WASHINGTON, July 14: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is set to visit Washington for talks with President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and members of Congress. Trump has teased a “major statement” on Russia, threatening new 30% tariffs against Mexico and the European Union, despite ongoing negotiations. Last week, he threatened a 35% tax on many Canadian goods and warned of a 50% tax on Brazil in an attempt to impact the criminal trial against former president Jair Bolsonaro. A federal judge ordered a halt to indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including LA, after plaintiffs accused the administration of systematically targeting brown-skinned people. European trade ministers are meeting in Brussels following Trump’s surprise announcement of 30% tariffs on the European Union.
Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said they should prepare to use all the tools in the toolbox to achieve a deal. If Trump makes good on his tariff threats, it could have ramifications for nearly every aspect of the global economy. The European Union is suspending Monday’s retaliatory tariffs, and the US’s biggest trading partner and world’s largest trading bloc has been scheduled to impose “countermeasures” starting Monday at midnight. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is visiting to meet with Trump, and Trump is expected to move forward with a plan to sell weapons to European allies who can then transfer the weapons to Ukraine.
US pledges more missiles as Trump envoy meets Zelenskyy
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, as anticipation grew over a possible shift in the Trump administration’s policy on the three-year war. Zelenskyy said they had “a productive conversation” about strengthening Ukrainian air defenses, joint arms production, purchasing US weapons in conjunction with European countries, and the possibility of tighter international sanctions on the Kremlin.
Trump has long boasted of his friendly relationship with Putin and repeatedly said that Russia was more willing than Ukraine to reach a peace deal. However, Russia’s relentless onslaught against civilian areas of Ukraine wore down Trump’s patience. Russia has pounded Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, with hundreds of drones and cruise and ballistic missiles that Ukraine’s air defences are struggling to counter. June brought the highest monthly civilian casualties of the past three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 wounded. Russia’s bigger army is making a new effort to drive back Ukrainian defenders on parts of the 1,000-km front line.
Trump confirmed the US is sending Ukraine more badly needed Patriot air defense missiles and that the European Union will pay the US for the “various pieces of very sophisticated” weaponry. Germany has offered to finance two new Patriot systems and is awaiting official talks on the possibility of more. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte was due in Washington on Monday and Tuesday to hold talks with Trump, Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as members of Congress. (AP)
