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Ukraine seeking to buy €76bn worth of US weapons

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Ukraine is seeking to purchase €76bn worth of US weapons to support its defence against Russia in the war that has now been grinding on for three-and-a-half years.

Ukrainian officials will visit the United States this month or next for talks on major arms purchases and drone production deals, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Mr Zelensky was in the United States this week for the UN General Assembly and to meet US President Donald Trump.

He said he had shared with Mr Trump “a certain vision of what could be done” to respond to Russia’s actions in its war on Ukraine.

Ukraine said it has prepared a list of about €76bn worth of US weapons that it wants to buy.

Ukraine selling drones to the US

“In addition to the large arms deal, which we call the ‘MegaDeal’, we also discussed the ‘Drone Deal’.

“Technical groups are already starting to work on this deal,” Mr Zelenskiy told reporters, briefing them on his visit to the US.

He said it concerns drones that the United States will purchase directly from Ukraine.

“During more than three-and-a-half years of war, Ukraine has created a drone industry from scratch, with hundreds of producers making millions of drones, but it lacks the financial resources to scale up production further,” he said.

Ukraine also depends heavily on weapons supplies from its western allies, especially for air defence.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine has already deployed one Patriot missile defence system received recently from Israel and expects to receive two more Patriot systems this autumn.

Strengthening air defence and protecting cities and residents from Russian bombardment remains a top priority for Mr Zelensky’s government.

Russia has stepped up its drone and missile strikes, sometimes sending hundreds of drones a night.

Ukraine is responding by sending its own drones to hit Russian energy and oil facilities.

“It’s pointless to expect Russia to take conciliatory steps towards Ukraine. Accordingly, Ukraine should take appropriate steps towards Russia,” he said.

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Man dies weeks after being struck by car in Monaghan

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A 47-year-old man has died from the injuries he sustained in a road traffic collision in Monaghan earlier this month.

The man was struck by a car on Broad Road in Monaghan town shortly before 1am on Saturday, 6 September.

The pedestrian was taken from the scene by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, where he was treated for serious injuries.

Gardaí confirmed that he died in hospital today.

They have also said that the local coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged.

Gardaí continue to investigate the collision and are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

They particularly want to speak to any road users who were in the area at the time and may have camera footage, including dash-cam.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Monaghan Garda Station on 047 77 200, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

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Áras candidates voice support for a united Ireland

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All three Presidential Election candidates have said they would like to see a united Ireland in the future, when questioned while out on the campaign trail across the country.

Campaigning in the Presidential Election is continuing with the candidates pitching their electoral messages in Dublin and Cork.

Fianna Fáil’s presidential candidate Jim Gavin has said that as a constitutional republican, a united Ireland would be about “unification of people first and territory second”.

Mr Gavin is on the election trail in west Dublin ahead of his official campaign launch in the city tomorrow.

He said he was very proud of the Constitution and what it speaks to about a united Ireland.

He added that the president could play a positive role, but that unification would be a matter for governments.

He said: “I believe in a united Ireland, but I also believe in what the Constitution speaks to in terms of a democratic, peaceful process.”

He said if elected he would be active in the border counties and in the north of Ireland, “meeting communities, building on the great work of the one of the leaders that I admire the most, President McAleese, and the work that President McAleese did in the north in terms of building bridges between communities”.

He said his role as president, if elected, would be to meet both communities in the north and to build on President McAleese’s work, as well as forging new connections and repairing ones that might be broken.

Irish citizens in Northern Ireland should have vote in election – Humphreys

Meanwhile, presidential candidate Heather Humphreys has said she supports giving Irish citizens in Northern Ireland a vote in presidential elections.

Ms Humphreys, who is campaigning in Cork, has previously said she wants to see a united Ireland based on the Good Friday Agreement. But this must be done through building trust and demonstrating that this is an inclusive country, she said.

“I have spoken to many and they have said they would like a vote,” she said on Irish citizens in Northern Ireland being permitted to vote in future Presidential Elections.

She said it would be a matter for the government of the day, and would require a referendum to extend the franchise.

“I know many people in Northern Ireland and I’d be fairly confident that I would get a fair share of their vote in Northern Ireland if they did have one,” she said.

“I think that’s something that we have to do, we have to work on it. It does involve a referendum to extend the franchise, and if we want a united Ireland at some stage down the road, I think it’s important that Northern Ireland citizens should have a vote.”

Always believed in a united Ireland – Connolly

While presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has told a Sinn Féin conference on Irish unity at Dublin City University (DCU) this afternoon that she has always believed in a united Ireland.

As far back as 2020 she has expressed this view but said it must happen by consent.

Ms Connolly told over 500 delegates present that it is a foregone conclusion that it is going to happen, and preparations are needed to show that this is a place that can embrace diversity.

She promised to give voice to the will of the Irish people on this issue if elected president.

She said that people must take courage in their hands and shape a new republic that provides housing and health services for its people.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was present at the conference, said the time to plan for constitutional change is now and partition is on borrowed time.

She called on party members to knock on every door with optimism as they campaign for Ms Connolly.

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England in charge after early try for Canada | Women’s Rugby World Cup final latest

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