‘Disillusioned in him, however not completed with him’, Trump says of Putin as he presents his backing to Nato
On Putin, Trump stated he thought he had a take care of him on Ukraine “4 instances.”
“I’m dissatisfied in him, however I’m not completed with him, however I’m dissatisfied in him.
We had a deal completed 4 instances and you then go house and also you see simply attacked a nursing house in Kyiv. And so what the hell was that each one about?”
Requested if he trusted him, he stated:
I belief virtually no one, to be sincere with you.
Trump additionally stated he strongly supported Nato, saying that “Nato is now changing into the alternative of” being out of date, as he as soon as stated.
He added it was “very unfair as a result of the US paid for nearly 100% of it, however now they’re paying their very own payments.”
Requested if he believes in Nato’s basic Article 5 on collective defence, he stated:
Yeah, I believe collective defence is ok.
Trump additionally spoke on how his relationship with European leaders modified through the years, saying “it’s possibly not all luck; it’s like whenever you do it twice, it’s a giant distinction.”
“Through the years, they’ve gotten to know me.
This isn’t a simple crowd to interrupt into. You perceive, these are good folks heading up very, very profitable usually, nations, you understand, they’re all Germany and France, Spain and, you understand, huge nations.
And you understand, I’ve gotten to know them, and I believe they’ve come to respect my, respect me and my determination making.”
Key occasions
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EU offers Slovakia reassurances on Russian gas exit to unblock sanctions talks
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Thousands of vehicles sit idle at EU port as Trump’s tariffs leave their mark
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EU continues talking to US on trade, technical teams on way to Washington
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Ukrainians hail ‘Agent Melania Trumpenko’ for challenging husband’s faith in Putin
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Trump’s statements on deal with Nato, Ukraine ‘serious, require analysis,’ Kremlin says
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Polish, Hungarian astronauts return to Earth as part of Axiom mission
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Trump asked Zelenskyy if Ukraine could strike Moscow, St Petersburg, FT reports
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Embattled French PM set to present outline of 2026 budget
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EU, US alignment on Russia means Putin has to face reality, French foreign minister says
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‘Put this agreement into action, stop killing people,’ EU crisis commissioner says on Gaza and Israel
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Crew rescued from Frontex’s boat after incident near Lesbos
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Good to see Europe, US convergence on approach to Russia, Dutch foreign minister says
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EU sanctions needed to ‘take momentum’ from Trump’s decision forward, push Russia more, Danish minister says
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EU’s Kallas welcomes US military deal with Nato, hopes new Russia sanctions will be adopted ‘today or tomorrow’
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Brexit ‘sloppy’ but getting ‘straightened out’ by Starmer, Trump says
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‘Disappointed in him, but not done with him’, Trump says of Putin as he offers his backing to Nato
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‘Like to think about it as little as possible,’ Trump tells BBC of assassination attempt last year
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Morning opening: ‘Disappointed, but not done’
EU presents Slovakia reassurances on Russian gasoline exit to unblock sanctions talks
Again to Brussels and the 18th bundle of EU sanctions on Russia, Reuters reported that the European Fee has instructed Slovak prime minister Robert Fico the EU will work to deal with his considerations over the bloc’s proposal to finish Russian gasoline imports by 2028.
The fee will take steps together with to make clear how an ’emergency break’ may be triggered if gasoline costs spike due to scarce provide in the course of the Russian gasoline phase-out, stated the letter, seen by Reuters, addressed to Fico and signed by European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen.
Slovakia has been blocking the EU’s new sanctions bundle in opposition to Russia, till its considerations are addressed over the separate EU proposal to part out imports of Russian gasoline.
1000’s of automobiles sit idle at EU port as Trump’s tariffs go away their mark
Lisa O’Carroll
in Brussels
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has been become a large automotive park with 1000’s of automobiles, vans, vans and tractors sure for the US sitting idle as producers attempt to avert the worst of Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Figures launched by the port present a 15.9% drop within the transport of latest passenger automobiles and vans to the US within the first six months of 2025 in contrast with the identical interval final 12 months, with a pointy decline rising in Could – one month after the US president introduced his “liberation day” tariffs.
Exports of vans and what they name “excessive and heavy gear” is down by virtually a 3rd at 31.5%.
