
Kremlin vows to ‘increase force' of attacks on Ukraine despite EU sanctions
In a post on his official Telegram channel, Mr Medvedev said the new sanctions would do little to alter Russia's stance on the conflict, just as previous rounds of sanctions had failed to make an impact.
Mr Medvedev, who has emerged as one of the Kremlin's top hawks, said Russia planned to intensify its strikes on Ukraine. 'Strikes against targets in so-called Ukraine, including Kyiv, will be carried out with increasing force', Mr Medvedev said.
US president Donald Trump announced a toughened stance against Russia on Monday, promising a fresh wave of missiles and other weaponry, including Patriot missile defence systems capable of destroying Russian ballistic missiles.
He also gave Russia 50 days to sign up to a ceasefire or face new sanctions.
The EU yesterday agreed an 18th package of sanctions against Russia, including measures aimed at dealing further blows to the Russian oil and energy industry.
The bloc will set a moving price cap on Russian crude oil at 15pc below its average market price, EU diplomats said.
This aims to improve on a largely ineffective $60 (€52) per barrel cap that the G7 economies have tried to impose since December 2022.
'The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date,' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X.
'We will keep raising the costs, so stopping the aggression becomes the only path forward for Moscow.'
The UK also announced it would join the price cap move, saying it would deal a blow to Moscow's oil revenues used to finance the ongoing conflict.
Earlier yesterday, Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin did not believe that the tougher stance Mr Trump has adopted towards Russia means the end of US-Russia talks aimed at improving the relationship between the two countries.
Asked if Mr Trump's statements meant that negotiations aimed at reviving battered ties between Moscow and Washington would now end, Mr Peskov said: 'We assume that this is not what it means. Of course, these are different issues. One issue is the question of the Ukrainian [peace] settlement. The other issue is our bilateral relations.'
Mr Peskov said many 'irritants' and problems still needed to be resolved in order to improve ties with Washington, which he said were 'in a deplorable state'. He called efforts to change the situation time-consuming and difficult.
Moscow's dialogue with Washington appeared to improve after Mr Trump retook office in January, but Mr Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Vladimir Putin over conditions the Russian president has attached to any potential ceasefire.
Russia and Ukraine held two rounds of peace talks in Turkey earlier this year, which yielded an agreement to exchange prisoners and soldiers' remains.
But no date has yet been set for a third round of talks, and the warring sides remain far apart on the terms of any ceasefire or eventual peace settlement.
Ms Svyrydenko negotiated a high-level deal offering the US preferential access to Ukraine's mineral wealth
Ukraine and the US, meanwhile, have been holding detailed talks on a deal involving US investment in Kyiv's domestic drone production, new Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said yesterday.
Her announcement came a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky tasked a new, reshuffled government with scaling up Ukraine's arms industry and strengthening ties with its strategic partners.
Ms Svyrydenko, speaking alongside several other new ministers in Kyiv, said the deal would also lead to the US – Ukraine's biggest military backer – purchasing Ukrainian drones.
'We plan to sign a drone deal with the United States. We are discussing investments in the expansion of production of Ukrainian drones by the US,' she said. 'That is, we are talking about the purchase of a large batch of Ukrainian drones.'
Ms Svyrydenko added that a political decision on the deal had been made by Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump, and that officials were hashing out the details.
Mr Zelensky told the New York Post this week that he and Mr Trump were considering a deal for Washington to buy battlefield-tested Ukrainian drones in exchange for Kyiv purchasing weapons from the US.
The Ukrainian government under Ms Svyrydenko is expected to shore up ties with the Trump administration.
Ms Svyrydenko is well-known in Washington, having negotiated a high-level deal offering the US preferential access to Ukraine's mineral wealth. The deal will feed a reconstruction fund.

