Latest news with #Lehtikuva
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
US should impose more sanctions on Russia, Finland says, as Trump's deadline arrives
FILE PHOTO: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen attends a press conference during the Helsinki+50 OSCE conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 31, 2025. The conference marks the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. Lehtikuva/Mikko Stig/via REUTERS/File Photo HELSINKI - U.S. President Donald Trump should move forward with imposing more sanctions on Russia as it would help bring an end to the war in Ukraine, Finland's foreign minister said on Friday in a Reuters NEXT Newsmaker interview. Trump set Friday as the deadline by which Russia had to agree to peace in Ukraine or have its oil customers face secondary tariffs. If imposed, they would sever a major source of funding for Russian President Vladimir Putin's war effort. However, Putin and Trump are now expected to meet as early as next week following talks between the Russian leader and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, raising the possibility that the new sanctions may be delayed or cancelled. A White House official said on Wednesday the secondary sanctions were still expected to be implemented against countries doing business with Russia from Friday despite the latest diplomatic flurry. "I certainly hope that President Trump will move forward with those sanctions," Elina Valtonen said in the interview, referring to the secondary sanctions that could especially impact China and India, the biggest purchasers of Russian oil. Finland's President Alexander Stubb was among several European leaders to join a phone call with Trump on Wednesday designed to coordinate Western efforts to end the Ukraine war. Valtonen said continued Western arms supplies to Kyiv also had a vital role to play in pressuring Putin to end the war, which began in February 2022 with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "What we do see... is that the reason that Russia has again shown some willingness to talk, is that the increased arms deliveries (to Ukraine) are definitely piling up the pressure on Russia to find a way out of the war," she said. Finland, along with other Nordic countries and the three Baltic states, has been among Ukraine's staunchest supporters. The 2022 invasion prompted Finland, which shares a 1,340-km (833 mile) border with Russia, to join NATO two years ago, upending decades of non-alignment. Valtonen became foreign minister two months after that historic step was taken. The Russian state's fiscal situation is not as good as it was three years ago and its economic situation is even worse, Valtonen said, referring to the impact of sanctions and a massive diversion of resources in Russia to the war effort. "We need to be piling up on the pressure, and then hope that Russia will react positively one day, which means that they will end their invasion," she said. GAZA Asked about the situation in Gaza, Valtonen expressed "great worry" over a decision by Israel's security cabinet to approve a plan on Friday to take control of Gaza City in an expansion of military operations despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating nearly two-year-old war. On Thursday, asked if Israel would take over the entire coastal territory, Netanyahu told Fox News Channel in an interview: "We intend to." "We do think that it is so important now... to keep alive the prospect for the two-state solution, even though it looks very difficult at this moment," she said, referring to the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel. France, Britain and Canada have announced plans in recent weeks to recognise an independent Palestinian state, but Valtonen signalled that Finland has no immediate plans to do so. "There have to be concrete steps, which essentially means that there will be a mutual recognition of a Palestinian state at some point (with Israel), but also the normalisation of relations between Arab countries ... and with Israel," she said. REUTERS
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
US should impose sanctions on Russia, Finland's Valtonen says
FILE PHOTO: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen attends a press conference during the Helsinki+50 OSCE conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 31, 2025. The conference marks the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. Lehtikuva/Mikko Stig/via REUTERS/File Photo HELSINKI (Reuters) -Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on Friday she hoped U.S. President Donald Trump will move forward with imposing sanctions on Russia as it would help bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. "I certainly hope that President Trump will move forward with those sanctions," Valtonen said in a Reuters NEXT Newsmaker interview. "What we do see - and suspect now as well - is that the reason that Russia has again shown some willingness to talk, is that the increased arms deliveries (to Ukraine) are definitely piling up the pressure on Russia to find a way out of the war." Finland, its fellow Nordic countries and the Baltics, have been among the staunchest supporters of Ukraine. The 2022 invasion prompted Finland, which shares a 1,340-km (833 mile) border with Russia, to join NATO two years ago, upending decades of non-alignment. (Reporting by Anne Kauranen; additional reporting by Essi Lehto; writing by Gwladys Fouche; editing by Terje Solsvik)
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
US should impose sanctions on Russia, Finland's Valtonen says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen attends a press conference during the Helsinki+50 OSCE conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 31, 2025. The conference marks the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. Lehtikuva/Mikko Stig/via REUTERS/File Photo HELSINKI - Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on Friday she hoped U.S. President Donald Trump will move forward with imposing sanctions on Russia as it would help bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. "I certainly hope that President Trump will move forward with those sanctions," Valtonen said in a Reuters NEXT Newsmaker interview. "What we do see - and suspect now as well - is that the reason that Russia has again shown some willingness to talk, is that the increased arms deliveries (to Ukraine) are definitely piling up the pressure on Russia to find a way out of the war." Finland, its fellow Nordic countries and the Baltics, have been among the staunchest supporters of Ukraine. The 2022 invasion prompted Finland, which shares a 1,340-km (833 mile) border with Russia, to join NATO two years ago, upending decades of non-alignment. REUTERS
Scotsman
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Rangers bids, Celtic icon set for move, Hibs locked in talks, Hearts clock ticking
