16:36 Biden could receive Selenskyj next week
US-President Joe Biden could next receive Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy at the White House. During the NATO Summit coming week (9th-11th July) in Washington, it could happen, according to a press briefing at the US President's residence. Several bilateral meetings with other leaders are being prepared, including one with Zelenskyy.
16:01: Armenia holds military drills with US troopsArmenia, an eastern neighbor of Turkey and a former Soviet republic, is drawing closer to the US. From 15th to 25th July, the country intends to hold joint military exercises with the US. The focus will be on peacekeeping. Armenia's relations with Moscow have recently deteriorated. The government in Yerevan is disappointed with Russia's behavior during the war with Azerbaijan over the region Nagorno-Karabakh. It did not come to Armenia's aid. Previously, Armenia had already distanced itself from Russia after it attacked Ukraine.
15:20: Estonia delivers several Mistral systemsThe Ukraine is receiving a new air defense system, this time from Estonia. The attacked country has already received several short-range anti-aircraft missile systems with ammunition from Estonia, according to the Estonian Defense Ministry. It concerns a French-made system that has a range of six kilometers. It should provide protection against low-flying helicopters and aircraft.
14:44: Turkey proposes "Peace Platform"The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu makes a new proposal for peace in Ukraine. According to a Turkish newspaper, a "Peace Platform" could expand efforts to end the war. "A Peace Platform that prevents deepening polarization and has a broad participant and representative base and prioritizes diplomacy should be established," he reportedly said. He did not provide details. Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had offered to help mediate an end to the war at an international summit in Kazakhstan. Russia rejected this.
13:53: Russia reports capture of additional settlement in DonetskRussian troops, according to Moscow's statements, have taken control of another settlement in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. The troops reportedly "liberated" the approximately 30 kilometers northwest of the city of Donetsk located village of Sokil, 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 along the entire front line is currently taking place in the region.
13:40 Le Pen: In case of RN victory, no French long-range weapons to be used against RussiaMarine Le Pen, leader of the right-wing Rassemblement National (RN), announced that if her party wins the elections, French long-range weapons will not be allowed for use in an attack on Russia. She made this statement during an interview with the US broadcaster CNN. Similarly, her party will not permit 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.
12:49 ISW: Putin confirms goal, to destroy Ukraine as a stateDuring his recent visit to the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again rejected the idea of a negotiated ceasefire. According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Putin instead seeks an end to the war that erases Ukraine's sovereignty. Among the conditions for peace talks, Putin demands the surrender of significant Ukrainian territories to Russia and the complete capitulation of the Ukrainian military.
12:30 Ukraine: Half of electricity generation capacity lost due to Russian attacksThrough Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, Ukraine has lost more than half of its capacity to generate electricity, which was available before the full-scale Russian invasion. This is evident from a comparison of the current situation with the pre-war period, which the EU ambassador of the country reported in a Financial Times article in June. The hostile attacks of the past three months have reportedly reduced the country's electricity generation by about nine gigawatts - roughly half of what was needed for power supply in the country during the previous winter. There is a risk that Ukraine may not have electricity, let alone heat and water, during the upcoming winter.
11:58 Ukrainian General Staff: 139 battles yesterdayThe Ukrainian General Staff reported in its daily report 139 battles at the frontlines for the past 24 hours. Most of these took place in the Pokrowsk sector, in the Donetsk Oblast, in the southeastern Ukraine. The army recorded six rocket attacks and 55 air attacks involving 72 bombs, as well as over 3000 attacks using grenades. In the northern region, around Kharkiv, the Russian troops also used combat jets.
11:22 Ukraine demands ban of Russian athletes supporting the war at Olympics
The Ukraine demands that Russian athletes be excluded from participating in the Olympic Games in Paris if they can be proven to be supporting the Russian military. The International Olympic Committee has determined that Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete as "neutral athletes" if they fulfill "strict participation conditions." They are therefore not allowed to participate in teams, present flags, or anything else associated with their homeland. The Ukrainian Olympic Committee has announced that some Russian athletes who have qualified for the Olympics have been found to be supporting 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 glide bombs on the Charkiw region in the last 24 hours. The head of the military administration of the Charkiw region reported this to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. There, three people were reportedly killed and six others injured. In the Oblast Donezk, 11 civilians were reported dead and 43 injured.
10:08 Ukrainian General Staff: 1260 Russian losses since yesterday
The Ukrainian General Staff reports that there were 1260 losses on the Russian side in the last 24 hours. According to Ukrainian sources, the total number of killed and injured Russian soldiers since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 is approximately 550,000. In addition, since yesterday, eleven tanks, 58 drones, 18 armored vehicles, and nine Russian missile systems were reportedly destroyed.
09:29 How it could unfold if Putin attacks the Baltic region
Security experts consider a Russian attack on the Baltic region in the coming years to be plausible to realistic. The NATO assures its members of support, but the alliance's collective defense clause leaves room for different reactions by other states. How could an attack on the northern flank of the defense alliance unfold?
09:11 NATO summit brings news about F-16 jets for Ukraine
During the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, Ukraine can expect new announcements regarding the delivery of F-16 fighter jets. This was announced by a high-ranking US government official during a briefing. 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 Ukraine
According to a survey presented by Russian propagandist Sergey 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 Putin
The AfD welcomes the criticized Ukraine talks between Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russia's President Vladimir Putin. "Hungary is taking the lead and speaking with both direct conflict parties on the first day of its EU Council Presidency," explains the foreign policy spokesperson of the faction, Matthias Moosdorf. "The AfD-faction welcomes the fact that now, at the highest European level, the possibilities of a ceasefire with the goal of peace talks are being prioritized." The "EU and its personnel" are referred to as war instigators.