This class contains tractors and building automobiles, with the autumn off in transatlantic actions maybe reflecting the impression a 25% tariff would have on automobiles that may value greater than $100,000 (£74,430).
The port is one of many world’s largest automotive transport hubs, transport greater than 3m automobiles all over the world in 2024.
“The outlook for the second half of the 12 months stays unsure. A lot will depend upon whether or not a commerce settlement between the EU and the US may be reached by 1 August,” the port stated in a press release.
European carmakers from Volkswagen to Volvo had been hoping {that a} deal would have been sealed final week after Trump’s authentic deadline for a tariff take care of the EU was on account of expire.
Earlier than Trump arrived within the White Home they paid a 2.5% tariff on exports however since April they’re being charged an additional 25%, including tens of 1000’s of {dollars} to the worth of a family-size automotive within the US.
Ports throughout Europe have been examined by Brexit, the coronavirus pandemic, the port congestion attributable to container shortages in 2024, with congestion a widespread concern throughout all northern ports, stated Justin Atkin, the UK and Eire port consultant of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
In contrast with Brexit, the tariff impression has been “extra of an prompt shock,” he stated.
“With the pandemic, we had lockdown, then we had been out of lockdown, then again into lockdown, and other people received used to managing it after being unprepared. Whereas right here … folks have talked about tariffs within the construct up [to Trump] however I don’t assume anybody anticipated the extent and the severity of the instantaneous motion.”
The port couldn’t put a determine on the variety of automobiles ready to be transported however stated it was within the 1000’s.
Jakub Krupa
Talking in regards to the EU-US commerce, let’s cross over to Lisa O’Carroll for her story on the real-life penalties of the persevering with considerations about Trump’s tariffs.
EU continues speaking to US on commerce, technical groups on method to Washington
EU commerce commissioner Maroš Šefčovič spoke with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick final night time, and can communicate with US commerce consultant Jamieson Greer later tonight, an EU spokesperson stated.
EU commerce spokesperson Olof Gill additionally confirmed that EU technical groups “are on their method to Washington DC as we communicate” for additional talks, however he refused to take a position in regards to the end result of the method.
He stated:
“I’ll not going to enter any larger degree of element in regards to the negotiations with the US, as a result of, as all of us are very effectively conscious, we’re in probably the most delicate stage of these negotiations proper now, working in direction of getting an settlement in precept over the road earlier than the deadline set by the US of 1 August.”
Ukrainians hail ‘Agent Melania Trumpenko’ for difficult husband’s religion in Putin
Luke Harding
in Kyiv and Artem Mazhulin
Ukrainians are celebrating Melania Trump on social media in a sequence of memes, after Donald Trump prompt the first girl performed a component in his obvious change of coronary heart over Russia.
Talking at a gathering within the White Home on Monday with the Nato secretary normal, Mark Rutte, Trump stated his spouse had performed a key position in mentioning Vladimir Putin’s duplicity.
“My conversations with him [Putin] are at all times very nice. I say, isn’t {that a} very pretty dialog? After which the missiles go off that night time,” Trump stated.
“I am going house, I inform the primary girl: I spoke with Vladimir as we speak. We had a beautiful dialog. She stated: Actually? One other metropolis was simply hit.”
Slovenian-born Melania Trump, who grew up within the former Yugoslavia, has beforehand gave the impression to be a much bigger supporter of Ukraine than the sceptical US president, who in February this 12 months referred to as Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator.
Shortly after the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion, she appealed to her social media followers to donate to the Red Cross, saying it was “heartbreaking and horrific to see harmless folks struggling”.
After Trump’s Oval Workplace feedback on Monday, one social media consumer posted a photograph of “Agent Melania Trumpenko” sporting a blazer with a Ukrainian trident insignia. Her face is half-shaded with a giant hat, giving the impression she is working undercover contained in the White Home, to Kyiv’s profit.
Trump’s statements on take care of Nato, Ukraine ‘severe, require evaluation,’ Kremlin says
Russian deputy overseas minister Sergei Ryabkov stated Moscow was prepared to barter with the US after Trump’s feedback final night time, however added it didn’t wish to bow to any ultimatums, Reuters reported.
