06:48 Putin arrives in Kazakhstan for the SCO summit
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kazakhstan according to Kremlin reports. He is participating in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) partner states in the capital Astana. The two-day meeting will focus on issues of regional security, defense, and cooperation. The heads of state and government of the SCO member states will discuss "the current situation and prospects for further deepening of multifaceted cooperation," Moscow reports. Putin is reportedly planning bilateral talks, including with China and Turkey. Representatives from 16 countries are participating in the summit - among them India, Iran, and Pakistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected.
06:11 Ukraine continues to reject territorial concessions to PutinAccording to the words of Andrij Yermak, chief of staff of the Ukrainian president, Ukraine continues to categorically reject territorial concessions to Russia to end the war. "We are not willing to make compromises on important things and values," Yermak told journalists during a visit to Washington. He reacted to statements from Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who claimed he could quickly end the conflict. The Ukrainian government is, however, open to advice to achieve a "just peace." Trump stated during the television debate that he would not accept Putin's conditions. Putin had announced that Russia would end the war if Kiev was willing to surrender the territories in the east and south of the country that Moscow claims and occupies. In response to a question about how Ukraine views Trump's handling of the war, Yermak replied: "Honestly, I don't know. We'll see."
05:42 USA to provide new military aid for UkraineThe Ukrainian military urgently needs supplies. The USA will make available to Ukraine in the near future additional military aid in the amount of approximately 2.3 billion US dollars (around 2.14 billion Euros) to help Ukraine counter the Russian attack. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made this announcement during a visit to his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow in Washington. The aid package, approved by US President Joe Biden, includes "additional air defense systems, anti-tank weapons, and other important ammunition from US stocks," Austin explained. The "realignment of some foreign military deliveries" will also enable the USA to provide Munition for Patriot and other air defense systems "in an accelerated timeframe."
04:49 NATO strengthens presence in Kiev
The NATO is expanding its civilian presence in Ukraine, which was 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 mainly that the 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. Who will receive the new NATO position in Kiev is still unknown.
03:42 UN demand release of Gershkovich
Experts of the United Nations are calling for the immediate release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in Russian custody due to espionage charges. "The detention of Evan Gershkovich 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 evaluated them as "very good", Vucic stated on Instagram. 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 despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it continues to maintain good relations with the Kreml.
01:29 Russian court sentences 19-year-old to twelve years
A Russian court sentenced a 19-year-old man 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 prison term in a labor colony," it says in a comment from the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, which was taken up by the state-controlled Kremlin media. The teenager is said to have sent money to help the Ukrainian army buy food and drones. Since the Russian 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 targets of repression against war opponents in 2023.
00:20 A quarter of US citizens find US aid to Ukraine insufficient
Almost a quarter of Americans believe that the United States is not providing sufficient 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 sufficient aid, compared to 18 percent in November 2023, when the survey was last conducted. However, more Americans (31 percent) believe that the United States is providing too much aid, and 25 percent believe that the US aid is sufficient.
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 is said to have entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member illegally 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 all 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 viewed favorably, according to a survey by Pew Research. On average in 13 countries, 63% of the population holds a positive opinion, while 33% hold a negative one. Germany is above the average with 64% positive views. The evaluation in Poland stands out: 91% have a positive image of the alliance there. The trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is, on average, at 40% and has decreased in the member states in the past year. Poland also stands out, where the head of state has lost 22 percentage points - from 70 to 48%. In Germany, trust has decreased by 7 percentage points to 54%.
21:27 Zelensky rejects Orban's peace proposalUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for peace talks. During his first visit to Kiev since the start of the war, Orbán proposed a quick ceasefire. "This could accelerate peace talks with Moscow," he said. "The president listened, but in response, he clarified Ukraine's position and rejected the proposal," said a spokesperson from the Presidential Administration. Kiev had previously rejected ceasefires, citing the possibility that Russian forces could regroup during this time.
21:02 Ukraine: Moscow recruits minorsRussia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, according to Ukraine. Recruitment contracts are reportedly being signed with 17-year-olds, which take 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 is also reportedly employing minors, for example, to manufacture drones.
- In response to the ongoing Attack on Ukraine, NATO has strengthened its presence in Kiev, sending special representatives to oversee political and practical support for Ukraine.
- Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, citing concerns about Russia regrouping during a ceasefire.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has been criticized for recruiting minors to fight in the Ukraine conflict, with reports of 17-year-olds being signed to military contracts.
- The United Nations has called for the immediate release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in Russian custody on espionage charges, citing violations of human rights.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) partner states in Kazakhstan, where Russian President Vladimir Putin is also participating in discussions about regional security and cooperation.
