Archaeological excavations at Primorsky Boulevard near the Duke de Richelieu monument in Odesa have uncovered 14th-century Genoese materials, rector of the South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University, Andriy Krasnozhen, wrote on Facebook on 19 July.

The three-week dig, conducted by students from South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University and researchers from the Academy of Sciences Institute of Archaeology, revealed cultural layers from the Italian fortress called Ginestra, followed by the Ottoman fortress Hadjibey.

“The archaeological expedition on Primorsky Boulevard in Odesa is complete. An extraordinarily successful season in terms of results,” wrote university rector Andriy Krasnozhon on Facebook.

The excavated materials show that an Italian fortress originally stood on this territory, later replaced by Ottoman fortifications. Remains of these fortifications were discovered near the funicular railway.

Ivan Liptuga, director of Odesa City Council’s culture department, commented that this represents “a major event for the city, for the country, for history.”

“Now this will become one of the attributes of the universal value of the UNESCO World Heritage Site!,” he said.

The excavations resumed on 30 June 2025.

“Now we know exactly what is literally located under the Duke. Under him are cultural layers 2,500 years old. These are remains of the ancient Greek colony Harbor of Istrians. It was created in the 6th century BCE and existed for 300-400 years,” Krasnozhon said earlier.

Ground-penetrating radar studies in 2021 first detected an anomaly on Primorsky Boulevard unrelated to modern communications. Follow-up investigations in spring 2025 confirmed these findings. Krasnozhon expressed confidence that “a stone fortress Hadjibey stood here.”

The rector thanked Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov and European Solidarity faction MP Oleksiy Goncharenko for supporting the expedition. He promised to provide more detailed results later.

No previous excavations had been conducted on the semicircular square where the Duke monument stands.

The Italian maritime republic centered in Genoa existed from 1005-1797, maintaining an extensive network of settlements and trading posts across the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and European Atlantic coast. The merchant-ruled oligarchic republic profited significantly from Black Sea slave trade until the mid-15th century, actively exporting slaves to Egypt and Western Europe.

The Italian Ministry of Culture has reversed its decision to allow Russian conductor Valery Gergiev to perform at the Un’Estate da RE festival this summer, marking what would have been his first Western appearance since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.

The concert of Russian conductor Valery Gergiev was scheduled for 27 July at the Royal Palace of Caserta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Gergiev publicly supports the Russian regime and its military aggression against Ukraine. Russia strategically uses culture—through events, institutions, and historical narratives—as a tool to spread propaganda, justify state actions, and shape public opinion both domestically and abroad. The Ukrainian community in Italy has called to cancel his concert. 

Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli explained the reversal by distinguishing between artistic freedom and political messaging. “Art is free and cannot be censored,” Giuli said, according to ANSA.

“Propaganda, however, even if done with talent, is something else. That is why the concert by Putin’s friend and adviser Valery Gergiev, which the Campania Regional Government wanted, organized and paid for, at the Reggia di Caserta, which is independent in its choice of events to host like all autonomous institutes of the ministry of culture, risks giving the wrong message,” he added.

Gergiev was scheduled to conduct the Orchestra of the Teatro Verdi di Salerno alongside soloists from the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra on 27 July. The St. Petersburg-based Mariinsky Theater is where Gergiev serves as artistic director.

The planned performance sparked significant opposition from Italian politicians and international activists. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, urged Italy to cancel the concert.

Campania’s president Vincenzo De Luca defended the original invitation, arguing that cultural boycotts were counterproductive.

De Luca, who has criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, said he invited both Gergiev and Israeli conductor Daniel Oren to keep “channels of communication open even with those who do not think like us.”

The conductor Valery Gergiev has faced widespread boycotts across Western cultural institutions since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Peter Gelb, General Manager of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, stated that Gergiev “is no less than an artistic stand-in for Putin.”

Following the invasion, Gergiev was dismissed from his position as Chief Conductor of the Munich Philharmonic. Additional institutions that severed ties included the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, BIS Records, Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, and the Vienna Philharmonic.

Most recently, Gergiev was named on a fresh list of Canadian sanctions against Russia released in late June 2025. The sanctions were announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 summit.

Ukrainian journalist Olena Kurbanova presented Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev with chevrons from Ukrainian Armed Forces units during a media forum in Shusha.

During the meeting, Kurbanova thanked Aliyev for the restoration of Nagorno-Karabakh before presenting him with the collection of military patches from various Ukrainian Armed Forces brigades.

“This is the most valuable thing — chevrons of our defenders. Because our army is the only guarantee of security for Ukraine. The most valuable thing we have,” Kurbanova told Aliyev, according to the YouTube footage.

Aliyev responded by thanking the Ukrainian journalist: “Thank you for what you are doing. Keep up the good work.”

The exchange occurred against the backdrop of Aliyev’s previous statements supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The Azerbaijan president advised Ukrainians never to agree to occupation of their territories, drawing parallels with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“Never agree to occupation. That’s the main advice. This is what we did,” Aliyev said at the Shusha Media Forum when responding to questions from Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon.

The Azerbaijan president recalled that the UN Security Council had adopted four resolutions demanding the withdrawal of Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh, but the international community failed to achieve their implementation.

“We decided that we would create new realities, and you would have to accept them. That’s what happened,” Aliyev said, advising Ukrainians not to give up and do the same.

The diplomatic gesture comes as Azerbaijan-Russia relations have deteriorated significantly over the past year. In December 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines civilian aircraft crashed in Kazakhstan after being allegedly hit by Russian air defense systems in Grozny during a Ukrainian drone attack on the city. The incident killed 38 people, with Baku holding Moscow responsible.

Relations further soured in June 2025 when brothers Ziyaddin and Hussein Safarov, considered main suspects in the murder of businessman Yunis Pashayev, died during mass searches and detentions of Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry demanded an investigation, accusing FSB officers of “brutal murder” of the republic’s nationals and delivering a protest note to Russia’s ambassador in Baku.

The tensions escalated with a series of mutual detentions and arrests in both countries. On 16 July, a Yekaterinburg court sent Mutvali Shikhli’s son, head of the Ural Azerbaijani diaspora, to pretrial detention on charges of using violence against a Russian government representative.

Azerbaijan’s control over Nagorno-Karabakh was established in September 2023 when Baku launched what it called “anti-terrorist measures” to “restore constitutional order.” The unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh capitulated on 20 September 2023, after Azerbaijan claimed to have “completed all tasks of the anti-terrorist operation” and “restored sovereignty” within 24 hours.

On 30 September 2023, Azerbaijan recognized Armenia’s territorial integrity. The unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh ceased to exist on 1 January 2024.

New round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia could take place in Istanbul this week, tentatively scheduled for 23-24 July, Independent Türkçe reported on 21 July.

Independent Türkçe reported, citing diplomatic sources, that “international diplomatic meetings will take place in Istanbul this week.”

“In addition to negotiations with European countries regarding Iran’s nuclear program, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are also expected in Istanbul this week,” the report said.

The parties have not disclosed precise information about the venue, time and level of delegations. However, the meeting reportedly will likely take place on 23-24 July.

The sides are expected to focus on humanitarian aid, prisoner exchanges, critical infrastructure security and the situation in border areas. Work is currently underway to determine the meeting location, develop security protocols and logistical preparation. The negotiations will be held behind closed doors, with the public informed through written statements, according to the report.

The potential talks follow recent developments in Ukraine’s leadership structure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council on Friday.

Speaking about Umerov’s tasks in this position, Zelenskyy said it was necessary to “intensify the negotiation track” with Russia. “The implementation of agreements from the second meeting in Istanbul is currently underway. More dynamics are needed in this process,” he said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia supports adding “more dynamics” to the negotiation process with Ukraine.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on 18 July, during which they discussed the possibility of holding a new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul.

On 19 July, Zelenskyy announced that NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov had proposed a meeting with the Russian side for the following week, emphasizing that Ukraine was ready for a leader-level meeting.

Previous meetings between Russian and Ukrainian delegations took place on 16 May and 2 June in Istanbul. Istanbul has previously hosted critical diplomatic processes including Iran nuclear negotiations, Russia-Ukraine peace contacts and international meetings on Syria.

A former high-ranking Ukrainian police official has been found dead under mysterious circumstances in the same Spanish residential complex where Russian defector pilot Maxim Kuzminov was assassinated earlier this year, El Español reports.

Ihor Hrushevskyi, 61, a former senior official in Ukraine’s Interior Ministry’s Department for Combating Organized Crime, was discovered floating in a community pool at the Cala Alta residential complex in Villajoyosa on June 29. The death occurred just 503 days after Kuzminov’s murder at the same location.

According to El Español, Hrushevskyi was found “face down and without pulse” in what “appeared to be a drowning” around 9:30 pm. A Ukrainian neighbor and young people passing through the common areas discovered the body and attempted CPR, but “could not save his life,” the publication states.

The circumstances surrounding Hrushevskyi’s death have raised suspicions among residents. While the Ukrainian showed no signs of violence, he was bleeding from one ear, leading some to suspect a stroke. Others question how someone could drown in a pool that “does not exceed 1.50 meters in depth.”

