14:44 Turkey calls for "peace platform"
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan proposes new peace initiative for Ukraine. According to a Turkish newspaper, a "Peace Platform" could expand efforts to end the war. "A Peace Platform that prevents deepening polarization, has a broad participation and representation, and prioritizes diplomacy should be established," he reportedly said. He provided no details. Most recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also offered to help mediate an end to the war at an international summit in Kazakhstan. Russia has already rejected this.
13:53 Russia reports capture of additional settlement in Donetsk
Russian troops, according to Moscow's reports, have taken control of another settlement in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. The approximately 30 kilometer northwest of the city of Donetsk located village of Sokil was "liberated," the Russian Defense Ministry announced. The region of Donetsk, along with Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, is one of the Ukrainian regions that Moscow declared annexed in September 2022. According to Ukrainian reports, the fiercest fighting is currently taking place along the entire frontline in the region.
13:40 Le Pen: No French long-range weapons to Russian targets if RN wins
Marine Le Pen, leader of the right-wing National Rally (RN), announced that, in the event of an RN election victory, French long-range weapons would not be allowed to be used for an attack on Russia. She made this statement in an interview with the US broadcaster CNN. Her party would also not allow French troops to be stationed in Ukraine, a possibility that French President Emmanuel Macron has not ruled out. "If Emmanuel Macron wants to send troops to Ukraine and the prime minister is against it, then there will be no troops in Ukraine," Le Pen stated. The only red line, according to her, is to prevent France from becoming a warring party. The French are voting for their parliament tomorrow in a second round.
12:49 ISW: Putin confirms goal to destroy Ukraine as a state
During a visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin again rejected the idea of a negotiated ceasefire. The US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this. Instead, Putin aims for an end to the war that erases Ukraine's sovereignty. Among the conditions for peace talks Putin demands are the cession of significant Ukrainian territories to Russia and the complete surrender of the Ukrainian military.
12:30 Ukraine: Half of power generation capacity lost due to Russian attacks
The Ukraine has lost more than half of its power generation capacity, as reported by the EU ambassador in a Financial Times report in June, due to Russian attacks on critical infrastructure. This was revealed in a comparison of the current situation with pre-war times. The hostile attacks of the past three months have reportedly reduced the country's power generation by nine Gigawatts - approximately half of what was required for the country's power grid during the previous winter. There is a risk that Ukraine may not have electricity, and possibly no heat and water, during the upcoming winter.
11:58 Ukrainian General Staff: 139 battles yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reported 139 battles at the frontlines in their daily report. Most of these took place in the Pokrowsk sector, in the Donezk oblast, in the southeastern Ukraine. The army recorded six rocket attacks and 55 air raids with 72 bomblets, as well as over 3000 attacks using grenades. In the northern region, around Kharkiv, the Russian troops also used combat jets.
11:22 Ukraine calls for Olympics ban for Russian athletes supporting war
The Ukraine is calling for Russian athletes to be excluded from the Olympics in Paris if they are found to be supporting the military. The International Olympic Committee decided in December that Russian and Belarusian athletes could participate as "neutral athletes" if they met strict participation conditions. They were not allowed to compete in teams, present flags, or anything else associated with their home country. The Ukrainian Olympic Committee now reports that some Russian athletes qualified for the Olympics have been found to support the Ukrainian war and Putin's politics on the internet. Some athletes have also participated in propaganda tournaments.
10:52 Ukraine: 12 civilians killed by Russian attacks
The Russian army, according to Ukrainian reports, dropped 19 bombs on the Charkiw region in the last 24 hours. The head of the military administration in the Charkiw region reported this to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. There, three people were reportedly killed and six others injured. Eleven civilians were reported killed and 43 injured in the Donetsk oblast.
10:08 Ukrainian General Staff: 1260 Russian losses since yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reported 1260 losses among Russian soldiers in the last 24 hours. According to Ukrainian sources, the total number of Russian soldiers killed and injured since the full-scale invasion in February 2022 is approximately 547,000. In addition to this, since yesterday, eleven tanks, 58 drones, 18 armored vehicles, and nine Russian missile systems were reportedly destroyed.
