Beijing expresses its views to Putin in a "very clear" manner away from the public eye, claims a political scientist.

Beijing expresses its views to Putin in a "very clear" manner away from the public eye, claims a political scientist.

China is appearing polite towards Russia's President Putin in the public sphere, but things might be different privately, reveals political scientist Thomas Jäger. China's dependence on its powerful neighbor is significant.

12:28: Putin Declares Readiness to Increase China's Energy SupplyDuring his visit to China, Putin expressed an interest in augmenting the supply of energy to the country. "Russia is prepared and capable of consistently and reliably providing the Chinese economy, businesses, cities, and towns with eco-friendly, inexpensive energy, electricity, and heat," he stated during the unveiling of a Russian-Chinese trade fair in Harbin. He was confident that their strategic partnership in the energy sector would be further solidified.

12:14: Satellite Images Reveal Damage to Russian Airbase BelbekRussian airbase Belbek in Crimea was shelled by Ukrainian forces for two consecutive days. Russia claims to have intercepted a total of five ATACMS. Photos taken from space now indicate remnants of fires and damaged fighter jets:

11:57: Munz Detects Strains in the Alliance Between Russia and ChinaRussian media reported a 30-page agreement with China. However, there are still some cracks in the alliance, according to ntv reporter Rainer Munz, such as Beijing's potential involvement in Switzerland's peace negotiations or its refusal to become overly reliant on Russian raw materials.

11:34: Ukraine: Russian Forces Widen Kharkiv Region Offensive by 70 KilometersThe Ukrainian army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced that Russian troops had extended their active combat area in the Kharkiv region by nearly 70 kilometers as part of their offensive. Russia had initiated the offensive in the region to force Ukraine to mobilize more reserve brigades. Syrskyi anticipates that the combat will intensify as troops in Kiev fortify their position in the Sumy region.

11:15: Ukraine Claims to Have Neutralized Over 100 Ukrainian DronesUkrainian forces claimed to have rebuffed more than 100 Russian drones in a night-time assault. Various locations on Russian territory, including an oil refinery in Tuapse on Krasnodar's coast, were targeted. Russia maintains that it has successfully neutralized the drones.

10:31: Baerbock Demands Long-Range Weapons for UkraineIn light of the challenging conditions surrounding Kharkiv, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called for weapons with longer ranges. The situation in Kharkiv is "extremely dramatic," she said at the Council of Europe's foreign ministers' meeting. Russia is launching assaults from its own territory, making it difficult for Ukraine's air defense to respond effectively. Ukraine requires "weaponry that can perform medium and long-range attacks," noted Baerbock. Kharkiv is about 40 kilometers from the Russian border.

10:02: Putin and Xi Part Ways with a Warm EmbraceAfter their discussions in China, Putin and Xi tenderly embraced each other in front of the international press. The scene was captured on video by state broadcaster CCTV. Putin is currently continuing his two-day state visit in the northern Chinese city of Harbin.

09:26: Ukraine Suffers Four Explosions in KharkivUkraine reported the downing of all 20 drones launched by Russia during the night. The targets included Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odessa, and Mykolaiv. In Kharkiv, four explosions were recorded, as stated by the city's mayor, Ihor Terekhov. A fire ignited during one of the attacks. The region's governor confirmed that five structures had been damaged, including an administrative building.

09:02: ntv Correspondent: Russians Drawing Closer to KharkivThe tensions surrounding Kharkiv are palpable. While Ukraine can secure the military situation near the city, the Russians have managed to sustain their position approx. 30 kilometers away from Kharkiv, reports ntv correspondent Jürgen Weichert.

08:34: Russia Reports Casualties from Belgorod RegionAccording to officials, two people were killed in Russia during the Ukrainian drone attacks that took place overnight. In the border region of Belgorod, a mother and her four-year-old son were killed by a combat drone in the village Oktyabrsky, as per Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

08:06: Russia Reports Attack on Sevastopol in CrimeaThe Russian Ministry of Defense claims that the city of Sevastopol in Crimea was targeted during the night. The local governor stated that a substation had been damaged, leading to disruptions in the city's electricity supply. Schools and kindergartens remained closed as a result of the situation. Sevastopol is the home port of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Crimea was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

07:42 Video emerges of alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Black Sea Fleet port in Novorossiysk

There are videos circulating of what appears to be a gigantic Ukrainian drone strike on the Black Sea Fleet port of Novorossiysk. Although the Russian state news agency RIA mentions missile strikes in the area, it doesn't mention the port.

07:18 Over 100 Ukrainian drones downed by Russia

According to Russia, they've intercepted more than 100 Ukrainian drones overnight. 51 drones were brought down over the annexed Crimean peninsula; 44 more were taken out in the Krasnodar region, while 6 were shot down in the Belgorod border region and one more in the Kursk region, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The navy successfully destroyed 6 naval drones in the Black Sea as well. In response to Russia's daily shelling, Ukraine has been ratcheting up its attacks on Russian territory, regularly targeting energy facilities.

