Ukraine: Possibility and peril as Trump pushes for Putin-Zelenskiy meeting
The meeting, attended by European leaders as well as Zelenskiy and Trump, resulted in one potentially major win for Ukraine: Trump's suggestion the US could play a role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine in a post-war era.
But how reliable is Trump's support, and what would such security guarantees look like?
Eastern Europe correspondent Dan McLaughlin and Europe correspondent Jack Power join Hugh Linehan to talk about the details of the discussions and why the path towards any sort of peace deal remains difficult and unpredictable.
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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Europe settles on its team of ‘Trump-whisperers' as Ukraine peace talks near
Finland's president, Alexander Stubb, can play a tidy round of golf, something that has suddenly become very useful in a world where everything can turn on a leader's rapport with Donald Trump . Stubb, an unknown entity on the world stage, struck up a good relationship with the US president when the pair played a round together at his Florida golf club in March. Republican senator Lindsey Graham reportedly lined up the game, where Stubb had an opportunity to chat with Trump about the Ukraine war among other things. Given Finland shares a 1,340km border with Russia , Stubb can speak with authority about Russian president Vladimir Putin . READ MORE The Finnish politician stayed in regular contact with Trump afterwards, which has seen Stubb emerge as an unlikely back channel from Europe to Washington. So Stubb found himself sitting around the table with Trump this week in the White House, alongside the leaders of France, Germany, the UK, Italy, along with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy , Nato secretary general Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen . We are seven months into Trump's second term and European leaders may be starting to feel like they are getting a slightly better handle on how to work the US president. Trump's thinking on the Ukraine war – sometimes influenced by the last person he discusses the subject with – has swung back one way and then another in that time. Europe remains anxious about the terms of any potential settlement in the full-scale conflict, which started more than three years ago when Russia invaded Ukraine. Fears Putin would use a summit in Alaska to manoeuvre Trump into supporting a peace deal that favoured Russia, as the price of a quick win, did not come to pass. However, Trump came out of the face-to-face with Putin colder on previous threats of further sanctions on Russia and his demands for an unconditional temporary ceasefire to let peace negotiations begin. There was a feeling Zelenskiy and the accompanying delegation of European leaders came away from their own sit-down with Trump this week relatively happy. The feedback during 'debrief' video calls with a much wider group of European leaders the day after was that the White House visit went well, according to one source with knowledge of what was said. In what could prove to be an important shift in position, Trump signalled support for Ukraine's future security being guaranteed by European allies in 'co-ordination' with the US. Ukraine has long sought commitments that the US and other allies would provide security guarantees to put Putin off the idea of any future attack in the event of a long-term truce. The Baltics and others close to Russia view any deal that undermines Ukraine's sovereignty as an invitation to Putin to make another attempt on Kyiv a few years down the line, then possibly attack an EU state. One Kyiv-based diplomat said the idea of Ukraine conceding some eastern territory held by Russian forces was not as controversial domestically as before, but should only happen as part of a final deal rather than a condition to open talks. Europe seems to have settled on its team of Trump-whisperers, tasked with nudging the US president to come down on the side of Ukraine's view of the conflict. Stubb is in there. UK prime minister Keir Starmer and Nato chief Rutte as well, having both been very careful to stay on Trump's good side. Rutte got on well with Trump during the US president's first term, when Rutte was Dutch prime minister. French president Emmanuel Macron has done a good job of maintaining a decent relationship, while at times criticising the new US administration. Trump clearly has a soft spot for Italy's hard-right prime minister Giorgia Meloni , who is the closest of the bunch to himself ideologically. A few months ago the head of the EU's executive arm, Von der Leyen, seemingly couldn't get a phone call with Trump, never mind a meeting. The rapport between the two seemed warmer this week. Trump enjoyed referring to the EU-US tariff agreement the pair struck as the 'largest trade deal in history'. Mind you, he should be happy about it, given how favourable it is to the US. The European strategy is to paint Putin as the real obstacle to Trump getting his desired peace deal. That would hopefully lock in vital US support for Ukraine, should Russia not take current talks seriously and the war rages on. High-stakes negotiations between Putin and Zelenskiy, and perhaps Trump, about a possible end to the fighting suddenly look a lot more likely. Should they happen then Europe will need to lean heavily on its leaders who have managed to establish a direct line to Trump to make sure what emerges is not peace on the Kremlin's terms.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Intel needs Ireland: Why US stake could help Leixlip, not harm it
The US Government's plan to take a 10% stake in Intel poses big questions for the future of the embattled chipmaker and its global operations. Having largely missed out on the recent boom in chips to power AI, the California-based giant is struggling to catch up with rivals Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which have both benefited from the soaring demand for generative AI. Intel's operational lapses are reflected in its latest earnings, with its most recent quarterly profit from the end of June of €3.5bn lagging significantly behind Nvidia's €26.7bn and TSMC's €17.6bn. The White House's potential deal aims to help Intel strengthen its US operations, serving as another means for President Donald Trump to fulfil his promise to grow domestic business and bring US companies home. The significant investment, which the Trump administration is also justifying on national security grounds, will likely carry a list of terms and conditions, if similar previous deals are anything to go by. Last year, the US government took an ownership stake in US Steel as part of a merger agreement with Japan-based Nippon Steel, enabling the controversial takeover while maintaining veto power over certain investment decisions in the interest of national security. These included strategic decisions such as plant closures, import levels and technology transfers - powers that would help the government