14:23 Scholz: Germany will not be a party to war in the future either
At the Bundestag government hearing, the topic of Ukraine also came up. When the Left party deputy Gesine Lötzsch asks if Chancellor Olaf Scholz would give people the guarantee that Germany would not become a war party, Scholz replied: "Yes, I give this guarantee. I stand for this as Chancellor." As to when a ceasefire could be achieved, Lötzsch asked further. "In my opinion, a ceasefire that aims for Ukraine's capitulation is one that we cannot support from Germany," answered Scholz. This is not an abstract question, as one can see from Putin's "peculiar peace offering," he said. Putin had stated that he was ready for a ceasefire "if Ukraine also gives further annexations, effectively for free." This shows "how cynically they think and that the Russian president does not at all intend to end his aggressive war." Putin speaks only of peace negotiations to continue the war. "We will not tolerate that," assured Scholz.
13:55 International Criminal Court investigates torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civiliansThe International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians in detention facilities in the formerly occupied territories and in Russia, according to the Ukrainian news agency "Ukrinform." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office is working with the ICC on this matter. Ukrainian photographers Kostiantyn and Vlada Librov show on Instagram photos of Ukrainian soldiers who had fallen into Russian captivity and have since been released. They wrote that it was "the most difficult shooting of the last six months."
13:19 Russian postal workers to replace doctors in rural areasDue to a lack of medical personnel in rural areas, postal workers in some regions of Russia are now taking on medical tasks. The "Moscow Times" reports this on Telegram. In rural post offices, health and midwife stations are being set up. The postal workers are to diagnose and perform various medical interventions. Russian publicist Alexander Nevzorov described this practice as a return to the Middle Ages, according to the "Kyiv Post."
12:58 NATO countries: No agreement on multi-year Ukraine aidNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg failed to convince NATO countries to make multi-year commitments for military aid to Ukraine. The 32 allies could only agree in the run-up to the Washington summit on providing support in the amount of at least 40 billion Euros within the next year. The German Press Agency reports this and cites statements from several delegations.
12:24 Ukraine: 5 Dead after Dnipro attackThe number of casualties from the Russian attack on Dnipro has risen to 5, according to Ukrainian reports, with at least 34 people injured, including a 14-year-old girl. The attack reportedly used rockets and drones, causing multiple explosions and fires in the city. According to reports, a shopping mall and a weapons factory were hit.
11:31 Ukraine receives additional two billion euros from the IWFThe financially stricken Ukraine has received an additional tranche of over two billion Euros from the International Monetary Fund (IWF). The money is part of an ongoing credit program worth around 15 billion Euros. The money will be used by the government, according to Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal, mainly for social aid and salaries of civil servants, including doctors and teachers. Since the Russian attack in February 2022, Ukraine has reportedly received over 80 billion Euros in financial aid from foreign partners in the form of household budget support.
11:01 Military base in Russian Kursk on fireVideos from the Russian city of Kursk show a large smoke cloud over the city. A Ukrainian attack is reported to have set several vehicles on fire on a military base in the city. The regional governor has confirmed a fire in the city center.
10:40 Multiple civilians killed in Russian attacks in UkraineRussian troops reportedly shot at the village of Borova in the Charkiw region overnight. The Military Administration of Charkiw reports on Telegram that one man was killed and two others were injured. In a Russian rocket and drone attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, at least three people were reportedly killed and 18 others injured.
10:19 Kremlin: No talks with Trump over UkraineRussia is not in dialogue with former US President Donald Trump over Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. The news agency Interfax reports, citing a spokesperson for the Russian Presidential Administration. Trump had stated during a TV duel with President Joe Biden last week that if he won the November election, he would resolve the war in Ukraine before his inauguration in January.
09:46 Ukraine lacks hangars to protect fighter jetsAccording to a report in the Ukrainian "Defense Express," the Ukrainian army does not have enough hangars to protect all its fighter jets from Russian attacks. The newspaper reports that a military airbase in the Poltawa region does not have sufficient large hangar spaces for Su-27 fighter jets. Russia has reportedly released footage of a recent air raid on the airfield, showing several Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets damaged in the open. The Ukraine lacks hangars to protect all its fighter jets.
