US lawmakers skipped a Russia sanctions vote and left the sanctions in Trump’s hands as his 8 August deadline approaches. The Hill says the Senate left Washington for its August break without advancing a sweeping sanctions bill aimed at Moscow, leaving the president to decide how to confront Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.

Senate exits after Trump’s ultimatum to Russia 

The Hill reports that Trump warned that Putin has until 8 August to stop the war in Ukraine or face tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil. As a preview of this pressure, he imposed a 25% tariff on India, a major buyer of Russian energy. That is far below the 500% tariffs proposed in the stalled bill. Some senators admit that leaving the bill untouched puts the responsibility entirely on the president for now.

Republican senators say they expect Trump to act decisively. Republican Senator Mike Rounds said to The Hill that Trump is now disappointed in Putin. Democrats doubt that Trump will go as far as needed, though they acknowledge that his tone has grown tougher. Trump earlier described Russia’s air attacks on Ukraine as disgusting and said his team is ready to impose sanctions.

Submarines, tariffs, and diplomacy

In response to threats of nuclear weapons from Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev, Trump ordered nuclear submarines to the region. Trump told reporters that his envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia after a trip to Israel. He stressed that he will impose sanctions but admitted he is unsure if they will change Moscow’s behavior. 

Senate hawks frustrated by inaction on Russia sanctions

The blocked bill was designed to hit Russia’s oil revenues hard by imposing tariffs on countries that keep buying Russian crude. Analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies argue that oil revenue is key to funding Moscow’s war. Supporters of the bill say a missed opportunity weakens the message.

Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal, coauthor of the bill with Republican Lindsey Graham, said he would see it as a success if Trump imposed even a part of the planned tariffs. 

Early signs of impact

Indian oil refiners have already paused imports of Russian oil after Trump’s 25% tariff announcement. 

Graham said Trump has now adopted the idea of targeting countries that buy Russian oil. He added that Trump can act either through executive action or with the help of the bill if it passes later.

NATO launches a new “combat wallet” for Ukraine. Washington and Brussels are creating a new weapons supply mechanism for Ukraine that will accelerate support amid rising civilian casualties, Reuters reports.

This setup bypasses complex US procedures and enables faster delivery of air defense systems, missiles, artillery, and other critical weapons. This is a voluntary initiative coordinated by NATO, says a senior Alliance official.

How the new aid mechanism works

Under the plan, NATO will create a special account where member states will contribute funds. These funds will then be used to procure or transfer US weapons to Ukraine. 

Ukraine will submit lists of priority weaponry (PURL) worth about $500 million per tranche, and allies will determine who contributes to what. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will coordinate the distribution.

Trump steps up pressure on Moscow and allies

President Donald Trump, initially cautious in his rhetoric, has adopted a tougher stance on the war. According to sources, he condemned Russia’s growing civilian death toll and gave the Kremlin a deadline — show progress in ending the war by 8 August, or face new US tariffs. 

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia does not plan to stop the war against Ukraine. His statements came on 1 August, the day after Russian missiles killed 31 civilians in Kyiv. Putin claimed Russia is ready to wait until Ukraine agrees to its conditions to end the war, which mean de-facte the capitulation of Kyiv. 

US lawmakers seek to formalize the scheme in law

Congress has introduced the PEACE Act, a bill that would create a dedicated fund within the US Treasury to collect European contributions and replenish US weapons stockpiles sent to Ukraine. Negotiations on the first tranche are ongoing, but the exact timeline and aid volumes remain unclear.

The US raises the stakes amid Russia’s threats. In response to Moscow’s threats, American President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines closer to Russia. The Times reports that this is not just a show of force but a personal message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

This exchange significantly escalated nuclear rhetoric between the two powers, underscoring the growing intertwining of the Ukraine war with nuclear deterrence.

US nuclear submarines head toward Russia

The American president responded in his trademark style — tough and theatrical. In a Truth Social post, Trump announced the relocation of two nuclear submarines to relevant regions.

This move is not just a military maneuver but a strategic political signal. Trump is responding less to Medvedev’s rhetoric and more to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rejection of Trump’s ceasefire proposal in Ukraine.

After the strike on Kyiv that killed 31 people, including five children, Putin confirmed that Russia’s conditions for ending the war, announced back in summer 2024, remain unchanged. He added that Russia is ready to wait until Ukraine agrees to Moscow’s conditions. 

Among them are:

• The withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia
• Ukraine’s refusal of NATO membership
• Ukraine’s non-nuclear status
• Sanctions’ lift

What does the submarine deployment mean?

The US possesses 71 nuclear-powered submarines, including 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile subs, each capable of carrying up to 20 Trident II nuclear warheads. At any given moment, 8 to 10 of them are at sea. The White House said that this is not provocation but deterrence.

