Ukraine sees Indian parts utilized in Russian drones, senior Zelenskyy aide reveals
And in the previous few minutes, Andriy Yermak, senior aide to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sought to ramp up the strain on India as he revealed that Ukrainian armed forces have seen Indian parts being utilized in Russian drones concerned in strikes towards civilian inhabitants throughout Ukraine.
“It’s essential to deprive the Russians of the chance to obtain parts from different nations and cease the killing of Ukrainians. Additionally, shopping for Russian vitality assets is financing warfare, which doesn’t contribute to peace,” he added.
Key occasions
India rejects US, EU ‘unjustified’ criticism for buying and selling with Russia
In the meantime, India has responded to criticism from the US and the EU, saying it’s being unfairly singled out by them over its Russian oil purchases once they each commerce extensively with Moscow regardless of the warfare in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
In a uncommon present of unity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) and the primary opposition Congress condemned Trump’s repeated criticism of New Delhi.
India’s international ministry mentioned in a press release issued late on Monday that “it’s revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in commerce with Russia“.
“It’s unjustified to single out India,” the ministry mentioned. It mentioned the EU performed €67.5bn euros ($78.02bn) in commerce with Russia in 2024, together with document imports of liquefied pure fuel (LNG) reaching 16.5 million metric tons.
The USA, the assertion mentioned, continues to import Russian uranium hexafluoride to be used in its nuclear energy trade, palladium, fertilisers and chemical substances. It didn’t give a supply for the export info.
EU says ‘shocked’ by German finance minister’s criticism of EU-US commerce deal
Oh-oh.
The EU has simply publicly clashed with Germany over finance minister Lars Klingbeil’s feedback on EU-US commerce in Washington final night time.
Klingbeil mentioned the EU was “too weak” in negotiations, and argued that “we are able to’t be glad with the end result that was achieved,” suggesting he would push for restricted exemptions for Germany’s metal sector, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
However EU commerce spokesperson, Olof Gill, pointedly mentioned the bloc was “fairly shocked” to listen to his feedback.
He mentioned:
“I’d remind you that EU, member states and enterprise stakeholders have persistently underscored {that a} commerce battle with the US was not a fascinating plan of action. They’ve insisted to us that solely a negotiated answer might guarantee stability and defend our shared pursuits.
This was the view of an amazing majority of EU member states, together with the one from which the minister you talked about hails.”
Gill mentioned the EU “reached a negotiated answer to keep away from a lose-lose tariff escalation, that’s what our member states requested for, … that’s what now we have delivered.”
“So … it’s most stunning to us to listen to {that a} minister from the member state in query has expressed that view, provided that nothing has occurred right here when it comes to the Fee’s strategy, negotiation or final result achieved with out the clear sign acquired from our member states.”
He additionally mentioned that extra work on metal is being performed on the EU stage.
Deputy chief spokesperson Arianna Podestà went additional saying that Klingbeil’s feedback “don’t correspond to the conversations now we have had with the identical member state over the previous weeks and months.”
EU ‘welcomes US strain’ on Russia to finish warfare ‘by means of any means obligatory’
On Ukraine, the EU spokespeople had been requested in regards to the bloc’s expectations as to Donald Trump’s deadline for Russia to finish its invasion on Ukraine by Friday.
The fee’s international coverage spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, mentioned:
“Russia isn’t excited about peace. Ukraine is, the EU is. No person desires peace greater than Ukraine and the EU. …
We welcome any strain, and specifically US strain on Russia to just accept a ceasefire by means of any means obligatory.”
Deputy chief spokesperson Arianna Podestà additionally confirmed the EU remained “involved with our worldwide companions,” together with the US, however declined to take a position on “future potential actions.”
‘Insufferable’ scenario in Gaza makes EU push for extra assist, with ‘nonetheless lot to be performed’
Individually, a European Fee spokesperson simply mentioned the scenario in Gaza “stays insufferable,” with the EU nonetheless pushing to open entry for the humanitarian assist flowing into the territory.
She mentioned the EU’s latest cope with Israel on enhancing the scenario was “very optimistic,” however “very clearly there may be nonetheless lots to be performed.”
They later rejected a suggestion that the EU’s involvement in resolving the disaster was a “failure,” saying:
“I consider that for what now we have been capable of confirm … tright here has been some enchancment in comparison with the scenario earlier than this settlement was reached.
