Monday, July 14th's live news on the conflict in Ukraine. The US President receives Rutte: A coordinated deal with NATO for weapons in Kiev will be paid for by European countries. The first Patriots will arrive in Ukraine in a few days.

• It is the 1,236th day of war in Ukraine

19:35 |

Lutnick: Trump intended to discuss sanctions against Russia in the absence of a deal

After Donald Trump and Mark Rutte's press conference, during which the president threatened Russia with secondary tariffs if it doesn't reach an agreement on Ukraine within 50 days, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified that the president was referring to economic sanctions."They're economic sanctions, not sanctions," he said in response to a request for clarification from reporters at the White House."You can also impose an economic penalty. If I catch you doing something, then you have to pay. There can be tariffs or sanctions; they're both tools he has at his disposal," he concluded, as reported by the Washington Post.

6:47 PM | July 14

Kallas: Trump is good, but 50 days is a long time for an agreement.

It's a good thing that President Donald Trump is taking a tough stance toward Russia, but 50 days is a very long time, considering Ukrainians are being killed every day. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said this at the EU-Southern Neighborhood ministerial meeting, commenting on Trump's announcement in the Oval Office that if no agreement is reached by the deadline, there will be secondary sanctions against Moscow, with 100% tariffs.

6:38 PM | July 14

Moscow: Trump's all talk and no action

If this is all Trump intended to say about Ukraine today, it's all a lot of talk and little substance. Thus, in the first reaction from Moscow, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Konstantin Kossacyov commented on the US president's threat to impose 100% secondary sanctions on Russia's allies if an agreement to end the conflict isn't reached within 50 days."How much can change on the battlefield and in the mood of NATO and US leaders in 50 days!" Kossacyov added on his Telegram channel. Referring to the fact that European countries will have to pay Washington for weapons for Ukraine, he added:"The Europeans will have to fork out and fork out; the free cheese for them was in a mousetrap. There's only one beneficiary: the US military-industrial complex." In Kiev, the Deputy Speaker concluded,"there's nothing left to do but continue fighting to the last Ukrainian, since that's the fate they've chosen for themselves."

5:45 PM | July 14

Rutte: Putin should take Trump's warning seriously

Vladimir Putin should take Donald Trump's warning seriously. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said this regarding the 50 days Trump has given him to reach a deal, otherwise 100% secondary tariffs will be imposed. If I were Putin and you were speaking, I would consider taking the negotiations more seriously than I am now, Rutte said.

5:43 PM | July 14

Trump: Putin talks a lot, then the missiles arrive. This has to stop.

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks a lot, but then the missiles arrive. US President Donald Trump said this during a bilateral meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. It must stop, he added, reiterating his frustration over the lack of progress toward an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.

5:41 PM | July 14

Trump: First Patriots for Kiev in a few days

The first Patriot batteries for Kiev will be sent within a few days, Donald Trump said during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office.

5:40 PM | July 14

Rutte: It's logical that Europeans should pay for weapons in Kiev.

It's entirely logical for Europeans to pay for the weapons sent to Ukraine, said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, calling the agreement announced by Donald Trump a truly important one. The Europeans are taking over this too, he added. Rutte, who discussed the agreement with Trump on Thursday, announced that he is in contact with several countries that want to join the agreement, including, he cited, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Canada. And this is just the first wave; there will be others, he anticipated.

5:39 PM | July 14

Rutte: Russia launches 700 drones a day to spread panic.

It's truly terrible. 700 drones a day, and this isn't for military purposes but to create panic. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said this, describing Russia's actions in Ukraine.

5:27 PM | July 14

Trump: Coordinated deal with NATO for US weapons in Kiev

We made an agreement today to send weapons to Ukraine. We will send the best possible supplies to NATO, and it will be a coordinated operation with NATO. This was stated by Donald Trump during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office. The president clarified that the US will not pay for the weapons; European countries will.

5:19 PM | July 14

Trump: Disappointed with Putin. A deal in 50 days or severe sanctions on Moscow, 100% tariffs.

I'm unhappy with Russia, we'll impose severe tariffs if we don't have an agreement within 50 days: Donald Trump said this during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office. He added:"I'm disappointed in President Putin, because I thought we'd reached an agreement two months ago. So, based on that, we'll impose tariffs of around 100%—you might call them secondary tariffs."

