Russia has lost 1,025,260 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on July 5.
The number includes 1,050 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,990 tanks, 22,953 armored fighting vehicles, 54,148 vehicles and fuel tanks, 29,921 artillery systems, 1,428 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,191 air defense systems, 420 airplanes, 340 helicopters, 43,609 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
The total combat losses of Russian forces in Ukraine from February 24, 2022, to July 5, 2025, are estimated at approximately 1,025,260 personnel, with 1,050 eliminated in the past 24 hours alone.
U.S. Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command as the 21st Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) on July 4 during a ceremony at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte presided over the handover, commending outgoing U.S. Army General Christopher G. Cavoli for his contributions to modernizing NATO's collective defense and bolstering support for Ukraine.
Rutte highlighted Cavoli's efforts to strengthen NATO’s presence in the Baltic Sea in response to threats to critical undersea infrastructure and credited him with conceiving and establishing NATO’s new command in Germany to enhance assistance to Ukraine. He also noted Cavoli's role in refocusing the Alliance on collective defense following the 2022 Madrid Summit, where NATO adopted a new Strategic Concept in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Cavoli played a central role in developing and securing approval for NATO’s regional defense plans at the 2023 Vilnius Summit—a significant overhaul of the Alliance’s military posture since the Cold War.
His tenure also included the integration of Finland and Sweden into NATO’s military structures, expanding the Alliance’s strategic reach. In 2024, Cavoli oversaw "Steadfast Defender," NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War, involving approximately 90,000 troops practicing large-scale reinforcement across the eastern flank and validating a new high-readiness force model.
Rutte specifically acknowledged Cavoli's leadership in rapidly reinforcing NATO's Baltic Sea presence during threats to underwater infrastructure and for establishing the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), which continues to support Ukraine.
The secretary general welcomed General Grynkewich, noting that, as a former fighter pilot, he brings "a deep understanding of the threats we face from the skies, and across other domains." Rutte added that Grynkewich’s recent role as Director of Operations of the Joint Staff provides him with broad experience in advancing military and security priorities amid global challenges.
Allied Command Operations—responsible for planning and executing all NATO operations—now falls under General Grynkewich's command, a position first held by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
China is ready to enhance strategic communication and coordination with France to support a political resolution of the “Ukrainian crisis” — the term China uses to describe Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Ukraine targeted the Borisoglebsk airfield in Russia's Voronezh Oblast overnight on July 5, damaging a warehouse of guided bombs, aircraft, and other military assets, Ukraine's General Staff reported.
The airfield hosts Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-30SM jets that Russia regularly uses in air strikes against Ukraine. The military said the strike may have destroyed a training and combat aircraft, with further assessments underway.
The NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) detected a fire near the Borisoglebsk military airfield shortly after the strike. Residents in the area reported 8–10 powerful explosions around 2 a.m. local time, according to Russian independent outlet Astra.
The strike marked part of a broader overnight drone campaign across Russia, with explosions and fires reported in at least six regions.
The Russian Defense Ministry said 42 drones were intercepted within a three-hour period, most of them over Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk oblasts, which border Ukraine.
Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko said two drones were downed south of St. Petersburg, prompting a temporary suspension of flights at Pulkovo airport. No casualties or damage were reported.
The governor of the Smolensk Oblast in western Russia said anti-aircraft units downed three drones without casualties or damage. The governor of the Voronezh Oblast, bordering Ukraine, also confirmed the destruction of "several" drones.
Explosions were also heard overnight in Cheboksary, the capital of the Chuvash Republic, where video footage shared online showed a fire reportedly at a local industrial site.
Additionally, explosions were heard during the night in Engels, Saratov Oblast, with some Telegram channels suggesting a military airfield was likely targeted.
The attacks come as Russia escalates aerial assaults on Ukraine, prompting Kyiv to increase long-range drone strikes on Russian military targets.
Ukrainian officials say the drone operations aim to undermine Russia's strike capabilities and bring the war closer to those enabling the Kremlin's campaign.
The Head of the National Agency of Ukraine for Finding, Tracing, and Management of Assets (ARMA), Olena Duma, and the Vice President of the Czech-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Markus Čupek, have signed a Cooperation Agreement between the two institutions.
Ukraine was once again represented in the festive U.S. Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. This year, two separate groups marched through the center of the capital — organized by the US Ukrainian Activists (USUA) and the United Help Ukraine along with the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has gathered information on a company under enemy control that provides services to the so-called General Prosecutor's Office of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has detained an agent of the Russian FSB — a 17-year-old high school graduate — who coordinated missile and drone attacks on Kyiv.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on July 4 that her country's European Union aspirations depend on Moldovan citizens as a crucial September 28 election approaches.