09:29 It could happen that Putin attacks the Baltic regionSecurity experts consider a Russian attack on the Baltic region in the next few years to be possible to realistic. NATO assures its members of support, but the alliance's commitment leaves room for different reactions from other states. How could an attack on NATO's northern flank unfold?
09:11 NATO summit brings news of F-16 jets for UkraineDuring the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, Ukraine can expect new statements regarding the delivery of F-16 fighter jets. This was announced by a high-ranking US government official during a briefing, according to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. The training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s has reportedly made significant progress. The Ukrainian army is still waiting for the first jets to arrive. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have pledged to provide them.
08:30 One-third of Russians support atomic attack on UkraineAccording to an opinion poll presented by the Russian propagandist Sergei Mardan on Russian state television, one-third of the Russian population is in favor of attacking Ukraine with atomic weapons. They are in line with Vladimir Solovyov, who constantly calls for the use of atomic weapons in the Ukrainian conflict. In the Russian nightlife, patriotism is on the rise. Russian artists are making clear patriotic appeals.
08:17 AfD welcomes Orban's visit to PutinThe AfD welcomes the criticized Ukraine talks between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Hungary is taking the lead and speaking with both direct conflict parties from the first day of its EU Council presidency," explains the foreign policy spokesman of the faction, Matthias Moosdorf. "The AfD fraction welcomes the fact that, at the highest European level, the possibilities of a swift ceasefire with the goal of peace talks are being prioritized." He refers to the "EU and its personnel" as warmongers.
07:52 Ukraine: Invaders threaten to deport Ukrainians without Russian passportsIn the occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russians are reportedly threatening to deport residents without Russian passports, according to Ukrainian reports. The Information Resistance Center reports that this practice has been used before. "The occupiers have applied this method on numerous occasions. Residents are taken to a checkpoint and forcibly deported from their homeland," the center reports. In some of the latest raids in the south, residents were reportedly threatened with deportation and confiscation of their property.
07:19 SPD expert calls for more money for defense
Members of the German government are expressing concerns over the financing of the Bundeswehr in the context of the agreement on the federal budget 2025. The troop must procure weapons and ammunition, which it hands over to Ukraine, from its own budget. SPD budget expert Andreas Schwarz spoke of a "disappointing figure" in response to the meager increase in defense spending of only 1.2 billion euros. This does not meet "what we need in the defense sector," Schwarz told the "Tagesspiegel." The president of the reservists' association, Patrick Sensburg, also stated that this would make Germany "not war-ready."
06:37 Ukraine: Drones attacked Belgorod, Russia
In drone attacks on the Russian town of Shebekino in the Belgorod region, several buildings, vehicles, and an industrial plant were damaged, and one person was injured, according to the local governor. The governor reported that a total of 11 houses were damaged and power lines in the community were damaged, as well as social infrastructure.
06:10 Zelensky thanks new British prime minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his support of Ukraine. "I am grateful to Keir Starmer for his assurance that Britain's support for Ukraine remains unchanged in principle," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He and Starmer had aligned their positions ahead of the NATO summit coming up in the next week. According to a high-ranking US official, NATO will present a "bridge to membership" for Ukraine at the meeting in Washington.
03:45 Burning oil depots after drone attack in Russia
Ukrainian drones reportedly attacked several areas in the Russian region of Krasnodar during the night. The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that debris from a downed drone damaged a mobile phone mast in Jeisk. In other places, several fuel tanks were said to have caught fire. There were no reported injuries.
02:07 Sumy without water and power due to drone attacks, Ukraine
According to local authorities, Russian drone attacks have disrupted the water and power supply in the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy. The public broadcaster Suspilne reported a series of explosions in the city. The Sumy region is almost daily targeted by Russian positions across the border.
