Latest news with #Volodymyr Zelensky
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump says not to ‘target Moscow' after asking about ‘hitting' Russian capital
Donald Trump has said Volodymyr Zelensky should not target Moscow after reportedly privately discussing strikes on the Russian capital with the Ukrainian leader and deliberating whether to send long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, according to reports. "No, he shouldn't target Moscow," Mr Trump told reporters yesterday on the South Lawn of the White House when asked if Mr Zelensky should attack the Russian capital. In a recent phone call, Mr Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart why he had not struck Moscow to ramp up the pressure on the Kremlin. 'We can, if you give us the weapons," Mr Zelensky responded, a source told the The Washington Post. The US president has privately encouraged Kyiv to step up strikes deep in Russian territory, the Financial Times reported. He is considering sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, one of the weapons used by the US in its dramatic strikes on Iran last month, according to the Post. It comes after the US president said he is 'disappointed but not done' with Russian president Vladimir Putin after threatening 100 per cent secondary tariffs on Moscow if it fails to agree a peace deal within 50 days. Trump tells Zelensky to 'not target Moscow' after asking about strikes on Kremlin Donald Trump has clarified that he does not want Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to target Moscow, and repeated that Russian president Vladimir Putin should agree to a ceasefire deal by a 50-day deadline or sanctions will kick in. His comments came after The Financial Times, citing people briefed on discussions, reported on Tuesday that Trump had privately encouraged Ukraine to step up deep strikes on Russia. The newspaper said that Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky whether he could strike Moscow if the US provided long-range weapons. "No, he shouldn't target Moscow," Mr Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House when asked if Mr Zelensky should attack the Russian capital. Mr Trump on Monday announced a toughened stance against Russia for its three-year-old war in Ukraine, promising a fresh wave of missiles and other weaponry for Ukraine. He gave Moscow 50 days to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions. Arpan Rai16 July 2025 04:43
South China Morning Post
16 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Trump says Ukraine shouldn't target Moscow, amid talk of US-supplied missiles
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. Advertisement 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. 02:08 Trump threatens Russia with 100% 'secondary' tariffs if no deal on Ukraine ceasefire Trump threatens Russia with 100% 'secondary' tariffs if no deal on Ukraine ceasefire The Republican put heavy pressure on Zelensky and initially touted his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Zelensky names new prime minister, taps official who spearheaded US minerals deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Monday to lead a new government, setting the stage for a political reshuffle as Ukraine's war with Russia raged on. Zelensky also proposed that Ukraine's current prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, take over as defence minister, describing him as holding the right qualifications for a very important job. The nominations, which require parliamentary approval, came as diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fourth year, have stalled and as Ukraine seeks to revive its cash-strapped economy and build up a domestic arms industry. 'We … discussed concrete measures to boost Ukraine's economic potential, expand support programmes for Ukrainians, and scale up our domestic weapons production,' Zelensky wrote on social media. 'In pursuit of this goal, we are initiating a transformation of the executive branch in Ukraine ,' he said, adding that he had proposed that Svyrydenko lead the government and 'significantly renew its work'. Svyrydenko, 39, is an economist and has served as first deputy prime minister since 2021. She played a key role in recent negotiations for a minerals deal with the United States In his nightly video address, Zelensky praised Shmyhal's 'vast experience' as very 'valuable in the position of minister of defence of Ukraine'.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Zelensky Announces Plan for Major Government Shake-Up in Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said Monday that he would seek to replace the country's prime minister, a major government shake-up that comes amid battlefield setbacks and a souring mood in the country. Mr. Zelensky said in a post on Facebook that he would nominate Yulia Svyrydenko, who is now serving as a first deputy prime minister and had played a prominent role in negotiating a natural resources deal with the Trump administration. She would replace Denys Shmyhal, who was in office when Russia invaded. The move, which would be the highest-level government shake-up since Russia's invasion more than three years ago, needs to be approved by a vote of Parliament, where Mr. Zelensky's party has a majority. Mr. Zelensky said in the post that he wanted to 'renew' the country's government. The announcement followed months of escalating Russian drone and missile attacks on cities and setbacks on the battlefield, and as cease-fire talks pushed by the Trump administration have stalled. Recent polls suggest growing pessimism in Ukraine about the war with Russia, a shift from earlier in the conflict, when most Ukrainians voiced optimism that their country would prevail. Mr. Zelensky's political opponents questioned whether replacing the prime minister with a deputy actually constituted change, saying that the move was instead intended to install a loyalist and further consolidate the power of the president. Accusations have been mounting in Ukraine that Mr. Zelensky is abusing the powers of the martial law imposed following the Russian invasion, and heightened after some elected mayors were replaced with military administrators. Ms. Svyrydenko had overseen talks with the Trump administration on the contentious agreement to share profits with the United States from Ukrainian natural resources. President Trump had demanded the agreement as a condition of further military cooperation. Mr. Zelensky said in announcing Ms. Svyrydenko's candidacy that he had discussed plans with her to expand domestic arms production — a priority for Ukraine's war effort — and efforts to strengthen the country's social safety net, which has become frayed during the war. Ukraine's constitution hands the prime minister wide powers on domestic policy. Under previous presidents, prime ministers had wielded the power independently, often at odds with the presidents they served but protected from dismissal by backing in Parliament. But Mr. Zelensky's political party, Servant of the People, holds a majority in Parliament and has twice elected prime ministers aligned with Mr. Zelensky. The Parliament is expected to go into session on Tuesday. It was not clear when a vote would be scheduled. Oleksandr Chubko contributed reporting from Kyiv.