Sandu hopes her pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) will retain its parliamentary majority, paving the way for Moldova, one of Europe's poorest nations, to join the EU by 2030.
Sandu made her remarks at the conclusion of the 27-nation bloc's inaugural summit with Moldova. Her PAS party faces a challenge from the pro-Russian Socialist Party and its allies in the upcoming election. Sandu secured re-election last year by a narrow margin against a Socialist challenger in the ex-Soviet state, located between Ukraine and Romania. A referendum seeking public backing for EU membership also just barely surpassed a 50% majority.
"Prosperity and peace do not occur for nothing, you have to build them. With collective effort and unity. When citizens are united and choose the correct path and proceed along it," Sandu told a news conference after the summit. "The European Union is already happening here. The only risk is if we stop. If we decide this autumn that nothing will stop us, then everything is possible."
Sandu and her party have condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accuse Moscow of destabilizing Moldova. Russia, in turn, claims many Moldovans desire to maintain ties with Moscow and accuses Sandu of fostering Russophobia.
Opinion polls suggest that no single party will likely secure a parliamentary majority. If no majority emerges, pro-European parties would need to engage in coalition talks.
At the summit, which included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council head Antonio Costa, the EU announced the disbursement of the first €270 million ($318 million) tranche of an Economic Growth Plan for Moldova.
Following a recent sharp increase, barley prices in Ukraine have stabilized at UAH 9,350-9,500 per tonne (or USD 196-200 per tonne) over the past week, including the delivery to the Black Sea ports.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on July 4 called on the United States to show "flexibility" in its military aid to Ukraine, after Washington unexpectedly paused some weapon deliveries citing concerns over dwindling domestic stockpiles.
The Pentagon's decision to halt transfers of artillery rounds and air defense systems coincides with a significant escalation in Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, exposing critical vulnerabilities in Ukraine's air defense capabilities as current US funding nears expiration this summer.
"The US has to make sure that the stockpiles are at the level we need for the U.S. to have, because they are crucial for our collective defense," Rutte told reporters on July 4. "At the same time, of course, we hope for the flexibility, we have to make sure also that Ukraine can move forward."
The Pentagon announced the aid pause this week, citing a review of U.S. stockpiles as it assesses the need to conserve weapons for other potential security threats. This move comes as Russia intensified its air campaign, unleashing record drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other major urban centers overnight.
President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone Friday, aiming to persuade the U.S. leader to resume deliveries and increase weapon sales to the country. Trump expressed disappointment following his latest conversation with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, which produced no progress toward a ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine, now in its fourth-year.
Given Russia's apparent unwillingness to pursue a ceasefire, allies must "be sure" Ukraine "has what it needs to stay in the fight," Rutte emphasized. He spoke after a ceremony welcoming Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, the new commander of U.S. military forces in Europe and top NATO military commander.
Grynkewich acknowledged the ongoing discussions, adding: "We’ll see more play out of the next week or two." He also announced a 90-day review of U.S. forces in Europe, examining potential future US posture in the region.
A broader US military review is expected later this summer, potentially outlining significant reductions in Europe. This prospect has already raised concerns among European NATO allies, who say they have received no prior information about these plans.
Children under the age of 14 who carry out serious missions for Russians, such as sabotage or terrorism, are not subject to criminal liability under Ukrainian law. However, their actions will not go without consequences, and parents may be held responsible as well.
Berlin has confirmed that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will take part in the 4th Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025), to be held in Rome on July 10-11.
The British and French-led "coalition of the willing" is set to meet in the U.K. next week, Politico reported on July 4.
"On the agenda, there's how to maintain Ukraine in a capacity to fight, how to increase pressure on Russia, and how to continue the work on the next steps," an unnamed French official told Politico.
As Washington's intensified efforts to broker a ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine failed, two rounds of largely inconclusive peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow took place in Turkey.
Following various failed attempts to obtain a ceasefire or peace deal, the coalition will meet again on July 10.
The French official told Politico that the priorities of the "coalition of the willing" have not changed, and will continue to focus on Ukraine's military needs.
The meeting will be led by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, with President Volodymyr Zelensky and various leaders joining virtually, the official said.
The "coalition of the willing" has met repeatedly to determine potential security guarantees and a peacekeeping force for Ukraine. Leaders of 31 nations met in Paris on March 27 at a summit for the coalition.
