Morning Brief: Trump Threatens New Sanctions on Russia, Iran Offers Nuclear Limits if Sanctions Are Lifted

· Guy D. McCardle

Upper offices of Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers building on fire after a Russian drone strike. (@ZelenskyyUa/X)

Good morning — Monday, September 8, 2025. Russia’s biggest strike yet slams Kyiv, Trump vows new sanctions, and Zelenskyy presses for stronger US backing. In the Americas, Venezuela bulks up its coastal forces as Washington flexes in the Caribbean, and rebels in Colombia seize 45 soldiers. Iran hints at a nuclear compromise, Australia digs in for AUKUS subs, and the Hyundai raid fallout keeps immigration in the spotlight.

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Trump Threatens New Sanctions on Russia After Record Barrage Hits Kyiv

President Donald Trump warned Sunday that he may impose new sanctions on Russia after Moscow launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine since the war began, firing at least 810 drones and 13 missiles.

The strikes killed at least four people, wounded dozens, and set Kyiv’s government complex ablaze for the first time.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged a “strong” US response, calling the assault a test of Western resolve. Russia claimed it hit only military-linked sites, while denying civilian targeting.

European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, condemned the attack, and European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen accused Moscow of “mocking diplomacy.”

The bombardment came as more than 20 European nations signaled readiness to oversee or even deploy troops under a future peace deal.

Despite Trump’s August talks with Vladimir Putin, no ceasefire progress has been made, and Russia continues to hold about 20 percent of Ukraine amid a war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.

 

Trump Urges Foreign Firms to Hire Americans After Georgia Raid at Hyundai Plant

President Donald Trump called on foreign companies operating in the US to follow immigration laws and prioritize hiring and training American workers after a raid at Hyundai’s battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia.

US federal agents detained about 475 workers, including 300 South Koreans, during Thursday’s operation.

Trump said investments are welcome but must comply with immigration rules, adding that companies could legally bring in skilled experts to help train US workers. He stressed the incident had not damaged ties with South Korea, whose government voiced regret over the arrests and the publicized footage of armored vehicles detaining shackled workers.

 

Venezuela to Deploy 25,000 Troops in Coastal States Amid Rising Tensions With US

Venezuela announced Sunday that it will increase troop deployments in coastal states to combat drug trafficking, following the US decision to send 10 additional fighter jets to Puerto Rico for anti-cartel operations.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said forces will expand in Zulia’s Guajira region, the Paraguana peninsula, Nueva Esparta, Sucre, and Delta Amacuro, raising troop levels to 25,000 from the 10,000 already stationed near the Colombian border.

The move comes as tensions rise after a US strike last week killed 11 people and destroyed a Venezuelan boat that Washington said was transporting drugs.

President Nicolas Maduro accused the US of seeking regime change, while President Donald Trump denied that aim but defended the military buildup, citing drug-related deaths in America.

Reports suggest Washington is considering further strikes inside Venezuela, which would mark a significant escalation.

 

45 Colombian Soldiers Kidnapped in Rebel-Influenced Cauca Region

About 600 people surrounded and kidnapped 45 Colombian soldiers on Sunday in the Micay Canyon, Cauca department, a region dominated by coca cultivation and a FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) dissident faction, according to the Colombian army.

The troops were deployed to support crop substitution programs when they were blocked and taken by the crowd.

This marks the second such incident in less than a month, following the August abduction of 33 soldiers in Guaviare, where villagers acted under rebel orders and held the soldiers for four days.

Colombia continues to face security challenges in rural areas where drug gangs and rebel groups contest control after the 2016 peace deal with FARC.

 

Iran Offers Nuclear Limits if Sanctions Are Lifted, Foreign Minister Says

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the country is prepared to accept limits on its nuclear program and uranium enrichment in exchange for lifting international sanctions.

Writing in The Guardian, he urged the E3 nations — France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — to seize the opportunity for a lasting agreement, warning of serious consequences if talks fail.

The statement follows the E3’s move in August to trigger a United Nations “snapback” mechanism that could reimpose sanctions due to Iran’s noncompliance with commitments made under a decade-old nuclear deal.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas met with Araghchi last week to push for a negotiated solution.

The 2015 accord offered sanctions relief for nuclear restrictions, but the US withdrew under President Trump and reimposed broad sanctions. Western nations accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, which Tehran denies, maintaining its program is civilian-focused.

 

Australia Begins $5.2 Billion Upgrades for US-UK Submarine Rotations Under AUKUS

Australia has started $5.2 billion in infrastructure upgrades at HMAS Stirling naval base near Perth to support rotations of US and British nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact.

The Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) could arrive as early as 2027, with plans for one British and up to four US vessels to be temporarily stationed.

The upgrades will also prepare facilities for Australia’s future nuclear-powered fleet.

The US is reviewing AUKUS amid concerns about submarine supply and Navy needs.

Local officials have warned of potential strain on housing, roads, and services from an expected influx of up to 9,000 Americans tied to the deployment.

Australia emphasized that SRF-West will not constitute a foreign base but will help build domestic expertise to operate a nuclear-powered fleet by the early 2030s.

 

Sources: News Agencies