Hrushevskyi had recently purchased an apartment in block 1 of the complex and was renovating it. His background in law enforcement remained largely unknown to neighbors – of approximately 20 residents consulted by El Español, “only one knew his name” and that he worked in organized crime fighting.

Ukrainian legal records show Hrushevskyi served as head and authorized representative of the Interior Ministry’s Department for Combating Organized Crime in the Cherkasy and Kirovograd oblasts in 1993. The department was officially dissolved in 2015 as part of police reforms aimed at “cutting corrupt practices” and aligning with European standards.

The location adds an unsettling dimension to the death. Kuzminov, the Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine with a sophisticated Mi-8 combat helicopter in exchange for 500,000 euros, was “shot dead on 13 February 2024” in the complex’s garage. The pilot had been living under a false identity when Russian Foreign Intelligence Service agents tracked him down.

Of the “more than 3,000 kilometers separating Alicante from Ukraine,” both deaths occurred within meters of each other – “one in the garage and another in the pool,” El Español notes. Some residents fear this proximity may not be coincidental, particularly given that Russian President Vladimir Putin “used to vacation in his luxury refuge in Altea Hills” before the war and has contacts who “know the area perfectly.”

The Wall Street Journal later reported that the killers received payment from Russian officials in Vienna.

Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 224 targets during the Russian assault overnight into 21 July.

According to the Ukriane’s air defense forces, an additional 203 drones failed to reach their intended targets. The miitary confirmed 23 strike drones hit targets at 3 locations, with debris from destroyed drones falling at 12 locations.

The overnight assault represented another large-scale combined air attack by Russia on Ukraine, with occupying forces deploying strike drones and missiles of various types. Explosions were heard across multiple oblasts throughout the night. Among other oblasts, Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk faced the heaviest attack.

Four people, including one child, were injured in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast during Russia’s overnight rocket and drone attack on 21 July, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS). Residential buildings were damaged.

The attack on Ivano-Frankivsk was particularly severe. Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv described the strikes as “the most large-scale” since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, stating there were “very many” hits on the city.

Beyond the residential casualties, fires erupted across multiple locations in the oblast. In the Gorodenkivka territorial community of Kolomyia district, a fire broke out in an agricultural building, which has been extinguished with no casualties reported. In Ivano-Frankivsk city center, emergency services extinguished fires at garages and vehicles in an open parking area covering 220 square meters, as well as industrial and warehouse facilities spanning 300 square meters.

Kyiv bore significant damage from the attack. One person died and six others were injured in the capital, including a 15-year-old girl, reports the National Police of Ukraine.

In Solomianskyi district, a man died. In Darnytskyi district, five people aged 36 to 55 years received shrapnel injuries. Among them is a 15-year-old girl. In Shevchenkivskyi district, an elderly woman was hospitalized.

The capital sustained widespread damage to residential buildings, a kindergarten, a supermarket, small architectural forms, garages, transport, warehouse facilities, and the ground section of a metro station. Destruction and debris were recorded in Holosiivskyi, Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, Obolonskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Solomianskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi districts.

The blast wave also affected a police crew responding to an emergency call.

Metro station “Lukianivska” in Kyiv temporarily suspended passenger service due to damage to its ground section caused by the Russian shelling. Traffic was blocked on several streets in Darnytskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts following the attack.

US President’s Special Representative Keith Kellogg visited training facilities of Ukraine’s National Guard on 16 July, according to the National Guard’s press service.

The American delegation, accompanied by National Guard Commander Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko, observed the preparation of Ukrainian guardsmen, their equipment, and modern battlefield technologies. The delegation was presented with tank and combat vehicle crew training, simulator work, as well as drones and robotic systems.

According to National Guard officials, Kellogg noted the courage of Ukrainian fighters and high quality of training, emphasizing that Ukraine’s experience is valuable for armies of other countries.

The visit represents the third day of Kellogg’s mission to Kyiv, following meetings with top Ukrainian officials on 14-15 July. During his previous days in the capital, Kellogg met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss pathways to peace between Ukraine and Russia, as well as ways to bring the war to a conclusion.

The special representative also held discussions with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov about joint projects for localizing production of air defense systems and other weapons in Ukraine and Europe. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky, Chief of Main Intelligence Directorate Kyrylo Budanov, and Chief of General Staff Andriy Hnatov briefed Kellogg on Russia’s plans and preparations for a more large-scale war with NATO.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha discussed with Kellogg ways to expand defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. “Despite what Russian propaganda claims, Russia is not winning, and Ukraine is not losing this war,” Sybiha noted during their meeting.

Kellogg also met with British Armed Forces Commander Admiral Tony Radakin during his Kyiv visit. The American official stated that America and European allies continue working toward achieving lasting peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The special representative’s visit coincided with several large-scale air raid alerts on July 14 and 15, related to Russian MiG-31K aircraft that can carry hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.

A Danish company’s Russian subsidiary is facilitating grain exports through the occupied Berdiansk port, helping ship at least 172,000 tons of grain between March 2024 and May 2025, according to an investigation by Slidstvo.Info and KibOrg.

The investigation reveals that “Baltic Control Novorossiysk,” registered in Russia, provides cargo hold inspection and draft survey services at Berdiansk port, which Russia has controlled since March 2022. The company’s parent organization, Baltic Control, operates from Denmark and positions itself as a leading global inspection and certification firm established in 1980 with over 50 offices worldwide.

IT specialists from KibOrg obtained documentation related to the occupied Berdiansk port’s operations. Analysis by Slidstvo.Info journalists found Baltic Control mentioned dozens of times in correspondence between Russian companies regarding grain shipment preparations.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion began, information about Baltic Control’s Russian operations disappeared from the Danish company’s website. However, when journalists contacted the central office in Denmark seeking contact details for the Russian branch, they received the phone number of “Baltic Control Novorossiysk” director Alexander Shalimov.

Speaking to a journalist who presented herself as a manager from a Polish company, Shalimov confirmed his firm’s inspection services in Berdiansk port.

“I’ll tell you this – we are the only ones located in Berdiansk. All the rest are visitors. This is a very significant nuance. So you will see quality throughout the entire loading process, operatively,” Shalimov said during the call.

When a Slidstvo.Info journalist called Shalimov and identified himself as Ukrainian media, Shalimov denied working in Berdiansk and refused to answer follow-up questions.

Neither the Danish Baltic Control nor the Russian “Baltic Control Novorossiysk” responded to written inquiries from journalists.

International law attorney Kateryna Rashevska told Slidstvo.Info that the Danish Baltic Control’s involvement in grain exports from occupied Zaporizhzhia region territories could be considered complicity in Russian crimes.

The investigation documents Russian companies’ systematic use of the occupied port for grain shipments, with Baltic Control’s subsidiary providing crucial inspection services that enable these operations to proceed.

Europe is considering using profits from nearly €200 billion of frozen Russian Central Bank assets to fund President Donald Trump’s $10 billion weapons package for Ukraine, The Telegraph reported on 15 July.

Trump confirmed on 14 July a new military assistance package that would provide Ukraine with “billions of dollars” worth of weaponry, funded and distributed by European NATO allies. Trump said the package includes up to 17 Patriot air defense systems.

The proposal to use frozen Russian assets to fund President Donald Trump’s $10 billion weapons package emerged during EU foreign ministers’ discussions in Brussels on 15 July, marking the first formal talks since Trump announced the NATO-coordinated arms deal.

Diplomatic sources told The Telegraph that ministers asked how Trump’s plan would work, though detailed information had yet to be shared with European capitals.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the deal involves NATO buying American air defence systems, missiles and ammunition before delivering them to Kyiv. At least eight member states have signed up to the scheme, announced during Trump’s Oval Office meeting with Rutte on 14 July.

“It is widely considered that NATO’s support mission for Ukraine – Nsatu – will play the lead role in coordinating purchases of American weapons and their eventual delivery to Kyiv,” a NATO official said.

The plan involves a central NATO-controlled fund topped up by European allies and Canada, which would purchase items from a Ukrainian government “shopping list” of American weapons.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski suggested the EU’s contribution could come from frozen Russian asset profits. “Should it be a burden shouldered by our taxpayers or the Russians,” he told colleagues, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Brussels had been developing its own weapons purchase fund using seized assets, but directing money toward Trump’s scheme is viewed as more efficient for maintaining US support for Ukraine. Contributing to the American plan would also count toward NATO’s 3.5 percent defense spending target.

During the 14 July meeting, Trump threatened “severe tariffs” against Russia if it doesn’t make peace within 50 days. He described Putin as “a tough guy” and said he was “angry” at the Russian leader for not being “nice.”

First deliveries of Patriot air-defence batteries are expected in Ukraine within days, though details about long-range missiles remain to be finalized by the White House.

