Ukraine war briefing: US moving ‘with haste' to enable weapons shipments to Kyiv, says Washington
Nato's supreme commander in Europe said separately that preparations were under way to ship the first Patriot systems to Ukraine under the scheme. US general Alexus Grynkewich said there was an 'ongoing conversation' about whether the US would sell Patriots already available in its own military stockpiles. The Swiss government, meanwhile, said delivery of US Patriot systems to Switzerland would be delayed as Washington reprioritised to provide more support to Ukraine. The moves came as Trump's effort to take credit for the additional weapons headed to Ukraine at Europe's expense created mild friction in EU-US relations, with the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, saying: 'If we pay for these weapons, it's our support.'
Donald Trump's decision to ramp up arms shipments to Ukraine is a signal to Kyiv to abandon peace efforts, Russia said, vowing it would not accept the 'blackmail' of Washington's new sanctions ultimatum. Trump on Monday set a 50-day deadline for Moscow to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions, while also promising more weaponry for Kyiv. Russia's foreign ministry condemned the move, with spokesperson Maria Zakharova saying: 'It is obvious that the Kyiv regime consistently perceives such decisions by the collective west as a signal to continue the slaughter and abandon the peace process.'
Russian troops have taken control of three villages in three different parts of the frontline running through Ukraine, the defence ministry claimed on Thursday. Official Ukrainian reports of activity along the 1,000km (600-mile) front disputed part of the Russian account, particularly concerning a key village in the south-east. The Russian defence ministry report named the three captured settlements as Kamianske in the south-eastern Zaporizhzhia region, Dehtiarne in north-eastern Kharkiv region and Popiv Yar in Donetsk region. The battlefield reports from either side could not be independently verified. Ukrainian military spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn told the liga.net media outlet that holding Kamianske, south-east of the region's main town of Zaporizhzhia, was important to keep that city safe from attack.
Russian lawmakers have advanced a bill that would outlaw opening or searching for content online judged 'extremist', such as songs glorifying Ukraine and material by feminist rock band Pussy Riot. Critics say the law, which has drawn a rare backlash from across Russia's political spectrum, would stifle internet freedom. The legislation threatens fines of up to 5,000 rubles ($64) on anyone found to have deliberately searched for or gained access to material listed as extremist by the justice ministry. More than 5,000 entries are on the list, including webpages, political slogans, books, artworks and music albums.
Slovakia will stop blocking the approval of the 18th package of European Union sanctions against Russia on Friday, the prime minister said. Robert Fico said on Thursday that Slovakia had achieved as much as it could at this point, after blocking the EU's approval of the sanctions multiple times to demand guarantees against damages it fears from a separate EU plan to end all gas imports from Russia from 2028. EU countries' ambassadors would meet on Friday morning to approve the new sanctions. The European Commission last month proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, banks and military industry.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
China denies supplying new weapons to Cambodia amid its border conflict with Thailand
China has dismissed allegations that it was supplying weapons to Cambodia amid its ongoing border conflict with Thailand that has led to at least 33 people dying and hundreds of thousands displaced. Chinese officials denied supplying any new weapons or military support to the Cambodian Armed Forces amid the conflict, which has spilled into its third day. Senior Col Sheng Wei, deputy director of the Asia division of the Office of International Military Cooperation (OIMC) of China's People Liberation Army said all the Chinese military equipment currently possessed by Cambodia are 'the result of historical cooperation projects'. 'Since tensions began along the Thailand-Cambodia border, China has not provided any military equipment to Cambodia for use against do not believe fake news generated by malicious actors,' Col Sheng Wei said, according to The Straits Times. The conflict began on Thursday, with the two nations trading air strikes along contested stretches of their 817km border. Over a dozen people were killed on the first day of conflict, prompting hundreds of thousands to evacuate from border areas between the two nations. Thailand reported clashes in multiple areas along the border on Friday, including near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, which is claimed by both nations. The Thai Army accused Cambodian forces of using heavy artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket launchers, prompting them to engage in what they called 'appropriate supporting fire' in return. Thailand's UN Ambassador Cherdchai Chaivaivid called Cambodia's actions a "flagrant act of aggression" and a "serious" breach of international law. "Thailand further strongly condemns Cambodia's indiscriminate attacks against civilians, civilian objects, and public facilities, particularly hospitals, which constitute