Several countries, including France and the U.K., which lead the coalition, have pledged to send troops on the ground to enforce a potential ceasefire.
The prayer book for Ukrainian intelligence officers was published by military chaplains of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.
The U.S. has "reviewed" the components it is supplying Ukraine, but did not halt assistance, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on July 4.
"The United States has not stopped supplying weapons and supporting Ukraine, it has reviewed the decision to supply specific components... (this is) significant but very different from the total American disengagement that has been reported," Meloni said, speaking at a forum.
U.S. President Donald Trump on July 3 denied that Washington has paused supplying weapons to Kyiv amid media reports of a halt in shipments.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed on July 2 that some military assistance to Ukraine has been halted as the U.S. Defense Department conducts a review of foreign aid deliveries.
"I hope for positive developments on the issue," Meloni said, adding that she has spoken to Trump regarding Ukraine.
The weapons reportedly held back include two dozen Patriot air defense missiles, over two dozen Stinger air-defense systems, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, drones, and more than 90 AIM air-to-air missiles launched from F-16 fighter jets.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on July 2 that he understands the White House's need to safeguard its own defense capabilities, but underscored that Ukraine urgently requires sustained support.
"I totally understand that the U.S. always has to make sure its interests are covered... When it comes to Ukraine, in the short term, Ukraine cannot do without all the support it can get," Rutte said.
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers voiced their opposition to the decision to halt military aid shipments to Ukraine on July 2.
"We must build up our own Defense Industrial Base here in the U.S. while simultaneously providing the needed assistance to our allies who are defending their freedom from brutal invading dictators. To not do both is unacceptable," Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, described the military aid pause as "fallacious and maybe even disingenuous."
As many as 136 combat engagements were recorded on the front lines as of 22:00 on July 4, with Russian forces launching 42 assaults on Ukrainian forces' positions in the Pokrovsk sector. Eight battles in this sector are still ongoing.
The post–World War II European security architecture has been dismantled by Russia, and a new one can only emerge either after the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war or the departure of Vladimir Putin from power.
Four Ukrainian citizens were injured in a bus accident in Germany. One person, who sustained multiple bruises and hematomas, was hospitalized at a local clinic, while the other three received travel tickets after a medical examination to continue their journey.
The commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces warned on July 4 that Russian Shahed drone strikes could escalate to 1,000 per day, prompting Ukraine to consider relocating drone production.
"Under the pressure of increasing mass use by the enemy of a cheap, but everywhere accessible Shahed... There will be 1,000 units (launched) per day and more," Robert "Magyar" Brovdi said in a social media post.
Russia regularly targets Ukrainian cities with Iranian-designed Shahed drones. On the night of July 4, it launched drones and ballistic missiles at Kyiv, injuring at least 26 people and killing one. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched a record 550 drones and missiles during the seven-hour barrage.
"I am not scaring anyone," Brovdi added, saying his warning is based on intelligence analysis.
Meanwhile, Kyiv is considering relocating drone production amid the increased threat of Russian attacks. Ukraine has also sought to expand its own defense production abroad, reaching key agreements with allies in recent weeks.
On July 4, Copenhagen and Kyiv signed an agreement that allows Ukrainian defense companies to open production facilities in Denmark, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin said.
Meanwhile, Skyeton Prevail Solutions — a joint venture between Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton and U.K.-based Prevail Solutions, will manufacture and supply Raybird drones in the U.K., the two companies announced on July 2.
Zelensky and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer met in London on June 23, where the two leaders agreed to an "industrial military co-production agreement."
Following the first EU-Moldova summit, the two sides signed a joint declaration that placed particular emphasis on the threats posed by the Russian Federation to Moldova and the region as a whole.
Russia's increasing use of chemical weapons is becoming part of its military doctrine, raising the risk of either an accidental or deliberate incident, including during military exercises near NATO borders.
Germany is weighing a massive defense procurement plan worth up to 25 billion euros ($29.4 billion) to supply thousands of combat vehicles for NATO's expanding force structure, Bloomberg reported on July 4, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
The proposed purchases are part of a broader pan-European effort to boost deterrence against Russia, as Western leaders warn of the growing risk of a large-scale war within five years.
Berlin is reportedly considering purchasing up to 2,500 GTK Boxer armored vehicles and up to 1,000 Leopard 2 battle tanks. The purchase would equip up to seven new brigades that Germany has pledged to form under NATO's force generation plans for the next decade.