Kremlin officials dismissed US President Donald Trump’s 50-day ultimatum for a Ukraine ceasefire while Russian President Vladimir Putin remained silent on the demands, the Institute for the Study of War reported on 15 July, citing Russian Telegram channels, controlled by Kremlin.

During a 14 July Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump threatened “severe tariffs” if Russia doesn’t make peace within 50 days but declined to specify how far he would escalate if Putin increases pressure. Trump also called Putin “a tough guy” and said he was “angry” at the Russian leader for not being “nice.”

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told TASS on 15 July, according to the ISW, that Russia views “especially ultimatums” as “unacceptable.” Ryabkov said Russia’s position is “unshakable” and Moscow will continue pursuing war aims militarily if the US and NATO ignore Russian demands.

Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev posted that “Russia didn’t care” about Trump’s “ultimatum.” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed confidence Russia will cope with US tariffs, as Moscow is already “coping” with prior sanctions.

Putin has yet to officially respond and is likely attempting to identify narratives that could convince Trump not to follow through with tariffs in September 2025, according to ISW.

Trump announces $10 billion Ukraine aid

Trump announced a $10 billion military package for Ukraine including Patriot missiles and air defense weapons. NATO countries will purchase the weapons from the US and transfer them to Ukraine.

The package may authorize Ukraine to use 18 long-range ATACMS missiles at full 300-kilometer range, enabling strikes on Russian military bases and supply depots previously out of reach.

Trump considered sending Tomahawk cruise missiles – the same weapons used against Iranian targets last month. “If fired from Ukraine, these could hit Moscow and St. Petersburg,” the Washington Post reported. Tomahawks aren’t included in current deliveries but could be deployed later.

Trump’s announcement followed his disappointment with Putin’s unwillingness to pursue ceasefire talks. Putin told Trump during their 3 July call that Moscow plans to escalate operations in eastern Ukraine within 60 days, “securing the full administrative borders of occupied Ukrainian oblasts.”

“Trump is really pissed at Putin. His announcement tomorrow is going to be very aggressive,” Sen. Lindsey Graham told Axios.

President Donald Trump announced on 15 July that Patriot air defense missiles destined for Ukraine are already being shipped from Germany, marking a significant acceleration in military aid delivery to Ukraine.

“They’re already being shipped,” Trump told journalists at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, when asked about Patriot missiles and other weapons that NATO allies will purchase for Ukraine. The missiles are “coming in from Germany and then replaced by Germany,” he explained.

The announcement comes as part of a broader military assistance package that Trump confirmed on 14 July would provide Ukraine with “billions of dollars” worth of weaponry, funded and distributed by European NATO allies. Trump said the package includes up to 17 Patriot air defense systems.

“In all cases, the United States gets paid back in full,” Trump emphasized. “NATO’s going to pay us back for everything. In some cases, we’re going to be paid back by countries of the European Union directly. We’re always getting our money back in full.”

Ukraine needs more air defence systems to defend its citizen and infrustructure from Russian attacks that included more than 700 missile and drone strikes on some days last week.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the arrangement “completely logical” during an Oval Office meeting with Trump on 14 July. According to Rutte, Trump called  him on 10 July to say he had decided Ukraine should receive “everything necessary for self-defense,” but wanted Europeans to pay for it.

The initiative has attracted interest from Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada, Rutte noted.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on 14 July that Germany cannot provide Ukraine with additional Patriot air defense systems as the country has only six left from its original stock of 12. Pistorius reportedly planned to discuss US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth a proposal he made last month allowing Germany to purchase two Patriot systems from the US specifically for Ukraine

Beyond the Patriot systems, the military assistance reportedly may include authorization for Ukraine to use its 18 long-range ATACMS missiles at their full 300-kilometer range, enabling strikes on military bases, airfields, and supply depots deep inside Russia that are currently out of reach.

Trump also considered sending Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine – the same weapons used against Iranian targets last month. The Washington Post reported that “if fired from Ukraine, these could hit Moscow and St. Petersburg, and they were included in discussion as late as Friday.” However, the Tomahawks are not included in the current delivery list, though they could be deployed later if Trump seeks additional leverage.

These decisions represent a significant policy shift from Trump’s previous stance of providing only defensive equipment. The announcement followed Trump’s expressed “disappointment” with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Putin’s unwillingness to move towards a ceasefire and Russia’s escalating attacks on Kyiv and other cities.

During a phone call on 3 July, Putin reportedly told Trump that Moscow plans to escalate military operations in eastern Ukraine within the next 60 days, “securing the full administrative borders of occupied Ukrainian oblasts.”

Trump also threatened to impose “severe tariffs” against Russia if it doesn’t make peace within 50 days. During the meeting with Rutte, Trump described Putin as “a tough guy” and said he was “angry” at the Russian leader for not being “nice.”

Trump confirmed he has not spoken to Putin since announcements made on 14 July.

Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Ukraine using an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 400 drones of various types, targeting primarily Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, and Vinnytsia, according to Ukraine’s Air Force Command.

Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 198 Russian drones and suppressed an additional 145 decoy drones, the Air Force reported. One ballistic missile and 57 drones struck targets in 12 locations, with debris from intercepted drones falling in two additional areas.

The attack originated from multiple Russian positions including Shatalovo, Bryansk, Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as Chauda in occupied Crimea. 

The Russian military regularly attacks Ukrainian oblasts with various types of weapons. Russia’s leadership denies that the Russian army has been conducting targeted attacks on the civilian infrastructure of Ukrainian cities and villages, killing civilians and destroying hospitals, schools, kindergartens, energy and water supply facilities.

Vinnytsia bears heavy casualties

Vinnytsia suffered the most significant impact, with strikes against industrial and civilian infrastructure. About eight people are injured, Nataliia Zabolotna, deputy head of the Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration, said.

The attack damaged industrial facilities, with firefighters successfully containing a blaze at one site while continuing operations at another. Four residential buildings in the Vinnytsia Oblast sustained damage, with one house receiving substantial destruction.

“In total, Vinnytsia Oblast was attacked by 28 UAVs today, of which approximately 18 targets were destroyed,” Zabolotna said.

Kryvyi Rih industrial facility destroyed

Kryvyi Rih faced a combined assault involving both the ballistic missile and 28 kamikaze drones, resulting in the destruction of an industrial enterprise and widespread power outages. A 17-year-old boy suffered severe abdominal injuries in the attack, Governor Serhii Lysak said.

Kharkiv enterprise targeted

In Kharkiv, Russian drones struck a civilian enterprise in the Kyiv district, causing a large-scale fire and injuring three people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. The attack also resulted in a fire at an apartment building in Kramatorsk.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that the timeline of the President Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Putin for Ukraine peace talks is too long as civilians die daily.

Trump announced on 14 July that the US would impose 100% tariffs on Russia’s trading partners unless Putin agrees to end the war within 50 days. Speaking with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump called these “secondary tariffs” and described them as “very severe.”

“On the one hand, it is very positive that President Trump is taking a strong stance on Russia. On the other hand, 50 days is a very long time if we see that they are killing innocent civilians, also every day,” Kallas said, according to The Telegraph.

US President Donald Trump expressed earlier his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin following revelations that Moscow plans to escalate military operations in eastern Ukraine within the next 60 days.

“I’m disappointed in President Putin because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago, but it doesn’t seem to get there,” Trump told reporters.

The statement comes after Putin reportedly informed Trump during their 3 July conversation that Russia intended to continue offensive operations until it secured the full administrative borders of occupied Ukrainian oblasts.

Following the statemens, Trump also announced on 14 July a new military assistance package for Ukraine totaling $10 billion, which includes Patriot missiles, air defense weapons, and artillery.

The proposed tariffs fall short of a bipartisan Senate bill seeking 500% tariffs on Russian oil importers.

Trump and Rutte unveiled a NATO-funded weapons program for Ukraine. “We’re gonna make top-of-the-line weapons, and they’ll be sent to NATO. NATO may choose to have a certain number of them sent to other countries,” Trump said.

Rutte said Ukraine will receive “massive numbers of military equipment, both for air defense, but also missiles, ammunition, etc.” Germany and Norway voiced readiness to purchase three Patriot batteries for Ukraine delivery.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the weapons decision. 

The military assistance package will help Ukraine to defend its citizen and infrustructure from Russian attacks that included more than 700 missile and drone strikes on some days last week.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said in a Fox News interview on 15 July that the US President Trump has sent a very clear message to Vladimir Putin.

“We’re giving you a chance for peace, but if you want war, we will arm Ukraine,” US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker added, outlining the administration’s dual approach of diplomatic outreach paired with military support.

This comes as the United States announced it will continue supplying weapons systems to Ukraine while European allies and Canada cover the costs. Trump announced on 14 July a new military assistance package for Ukraine totaling $10 billion, which includes Patriot missiles, air defense weapons, and artillery.

The centerpiece of the weapons package involves Patriot air defense systems, with the US allowing NATO member states operating these systems to transfer them to Ukraine from their stockpiles in exchange for American replacements. The plan encompasses 17 Patriot systems in total.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the decision to provide air defense systems, stating that every effort must be made to force Russia to end the war.