00:28 Eight people killed, 28 injured in Russian attacks in Eastern Ukraine
According to Ukrainian reports, eight people were killed and at least 28 were injured in Russian attacks in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. "Every city and every village in the Donetsk region is constantly threatened by enemy attacks," Governor Wadym Filaschkin wrote on Telegram. Independent of this, Russian troops had dropped three guided bombs on the further southwestern village of Komar, killing a 32-year-old woman and injuring 20 other people. Thirteen private houses, four businesses, two residential buildings, and two infrastructure facilities were damaged in the attack.
23:16 Starmer confirms unequivocal support for Biden on "unyielding" Ukraine assistanceIn his first phone call with US President Joe Biden, the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the UK's "unlimited" support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. The two leaders reaffirmed their "unyielding commitment to Ukraine," with Starmer emphasizing, "the UK fully supports Ukraine," according to a statement from Starmer's office just hours after his swearing-in.
21:49 US military exercises with Georgia postponedThe US is postponing planned joint military exercises with Georgia amid tensions with the Georgian government. The US military's participation in the "Noble Partner" exercises, originally scheduled between July 25 and August 6, is "suspended indefinitely," the US Defense Department announced. The background is "baseless accusations" from the Georgian government. The Pentagon refers to statements that the US pressured Georgia to go to war against Russia and was involved in "two coup attempts" against the government.
20:35 Insider: Hungary cancels planned meeting with BaerbockThe planned Monday trip of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to Budapest is canceled. The Hungarian side suddenly canceled the appointment with Baerbock, according to the Foreign Office.
21:20 Zelensky thanks Germany for third Patriot systemUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks Germany for the delivery of the third Patriot air defense system. "This is great news," Zelensky says in his evening video message. He also thanks the US for further steps to strengthen Ukrainian air defense. He does not provide details but says that partners of the country have fulfilled their commitments. "Ukraine has already shown that it has no Russian rockets that we cannot shoot down," Zelensky says. The country is doing everything to ensure that Russian terror ends.
20:48 NATO expert: "We must bring down Russia"NATO expert Stefanie Babst calls for a more decisive approach from the alliance against Russia. "We can only keep up with this adversary by bringing down the Russian regime. And not just drive it out of Ukraine but also reduce its influence in its area of operations so that it no longer exerts its toxic influence in Europe," Babst said in the t-online Tagesanbruch podcast. For this, more decisive action is needed. "We look at Putin like Lord Voldemort and are afraid that he will pull out his wand. We must get rid of this notion," Babst appeals. The 60-year-old is a former leading staff member of the International Staff of NATO.
20:15 Kreml not optimistic after Labour victory in Britain
The Russian leadership does not expect any changes in the strained relations between Moscow and London following the Labour Party's victory in Britain. The Kreml is "not optimistic" according to its spokesperson Dmitri Peskov in Moscow. "Based on their previous statements, they do not lean towards any flexibility or creativity to normalize the bilateral Russian-British relations."
You can read about previous developments here.
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan proposed a new peace initiative for Ukraine, suggesting the establishment of a "Peace Platform" to end the war, with the aim of preventing polarization, promoting broad participation, and prioritizing diplomacy.
- The Ukrainian region of Donetsk, along with Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, is one of the territories that Russia declared annexed in September 2022, with the Russian Defense Ministry announcing the capture of the village of Sokil, located approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Donetsk city.
- Marine Le Pen, leader of the right-wing National Rally (RN), announced that, in the event of an RN election victory, French long-range weapons would not be used for an attack on Russia and French troops would not be stationed in Ukraine.
- During a visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the idea of a negotiated ceasefire and reiterated his goal to erase Ukraine's sovereignty, with conditions for peace talks that include the cession of significant Ukrainian territories and the complete surrender of the Ukrainian military.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his support of Ukraine, with a high-ranking US official announcing that NATO will present a "bridge to membership" for Ukraine during the upcoming NATO summit in Washington.