The Leopard 2 tanks are produced by KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall, while the Boxer is made by ARTEC, a joint venture of the same companies. Leopard 2 tanks have been supplied to Ukraine and tested in combat.
Final pricing and quantities are still under negotiation, and the projected cost could fall below 25 billion euros ($29.4 billion) depending on procurement timelines and contract terms.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and top Bundeswehr officials are reviewing the plans, with legislative approval expected by the end of the year, Bloomberg reported.
Germany has faced pressure from NATO and Washington to meet its alliance commitments, including the newly adopted pledge to spend at least 5% of GDP on defense by 2035.
The initiative, endorsed on June 25 at the NATO summit, reflects concern over Russia's wartime economy, military buildup, and destabilization efforts across Europe.
While Ukraine fights for survival, European politicians are retreating into familiar appeasement patterns—abandoning their post-2022 transformation promises for the comforts of pre-war diplomacy that now threaten the continent’s own security.
“I talk to Putin; therefore, I exist.” — Raphaël Glucksmann
Macron and Putin’s meeting at the memorable table in the Kremlin, 7 February 2022. Photo: AFP/Sputnik
Macron’s two-hour Putin call sparks backlash
French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann delivered a scathing critique after French President Emmanuel Macron held a two-hour call with Vladimir Putin on 1 July—his first direct contact since September 2022. Glucksmann warned that this return to Moscow engagement signals an “atavistic inconsistency that condemns us Europeans.”
“It was inevitable. We all sensed it was going to happen. And it did.”
According to the Élysée readout, the conversation focused more on Iran’s nuclear program than Ukraine, sparking concern that Ukraine is being deprioritized despite Russia’s brutal war now in its fourth year.
Post-invasion promises abandoned
Glucksmann, a staunch Ukraine supporter in the European Parliament’s Socialists & Democrats Alliance, condemned the conversation as evidence that Europe has abandoned its post-invasion commitments.
“A few weeks after our leaders’ passionate call for a great European awakening, it’s back to ‘I talk to Putin; therefore, I exist.”
He described Macron’s behavior as narcissistic, and Europe’s broader response as a retreat from the promised “mental revolution.”
“Our leaders had sworn we’d entered a new world that required a new Europe… a transition to adulthood.”
That awakening, he writes, has collapsed.
“Heads that briefly emerged from the sand are quietly returning to their natural habitat. Nice and warm and comfortable.”
“Hyperactive passives” and performative politics
Glucksmann characterized European political behavior as fundamentally dysfunctional.
“Most of us have always been amazed at how Western apathy is paradoxically characterized by constant frenzy. We Europeans are strange people, hyperactive passives in a sense.”
He described EU leaders as “jumping on every news ball without catching any, commenting on every news item in an equally serious voice, going around in circles wagging our tails with a serious air, moving from subject to subject, country to country, problem to problem without ever changing our tone.”
This scattered approach produces nothing meaningful. “When everything is fundamental, nothing matters. Bees forage like us, of course, but they produce something as they fly from flower to flower. Not Europeans; not us.”
“Our fluttering has no effect.”
Putin normalized via Iran
Glucksmann condemned the strategic logic behind renewed Putin engagement. “The tyrant who is waging war on Europe—because that is what is happening in Ukraine and beyond—is once again acceptable because he is the godfather of the Iranian regime and can bring France—perhaps, with a little luck and a dash of goodwill—back into the diplomatic game in the Middle East.”
In the official communiqué, Iran received three times more attention than Ukraine, with both presidents—Macron and Putin—agreeing to “coordinate their approaches and to speak again soon” on Tehran while disagreeing on Ukraine.
“Ukraine is still entitled to a few lines in this communiqué, of course, with a reminder of our commitment to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“We will move forward together on Iran, but it’s still wrong to invade a European country, isn’t it? Powerful, indeed.”
Glucksmann emphasized why this war demands sustained European focus.
“This war is different, not in itself, not for everyone, not for ‘the world’ in general, but for us, here in Europe. Yes, for us: for us, Europeans. Why? Because it is taking place on our soil and it is targeting us.”
European security services understand the broader threat. “We have heard our security services tell us that it is only a prelude. Because we have seen the head of the German Special Services warn of the likely invasion of a NATO country before 2029.”
Yet political leaders ignore these warnings.
“We hear, we see, yes. Then we forget. NATO chief Mark Rutte calls Donald Trump ‘Daddy’ at the NATO summit, and Macron phones Putin to talk about Iran’s nuclear program. Back to normal, then.”
