Ukraine should not use new weapons supplies to target Moscow, Donald Trump says
American sanctions threats against Russia
would delay peace efforts.
The Financial Times
reported yesterday
that Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if US missiles would help his country to hit Moscow, in what would be an extraordinary shift.
It came after Trump on Monday gave Russia 50 days to strike a peace deal with Ukraine and announced that Nato members would supply Kyiv with new military aid.
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Asked by reporters at the White House if Zelenskyy should look at striking the Russian capital, Trump replied: 'No, he shouldn't target Moscow.'
Trump had taken office vowing to end the conflict swiftly and to stop the flow of billions of dollars of US weapons to Ukraine. Unsuccessful peace talks have been held in recent weeks as Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire.
Moscow has launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine in recent months, sparking a wave of renewed support from Europe, the US and Nato for Kyiv.
Trump warned that if no deal was concluded, he would slap severe tariffs on Russia's remaining trade partners in
a bid to impede Moscow's ability to finance its military offensive
.
-
© AFP 2025
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RTÉ News
30 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Russia open to peace but must 'achieve goals' in Ukraine
Russia is open to peace with Ukraine but achieving "our goals" remains a priority, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Mr Peskov and other Russian officials have repeatedly rejected accusations from Kyiv and its western partners of stalling peace talks. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to intensify its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, with more drones launched in a single night than during some entire months in 2024, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate. Mr Peskov told state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin: "(Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. "This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy. "The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear." Kremlin on peace conditions The Kremlin has insisted any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. It also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO and accept strict limits on its armed forces, demands Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected. In his nightly address yesterday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his officials had proposed a new round of peace talks this week. Russian state media reported today that no date had yet been set for the negotiations but that Istanbul would likely remain the host city. Mr Trump threatened Russia on 14 July with steep tariffs and announced a rejuvenated pipeline for US weapons to reach Ukraine, hardening his stance towards Moscow after months of frustration following unsuccessful negotiations aimed at ending the war. Previous negotiations in Istanbul The direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul resulted in several rounds of prisoner exchanges, but little else. Mr Trump said he would implement "severe tariffs" unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days. He provided few details on how they would be implemented, but suggested they would target Russia's trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy. In addition, Mr Trump said European allies would buy "billions and billions" of dollars of US military equipment to be transferred to Ukraine, replenishing the besieged country's supplies of weapons. Included in the plan are Patriot air defence systems, a top priority for Ukraine as it fends off Russian drones and missiles. Russian drones shot down overnight Elsewhere, Ukraine's air force said it shot down 18 of 57 Shahed-type and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, with seven more disappearing from radar. Two women were injured in Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian region partly occupied by Russia, when a drone struck their house, according to the regional military administration. Two more civilians were injured in Izium, north-eastern Ukraine, after a drone hit a residential building, local Ukrainian officials said. Later, drones struck a leafy square in the centre of Sumy, wounding a woman and her seven-year-old son, officials said. The strike also damaged a power line, leaving some 100 households without electricity, according to Serhii Krivosheienko of the municipal military administration. Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry said its forces had shot down 93 Ukrainian drones targeting Russian territory overnight, including at least 15 that appeared to be headed for Moscow. Ten more drones were downed on the approach to the capital today, according to mayor Sergei Sobyanin. He said one drone had struck a residential building in Zelenograd, on the outskirts of Moscow, damaging an apartment but causing no casualties.
