15:02 Poll: Ukrainians see Germany as conditionally reliable, fear US secret negotiations with Moscow
After nearly two and a half years of war, almost half of the Ukrainians, according to a survey by the think tank "European Council on Foreign Relations," fear that the USA could arrange a peace plan with Russia behind their backs. Forty-seven percent expressed this concern, while 49 percent had little or no concern. The Ukrainians' view of their allies in the defensive war against Russia varies by country. The highest value, at 84 percent, is for Britain, with the majority seeing it as reliable or limited reliable. Seventy-six percent felt this way about Germany, but only 19 percent considered Berlin's support very reliable.
14:23 Scholz: Germany will not be a war party in the future
During the government questioning in the Bundestag, the issue of Ukraine also came up. When the Left deputy Gesine Lötzsch asked if Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz would give people the guarantee that Germany would not be a war party, Scholz replied: "Yes, I give this guarantee. I am the Chancellor." When asked when a ceasefire could be reached, Lötzsch inquired further. "In my opinion, a ceasefire that aims for Ukraine's capitulation is one that we cannot support from Germany," Scholz responded. This is not an abstract question, as one can see from Putin's 'peace offer.' He has stated that he is ready for a ceasefire 'if Ukraine also gives further annexations, so to speak, for free.' This shows 'how cynically they think there 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," Scholz assured.
13:55 International Criminal Court investigates torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians
The 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. "This was the most difficult shooting of the last six months," the photographers wrote afterward.
13:19 Russian postal workers to replace doctors in rural areas
Due to a lack of medical personnel in rural areas, postal workers in some regions of Russia are now taking on medical tasks. This was reported by the "Moscow Times" on Telegram. In rural post offices, health stations and midwife stations are being set up. Postal workers are supposed to diagnose and perform various medical interventions. Russian publicist Alexander Nevzorov described this practice as a return to the Middle Ages in an article for the "Kyiv Post."
12:58 NATO countries: No agreement on multi-year Ukraine aidNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg failed in his attempt to secure long-term commitments from NATO members for military aid to Ukraine. The 32 allies could only agree to provide support in the amount of at least 40 billion Euro within the next year. This is reported by the German Press Agency and refers to statements from several delegations.
12:24 Ukraine: Five dead after Dnipro attackThe number of casualties from the Russian attack on Dnipro has increased to at least five, according to Ukrainian reports. At least 39 people were injured, including a 14-year-old girl. The attack reportedly involved rockets and drones, causing several explosions and fires in the city. Reports indicate that a shopping mall and a weapons factory were hit.
11:31 Ukraine receives additional two billion from the IMFFinancially stricken Ukraine has received an additional over two billion Euro from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The money is part of an ongoing credit program worth around 15 billion Euro. The government intends to use the funds mainly for social welfare and salaries of public servants, including doctors and teachers. Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has reportedly received over 80 billion Euro in aid from foreign partners in the form of budgetary support.
11:01 Military base in Russian Kursk on fireVideos from the Russian city of Kursk show a large smoke cloud over the city. An Ukrainian attack is said to have set several vehicles on fire on a military base in the city center. The regional governor has confirmed a fire in the city center.
10:40 Multiple civilians killed in Russian attacksRussian troops reportedly shot at the village of Borova in the Charkiw region overnight. The Military Administration of Charkiw announced this on Telegram. According to their reports, one man was killed, two others were injured. In a Russian rocket and drone attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, authorities report that at least three people were killed and 18 others were injured.
10:19 Kremlin: No talks with Trump about UkraineAccording to Kremlin statements, Russia is not in dialogue with former US President Donald Trump about Ukraine. This is reported by the Interfax news agency, citing a spokesperson for the Russian Presidential Administration. Trump stated during a recent TV duel with President Joe Biden 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 Combat jets
According to a report from the Ukrainian "Defense Express", the Ukrainian army does not have sufficient Hangars to shield all their fighter jets from Russian attacks. The newspaper reports that a military airbase in the Poltava Oblast does not have sufficient large Hangar spaces for Su-27 combat jets. Therefore, Russia has released images of a recent air raid on the airfield, in which several Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft are seen damaged in the open. The Ukraine is lacking Hangars to shield all the fighters.
09:16 Defense Committee approves purchase of 105 Leopard-2A8 Tank
The Defense Committee of the German Bundestag is set to approve the purchase of 105 Leopard-2A8 combat tanks today. "We are exhausting all options," writes the new committee chairman Marcus Faber on the platform "X". "We are fully equipping the brigade in Lithuania with combat tanks, replacing older Leo2 in the army, and creating room for further appropriations to Ukraine", adds the FDP politician. According to the proposal, the order has a volume of approximately three billion Euro. The defense consortium KNDS is expected to deliver the tanks to the Bundeswehr by 2030.