Europe’s “luxury TikTokers”
Glucksmann described current leadership as engaging in “great Western zapping that is turning our political leaders into luxury TikTokers” while avoiding sustained focus on continental defense needs.
Despite this broader failure, Glucksmann identified those maintaining proper focus: “…some of us try to stay focused on European defense, the Russian threat, American abandonment, and the aid we must provide to Ukraine, our first line of defense in a confrontation that will last for a long time to come.”
He warned of civilizational consequences from this approach: “Such atavistic inconsistency condemns us Europeans. If we don’t change—our leaders, but above all our relationship to the world and to time—we will sink and drown.”
Ukraine remains Europe’s defining challenge
Glucksmann concludes with clarity:
“Because our future is being decided there. And that is where we can and must make a difference.”
The Macron-Putin conversation occurred as Russia maintains occupation of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory while conducting daily bombardment of Ukrainian cities. Putin demanded that any peace deal be “based on new territorial realities,” effectively requiring Ukrainian territorial concessions.
French officials say Macron informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before and after the call—but Glucksmann sees that as symbolism without substance.
Raphaël Glucksmann is a French MEP known for his unwavering support of Ukraine. He has been a vocal critic of the “incremental” military aid strategy, urging Western leaders to deliver a “full package”—air defense, long-range missiles, aviation—to ensure Ukraine can win.
Glucksmann champions the idea of seizing frozen Russian assets—up to €300 billion—to fund Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction, describing it as a vital “war‑economy” measure and calling out political hesitancy across Europe.
Glucksmann also promotes pro‑European unity, support for Ukraine, human rights (notably against China’s Uyghur persecution), and strengthening EU democracy and security. For him, supporting Ukraine is not just solidarity—it’s the defense of European democracy.
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Following the latest wave of heavy attacks on Ukraine — particularly on Kyiv — every Patriot, Sidewinder, Hellfire, or Stinger missile not sent to Ukraine leads to more losses among Ukrainian troops.
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair talks with other European leaders to discuss boosting Ukraine’s defense capabilities during Macron’s visit to the United Kingdom next week.
Anna Paulina Luna, a US lawmaker from the Republican Party, has connected an arms freeze to Ukraine’s ban on the Moscow-affiliated church.
Kyiv has banned the activities of Moscow Patriarchate churches in 2024 to ban ties with organizations that pose a threat to national security. Head of the church, Patriarch Kirill, is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ally. He blessed Russian soldiers to die in Ukraine, promising them forgiveness of sins. Ukraine found numerous agents in Russian churches, some of whom were also accused of sexual harassment of children.
This week, the Pentagon halted the delivery of certain air-defense missiles and precision-guided munitions to Ukraine, citing concerns over depleting US stockpiles.
Immediately after the pause and Putin’s phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, Russia launched its largest missile attack on Kyiv since the start of the war, and shows no intention of stopping.
In a post on X, Anna Paulina Luna accused President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of banning the Orthodox Church.
“Zelenskyy BANNED THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. I CAN PROMISE THERE WILL BE NO WEAPONS FUNDING FOR YOU @ZelenskyyUa. NEGOTIATE FOR PEACE. WE ARE NOT YOUR PIGGY BANK,” she wrote on X.
Meanwhile, an analysis conducted by senior US military officers showed that the weapons package for Ukraine, but halted, did not pose a threat to American military capabilities. Sources say that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has unilaterally blocked arms for Ukraine, which were approved during Joe Biden’s presidency.
No fresh arms sanctions have been endorsed by US President Donald Trump’s administration. At the same time, since Trump’s peace efforts began, the only thing that has changed for Ukraine is the intensification of Russian attacks and an increase in the number of civilian victims.
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We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.
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“We’ve got a global front that matters to America.” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce delivered that message during a 2 July briefing, as the Pentagon confirmed suspension of critical weapons shipments to Ukraine, including Patriot air defense missiles that protect civilians from constant Russian bombardment.
Bruce also noted that Washington expects European partners to “chime in” more substantially because of “the fronts that we’re always dealing with around the world.”
For Ukraine, the timing couldn’t be more alarming. Officials in Kyiv are scrambling to understand why US shipments already staged in Poland were abruptly halted, requesting clarification and a phone call between President Zelenskyy and President Trump.
The decision also sparked concern in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron held his first phone conversation with Vladimir Putin since 2022 this week—a two-hour discussion that yielded no breakthrough but may reflect growing anxiety about America’s shifting priorities.
Dr. Frank Ledwidge, a senior lecturer in War Studies at Portsmouth University in the UK, told Euromaidan Press that these developments mark the inevitable consequence of Europe’s long reliance on US military support.
