Latest news with #Frei
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Using Russian assets for Ukraine aid needs 'closer look,' German official says
A German official has called on the European Union to take a "closer look" at the issue of frozen Russian assets and using them to support Ukraine, stressing the need to take a harder stance against the Kremlin. Thorsten Frei, Head of the German Chancellery, stated in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on May 31 that the EU should "take a much closer look at the issue of Russian state funds than we have so far." He also urged the EU to take a more assertive position against Moscow, adding that "we must not allow the game that Russia is playing with us to go unchallenged." The question of frozen Russian assets, and what to do with them, has been discussed by the EU and other Western countries since the start of the full-scale invasion. Recently, the Group of Seven – including Germany – pledged to keep Russian assets frozen until the end of the war. Frei's comments suggest that Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz may be open to the idea of seizing the approximately €200 billion ($227 billion) in Russian state assets in the EU. Frei also mentioned the 18th package of EU sanctions currently under preparation, citing them as an example of tougher measures against Russia. According to Frei, the upcoming sanctions are a response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's refusal to comply with demands for a ceasefire. "Measures are being prepared that are tougher than before, and which some European states have therefore shied away from so far," Frei said, stressing that the sanctions package will have "far-reaching punitive measures." Frei added that the sanctions package will target Russia's shadow fleet, energy sector, financial sector, and Nord Stream pipelines. "If you want to achieve a ceasefire by peaceful means, then your tools are limited," Frei said. "That is why I am very much in favor of using the tools at your disposal." Read also: Senate to 'start moving' Russia sanctions bill next week, Graham says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Jesús Ferreira scores 1st goal for Seattle, Stefan Frei has 7 saves as Sounders top San Diego 1-0
SEATTLE (AP) — Jesús Ferreira scored his first goal for the Seattle Sounders, and Stefan Frei made it stand up with seven saves in a 1-0 victory over expansion side San Diego FC on Wednesday night. Ferreira used assists from Paul Rothrock and defender Álex Roldán to score in his 15th appearance with Seattle after scoring 53 times for FC Dallas from 2017-24. Rothrock's assist was his third this season and the fifth of his career. Roldán notched his second. He had one assist in his first seven seasons. Frei finished off his fifth clean sheet of the season for Seattle (7-4-5). He has 111 shutouts in 367 career starts. Frei's first six came in 28 starts with Toronto FC from 2011-13. The Sounders improve to 6-0-3 at home through all competitions this season. Seattle and FC Cincinnati are the only two teams still unbeaten at home. CJ dos Santos stopped four shots for San Diego (8-5-3), which falls to 3-4-1 on the road in its first season after beginning the day in second place in the Western Conference. San Diego thumped Seattle 3-0 at home on April 5, and the Sounders have gone 6-1-2 since. Seattle trails San Diego by a point in the standings. San Diego returns home to play Austin FC on Saturday. The Sounders will host Minnesota United on Sunday.
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Jesús Ferreira scores 1st goal for Seattle, Stefan Frei has 7 saves as Sounders top San Diego 1-0
Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Jesus Ferreira scored his first goal for the Seattle Sounders, and Stefan Frei made it stand up with seven saves in a 1-0 victory over expansion side San Diego FC on Wednesday night. Ferreira used assists from Paul Rothrock and defender Alex Roldan to score in his 15th appearance with Seattle after scoring 53 times for FC Dallas from 2017-24. Rothrock's assist was his third this season and the fifth of his career. Roldán notched his second. He had one assist in his first seven seasons. Frei finished off his fifth clean sheet of the season for Seattle (7-4-5). He has 111 shutouts in 367 career starts. Frei's first six came in 28 starts with Toronto FC from 2011-13. The Sounders improve to 6-0-3 at home through all competitions this season. Seattle and FC Cincinnati are the only two teams still unbeaten at home. CJ dos Santos stopped four shots for San Diego (8-5-3), which falls to 3-4-1 on the road in its first season after beginning the day in second place in the Western Conference. San Diego thumped Seattle 3-0 at home on April 5, and the Sounders have gone 6-1-2 since. Seattle trails San Diego by a point in the standings. San Diego returns home to play Austin FC on Saturday. The Sounders will host Minnesota United on Sunday. ___ AP soccer: recommended
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jesús Ferreira scores 1st goal for Seattle, Stefan Frei has 7 saves as Sounders top San Diego 1-0
SEATTLE (AP) — Jesús Ferreira scored his first goal for the Seattle Sounders, and Stefan Frei made it stand up with seven saves in a 1-0 victory over expansion side San Diego FC on Wednesday night. Ferreira used assists from Paul Rothrock and defender Álex Roldán to score in his 15th appearance with Seattle after scoring 53 times for FC Dallas from 2017-24. Rothrock's assist was his third this season and the fifth of his career. Roldán notched his second. He had one assist in his first seven seasons. Frei finished off his fifth clean sheet of the season for Seattle (7-4-5). He has 111 shutouts in 367 career starts. Frei's first six came in 28 starts with Toronto FC from 2011-13. The Sounders improve to 6-0-3 at home through all competitions this season. Seattle and FC Cincinnati are the only two teams still unbeaten at home. CJ dos Santos stopped four shots for San Diego (8-5-3), which falls to 3-4-1 on the road in its first season after beginning the day in second place in the Western Conference. San Diego thumped Seattle 3-0 at home on April 5, and the Sounders have gone 6-1-2 since. Seattle trails San Diego by a point in the standings. San Diego returns home to play Austin FC on Saturday. The Sounders will host Minnesota United on Sunday. ___ AP soccer:
The Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
New German chancellery chief calls for tougher Russia sanctions
German Minister for Special Tasks and Head of the Federal Chancellery Thorsten Frei speaks during an interview with Reuters, in Berlin, Germany, May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen BERLIN (Reuters) -Europe needs to step "out of its comfort zone" and consider much tougher sanctions on Russia, such as bans on gas or uranium, or tapping into frozen Russian state assets, Thorsten Frei, the chief of staff of Germany's new chancellor, told Reuters. The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday over its invasion of Ukraine, zeroing in on Moscow's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers and financial firms that have helped it avoid the impact of other sanctions. The next round of EU sanctions - currently being prepared - must be strong, including even some measures that might impact other EU states, Frei said in an interview at his new office in the chancellery. "We must step out of our comfort zone and adopt measures that truly go beyond the status quo," the conservative politician said. Asked if that meant European import bans on gas or uranium and tapping into frozen Russian state assets, Frei said: "These are exactly the kinds of measures that would really hurt Russia - and thus achieve the impact we actually intend with sanctions." Frei also endorsed calls for sanctions on the Nord Stream gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who took office this month, said last week Germany and its allies would move to confiscate frozen Russian assets if legally possible. Discussions about sanctions on Russian energy are ongoing, Merz said. After Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to accept Europe's call for a ceasefire, however, the tone in Berlin seems to be hardening further. "I strongly support going down this path because we have seen in the past that Russia essentially only accepts, acknowledges, and understands clear language." 'PLAYING FOR TIME' Frei accused Putin of having no intention of seeking peace noting that even during peace talks last week with Ukraine in Istanbul Russia's attacks "continued unabated - they even intensified". "He's playing for time," Frei said of the Russian leader. Putin wants to create military facts on the ground, he added, and clearly expects to achieve his war aims militarily: "These are not exactly the best conditions for a quick peace." Frei said he could not rule out the possibility that Germany might increase its military aid for Ukraine from €7 billion ($8 billion) in the draft budget for this year. He did not say by how much the aid might increase. ($1 = 0.8830 euros) (Writing by Sarah MarshEditing by Gareth Jones)
