Latest news with #Iranian-designed
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ukraine's Zelensky: Russia's defence of Iran shows need to tighten sanctions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on during the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, in Alberta, Canada, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Amber Bracken/File Photo KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Russia's defence of Iran's authorities underscored the need for intensified sanctions against Moscow. Zelensky said Russia's deployment of Iranian-designed Shahed drones and North Korean munitions was proof that Kyiv's allies were applying insufficient pressure against Moscow. 'Now Russia is trying to save the Iranian nuclear programme. There cannot be any other possible explanation for their public signals and their non-public activity on this,' Zelensky said in his nightly video address. 'When one of their accomplices loses their capability to export war, Russia is weakened and tries to interfere. This is so cynical and proves time and again that aggressive regimes cannot be allowed to unite and become partners.' When Russia deploys weaponry from Tehran and Pyongyang, he said, "it is a clear sign that global solidarity and global pressure are not strong enough." Russia signed a strategic partnership with Iran this year. Moscow has denounced Israeli strikes against Iran and offered to mediate. A Russian deputy foreign minister said Moscow was urging Washington to refrain from direct involvement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the conflict between Israel and Iran had exposed Russian hypocrisy, with Moscow defending Iran's nuclear programme and condemning strikes against Tehran while 'ruthlessly' attacking Ukraine. 'The only rational conclusion is that Russia cannot be trusted in any situation, and it is always part of the problem rather than the solution,' Sybiha wrote in English on X. Zelensky has accused Russia of refusing diplomatic approaches and rejecting an unconditional ceasefire in the war, which has lasted more than three years. In his address, he said he was 'very much counting on' US President Donald Trump to consider tougher sanctions and boost diplomatic efforts to end the war. Trump has so far ruled out calls to intensify sanctions against Moscow. Zelensky also expressed willingness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he said the Kremlin leader had stayed on beyond the constitutional limit of his office. That comment was a reference to Russian accusations that Zelensky had remained in office without agreeing, under provisions of martial law in Ukraine, to hold an election. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine war briefing: Russian drone factory attacked, 1,000km away in Tatarstan
Ukraine's military said on Sunday it had attacked a Russian drone factory in the city of Yelabuga in Russia's Tatarstan region. The target is around 1,000km from Ukraine. The Ukrainian military general staff said the factory produced, tested, and launched drones at Ukraine, in particular against energy and civil infrastructure. Videos on social media showed an explosion said to be at the factory in Yelabuga, also known as Alabuga, which builds Iranian-designed Shahed drones. The Russian local governor confirmed the attack. Russian forces hit the Kremenchuk oil refinery in Ukraine's Poltava region with missiles and drones, Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, denounced the attack on the central Poltava region as a vile strike against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which he said occurred 'after the Americans asked us not to strike at Russian energy facilities'. Ukrainian officials said the strikes mainly hit energy, agricultural and civilian installations. Russian forces have advanced in northern Sumy Oblast and near Kupyansk, Siversk, Chasiv Yar, and Toretsk, . Russia's defence ministry claimed on Sunday that its forces had taken control of the village of Malynivka in the Donetsk region, known in Russia as Ulyanovka. Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had recaptured Andriivka village in north-eastern Sumy as part of a drive to expel Russian forces from the area. Neither side's claims were independently confirmed. The Ukrainian office for the return of prisoners of war confirmed on Sunday that Russia had returned 1,200 bodies to Ukraine as part of continuing exchanges. A building used by Boeing in Kyiv was badly damaged in a recent large-scale Russian air attack, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing two Boeing employees, three Ukrainian officials and the head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine. There had been 'no operational disruption', Andriy Koryagin, deputy general director of Boeing's operation in Ukraine, told the newspaper, and none of its employees were harmed.
