Ukraine's ex-foreign minister backs Trump on defense spending, warns diplomacy with Putin is nearly exhausted
Ukraine's former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Fox News Digital the move is a big, immediate win for Trump and would be a significant win for Europe's future if it takes the increase in defense spending seriously and begins to deliver on the commitment.
"This is a serious lesson that Europe will have to learn. Not only investing, but also spending. Spending in a way that will allow them to show to the public that they're making a good investment in their security and their economies and to send a message to their enemy: do not dare to attack us because we are ready, we are prepared to strike back," he said.
In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News Digital, Kuleba bluntly assessed the state of Russia-Ukraine peace talks, arguing the current diplomatic process is "dead."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has escalated attacks on Ukraine in recent months, targeting Kyiv with large-scale missile and drone attacks.
The Russian strongman has refused to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by the United States and its European allies earlier this year.
At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in mid-June, Putin said he considers the Russian and Ukrainian peoples to be one. "In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours," he told attendees to applause.
Trump has held off on imposing additional sanctions on Moscow, preferring to wait and see if his diplomatic efforts will bear fruit.
"Putin does not feel any pressure. And therefore, he does not really get why he should change his behavior," said Kuleba. "I'm afraid diplomacy has zero chance to succeed at this stage under these circumstances, which means that there will be more killings and more destruction."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Putin's goals remain clear: "He wants all of Ukraine."
Zelenskyy attended the G7 summit in Canada last week, meeting with world leaders and securing nearly $2 billion in aid from Prime Minister Mark Carney. His meeting with Trump was canceled after the U.S. president left Kananaskis early, citing escalating tensions in the Middle East due to the Israel-Iran conflict.
The two met on the sidelines of the NATO summit on Wednesday and discussed the purchase of American air defense systems.
Kuleba told Fox News Digital that Trump is well-positioned to end Russia's war. "His disruptive approach, his readiness to make rapid and strong action — these are the things that are needed to bring two sides to first, [the] negotiating table, and then to an agreement."
The Ukrainian diplomat explained that the U.S. needs to reshuffle three things to revitalize the negotiating process: sticks, carrots and the pressure of time.
Kuleba said Trump created the pressure of time by stating he could end the war in 24 hours and calling on both sides to sit down and negotiate.
"What happened next is that all sticks went to Ukraine and all carrots went to Russia. It has never worked like this centuries ago in the history of diplomacy. It doesn't work like this, and it's not going to work like this, OK, because the right way to do it is to create a pressure of time to avoid endless deliberations and to find the right balance of sticks and carrots for each side," he told Fox News Digital.
Trump and Putin recently spoke by phone on June 14 after Israel struck Iran's nuclear facilities. The Russian leader said he was ready to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians after June 22, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Peace talks in Istanbul have failed to produce much other than prisoner of war exchanges as Putin doubles down on his maximalist demands.
Kuleba said the best thing for Europe to do as negotiations stall is to continue producing and buying weapons, not only for Ukraine, but also for itself.
"For decades, Europe was relying on the United States and was going back and forth with Washington, checking every decision they were going to make, but it's just not sustainable anymore," he explained. "They have to learn how to take care of themselves, sorry to say it. The sooner they do it, the better for them, us and everyone else."
"You cannot build your life knowing that America is paying for my security, Russian gas is paying for my cheap energy prices and [the] socialism that I'm building. And Chinese minerals [are] allowing me to — are paying for my industrial growths. It's not sustainable. You cannot depend on one player in the most critical fundamentals for your life," he added.
The European Union proposed an 18th sanctions package against Russia in June, targeting its energy and banking sectors.
"We want peace for Ukraine. Despite weeks of diplomatic attempts, despite President Zelenskyy's offer of an unconditional ceasefire, Russia continues to bring death and destruction to Ukraine," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas in a joint statement.
"Russia's goal is not peace, it is to impose the rule of might. Therefore, we are ramping up pressure on Russia. Because strength is the only language that Russia will understand."
