Germany's Merz casts doubt on Ukraine EU entry by 2034
"For us, the absolute top priority is, first and foremost, to do everything possible to end this war," Merz said on Friday after a meeting with Romanian President Nicușor Dan in Berlin.
"Then we'll talk about the reconstruction of Ukraine... but that's going to take a number of years ... It will probably not even affect the EU's current medium-term financial outlook," the chancellor said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Kyiv in February that Ukraine could join the EU before 2030 if the country continues reforms at the current speed and quality. EU leaders have also said accession to the EU would be the most important security guarantee for the future of Ukraine.
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Daily Mail
a minute ago
- Daily Mail
Moment Russia bombs key Ukrainian bridge in Kherson after mass drone strike hit tourist resort Sochi
Vladimir Putin bombed a key bridge in the Ukrainian frontline city of Kherson as he defies Donald Trump and seeks major new territorial gains in the war. Footage shows Russia using two guided bombs to destroy a vital road crossing on the Dnipro River - severing a main artery to the Korabel district of the city. The bold move forced the district to be evacuated, in a significant blow to Ukraine. It was yet another strike on its civilian infrastructure by Putin, who is seeking to control the entire Kherson region as a war aim. Three private homes and a high-rise residential building were also damaged in the strike which took place at 6pm local time on Saturday, officials said. A local resident was injured in the attack, according to local reports. But Ukraine has hit back at Putin with a major strike on a military-linked oil depot in Sochi, Russia's Black Sea resort city where Putin is rebuilding one of his palaces. Some 30 huge explosions led to a massive inferno at the facility close to the main airport, which is often used by the Russian dictator. The Lyutyi long range drones led to major disruption at the airport with more than 50 tourist planes diverted or delayed, and waiting passengers evacuated to an underground bomb shelter. A Russian propagandist Valeria Yaronovetskaya caught in the chaos complained: 'It seems I won't be flying anywhere…Drone attack. 'It even seems like it's right on the airport. Air defence is working. The noise is so loud that the windows are shaking…' She said: 'Everyone is evacuated to the basement floor. There's nowhere to sit here. 'And I'm thirsty… I didn't buy any water before going through the screening. And now I'm suffering…' The strike was on a depot with a 76,000 cubic feet capacity, and a major fire-fighting operation was underway to stop the blaze spreading. More than 120 firefighters were trying to extinguish the fire, regional Russian Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Sunday on the Telegram messaging app. These attacks are the latest trading of blows between Russia and Ukraine as each nation looks to focus on targeting the other's infrastructure. The war has increasingly become a gruelling battle of attrition since Russia's failed full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour in February 2022. Each side now launches regular drone attacks into the other's territory. Both sides deny targeting civilians in their strikes. Kyiv says that its attacks inside Russia are aimed at destroying infrastructure key to Moscow's war efforts and are in response to Russia's relentless strikes on Ukraine. This morning, the Russian defence ministry said in its daily report on Telegram that its air defence units destroyed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, including one over the Krasnodar region and 60 over the waters of the Black Sea. The ministry reports only how many drones its units destroy, not how many Ukraine launched. Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 83 drones or 76 drones and seven missiles overnight, 61 of which were shot down. It added that 16 drones and six missiles struck targets in eight locations. The surge in fighting in the war came with reports of blasts and smoke close to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in occupied Ukraine. This led to a warning from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the combatants to halt strikes close to Europe's largest nuclear plant. 'Any attack in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant – regardless of the intended target – poses potential risks also for nuclear safety and must be avoided,' said director-general Rafael Grossi. 'Once again, I call for maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities to prevent the continued risk of a nuclear accident.' Meanwhile Ukraine hit Russian city Voronezh region in a drone strike, leading to four wounded in a residential complex, and also sent military drones to Nizhny Novgorod and Leningrad region, disrupting air traffic in St Petersburg. And seven were injured in a Russian missile strike hitting private homes in Mykolaiv. In overnight strikes, Russia used seven missiles and 73 drones to batter the city, according to the Ukrainian defence ministry. Two of the injured were hospitalised as a result of the late Saturday attack, Mykolaiv Governor Vitaliy Kim said on the Telegram messaging app. Kim posted photos showing single residential buildings almost destroyed, with building debris spread around. He said 23 private homes, 12 apartment buildings and a post office were damaged. In the early days of the war, the Mykolaiv region stood on the front lines, facing frequent artillery strikes and aerial attacks. Even after Russian forces were pushed back in late 2022, drones and missiles have remained a constant danger to communities. Russia also launched a short-lived missile attack on Kyiv overnight, but there were no reports of injuries or damage. The weekend's fighting comes after a particularly deadly week for civilians in Ukraine, including an attack on Kyiv on Thursday that killed at least 31 people. It included than 300 drones and eight cruise missiles, Ukrainian officials said, making the attack one of the deadliest on the capital since the war began. The latest bloodshed comes as peace talks in the long-running war continue to flounder. Trump said in July that Putin had 50 days to engage with a ceasefire and peace talks, or Russia would face severe tariffs targeting its oil and other exports. On Monday, he set a new '10 or 12' day deadline. The American president then later set a new deadline, which would expire on August 8. The Kremlin dictator has shown no indication he will stop his attempted invasion of Ukraine - or his terror strikes on civilians - despite the threat of major new sanctions on this country, and others trading oil with Russia. On Friday, Trump sent two nuclear submarines 'closer to Russia' after accusing the Kremlin of threatening war with the US. The US commander-in-chief announced that he had ordered the deployment of a pair of U.S. nuclear submarines amid escalating threats and rhetoric with a top Russian official over his deadline to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The new move of the nuclear submarines to 'appropriate regions' appears mostly symbolic – the US already has a fleet of dozens of nuclear-powered subs that are constantly ready to strike in the event of a conflict. Nevertheless, it notches up the tensions once again after Trump announced he was moving up his ultimatum for Russia to agree to end the war. Trump told reporters on Friday: ''We had to do that. We just have to be careful. And a threat was made and we didn't think it was appropriate. So I have to be very careful. 'A threat was made by a former president of Russia, and we're going to protect our people.'