Germany plans to contribute two Patriot systems to Ukraine, though German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius indicated delivery may face delays.

Whitaker framed the weapons deliveries as a direct message to Moscow. “We gave you a chance for peace. President Trump is a peacemaker. But if you want war, we will arm Ukraine — and Europe will pay for it,” he said.

Senator Lindsey Graham announced on July 13 that a “record flow of weapons” would begin arriving in Ukraine in the coming days to strengthen its defense capabilities. 

During a 14 July White House press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump threatened to impose 100% “secondary tariffs” on Russia if a peace deal in Ukraine is not reached within 50 days.

US President Donald Trump announced that America will manufacture weapons for Ukraine, with European countries covering the costs. The US will also authorize the transfer of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.

Trump disclosed these details during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington.

The revelation comes as Trump announced a new military assistance package for Ukraine totaling $10 billion, which includes Patriot missiles, air defense weapons, and artillery.

Trump specified that some European NATO members may purchase weapons from the US for themselves while transferring equipment from their own stockpiles to Ukraine. He named Germany among such countries.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on 14 July that Germany cannot provide Ukraine with additional Patriot air defense systems as the country has only six left from its original stock of 12. Pistorius reportedly planned to discuss US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth a proposal he made last month allowing Germany to purchase two Patriot systems from the US specifically for Ukraine.

The US President also said that countries possessing Patriot air defense systems can send them to Ukraine and receive replacements from America. Trump indicated the US can now allow a country with 17 Patriot systems to send “most of them” to Ukraine.

“We have one country that has 17 Patriot systems ready for shipment, a large number of these 17 will go to the battlefield. This can be done quickly,” Trump added.

The specific country Trump referenced remains unclear. Among European nations, Germany operates the most Patriot systems with 12 units.

Trump also stated he expects a deal to end the war within the next 50 days. Otherwise, the US will impose 100% tariffs against Russia.

The German government previously indicated readiness to purchase additional Patriot air defense systems from the United States and transfer them to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is prepared to buy ten Patriot air defense systems from the US for $15 billion, with some European partners potentially assisting with financing.

Ukraine needs more air defence systems to defend its citizen and infrustructure from Russian attacks that included more than 700 missile and drone strikes on some days last week.

President Donald Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy why Ukraine hadn’t struck Moscow and suggested the country should increase pressure on Vladimir Putin by targeting both the Russian capital and St. Petersburg, the Washington Post reported on 15 July.

The exchange occurred during a conversation last week between the two leaders, according to a source cited by the newspaper. When Trump questioned why Ukraine hadn’t hit Moscow, Zelenskyy responded: “We can if you give us the weapons.”

“Trump said Ukraine needed to put more pressure on Putin, not just Moscow but St. Petersburg, too,” the Washington Post reported, citing a source familiar with the discussion.

The revelation comes as Trump announced a new military assistance package for Ukraine totaling $10 billion, which includes Patriot missiles, air defense weapons, and artillery. NATO countries will purchase these weapons from the United States and transfer them to Ukraine.

The military assistance reportedly may also include authorization for Ukraine to use its 18 long-range ATACMS missiles at their full 300-kilometer range, allowing strikes on military bases, airfields, and supply depots deep inside Russia that are currently out of reach.

Trump also considered sending Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine – the same weapons used against Iranian targets last month. “If fired from Ukraine, these could hit Moscow and St. Petersburg, and they were included in discussion as late as Friday,” the Washington Post reported. However, the Tomahawks are not included in the current delivery list, though they could be deployed later if Trump seeks additional leverage.

These decisions mark a significant policy shift from his previous stance of providing only defensive equipment.

The announcement came after US President Trump expressed his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Putin’s unwillingness to move towards a ceasefire and Russia’s escalating attacks on Kyiv and other cities. Putin reportedly said Trump during their phone call on 3 July that Moscow plans to escalate military operations in eastern Ukraine within the next 60 days, “securing the full administrative borders of occupied Ukrainian oblasts.”

“Trump is really pissed at Putin. His announcement tomorrow is going to be very aggressive,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios.

Trump also threatened to impose “severe tariffs” against Russia if it doesn’t make peace within 50 days. During Oval Office meeting on 14 July with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump described Putin as “a tough guy” and said he was “angry” at the Russian leader for not being “nice.”

When asked how far he would be willing to escalate if Putin decides to increase pressure, Trump declined to answer directly.

“Don’t ask me a question like that, ‘How far?'” Trump responded. “I just want to get the war settled.”

The military assistance package will help Ukraine to defend its citizen and infrustructure from Russian attacks that included more than 700 missile and drone strikes on some days last week.

Three Russian oblasts came under drone attacks overnight on 15 July, with officials reporting strikes in Lipetsk, Voronezh, and Rostov oblasts.

The attacks targeted industrial facilities and urban areas, leaving multiple casualties and damage in their wake.

In Lipetsk Oblast, Governor Igor Artamonov confirmed that “a UAV fell on the territory of an industrial zone” in Yelets, where one person was injured. According to the Telegram channel ASTRA, footage shows smoke rising from an industrial zone near the Energia plant. The channel reported that “what exactly is burning is still unknown,” though this facility has been targeted by drone attacks on multiple occasions.

The Energia plant specializes in manufacturing chemical current sources, with products “widely used in various sectors, including the defense industry, civil aviation, maritime transport, and the energy complex.”

Voronezh Oblast Governor Alexander Gusev reported that air defense forces “detected and destroyed 12 unmanned aerial vehicles” over Voronezh city and three districts. 

According to the governor, about 16 people were injured in downtown Voronezh after a downed drone crashed, while “several apartments in high-rise buildings (glazing, facades and balconies), private houses in the suburbs and in one of the districts” sustained damage.

Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slyusar claimed his oblasts’s air defenses shot down UAVs in the Verkhnedonskoye district, saying there were “no damage or casualties.”

Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced it had intercepted and destroyed 55 drones over Voronezh, Belgorod, Lipetsk, Rostov, and Kursk oblasts, as well as over the Black Sea. 

The overnight strikes represent a continuation of attacks on Russian territory that have intensified since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Ukraine has not confirmed its involvement in the attacks. However, Ukrainian officials have emphasized earlier they are conducting operations to weaken Russia’s rear military bases to reduce the aggressor’s offensive potential.

The Energia plant in Yelets previously suffered a drone attack on 3 July, which forced the facility to halt operations indefinitely. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the strike on the plant, which produces chemical power sources for military and civilian applications.

Russian forces injured five people, including a 14-year-old girl in its attacks on Sumy and Donetsk oblasts overnight on 15 July, according to regional authorities.

The Russian military regularly attacks Ukrainian oblasts with various types of weapons. Russia’s leadership denies that the Russian army has been conducting targeted attacks on the civilian infrastructure of Ukrainian cities and villages, killing civilians and destroying hospitals, schools, kindergartens, energy and water supply facilities.

Russian forces launched multiple missile strikes against the Shostka community in Sumy Oblast during the night of 15 July, according to Sumy Oblast Military Administration head Oleh Hryhorov.

Around 1:00 am, Russian three missile strikes on Shostka in Sumy Oblast targeted a medical facility, which caught fire following the attack, the State Emergency Service reported.

The strike injured a 14-year-old girl who sustained glass fragment wounds while running to shelter. The child was hospitalized and is receiving necessary medical care, according to regional authorities.

“The enemy (Russian army) deliberately targets civilian infrastructure. Peaceful residents and children suffer,” Hryhorov said.

Beyond the hospital, the attack damaged several multi-story buildings, private houses, and non-residential premises.

The July 15 attack follows a pattern of recent Russian strikes on the Shostka community. On the evening of 12 July, Russian forces hit the area with drones, sparking fires in non-residential buildings. Earlier that day, a Russian guided aerial bomb strike killed two residents of a village in the Sumy Oblast.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces struck Rodynske with Smerch multiple rocket launcher systems at 00:30 on 15 July, injuring four civilians in residential areas.

Two men aged 37 and 53, along with women aged 54 and 69, were hospitalized with blast injuries, closed rib fractures, shrapnel wounds, lacerations, multiple abrasions, and concussion, according to regional authorities.

The attack also damaged apartment buildings and outbuildings.

Across Ukrainian oblasts, Russian forces killed at least five people and injured at least 53, including four children, over the past day, according to regional authorities.

Donetsk Oblast saw the heaviest casualties, with two civilians killed in Kostiantynivka and Myrnohrad, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Nine others were injured across the region, including four in Rodynske, three in Pokrovsk, and two in Hannivka.

In Sumy city, 12 people were injured, including a 14-year-old girl. Three Russian drones “deliberately targeted” a university, injuring five staff members and a 19-year-old student, according to authorities.

Kherson Oblast recorded two deaths and 18 wounded, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 63-year-old woman was injured in the Nikopol district, while drone strikes on Dnipro damaged a high-rise building, six houses, and a school, Governor Serhii Lysak said.