Sanctions, tariffs, and the energy war

In addition to military signals, Trump threatens secondary sanctions against buyers of Russian energy. India is already feeling the heat — partial tariffs of 25% have been imposed. In the danger zone are China and Brazil, which remain key importers of Russian gas.

These statements show that Trump’s policy toward Russia is rapidly changing, and the US pressure against Moscow is also increasing. 

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham issued a warning to Russia regarding potential escalation, responding to threats made by Dmitry Medvedev against the United States.

Graham wrote on social media platform X that President Donald Trump does not seek conflict but stands ready for decisive action if necessary.

“To my friends in Russia: President Trump seeks peace not conflict. However, please understand that he is not Obama, he is not Biden, and he will not be trifled with. You are overplaying your hand,” Graham wrote.

The US President previously announced on Truth Social that he ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines to appropriate regions following provocative statements by Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev.

Trump explained that he “was forced to do this” to protect the American people.

Earlier, Medvedev published a post mentioning the Soviet automatic nuclear strike system known as “Dead Hand” and called on Trump to “remember his favorite zombie movies.”

Previously, Medvedev claimed that Trump “is playing a game of ultimatums with Russia.” He added that “every new ultimatum is a threat and a step toward war.”

President Donald Trump has expressed earlier growing frustration with Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine. Trump, who initially adopted a more conciliatory approach toward Moscow while attempting to end the three-year war, has now threatened to impose tariffs and other measures if Russia shows no progress toward ending the war by 8 August.

President Donald Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to be strategically positioned in response to what he called “highly provocative statements” from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev NBC NewsCNN, escalating tensions between the nuclear superpowers on 1 August.

“I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.”

The submarine deployment came after Medvedev made reference to Russia’s Soviet-era automatic, retaliatory nuclear strike capabilities on 31 July, after Trump told Medvedev to “watch his words.”

The exchange began after Medvedev said that “each new ultimatum” that Trump makes toward Russia in pressuring an end to the war in Ukraine.

Trump had previously warned of new sanctions against Moscow if Russia did not demonstrate progress in ending the Ukraine war within 10 days.

US President Donald Trump has stunned with details on the death toll in Ukraine. The American leader claims that since the start of 2025, Russia has lost over 112,500 soldiers, while Ukraine has suffered around 8,000 military casualties, not including the missing.

“This is Biden’s war, not Trump’s”

“I have just been informed that almost 20,000 Russian soldiers died this month in the ridiculous War with Ukraine. Russia has lost 112,500 soldiers since the beginning of the year,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on 1 August. 

He called it “a lot of unnecessary death” and noted that Russia continues to strike Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing civilians.

“This is a War that should have never happened — This is Biden’s War, not ‘TRUMP’s.’ I’m just here to see if I can stop it!” he added. 

Earlier today, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin cynically commented on the war in Ukraine for the first time since US President Donald Trump issued his 10-day ultimatum on Russia. 

Putin confirmed that Russia’s conditions for ending the war, announced back in summer 2024, remain unchanged.

Last year, he insisted on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Moscow has illegally incorporated these Ukrainian regions into its Constitution. Additionally, Russia demands that Ukraine renounce NATO membership, enshrine a non-nuclear status, and lift sanctions.

Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has cynically commented on the war in Ukraine for the first time since US President Donald Trump issued his 10-day ultimatum on Russia. Last week, the American president gave Russia ten days to reach a peaceful settlement, threatening massive sanctions if this does not happen by 8 August, UNIAN reports.

Moscow is ready to wait

During a meeting with the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin spoke positively about the negotiations in Turkiye and the prisoner exchanges, stating that Moscow is “ready to wait” if Kyiv is not prepared for talks.

At the same time, he said the Ukrainian political regime “is not based on the Constitution” and supports prolonged negotiations “without any time limits.”

In June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that the Kremlin used prisoner exchanges as a tool to delay the negotiation process with Ukraine and dodge sanctions. While sending back Ukrainian prisoners of war, beaten and tortured in captivity, Russia does not agree to any other proposition to end the war. 

Ukrainian soldier dies weeks after release from Russian captivity with his organs failing due to torture

Kremlin’s conditions remain the same as last year 

Putin confirmed that Russia’s conditions for ending the war, announced back in summer 2024, remain unchanged.

Last year, he insisted on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Moscow has illegally incorporated these Ukrainian regions into its Constitution. Additionally, Russia demands that Ukraine renounce NATO membership, enshrine a non-nuclear status, and lift sanctions.

Lukashenko says Zelenskyy should ask Putin to negotiate

In talks with propagandists, Putin boasted about the production of the first serial ballistic missile Oreshnik and the Russian army’s offensive along the entire front line.