Individually, the Kremlin stated that Trump’s statements had been “severe and required evaluation.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated president Vladimir Putin will touch upon Trump’s proposals if he deems it crucial to take action.
Polish, Hungarian astronauts return to Earth as a part of Axiom mission
Elsewhere, Polish and Hungarian astronauts returned from the Worldwide House Station on Tuesday, after a Crew Dragon capsule carrying them alongside two crewmates landed safely again on Earth off the coast of California.
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary spent 18 days aboard the ISS operating analysis experiments in microgravity.
They had been a part of a non-public house mission organised by Texas-based startup Axiom House in partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, led by former Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson and with India’s Shubhanshu Shukla because the third crewmate.
“SpaceX copy, splashdown, and secure one. On behalf of SpaceX, welcome house,” they had been instructed by mission management.
“Joyful to be again,” replied Whitson.
Reuters famous that for India, Poland and Hungary, the launch marked the primary human spaceflight in additional than 40 years and the primary mission ever to ship astronauts from their authorities’s respective house applications to the ISS.
Trump requested Zelenskyy if Ukraine may strike Moscow, St Petersburg, FT experiences
Within the meantime, there’s a robust information line rising from the Financial Times (£) reporting that US president Donald Trump has allegedly inspired Ukraine to think about strikes deeper into Russia, and requested Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy if he may goal Moscow if given long-range weapons by the US.
Quoting “folks briefed on the discussions” and the leaders’ name on 4 July, the paper reported that Trump needed Russians to “really feel the ache” and requested Zelenskyy “are you able to hit Moscow? … are you able to hit St Petersburg too?”
The paper reported that Zelenskyy replied:
Completely. We are able to in the event you give us the weapons.
The FT stated the reported alternate “marks a pointy departure from Trump’s earlier stance on Russia’s struggle and his marketing campaign promise to finish US involvement in overseas conflicts.”
Throughout final week’s interview with NBC, Trump pointedly spoke about “defensive weapons” for Ukraine to cease the assaults on Ukrainian cities.
(Typical caveats apply for such tales as we couldn’t independently confirm the FT’s report.)
Embattled French PM set to current define of 2026 funds
Jon Henley
France’s prime minister, François Bayrou, is on account of current the principle outlines of his proposed 2026 funds this afternoon, laying out simply how he plans to chop an enormous €40bn of presidency and social safety spending subsequent 12 months.
The timing is way from unintended: MPs are on vacation and there shall be no debate on the plans – which might be simply as effectively as a result of when it is available in October, it is going to be heated and, within the view of many, may effectively topple Bayrou’s minority authorities.
“It’s quite simple: we drop just a few bombshells, MPs soar up and down for twenty-four hours, after which everybody leaves Paris,” an MP from president Emmanuel Macron’s camp told BFMTV. The federal government is giving itself, in impact, three month’s respiratory house.
The goal, below heavy strain from the European Fee and monetary markets, is to scale back France’s ballooning deficit to 4.6% of GDP subsequent 12 months, which the centrist prime minister reportedly hopes to attain by freezing or chopping particular budgets, taxing better-off retirees extra, and decreasing some public providers.
Macron, nevertheless, added to the issue of an already unenviable process, calling on Sunday for a major €3.5bn enhance in defence spending to be discovered – with none extra borrowing.
Bayrou’s authorities doesn’t have a majority in parliament and can want the help of each the far-right Nationwide Rally (RN) and the centre-left Socialist Social gathering (PS) whether it is to face any likelihood of passing a funds invoice within the autumn. Each have already promised to not lend it their help with out vital concessions.
“Our pink line shall be something that calls for that the French folks contribute greater than the efforts they’re already making morning, midday and night time,” stated Sébastien Chenu, a RN MP, on Tuesday. “No matter their class – employees, retirees, younger folks, civil servants – if he asks for extra, we are going to say no.”
After setting out his stall this afternoon, Bayrou will make intensive use of the summer season months to attempt to win over as many opposition MPs as doable with potential concessions – his solely likelihood, many consultants imagine, of avoiding the destiny of his predecessor Michel Barnier, who lost a no confidence vote on his proposed austerity budget after simply three months in workplace.
Jakub Krupa
And since we’re on France, let’s go to Jon Henley in Paris to clarify what’s going to occur in home French politics later as we speak…