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'However, consumers continue to expect both inflation and unemployment to deteriorate in the future.' US stocks mixed at the open US stocks were mixed on Friday at the open as Wall Street tempered its hopes for the Fed to cut interest rates in September, as economic data this week showed higher than expected wholesale inflation and a rise in July retail sales. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose around 0.5%, putting the index on track for its first record since December. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose less than 0.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell below the flatline. US stocks were mixed on Friday at the open as Wall Street tempered its hopes for the Fed to cut interest rates in September, as economic data this week showed higher than expected wholesale inflation and a rise in July retail sales. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose around 0.5%, putting the index on track for its first record since December. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose less than 0.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell below the flatline. Intel stock continues rise as Trump administration reportedly mulls taking stake in chipmaker Intel (INTC) stock spiked more than 7% Thursday and continued to climb 3% before the market open on Friday, following a report that the US government is considering taking a stake in the troubled chipmaker. Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration is in talks with Intel about the deal, which would help the company complete its Ohio factory expansion that had been put on hold. The report follows a meeting between President Trump and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan earlier this week, which came after the president called for the CEO's resignation due to his ties with China. "As Intel's prospects have dimmed, the idea of support (governmental or otherwise) has gained traction, understandable given the company, for better or worse, remains the only US-headquartered prospect for leading edge semiconductor chips and processes; it seems like Trump may have been persuaded to see the light," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note to investors Friday. It's not the first time the Trump administration has allegedly floated ideas to prop up Intel. In February, a news report said the US was pitching proposals to its rival TSMC to help support its turnaround by establishing a joint venture with Intel. Read more here. Intel (INTC) stock spiked more than 7% Thursday and continued to climb 3% before the market open on Friday, following a report that the US government is considering taking a stake in the troubled chipmaker. Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration is in talks with Intel about the deal, which would help the company complete its Ohio factory expansion that had been put on hold. The report follows a meeting between President Trump and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan earlier this week, which came after the president called for the CEO's resignation due to his ties with China. "As Intel's prospects have dimmed, the idea of support (governmental or otherwise) has gained traction, understandable given the company, for better or worse, remains the only US-headquartered prospect for leading edge semiconductor chips and processes; it seems like Trump may have been persuaded to see the light," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note to investors Friday. It's not the first time the Trump administration has allegedly floated ideas to prop up Intel. In February, a news report said the US was pitching proposals to its rival TSMC to help support its turnaround by establishing a joint venture with Intel. Read more here. Retail sales climb less than expected in July Retail sales rose 0.5% in July from the prior month, according to data from the US Census Bureau released Friday — marking the second monthly gain in a row, as consumer spending steadies following a dramatic drop in earlier in the year. Still, the jump was less than the 0.6% gain expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Excluding auto and gas sales, retail sales were up 0.2%, also less than the 0.3% projected. An even narrower slice of retail sales called the 'control group' — a more precise measure of consumer spending that excludes certain sales such as those from office supply and tobacco stores — climbed 0.5%, ahead of the 0.4% expected. Retail sales rebounded in June, a sign that consumer spending habits were remaining resilient despite President Trump's tariffs. Read more here. Retail sales rose 0.5% in July from the prior month, according to data from the US Census Bureau released Friday — marking the second monthly gain in a row, as consumer spending steadies following a dramatic drop in earlier in the year. Still, the jump was less than the 0.6% gain expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Excluding auto and gas sales, retail sales were up 0.2%, also less than the 0.3% projected. An even narrower slice of retail sales called the 'control group' — a more precise measure of consumer spending that excludes certain sales such as those from office supply and tobacco stores — climbed 0.5%, ahead of the 0.4% expected. Retail sales rebounded in June, a sign that consumer spending habits were remaining resilient despite President Trump's tariffs. Read more here. Investors want rate cut 'validation,' but the Fed's dilemma won't go away Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban writes in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban writes in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Retail sales (July); Export prices (July); Industrial production (July); University of Michigan consumer sentiment (August preliminary) Earnings: No notable earnings. Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: 'Striking while the iron is hot' Investors want rate cut 'validation,' but the Fed's dilemma remains Applied Materials' shares sink on weak China demand, tariff risks UnitedHealth jumps as Buffett's Berkshire buys 5M shares BofA's Hartnett sees profit-taking in stocks after Jackson Hole AI exacerbates tech divide with smaller stocks languishing A trader's guide to the Alaska talks between Trump and Putin China's economy slows in July on tariffs, weak property market Economic data: Retail sales (July); Export prices (July); Industrial production (July); University of Michigan consumer sentiment (August preliminary) Earnings: No notable earnings. Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: 'Striking while the iron is hot' Investors want rate cut 'validation,' but the Fed's dilemma remains Applied Materials' shares sink on weak China demand, tariff risks UnitedHealth jumps as Buffett's Berkshire buys 5M shares BofA's Hartnett sees profit-taking in stocks after Jackson Hole AI exacerbates tech divide with smaller stocks languishing A trader's guide to the Alaska talks between Trump and Putin China's economy slows in July on tariffs, weak property market Applied Materials' shares sink on weak China demand, tariff risks Shares in Applied Materials (AMAT) sank 14% before the bell on Friday after the chip equipment maker issued weak fourth-quarter forecasts on sluggish China demand, fueling concerns over tariff-related risks. Reuters reports: Read more here. Shares in Applied Materials (AMAT) sank 14% before the bell on Friday after the chip equipment maker issued weak fourth-quarter forecasts on sluggish China demand, fueling concerns over tariff-related risks. Reuters reports: Read more here. UnitedHealth stock soars as Buffett's Berkshire buys 5M shares UnitedHealth Group stock rose 12% before the bell on Friday after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B, BRK-A) acquired 5 million shares in the company. A regulatory filing showed the purchase on Thursday. Reuters reports: Read more here. UnitedHealth Group stock rose 12% before the bell on Friday after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B, BRK-A) acquired 5 million shares in the company. A regulatory filing showed the purchase on Thursday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Sign in to access your portfolio
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Intel Jumps As Trump Explores Investment In Bid To Revive US Chip Ambitions
Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) gained Friday after Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration is weighing taking a stake in the chipmaker, following a meeting between President Donald Trump and CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Jim Cramer said Intel's weak balance sheet makes a potential government stake critical to finishing projects that former CEO Pat Gelsinger couldn't fund. Tim Seymour of Seymour Asset Management warned that nationalizing a company is 'not conventional' and has historically sparked sell-offs, but acknowledged the political and strategic backdrop behind Trump's potential investment in Intel's long-delayed Ohio shares rose in after-hours trading Monday after President Donald Trump softened his stance following a White House meeting with CEO Lip-Bu Tan, whom he had urged to resign last week over alleged China ties. Cramer had earlier criticized Intel's $18.8 billion foundry loss in 2024 despite $8.5 billion in U.S. subsidies, questioning the viability of domestic chipmaking and warning investors to sell the stock as Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) and Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) gain ground. Intel's 18A process has hit yield issues, threatening its ability to profitably produce advanced chips and undermining efforts to close the gap with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:TSM). The setback comes as rivals gain ground, while Intel faces internal headwinds, including multiple senior executive departures, a workforce reduction targeting thousands of positions, and the delay of its long-touted Ohio fab project into the 2030s. Fitch downgraded Intel's credit rating, citing uncertain profitability in its foundry pivot, operational turbulence from leadership instability, and the mounting impact of missed timelines. Intel stock gained 23% year-to-date, topping the NASDAQ 100 Index's over 13% returns. Intel stock dropped over 9% after second-quarter results showed a revenue beat on tariff-related pull-ins but weak margins and cautious guidance. Management forecasts that the third-quarter revenue will be $13.1B, above consensus, but the gross margin guidance of 36% lagged expectations. Analysts flagged persistent competitive pressure from AMD and Arm (NASDAQ:ARM), Intel's lack of an AI pipeline, and a capex-heavy manufacturing model. Benchmark warned Intel may need years to improve design and manufacturing competitiveness. At the same time, Bank of America Securities, Rosenblatt, and Needham said the turnaround remains slow despite stronger-than-expected first-half sales. Price Action: INTC stock is trading higher by 2.89% to $24.55 at last check Friday. Image via Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? INTEL (INTC): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Intel Jumps As Trump Explores Investment In Bid To Revive US Chip Ambitions originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