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Use of private properties to house Ukrainian refugees up by 17% this year
Concern has been voiced about the impact of a Government scheme for housing refugees from Ukraine on the private rental sector as new figures show the number of private properties being used has increased by 17% since the start of the year. A record number of over 21,800 dwellings are currently being used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees under the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme, according to the latest figures from the Department of Justice. It represents an increase of over 3,100 additional properties being involved in the ARP scheme since January. Owners or tenants of such properties were entitled to claim a monthly payment of €800 for housing Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive but the sum has been reduced to €600 per month since June 1. Sinn Féín justice spokesperson Matt Carthy said the 'deeply unfair' scheme 'gave Ukrainians access to housing supports without a means test that was available to no other person including those on lower wages trying to secure housing.' File picture: Liam McBurney/PA A total of 21,803 properties are now being used as part of the ARP scheme to provide homes to almost 39,600 Ukrainian refugees with 16,900 hosts in receipt of monthly payments. The figures show that over €339 million has been paid to date to 26,100 recipients for hosting 56,700 temporary protection beneficiaries since the scheme was launched in July 2022. The figures were provided in response to a parliamentary question by Sinn Féin's justice spokesperson, Matt Carthy. Highest numbers in Dublin, Donegal, and Cork Not surprisingly, the largest number of properties involved in the scheme are located in Dublin with almost 3,300 currently housing refugees from Ukraine. The second highest number is in Donegal where 2,070 private properties are in use followed by Cork (1,611) Mayo (1,425) and Kerry (1,308). Scheme uses 1% of Ireland's housing stock The figures indicate that approximately 1% of the Republic's stock of 2.1m homes is being used to house Ukrainian refugees with varying differences across the country. The proportion ranges from an estimated 2.4% of all dwellings in Donegal to just 0.4% of all homes in Roscommon. Less than 1% of residences in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Meath, Kilkenny and Wicklow are involved in the scheme. The number of properties being used to house Ukrainian refugees has risen by at least 10% since the start of the year in all counties with the exception of Kildare and Kilkenny where the increases were at a slower rate. 'Deeply unfair' scheme Mr Carthy criticised how the EU Temporary Protection Directive has been operated in Ireland and claimed the ARP is 'deeply unfair and caused huge divisions within communities". Mr Carthy said: It gave Ukrainians access to housing supports without a means test that was available to no other person including those on lower wages trying to secure housing. He claimed the measure was also driving up rents particularly in parts of the country that traditionally had lower rents. 'These figures also show that there are significantly more properties than property owners coming under the scheme. There are 21,803 properties being provided by 16,900 owners which clearly means that a significant number of people have more than one property under this scheme. Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Odesa, Ukraine, this month. Picture: Michael Shtekel/AP 'It indicates that landlords are availing of this scheme because it financially benefits them while avoiding the normal obligations and responsibilities regarding tenancies." Department and RTB analysing scheme Asked by the Sinn Féin TD about the impact of the ARP scheme on the private rented sector, justice minister Jim O'Callaghan said his department is awaiting the outcome of an analysis being carried out by the Department of Housing in conjunction with the Residential Tenancies Board. Property owners or tenants were originally paid a rate of €400 per month when the scheme was introduced before it was increased to €800 per month in December 2022 and lowered to €600 last month. Accommodation must be provided for at least six months and meet the required standards in relation to structural condition, fire safety, ventilation and various facilities. The ARP scheme has been extended to March 31, 2026 in line with the extension of the EU Temporary Protection Directive. Separate figures provided by Mr O'Callaghan earlier this month show that the State had contracts with 670 different commercial properties including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation at the start of July to provide temporary accommodation to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine in addition to the ARP scheme.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Warped Russian state TV parades ‘drone death factory' packed with kamikaze killing machines after Ukraine blitzes Moscow
