Latest news with #GermanChancellor
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ukraine says hit by record drone salvo after Trump rebukes Putin
Ukrainian firefighters inspect damage at a private factory's storage facility after an overnight attack in Vasyshcheve. (EPA Images pic) KYIV : Russia fired its biggest ever drone barrage on Ukraine, authorities said Monday, just hours after Donald Trump called Vladimir Putin 'CRAZY' and warned Moscow risked new sanctions if it kept up its deadly bombardment. The US president's efforts to halt the three-year war have failed to extract major concessions from the Kremlin, despite repeated negotiations between officials and several phone calls between him and Russia's president. For three consecutive nights Russia has pummelled Ukraine with large-scale drone attacks, saturating its air defences and killing at least 13 people on Sunday, officials said. Russia fired '355 Shahed-type drones' including decoys, in the largest drone attack of the invasion between Sunday night and early Monday, as well as nine cruise missiles, Ukraine's air force said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that there were 'no longer any range restrictions' on arms supplied by Western allies to Ukraine, allowing Kyiv to attack 'military positions in Russia'. It was not immediately clear which countries had changed their policy however. The Kremlin said any Western decision to lift range limits on arms delivered to Ukraine would be 'dangerous' and 'at odds' with peace efforts. In a rare rebuke of the Russian leader, Trump said on social media late Sunday: 'I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!' 'I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!' Earlier, Trump told reporters he was 'absolutely' considering increasing sanctions on Moscow. 'Critical moment' The Kremlin played down Trump's criticism, saying Putin was taking measures 'necessary to ensure Russia's security'. 'This is a very critical moment, which is fraught with emotional stress for everyone, as well as emotional reactions,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for more sanctions on Moscow. 'Russian strikes are becoming increasingly brazen and large-scale every night,' Zelensky said in his daily address, adding that some 900 drones and missiles were launched on Ukraine in the last three days. 'This makes no military sense, but it is an obvious political choice –- Putin's choice, Russia's choice –- to continue fighting and destroying lives,' he said. Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed cities and spurred the biggest crisis in relations with the West since the Cold War. Kyiv did not report any deaths from the latest drone attack, but said Russian shelling in the last 24 hours had killed a civilian man in the northern Sumy region. Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat warned it was becoming difficult to counter the sheer number of drones Moscow was firing. 'We need rational and cheaper ways to shoot them down,' he told Ukrainian TV. A Ukrainian military source told AFP that Kyiv was 'somehow fighting' with available air defence capabilities and that there was 'no need to panic'. 'To maintain our defence, we need deliveries of Western weapons,' the source said, adding that deliveries of Patriot missiles as well as NASAMS medium range air defence and IRIS-T short range systems were especially important for Ukraine. After today's attack, Zelensky ordered 'a significant increase in the production of interceptor drones' and 'will seek additional funding from our partners for this purpose,' he said in the address, adding that Ukraine will increase funding for missile production as well. Diplomatic efforts Diplomatic efforts to end the war have heightened in recent weeks, with Russian and Ukrainian officials holding direct talks in Istanbul earlier this month for the first time in three years. They each sent back 1,000 people over the weekend in their biggest ever prisoner exchange, while Russia said it was preparing a document outlining its peace terms. Any more potential POW exchanges would depend on talks with Ukraine, Peskov told journalists ahead of Putin's meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, adding that Moscow was still working on a ceasefire memorandum. Putin and Fidan discussed peace efforts after the Istanbul talks, as well as economic and energy cooperation, a Turkish foreign ministry source said. Fidan earlier met with Vladimir Medinsky, Moscow's chief negotiator with Kyiv. Moscow has repeatedly rejected proposals for a 30-day ceasefire from Kyiv and its Western allies, while grinding forward on the front line. Instead, Putin offered to work on a memorandum stating conditions for a ceasefire, sparking critisism from Ukraine of stalling the talks.
Khaleej Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
German Chancellor ups pressure on Israel over 'goal' in Gaza
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a stern warning to Israel on Monday said he now "no longer understands" its objective in war-ravaged Gaza. The unusually strong comments from Berlin heighten pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the army ramps up its military campaign in what it says is a renewed effort to destroy Hamas. "Honestly speaking, I no longer understand what the Israeli army is now doing in the Gaza Strip, with what goal," Merz told public broadcaster WDR. "The way in which the civilian population has been affected, as has been increasingly the case in recent days, can no longer be justified by a fight against Hamas terrorism." He said Germany, like "no other country on earth", must be sparing in its public advice to Israel, a reference to Germany's dark history of World War II and the Holocaust. "The question is: How clearly do we voice criticism now, and for historical reasons I am more reserved," Merz said, but added that "we need to say this a little more clearly now". The chancellor, who took office early this month, said that "when limits are crossed, when international humanitarian law is being violated... then the German chancellor must speak out too". Merz said he wanted Germany to remain "Israel's most important partner in Europe". "But the Israeli government must not do anything that its best friends are no longer willing to accept," he said. Israel has stepped up a renewed offensive to destroy Hamas, drawing international condemnation as aid trickles in following a nearly three-month blockade that has sparked severe food and medical shortages. Rescuers said devastating Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 52 people on Monday, 33 of them in a school turned shelter. The civil defence agency said many of the casualties at the school in Gaza City were children, while the Israeli military said the site was housing "key terrorists". Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, during a visit to Spain, stressed that Germany stands by Israel, including through arms supplies, but also voiced concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. "As a country that understands Israel's security and existence as a core principle, Germany is always obliged to assist Israel in guaranteeing its security," he said. "That naturally includes being willing to supply weapons in the future." Germany had a special responsibility towards Israel, he said, adding that there must nevertheless be an improvement in Gaza's "intolerable" humanitarian situation. "We clearly stand by Israel's side but we must not ignore the fate of the people in the Gaza Strip," he said. "There must be no expulsion from the Gaza Strip, there must be no policy of starvation and there must be the active supply of aid and humanitarian goods."