“Europe has been living a big holiday,” Ledwidge explains, “and now we have to pay for it.”
But while European governments may now face a geopolitical reckoning, it is Ukrainians who are paying the real price, dying under Russian missiles, bombs, and drones. Euromaidan Press set out to examine whether Europe can finally deliver on its promises to “stand with Ukraine” and provide the air defense systems needed to help the country survive.
Dr. Frank Ledwidge, a senior lecturer in War Studies at Portsmouth University in the UK.
US halts Ukraine aid without warning
The weapons suspension caught even senior officials off guard—Congress members, State Department officials, and European allies learned about it from news reports, according to Politico.
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby appears to have driven the decision largely alone. He led an internal review that found US arsenals of artillery rounds, air defense missiles, and precision munitions had dropped to concerning levels. But here’s what didn’t happen: coordination with the rest of the government.
Who got blindsided? The State Department learned from media reports. The US embassy in Kyiv wasn’t consulted. Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg’s team had no advance notice, Politico reports.
Amid the chaos, the halted weapons represent Ukraine’s survival kit: Patriot interceptor missiles, 155mm artillery shells, HIMARS rockets, Stinger missiles, and Hellfire missiles. More than two dozen Patriot PAC-3 missiles and over 90 AIM air-to-air missiles were among weapons recalled from Poland, according to the Wall Street Journal.
For Ledwidge, this decision reflects America’s strategic rebalancing rather than vindictiveness toward Ukraine.
“The overriding strategic priority for the United States Armed Forces is the Western Pacific,” he notes. “The most effective systems that the Americans currently have are the ones most needed in Ukraine, but they would be very much in demand in the South China Sea and in any Taiwan contingency.”
But the Pacific isn’t America’s only concern. The US has already redirected 20,000 air defense missiles from Ukraine to Middle East operations against Iranian targets and Houthi forces in Yemen—part of what State Department spokeswoman Bruce called America’s “global front.”
Europe’s air defenses fall short
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly defended the suspension: “The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned—just ask Iran.” She referenced recent US military operations against Iranian nuclear sites.
Satellite imagery shows damage to Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility following Israeli airstrikes. Photo: Damien Symon
But does the decision contradict that claim? If American military strength were truly unquestioned, why suspend weapons to a critical ally during wartime?
Ledwidge sees a fundamental paradox. “The West has been projecting this idea of strength when, in fact, much of that strength is illusory. The American armed forces do look like a very large and powerful force, and they are. However, they are very broad but in some ways not very deep.”
This depth problem extends across the Atlantic.
“Europe does not have sufficient air defense systems to defend itself, let alone give to Ukraine,” Ledwidge observes.
The United Kingdom exemplifies this weakness: “We have no Patriots, some ship-based equivalent missiles but no land-based launchers, and no missile defense system at all in Britain.”
The production constraints are stark. Only 20-30 Patriot missiles can be manufactured monthly, while far more are consumed in Ukraine and Middle East operations.
“These systems take a very long time to develop and build up large stocks,” Ledwidge notes, highlighting the gap between political promises and industrial reality.
Trump pushes NATO to pay up
Europe’s predicament stems from decades of what NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte embarrassingly called relying on America as “Daddy.” Trump’s “America First” policy has shattered this arrangement.
The doctrine prioritizes American interests and capabilities above alliance commitments, demanding that allies shoulder greater responsibility for their own security rather than relying on US guarantees.
At the recent NATO summit in The Hague, Trump pushed European nations to spend 5% of GDP on defense, which is a target that doubles most current commitments.
NATO leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posing alongside the Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima in The Hague on 24 June 2025. Photo: nato.int
Geography explains European divisions. Eastern European nations—Poland, the Baltic states, Finland—have taken Russian threats seriously. Poland began rearming a decade ago.
“Only now are we seeing the weapons coming through,” Ledwidge notes, highlighting the long lead times for military modernization.
By contrast, southwestern European countries remain hesitant to embrace substantial defense spending increases. Why should they worry? “Spain and its leaders don’t really face Russia as a problem,” Ledwidge observes.
While Poland builds serious deterrent capabilities and the Baltic states invest heavily despite their small size, major Western European powers continue to prioritize social spending over military readiness.
Here’s the catch: “For the last 30 years, we’ve been paying heavily for social security and other priorities while America has underwritten our defenses. This is why Britain doesn’t have any serious air and missile defense system—why should we when the Americans will defend us?”
