It's time to close the loophole that feeds Irish raw materials from Limerick to Russia’s military industry.
It's time for effective EU sanctions.
Photo: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
https://t.co/cZX6hH4UgX
It's time to close the loophole that feeds Irish raw materials from Limerick to Russia’s military industry.
It's time for effective EU sanctions.
Photo: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
https://t.co/cZX6hH4UgX
Unfortunately, the Russian side once again chooses war – everyone heard the response today. Weak response. He simply does not want to end the war.
I think many around the world were disappointed by that response. He does not want to change anything, and he does not want to admit that this war appeals only to him – and to those who are making money off him. They were all smiling very broadly today.
That means Russia must have less money, and there must be more pressure on Russia.
I thank everyone who is helping us. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine and wants a real peace.
Open Letter
To the President of the Russian Federation
From the President of Ukraine
When you came to power in Russia more than 26 years ago, many people in Ukraine viewed you positively. That is how it was. But that is now in the past.
Now, the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians view it positively that our long-range drones paid a visit to the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg, covering a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers. As you know very well, that distance is not the limit of our capabilities.
Did anyone dig into historical media about Auginish Alumina? There is some real eyebrow raisers 😳 The Irish Independent reported back in 2013 that a highly profitable Auginish Alumina paid just €1,952 in total corporation tax over 5 years despite €191 million in sales 🤔
1/3
”Last year almost 500 000 Russian tourists were let into Europe, while Ukrainians were dying on the battlefield. This situation needs to be stopped.
That is why we, together with 10 other Member States, have put forward an initiative for new EU visa restrictions for Russian citizens.” @JohanForssell at JHA
Every dollar that reaches Putin’s war machine makes this war harder to end.
Since Russia launched its illegal war against Ukraine, I have worked to tighten the economic vise on Moscow, target the industries sustaining its aggression, and close the gaps that allow the Kremlin to keep profiting while Ukraine keeps fighting.
At today’s Ways & Means hearing, I pressed Treasury Secretary Bessent on the recent sanctions waiver extension involving Russian oil, whether our sanctions are strong enough, and Treasury’s readiness to implement tougher measures, including my Peace Through Strength Against Russia Act—which calls for a 500% tariff on Russian imports, and products from any country that continues financing their war machine.
Peace through strength means using American economic power to raise the cost of aggression, defend freedom, and help secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
Putin is counting on America to grow tired, divided, and distracted.
Tonight, the House answered with unity and resolve.
Following the successful bipartisan discharge petition I was proud to help lead, we have passed the Ukraine Support Act—comprehensive legislation to deliver critical support to Ukraine, impose further sweeping sanctions on Russia, and hold Putin accountable for his illegal war of terror.
Ukraine is fighting for its sovereignty and survival, but the stakes do not stop at Ukraine’s borders. Standing with Ukraine is a matter of American security, allied strength, and moral clarity. It tells the world that tyranny will not be met with hesitation, retreat, or silence.
From the start, I have worked to ensure America’s policy is rooted in peace through strength. This legislation gives force to that principle.
Tonight, the House stood on the side of freedom.
Now, the Senate must do the same.
Rusal, the company that owns the Aughinish Alumina, continues to be controlled by sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, according to a confidential report by Swedish tax authorities.
https://t.co/TaEVXlG5Dz
BREAKING: Belgium moves closer to approval for Tesla FSD testing
Last weekend, three vehicles collectively drove more than 5,000 kilometers on Belgian roads as part of FSD testing. The results were reportedly very positive, and several government ministers are said to have responded favorably to the outcome.
The matter is now being discussed in Parliament. More clarity on a possible approval is expected within the next one to two weeks.
If approved, this could mark an important step forward for Tesla FSD in Belgium and potentially contribute to broader progress for FSD across Europe.
🇵🇱🇺🇦🇺🇸🇬🇧🇷🇺 SIKORSKI REMINDS THE WEST WHAT UKRAINE GAVE UP
“As you know, Russia, the USA, and Great Britain guaranteed the security of Ukraine and its borders.
In exchange for Ukraine giving up what was then the third largest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the world. In 1994.
So you have an obligation to Ukraine to help them defend their freedom.” - Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱
That is the part too many people try to forget.
Ukraine did not just ask for protection out of nowhere. It gave up a nuclear arsenal under security assurances from powers that promised its borders mattered.
Helping Ukraine now is not a favour. It is the bill coming due.
Scandal brewing in “neutral” Ireland after revelations that one Russian-affiliated plant there has been supplying over 83% Irish exports of alumina to Russia where it’s smelted into aluminum, a critical component for war production.
Aughinish Alumina in County Limerick, Europe’s largest alumina refinery, owned by United Company Rusal (Russia’s largest aluminium producer), whose parent EN+ Group was founded by sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska. An investigation by the Irish Times, OCCRP and other outlets, drawing on confidential documents, customs data and satellite imagery, established the supply chain.
The Irish government tried to deflect but when a reporter filmed the plant with signs in Russian, they could no longer deny it. Now internal documents were leaked showing that the company is threatening the Irish government with loss of jobs and all sorts of things if it tried to curb its exports to Russia.
The newest defense is that alumina isn’t under EU sanctions so technically no rules were broken. Except Ireland had no problem defying the EU and forging ahead with its own restrictions on imports from Israel with its Occupied Territories Bill. Because… reasons (or maybe Russian occupation of Ukraine is OK while Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands is not).
Australia stopped its alumina exports to Russia because the material is so necessary for the war (its main exporter was also 20%-owned by Deripaska). The neutral Irish government is operating under different standards, where morality is spelled in Russian.
I wonder what the Irish people, who overwhelmingly support Ukraine (in fact, they are among the strongest supporters in Europe when it comes to economic and financial aid), think about all of this.
More of CNN's false equivalence language. Ukraine is not targeting St. Petersburg, but striking military installations, Russian warships, and oil refineries. It's the Russian terror state that strikes cities and targets civilians. https://t.co/Cy7DgqtkuT
This is not World War II footage.
This is Toretsk, Ukraine — and it’s not as far away as you think.
A city that once had over 30,000 residents. Now almost completely erased.
There is no excuse for this. None.