Two people were injured in Zaporizhzhia Oblast‘s Polohy district, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

In Kharkiv Oblast, a 57-year-old woman died and nine people were injured, including two children, during attacks on Kharkiv city and nine other settlements, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

On July 14, Russian attacks killed six people and injured 30 others across Ukraine.

Russian forces launched 136 Shahed-type strike drones and decoy drones from multiple directions overnight. Air defense units shot down 61 drones across northern, eastern, and central oblasts, while 47 decoy drones were lost or suppressed by electronic warfare systems.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to head Ukraine’s government and substantially overhaul its operations, the president announced on 14 July.

“We are beginning the transformation of the executive power system in Ukraine. I have proposed Yulia Svyrydenko to head Ukraine’s government and substantially renew its work. I expect the presentation of the new government’s action program in the near future,” Zelenskyy said.

The presidential announcement followed Svyrydenko’s report on implementing agreements with European and American partners regarding Ukraine support, reached during the reconstruction conference in Rome.

“We must implement everything that can support the sustainability of our state and society as quickly as possible. We discussed specific measures that can strengthen Ukraine’s economic potential, expand support programs for Ukrainians and scale up domestic weapons production,” the president noted.

The government changes began with rumors about replacing Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Makarova. On 10 July, Zelenskyy first commented on changing Ukraine’s US ambassador, confirming Oksana Markarova’s replacement while expressing his desire for her to continue working in Ukraine.

The president previously indicated that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov could become the new US ambassador. Current Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal’s candidacy may be nominated for defense minister to replace Umerov.

Besides Shmyhal, officials considered Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and Deputy Prime Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov for the defense ministry position. According to sources, the new government appointment may occur at the parliamentary session on 17 July.

The president also announced plans to transfer the Ministry of Strategic Industries to the Defense Ministry structure. On 13 July, a meeting took place between the president and prime minister. Following the meeting, Zelenskyy announced executive power transformation to free up resources.

A Belarusian Air Force Mi-24 helicopter attacked and destroyed a Russian “Gerbera” strike drone heading toward Ukraine on 12 July, a source in Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Main Intelligence Directorate told Hromadske.

The source indicated that at least three Russian drones were operating in Belarusian airspace at the time of the incident.

“The Belarusian air defense helicopter, while performing airspace control duties, reported the detection and destruction of the strike drone,” the intelligence source said, according to Hromadske.

Debris from the downed drone fell in the Gomel region of Belarus, the source confirmed.

The incident occurred during a massive Russian attack on Ukraine involving 339 Shahed strike drones, 258 other types of unmanned aircraft, and 26 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Russian forces targeted multiple Ukrainian oblasts, with Kharkiv, Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi coming under Russian fire.

In Lutsk, a private residence was destroyed. Lviv’s Zaliznychny district saw a fire on the roof of a non-residential building, with several buildings damaged, including residential structures and a kindergarten. Windows were blown out and dozens of vehicles were damaged. Nine people were injured, with no fatalities reported.

Chernivtsi suffered casualties from the Russian attack, with two people killed and ten injured.

About six people were killed and 30 others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, regional officials reported on 14 July.

The Russian military regularly attacks Ukrainian oblasts with various types of weapons. Russia’s leadership denies that the Russian army has been conducting targeted attacks on the civilian infrastructure of Ukrainian cities and villages, killing civilians and destroying hospitals, schools, kindergartens, energy and water supply facilities.

Russian forces launched 136 Shahed-type strike drones and various decoy drones from multiple directions, along with four S-300/400 surface-to-air missiles from Kursk Oblast, Ukraine’s air defense reported. Air defense units shot down 61 Russian drones across northern, eastern, and central oblasts, while 47 decoy drones were lost or suppressed by electronic warfare systems.

The heaviest casualties occurred in Sumy Oblast, where three people died and 10 were wounded in what authorities described as intensive bombardment involving more than 90 attacks across 32 settlements. Two men, aged 50 and 55, were killed in drone and guided bomb strikes on the Shostka community while on the street during the attack, according to regional governor Volodymyr Artyukh.

“They were on the street during the attack and died on the spot from injuries received,” Artyukh said.

The strikes in Shostka destroyed civilian infrastructure and damaged approximately 30 multi-story buildings, private houses, and non-residential structures.

In Donetsk Oblast, two civilians were killed in the village of Bokove, and seven others were injured in Russian strikes across the oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. 

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast saw three people injured, including two children, in overnight drone attacks on 14 July, according to regional governor Serhiy Lysak.

“Three people were injured in Dniprovskyi district. All were hospitalized. Two 13-year-old girls are in moderate condition. A 51-year-old man is in serious condition,” Lysak said in Telegram.

The attacks ignited three houses, two garages, four outbuildings, and forest areas, while destroying seven vehicles and damaging four others.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 77-year-old woman was injured in a Russian attack, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

Kherson Oblast recorded one death and six injured as Russian shelling targeted residential areas and social infrastructure, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Russian forces also struck nine settlements in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring three people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russia has begun constructing protective structures at select military airbases following Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web drone strikes that targeted four Russian airfields on 1 June, according to satellite imagery analysis by the Institute for the Study of War.

Ukraine-based open-source intelligence organization Frontelligence Insight reported that satellite imagery collected on 7 July shows Russian forces have constructed roughly 10 reinforced bunkers with soil coverings, 12 concrete bunker-type structures without soil coverings, and eight hangar-style buildings on the aprons at Khalino Air Base in Kursk Oblast. Planet Labs satellite imagery from 27 June of the same base shows reinforced hangars, supporting the assessment.

Additional construction activity was observed at Saky Air Base in occupied Crimea, where satellite imagery from 9 July shows two concrete bunker-style structures, with Planet Labs imagery from 7 July also revealing concrete aircraft shelters. However, no construction efforts were detected at Dzhankoi Air Base in occupied Crimea.

The fortification efforts come after Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) launched Operation Spiderweb on 1 June, simultaneously targeting four Russian military airfields and destroying or damaging 41 strategic aircraft worth over $7 billion. The strikes hit Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo airfields, located between 2,000 and 4,000 kilometers from the frontline.

“The enemy bombed our state almost nightly with these aircraft, and today they truly felt that ‘retribution is inevitable […] We will respond to Russian terror and destroy the enemy everywhere – at sea, in the air, and on land. And if necessary – we’ll get them from underground too,” SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk said.

The operation targeted A-50 early warning planes, Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, and Tu-22 M3 medium-range bombers, destroying 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers used for attacks on Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally monitored the operation’s progress and had tasked the SBU with destroying Russian bombers, according to Maliuk.

The SBU operation required over 18 months of preparation and presented logistical challenges due to coordination across three time zones. The security service first transported FPV drones into Russian territory, followed by mobile wooden houses. The drones were concealed within these structures on cargo vehicles, with roofs designed to open remotely when activated.

Germany cannot provide Ukraine with additional Patriot air defense systems as the country has only six left from its original stock of 12, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told the Financial Times in an interview published on 14 July.

“We only have six left in Germany,” Pistorius said, explaining that Berlin had already given three Patriot systems to Kyiv while two others were lent to Poland and at least one remains unavailable due to maintenance or training.

“That’s really too few, especially considering the NATO capability goals we have to meet. We definitely can’t give any more,” he added.

The defense minister is scheduled to meet with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Washington on 14 July, where he plans to discuss a proposal he made last month allowing Germany to purchase two Patriot systems from the US specifically for Ukraine.

“I would discuss a proposal I made to Hegseth last month to let Germany buy two Patriot systems from the US for Kyiv,” Pistorius said, according to the Financial Times.

The meeting comes after Washington paused deliveries of US Patriot systems to Ukraine, creating additional pressure on European allies to fill capability gaps. US President Donald Trump indicated on 13 July that NATO allies could purchase Patriot systems for Ukraine, telling reporters: “I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they are going to have some, because they do need protection.”

President Donald Trump will announce a new plan to arm Ukraine on 14 July that is expected to include offensive weapons.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously said on 10 July that Germany was prepared to buy additional Patriot air defense systems from the United States and transfer them to Ukraine.

Despite renewed requests from Kyiv following recent Russian air attacks, Pistorius confirmed that Germany would not deliver its long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. The minister also rejected proposals for joint EU borrowing or eurobonds to help debt-laden countries like France and Italy increase defense spending, simply stating: “No.”

On the agenda for Monday’s Washington meeting is also a “road map” for US security support for Europe, with Pistorius warning that any reduction in American commitment should not create capability gaps that would risk “making an invitation to Putin.”

The defense minister criticized weapons manufacturers for delays in delivery despite Germany’s commitment to dramatically increase military spending. Berlin aims to raise annual defense spending to €162 billion by 2029, representing a 70 percent increase from current levels.

“There is no reason to complain any more,” Pistorius told the Financial Times. “The industry knows perfectly well that it is now responsible for delivering.”

President Donald Trump will announce a new plan to arm Ukraine on 14 July that is expected to include offensive weapons, marking a significant policy shift from his previous stance of providing only defensive equipment, Axios reported on 14 July, citing two sources with knowledge of the plans.

