Latest news with #militarySupport
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Trump says Ukraine will receive more weapons after US pause on shipments
The White House said last week the decision had been made "to put America's interests first" in response to a defence department review of military support to other countries. Trump's apparent change of heart came after days of deadly Russian drone and missile barrages on Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv. One attack on the city last Thursday has claimed a third life, according to local officials. Trump said late on Monday that Kyiv needed to be able to defend itself. "We're going to send some more weapons. We have to... They're getting hit very hard now," he said during a news conference with Netanyahu. "I'm disappointed that President Putin has not stopped," he added. The Pentagon responded with a brief statement, saying that "at President Trump's direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops". After a week of uncertainty, the US move will come as a relief to Ukraine, says the BBC's Paul Adams in Kyiv. Kyiv had warned that the move to pause some shipments would impede its ability to defend against escalating airstrikes and Russian advances on the front lines. Zelensky said late last week that he had spoken to Trump "about opportunities in air defence and agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies". The war in Ukraine has been raging for more than three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ceasefire talks have also largely stalled after several attempts by Trump to broker a deal between the two parties. Following a call with Putin last week, Trump said that "no progress" to end the conflict had been made, adding "I don't think he's looking to stop". Hours after the call, Ukraine said Russia fired a record 539 drones and 11 missiles targeting Kyiv, but also hitting the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Chernihiv. Zelensky has called on international allies - particularly the US - to increase pressure on Moscow and impose greater sanctions.
Reuters
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
If the US doesn't give Ukraine what it needs it would be a big setback for Ukraine, EU and NATO, Denmark says
COPENHAGEN, July 3 (Reuters) - If the United States were to not give Ukraine the military support it needs, it would be a serious setback for Ukraine, the EU and NATO, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Thursday. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are expected to discuss the abrupt halt in some key U.S. weapons deliveries to Kyiv in a call on Friday, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. "If the U.S. decides not to provide Ukraine with what is needed, it would be a serious setback for Ukraine and for Europe and for NATO," Frederiksen told a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in connection with Denmark's takeover of the EU Presidency. "The war in Ukraine has never only been about Ukraine. This is a war about the future of Europe," she added.
Al Arabiya
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Germany's Merz does not rule out Taurus missile supplies to Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday he did not rule out delivering Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine as Kyiv has requested. 'It is and remains an option,' Merz said in a TV interview for the broadcaster ARD. Although Germany is one of Ukraine's main military backers, Berlin has never supplied Taurus missiles, which have a range in excess of 300 miles (480 km). Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that delivering Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine might make Germany party to the war.
BreakingNews.ie
30-06-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Germany to help Ukraine make more weapons to strengthen hand in peace talks
Germany aims to help Ukraine manufacture more weapons more quickly as Kyiv looks to strengthen its negotiating position in peace talks with Russia about ending their more than three-year war, the top German diplomat said. 'We see our task as helping Ukraine so that it can negotiate more strongly,' foreign minister Johann Wadephul said during a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Monday accompanied by German defence industry representatives. Advertisement US-led international peace efforts have failed to make progress on halting the fighting. Our institutions are working on the synchronization of European and Ukrainian sanctions. We are also fully aligning the European sanctions package targeting the regime in Iran, which includes numerous individuals, companies, and entities not only involved in military production… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 29, 2025 Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and has not budged from his war goals. 'When Putin speaks of peace today, it is pure mockery,' Mr Wadephul told a news conference with Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha. 'His apparent readiness to negotiate is only a facade so far.' Advertisement Russia's invasion shows no sign of letting up. Its grinding war of attrition along the roughly 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line and long-range strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine have killed thousands of troops and civilians. Ukraine is outgunned and short-handed on the front line and international aid has been vital for Ukraine's resistance against its neighbour's bigger army and economy. Germany has been Ukraine's second-largest military backer after the United States, whose continuing support is in doubt. Advertisement 'We want to build new joint ventures so that Ukraine itself can produce faster and more for its own defence, because your needs are enormous,' Mr Wadephul said while standing next to Mr Sybiha. German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, left, and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha talk during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) 'Our arms cooperation is a real trump card — it is a logical continuation of our delivery of material,' Mr Wadephul said. 'And we can even benefit mutually from it — with your wealth of ideas and your experience, we will become better.' Mr Wadephul was also due to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Advertisement The top German diplomat's trip to Kyiv came less than 48 hours after Russia launched its biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine over the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts. Ukraine's air force said on Monday it detected 107 Russian Shahed and decoy drones in the country's air space overnight. Strikes in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region left two civilians dead and eight injured, including a six-year-old child, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Monday. The aerial onslaughts are calculated by Russia to squeeze Ukraine into submission, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Advertisement 'Russia is continuing to use increasingly large numbers of drones in its overnight strike packages in order to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences and enable subsequent cruise and ballistic missile strikes,' the Washington-based think tank said late on Sunday. German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, left, and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha stand at the entrance of St Michael Monastery in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) 'The increases in Russia's strike packages in recent weeks are largely due to Russia's efforts to scale up its defence industrial production, particularly of Shahed and decoy drones and ballistic missiles,' the institute added. Mr Sybiha thanked Germany for its contribution to Ukraine's air defence and urged Berlin to send more anti-missile systems. The Russians 'are attacking civilian targets in order to create panic, to influence the mood of our population', he said. 'The key is the air defence system.' Berlin has balked at granting Mr Zelensky's request to provide Ukraine with powerful German and Swedish-made Taurus long-range missiles, which could potentially hit targets inside Russia. That is due to fears such a move could enrage the Kremlin and draw Nato into Europe's biggest conflict since the Second World War. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged in May to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
German foreign minister pledges continued support for Ukraine in Kyiv visit
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul is visiting Kyiv in a show of continuing support for Ukraine's fight to repel Russia as US-led international peace efforts fail to make progress. Mr Wadephul is due to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha. The German minister said in a statement that Germany will help Ukraine 'continue to defend itself successfully – with modern air defence and other weapons, with humanitarian and economic aid'. Our institutions are working on the synchronization of European and Ukrainian sanctions. We are also fully aligning the European sanctions package targeting the regime in Iran, which includes numerous individuals, companies, and entities not only involved in military production… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 29, 2025 Germany has been Ukraine's second-largest military backer after the United States, whose continuing support is in doubt. However, Berlin has baulked at granting Mr Zelensky's request to provide Ukraine with powerful German- and Swedish-made Taurus long-range missiles. This is due to fears that such a move could enrage the Kremlin and end up drawing Nato into Europe's biggest conflict since the Second World War. Instead, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged in May to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets. Almost all night long, air raid alerts sounded across Ukraine — 477 drones were in our skies, most of them Russian-Iranian Shaheds, along with 60 missiles of various types. The Russians were targeting everything that sustains life. A residential building in Smila was also hit,… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 29, 2025 Mr Wadephul was accompanied on his trip to Kyiv by German defence industry representatives. Russia's invasion shows no sign of letting up. Its grinding war of attrition along the roughly 620-mile front line and long-range strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine have killed thousands of troops and civilians. The Russian effort to capture more Ukrainian territory has been costly in terms of casualties and damaged armour. But Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and has not budged from his war goals. Mr Putin 'doesn't want negotiations, but (Ukrainian) capitulation', Mr Wadephul said in his statement. Russia launched its biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine at the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in its escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts.