07:52 Ukraine: Invaders threaten to deport Ukrainians without Russian passports
In the occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russians are reportedly threatening to deport residents without Russian passports, according to Ukrainian reports. The Agency Ukrinform reports this based on a statement from the National Resistance Center. "The occupiers have used this practice before. Locals are taken to the checkpoint demonstratively and expelled from their homeland," the Resistance Center reports. In some cases, people were reportedly forced to obtain passports. During the latest raids in the south, residents were allegedly threatened with expulsion and confiscation of their property.
07:19 SPD expert calls for more money for the military
Members of the government are concerned about the financing of the Bundeswehr following the agreement on the federal budget 2025. The army must procure weapons and ammunition, which it hands over to Ukraine, from its own budget. SPD budget expert Andreas Schwarz speaks of a "disappointing amount" in view of the meager increase in the defense budget of only 1.2 billion euros. "This is not what we need in the defense sector," Schwarz told the Tagesspiegel. The president of the Reservists' Association, Patrick Sensburg, also stated that Germany would not be "war ready" with this financing.
06:37 Russia: Ukrainian drones attacked Belgorod
In drone attacks on the city of Shebekino in the Russian oblast Belgorod, several buildings, vehicles, and an industrial plant were damaged, and one person was injured, according to the local governor. The attacks reportedly damaged a total of 11 houses and power lines in the community, as well as social infrastructure.
06:10 Zelensky thanks new British prime minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his support of Ukraine. "I am grateful to Keir Starmer for his assurance that the United Kingdom's support for Ukraine remains unchanged in principle," Zelensky writes on Telegram. He and Starmer reportedly 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 summit in Washington.
03:45 Burning oil depots after drone attack in Russia
Ukrainian drones are reported to have attacked several areas in the Russian region of Krasnodar. The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reports this, among other things. In Jeisk, debris from a shot-down drone damaged a mobile phone mast. In other places, several fuel tanks were reportedly set on fire. There are no reports of injuries.
02:07 Drone Attacks: Sumy without Water and Power
According to local authorities, Russian drone attacks have disrupted the power and water 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 by Russian attacks in Eastern Ukraine
In Russian attacks, eight people were killed and at least 28 were injured in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to Ukrainian reports. "Every city and every village in the Donetsk region is constantly threatened by hostile attacks," Governor Wadym Filaschkin announced on Telegram. Independent of this, Russian troops had dropped three guided bombs on the further southwestern village of Komar, resulting in the death of a 32-year-old woman. Twenty more people were injured. Thirteen private houses, four businesses, two residential buildings, and two infrastructure facilities were damaged in the attack.
23:16 Starmer confirms to Biden "unwavering" UK support for Ukraine
In his first telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the UK's "unlimited" support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. The two leaders reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment to Ukraine," according to a statement from Starmer's office just a few hours after his swearing-in.
21:49 USA cancel military exercises with Georgia
The USA are canceling planned joint military exercises with Georgia against the backdrop of tensions with the Georgian government. The participation of the US Army in the scheduled Manoever "Noble Partner," which was originally scheduled to take place between July 25 and August 6, is "suspended indefinitely," according to the US Defense Ministry in Washington. The background are "false accusations" from the Georgian government. The Pentagon refers to statements that the USA had pressured Georgia to declare war on Russia and had been involved in "two coup attempts" against the government.
20:35 Insider: Baerbock cancels planned trip to Budapest
The planned trip of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to Budapest for Monday is not taking place. The Hungarian side suddenly canceled the appointment with Baerbock, according to the Foreign Office.
21:20 Zelensky thanks Germany for third Patriot system
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks Germany for the delivery of the third Patriot air defense system. "This is great news," says Zelensky in his evening video message. He also thanks the USA for further steps to strengthen Ukrainian air defense. He does not mention details, but says that the partners of the country have fulfilled their obligations. "Ukraine has already proven that it has no Russian rockets that we cannot shoot down," says Zelensky. 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 towards Russia. "We can only cope with this adversary by bringing down the Russian government. Not just pushing them out of Ukraine but reducing their influence in their area of operation so they can no longer exert their toxic influence in Europe," Babst said in the Tagesanbruch-Podcast of t-online. For this, a more determined action is required. "We look at Putin like Lord Voldemort and are afraid he will pull out his wand. We need to get over this notion," Babst appealed. The 60-year-old is a former leading staff member of the International Staff of NATO.
20:15 Kremlin not optimistic about 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 Kremlin is "not optimistic" about it, according to its spokesman Dmitri Peskov in Moscow. "As far as we can see from their previous statements, they are not inclined towards any flexibility or creativity to normalize the bilateral Russian-British relations."
You can read about previous developments here.
- During the NATO Summit, President Biden is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, potentially discussing military support and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
- Russia's behavior towards Armenia has been criticized, as Moscow failed to support Armenia during its conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, leading Armenia to shift closer to the United States.
- The Ukraine conflict has led to a demand from the Ukrainian Olympic Committee for Russian athletes supporting the war to be excluded from participating in the Olympic Games in Paris.
- After Ukrainian reports of Russian attacks on critical infrastructure in Ukraine, more than half of the country's electricity generation capacity has been lost.
- In an interview with CNN, Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement National, announced that if her party wins the elections, French long-range weapons will not be used in an attack on Russia, and French troops will not be stationed in Ukraine.