09:16 Defense Committee approves purchase of 105 Leopard 2A8 tanksThe Defense Committee of the German Bundestag is set to approve the purchase of 105 Leopard 2A8 battle tanks today. "We are exhausting all options," writes the new committee chairman Marcus Faber on the platform "X." "We are fully equipping the Lituanian brigade with battle tanks, replacing older Leo2 tanks in the army, and creating room for further budget contributions to Ukraine," adds the FDP politician. According to the proposal, the order has a volume of approximately three billion Euros. The defense contractor KNDS is expected to deliver the tanks to the Bundeswehr by 2030.
08:44 Russia: Ukrainian attack on Black Sea port repelled
According to Russian statements, two unmanned Ukrainian explosive boats attacked the Black Sea port of Novorossijsk and were repelled. The drones were destroyed in the Black Sea, according to the Defense Ministry. Novorossijsk is home to a large port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Russia has stationed many of its warships used in the conflict against Ukraine there after Ukraine attacked the Crimean ports. The ministry did not comment on possible damages. The authorities in Novorossijsk urged people to stay in their homes and apartments during the night.
08:21 Most Ukrainians feel unity in society
Forty-four percent of Ukrainians believe that Ukrainian society is united at present, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on July 2. A smaller proportion of interviewees, 15 percent, consider Ukrainian society to be split. Corruption is cited as the main problem, followed by language issues. Unfairness during the war, collaboration, and pro-Russian sentiment are also identified as factors contributing to societal division.
07:55 Kremlin: Ten Ukrainian attack drones destroyed
According to Russian statements, ten Ukrainian attack drones were shot down over Russian territory. Five drones were shot down over the Belgorod border region, four over the Brjansk border region, and one over the Moscow region. Additionally, two Ukrainian reconnaissance drones were destroyed that had approached the Noworossijsk Black Sea port in the Krasnodar region.
07:20 Ukrainian General Staff: nearly 1200 Russian losses yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1,180 losses on the Russian side in the past 24 hours. This includes 16 destroyed tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 57 artillery systems, and 63 tank and other vehicles. Two Russian air defense systems were reportedly destroyed by the Ukrainians, along with a missile. The number of dead or wounded Russian soldiers, according to the General Staff, has surpassed 546,000 since the full-scale invasion began.
06:48 Putin arrives at SOZ summit in Kazakhstan
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kazakhstan, according to Kremlin reports. He is participating in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SOZ) partners in the capital Astana. The two-day conference focuses on regional security, defense, and cooperation issues. The heads of state and government of the SOZ member states discussed "the current situation and prospects for deepening multifaceted cooperation," according to Moscow. Putin is scheduled to hold bilateral talks, including with China and Turkey. The summit is attended by representatives from 16 countries - including India, Iran, and Pakistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected to attend.
06:11 Ukraine continues to reject territorial concessions to PutinAccording to the words of Andrij Yermak, the 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," said Yermak to journalists and named "independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty." In response to statements from Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who claimed he could end the conflict quickly, the government in Kiev is open for advice to achieve a "just peace." Trump stated during the television debate that he would not accept Putin's conditions. Putin had declared that Russia would end the war if Kiev was ready to surrender the territories claimed and occupied by Moscow in the east and south of the country. In response to a question about how the Ukraine views Trump's handling of the war, Yermak replied: "Honestly speaking: I don't know. We'll see."
05:42 USA to provide new military aid for UkraineThe Ukrainian military is in urgent need of supplies. The USA will make additional military aid to Ukraine available in the near future in the amount of around 2.3 billion US dollars (around 2.14 billion Euro). This was announced by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit by his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow in Washington. The package approved by US President Joe Biden includes "additional surface-to-air missiles, anti-tank weapons, and other important ammunition from US stocks," explained Austin. A "realignment of some foreign military deliveries" will also make it possible for the USA to provide Munition for Patriot and other air defense systems "in an accelerated timeframe."
