Norway's government breaks silence after major supplier says it will no longer refuel US Navy ships
The Norwegian government has moved to ease concerns regarding the refuelling of US Navy vessels after one company spoke out on social media, saying in the wake of Donald Trump's showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, it would no longer supply American ships.
"We have seen reports raising concerns about support for U.S. Navy vessels in Norway. This is not in line with the Norwegian government's policy," Norway's Defence Minister Tore Sandvik said in a statement.
"American forces will continue to receive the supply and support they require from Norway," he added. Sandvik issued his statement after privately held Norwegian fuel supplier Haltbakk Bunkers said that it would stop supplying U.S. Navy ships in response to how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was treated at the White House on Friday.
"Huge credit to the president of Ukraine restraining himself and for keeping calm even though USA put on a backstabbing TV show. It made us sick... No Fuel to Americans!," the company said in a now deleted Facebook post.
Haltbakk Bunkers CEO Gunnar Gran confirmed to Norwegian newspaper VG that the company made a decision not to supply the US military, but said the move would have a "symbolic" impact as it didn't have a fixed contract.
Following the Oval Office discussions heard around the world, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he has not spoken with Zelensky since.
The former Florida senator said on Sunday's This Week on ABC. Rubio also said he has not spoken to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha since Trump and Zelenskiy clashed at the White House and failed to sign an expected minerals deal."We'll be ready to reengage when they're ready to make peace," Rubio said on the show.
Rubio has been roundly criticized following the meeting, given that the Republican has previously been outspoken in his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, at one point calling him a 'butcher' after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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The Guardian
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- The Guardian
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The Independent
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I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!' 2.48 p.m. June 5: Musk hits back Retweeting a screenshot of Trump's EV madate comment, Musk said: 'Such an obvious lie. So sad.' 3.10 p.m. June 5: Musk alleges Trump appears in the Epstein files Musk tweeted: 'Files linked to the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have emerged as a point of fixation for Trump and his allies and right-wing media figures. Time to drop the really big bomb:@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.' Shortly after, he wrote: 'Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.' 4.09 p.m. June 5: Musk says he will decommission spacecraft 'In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,' he tweeted. Another X user replied, urging Musk to 'cool off and take a step back for a couple of days.' Musk replied: 'Good advice. Ok, we won't decommission Dragon.' 4.06 p.m. June 5: Trump defends the bill Trump wrote on Truth Social: 'I don't mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago. This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress. It's a Record Cut in Expenses, $1.6 Trillion Dollars, and the Biggest Tax Cut ever given. If this Bill doesn't pass, there will be a 68% Tax Increase, and things far worse than that. I didn't create this mess, I'm just here to FIX IT. This puts our Country on a Path of Greatness. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' 4.11 p.m. June 5: Musk seems to agree Trump should be replaced by vice president J.D. Vance Musk retweets an X user, who said: 'President vs Elon. Who wins? My money's on Elon. Trump should be impeached and JD Vance should replace him.' 4.26 p.m. June 5: Musk brings tariffs into the fight Musk tweets: 'The Trump tariffs will cause a recession in the second half of this year'. 7.50 p.m. June 5: Musk says 'Kill the bill' Musk tweets: 'Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL' Last post for June 5: Impeachment for Trump? Musk's last repost for the day is from an X user, who said: 'This is why Republicans will likely lose the House in 2026 and then Democrats will spend two years investigating and impeaching President Trump. :Trump and the Republicans in Congress need to deliver. We want budget cuts. We want agencies shut down. We don't want big govt.'