Is that this enough? Completely not.
This is the reason we proceed to watch to be in dialogue, and we proceed to name on the supply of additional assist to the civilian inhabitants in Palestine.”
Ukraine sees Indian parts utilized in Russian drones, senior Zelenskyy aide reveals
And in the previous few minutes, Andriy Yermak, senior aide to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sought to ramp up the strain on India as he revealed that Ukrainian armed forces have seen Indian parts being utilized in Russian drones concerned in strikes towards civilian inhabitants throughout Ukraine.
“It’s essential to deprive the Russians of the chance to obtain parts from different nations and cease the killing of Ukrainians. Additionally, shopping for Russian vitality assets is financing warfare, which doesn’t contribute to peace,” he added.
Kremlin decries Trump’s ‘unlawful’ menace to boost tariffs on India for Russian oil purchases
Again to Ukraine and Russia, the Kremlin has criticised US president Donald Trump’s menace to boost tariffs on India for its purchases of Russian oil this morning, decrying the transfer as “unlawful” and saying it was unacceptable to drive nations to cease buying and selling with Moscow, Reuters and AFP reported.
“Sovereign nations have the fitting to decide on their very own buying and selling companions,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters.
“They don’t care how many individuals in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian Warfare Machine,” Trump mentioned in a submit to his Reality Social community, additionally accusing India of promoting Russian oil “on the Open Marketplace for large income”.
In a earlier social media tirade final week, he mentioned of Russia and India: “They will take their useless economies down collectively.”
Individually, Russia additionally mentioned it not had any restrictions on the place it locations its intermediate-range missiles after Trump’s suggestion the US would transfer its nuclear submarines in response to former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev’s confrontational rhethoric in the direction of the US.
EU ‘not celebrating’ new ‘second greatest’ US tariff regime as particulars on wines, spirits, vehicles and pharma emerge
Lisa O’Carroll
Wine made within the EU is unlikely to be obligation free within the US on the finish of present negotiations between Brussels and Washington, it has emerged.
The EU is assured it can slash the brand new 15% import obligation imposed on exports from the EU for wine and spirits however mentioned the “relative low” most favoured nation tariff charge that already applies to wine is prone to keep.
Donald Trump alone can not supply a zero for zero deal on wine as a result of it would require congressional approval, one thing that’s not being sought as a part of this negotiation, senior EU officers have revealed.
Subsequently wine was not prone to be within the class of products that shall be rated zero on each side for imports and exports.
US tariffs on wine vary from 0.6% on some glowing wines to 1.5% on a bottle of crimson or white wine beneath 14% alcohol content material and 0.5% on a bottle of fortified wine, port of sherry.
Spirits are already offered into the US on zero tariffs so there may be scope for the 15% tariff charge that applies after the EU-US deal was struck might be eradicated altogether.
The EU mentioned it was not celebrating the brand new tariff regime which has been criticised by politicians in France.
“We’re very clearly working in a second greatest world,” mentioned one senior official including the selection the EU had was not “between a very good and an amazing final result” however a “dangerous a much less dangerous final result”.
The deal struck between the EU and the US at Trump’s Scottish golf course on 27 July imposes 15% tariffs on most exports to the US however some sectoral tariffs and a so known as checklist of “zero for zero” merchandise that might not be taxed in both route has but to be finalised.
The EU and US are at the moment in superior talks on a joint assertion which is able to set out extra clearly the areas they hope to barter together with potential quotas for metal exports.
A senior official mentioned the assertion is “90% to 95% there” and needs to be revealed quickly with negotiations ongoing with commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and commerce consultant Jamieson Greer.
EU commerce commissioner Maroš Šefčovič mentioned: “I’m involved with Secretary Lutnick and Ambassador Greer as we work to show July’s EU-US settlement – in all its parts – into follow. The work continues in a constructive spirit.”
The joint assertion is not going to be legally binding however has been likened to a “street map” for future negotiations by EU officers.
Forward of the publication EU officers have clarified quite a few points in relation to sectoral tariffs together with vehicles and prescription drugs.
Not like the UK,they’re not anticipating a quota limiting the variety of vehicles exported to the US underneath a 15% tariff charge.