4:51 PM | July 14

Russian attack on Zlatopil leaves one dead and 10 injured

A woman was killed and 10 others injured, including a minor, in a Russian attack in Zlatopil, in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian police announced the news, cited by Skynews. The bombings hit several buildings, killing the 57-year-old woman and wounding her 13-year-old daughter.

4:30 PM | July 14

Kubilius: Kiev's success could destroy the Kremlin

Vladimir Putin hates NATO and the EU because both organizations are the only path to success in the post-Soviet world. What Putin fears most is the success of Ukraine's European dream, knowing it could inspire the Russian people to end his regime. Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said this during a speech at the NATO-European Parliament seminar.

4:30 PM | July 14

Zelensky meets Kellogg: Productive conversation

I met with General Keith Kellogg, Special Representative of the President of the United States. We had a productive conversation. We discussed the path to peace and what concrete steps we can take together to bring it closer. This includes strengthening Ukraine's air defense, joint production and procurement of defense weapons in cooperation with Europe. And, of course, sanctions against Russia and those who support it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this on X, adding:"We hope for US leadership, as it is clear that Moscow will not stop unless its unreasonable ambitions are curbed by force." I thank Keith Kellogg for this visit to Ukraine. I am grateful to President Trump for the important signals of support and positive decisions for both our countries. We deeply appreciate the support of the American people.

4:17 PM | July 14

Ukrainian media: Russian drone shot down by Belarusian forces

According to the Ukrinform news agency, today a Belarusian Air Defense Forces Mi-24 helicopter attacked and destroyed a Russian drone flying toward Ukraine. According to Ukrainian media reports, this action should not be overestimated, as it was simply a response to a threat to Belarus and not a gesture of support for Ukraine. According to Ukrainian media, Belarus will remain silent about the incident.

4:16 PM | July 14

Russia: Writer Akunin sentenced to 14 years in prison for terrorism

Russian prosecutors have sentenced dissident writer Boris Akunin to 14 years in prison in absentia, among other things for justifying terrorism. The sentence was based on Akunin's stance against Russian expansionism in Ukraine and his accusations that Vladimir Putin is a dictator. Akunin, real name Grigory Salvovic Khartisvili, 69, has been living in exile in Britain since Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014. If he were to return to Russia, he would face at least 10 years in a maximum-security prison. Of Georgian origin, the writer denied that his lawyer rejected the guilty verdict.

4:15 PM | July 14

Russia claims the conquest of two villages

The Russian Defense Ministry today claimed responsibility for the capture of two Ukrainian villages: Mayak, located in the eastern Donetsk region, the epicenter of the fighting, and Malynivka, located in the southern Zaporizhia Oblast. At least three civilians were also killed today in the Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, both bordering Russia and located in northeastern Ukraine, according to local authorities.

4:06 PM | July 14

Russian raid on Sumy leaves at least four dead

A Russian airstrike on Sumy, in northeastern Ukraine near the border with Russia, has killed at least four people, regional governor Oleg Grigorov said on Telegram.

3:44 PM | July 14

Prague to Bratislava: Don't block anti-Russian sanctions

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has sent a letter to his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico urging him not to block the adoption of the new sanctions package the EU intends to impose on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The Czech news agency CTK reported this. The new sanctions package is subject to a unanimous vote, expected tomorrow. A veto by Slovakia would therefore prevent its approval. For now, Slovak Prime Minister Fico is opposed to the plan due to the REPowerEU plan, a separate initiative that calls for the gradual elimination of all imports of Russian fossil fuels, including gas, by the end of 2027. Slovakia, which relies heavily on Russian imports, protests this goal. In the letter in question, Fiala asks Fico, given the extremely close relations between our two countries, to take into account the interests of Ukrainian civilians, who are facing intense Russian bombardment, as well as their shared history, the painful experience of Russia's aggressive policies and the occupation of the former Czechoslovakia. Last Saturday, Fico announced his intention to reach an agreement with the European Commission by Tuesday on the issue of sanctions. Slovakia will vote in favor of adopting the sanctions, provided it obtains certain guarantees regarding the continuity of gas imports.

3:37 PM | July 14

Media, Parliament in Kiev will vote on the 17th for the new government

The Verkhovna Rada is scheduled to vote on the new Ukrainian government on July 17, and the day before, a vote on its dissolution will be held, government sources told Ukrainska Pravda.