Asharq Al-Awsat
14-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
EU Agrees 17th Package of Sanctions on Russia
The EU on Wednesday approved a fresh package of sanctions on Russia, clamping down on its "shadow" oil fleet, as Europe threatens further punishment if Moscow does not agree to a Ukraine truce. The new measures against the Kremlin -- the 17th round of sanctions from the EU since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine -- were in the pipeline before European leaders issued their latest ultimatum to Moscow over US-led peace efforts. Diplomats representing the EU's 27 member states approved the package at a meeting in Brussels, according to the Polish presidency of the bloc. The package -- set to be formally adopted on Tuesday -- includes blacklisting some 200 oil tankers used to circumvent curbs on Russian oil exports. Companies in countries including Vietnam, Serbia and Türkiye accused of helping supply goods to the Russian military are also set to face restrictions, AFP reported. Dozens of Russian officials are to be added to the nearly 2,400 people and entities already facing visa bans and asset freezes. The package also brings sanctions on Russian individuals over cyberattacks, human rights abuses and sabotage in Europe. Officials admit that the latest round of sanctions against Moscow are relatively limited compared to previous packages as the EU finds it more difficult to agree targets. Further to these measures, EU leaders have threatened Russia with "massive sanctions" if it doesn't agree to a 30-day ceasefire proposal backed by the United States. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Russia on Tuesday that it would face additional European sanctions if there was no "real progress" this week towards peace in Ukraine. Merz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a Ukraine ceasefire and peace with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul on Thursday. US President Donald Trump has said he could attend talks in Türkiye if Putin and Zelensky sit down, but so far there has been no indication from the Kremlin that Putin will attend.
Malay Mail
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
EU tightens grip on Putin's war machine with new sanctions as peace deadline looms
BRUSSELS, May 14 — The EU on Wednesday approved a fresh package of sanctions on Russia, clamping down on its 'shadow' oil fleet, as Europe threatens further punishment if Moscow does not agree to a Ukraine truce. The new measures against the Kremlin — the 17th round of sanctions from the EU since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine — were in the pipeline before European leaders issued their latest ultimatum to Moscow over US-led peace efforts. Diplomats representing the EU's 27 member states approved the package at a meeting in Brussels, according to the Polish presidency of the bloc. The package — set to be formally adopted on Tuesday — includes blacklisting some 200 oil tankers used to circumvent curbs on Russian oil exports. Companies in countries including Vietnam, Serbia and Turkey accused of helping supply goods to the Russian military are also set to face restrictions. Dozens of Russian officials are to be added to the nearly 2,400 people and entities already facing visa bans and asset freezes. The package also brings sanctions on Russian individuals over cyberattacks, human rights abuses and sabotage in Europe. Officials admit that the latest round of sanctions against Moscow are relatively limited compared to previous packages as the EU finds it more difficult to agree targets. Further to these measures, EU leaders have threatened Russia with 'massive sanctions' if it doesn't agree to a 30-day ceasefire proposal backed by the United States. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Russia on Tuesday that it would face additional European sanctions if there was no 'real progress' this week towards peace in Ukraine. Merz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a Ukraine ceasefire and peace with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul on Thursday. US President Donald Trump has said he could attend talks in Turkey if Putin and Zelensky sit down, but so far there has been no indication from the Kremlin that Putin will attend. — AFP
Bloomberg
06-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Bloomberg Intelligence: Merz Confirmed as German Chancellor After Second Parliament Vote
Watch Alix and Paul LIVE every day on YouTube: Bloomberg Intelligence hosted by Paul Sweeney and Alix Steel Today's Podcast Features are: Ros Mathieson, Bloomberg News Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, discusses German Parliament backing Friedrich Merz as German Chancellor. Mandeep Singh, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Tech Industry Analyst, discusses DoorDash announcing two multibillion-dollar acquisitions: buying London-based delivery company Deliveroo Plc for £2.9 billion and hospitality tech company SevenRooms Inc. for $1.2 billion. Bess Freedman, Chief Executive Officer at Brown Harris Stevens, discusses the state of commercial real estate. Topics include: CRE Lending Rebound Amid Lingering Uncertainty, Retail Sector Faces Ongoing Challenges, and Retail Sector Faces Ongoing Challenge. Pol Lezcano, BloombergBNEF Senior Associate, gives his outlook for clean energy. BNEF says clean energy buildout (solar, onshore wind and energy storage) in the US won't slow down despite Trump's efforts to build more fossil fuel power generation and nuclear.