Oliver Antman is closing in on a move to Rangers. | Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images All the latest transfer news involving Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs and more Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Your best bits of transfer stories and gossip from the world of Scottish football this Sunday morning: Antman Rangers deal is now close Rangers hope to conclude the signing of Finland internationalist Oliver Antman in the coming days after it emerged that a £3million deal for the Go Ahead Eagles winger has been agreed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ibrox boss Russell Martin wants further reinforcements across his squad, but particularly in the attacking wide areas, and 23-year-old Antman looks set to become Rangers' ninth signing of the transfer window. Oliver Antman is closing in on a move to Rangers. | Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images Martin refused to be drawn on Antman specifically after Saturday's disappointing 1-1 draw with Motherwell, but did say: 'We need some better players to help us, for sure. We need some players that we feel will do what we're asking them to do all the time.' Martin added to his attacking options earlier in the week with the loan signing of 17-year-old Mikey Moore from Tottenham Hotspur. Martin has say on Dessers Meanwhile, Martin has confirmed that Rangers have rejected a bid for their striker Cyriel Dessers. The Nigerian, who was the club's top goalscorer last season, came on as a late substitute against Motherwell and has been persistently linked with a move this summer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dessers was one of the only Rangers players to be namechecked positively by Martin after the draw at Fir Park and he could now start against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League qualifier on Tuesday after another largely ineffective No 9 performance from Danilo. Rangers have received a bid for Cyriel Dessers. | SNS Group 'Cyriel Dessers is the only guy in the building who's in the squad today that we've actually had a bid for,' said Martin. 'We turn it down, I chat to Cyriel, he's dealt with it brilliantly. He's not ready to start because he had an injury and he's trained late. 'Then he comes on for two games and runs like a beast and gets on with it because he's a good professional and a good human being and he doesn't want anyone to feel, if he does leave or stays, he doesn't want anyone to feel negatively about him. That's the way to behave properly. So he's a good example to some.' Edouard set to play in Spain Former Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard is on the brink of sealing a move from Crystal Palace to Spanish LaLiga outfit Girona in a deal that could earn the Selhurst Park side up to £5.5m. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Edouard left Celtic four years ago for the English Premier League and last season was farmed out to Leicester City. He has no future in London and that led to some speculation that he could rejoin the Scottish champions and rekindle a working relationship with his ex-boss Brendan Rodgers, although the Northern Irishman poured cold water on that idea. Odsonne Edouard is set to sign for Girona. | Getty Images Quizzed on Edouard last month, Rodgers said: "There are lots of players linked with us. Odsonne hasn't been on my radar, to be fair. I obviously know him, but it's about a player who will fit into the structure of the team." Now he is set to play in Spain with Girona, who have former Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski amongst their forward options. Hibs defender latest Hibs remain in talks with Scotland centre-half Grant Hanley as they look to reinforce their defensive options for the season ahead. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hanley, 33, has been capped 62 times by Scotland and is a free agent after leaving Birmingham City last summer. He attended Hibs' 2-1 Europa League defeat by Midtjylland on Thursday night and is a former international teammate of the club's current technical performance manager. Grant Hanley takes in Hibs' match with Midtjylland alongside David Marshall. | SNS Group Hibs' need to bring in another right-sided defender is heightened due to Australia internationalist Lewis Miller being in advanced discussions with English Championship side Blackburn Rovers. A transfer in the region of £1m is expected to be concluded imminently. Hibs are in action on Sunday afternoon when they kick off their Premiership campaign away to Dundee. Hearts want duo before kick-off Hearts still hope to have the transfers if either Pierre Landry Kabore or Tomas Bent Magnusson completed in time ahead of Monday's Premiership curtain-raiser against Aberdeen. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Jambos have agreed a fee with FK Trans Narva for Burkina Faso internationalist Kabore, who can play out wide or up front, but are awaiting a work permit being granted by the home office. They have also concluded negotiations with Valur for Icelandic midfielder Magnusson and are waiting on all paperwork being signed off. Hearts head coach Derek McInnes. | SNS Group Hearts head coach Derek McInnes would like to have both available to him for the visit of the Dons, but admitted earlier in the week that the matter remains in the hands of other officials. Hearts also hope to offload some fringe players before the transfer window is out and are actively working on deals. Another suitor for Miller Torino have become the latest Italian Serie A club to be credited with an interest in Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller, joining Bologna and Udinese in the hunt for the 18-year-old's signature. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scotland internationalist appears set to leave Fir Park this month, although his final destination remains unclear. Miller did not feature on Saturday against Rangers, but his head coach Jens Berthel Askou says he is not too far away from first-team action. "He's been working really hard with the staff to get ready for this game,' Askou said. "Unfortunately, he didn't make it.
Barnama
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
UN Rights Chief Voices Concern Over Israel's 'Unlawful Presence' In Palestinian Territories
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk attends the opening of the Helsinki+50 Conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 31, 2025. The conference marks the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. Lehtikuva/Mikko Stig/via REUTERS LONDON, July 31 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The UN human rights chief on Thursday expressed concern over Israel's "unlawful presence" in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, calling for accountability for all violations, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Speaking at the Helsinki+50 Conference, which is being held in the Finnish capital Helsinki, Volker Turk said that the root causes of conflict often lie in inequalities and human rights violations and are fuelled by dehumanisation and discrimination. "These dynamics can be seen today in Gaza, in Sudan and elsewhere. bootstrap slideshow "Israel must end its unlawful presence, and there must be accountability for all violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law," he noted. He pointed out the huge number of civilian deaths in the Israeli bombardments of Gaza, the repeated forced displacement and the unlawful restrictions imposed on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid. Turk also said that people are being killed while seeking food in Gaza and harassment of Palestinians by Israeli settlers and security forces in the occupied West Bank continues. "It is clear that the war must end," he said, adding that hostages held by Hamas must also be released. Hosted by Finland, the Helsinki+50 Conference marks the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, which was signed to improve relations between the Eastern and Western blocs during the Cold War by addressing security, economic, and humanitarian issues. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