WARPED Russian state TV has shown off mad Vladimir Putin's "drone death factory" packed with kamikaze killing machines. The propaganda report came conveniently as 12 Russian state TV has shown off mad Vladimir Putin's 'drone death factory' Credit: East2West 12 Explosion of a Geran-2 drone next to a Yak-52 aircraft that was acting as an interceptor Credit: East2West 12 The brag came conveniently as Ukraine successfully blitzed Moscow for a fourth night in a row Credit: East2West 12 The giant death plant makes the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned plane Credit: East2West The giant death plant makes the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned plane. This has been frequently used to wreak mayhem in Ukraine. The plant has been shown to Russia's pro-war state media to coincide with a Kremlin threat to imminently send hundreds or even thousands of drones daily into Ukraine. But the warning came as brave Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up assaults since Donald Trump reportedly told him it was read more news Zvezda TV boasted that the plant is apparently the largest of its kind in the world - storing drones known in Russia as Geran-2s. Timur Shagivaleyev, director-general of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, which Ukraine had repeatedly sought to attack, said: 'At one time there was a plan to produce several thousand Gerans. 'Now we are producing nine times more than the plan. 'We must do everything necessary to ensure that our country, our way of life, wins.' Most read in The US Sun The drone is 'effective and highly accurate," according to the channel, which is desperately attempting to show off war might. It went on to gloat how the drone is also "simple, cheap and therefore mass-produced". Ukraine unleashes hell on Moscow with massive drone blitz as explosions rock capital for fourth night & airspace closed The channel emphasised the apparent "scale of this production," evident through the "huge, bright workshops in which you can get lost" with "hundreds of machines, thousands of workers and wherever you look". Among its workers are teenagers propagandised to support Putin's war who are "educated" - or indoctrinated - at a special drone university. The Russian propaganda channel said: "There are young people, boys and girls, both working here and studying here in the college created by the same people who organised the production of Gerans. "They invite schoolchildren here immediately after the ninth grade, and after college they invite them to the plant. 'Vladimir Putin has noted the experience of Alabuga and even called for its replication.' The plant has its own foundry where the aluminium engine blocks are cast. 'There is a forge, where steel parts are made, there are assembly shops, where Geran engines are assembled,' said the report. They make the two-stroke engines, and other parts for the drones including microelectronics and wiring. 12 The moment of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on Saturday Credit: East2West 12 The drone has been frequently used to wreak mayhem in Ukraine Credit: East2West 12 The plant has been shown to Russia's pro-war state media to coincide with a Kremlin threat Credit: East2West 12 The warning came as brave Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up assaults Credit: East2West 12 The pathetic propaganda attempt conveniently came after Ukraine unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports Credit: East2West The pathetic propaganda attempt conveniently came after Hundreds of passenger planes had to be diverted as waves of flying bombs converged on the Russian capital. Footage showed explosions as Russian air defences attacked incoming unmanned planes in Zelenograd, a district 23 miles northwest of the Kremlin . Russia's defence ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine regions - 19 of them over the Moscow area alone. Authorities were forced to twice close airspace over Moscow, hitting airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. A total of 134 planes were diverted, as confusion and frustration gripped passengers caught up in the escalating fallout of the war. State airline Aeroflot was forced to adjust its schedule, while regional airports in Kaluga, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were also thrown into disarray. Frustrated passengers - including tourists on summer vacations - were hit by delays, diverted flights and numerous cancellations in an apparent new tactic by Ukraine to paralyse air travel in Vladimir Putin's capital. Passengers — many travelling for summer vacations — were left bedding down on the airport floor. 'The restrictions are necessary for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft flights,' announced Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. In Zelenograd, a district on the northwestern edge of Moscow, explosions were heard as air defences intercepted drones. Debris sparked fires that damaged buildings and set vehicles alight, according to local reports. In nearby Golube, residents described powerful blasts that shattered windows and shook homes , While Russian officials claimed success in intercepting the majority of drones, the repeated closures of Moscow's airspace suggest Ukraine is successfully placing pressure on the capital - targeting not just military assets but the daily functioning of civilian infrastructure. Trump's 50-day peace deadline for Vlad THE Kremlin mocked Donald Trump's 50-day peace deadline and may now demand even more Ukrainian territory instead of trying to sign peace. Vladimir Putin will instead keep terrorising Ukrainian civilians during the seven-week period, sources said. The furious US President said he is 'very unhappy' with Russia as he warned of 100 per cent secondary tariffs on Moscow should they continue to blitz Ukraine. Trump said he wants the war to end, but doubled down on his frustration with Putin, saying he's "disappointed" in the Russian leader. But a snarling Putin has always declined and instead ramped up his ground and aerial offensives across Ukraine. He also vowed to send US weapons - compromising of "everything" in their arsenal - to Nato so they can distribute them to Kyiv. 12 The aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on July 19 Credit: east2west 12 The drone is 'effective and highly accurate,' according to the channel, which is desperately attempting to show off war might. Credit: East2West 12 Inside Putin's drone death plant Credit: East2West