And whereas the US has determined to scrap the zero tariff charge on prescription drugs and apply a 15% import obligation, this is not going to apply till the US has concluded its part 232 investigation. When it does apply, it is not going to embody medical gadgets.
EU commerce commissioner Maroš Šefčovič informed journalists that he remained involved together with his US counterparts, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and commerce representatives Jamieson Greer, as their talks on the implementation of the EU-US deal “proceed in a constructive spirit.”
Extra to return on this.
Again to the EU-US commerce talks for a second:
The EU is briefing reporters on the most recent progress this morning, stressing the 15% tariff that European Union items face when coming into the US is all-inclusive, incorporating the Most Favoured Nation Fee, in contrast to another nations with offers with the US, Reuters reported.
The two sides had been nonetheless engaged on a joint assertion overlaying a number of the particulars of the deal and the way it’s to be applied, officers mentioned, including that regardless of “fairly superior” talks, they couldn’t advise as to when it is going to be signed off by each side.
The officers added that it will take a while “earlier than we absolutely nail down the checklist of important merchandise” which are exempt from US tariffs.
The EU additionally repeated its earlier narrative {that a} deal is best than no deal, warning {that a} failure to search out an settlement might result in divisions wthin the bloc and excessive tariffs on each side, hitting companies much more.
We are going to convey you extra on this shortly.
The Netherlands to purchase €500m-worth of US weapons for Ukraine
In the meantime, the Netherlands is the primary nation to commit €500m to spend on US weapons for Ukraine underneath a brand new framework deal agreed by US president Donald Trump and Nato secretary normal Mark Rutte final month.
On Monday night time, Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof mentioned the brand new weapons for Ukraine had been “badly wanted” as “Ukraine remains to be combating on daily basis to defend itself towards Russian aggression, similar to large-scale drone assaults.”
In doing so, Ukraine can be combating for freedom and safety in Europe.
Posting a clip of his interview for Dutch TV NPO2, the nation’s defence minister Ruben Brekelmans mentioned the Netherlands was “taking the lead in supplying army tools from American stockpiles,” arguing that “by steadfastly supporting Ukraine, we enhance the strain on Russia to barter.”
On Monday night time, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed he spoke with Schoof on the cellphone, and welcomed the contribution by saying “it will positively assist defend the lives of our folks.”
Diageo warns of pricey affect of US tariffs
Lisa O’Carroll
Diageo, maker of Guinness, Smirnoff vodka and Johnnie Walker whiskey, has mentioned Donald Trump’s tariffs on wine and spirits will scale back its income by €173m (£150m).
The world’s greatest spirits maker is the most recent firm within the EU to disclose the excessive value of the US president’s new tariff commerce wars.
On Tuesday it forecast flat 2026 gross sales, raised its estimate of the affect from tariffs, and hiked its cost-savings goal by about €108m.
The EU had hoped wines and spirits would stay obligation free after Trump and European Fee president sealed the tariff deal at Trump’s Scottish golf course eight days in the past however negotiations are ongoing.
Sources say talks on spirits are extra superior than for wine.
Morning opening: Improve the strain on Russia, says Ukraine
Jakub Krupa
At the very least one individual died, and 12 had been injured after one other spherical of Russian assaults on Ukraine in a single day, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy accusing Russia of making an attempt to “intimidate frontline cities and communities” by attacking civilian targets.
Zelenskyy’s most senior aide, Andriy Yermak, was extra blunt:
“Their warfare is with the civilian railway, trains, residential buildings. Ukraine strikes at army targets, Russia – no matter it may well attain.”
However responding to the assaults, Zelenskyy as soon as once more known as on the US and the EU to show up the strain on Russia by fast-tracking much-promised sanctions and secondary sanctions on nations supporting its warfare.
“The world is now seeing that sanctions towards Russia and secondary sanctions towards all those that assist it revenue from oil can work if they’re robust sufficient. So the strain should be elevated, and it’ll definitely work for peace,” he mentioned.
His feedback come a day earlier than US particular envoy Steve Witkoff is anticipated in Moscow for one more spherical of high-level talks with Russia, presumably with President Vladimir Putin.
Elsewhere, I shall be wanting on the newest from the European Fee on the EU-US tariff deal, and can convey you all different key updates from throughout Europe right here.
It’s Tuesday, 5 August 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Reside.
Good morning.