Two sources told Axios they had reason to believe the plan was likely to include long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow. However, neither was aware of any final decision.

The new initiative, which will be rolled out in a meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, will involve European countries paying for US-made weapons that will be sent to Ukraine.

The announcment came after Putin expressed his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Putin’s unwillingness to move towards a ceasefire and Russia’s escalating attacks on Kyiv and other cities. Putin reportedly said Trump during their phone call on 3 July that Moscow plans to escalate military operations in eastern Ukraine within the next 60 days, “securing the full administrative borders of occupied Ukrainian oblasts.”

“He wants to take all of it,” Trump reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron after the call, according to Axios sources familiar with the discussion.

“Trump is really pissed at Putin. His announcement tomorrow is going to be very aggressive,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios.

Trump’s criticism of Putin marked a shift in tone, with the US president expressing doubt about whether the Russian leader “seeks peace” and saying Putin speaks “a lot of nonsense.”

Origins of the plan

The scheme was proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the NATO summit two weeks ago. US and Ukrainian officials said the meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the summit was their best so far.

“Zelenskyy came like a normal human being, not crazy, and was dressed like a somebody that should be at NATO. He had a group of people with him that also seemed not crazy. So they had a good conversation,” a US official told Axios.

Zelenskyy wore a suit at the summit for the first time since 2022. The statement came after US officials criticized Zelenskyy for wearing military fatigues instead of a suit during his February 2025 Oval Office meeting.

Patriot systems and European funding

Trump told on 13 July, according to Reuters, that the weapons he would send Ukraine through European countries would include “various pieces of very sophisticated military (equipment),” including Patriot air defense batteries.

“European countries are going to pay us 100% for them. It is going to be business for us,” Trump said.

Sending offensive weapons would be a major shift for Trump, who had until recently said he would provide only defensive weapons to avoid escalating the conflict. T

he move comes after a halt on shipments that included missiles for Patriots, the US-made air defense systems that are currently protecting millions of Ukrainian civilians from Russia’s increasingly massive daily aerial attacks.

US President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin following revelations that Moscow plans to escalate military operations in eastern Ukraine within the next 60 days.

“I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was a man of his word, but he is bombing everyone,” Trump told journalists at Andrews Air Force Base.

The statement comes after Putin reportedly informed Trump during their 3 July conversation that Russia intended to continue offensive operations until it secured the full administrative borders of occupied Ukrainian oblasts.

“He wants to take all of it,” Trump reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron after the call, according to Axios sources familiar with the discussion.

Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including most of Luhansk Oblast, two-thirds of Donetsk Oblast, and parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts. Moscow illegally declared the annexation of the four oblasts following sham referenda in late 2022.

The revelation coincides with intensified Russian assaults in Donetsk Oblast and attempts to breach neighboring Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a region that has avoided significant incursions during the full-scale war.

Trump’s criticism of Putin marked a shift in tone, with the US president expressing doubt about whether the Russian leader “seeks peace” and saying Putin speaks “a lot of nonsense.”

Despite Moscow and Kyiv holding two rounds of face-to-face talks in Istanbul this year on 16 May and 2 June – the first direct negotiations in more than three years – the meetings led only to prisoner exchanges without progress toward a ceasefire. Russia continues pushing maximalist demands in negotiations.

When asked about potential sanctions against Russia, Trump responded: “We’ll see what happens tomorrow,” speaking on Sunday.

In response to the escalating situation, Trump announced plans to send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, stating they are necessary because Putin “speaks well, but then bombs everyone in the evening.”

The president is expected to announce a new weapons package for Ukraine on 14 July, which sources suggest will include offensive weapons, likely long-range missiles capable of reaching targets deep inside Russian territory.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said “Trump is very angry at Putin” and expects record weapons deliveries to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression in the coming days.

Taiwan has developed suicide drones similar to those Ukraine uses in its war against Russia to strengthen defense against potential Chinese aggression, the Financial Times reported on 27 June.

The new strike drone called Overkill has completed combat trials and certification. The drone features artificial intelligence systems and Auterion cameras – the same technologies that help Ukrainian drones destroy Russian tanks and military targets.

Development proceeds jointly with Thunder Tiger company and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST). Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier stated these drones provide Taiwan with capabilities Ukraine has already demonstrated in real combat operations.

Overkill suicide drones are maneuverable munitions with first-person view (FPV) controlled by operators.

“The lessons learned from the war in Ukraine are definitely applicable to a potential conflict with China,” Meier said. “The drone will easily destroy a Chinese warship if it lacks air defense.”

Thunder Tiger has agreed to Auterion software licenses for 25,000 drones, with some intended for export. The government is developing a special drone procurement budget planned for submission this fall.

Taiwan seeks to reduce dependence on Chinese components by establishing closer ties with American defense industry. Drone exports represent a major opportunity, particularly in Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia, where demand runs high for technology without Chinese parts.

Taiwan launched an intensive military drone development program three years ago, though production remains below planned targets. New developments like Overkill demonstrate progress and the country’s readiness to strengthen defensive capabilities amid rising regional tensions.

The island previously adopted Ukraine’s experience and tested its own naval drones. On 3 June, Ukraine’s Security Service conducted a special operation destroying the illegally constructed Kerch Bridge built by Russian occupiers. Russia acknowledged the explosion but claimed no damage occurred.

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Half of surveyed Ukrainians consider that the country is moving towards democratic development, while 41% believe it is heading towards authoritarianism, according to polling data from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

The institute noted it lacks comparative data from previous periods, making it impossible to determine whether more or fewer people currently perceive Ukraine’s movement towards democracy or authoritarianism compared to earlier times.

Trust in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emerged as a key factor dividing public opinion. Among those who do not trust the president, an overwhelming majority view the country as moving towards authoritarianism – 82% among those who completely distrust him and 84% among those who rather distrust him.

The pattern reverses among Zelenskyy supporters. Those who fully trust the head of state see democratic progress, with 76% saying the country moves towards greater democracy. Among those who rather trust the president, opinions split more evenly: 50% perceive movement towards democracy while 41% see authoritarianism.

KIIS posed an additional open-ended question to respondents who believe Ukraine is moving towards authoritarianism, asking them to explain their reasoning. Their most frequent concerns centered on restrictions of freedom of speech and pressure on media, concentration of power, general dissatisfaction with events and decisions in the country, corruption, and activities of territorial recruitment centers (TCC).

The institute highlighted that only 4% of such respondents mentioned the absence of elections as a concern, while another 4% cited persecution of the opposition. An additional 1% specifically referenced sanctions and persecution of former president Petro Poroshenko.

KIIS conducted the polling from 28 May to 3 June 2025, using telephone interviews. The survey included 1,092 respondents across all regions controlled by Ukraine’s government.

Under normal circumstances, the statistical margin of error for such a sample would not exceed 3.9% for indicators close to 50%, 3.4% for indicators close to 25%, 2.4% for indicators close to 10%, and 1.7% for indicators close to 5%. However, wartime conditions introduce additional systematic deviation, according to KIIS.

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Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, has passed legislation suspending family reunification for migrants who hold subsidiary protection status rather than full refugee status, Reuters reported on 27 June.

The upper house, the Bundesrat, is expected to approve the bill in July, after which it will take effect.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the new law is necessary because Germany’s integration capacity, particularly in education, childcare and housing construction, has reached its limits.

“Immigration must have limits, and we are reflecting that politically,” he told the Bundestag during a heated debate ahead of Friday’s vote.

Dobrindt noted that suspending family reunification will help curb illegal migration, where one family member travels to Germany in advance to later bring others. The current legal framework caps the number of visas issued to the close family of refugees under subsidiary protection to 1,000 a month. Suspending the right of family reunification would therefore lead to 12,000 fewer people immigrating to Germany each year, according to Dobrindt.

Germany currently hosts about 388,000 refugees with “subsidiary protection status”, a form of international protection granted to people who do not qualify as refugees but who still face a real risk of serious harm if returned to their home country. The majority of those holding this status are Syrians.

In April, Friedrich Merz announced his intention to reduce the number of new asylum seekers in the country to fewer than 100,000 people per year. According to the Central Register of Foreigners, Germany recorded a new record in September 2024: 3.48 million people have refugee status, asylum seeker status, or are candidates who remain in the country due to inability to deport them. This is 60,000 more than at the end of 2023 and represents the highest figure since the 1950s.

As of early 2025, Germany hosts approximately 1.18 to 1.25 million Ukrainian refugees, making it the European country with the highest number of Ukrainians who have fled the war. This figure represents nearly 28% of all Ukrainian refugees in the European Union.

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Around 150 pro-Palestinian activists broke into the premises of OIP Land Systems in Tournai, Belgium, on 23 June, causing approximately one million euros in damage to military equipment destined for Ukraine, Belgian media 7sur7 and Israeli outlet Israel Hayom report.

The activists, dressed in white coveralls with their faces masked, entered the company’s warehouses as part of the “Stop Arming Israel” campaign, demanding Belgium respect the military embargo against Israel and impose sanctions on the country.

