Putin eyes a bigger prize than Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin never veered from his refusal to consider a cessation of hostilities, says the writer. PHOTO: AFP
Ukraine's June 1 drone strike deep inside Russian territory has left Russian officials humiliated. A nation that remains a significant global power has suddenly discovered that some of its most prized military assets – its long-range bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons – can be destroyed on the ground.
And despite being pounded by the full might of Russia's armed forces for more than three years, Ukraine still had both the audacity and ingenuity to mount such an attack. All these are unpleasant news for Russian President Vladimir Putin, so it was not surprising that, when Ukrainian and Russian mediators met in the Turkish city of Istanbul on June 2 to discuss options for a ceasefire in their war, the talks failed in just one hour.
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump ‘very disappointed' by Musk criticism of his mega-Bill as an abomination
Visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (left) sat in silence as US President Donald Trump unloaded in the Oval Office on former adviser Elon Musk. PHOTO: REUTERS Trump 'very disappointed' by Musk criticism of his mega-Bill as an abomination WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on June 5 he was 'very disappointed' by Elon Musk's criticism of his policy mega-Bill, adding he didn't know if his friendship with his billionaire former adviser would survive. In an extraordinary rant in the Oval Office as visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sat mutely beside him, Mr Trump unloaded on SpaceX and Tesla boss Mr Musk in his first comments on the issue. 'Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore. I was surprised,' Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after former adviser Mr Musk slammed the Bill as an 'abomination'. 'I'm very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this Bill better than almost anybody sitting here... All of a sudden, he had a problem,' Mr Trump added. Mr Musk hit back minutes later on his X social network, saying the 78-year-old president's claims he had advance sight of the Bill were 'false.' 'Whatever,' he added above a video of Mr Trump saying Mr Musk was upset about the loss of subsidies for electric vehicles. The latest clash comes less than a week since Mr Trump held a grand Oval Office farewell for Mr Musk as he wrapped up his time leading the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Mr Musk stunned reporters at the time by turning up with a black eye that he said was caused by his son. 'You saw a man who was very happy when he stood behind the Oval desk, and even with the black eye. I said, you want a little makeup? We'll get you a little makeup,' Mr Trump said. 'But he said, 'No, I don't think so,' which is interesting and very nice. He wants to be who he is.' Mr Trump said he could understand why Mr Musk was upset with some steps he had taken, including withdrawing a nominee to lead the Nasa space agency whom the tech tycoon had backed. The US president's 'big, beautiful Bill' on tax and spending – the centrepiece of his domestic agenda – could define his second term and make or break Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. Mr Musk, however, called it a 'disgusting abomination' on June 3. A day later, the magnate called for Republicans to 'kill the Bill,' and for an alternative plan that 'doesn't massively grow the deficit.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Chairman of UK's right-wing Reform party resigns
Zia Yusuf, Chairman of the Reform party, looks on as he is interviewed by the media on the day of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, in Widnes, Britain, May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo LONDON - Zia Yousuf, the chairman of Britain's right-wing Reform UK party, resigned on Thursday. Reform, led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, won five parliamentary seats in a breakthrough result at last July's national election, and last month performed strongly in local elections. The party currently leads national opinion polls, ahead of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party. "I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office," Yusuf said, without giving further details of the reason for his exit. Divisions in the party's upper ranks have been made public before. In March Reform referred one of its lawmakers, Rupert Lowe, to police over allegations including threats of physical violence against Yusuf. Prosecutors later said they would not bring charges against Lowe, who was suspended by the party. Earlier on Thursday, Yusuf said Reform lawmaker Sarah Pochin's question to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in parliament, asking whether the government would consider banning the burqa, was "dumb". Yusuf, who is not a lawmaker himself, became Reform chairman last year. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump, Germany's Merz kick off friendly meeting with talks on Ukraine and trade
FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers a speech at the German Association of Towns and Municipalities event in Berlin, Germany, June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz kicked off a White House meeting on Thursday with talks on Ukraine and trade but none of the fireworks that have characterized other Oval Office meetings with foreign leaders. Trump described Merz as a good representative of Germany and also "difficult," which he suggested was a compliment. He said U.S. troops would remain in Germany and said it was positive that Berlin was spending more money on defence. Merz said he was pleased to be there and preparing for a deeper relationship with the United States. The two leaders met in the Oval Office, which has been the site of showdowns between Trump and visiting dignitaries including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Not so on Thursday. Trump and Merz, both conservatives, appeared to have a warm rapport from the start. Merz started with praise, thanking Trump for putting him up in the Blair House, a presidential guest dwelling across from the White House, and Trump thanked him for doing so. But tensions over trade simmered under the surface of their encounter. The United States and the European Union are in talks to reach a trade deal, which would be critical for Germany's export-heavy economy, but Trump said he would be fine with an agreement or with tariffs. "We'll end up hopefully with a trade deal," Trump said. "I'm ok with the tariffs or we make a deal with the trade." Merz, who took office last month, told reporters ahead of the meeting that they would discuss Russia's war in Ukraine, U.S. tariffs and NATO in the meeting but said he was not expecting major breakthroughs. Germany is the second largest military and financial backer of Ukraine in its defence against Russia's invasion, after the United States. Trump has urged NATO countries to spend more on defence, though he suggested there might be some limits on how far Berlin should go given its World War II past. TENSIONS UNDERNEATH The meeting comes amid a broader fraying of ties between the U.S. and many European countries. Trump's administration has intervened in domestic European politics in a break with past practice, aligning with right-wing political movements and challenging European policies on immigration and free speech. Merz, 69, and his entourage have sought coaching from other leaders on how to deal with Trump to avoid conflict, according to a source briefed on the matter. The meeting is taking place just weeks before a critical summit of the NATO Western military alliance, which has been strained by Trump's threats that the U.S. will not come to the aid of allies that do not increase their defence spending. Such threats are of particular concern to Germany, which has relied on U.S. nuclear deterrence for its security since the end of World War Two. Merz has already made some bold policy moves that he can highlight to appease Trump, analysts said. He has backed Trump's demand for NATO members to commit to a target of more than doubling defence spending to 5% of economic output in the future, earning praise last weekend from U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Merz, who has promised a more assertive foreign policy, also coordinated a visit by European leaders to Kyiv just days after taking office, two European diplomat sources said. "This shows that Germany is willing to accept a greater responsibility for Ukraine and the European security order – these are all things that have been wished for in the United States over years and will be welcomed," said Sudha David-Wilp of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Merz and Trump could find some common ground given they share business backgrounds, membership in right-of-center political parties, a focus on fighting illegal immigration and a fondness for golf, said Steven Sokol, President and CEO of the American Council on Germany. However, analysts noted frictions in the U.S.-German relationship. Merz was publicly critical of Trump shortly before the 2024 presidential election. On the eve of his own party's election victory in February, Merz criticised the "ultimately outrageous" comments flowing from Washington during the campaign, comparing them to hostile interventions from Russia. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
