04:49 NATO expands presence in Kiev

NATO builds up its civilian presence in Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia. A spokesperson confirmed that the 32 alliance members have decided to send special representatives to the capital Kiev. The high-ranking official is supposed to oversee the political and practical support of the alliance on site. The background is that NATO intends to give the starting signal for a new deployment to coordinate weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces at the upcoming summit in Washington. The headquarters for this should be built in Wiesbaden, Germany. Who will receive the new NATO position in Kiev is still unknown.

03:42 UN demand release of Gershkovich
Experts of the United Nations describe the detention of US journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia on espionage charges as "arbitrary" and demand his "immediate" release. "The deprivation of Evan Gershkovich's freedom is arbitrary" and violates several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the experts write in a statement. In light of the circumstances of the case, the "immediate" release of Gershkovich is appropriate.

02:40 Serbian President Vucic receives Russian deputy foreign minister
The Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Gruschko in Belgrade. He spoke with Gruschko about the bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia and assessed them as "very good", Vucic said in an Instagram post. He also thanked Russia "for its support for Serbia's territorial integrity, as well as in relation to the UN resolution on Srebrenica". Moscow still refuses to recognize Kosovo's independence. Serbia has been an EU membership candidate since 2012, but maintains good relations with the Kreml despite Russia's intervention in Ukraine.

01:29 Russian court sentences 19-year-old to twelve years
A Russian court has sentenced a 19-year-old to twelve years in prison for "treason," after he was accused of donating money to the Ukrainian army. "The Rostov Regional Court found him guilty and sentenced him to a twelve-year sentence in a penal colony," it says in a comment from the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, which was taken up by state Kremlin media. The teenager is said to have sent money to help the Ukrainian army buy food and drones. Since Russia's attack on Ukraine, thousands of Russians have been arrested and many of them have been imprisoned. According to Amnesty International, at least 21,000 people were the target of repression against war opponents in 2023.

00:20 One quarter of US citizens find US aid to Ukraine insufficient
Almost a quarter of Americans believe that the United States is not providing enough military aid to Ukraine. This proportion has risen since November last year, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. According to the survey, 24 percent of respondents believe that the United States is not providing enough aid to Ukraine, compared to 18 percent in November 2023, when the survey was last conducted. However, 31 percent believe that the United States is providing too much aid, and 25 percent believe that it is providing the right amount.

22:53 Lithuania reports airspace violation by Russian aircraftLithuania reports the violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft. The unspecified machine of the Russian airline Pobeda allegedly entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member unlawfully on the evening of June 30th and stayed there for approximately one minute, according to the Foreign Ministry in Vilnius. The representative of the Russian embassy was summoned and the Russian authorities were urged to take necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The airspace violation occurred over the Baltic Sea, as the aircraft was on its way from Moscow to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad bordering Lithuania. The EU has closed its airspace as a reaction to Russia's aggression in Ukraine for Russian aircraft.

22:12 Survey in Member States: High Trust in NATO, but not in ZelenskyNext week, NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary. In the member states, the transatlantic defense alliance is generally viewed favorably, according to a survey by Pew Research. On average in 13 countries, 63% of the population holds a positive opinion, while 33% have a negative one. Germany ranks slightly above the average with 64% positive sentiment. The assessment of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky stands at 40% on average and has decreased in the member states over the past year. Notably, Poland stands out, where 91% hold a positive image of the alliance. The trust in Zelensky has dropped significantly in Poland, from 70% to 48%. In Germany, trust has decreased by 7 percentage points to 54%.

21:27 Zelensky rejects Orban's peace proposalUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has turned down a peace proposal from Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for peace negotiations. During his first visit to Kiev since the war began, Orbán suggested a quick ceasefire to "accelerate peace talks with Moscow," he said. "The president listened, but in response, he clarified Ukraine's position and rejected the proposal," a spokesperson from the Presidential Office said. Kiev had previously rejected ceasefires, citing concerns that Russian forces could regroup during this time.

21:02 Ukraine: Moscow recruits minorsRussia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, Ukraine claims. The recruitment contracts are reportedly signed with minors, taking effect when they reach the age of majority. "They hope to recruit tens of thousands of teenagers with propaganda," says the Ukrainian agency "National Resistance Center": "We warn that any enemy on our territory will be eliminated." On occupied Ukrainian territory, Russia also employs minors, for instance, to manufacture drones.

You can read about earlier developments here.

The ongoing Ukraine conflict has led to concerns about potential Russian cyberwar attacks on NATO, as confirmed by Volodymyr Selensky during a press conference.
Amidst the escalating military operations in Ukraine, several NATO countries have increased their military aid, with some citizens arguing that it is insufficient.
In light of Russia's attack on Ukraine and its support for territorial integrity issues in Serbia, NATO's civilian presence in Ukraine is seen as a strategic move, aimed at providing political and practical support.
The Russian military's involvement in Ukraine has not gone unnoticed, as reports of recruiting minors for the war have sparked international outrage and concerns about human rights violations.
NATO's deployment to Ukraine is expected to include a new position in Kiev, aiming to coordinate weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces, yet, the specific details regarding this position have yet to be revealed.