Sharjah 24
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sharjah 24
Mideast tensions: Diplomacy and nuclear proliferation
Von der Leyen said that she agreed with Netanyahu in a telephone call that "Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, without any question." "Of course I think a negotiated solution is, in the long term, the best solution," she said at a press briefing at a Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis, Canada. Israel launched a surprise and massive military attack on Friday on Iran, which has responded with a barrage of missiles and drones on Israel. Who to blame? Von der Leyen, who has been critical of Israel over its offensive in Gaza, placed the blame for the new conflict on Iran, pointing to the UN nuclear watchdog's finding earlier in the week that it was not in compliance with its obligations. "In this context, Israel has the right to defend itself. Iran is the principal source of regional instability," von der Leyen said. She said that the G7 summit should discuss the Iran crisis alongside Ukraine, which has been hit by drones sold to Russia by Tehran's cleric-run state. "The same type of Iranian-designed and -made drones and ballistic missiles are indiscriminately hitting cities in Ukraine and in Israel. As such, these threats need to be addressed together," she said. Time to give space for diplomacy European Council chief Antonio Costa, speaking alongside her, said it was "time to give space for diplomacy" and to "give opportunity to decrease the escalation between Israel and Iran." Iran in response to the UN watchdog said it would ramp up output of enriched uranium, although not at levels to make nuclear weapons. Israel is widely known to have nuclear weapons but does not publicly acknowledge them.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
EU chief says told Netanyahu diplomacy 'best' on Iran
KANANASKI: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that diplomacy was ultimately best on Iran, but stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire. Von der Leyen said that she agreed with Netanyahu in a telephone call that 'Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, without any question.' 'Of course I think a negotiated solution is, in the long term, the best solution,' she said at a press briefing at a Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis, Canada. Israel launched a surprise and massive military attack on Friday on Iran, which has responded with a barrage of missiles and drones on Israel. Von der Leyen -- who has been critical of Israel over its offensive in Gaza -- placed the blame for the new conflict on Iran, pointing to the UN nuclear watchdog's finding earlier in the week that it was not in compliance with its obligations. 'In this context, Israel has the right to defend itself. Iran is the principal source of regional instability,' von der Leyen said. She said that the G7 summit should discuss the Iran crisis alongside Ukraine, which has been hit by drones sold to Russia by Tehran's cleric-run state. 'The same type of Iranian-designed and -made drones and ballistic missiles are indiscriminately hitting cities in Ukraine and in Israel. As such, these threats need to be addressed together,' she said. European Council chief Antonio Costa, speaking alongside her, said it was 'time to give space for diplomacy' and to 'give opportunity to decrease the escalation between Israel and Iran.' Iran in response to the UN watchdog said it would ramp up output of enriched uranium, although not at levels to make nuclear weapons. Israel is widely known to have nuclear weapons but does not publicly acknowledge them.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Von der Leyen Urges Diplomacy on Iran at G7 Summit
KANANASKI: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that diplomacy was ultimately best on Iran, but stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire. Von der Leyen said that she agreed with Netanyahu in a telephone call that 'Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, without any question.' 'Of course I think a negotiated solution is, in the long term, the best solution,' she said at a press briefing at a Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis, Canada. Israel launched a surprise and massive military attack on Friday on Iran, which has responded with a barrage of missiles and drones on Israel. Von der Leyen -- who has been critical of Israel over its offensive in Gaza -- placed the blame for the new conflict on Iran, pointing to the UN nuclear watchdog's finding earlier in the week that it was not in compliance with its obligations. 'In this context, Israel has the right to defend itself. Iran is the principal source of regional instability,' von der Leyen said. She said that the G7 summit should discuss the Iran crisis alongside Ukraine, which has been hit by drones sold to Russia by Tehran's cleric-run state. 'The same type of Iranian-designed and -made drones and ballistic missiles are indiscriminately hitting cities in Ukraine and in Israel. As such, these threats need to be addressed together,' she said. European Council chief Antonio Costa, speaking alongside her, said it was 'time to give space for diplomacy' and to 'give opportunity to decrease the escalation between Israel and Iran.' Iran in response to the UN watchdog said it would ramp up output of enriched uranium, although not at levels to make nuclear weapons. Israel is widely known to have nuclear weapons but does not publicly acknowledge them.