The comfortable arrangement is over. European leaders now show what Ledwidge describes as “rather fearful expressions.” Even Macron’s outreach to Putin represents choosing “from a few very poor options available to him” as France lacks military leverage to dictate terms to Russia.
Can decades of underinvestment be reversed quickly?
“You’re trying to make up for 30 years of underinvestment, and that will take much more effort than we’ve seen so far,” Ledwidge warns.
Russia’s allies deliver, Europe stalls
While Europe struggles with defense spending commitments and America suspends weapons shipments, Russia has built a robust support network.
North Koreaplans to send an additional 25,000 to 30,000 troops to assist Russia, tripling its military commitment from the original 11,000 soldiers deployed in November 2024 to Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Over 6,000 North Korean troops have already been killed, wounded, or gone missing in heavy frontline fighting.
Additionally, North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells, along with missiles, long-range rocket systems, self-propelled howitzers, and short-range missile systems.
A North Korean soldier before being attacked by a drone in Russia’s Kursk Oblast in December 2024. Photo via Telegram/Tsapliyenko
China’s role proves more substantial despite official denials. Chinese manufacturers supply Russia with 80% of critical electronics for Russian drones, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service. Beijing provides machine tools, special chemicals, gunpowder, and components directly to 20 Russian military factories.
“They use so-called shell companies, change names, do everything to avoid being subject to export control,” Ukrainian intelligence explains.
The production numbers tell the story.
Russia increased long-range drone production from 15,000 in 2024 to over 30,000 this year, aiming for 2 million small tactical drones.
Iran adds another layer through its January strategic partnership with Russia, covering defense cooperation and intelligence sharing. The country is most known for providing Russian forces with Shahed-136 attack drones, which Russia has since been able to manufacture independently.
Compare this coordination to Western hesitation. While Russia receives troops, workers, and industrial components from allies, Ukraine’s Western partners debate long-range strike permissions for months and suspend aid deliveries.
Europe lacks “escalation dominance”—European powers cannot “dictate the levels of force and coercion” necessary to shape outcomes on their terms, Ledwidge believes.
Iranian-designed Shahed 136 drone hulls at a Russian drone factory. Photo via TWZ
Can Europe replace lost US missiles?
Think of Ukraine’s air defense like a castle’s defenses. Multiple walls protect against different threats.
The first wall: Shoulder-fired MANPADS that soldiers carry. Can Europe replace these? Yes. Poland’s Piorun and France’s Mistral systems work fine as substitutes.
The second wall: Short-range systems protecting tactical areas. Again, European alternatives exist, though in smaller quantities.
The critical third wall: Medium-range coverage that protects entire regions. Here’s where problems start. Ukraine relies heavily on American Patriots, NASAMS, and HAWK interceptors. Germany’s IRIS-T and the French-Italian SAMP-T offer similar capabilities, but “there aren’t as many launchers as there are Patriots,” Ledwidge explains.
The final wall: Long-range interceptors that stop ballistic missiles. This is where Europe falls short completely.
But Ukraine has already shown creativity under pressure. Necessity forced Ukrainian engineers to create hybrid “Franken-Buk” systems—mounting American AIM-7 missiles on old Soviet launchers when original Soviet missiles ran out.
Here’s the real problem: The dependency extends beyond ground systems to fighter aircraft. Ukraine’s F-16s use American AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles. European nations possess limited stocks of compatible air-to-air munitions.
For HIMARS systems? “Europeans simply can’t backfill those—they’re an American form of munition,” Ledwidge notes.
Patriot PAC-3 surface-to-air missile system. Photo: Swedish Ministry of Defense
Ukraine could potentially maintain basic air defense using European systems. But the country would lose much capability against Russia’s most dangerous weapons—ballistic missiles and long-range cruise missiles that require Patriot-level systems.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Russian engineers have systematically upgraded Shahed drones. Newer variants fly at 2,800 meters altitude and reach 550-600 km/h—too high for machine guns, too fast for helicopters.
Modern Shaheds carry 12-channel navigation systems that resist electronic jamming. Their 90-kilogram (198 lbs) warheads also double earlier destruction potential.
These technological advances create a perfect storm: just as Ukraine loses access to American interceptors, Russian weapons become harder to counter with existing European alternatives.
What’s next for Ukraine’s air defenses?
Ledwidge sees little optimism about European defense commitments. Recent promises of 150 billion euros for EU defense funds and 650 billion in loan facilities “will never be taken up because there isn’t sufficient commitment, particularly from Southern Europe.”