In 2024, Russia used a Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) missile armed with conventional warheads to strike Dnipro. While MIRV technology has long been associated with nuclear delivery systems, this marked its first use in combat. The scale of the destruction remains unknown. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia targeted industrial facilities and critical infrastructure in Dnipro.

Meanwhile, Lukashenko urged Zelenskyy “to simply sit down at the negotiating table” with Putin and emphasized that Minsk and Moscow will not kneel because they decisively defend their interests.

US President Donald Trump promises new sanctions on Russia as the US Senate prepares a massive package, and envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Moscow for another round of talks. The US President said at a White House briefing that he will impose sanctions, even though he doubts they will make Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin change course.

Despite Trump’s efforts to “end” the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has been repeatedly ignoring any calls for peace, only escalating its attacks against Ukrainian civilians. Yesterday’s Russian air attack on Kyiv killed at least 31 civilians, including three children. In the aftermath, Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Trump had been “very generous and very patient” with Putin, and called for immediate maximum pressure on Moscow to end the war.

Trump promises sanctions on Russia and sends Witkoff to Moscow

Speaking after Russia’s deadly air assault on Kyiv, Trump said late on 31 July that Russia’s actions in Ukraine are “disgusting” and “a disgrace.” He again claimed that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “is Biden’s war” and claimed the war would allegedly not have started if he had been in office when it began. He again said many people are dying on both sides and that the United States should not be involved in the fighting.

Trump confirmed that sanctions are part of his plan to pressure Moscow, even as he questioned their effect.

“Yeah, we’re going to put sanctions. I don’t know that sanctions bother him (Putin, — Ed.). They know about sanctions. I know better than anybody about sanctions and tariffs and everything else. I don’t know if that has any effect, but we’re going to do it,” he said.

Trump added that the Russo-Ukrainian war “should be stopped. It’s a disgrace.”

“This was a stupid war to get into. Should have never gotten into this war,” he said.

The President also announced that his envoy Steve Witkoff will travel again to Moscow after a stop in Israel.

“Going to Israel. And then he’s going to Russia. Believe it or not,” Trump said.

Witkoff has already been to Moscow several times, but those trips have not brought a ceasefire closer, as Russia continues to demand Ukraine’s de facto capitulation.

Senate prepares its own sweeping sanctions bill

New York Post reports that Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Congress is ready to advance a sweeping sanctions bill against Russia if Trump decides he wants more pressure. The legislation was introduced by Lindsey Graham and has more than 80 senators signed on. Thune said in an interview that he is “hopeful” the bill will help Trump increase pressure on Putin.

Thune explained that the House and Senate are “ready to move” if the President wants harsher penalties for Russia. He said the support of the whole Congress would give the president more leverage in negotiations with Russia.

Trump, speaking earlier in the week to New York Post, expressed disappointment in Putin.

“I’m disappointed in him, I must be honest with you,” he said.

He described their earlier talks as unproductive, saying that each time “very bad things have happened” afterward.

Trump has also said earlier that if sanctions fail to produce results, he will consider tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil. According to Graham, these tariffs could target China, India and Brazil, which buy a majority of Russia’s oil.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, for over three hours, rescued a man trapped in the rubble of a house hit by a Russian missile on 31 July. The rescuers maintained voice contact with him all that time. He had fallen from the second floor to the first and was pinned by structural debris.

Reaching the injured man was difficult: rescuers broke a hole in the wall of a neighboring apartment and formed a sort of tunnel.

Special stabilizers were attached to the man to avoid causing further harm during the rescue.

Search and rescue operations are continuing at two Kyiv locations, and emergency recovery efforts are underway at six. At the strike sites, all available equipment and specialists have been deployed to save lives. Nearly 2,000 tons of rubble were removed from the strike site. 

Meanwhile, the number of victims continues to rise. Among the victims are a two-year-old and a six-year-old. The number may rise as emergency workers dig through the debris.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko announced yesterday that 1 August was declared a day of mourning in the city. Flags were lowered on municipal buildings, and all entertainment events were canceled. Both state and private institutions were asked to lower their flags as well.

A few minutes to strike 

During the night of 31 July, Russian forces attacked Kyiv with drones and later with Iskander-K missiles. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Moscow used a total of 309 attack drones and eight Iskander-K cruise missiles in the assault on Ukraine, three of which were intercepted.

The Iskander-K missiles were launched from Russia’s Kursk Oblast, practically right on the border, leaving very little time to respond or deploy appropriate countermeasures. Moreover, Iskander ground-based launchers are harder to detect than carriers of Kalibr or Kh-101 missiles, as the latter must first head out to sea, and their flight time is significantly longer, Defense Express reports. 

Ukraine’s intelligence agency has reported that Russia is capable of producing up to 300 cruise missiles per month, including 20–30 Iskander-K missiles.