a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949,' the Thai UN Ambassador said. Thailand also blamed Cambodia for laying new landmines – one of which injured a Thai soldier, and called for quick military response. Cambodia, on the other hand, accused Thailand of launching air strikes and dropping bombs on roads inside its territory. It expressed outrage at Thailand's use of what it claimed was a large amount of cluster munitions, labelling it a violation of international law. Both sides claim to have acted in self-defence. Cambodia also said it sought a 'peaceful solution to the dispute'. Cambodia's UN Ambassador Chhea Keo told reporters that the country 'asked for immediate ceasefires, unconditionally'. He responded to accusations that Cambodia attacked Thailand, asking how a small country with no air force could attack a much larger country with an army three times its size. Cambodia has a defence budget of $1.3bn in 2024 with 124,300 active military personnel, compared to Thailand's well-funded military that has a defence budget of $5.73bn in 2024 and over 360,000 active army personnel. The conflict has entered its third day on Satuday, with the death toll climbing to 33 and tens of thousands seeking refuge. Amid speculations of China providing weapons to the Cambodian army, a Chinese delegation meeting Thai officials in Beijing requested that its clarification be communicated to the Thai public in the interest of regional stability and trust. The delegation said the Chinese weapons in the Cambodian armoury are from past military cooperation agreements, adding that no new military support has been provided.
BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
Security tightens as Donald Trump tees off at Turnberry
A major security operation is ramping up as Donald Trump begins a four-day private visit in US president arrived at Prestwick Airport on Friday evening and stayed at his luxury golf resort, Trump Turnberry in South a white "USA" cap and accompanied by his second son Eric, he teed off for a round of golf at about 10:15 on his first morning at the is due to meet UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scotland's First Minister John Swinney over the next few days, as well as opening a second 18-hole course at his estate in Aberdeenshire. The president has said "it's great to be in Scotland" and has praised the leaders of both governments.A number of protests are expected to be held to coincide with the visit, including demonstrations in Edinburgh and Aberdeen have already been raised about the scale of the visit and the security implications, with police representatives raising concerns about the costs involved and the impact on staffing. Journalists, photographers and plane watchers were among the crowds who gathered to see Air Force One touch down at Prestwick just before 20:30 on was greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and Warren Stephens, US Ambassador to the president spoke with journalists before a motorcade made up of more than two dozen vehicles escorted him to Turnberry.A number of roads have been closed in the area while police and military personnel have been carrying out sweeps around the resort. A security checkpoint has been put in place outside the hotel and a large fence has been erected around the security remains tight around Turnberry, some golfers were able to use the Ailsa course from about 07:30 - albeit in windy and helicopters have also been circling overhead. Trump is expected to meet Starmer and Swinney on Monday while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet the president on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade US president will travel back to Washington on Tuesday and is due to return to the UK for an official state visit in his remarks to the press at Prestwick, Trump said European countries need to "get your act together" on migration, and "stop the windmills", referring to wind farms. In 2019, his company Trump International lost a long-running court battle to stop a major wind power development being built in the North Sea off argued that the project, which included 11 wind turbines, would spoil the view from his golf course at has said his meeting with Trump would present an opportunity to "essentially speak out for Scotland" on issues such as trade and the increase of business from the United States in first minister said he would also raise "significant international issues" including "the awfulness of the situation in Gaza".He urged those set to protest against the president's visit to do so "peacefully and to do so within the law". Visits to Scotland by sitting US presidents are Elizabeth hosted Dwight D Eisenhower at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire in W Bush travelled to Gleneagles in Perthshire for a G8 summit in 2005 and Joe Biden attended a climate conference in Glasgow in only other serving president to visit this century is Trump himself in 2018 when he was met by protesters including one flying a paraglider low over Turnberry, breaching the air exclusion zone around the returned in 2023, two-and-a-half years after he was defeated by will have an official state visit to the UK in September when he and First Lady Melania Trump will be hosted by King Charles at Windsor Castle in is the second state visit he has been afforded - second-term US presidents are traditionally not offered state visits and have instead been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch, usually at Windsor Castle.