The €150 billion comes from the EU’s newly established Security Action for Europe (SAFE) regulation, approved in May 2025. It provides loans to member states for joint arms procurement and defense technology development. The €650 billion represents loosened fiscal rules allowing countries to increase national defense budgets substantially over the coming years under the ReArm Europe program.
Why does he believe these funds won’t materialize? Sophisticated weapons systems require enormous financial investments and years of development time. The gap between political declarations and actual capability generation reflects deeper structural problems in European decision-making.
His prediction extends beyond the current crisis: “There will be an even bigger panic when the Americans actually start withdrawing troops.”
Kyiv after the Russian attack on 4 July 2025. Photo: Suspilne
For Ukraine, that panic has already begun. As Washington delays critical decisions and European rearmament remains mostly on paper, the country continues to fight under daily missile fire, often without the systems it urgently needs. Kyiv is still awaiting a response to its $30–50 billion weapons purchase proposal, a last-ditch effort to secure enough air defense and ammunition to survive the coming months.
While Europe debates fiscal frameworks and timelines, Ukraine is left asking a more immediate question: can its allies deliver real support now—before it’s too late?
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Kyiv and Copenhagen signed a landmark agreement on July 4 that allows Ukrainian defense companies to open production facilities in Denmark, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin announced.
"This is a unique case of international cooperation for the Ukrainian defense industry," Smetanin wrote on Facebook, following the signing ceremony in Copenhagen alongside Danish Industry Minister Morten Bodskov.
The deal marks the first time Ukrainian defense technologies will be exported abroad specifically for supply to Ukraine's own Armed Forces, he said.
A year ago, Denmark became the first country to fund weapons production by Ukrainian manufacturers. Now, it has become the first to host Ukrainian arms production lines on its territory, Smetanin added.
"Today, it has become the first country to which Ukraine exports its own defense technologies for production, scaling, and supply to the Ukrainian army," he said.
The agreement is part of Ukraine's broader effort to internationalize its defense production. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 21 that Kyiv would soon begin exporting defense technologies and opening weapons production lines in partner countries.
To scale up domestic and international production, Zelensky has called on foreign partners to finance new projects and match Ukraine's rapidly growing manufacturing capacity.
Denmark has been a key backer of Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. In February 2024, Copenhagen signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement with Kyiv, pledging long-term defense cooperation until Ukraine secures NATO membership.
The Chinese government will not follow Russia’s example and rush to officially recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, led by the Taliban, until a consensus is reached at the United Nations regarding such recognition.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump as “important and fruitful”, highlighting that the key issues discussed were the situation on the front lines, Russian airstrikes, the supply of air defense systems, and the future of a peace agreement.
A Russian missile and drone strike on Odesa on July 3 damaged the building of the Chinese Consulate General, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on July 4.
"Following tonight's massive Russian air attack on Ukraine, we discovered in Kyiv a component of a Russian-Iranian Shahed-136/Geran-2 combat drone, which was made in China and supplied just recently," Sybiha wrote on X.
"And right on the eve, the Chinese Consulate General's building in Odesa suffered minor damage."
The July 3 assault on Odesa killed two people and injured six others. China has not publicly acknowledged the incident or reported any damage to its diplomatic premises in the city.
The Shahed-136 drone, a loitering munition used by Russia in its attacks on Ukrainian cities, has been assembled in large numbers in Russia with components sourced globally.
Ukraine has previously documented that Chinese companies have contributed electronics and materials used in the production of these drones.
Beijing remains one of Russia's key wartime partners, helping Moscow evade Western sanctions and emerging as the leading supplier of dual-use goods used by the Russian defense industry.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on July 3 that Beijing cannot afford for Russia to lose the war in Ukraine, according to the South China Morning Post, which cited unnamed sources familiar with the conversation.
The reported statement adds to growing concerns in Kyiv over China's expanding role in supporting Russia's war effort. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly accused China of siding with Moscow.
As Russian-Chinese relations deepen, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China in September for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where he is scheduled to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Since the beginning of the day, Ukrainian Defense Forces have engaged in 77 combat clashes with Russian invading forces. Of these, 30 occurred in the Pokrovsk sector. Active fighting continues on six fronts.
China does not want Russia to be defeated in the war against Ukraine — not only out of concern over growing U.S. pressure on Beijing, but primarily due to fears about losing control over Russia’s nuclear arsenal and the potential global threats that could result.
Two Dutch intelligence agencies say that Russia is increasing its use of prohibited chemical weapons in Ukraine including the World War I-era poison gas chloropicrin
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The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
