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CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Zelenskiy says Russia appears more open to ceasefire, but warns against deception
KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday (August 6) that Russia appeared "more inclined" to agree to a ceasefire, but cautioned that the details of any potential deal would be crucial and that neither Ukraine nor the United States should be misled by Moscow. His remarks followed a meeting in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which US President Donald Trump described as having delivered 'great progress' – though he offered no specifics. CALL FOR LASTING PEACE "Ukraine will definitely defend its independence. We all need a lasting and reliable peace. Russia must end the war that it itself started," Zelenskiy said in a post on X following a phone call with Trump that included European allies. Trump, who has shown increasing frustration with Putin in recent weeks, has given the Russian president until Friday to advance toward peace or face tougher sanctions. A White House official confirmed that the secondary sanctions Trump had previously warned of – targeting countries that continue doing business with Russia – were still scheduled to take effect on Friday. TARIFFS ON INDIA ADD TO PRESSURE Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday (August 6) imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods over its purchases of Russian oil. The move is widely seen as part of a broader strategy to pressure Moscow by targeting its trade partners. 'The pressure on (Russia) works. But the main thing is that they do not deceive us in the details – neither us nor the US,' Zelenskiy said. While Ukraine has consistently called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, Russia, which controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, has rejected the proposal and continues to push forward on the eastern front.
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Swiss president meets US Secretary of State for last-minute trade talks
WASHINGTON: Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday (Aug 6) as Switzerland scrambled to avert a crippling 39 per cent tariff on its exports, with Washington reportedly seeking increased Swiss purchases of US arms and energy in exchange for easing the duties. The Swiss delegation, which includes Business Minister Guy Parmelin, landed in Washington on Tuesday for final negotiations. The talks come just one day before the punitive tariffs are set to take effect, threatening major damage to Switzerland's export-reliant economy. According to a Swiss source familiar with the talks, the Trump administration is pushing for Switzerland to buy more liquefied natural gas and defence products as part of any deal. "Look at the European Union – they promised to buy LNG. Switzerland imports LNG too — maybe that's one path," Parmelin said over the weekend. SEEKING A BETTER DEAL In a recent agreement with Washington, the EU secured a reduced 15 per cent tariff rate by pledging to buy US$750 billion in energy products over three years and to increase defence spending. While not formally committing to buy more arms, EU officials suggested US companies would benefit from increased NATO-linked military expenditures. Switzerland already purchases US military hardware and has committed to buying F-35A Lightning II fighter jets from Lockheed Martin in a deal worth 6 billion Swiss francs (US$7.43 billion). However, the trade standoff has fuelled calls from some Swiss politicians to cancel the F-35 order as a retaliatory measure if tariffs go ahead. LOOMING ECONOMIC HIT Keller-Sutter's meeting with Rubio began at 10:15am (1415 GMT) and was scheduled to last one hour, according to the State Department. 'There are currently no plans to meet President Trump, but the situation could change,' a Swiss government official told Reuters. Earlier in the day, the Swiss delegation met with key business leaders, including Roche Chairman Severin Schwan, Partners Group co-founders Alfred Gantner and Marcel Erni, and Daniel Jaeggi, president of commodity firm Mercuria. Further meetings with Swiss companies operating in the US were planned. "We greatly appreciate the tireless commitment of the Federal Council and the Federal Administration," said Noe Blancpain, executive board member of Swiss industry group Swissmem. The US is a top destination for Swiss exports, including watches, machinery and chocolate, all of which would be hit hard by the proposed 39 per cent tariff, far exceeding the rates secured by Britain, Japan and the EU. Swiss business associations have warned that tens of thousands of jobs could be at risk. Swiss cheese makers are particularly concerned, with the US accounting for 11 per cent of all cheese exports last year, including Gruyère and Emmentaler. "The taxes are enormous," said Anthony Margot, a fifth-generation cheese maturer. "We can't replace a market like the United States overnight." The Swiss Market Index was down 1 per cent in early afternoon trading on Wednesday ahead of the tariff deadline. WINNING OVER TRUMP The latest push follows a July draft agreement between Switzerland and the US, which reportedly set tariffs at 10 per cent. But Trump abruptly reversed course last Friday following what officials described as a difficult phone call with Keller-Sutter. Swiss sources denied a breakdown in relations but acknowledged the call did not go well. "Trump's team and the Swiss negotiators apparently already struck a deal. So it's in their mutual interest to get it over the line with Trump himself," said Claude Maurer, chief economist at Swiss think tank BAK Economics.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Ghana says eight people including two ministers die in helicopter crash
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox ACCRA - Ghana's defence and environment ministers died in a military helicopter crash on Wednesday in the southern Ashanti region along with three other officials and three airforce crew, the government said. Julius Debrah, President John Mahama's chief of staff, told a press conference that the crash in which Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were killed was a national tragedy. "The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country," Debrah said. Earlier Ghana's armed forces said radar contact had been lost with a Z9 airforce helicopter. REUTERS