08:44 Russia: Ukrainian attack on Black Sea port repelled
Russia claims to have repelled attacks from two unmanned Ukrainian mine boats on the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The Drones were destroyed in the Black Sea, according to the Defense Ministry. In Novorossiysk lies a large port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Russia has stationed many of its warships used in the conflict against Ukraine there after the Ukrainian forces attacked the ports on the Crimean peninsula. The ministry did not comment on possible damages. The authorities in Novorossiysk urged people to stay in their homes and buildings during the night.
08:21 Majority of Ukrainians feel unity in society
Forty-four percent of Ukrainians believe that Ukrainian society is currently united, according to the results of a nationwide survey conducted on July 2. The Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) carried out the survey. With 15 percent, a smaller percentage of respondents consider Ukrainian society to be divided. Corruption is named as the main problem, followed by language issues. Unfairness during the war, collaboration, and Russophile sentiments are also identified as factors contributing to the division within society.
07:55 Kremlin: Ten Ukrainian attack drones destroyed over Russian territory
Russia claims to have shot down ten Ukrainian attack drones 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, the Defense Ministry announced on Telegram. Additionally, two Ukrainian sea drones were destroyed that had approached the Novorossiysk Black Sea port in the Krasnodar region.
07:20 Ukrainian General Staff: nearly 1200 Russian casualties yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reports 1,180 casualties on the Russian side in the past 24 hours. In addition, 16 destroyed tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 57 artillery systems, and 63 other tanks and vehicles were reportedly destroyed. Two Russian air defense systems and a missile were also reportedly destroyed by the Ukrainians. The number of dead or wounded soldiers on the Russian side, according to the General Staff, has surpassed 546,000 since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
06:48 Putin arrives for 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 (SCO) partners 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 plans to hold 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 rejects territorial concessions to Putin
Ukraine continues to reject territorial concessions to Russia to end the war, according to the words of President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. "We are not willing to make compromises on important things and values," Yermak told journalists. He cited "independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty." Yermak's comments come in response to statements by Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who claimed he could quickly end the conflict. The Ukrainian government is open to advice, however, to achieve a "just peace." Trump said during a television debate that he would not accept Putin's conditions. Putin had stated 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. Regarding Ukraine's assessment of Trump's approach to the war, Yermak replied: "Honestly, I don't know. We'll see."
05:42 USA to provide new military aid to Ukraine
Ukraine is in urgent need of military supplies to counter the Russian offensive. The United States will provide Ukraine with additional military aid worth approximately 2.3 billion US dollars (around 2.14 billion Euros) in the coming days to help Ukraine defend against the Russian aggression. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made the announcement during a visit to his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov in Washington. The aid package includes "additional air defense systems, anti-tank weapons, and other important munitions from US stocks," Austin explained. The reconfiguration of some foreign military deliveries will also allow the United States to provide Munition for Patriot and other air defense systems "in an expedited timeline."
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 that at the upcoming summit in Washington next week, NATO intends to give the green light for a new deployment to coordinate 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 position in Kiev is still unknown.
03:42 UN calls for release of Gershkovich
Experts at the United Nations are calling for the immediate release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in Russian custody on 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. 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 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". 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 Kremlin.
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 prison term in a penal 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 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 the target of 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 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 of Americans 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 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, Low Trust in ZelenskyThe NATO is celebrating its 75th anniversary coming week. In 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, 33% a negative. Germany is slightly above the average with 64% positive sentiment. 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 member states in the past year. Poland is an exception, 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 war began, Orbán suggested a quick ceasefire that could "accelerate peace negotiations with Moscow," he said. "The president listened, but in response, he clarified Ukraine's position and rejected the proposal," said a spokesperson for 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, Ukraine reports. The recruitment contracts are allegedly signed with minors and 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 also employs minors, for instance, to manufacture drones.
- Despite concerns about a potential peace plan with Russia, 47% of Ukrainians have little to no fear, according to a survey by the think tank "European Council on Foreign Relations."
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured in the Bundestag that Germany will not be a war party and does not support a ceasefire that aims for Ukraine's capitulation.
- The 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.
- In response to a lack of medical personnel in rural areas, postal workers in some regions of Russia are now taking on medical tasks, diagnosing and performing various medical interventions.
- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg failed to secure long-term commitments for military aid to Ukraine from the 32 NATO members, managing only to secure support of at least 40 billion Euro within the next year.
