⚠️ Appeasing Putin: Trump Administration Ties Kyiv’s Hands on Independence Day
As Ukraine buries 500 soldiers/day & Russia presses forward, U.S. quietly blocks Kyiv from striking deep inside Russia - a gift to Putin & a bitter reminder hat David is being forced to fight Goliath
The US has been blocking Ukraine from firing long-range missiles into Russia for several months. The Pentagon introduced a review mechanism in late spring that is effectively preventing Kyiv from striking targets in Russian territory, US officials told the Wall Street Journal. As a result, Ukraine has been unable to carry out deep strikes with US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (Atacms), or British-produced Storm Shadows, which depend on US targeting data. Two US officials told the Wall Street Journal that a Ukrainian request to use Atacms had already been rejected on at least one occasion. Introduced by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for policy, the approval process grants Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, ultimate decision-making powers over Kyiv’s use of long-range missiles. The review procedure came into effect while White House officials were seeking to coax Moscow to the table for peace talks and permission for high-profile strikes with US-made missiles on targets inside Russia could have hampered Washington’s overtures to Vladimir Putin over the summer. It reverses a decision made by Joe Biden in November 2024 to remove restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Atacms in its war against Russia, which has been ongoing for more than three years. In January this year, Kyiv used six British Storm Shadow missiles and US-made Atacms tactical ballistic missiles to carry out one of the largest attacks on Russian military facilities to date, striking a range of targets in southwestern Russia, including an oil plant and refinery. But Mr Colby’s introduction of the US review mechanism has hampered Ukraine’s ability to carry out similar attacks. Kyiv’s military tacticians argue that striking Russian supply routes, airfields and bases far from the front line is crucial to relieving the pressure on its troops in eastern Ukraine. - Telegraph
A Canadian government official briefing reporters in the lead up to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ‘surprise’ visit to Kyiv today, said Russia is making “slow” progress in its campaign to retake Ukrainian soil. Canadian intelligence suggests Russia is losing 1,000 soldiers per day in the conflict while Ukraine is estimated to be losing about 500 soldiers daily, the official, cited by the Canadian Press, said. Carney was in Kyiv as a guest of President Volodymyr Zelensky to participate in Ukraine’s Independence Day. In a speech at a ceremony marking the holiday, Carney said in French that Ukraine is at a critical moment of the war, and that the support of the international community must intensify. His visit comes as efforts to find a peace deal intensified over the last week, though there does not appear to be any immediate sign of a deal. “When that peace comes … Canada will be there,” Carney said in his speech. “We will be there with you to promote peace, security and prosperity for Ukraine once the killing stops.” There are Canadian soldiers in Europe as part of Operation Unifier, a mission to train Ukrainian soldiers launched after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Canada’s support so far in the conflict includes $22 billion in financial support for Ukraine, largely in the form of loans, according to Ottawa’s tallies. A separate, independent estimate from the Kiel group pegs this amount closer to $19.7 billion.
Carney pledged over $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine - which draws from the $2 billion in defence aid announced at the G7 leaders' summit in Kananaskis, Alta., in June (the $2 billion would presumably be credited towards Canada’s NATO spending target of 5% of annual GDP by 2035, announced by the PMO also in June). He also reiterated the possibility of providing Canadian troops in a post-war Ukraine, state-supported CBC reported. The funds will be used to finance the purchase of high-priority equipment from the United States, through NATO, as well as ammunition, and advance drone and armoured vehicle production from Canadian suppliers. Another $220 million will be set aside to purchase drone, counter-drone, and electronic warfare capabilities, which will include investments in joint ventures between Ukrainian and Canadian industry. The two countries signed a Letter of Intent on Canada-Ukraine Joint Production of Defence Material, CBC reported.
Kyiv stepped up attacks on Russian energy infrastructure as Ukraine on Sunday marked the 34th anniversary of its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. The unabated attacks came as hopes that US President Donald Trump might quickly broker an end to the war diminished. Russia’s top diplomat told Meet the Press that significant gaps remain between Moscow and Kyiv’s positions, and that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has no plans to meet Volodymyr Zelensky despite Trump’s urging. The US had blocked Ukraine from using long-range missiles to strike inside Russia in a bid to further peace talks, but Trump could change his mind on the weapons — and giving Kyiv more leverage in negotiations, The Wall Street Journal reported.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement Sunday marking Ukraine Independence Day. Without mentioning Russia as the aggressor, it pledged U.S. support to Ukraine’s future as an independent nation. “We believe in a negotiated settlement that upholds Ukrainian sovereignty and guarantees its long-term security, leading to durable peace,” it said.
