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Russia, Ukraine continue hostilities as Trump's truce deadline nears

Russia, Ukraine continue hostilities as Trump's truce deadline nears

NHKa day ago
Russia and Ukraine exchanged tit-for-tat attacks as US President Donald Trump stepped up pressure for a truce. US special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Russia in coming days as an August 8 deadline Trump has demanded for a ceasefire agreement approaches.
Ukraine's air force said that Russia launched more than 70 drones and seven missiles toward the country over the weekend.
A missile attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv reportedly injured seven people. Footage taken in the city shows heavily damaged houses and a crater.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday condemned Russia for "targeting ordinary buildings, energy infrastructure, and essentially just people's lives." He spoke in a videotaped address.
A local governor in Russia said a fire broke out at an oil tank in the southern city of Sochi following a Ukrainian drone attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will not agree to a deal unless its demands are met.
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Trump again threatens India with harsh tariffs over Russian oil purchases
Trump again threatens India with harsh tariffs over Russian oil purchases

Nikkei Asia

time2 hours ago

  • Nikkei Asia

Trump again threatens India with harsh tariffs over Russian oil purchases

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened on Monday to raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases, while New Delhi called his attack "unjustified" and vowed to protect its economic interests, deepening the trade rift between the countries. In a social media post, Trump wrote, "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine." "Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he added. A spokesperson for India's foreign ministry said in response that India will "take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security." "The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable," the spokesperson added. Trump has said that beginning Friday he will impose new sanctions on Russia as well as on countries that buy its energy exports, unless Moscow takes steps to end its 3-1/2 year war with Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no public sign of altering his stance despite the deadline. Over the weekend, two Indian government sources told Reuters that India will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite Trump's threats. India has faced pressure from the West to distance itself from Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. New Delhi has resisted, citing its longstanding ties with Russia and economic needs. Trump in July had already announced 25% tariffs on Indian imports, and U.S. officials have cited a range of geopolitical issues standing in the way of a U.S.-India trade accord. Trump has also cast the wider BRICS group of developing nations as hostile to the United States. Those nations have dismissed his accusation, saying the group promotes the interests of its members and of developing countries at large. India is the biggest buyer of seaborne crude from Russia, importing about 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil from January to June this year, up 1% from a year ago, according to data provided to Reuters by trade sources. India began importing oil from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, the Indian spokesperson said, calling it a "necessity compelled by global market situation." The spokesperson also noted the West's, particularly the European Union's, bilateral trade with Russia: "It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia." Despite the Indian government's defiance, the country's main refiners paused buying Russian oil last week, sources told Reuters. Discounts to other suppliers narrowed after Trump threatened hefty tariffs on countries that make any such purchases. Indian government officials denied any policy change. The country's largest refiner, Indian Oil, has bought 7 million barrels of crude from the United States, Canada and the Middle East, four trade sources told Reuters on Monday. India has also been frustrated by Trump repeatedly taking credit for an India-Pakistan ceasefire that he announced on social media in May, which halted days of hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbors. The unpredictability of the Trump administration poses a challenge for Delhi, said Richard Rossow, head of the India program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "India's continued energy and defense purchases from Russia presents a larger challenge," he said, "where India does not feel it can predict how the Trump administration will approach Russia from month to month."

Trump threatens to raise tariffs on goods from India over Russian oil purchases
Trump threatens to raise tariffs on goods from India over Russian oil purchases

Japan Today

time5 hours ago

  • Japan Today

Trump threatens to raise tariffs on goods from India over Russian oil purchases

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo By Kanishka Singh and Doina Chiacu Donald Trump said on Monday he will substantially raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases, while New Delhi said it would take measures to safeguard its interests and called its targeting by the U.S. president "unjustified." Trump said last week Washington was still negotiating with India on trade after announcing the U.S. would impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from the country starting last Friday. India has faced pressure from the West, including the U.S., to distance itself from Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. New Delhi has resisted that pressure, citing its longstanding ties with Russia and economic needs."India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA." He did not elaborate on what the tariff would be. Over the weekend, two Indian government sources told Reuters that India will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite Trump's threats. The sources did not wish to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. Washington has cited geopolitical disagreements with India to explain why it has not yet been able to reach a trade deal with New Delhi. Other than India's ties with Russia, Trump has cast the BRICS group of developing nations - of which India is a key part - as hostile to the U.S. Those nations have dismissed that accusation, saying the group promotes the interests of its members and of developing countries at large. A spokesperson for India's foreign ministry said India will "take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security." "In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable," the spokesperson added. India began importing oil from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, the Indian statement said. The spokesperson said India's imports were meant to ensure affordable energy costs for Indian consumers and were a "necessity compelled by global market situation." The statement also noted the West's, particularly the European Union's, bilateral trade with Russia: "It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia." India also has been frustrated by Trump repeatedly taking credit for an India-Pakistan ceasefire that he announced on social media on May 10. The ceasefire halted days of hostilities between the nuclear-armed Asian neighbors. India's position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their issues directly without outside involvement. Trump has reached a trade deal with Pakistan. © Thomson Reuters 2025.

Trial begins for suspects in 2024 Moscow concert hall attack that killed 149 people
Trial begins for suspects in 2024 Moscow concert hall attack that killed 149 people

Japan Today

time5 hours ago

  • Japan Today

Trial begins for suspects in 2024 Moscow concert hall attack that killed 149 people

Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, sit in a glass cage prior to a hearing in the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov) A trial began Monday under tight security for 19 defendants accused of involvement in last year's shooting rampage in a Moscow concert hall that killed 149 people and wounded over 600 in one of the deadliest attacks in the capital in years. A faction of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the March 22, 2024, massacre at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in which four gunmen shot people who were waiting for a show by a popular rock band and then set the building on fire. President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have claimed, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine had a role in the attack. Kyiv has strongly denied any involvement. The Investigative Committee, Russia's top criminal investigation agency, said in June that it concluded that the attack had been 'planned and carried out in the interests of the current leadership of Ukraine in order to destabilize political situation in our country.' It also noted the four suspected gunmen tried to flee to Ukraine afterward. The four, all identified as citizens of Tajikistan, were arrested hours after the attack and later appeared in a Moscow court with signs of being severely beaten. The defendants appearing in court on Monday kept their heads bowed as they sat in the defendants' cage. The committee said earlier this year that six other suspects were charged in absentia and placed on Russia's wanted list for allegedly recruiting and organizing the training of the four. Other defendants in the trial were accused of helping them. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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