The Sun
a minute ago
- The Sun
All 13 gadgets hitting Aldi's middle aisle today – including £9.99 tool that saves your back when lifting heavy items
ALDI customers looking to snap up middle-aisle bargains such as a gadget that can help lift heavy items up to 50kg will have to be quick. From screen wash to hand tools, the German discounter has everything in store for anyone looking to spruce up their home this summer. There are other great bargains for sale on August 3 too. These include repair tape, costing just £2.99, multi-purpose repair ropes for £6.99, scented screen wash for £2.99 and a 10-in-1 screwdriver set (£4.99). But the huge savings are only on offer while stocks last. Aldi 's Specialbuys launch every Thursday and Sunday, with the budget store's middle aisle flooded with a whole host of bargains, from garden gadgets to beauty dupes. Some of the more unusual items landing in stores today include a mini hand truck that will save your back if you need to lift heavy items. The manufacturer states the £9.99 gadget will "make light work of the task in hand with this easy-to-use truck". It adds the truck also "folds away for easy storage when not in use". Other benefits of the space-saving lightweight gadget include easy handling, while its is also "perfect" for transporting beverage crates. It comes with an ergonomical telescopic handle and easy straps for fixing items. With a maximum loading capacity of 50kg, it measures 34 x 24.6 x 93.5cm when extended, and 45 x 24.6 x 10.7cm when folded. Other items in the sale on August 3 include a 12v impact drill for £12.99, a 12v multi-tool for £24.99, a ratchet spannners/wrench set for £8.99 and an assorted LED work light set, costing £9.99. The final bargains in the sale are a socket bit set for £11.99, assorted hand tools and a clamping jaw set (£5.99 each), a socket bit set (£11.99), while magnetic items, including rectangular trays, are up for grabs for £2.99 each. The full list of Aldi's latest Specialbuys can be found here. Who do Aldi and Lidl have such fast check-outs? If you've ever shopped in Aldi or Lidl then you'll probably have experienced its ultra-fast checkout staff. Aldi's speedy reputation is no mistake, in fact, the supermarket claims that its tills are 40 per cent quicker than rivals. It's all part of Aldi's plan to be as efficient as possible - and this, the budget shop claims, helps keep costs low for shoppers. Efficient barcodes on packaging means staff are able to scan items as quickly as possible, with the majority of products having multiple barcodes to speed up the process. It also uses 'shelf-ready' packaging which keeps costs low when it comes to replenishing stock.
BreakingNews.ie
a minute ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Ukrainian drone attack sparks massive fire at Russian oil depot
An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on an oil depot near Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi sparked a major fire, Russian officials have said, as the two countries traded strikes. More than 120 firefighters attempted to extinguish the blaze, sparked after debris from a downed drone struck a fuel tank, Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram on Sunday. Advertisement Videos on social media appear to show huge pillars of smoke billowing above the oil depot. Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, temporarily stopped flights at Sochi's airport. Further north, authorities in the Voronezh region reported four people were injured in another Ukrainian drone strike. Russia's defence ministry said its air defences shot down 93 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea overnight into Sunday. Advertisement Smoke rises after a Russian drone strike on Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Saturday (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade/AP) Meanwhile, in southern Ukraine, a Russian missile strike hit a residential area in the city of Mykolaiv, according to the emergency services, injuring seven people. The Ukrainian air force said on Sunday that Russia launched 76 drones and seven missiles against Ukraine. It said 60 drones and one missile were intercepted, but 16 others and six missiles hit targets across eight locations. The reciprocal attacks came at the end of one of the deadliest weeks in Ukraine in recent months, after a Russian drone and missile attack on Thursday killed 31 people, including five children, and injured more than 150. The continued attacks come after US President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline of August 8 for peace efforts to make progress. Advertisement He then said on Thursday that special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Russia to push Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine, and has threatened new economic sanctions if progress is not made.