06:58 Multiple fighter jets destroyed in Crimea

Satellite images from Maxar seem to show three fighter jets being completely destroyed - two MiG-31s and an Su-27 - and another jet, a MiG-29, being damaged in Ukrainian attacks on the Russian military airfield Belbek in Crimea. The "New York Times" reveals that a fuel depot was also completely destroyed. For the second time in two nights, Ukraine struck the airbase.

06:33 Reports of another Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian oil refinery in Tuapse

Video clips are circulating that allegedly show a Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian oil refinery in Tuapse on the Black Sea.

Update at 7 a.m.: Local authorities have confirmed the fire. It has been successfully contained.

06:14 Putin focusing on trade with China's northeast

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to highlight the significance of trade near the Russian border in northeastern China after sealing a strategic partnership with Chinese President Xi Jinping later today. Putin wraps up his two-day visit to China in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, which has long enjoyed trade and cultural ties with Russia.

06:00 Russia ousts British military attaché as retaliation

The Russian Foreign Ministry has expelled Adrian Coghill, the military attaché at the British embassy in Moscow, and labelled him "persona non grata". The decision follows the UK expelling the Russian military attaché on May 8, whom they believed to be an undeclared intelligence agent.

05:30 NATO Nations Consider Sending Military Trainers to Ukraine

Some NATO member countries are pondering the possibility of sending military trainers or contractors to Ukraine to instruct Ukrainian troops and assist in repairing equipment, as The New York Times reports. Ukraine has asked the US and other NATO countries for assistance in training 150,000 troops near the frontlines. However, the US is hesitant due to the potential risk of attacks on trainers that could potentially trigger NATO's collective defense clause. Some officials suggest continuing to train large numbers of Ukrainian recruits in Germany and Poland, but this comes with significant logistical challenges for mobilizing so many troops. Several NATO nations, including the UK, Germany, and France, are contemplating sending defense contractors to Ukraine, while the White House is reconsidering its ban on US defense contractors in Ukraine.

04:42 Japan Insists on International Law in Russian Asset Distribution

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki critiques the US proposition to use the interest from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, emphasizing the need for these discussions to align with international law. Japan plans to participate in the upcoming G7 meeting's conversations from this perspective, he states.

03:11 Kim Jong Un's sister dismisses arms deal claims with Russia

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un, denies the allegation that North Korea has engaged in arms deals with Russia. Kim, as relayed by the state news agency KCNA, explains that the weapons created by North Korea are not meant for export but for defensive purposes against South Korea. She describes the alleged arms deal with Russia as an "absurd theory" based on biases and fabrications. The US and South Korea claim that North Korea is selling weapons to Russia to use against Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang deny these allegations.

02:04 Air raid alert in Kharkiv lifted after drone attacks

The air raid alert in Kharkiv, which had lasted more than 16 hours, has been lifted in most parts of the region. Governor Oleh Synyehubov confirms that at least five drones had previously attacked Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reports a district being hit and a fire resulting from the attacks. The air raid alert lasted for more than 16.5 hours - the longest such incident since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

At 5:51 p.m. in the U.S., the American government has emphasized that Beijing's support for Russia is hindering their attempts to improve ties with the West. Washington spokesman Vedant Patel emphasized that China can't "dance at two weddings at the same time." Going forward, stronger relationships with European countries and other nations would be hard to achieve for China if they continue to "fuel the greatest threat to European security in a long time," which is the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

At 11:34 p.m., Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of potential dangers to Europe because of Russian missile strikes targeting the gas transportation system. Zelensky shared his concerns with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in a recent video message, stating that these attacks on Ukraine's gas infrastructure pose a significant risk for the entire continent. In a statement, he urged collective action to combat this threat.

At 10:06 p.m., Ukrenerho, the Ukrainian utility company, expects months-long power outages as a result of recent attacks on the country's power plants and substations. Advisor to the Prime Minister and Ukrenerho board member Yuri Boyko said that the power grid has suffered severe damage from Russian missiles, so it might be a while before conditions improve. Boyko announced that power outages will continue in early August, along with regional intermittent shutdowns, while the capital city Kiev is also experiencing blackouts.

Read also:

• Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
• Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
• UN vote urges Israel to ceasefire
• SPD rules out budget resolution before the end of the year

1. Amidst the ongoing 'Attack on Ukraine' by Russia, NATO nations are considering sending military trainers to Ukraine to aid in troop training and equipment repair, as reported by The New York Times.
2. Despite China's public politeness towards Russia's President Putin, political scientist Thomas Jäger suggests that China may hold differing views privately due to their significant dependence on Russia.
3. In response to NATO's potential involvement in training Ukrainian troops, Russia expelled the British military attaché as a form of retaliation, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
4. As the 'Ukraine conflict' escalates, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky has warned of potential dangers to Europe due to Russian missile strikes targeting the gas transportation system.

Source: www.ntv.de