3:03 PM | July 14

NYT: Germany Offered to Buy Two Patriots for Kiev

Germany has offered to purchase two Patriot systems for Ukraine, while Norway has offered to purchase one. The New York Times reports. The newspaper also points out that Donald Trump's claim that the European Union will pay for them 100% is not entirely correct, given that individual member states will pay, not the European Union or NATO itself.

2:09 PM | July 14

Zelensky proposes Economy Minister as prime minister

President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed that current Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko lead the Ukrainian government to renew the cabinet. The president wrote this on Telegram.

2:01 PM | July 14

Zelensky: Measures to increase weapons production are necessary

1:10 PM | July 14

Berlin: Trump's decision on Patriot missiles in Kiev is positive.

US President Donald Trump's decision to allow the supply of Patriot systems to Ukraine has been welcomed by the German government, German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said at a press conference. Ukraine can benefit from any system, and it is therefore important that options for managing the financial aspects are subsequently found, the spokesman stated, emphasizing that the process is more likely to be managed by individual states rather than the EU.

12:45 PM | July 14

Kiev: Russian drone strikes in southeast, three injured

Three people, including two teenagers, were injured last night in Russian drone strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk region of southeastern Ukraine, the head of the regional military administration, Sergiy Lysak, reported on Telegram, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda.

12:44 PM | July 14

Moscow: More recruitment centers in Ukraine bombed

The Defense Ministry said that the bombings over Ukraine over the past 24 hours have again hit recruitment centers. The strikes, carried out by air forces, missile forces, drones, and artillery, according to a statement from the ministry posted on its Telegram channel, targeted 140 districts and hit, among other things, recruitment centers, an ammunition production plant, military airfield facilities, and drone depots.

12:21 PM | July 14

Kremlin: Arms to Kiev? The US has never stopped supplying them.

US supplies of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine have never ceased, the Kremlin has stated, while a statement from Donald Trump is expected today, possibly announcing the delivery of new weapons. Specifically, the US president said in recent hours that he would send missiles for the Patriot air defense systems. Now, the spokesperson commented, quoted by Interfax news agency,"it appears these supplies will be paid for by Europe. Some things will be paid for, others will not. But the fact remains that supplies of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment from the United States to Ukraine have continued and are continuing."

12:13 PM | July 14

Peskov: Russia defends its interests in the Baltics

Russia is a Baltic state and will defend its interests in the region, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters."Russia is a Baltic state. Russia is determined to firmly defend its interests in this region, its legitimate interests. But the fact that many countries are engaged in provocative actions is equally obvious," Peskov told reporters.

12:12 PM | July 14

Kremlin: Kellogg to continue mediation efforts

It is very important for Russia that US envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg, who arrived in Kiev today, continue his mediation efforts to reach a resolution to the conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this in response to journalists' questions about Moscow's expectations of Kellogg's mission."First of all," Peskov said, quoted by Interfax,"it is Kellogg himself and his Ukrainian interlocutors who should have expectations. It is very important for us that Kellogg continue his mediation efforts and offer his mediation services in the context of a Russian-Ukrainian solution."

12:07 PM | July 14

Kremlin: We're ready for a third round of negotiations, but Kiev isn't in a hurry.

It's clear that Kiev is in no rush regarding negotiations. We're still waiting for proposals on the timing. The Russian side is ready to continue and hold a third round of talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, as reported by the Tass news agency.

11:53 AM | July 14

Zelensky to the Rada: Extend the mobilization until November 5th

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has proposed to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, to extend martial law and mobilization for another 90 days, from August 7 to November 5, 2025, Ukrainian media reported, citing the Rada's website.

11:18 AM | July 14

Russian attack on Kharkiv region leaves one dead and four injured

One person was killed and four others were injured in an attack launched today by Russian forces in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine, the head of the regional military administration, Oleg Synegubov, announced on Telegram, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. The Russians targeted the village of Borivske, using, according to initial reports, a guided aerial bomb.

10:27 AM | July 14

Kiev: 136 Russian drones and four missiles over Ukraine overnight

Russia launched 136 drones, including decoys, against Ukraine overnight. The air force says 61 were shot down and 47 crashed. Ten locations were hit, Ukrainian media reported. The BBC reports. Russia also launched four missiles from the Kursk region, but the air force has not reported intercepting them.