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Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Central Bank investigating influencer Jonathan Finlay over promotion of unregulated trading platform T4Trade
The Central Bank of Ireland is looking into a matter concerning Irish influencer and content creator Jonathan Finlay, who has promoted an unregulated trading platform to more than half a million online followers. Boasting more than 260,000 followers on Instagram and 586,000 on TikTok, Mr Finlay, who also goes by Nasti_2k online, has made a name for himself in recent years by posting food reviews and luxury lifestyle content. The creator frequently shares photos and videos of himself on first-class flights, at Premier League matches, and on holidays in Dubai. However, the influencer also runs several channels on instant messaging app Telegram, which are focused on making money quickly from financial trading using a platform called T4Trade. In these channels, Mr Finlay encourages people to copy his trades, telling them what they should buy and sell. T4Trade disclaims on its website that it is not targeted to residents of the EU, where it is not licensed. In emails seen by the Irish Examiner,the Central Bank said neither T4Trade nor Mr Finlay was authorised to provide financial services in Ireland. 'The Central Bank can confirm that a firm by the name T4Trade is not authorised by the Central Bank to provide financial services. Further to this, we can also confirm that Jonathan Finlay is not authorised to provide financial services or advice.' The regulator also said that it was 'currently looking into this matter.' In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the Central Bank added: "Whether a particular entity or individual requires to be registered or authorised by the Central Bank depends on the exact nature of the services provided by the entity or individual. 'VIP' Channels Mr Finlay, who is based in Dublin and claims his primary income is from trading, heavily promotes the T4Trade platform, promising those who use it can copy his trades as well as receive 'VIP' attention from him. Mr Finlay says he charges €1,000 for access to a VIP channel which is owned and operated by him, but regularly allows small groups of people to enter 'free of charge,' for limited amounts of time, encouraging people to join quickly before access to the group closes. 'I show people how to make hundreds from their phone the same way as me for free,' Mr Finlay said in one of his Telegram channels with some 14,000 subscribers. 'But after next week, entry to the group will be €1,000.' For those in the VIP group, Mr Finlay shares his trading activity, which he says will earn his followers a profit if they use the T4Trade platform to copy his trades. 'Currently, there are over 2,000 people in my VIP group making consistent profit just from copying the exact same trades as me,' Mr Finlay told subscribers. To join his VIP channels, Mr Finlay also encourages followers to invest a minimum of €300 into the unauthorised platform T4Trade, which is registered in the Seychelles, adding that he will help 'guide' newcomers who are inexperienced in trading. 'By joining the VIP, you'll get access to: My daily trades, 24/7 support to help you get up and running and help with any issues, and educational material.' In another message sent to his 14,000 Telegram subscribers, Mr Finlay said those in his VIP group saw a '100% profit rate on trades,' across a one-week period, with 'not a single loser.' In another post, Mr Finlay said he would buy himself a new car with the money he made from trading. 'I'm in the market for a new motor,' Mr Finlay told subscribers earlier this month. 'I've been grinding lately and made serious profit on trading this year, so it's finally time to treat myself.' Mr Finlay continued by asking subscribers to vote on which car he should buy, choosing between a Porsche, a BMW X5 and a G Wagon. In a video post from July 20, Mr Finlay claimed he invested €50,000, saying he 'finally put pen to paper." 'In two weeks time, it will be exactly one year since I left my night shift job,' Mr Finlay said. 'If you told me then that I would be able to do all the things that I have been able to do; going on first and business class flights, private jets, going out to Dubai, 11/12 holidays this year, it is insane, and it is all because of trading.' T4Trade Describing itself as a 'global leader in online trading,' T4Trade is a trade name of Tradeco Limited, which is registered in the Seychelles. The platform also states that it is not targeted at residents of the EU, where it is not licensed, and that it does not offer its services to residents of certain jurisdictions, including the USA, Iran, Cuba, Sudan, Syria, and North Korea. In a risk warning published on its website, T4Trade says: 'Our products are traded on margin and carry a high level of risk and it is possible to lose all your capital. 'These products may not be suitable for everyone and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved.' In addition to the platform being unauthorised in Ireland, several EU regulators have issued warnings against the company. In October 2024, the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority issued a warning against T4Trade, adding that many Danish-speaking influencers were soliciting their followers to invest with the platform. Similar warnings have been issued in recent years by French, Spanish, Belgian, Portuguese, and Dutch regulators. Trading affiliates Despite claiming it does not target EU residents, the platform runs an affiliate program that EU residents can join, which is advertised as being 'well-suited to individuals and businesses who focus on driving traffic via a website or digital media and are usually digital marketers, social media influencers, bloggers, or SEO professionals.' It continues by saying it can provide affiliates with 'expert support' and 'exclusive marketing tools' to introduce the platform's products to their audiences and boost their conversion rate. The platform also says it offers 'competitive remuneration plans, including CPA commissions and extra cash bonuses.' T4Trade advertises bonuses of up to $10,000 for affiliates on its website, as well as tailored commission plans and performance-based upgrades. Mr Finlay has not confirmed to his followers whether or not he is an affiliate for T4Trade or if he receives payment from the platform for referring others. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the Central Bank of Ireland said: 'The Central Bank is bound by strict statutory obligations of confidentiality and is precluded from commenting on the specific investigations it undertakes. 'Consumers should be aware that if they deal with a firm that is not authorised, there is no recourse to statutory compensation schemes or the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.' 'Consumers are advised to check the official Central Bank website to see if the firm is authorised by the Central Bank.' The Irish Examiner has contacted Mr Finlay and T4Trade for comment.


Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
TP O'Mahony: Pope Leo's words on Gaza have gone unheeded in the Knesset and the White House
With Gaza haunted by the spectre of mass starvation, Pope Leo XIV's call for respect for humanitarian law has gone unheeded in the two places on Earth where it requires compliance if peace in the Middle East is ever to be achieved - the White House in Washington DC and the Knesset in Jerusalem. The phrase 'the globalisation of indifference' has for too long accurately described the inaction of the international community to Israel's genocidal war in Gaza, and its collective punishment of the Palestinian people. When I learned just over a month ago that nine out of 10 members of one family had been killed in Gaza during an Israeli raid, I thought - in my naivety - that if one incident could stir the conscience of the international community this was surely it. Never, it seemed to me, were the lessons of Pope John XXIII's great encyclical Pacem in Terris ('Peace on Earth') more apposite. But in today's troubled world it is the absence of peace - the peace of which John XXIII spoke so eloquently and movingly back in 1963 - that is one of its most worrying features. Gaza is a shocking example, but it is by no means the only example of the world's lawlessness. In 2024 there were 61 'state-based conflicts' in the world, the most since 1946, according to the Peace Research Institute in Oslo. And that was before the Israel-Iran conflict. We may well ask: why are there so many wars? That lawlessness - fostered by President Donald's Trump's disregard for international law, conventions and norms - is tragically evident on a daily basis in Gaza. Each day Palestinians continue to be killed while attempting to collect food for their families. Medicins Sans Frontieres has accurately described the system as 'slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid'. The Belfast rap trio Kneecap - who have drawn a lot of criticism, especially in the British media - have been unflinching in their support for the Palestinian people. JJ O Dochartaigh, one of the group, said in a pre-Glastonbury interview: Everyone knows what's happening is wrong. You can't even try to deny it now - Israel's government is just acting with impunity and getting away with it. Gaza's health ministry says that over 58,000 people (mostly civilians) have died in Israeli attacks since the war began. And that number grows daily. Studies at Yale and other universities suggest the official tolls are being underestimated. Meanwhile, the two-state solution - backed by Ireland and other countries - is looking more and more remote. The political situation is not helped by the fact that the Trump White House does not see an independent Palestinian state as a goal. Matters are also not helped by the fact that the EU is divided on support for a Palestinian state, or how to respond to the systematic destruction of Palestinian life in Gaza, beyond mere words. Kaja Kallas, the foreign policy chief of the EU - Israel's biggest trading partner - has said that 'all options are on the table'. But so far there is no agreement on a plan of action. Ireland has played its part, at least in terms of recognition, much to the chagrin of the Israelis. On May 22, 2024, it was officially announced by the then Taoiseach Simon Harris that 'Ireland will recognise the State of Palestine, effective 28 May'. Ireland made the announcement on the same day as Spain and Norway. 'Ireland today recognises Palestine as a nation among nations with all the rights and responsibilities that entails,' said the Taoiseach. Ireland has for many decades recognised the State of Israel and its right to exist in pace and security. We had hoped to recognise Palestine as part of a two-state peace deal but instead we recognise Palestine to keep the hope of that two-state solution alive. The formal recognition of the State of Israel was an altogether different story. The new state of Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, and it immediately sought diplomatic recognition from countries around the world. The United States, under President Truman, was the first to grant recognition. On May 28, 1948, Ireland received a telegram from the Israeli foreign secretary asking that 'Eire may grant official recognition to the state of Israel and its provisional government'. On June 4, the Irish government discussed the telegram, and it was decided that 'no action be taken on the telegram apart from the appropriate acknowledgement'. 