“People entered the warehouse with grinders and hammers,” OIP Land Systems CEO Freddy Versluys told Belgian media. “They vandalized our offices, destroyed computers, then headed to the workshops, where they severely damaged several vehicles. They completely went wild with paint bombs and hammers.”

The protesters targeted OIP because the company belongs to Elbit Systems, a major Israeli defense corporation. According to the activists, Elbit supplies 85% of drones and most ground military equipment used by the Israeli Defense Forces.

However, Versluys emphasized that OIP operates completely autonomously and “has not produced defense systems for Israel for twenty years.”

“We no longer sell anything to Israel, they have vandalized vehicles destined for Ukraine,” he added.

The attack will delay the next delivery to Ukraine by at least one month, according to the CEO. Since Russia’s invasion, the company has already delivered approximately 260 armored vehicles to the Ukrainian army, including Leopard 1 tanks previously used by the Belgian military.

“A next delivery is now delayed by at least a month. That’s all these Hamas sympathizers will have managed to accomplish with their action,” Versluys stated, announcing his intention to file a complaint.

Police from the Tournai area supervised the militants, supported by colleagues from the Borinage zone equipped with anti-riot armored vehicles. A federal police helicopter also provided reinforcement and flew over the activists. Some protesters who fled to neighboring villages were pursued by law enforcement. According to Stop Arming Israel, at least thirty people were arrested.

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A new survey reveals shifting attitudes among Polish citizens toward supporting Ukraine, with 46% of respondents believing military aid should be reduced or suspended, according to a poll commissioned by Defence24 and Stand With Ukraine.

The nationwide survey, conducted by the Institute for Market and Social Research (IBRiS) in June 2025, shows that while 52% of Poles support continued diplomatic backing for Ukraine on the international stage, enthusiasm for deeper engagement has cooled significantly since the war began.

“Today, 46% of respondents believe that military aid should be reduced or suspended,” the poll found, with Poles citing concerns about “the risk of further disarming their own army” and doubts about transparency in aid distribution.

The reluctance extends to potential peacekeeping missions, with only 15% supporting the idea of sending Polish soldiers to Ukraine in the future, while 64% oppose such deployment.

Growing war fatigue and calls for negotiations

The survey reveals widespread skepticism about a quick end to the conflict. Only 14% of respondents believe fighting will end in 2025 through peace or a lasting ceasefire, while 41% consider such a scenario unlikely.

Despite this pessimism, 62% of Poles believe Ukraine should begin peace negotiations with Russia. However, only 28% think Ukraine should agree to halt military operations without receiving security guarantees from NATO.

“Poles do not reject the idea of an agreement, but expect it to be based on lasting safeguards – not an illusory truce,” the report states.

A decisive 74% of respondents insist that any potential peace talks between the United States and Russia must include Ukraine at the negotiating table, with only 14% considering Ukrainian participation unnecessary.

Security concerns drive domestic priorities

Polish anxiety about Russian threats appears to be driving the shift in attitudes. The poll shows 75% support NATO strengthening its eastern flank in preparation for possible Russian aggression, with only 11% opposing such measures.

When asked about specific attack scenarios, 24% of respondents consider a Russian attack on Poland probable – the highest percentage for any NATO country in the survey. An attack on the Baltic states was deemed likely by 18% of respondents.

The poll suggests Poles believe any Russian attack would come after the Ukraine war ends, when Moscow could “test” NATO’s defensive capabilities in other regions.

Defense spending and military readiness

Polish concerns about their country’s preparedness are stark. Only 8% rate Poland’s war preparation as “good,” while just 9% consider the equipment of Polish armed forces sufficient in case of Russian aggression.

Half of the respondents support increasing defense spending, while 30% want it maintained at current levels. Only 5% favor reducing military expenditure.

Support for stronger domestic defense measures is substantial: 42% back restoring mandatory military service for men, 72% support mandatory crisis management training for civilians, and 69% favor mandatory military or defense training for school students.

However, when asked whether they would volunteer for military service if Poland were attacked, only 23% answered yes, while 51% said no and 26% had no opinion.

Information warfare concerns

The survey reveals heightened awareness of Russian information operations. A decisive majority of respondents believe Russian influence through disinformation, propaganda, and intelligence activities is present in Polish media.

Poles identify various forms of hybrid warfare including “troll farm” activity on social media, distribution of fake news, impersonation of public institutions through false SMS and email messages, and disruption of digital infrastructure including GPS systems.

EU and NATO membership for Ukraine loses support

Ukrainian integration into Western structures no longer enjoys clear backing from Polish society. Only 35% support Ukrainian EU membership while 42% oppose it. NATO membership for Ukraine has 37% support against 42% opposition.

Arguments against include concerns about unfair economic competition, corruption problems, and risks of conflict escalation through military integration.

Economic support for Ukraine also faces resistance, with only 35% of respondents accepting continued economic aid while 44% oppose it.

Despite reduced enthusiasm for aid, 44% of Poles still believe their country’s support for Ukraine improves Poland’s own security, while 37% disagree.

The poll was conducted by IBRiS on behalf of the Stand With Ukraine Foundation and Defence24 portal, surveying Polish public opinion on key issues related to the war in Ukraine, assessment of support provided to Kyiv, evaluation of Poland’s defense readiness, and concerns about Russian threats.

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Germany’s Federal Court of Justice has upheld life sentences for a married couple convicted of murdering two Ukrainian women to steal their baby, according to Mannheimer Morgen.

The country’s highest criminal court rejected the husband’s appeal against the February ruling by Mannheim Regional Court, according to the report. His wife did not file an appeal, making the conviction legally final.

The Mannheim court found that the couple killed a 27-year-old Ukrainian woman and her 51-year-old mother to pass off the younger woman’s five-week-old baby as their own child. “Before the birth they had already made contact with the pregnant Ukrainian via social media,” the court determined. The victims lived in a refugee shelter in Wiesloch in the Rhine-Neckar district.

According to the court’s findings, the couple gave both women a drink laced with sedatives after a joint dinner. The husband then “killed them with a rubber hammer, disposed of one body in a lake and set the other on fire with gasoline.”

The couple subsequently presented the infant as their biological child. The wife had previously obtained a fraudulent birth certificate from the registry office for her supposedly home-born daughter.

A passerby discovered the 27-year-old woman’s body on the Rhine riverbank in early March 2024. Police arrested the couple several days later and found the baby unharmed in their custody.

The child was eventually returned to Ukraine, where she remains under her aunt’s care, according to the report.

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Norway will allocate NOK 60 million ($5.9 million) to Ukrainian women’s organizations through a three-year partnership with FOKUS (Forum for Women and Development), the Norwegian government announced on 26 June.

The funding targets initiatives to strengthen women’s rights, prevent gender-based violence, and promote women’s participation in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. Up to 90 Ukrainian women’s organizations will receive support under the agreement, with many located in smaller towns and remote areas beyond Kyiv.

“Women have an important role to play both in Ukraine’s fight for freedom and in the country’s reconstruction efforts,” Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said. “It is essential to invest in strengthening women’s rights and participation in these processes to build a free, fair and sustainable Ukraine.”

FOKUS will collaborate with two central Ukrainian women’s organizations to distribute the funds. The Ukrainian Women’s Fund (UWF) will handle disbursement to local organizations, while La Strada Ukraine operates the country’s largest helpline for victims of human trafficking and gender-based violence.

The need for such assistance has increased dramatically since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, according to Norwegian officials. La Strada Ukraine’s services have seen heightened demand as the conflict continues.

“In the midst of a brutal, ongoing war, Ukrainian women have taken responsibility for keeping their communities functioning,” Eide explained.

Local women’s organizations possess unique insight into their communities’ needs and will play a pivotal role in reconstruction efforts, Norwegian authorities noted. The funding will also support establishing networks of women’s organizations and strengthening women’s economic and political participation in society.

The three-year duration provides partner organizations with predictability and flexibility for long-term planning. Funding comes from Norway’s Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine.

The announcement follows Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s earlier declaration that Norway will provide 1 billion euros in humanitarian and civilian aid to Ukraine in 2025. Recent polling shows most Norwegians support increasing assistance to Ukraine.

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Russian banks face a credible risk of systemic crisis within 12 months as bad debt levels surge across corporate and retail lending portfolios, according to Bloomberg News reporting based on banking officials and internal documents.

Current and former banking officials described the situation as dangerous, with growing concerns about clients failing to make loan payments due to record-high interest rates. The officials spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to discuss internal sector anxieties publicly.

“We are on the verge of slipping into a recession,” Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said during a panel discussion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum last week. Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina countered that the economy was experiencing “a necessary cooling,” while Finance Minister Anton Siluanov acknowledged “we’re going through a cold spell now.”

Russian President Putin responded the following day: “Some specialists, experts, point to the risks of stagnation and even recession. This, of course, should not be allowed under any circumstances.”

Banks estimate their bad debts run to trillions of rubles, according to people familiar with internal assessments. One estimate showed corporate loan portfolios decreased by 1.5 trillion rubles ($19 billion) in the first two months of 2025 before stabilizing.