8:34 AM | July 14

US envoy Kellogg has arrived in Kiev

US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg has arrived in Kyiv, as confirmed by Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office. The visit follows President Donald Trump's announcement of the supply of new Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine."We welcome US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg to Ukraine," Yermak wrote on Telegram, adding:"Peace through strength is President Trump's principle, and we support this approach."

8:14 AM | July 14

Russia shot down 11 Ukrainian drones in multiple regions

Last night, Russian air defenses shot down a total of 11 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over three of its regions and the annexed Crimean peninsula. The Russian Defense Ministry reported this on its Telegram channel. According to the military report, Ukrainian aircraft were shot down over the regions of Oryol (6), Bryansk (2) and Kursk (1), the latter two on the border with Ukraine. In addition, one drone was destroyed over the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, and another over the Black Sea. In recent days, the number of drone attacks against Russian territory has decreased, while Russia has significantly increased the number of drones and missiles against Ukraine. US President Donald Trump announced the sending of Patriot interceptor missile systems to Ukraine to defend itself from Russia, but stated that the European Union will pay for it, which he will clarify today when he meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington.

7:20 AM | July 14

Trump's July 3 phone call with Putin (in which he announced a new offensive) was crucial for his new plan.

Again according to Axios, one of the elements that convinced Trump to undertake this plan was the July 3 phone call in which Putin declared his desire to escalate the war. So much so that immediately after that call he reportedly told French President Macron:"He wants to take everything."
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​In that phone call, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly told his US counterpart that he was planning another escalation in eastern Ukraine within the next 60 days, to reach the administrative borders of the regions where he has a significant presence.

7:11 AM | July 14

Trump will announce a plan to send offensive weapons to Ukraine

(by Marta Serafini, correspondent in Lviv) US President Donald Trump is expected to announce today an aggressive weapons plan for Ukraine, which will also include offensive weapons, a move that will mark a significant change of direction for his administration. The new initiative, according to Axios, will be presented at a meeting in Washington between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The US news site's sources say the plan will likely include long-range missiles capable of reaching targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow.

In the past few hours, Trump confirmed that the US will send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine to help it respond to Russian attacks, as his relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin are deteriorating."We'll send them the Patriots, which they desperately need," Trump said, without specifying how many, two weeks after Washington ordered a suspension of some arms deliveries to Kiev. So far, Trump has supplied Kiev with defensive weapons as part of his efforts to promote a deal that would end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

5:37 AM | July 14

Trump: We'll send Patriots to Kiev, but the EU will pay.

I haven't agreed on the number (of Patriots, ed.) yet, but (the Ukrainians, ed.) will have some because they need protection, and the European Union will pay, we won't pay anything, but we will send them: Donald Trump said this while speaking to reporters.

5:36 AM | July 14

Trump: Disappointed with Putin, he's polite, but then he bombs everyone that night. I'll send Patriot to Kiev.

I'm very disappointed with Putin, he speaks so kindly and then bombs everyone in the evening: Donald Trump said this to reporters. The US president then announced he would send Patriot missiles to Ukraine."We'll send them the Patriots, which they desperately need," he said, without specifying how many. Trump then confirmed he will meet tomorrow with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte."But basically, we'll send them [the Ukrainians, ed.] various highly sophisticated military equipment, and they'll pay us."

5:35 AM | July 14

Zelensky: Kellogg's upcoming visit discussed

Today, during a meeting with the Ukrainian military and Defense Minister, we discussed General Kellogg's upcoming visit. Negotiations on further support will take place later this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote this in X, adding that he instructed Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi and the Chief of the General Staff to present the information we have on Russia's capabilities and our prospects. We are also preparing meetings between President Trump's special envoy and the heads of Ukraine's Security Service and our intelligence agencies. The information provided will be comprehensive. We count on the United States' full recognition of what can be done to force Russia to make peace, he added.

5:34 AM | July 13

Macron: We will double the defense budget by 2027

France intends to double its defense budget by 2027. French President Emmanuel Macron stated this in a speech to the armed forces on the eve of July 14, the Storming of the Bastille. Macron intends to make a new and historic effort. To this end, €3.5 billion will be added to the Military Planning Act (MPA) in 2026 and another €3 billion the following year. Therefore, in 2027, we will allocate €64 billion to our defense. This is double the budget the armed forces had in 2017, he explained. Let's be clear: we Europeans must now guarantee our own security.