protect US jobs and safeguard domestic production. At the outset, it seems a similar deal between the White House and struggling chipmaker Intel could have significant ramifications for Ireland, where its Leixlip hub serves as the key gateway to the European market. But should its Leixlip operations, Intel's second-largest base after the US, employing almost 5,000 people, really be worried about this potential new partnership? Since 1989, Intel has invested more than €30bn in its Irish operations, the majority of which has been injected in the last few years. In 2023, the chipmaker opened its €17bn Fab 34 facility, the largest construction project ever undertaken in Ireland, according to Intel, doubling the chipmaker's manufacturing space at its Leixlip hub. In June last year, asset management firm Apollo Global committed €10bn to Intel for a 49% stake in the Fab 34 facility, which allowed the chipmaker to retain majority ownership while gaining access to additional funding for future expansions. Leixlip's "critical role" The Leixlip campus is also poised to produce the majority of its Intel 4 technology, which includes the company's extreme ultraviolet (EUV) chips, the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology on the market. According to Intel, EUVs play a 'critical role' in driving the company towards its goals of delivering five nodes in four years and regaining leadership in process technology by 2025. Intel's Irish base also seems to have escaped the worst of global restructuring measures brought in by CEO Lip-Bu Tan to cut its workforce by 20%, with the expected job losses from its current round of layoffs far less than what would be considered proportionate. Intel's European operations are extremely intertwined, and the Leixlip facility is the epicentre. The Fab 34 facility in Leixlip is also part of what the company calls a 'first-of-its-kind end-to-end leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing value chain in Europe,' with the site being combined with a wafer fabrication facility in Germany and an assembly and test facility in Poland. EU chip production The company is also nicely positioned to benefit from the EU's goal to increase its global share of chip production to 20% by 2030 as the bloc seeks to enhance competitiveness on the back of the eye-opening Draghi report published last year. The EU is ready to give away billions to enable domestic semiconductor and chip manufacturing. If Intel moves its operations back to the US, it risks losing out on significant gains that it cannot afford to miss. While a government stake may help its financial woes, Intel's biggest problem is its lack of paying customers, a problem that President Trump could actually help fix by putting pressure on other US companies with large European operations to switch to Intel for their manufacturing needs. The US wants Intel to be a leader in chipmaking. For that to happen, Intel also needs to lead in Europe, for which a European hub is critical to prepare for a growing semiconductor market with ample money to spend. If it plays its cards right, Intel can simultaneously increase its customer base and benefit from the EU's push to strengthen its semiconductor industry. This will require a skilled workforce and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with a strong gateway to Europe. As much as Ireland needs Intel, Intel needs Ireland.
Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Irish Times
State to levy fines on drone operators for breaches of new regulations
The State will levy fines on drone operators for regulatory breaches as part of a new framework to guide regulation of the sector published on Wednesday. The National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) – commonly called drones – sets out a set of 16 actions under the new framework announced by the Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien. Mr O'Brien said the field of UAS presents 'exciting opportunities for business and the public sector to boost productivity and improve service provision' but noted that the 'rapid pace of expansion' of its usage has left communities with 'real concerns and uncertainty'. He said that the framework would be a 'living document' in order to keep pace with the evolution of the sector and had been informed by consultation with the public and the drone industry. READ MORE As part of the framework, the Department of Transport will introduce fixed charge offences for breaches of drone regulations. Responsibility for the implementation of these fines, will fall on an 'inter-agency mechanism' established between the Irish Aviation Authority, An Garda Síochána and the Data Protection Commission, which will investigate drone offences. The Irish Aviation Authority will train members of An Garda Síochána to enforce the legislation for the sector, while the Garda will publicise the conviction and enforcement actions relating to these offences where possible to act as a 'deterrent'. 'I don't think the Department of Finance have any respect for the tourism industry' Listen | 41:44 A steering group has been established to develop a national plan for the implementation of 'rules of the road' for unmanned aircraft traffic management, dubbed U-space by the sector, in Irish airspace. A working group on UAS geographical zones – restricted airspace for drones – will also be created to 'develop transparent processes and procedures' and to aide the 'integration of UAS into our airspace and the impact on society and the environment'. 'Concerns in respect of privacy, safety, security, and the environment (including noise) will need to be mitigated in order to support societal acceptance of a UAS services sector in Ireland,' the framework says, while 'public buy-in and support for UAS technology is hard won and easily lost.' The chief executive of Manna, the leading Irish drone delivery company, Bobby Healy, said the company welcomed the publication of the framework. 'This is a pivotal moment by establishing a clear, forward-looking regulatory foundation, the Government has laid the groundwork for a safe, innovative, and globally competitive drone economy,' he said. He said the policy signals that Ireland is 'ready to lead in UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) innovation, attract investment, and foster high-tech job creation – powered by responsible regulation and collective ambition.' Mr Healy said 'the Government has also signalled its intention to support the infrastructure needed for drone services to thrive.' Labour Party Dublin West councillor John Walsh said the Government had stalled the framework for three years and response was 'not only belated but inadequate' and said it focuses on promoting commercial opportunities whiling paying 'only lip service to genuine public concerns'. He described the public consultation as 'ludicrous' and suggested it was a 'box ticking exercise'. 'Every stakeholder seems to have had their say, other than members of the public who will be directly impacted by commercial drone flights.'