Official statistics may mask the debt problem’s true scale. While public data on late payments don’t suggest serious issues, an internal note from one major bank indicates many more loans are not being repaid as planned, with borrowers deferring payments.

The banking strain could undermine Putin’s ability to sustain the Ukraine war, now in its fourth year, particularly if Western allies impose harsher financial sector sanctions. The European Union is currently discussing fresh restrictions on Russian banks.

Russia’s two-track economy shows mounting problems. The military-industrial complex benefits from massive state war spending while private-sector businesses face slowing demand, rising costs and lower export prices. Less documented is the banking sector strain after granting favorable loans to fund the Kremlin’s war effort.

The Bank of Russia hiked its key interest rate to a record 21% in October before cutting it to 20% this month following complaints that punitive debt costs were choking growth and threatening company bankruptcies.

Economic growth slowed sharply from 4.5% last year to 1.4% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Federal Statistics Service data.

A May central bank report warned of “vulnerabilities of the financial sector” including “credit risk and concentration risk in corporate lending” and “deteriorating loan performance” in consumer lending. Thirteen of Russia’s largest 78 companies were unable to service their debt, double the previous year’s number.

Russia’s ACRA rating agency warned in May of “deterioration in the quality of loan debt,” noting that 20% of the banking industry’s capital comes from borrowers whose creditworthiness faces significant decline due to high interest rates.

The Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting, a think tank with Kremlin ties, found a “moderate probability” of systemic banking crisis by April 2026, warning the risk could increase with continued lending decline and rising poorly performing loans.

Despite these concerns, Russian banks posted record profits of 3.8 trillion rubles in 2024, beating the previous year by 20%, according to central bank data.

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Preliminary intelligence assessments provided to European governments indicate Iran’s 408kg stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains largely intact following US strikes on the country’s main nuclear facilities, the Financial Times reported on 26 June, citing two officials.

The intelligence suggests Iran’s uranium enriched close to weapons-grade levels was not concentrated at Fordow, one of its two main enrichment sites, when US forces attacked last weekend. Instead, the stockpile had been distributed to various other locations, according to the assessments.

The findings challenge President Donald Trump’s assertion that the bombing had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme. “Nothing was taken out of [the] facility. Would take too long, too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Thursday, in an apparent reference to Fordow.

European Union governments are still awaiting a full intelligence report on damage to Fordow, which was built deep beneath a mountain near the holy city of Qom. One initial report suggested “extensive damages, but not full structural destruction,” according to the officials.

Iranian officials indicated the enriched uranium stockpile was moved before the US bombing, which came after days of Israeli strikes on the country. The US used bunker-buster bombs to attack Fordow and Natanz, Iran’s other main uranium enrichment facility, on Sunday. Cruise missiles targeted a third site, Isfahan, used in the fuel conversion cycle and for storage.

Trump has dismissed a provisional American intelligence assessment, leaked to US media, that concluded Iran’s nuclear programme had been set back by only months. The Israel Atomic Energy Commission assessed this week that US and Israeli strikes had “set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years.”

However, experts warn that if Tehran retained its stockpile of enriched uranium and established advanced centrifuges at hidden sites, it could still produce the fissile material required for weapons.

Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told French Radio Thursday that Iran’s nuclear programme had “suffered enormous damage,” though he said claims of complete destruction were overblown. Iran maintains its programme serves peaceful civilian purposes.

Before the conflict began on 13 June, the 408kg stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity had been stored at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, experts said. Iran’s total enriched uranium stockpile exceeded 8,400kg, though most was enriched to low levels.

Satellite images of Fordow after Sunday’s bombing show tunnel entrances apparently sealed with earth and holes that may mark entry points of the US’s 30,000lb precision-guided bunker busters. Access roads also appear damaged.

Grossi said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to the IAEA on 13 June warning that Iran would “adopt special measures to protect our nuclear equipment and materials.” The UN nuclear watchdog’s inspectors have been unable to visit the plants since Israel launched its assault on Iran.

The US has not provided definitive intelligence to EU allies on Iran’s remaining nuclear capabilities following the strikes and is withholding clear guidance on future relations with Tehran, three officials briefed on the discussions said. EU policy toward Tehran remains “on hold” pending a new Washington initiative on seeking a diplomatic solution to the nuclear crisis.

Conversations between Trump and EU leaders this week failed to provide clarity, the officials said. The Trump administration had been holding indirect negotiations with Tehran before the war in hopes of curbing its nuclear activities.

Trump said earlier this week that Washington would talk to Tehran next week, but also suggested a deal might not be needed following the strikes on Iran’s nuclear plants. “It is completely erratic,” said one official. “For now, we are doing nothing.”

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Iran’s escalating conflict with Israel threatens to disrupt the Islamic republic’s ballistic missile supplies to Russia, Western officials tell The Telegraph.

Tehran appears poised to prioritize its own stockpile over promised deliveries to Moscow as hostilities intensify.

“The recent hostilities that we’ve seen between Israel and Iran certainly will negatively impact Iran’s future donations, specifically missiles,” a senior NATO official said.

The assessment suggests Russia will need to either increase domestic missile production or rely more heavily on North Korea for supplies.

According to estimates provided in the report, Iran’s missile stockpile stands at 1,445 out of an estimated 3,000 missiles. The country has launched 555 missiles, while Israel destroyed 1,000, leaving approximately 10 missiles remaining as of the reported “Day of war” starting 13 June.

The NATO source indicated Iran’s support for Russia’s production of Iranian-designed attack drones could also diminish. However, this development may pose less concern for Moscow, which now manufactures Shahed-type one-way attack drones domestically.

Iran and Russia reached an agreement earlier in 2025 for Tehran to supply ballistic missiles for Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. The two countries have also signed a defense pact committing to joint military development.

The NATO official suggested Moscow would likely exploit Israel’s destruction of Iran’s air defense systems “opportunistically” to market versions of its S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries. Russian intelligence officers could be dispatched to Tehran to analyze data from Israel’s recent F-35 missions over Iranian territory.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s defense minister indicated direct presidential talks may be necessary to achieve a ceasefire. Rustem Umerov, who has led Kyiv’s delegation in two rounds of unsuccessful talks with Russian diplomats, said future negotiations would need to focus on arranging a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin.

“During this time, we could achieve some agreements on a ceasefire,” Umerov said on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague. The statement represents a shift from Ukraine’s previous push for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire before leader-level talks.

Putin has suggested a third round of direct talks between the two countries could occur before the end of June. Neither president has ruled out meeting as part of Donald Trump’s efforts to end the three-year war.

Estonia’s intelligence service reported on 20 June that Russian drone attacks on Ukraine might decrease due to Middle East tensions. President Zelenskyy told Sky News on 25 June that Russia ordered Shahed attack drones from Iran before the full-scale invasion began, with Tehran subsequently transferring thousands of these drones to Moscow.

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The Swiss Federal Council approved a draft bilateral cooperation agreement with Ukraine on reconstruction at its meeting on 25 June, establishing a legal framework for Swiss private sector involvement in Ukraine’s rebuilding process.

The agreement will enable Switzerland to provide Ukraine with non-repayable financial assistance for purchasing goods and services from Swiss companies for reconstruction projects, according to the Swiss government. Support will target priority sectors including energy, transport, machinery, construction, water supply, and disaster prevention.

“The agreement stipulates that Ukraine will play a key role in selecting projects: It will identify its reconstruction needs and submit a list of goods and services that it requires from Switzerland,” the government reported. “These goods and services will be procured in accordance with Swiss public procurement law.”

The bilateral agreement will be signed at the Ukraine Recovery Conference scheduled for 10-11 July in Rome. Swiss Federal Council delegate for Ukraine Jacques Gerber and Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliya Svyrydenko will sign the document on the conference sidelines.

Currently, Swiss private sector involvement in Ukraine is limited to companies already established in the country. The new agreement addresses this constraint by creating a legal basis for Swiss companies not yet present in Ukraine to participate in reconstruction efforts.

The Swiss government devised measures in summer 2024 to encourage greater private sector involvement as a complement to humanitarian aid and conventional international cooperation projects.

Once signed, the Federal Council will initiate a consultation procedure and submit the agreement to Swiss parliament for ratification, according to government officials.

The agreement forms part of Switzerland’s broader commitment to Ukraine reconstruction. On 12 February, the Federal Council adopted a 2025-2028 country programme for Ukraine, marking the start of a 12-year support process for reconstruction, reforms and sustainable development.

The programme allocates CHF 1.5 billion ($1.9 bn) from the international cooperation budget through 2028, with CHF 500 million ($620 mn) designated specifically for Swiss private sector involvement in reconstruction efforts. The programme focuses on protecting civilian population, achieving peace and economic recovery, and strengthening institutions.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference series launched in Lugano following the outbreak of war in 2022 and focuses on rapid recovery and long-term reconstruction of Ukraine. The Rome conference will mark the fourth such gathering.

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