US would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help the war-torn country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances. When asked about Trump's remarks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there were many contradictory statements about US weapons supplies to Ukraine, though it was clear that European weapons deliveries were continuing. 'Obviously, supplies are continuing, that's clear. Obviously, the Europeans are actively involved in pumping Ukraine full of weapons,' Peskov said. 'As for what kind of supplies and in what quantity Ukraine continues to receive from the United States, it will still take time to clarify this definitively,' he added. READ | Fired Russia minister found dead hours later, as rumours of corruption swirl Russia, which is advancing at various points along the front, currently controls just under a fifth of Ukrainian territory including Crimea, all of Luhansk, the lion's share of three other regions and slivers of three additional regions. Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images Peskov said that Moscow appreciated Trump's efforts to initiate direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and that there was significant potential for restarting Russian-US trade and economic relations. 'But at the moment, the United States is implementing a number of restrictions. We believe that these sanctions are illegal, and they harm not only our entrepreneurs, but also the entrepreneurs of the United States,' Peskov said. AFP reported that Peskov warned sending arms to Ukraine only served to prolong the conflict. 'It is obvious of course that these actions probably do not align with attempts to promote a peaceful resolution,' Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying in a briefing. Peskov also criticised European countries for 'actively contributing to the continuation of hostilities' with their arms supplies to Ukraine. Ukraine asked the global chemical weapons watchdog in The Hague on Tuesday to investigate the alleged use of banned toxic munitions by Russia against its forces, according to Reuters. A request to establish an investigation was submitted by Kyiv to the governing body of the organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). It followed Dutch and German intelligence agencies on Friday saying they had evidence of widespread use of illegal weapons by Russia along the frontline. The OPCW created a similar team in 2018 to examine accusations of chemical weapons use in Syria. The Investigation and Identification Team found that Syrian government forces and Islamic State militants had used banned chemical weapons in the civil war that began in March 2011.
Asharq Al-Awsat
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Trump, Putin to Talk on Thursday ahead of Possible Zelenskiy Call
US President Donald Trump said he will talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, while a Ukrainian source told Reuters Trump may speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday. "Will be speaking to President Putin of Russia at 10:00 A.M. Thank you!" Trump wrote on his social media platform. He did not say what they would discuss. On Friday, Trump and Zelenskiy are expected to discuss the abrupt halt in some key US weapons deliveries to Kyiv, with Zelenskiy expected to raise potential future arms sales, the Financial Times earlier reported on Thursday, Reuters reported. The timing of that call could change, the FT added, citing people familiar with the planning. The US has paused some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine due to low stockpiles, sources earlier told Reuters. That decision led to Ukraine calling in the acting US envoy to Kyiv on Wednesday to underline the importance of military aid from Washington continuing, and caution that the move would weaken Ukraine's ability to defend against intensifying Russian airstrikes and battlefield advances. The Pentagon's move led in part to a cut in deliveries of Patriot air defense missiles that Ukraine relies on to destroy fast-moving ballistic missiles, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump 'is seriously considering lifting all restrictions on how Ukraine can fight Russia' after declaring Putin 'absolutely crazy'
Donald Trump is said to be 'seriously considering' lifting all restrictions on how Ukraine uses U.S. supplied weapons against Russia, according to Western officials. The U.S. president could go further than his predecessor in removing all restrictions imposed by the Biden administration, sources told the Kyiv Post on Monday. Trump has sought to end the three year war in Ukraine by mediating peace talks and even exploring possible concessions to the invading force. But with talks making little progress, and Russia still hammering Ukraine with successive drone strikes, one official said current restrictions are 'under review'. 'President [Trump] believes that the current status-quo does not serve our common interests of bringing Russia to the [negotiation] table,' the official told the outlet. Despite making overtures to peace, Putin has expanded attacks on Ukraine in recent days, launching the heaviest drone strikes of the war on Kyiv over the weekend. European leaders welcomed a subsequent shift in tone from Trump, who wrote on Sunday that Russian president Vladimir Putin 'has gone absolutely crazy'. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Trump has finally realised that Putin was not looking for peace. 'President Trump realises that when President Putin said on the phone he was ready for peace, or told his envoys he was ready for peace, he lied,' Macron said. Lifting all restrictions on how Ukraine fights Russia would bring the U.S. back more closely in alignment with Europe. Germany's chancellor, Friedrich Merz, revealed on Monday that 'there are no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine' from Britain, France and the U.S. The previous German government had strongly supported Kyiv, but stopped short of sending it long-range Taurus missiles, fearing further escalation with Russia. Merz clarified today that the decision was taken months ago. 'Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia,' Merz added on X. 'Until recently, it couldn't do that, and apart from very few exceptions, it hadn't done so either.' Europe has sought greater alignment as Russian strikes against Ukraine continue to intensify despite ongoing peace talks. Trump has, since he took office, broken from his European partners in accusing the Ukrainian side of not wanting peace - a suggestion sharply rebuked by Kyiv. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pointed to several instances of Russia breaking ceasefires in recent months as evidence Putin is not looking to end the war. European leaders this month urged Russia to agree to a 30 day initial ceasefire as a show of good faith, but Russia said it would not respond to pressure. Putin then said there were issues which needed to be resolved before Russia could agree, effectively rejecting the proposal. Trump was overtly critical of Putin on Sunday after Russia expanded its attacks on Ukraine. He wrote: 'I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!' The Kremlin was careful in its response, though took aim at Trump in a thinly veiled swipe at 'emotional reactions'. 'We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organising and launching this negotiation process,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about the Trump remarks about Putin. 'Of course, at the same time, this is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overload of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions.' The comments came after at least 13 people were killed and dozens injured in Ukraine overnight Saturday into Sunday as Russia fired 367 drones and missiles west. It was the largest combined aerial attack since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Between Sunday and Monday, Russia launched another 355 drones and nine cruise missiles against Ukraine, per Kyiv's air force. Ukraine said it was the largest drone-only attack of the war so far. Russia argued the attacks were a response to Ukrainian attacks on 'social infrastructure'. Trump has until now been more patient with Vladimir Putin than his predecessor over the war in Ukraine. For months, his administration has vowed to end the war, offering U.S. mediating services while also refusing threatening wider use of sanctions. But with progress stalled, and Moscow still targeting population centres in Ukraine, Trump's rhetoric has become more pointed towards Putin. Macron said Monday he hoped Trump's anger at Moscow translated 'into action' as Europe hardened its own response to Russian aggression. 'We have seen once again in recent hours Donald Trump express his anger. A form of impatience. I simply hope now that this translates into action,' he said. He suggested that Putin had tricked Trump by engaging in diplomatic talks surrounding a peace deal, even after meeting with his envoy Steve Witkoff on four different occasions.
