Italy Snubs Trump's Ukraine Plan As EU Splits On New U.S. Arms Push For Kyiv
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Business Standard
25 minutes ago
- Business Standard
'Cautions against double standards': MEA hits back at Nato chief's warning
Addressing a press conference in the national capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments' ANI Asia External Affairs Ministry on Thursday in a rebuttal to NATO chief Mark Rutte's remarks on the possibility of secondary sanctions on purchase of Russian oil said that securing energy needs of India was an an "overriding priority" for the country which is "guided by available offers" and "prevailing global circumstances." The Ministry of External Affairs further cautioned against "double standards" on the matter. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate and I have said this in the past as well that securing the energy needs of our people is, understandably, an overriding priority for us. In this endeavour, we are guided by what is available in the markets, as well as by the prevailing global circumstances." "We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter," the MEA Spokesperson said. The NATO Secretary General had in his recent remarks asked India, China, and Brazil to reconsider their purchase of oil from Russia or face the prospect of "100 per cent secondary sanctions". Rutte echoed the position taken by US President Donald Trump, who earlier this week threatened severe tariffs on countries maintaining trade with Russia. "My encouragement to these three countries, particularly, is that if you live now in Beijing or in Delhi, or you are the President of Brazil, you might want to take a look at this because this might hit you very hard," Rutte had said. The NATO chief had also urged India and the other countries to "make the phone call to Vladimir Putin and tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks" with Ukraine. "because otherwise this will slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way." US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal have also pushed for the swift passage of the "Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025", which calls for imposing penalties and tariffs as high as 500 per cent on any country aiding Russia economically. They alleged that countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, including India, are "propping" up "Putin's war machine". Earlier today, Union Minister Hardeep Puri said that India has significantly broadened its oil import network and if Russian supplies were hit by secondary sanctions, there are many new suppliers coming onto the market. "India has diversified the sources of supplies from 27 to 40 countries now. 16 per cent of oil market growth has come from India, and studies show it may go up to 25 per cent," Puri said at an event in the national capital. Meanwhile, in his weekly press briefing today, on being asked about the India-EU FTA in the wake of the comments by the NATO Chief, Jaiswal said that the talks are progressing with 'good momentum' between the two. He said, "The talks are progressing very well. The last round, which is the 12th round happened in Brussels from 7-11 July. The next round of talks are scheduled to be held in September in New Delhi. As the leaders promised, it was reaffirmed when we had the visit of EU College of Commissioners. Both sides want this FTA to be concluded within this year, so it is progressing well, there is good momentum." During PM Modi's visit to Croatia in June this year, the leaders had welcomed the renewed momentum in the strategic partnership between India and the EU and had underscored the importance of concluding a mutually beneficial India-EU FTA within the course of the year, as agreed during the historic visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India in February 2025.
The Hindu
25 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Ukraine and U.S. considering a drone ‘mega deal', Zelensky says after after talks with Trump
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are considering a deal that involves Washington buying battlefield-tested Ukrainian drones in exchange for Kyiv purchasing weapons from the U.S., Mr. Zelensky said in an interview with the New York Post. Mr. Zelensky said his latest talks with Mr. Trump focused on a deal that would help each country bolster its aerial technology. Ukrainian drones have been able to strike targets as deep as 800 miles (1,300 km) into Russian territory. "The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal," Mr. Zelensky told The Post in the interview conducted on Wednesday (July 16, 2025). The Ukrainian leader said drones were the key tool that has allowed his country to fight off Russia's invasion for more than three years. "We will be ready to share this experience with America and other European partners," he said. Ukraine was also in talks with Denmark, Norway and Germany, he said. On Thursday, Mr. Zelensky announced unspecified future agreements with the United States which he said would strengthen his country, as he appeared in parliament to put forward his new government. Next year's U.S. defence and national security budget request boosts spending on small drones — in part because of lessons learned during Russia's war in Ukraine, where unmanned aircraft have proven to be an integral part of low-cost, yet highly effective fighting.
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First Post
25 minutes ago
- First Post
Trump to impose 10-15% tariff on over 150 countries — but there's a catch
US President Donald Trump has said that he will impose 10-15% tariff on more than 150 countries. He also said that this bracket will not include large trading partners. read more US President Donald Trump has said that he will impose tariffs in the range of 10 to 15 per cent on more than 150 countries. However, Trump noted that this bracket will not include large trading partners of the United States. Trump told reporters on Wednesday that 'we'll have well over 150 countries that we're just going to send a notice of payment out, and the notice of payment is going to say what the tariff' rate will be. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump further said that these countries will not be 'big countries and they don't do that much business'. Later in the day, Trump told Real America's Voice that the rate would 'be probably 10 or 15 per cent, we haven't decided yet' The fact that Trump is imposing lesser tariffs on smaller economies suggests that Trump has realised high tariffs are disruptive, according to Alicia Garcia Herrero, the Chief Asia Pacific Economist at Natixis. 'For much of the world —and Asia in particular, which faces among the highest levies— the rate announcement could be read as a positive, providing some certainty for smaller countries with a lower rate than initially threatened,' Herrero told Bloomberg. Herrero further said that the move also signals that 'Trump is realizing that too high tariffs are disruptive." In recent weeks, Trump has sent out letters to various countries to inform them of tariffs that they will face starting August 1. In line with the stand in April, Trump has slapped some of the highest tariffs on some of the closest US strategic and trade partners. For example, Trump has imposed Japan and South Korea with 25 per cent tariff each. Trump has so far sent letters to 22 countries that also include Malaysia (25 per cent), Bangladesh (35 per cent), Indonesia (32 per cent), and South Africa (30 per cent), among others. The United States has some of the most critical trade partnerships with these countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD South Korea and Japan are major supplier of cars, automobile parts, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and machinery to the United States; Malaysia is the second-largest supplier of chips; Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Cambodia are manufacturing hubs for apparel and accessories, and South Africa accounts for nearly half of all US platinum imports and was the largest single supplier last year, according to CNN.