China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, could be officially commissioned as early as wartime anniversaries next month, a video by state broadcaster CCTV suggests.The video released on Saturday sought to draw a parallel between the Japanese naval incursions 88 years ago and the Fujian’s readiness to enter service, linking it with the memory of the Japanese invasion.China will be marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japanese aggression with a military parade on September 3.The CCTV video opened with views of China State Shipbuilding Corp’s Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai – where the Fujian was built and launched – before cutting to footage of the carrier at sea. Once commissioned, the Fujian will make China the only nation besides the United States to operate carriers with electromagnetic catapults. The 80,000-tonne vessel is Asia’s largest warship, equipped with three electromagnetic launchers and designed to carry stealth carrier-based fighters, multirole catapult-launched carrier fighters, fixed-wing early-warning aircraft, fixed-wing electronic warfare planes and anti-submarine helicopters – in what the military community describes as a “carrier strike five-piece set” - SCMP
The UN has warned that famine in Gaza is “man-made” and called for urgent international action to prevent further deaths. “This famine is man-made – it is the result of systematic obstruction, indifference and delay,” the agency said in a post on X. The UN’s emergency coordination office (OCHA) called for an immediate ceasefire, the large-scale opening of crossings, and unimpeded humanitarian access to the besieged enclave. “This is not a headline. It is real lives at stake,” it said. The warning follows confirmation from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed monitor, that famine exists in part of Gaza and is likely to spread in the coming weeks without major changes on the ground - Al Jazeera
Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen ’s capital on Sunday, days after Houthi rebels fired a missile toward Israel that its military described as the first cluster bomb the rebels had fired at it since 2023. The Iranian-backed Houthis said the strikes hit multiple areas across Sanaa. The Houthi-run health ministry said at least two people were killed and 35 others were wounded. The rebels’ Al-Masirah satellite television reported a strike on an oil company, and video on social media showed a fireball erupting there. Israel’s military said it struck the Asar and Hizaz power plants, calling them “a significant electricity supply facility for military activities,” along with a military site where the presidential palace is located. Sanaa residents told The Associated Press they heard loud explosions close to a closed military academy and the presidential palace. They said they could see plumes of smoke near Sabeen Square, a central gathering place in the capital - AP
President Donald Trump's plan to deploy troops to Chicago is an abuse of power, the Democratic governor of the US state of Illinois has said. There is no emergency that justifies the National Guard being sent to Illinois and the US president is "attempting to manufacture a crisis", JB Pritzker said in a statement. Trump has already deployed about 2,000 troops to Washington DC, where the local government is also run by opposition Democrats, as part of what he is portraying as a crackdown on crime in US cities. On Friday, Trump said he would implement the policy in Chicago and New York - two other major Democrat-controlled cities. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responded to Trump's comments, saying in a statement that he had not received any information about the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago. He said the city government has "grave concerns" about any deployment of troops, labelling the president's approach "uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound". Johnson added that the "unlawful deployment" could "inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement", and threaten the progress the city has made in reducing crime - BBC
The Princess of Wales has seemingly debuted a new hair colour as she was spotted with lighter locks on her way to Sunday church service in Balmoral earlier today. The Prince of Wales took the wheel as he drove his family, including Princes George and Louis, as well as Princess Charlotte, to Crathie Kirk - with Catherine, 43, beaming as she sat in the passenger seat. The princess appeared to have coloured her hair a few shades lighter as her cascading tresses looked more blonde than ever before. Accompanying their parents, Princess Charlotte, 10, cruised in the back seat with her brothers, Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, seven, who wore matching outfits for the occasion. Along with the Waleses, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, as well as The Princess Royal, were also seen heading to Crathie Kirk to spend part of their Bank Holiday weekend at the church. The monarch began his annual summer holidays at Balmoral last week, where he has been joined by several other members of the Royal Family to enjoy their break - Daily Mail
Many Air Canada flight attendants are dissatisfied with wage increases in a tentative agreement that ended a crippling strike earlier this week and union members may not approve the deal, cabin crew and a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. Five flight attendants interviewed by Reuters said they plan to vote against the agreement because it fails to provide a living wage to entry-level workers and does not fully address concerns about lack of payment for hours spent waiting for a flight. The leader of the union acknowledged many members were frustrated with the deal, which was hailed initially as a union victory following an overnight blitz of talks. That sentiment was echoed on social media posts by people who said they were flight attendants, although Reuters could not confirm their identity. Flight attendants defied government efforts to end the strike, forcing Air Canada back to the bargaining table, where negotiators struck a deal to end the four-day action that stranded half a million passengers. This raised hopes that Canada's biggest airline had agreed to pay crews for time spent on the ground for duties such as boarding passengers rather than just when the plane is moving. The proposed contract made some critical gains, but as details were disclosed it became clear there were limits to the ground pay offered. This frustrated many participants attending town hall-style meetings, one attendant said. A source familiar with the matter said it was not clear whether the vote would pass - Reuters
The journals….