04:49 NATO expanding presence in KievThe NATO is expanding its civilian presence in the attacked Ukraine. As a spokesperson confirmed, the 32 alliance members have decided to send a kind of special envoys to the capital Kiev. The high-ranking official is to coordinate political and practical support from the alliance on site. The background is that the NATO intends to give the start signal for a new deployment at the upcoming summit in Washington for the coordination of weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces. The headquarters for this should be built in Wiesbaden. Who will get the new NATO post in Kiev is still not known.
03:42 UN call for release of GershkovichExperts from the United Nations are calling for the immediate release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in Russian custody on espionage charges. "The deprivation of freedom of Evan Gershkovich is arbitrary" and violates several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, write the experts in a statement. Taking into account 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 deputy Russian 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 of 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 the Russian annexation of Crimea.
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 "high 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 term in a penal colony", says 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 Russia's invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Russians have been arrested and many of them have been imprisoned. According to Amnesty International, at least 21,000 people were targeted by repressions 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 enough military aid to Ukraine. This percentage has risen since November last year, according to a survey by the Pew Research Centre. According to the survey, 24% of respondents believe that the United States is not providing enough aid to Ukraine, compared to 18% in November 2023, when the survey was last conducted. However, more Americans (31%) believe that the United States is providing too much aid, and 25% believe that the US aid is sufficient.
22:53 Lithuania reports airspace violation by Russian aircraft
Lithuania reports the violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft. The unspecified aircraft of the Russian airline Pobeda allegedly entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO member unlawfully in the evening of June 30th and stayed there for approximately one minute. 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 to Russian aircraft as a reaction to Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
22:12 Survey in Member States: High Trust in NATO, Low Trust in Zelenskyy
Coming Week, NATO Celebrates Its 75-Year Anniversary. In member states, the transatlantic defense alliance is generally well regarded, according to a Pew Research survey. On average in 13 countries, 63 percent of the population holds a positive view, while 33 percent hold a negative one. Germany is slightly above average with 64 percent positive sentiment. Exceptionally high is the assessment in Poland: 91 percent have a positive image of the alliance. The trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands at an average of 40 percent and has decreased in member states over the past year. Poland stands out again, where the head of state has lost 22 percentage points - from 70 to 48 percent. In Germany, trust has decreased by 7 percentage points to 54 percent.
21:27 Zelenskyy Rejects Orban's Peace Proposal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a peace proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for peace talks, reports the Ukrainian presidency. During his first visit to Kiev since the start of the war, Orban proposed a quick ceasefire, which could "accelerate peace negotiations with Moscow," he said. "The president listened to him, but in response, he clarified Ukraine's position and rejected the proposal," a spokesperson for the presidency said. Previously, Kiev had already rejected ceasefires, citing the risk that Russian forces could regroup during this time.
21:02 Ukraine: Moscow Recruits Minors
Russia is actively recruiting minors for the war in Ukraine, Ukraine claims. The recruitment contracts are reportedly signed with minors, taking effect upon reaching adulthood. "They hope to recruit tens of thousands of teenagers with propaganda," the Ukrainian National Resistance Center states: "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.
You can read about earlier developments here.
- Chancellor Scholz emphasized Germany's commitment to not becoming a war party in the context of the Ukraine conflict, expressing concerns about Putin's "peculiar peace offering" and his conditions for a ceasefire.
- In response to Putin's statement on ready-for-free annexations, Scholz criticized Russia for its aggressive war intentions and stated that Germany will not tolerate such actions.
- The NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg failed to secure multi-year commitments for military aid to Ukraine from NATO allies, with countries agreeing to provide support worth at least 40 billion Euros within the next year.
- Russian postal workers are now assuming medical tasks in rural areas due to a lack of medical personnel, as reported by the "Moscow Times" on Telegram, while the Ukrainian government continues to face financial strains and seek assistance from international partners.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the Ukrainian President, continued to reject territorial concessions to Putin, reaffirming the importance of independence, freedom, democracy, and territorial integrity, while acknowledging the need for advice from foreign partners to achieve a just peace in the conflict.