'For Ireland the issues of Israeli statehood, protection of the Holy Places, the status of Jerusalem and diplomatic recognition remained unresolved. It could have chosen any tack concerning Israel, including the Arab position that the partition of Palestine was illegitimate . . . Instead, Ireland chose the position of the Holy See as a basis for its policy towards Israel. "Not only did the Holy Places argument win prestige for Ireland from the Holy See, but placing such a condition on recognition meant that Ireland would not be entering into diplomatic relations with Israel in the immediate future,' according to Paula Wylie, lecturer in international relations at the University of North Carolina (she studied at UCC). A charity organization distributed food to Palestinians facing severe difficulties accessing basic necessities due to Israel's ongoing blockade and military operations in the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Photo: Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images The Holy See's policy was that there would be no recognition of Israel until it guaranteed the internationalisation of Jerusalem and the protection of, and free access to, the Holy Places throughout Palestine. 'Ireland's policy of non-recognition towards Israel was maintained by the Department of External Affairs from 1949 to 1963 as a unilateral foreign policy. To date, historians have accepted the thesis that Ireland refused de jure recognition to protest Israel's lack of regard for the Holy Places in and around Jerusalem,' wrote Ms Wylie. On February 11, 1949, the Irish Government had granted de facto recognition to the state of Israel, an acceptance of the situation on the ground. The New York Times reported Ireland's de jure recognition of Israel in January 1964, just after Pope Paul VI's historic visit to Israel and the Holy Places. Recognising the State of Palestine On June 29, 2025 - 10 years after the Holy See formally recognised the State of Palestine - the new minister of state for foreign affairs of the Palestinian Authority, Varsen Aghabekian, said the 2015 agreement offered a 'vision of hope for the future of the Holy Land'. The historic agreement between the Holy See and Palestine was signed on June 26, 2015, making the Holy See one of the first states in Europe to recognise the statehood of Palestine. The question now is who will follow the example of the Holy See and Ireland? The 'vision of hope' to which the Palestinian foreign minister referred will remain dormant until Israel's ends its collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The Trump White House is the key to that. Only Washington can persuade Benjamin Netanyahu to abandon his genocidal war. Meanwhile, the peace for which Pope John XXIII so fervently pleaded and prayed still seems in this troubled world a distant prospect. But without it, at least in the Middle East, the dialogue that could prepare the way for a solution in which two states, Israel and Palestine, can co-exist side-by-side with equal dignity, respect and security, cannot even begin. Read More Israeli official says Gaza ceasefire proposal from Hamas is 'workable'


RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Donald Trump to travel to Scotland for five-day trip
US President Donald Trump will travel to Scotland today for a five-day trip that will see him visit two of his golf resorts. During the latter part of his semi-private visit Mr Trump is expected to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney. However, a number of protests have been organised across Scotland, in opposition to Mr Trump's visit. They are due to take place tomorrow in areas such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. In a statement this week, the PSNI said that officers would "support Police Scotland colleagues in the planning and safe delivery of policing around the US presidential visit". Mr Trump will visit his Turnberry resort on the west coast of Scotland and his Aberdeen hotel on the east coast, where he is due to open a second golf course, named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. It is expected that the focus of Mr Trump's meeting with Mr Starmer will be on refining a trade agreement, with hopes on the British side that 25% tariffs on steel can be reduced. Speaking ahead of his arrival, Eddie Barnes, director of the school of social and political sciences at the University of Glasgow, said the visit presented an "opportunity" for Mr Starmer, in terms of having a chance to discuss key issues such as Gaza, Ukraine and trade. He also said it presented a similar opportunity for Mr Swinney, who has previously criticised Donald Trump and called for September's state visit not to go ahead. "Like the Irish, who have always been great at using any connection that visiting Presidents might have to Ireland, here we have a President who has a strong connection to Scotland and it's therefore a great opportunity for John Swinney to use those connections in Scotland's best interest", Mr Barnes explained. The visit to Scotland comes ahead of Donald Trumps official state visit to the UK in September.