Zelenskiy says he discussed Russia sanctions, drone deal with Trump
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
5 minutes ago
- The Sun
US envoy Witkoff heads to Moscow amid Ukraine war tensions
MOSCOW: US envoy Steve Witkoff will hold meetings with Russian officials on Wednesday, a US source confirmed, as President Donald Trump's deadline to impose new sanctions over Russia's war in Ukraine approaches. The source did not clarify whether Witkoff would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, though the two have held discussions multiple times before. Trump has set Friday as the cutoff for Russia to halt its offensive in Ukraine or face additional penalties. While the White House has not detailed specific measures, Trump previously warned of 'secondary tariffs' targeting Russia's trade partners, including China and India. Such a move could disrupt global trade while aiming to curb Russian exports. Despite international pressure, Russia's military campaign in Ukraine persists. Three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul have failed to bridge gaps between the warring sides. Moscow insists Ukraine must surrender more territory and abandon Western alliances, while Kyiv demands an immediate ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently called for allies to pursue 'regime change' in Russia. Trump has grown increasingly critical of Putin's refusal to de-escalate. When asked about Witkoff's message to Moscow, Trump stated, 'Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the upcoming talks as 'important, substantial, and helpful,' praising US efforts to resolve the conflict. Putin reiterated on Friday that his conditions for ending the war—including Ukraine's surrender of four annexed regions and abandonment of NATO aspirations—remain unchanged. Meanwhile, Trump's recent deployment of nuclear submarines near Russia has drawn cautious reactions from Moscow. Peskov urged restraint, emphasizing Russia's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. - AFP
The Sun
5 minutes ago
- The Sun
Swiss president races to US to prevent 39% tariff hike
WASHINGTON: Switzerland's president was in Washington on Tuesday in a last-minute push to stop steep new tariffs, but with no appointment to plead her case to US President Donald Trump. Switzerland faces a 39-percent duty, one of the highest among the dozens of economies that will be hit by new tariffs expected to come into force from Thursday. President Karin Keller-Sutter and Economy Minister Guy Parmelin were visiting Washington 'to facilitate meetings with the US authorities at short notice and hold talks with a view to improving the tariff situation for Switzerland,' the government said in a statement. 'The aim is to present a more attractive offer to the United States in a bid to lower the level of reciprocal tariffs for Swiss exports, taking US concerns into account.' But a White House official told AFP there was 'no meeting with the President scheduled at this time.' Trump had originally threatened in April to slap a 31-percent tariff on Switzerland. But he surprised the export-driven country last week when he decided to hike the rate to 39 percent despite numerous discussions between Swiss and US officials aimed at reaching a deal. The Swiss government noted that the country will be hit by much higher tariffs than what other wealthy economies, such as Britain, Japan or the European Union, are facing. The government 'reaffirmed that it was keen to pursue talks with the United States on the tariff situation,' and the president and economy minister were visiting Washington 'for this reason,' Tuesday's statement said. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, however, told CBS television on Sunday that the tariffs on global trading partners, which are coming into force this week, 'are pretty much set.' Trump signaled that a separate initially 'small' tariff on imports of pharmaceuticals from around the world -- a key sector for Switzerland -- could come 'within the next week.' But the sector-specific tariff could rise to 150 percent in a year and eventually be as high as 250 percent, he added, saying the delay was to allow companies to shift production to the United States. Pharmaceuticals represented 60 percent of Swiss goods exports to the United States last year. Swiss surplus Keller-Sutter and Parmelin were accompanied by a small delegation, including the heads of the economy and international finance departments, a Swiss government official said. But the official declined to give details about the potential meetings. The government said it will 'issue a statement as soon as there are any relevant developments for the public.' The United States is a key trading partner for Switzerland, taking 18.6 percent of its total exports last year, according to Swiss customs data. Keller-Sutter has said Trump believes that Switzerland 'steals' from the United States by enjoying a trade surplus of 40 billion Swiss francs ($50 billion). Swiss companies have urged the government to negotiate a lower tariff. 'I am convinced that Donald Trump wants to make a deal and show it to his US voters,' Nik Hayek, the head of watch firm Swatch, told Le Temps newspaper in an interview published late Monday. But, Hayek added, 'President Karin Keller-Sutter has to react and find a solution in person there.' - AFP
Malay Mail
5 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Trump jokes about ‘nuclear missiles' during surprise rooftop stroll at White House
WASHINGTON, Aug 6 — Donald Trump made an unexpected appearance yesterday on a White House rooftop and joked about installing nuclear missiles at a time of escalating tensions with Russia. The US president, flanked by bodyguards and under the protection of snipers, strolled for 20 minutes on the flat roof above the press room as he looked across to the site of his proposed new ballroom. Asked why he was on the roof, he replied he was just 'taking a little walk.' Quizzed about what he intended to build, he joked 'nuclear missiles,' before appearing to mimic the launch of a weapon with his arm. The United States and Russia have engaged in heated rhetoric for several days. Trump last week ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines near Russia in response to remarks he deemed provocative by former Russian president Dmitri Medvedev. With his planned ballroom and other projects, Trump is determined to leave an imprint on the White House, drawing inspiration from the opulent style of his private properties. He has paved the lawn of the famous Rose Garden and adorned the Oval Office with lavish golden ornamentation. The 79-year-old leader recently announced plans for the ballroom, in what is shaping up to be the most significant project at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in over a century. He has vowed that he—with perhaps some help from private donors—would pay for all the work, estimated at $200 million. 'It's just another way to spend my money for the country,' he said Tuesday. A former reality TV host, Trump is known for his public appearances that are half-comical, half-provocative, delighting his supporters and providing television networks with the images they relish. In 2015, he announced his presidential candidacy after slowly descending a golden escalator. And during the last presidential campaign, he staged photo ops in a garbage truck cabin and served fries in a McDonald's restaurant. — AFP