Times
43 minutes ago
- Times
Starmer rejects call to recognise Palestine despite cabinet pressure
Sir Keir Starmer has rejected a call by more than 130 Labour MPs to follow Emmanuel Macron and formally recognise a Palestinian state amid concerns that the issue would overshadow President Trump's visit to the UK. The French president announced on Thursday that he would formally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, increasing pressure on Starmer. Cabinet ministers have privately been urging the prime minister to do the same and on Friday more than a third of his backbenchers signed a letter calling on him to follow suit. The issue threatens to dominate Trump's four-day visit to the UK, which formally begins on Saturday. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said that Macron's decision was 'reckless' and 'only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace'. 'It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7,' he added. Speaking on Friday before flying to Scotland for a four-day visit, Trump said that Macron's announcement 'doesn't matter'. 'He's a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight,' he said, adding: 'Here's the good news: What he says doesn't matter. It's not going to change anything.' Starmer's reluctance is likely to deepen divisions within the cabinet, with one member of the government immediately branding the response 'deeply inadequate'. A senior government source said that there were concerns that recognising a Palestinian state while Trump was visiting could derail discussions over a US-UK trade deal. Starmer is meeting Trump at his Turnberry golf course on Monday. In a statement released after talks with Macron, Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, and Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, Starmer made clear that he would not bring forward an announcement. Starmer said that while he was 'unequivocal' about recognising a Palestinian state, he would only do so at a time of 'maximum utility to improve the lives of those who are suffering'. It means that the UK will not recognise a Palestinian state until there is a ceasefire with the return of the October 7 hostages, and humanitarian aid is restored to Gaza. Starmer said: 'Alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region, focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those that are suffering in this war. 'That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire, so desperately needed, into a lasting peace. 'Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis. This is the way to ensure it is a tool of maximum utility to improve the lives of those who are suffering — which, of course, will always be our ultimate goal.' He said that the scenes in Gaza were 'appalling' and 'unrelenting'. 'The continued captivity of hostages, the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel's disproportionate military escalation in Gaza are all indefensible,' he said. He confirmed that the UK would participate in air-drops of aid into Gaza after Israel said that it would allow foreign countries to resume the parachuting of humanitarian supplies. The prime minister said the UK would 'pull every lever we have to get food and lifesaving support to Palestinians' and also said Britain would evacuate children who need urgent medical assistance and give them specialist treatment in this country. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. A total of 136 Labour MPs — equivalent to a third of Starmer's parliamentary party — have signed a cross-party letter calling for Britain to stand up to its 'historic responsibility' and recognise a Palestinian state. The letter was signed by 221 MPs in total. It said: 'Whilst we appreciate the UK does not have it in its power to bring about a free and independent Palestine, UK recognition would have a significant impact due to our historic connections and our membership on the UN Security Council, so we urge you to take this step. 'British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful given its role as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the former Mandatory Power in Palestine. Since 1980 we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance as well as living up to a historic responsibility we have to the people under that mandate.' • Why Israel can't brush off France's recognition of a Palestine state The letter was organised by Sarah Champion, a Labour MP and chair of the international development select committee. It was signed by 19 select committee chairs in total, including the Labour MPs Emily Thornberry, Tan Dhesi, Debbie Abrahams and Florence Eshalomi. Jess Morden, the chair of the parliamentary Labour Party, was also a signatory. Israel condemned Macron's decision. Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said the announcement 'rewards terror' and warned that a Palestinian state would be a 'launch pad to annihilate Israel'. The Knesset, Israel's parliament, voted to annex the West Bank — a move which would make a Palestinian state impossible. Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister and the most outspoken far-right minister in Netanyahu's cabinet, said: 'Complete halt of 'humanitarian' aid. Total occupation of the Strip. Total destruction of Hamas. Encouragement of migration. Settlement. 'This is not the alternative path — this is the royal road to securing the release of the hostages and achieving victory in the war.' • Israel and US pull out of Gaza ceasefire talks with 'selfish' Hamas Sir Jeremy Greenstock, a former British ambassador to the UN, was one of 50 diplomats who signed a letter calling for Starmer to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state. He said it would go beyond 'rhetoric' and encourage countries in the Middle East to follow suit.
