Tuesday, July 15th's live news on the conflict in Ukraine. The US president told the BBC:"I'm not ready to break with Putin." Xi and Lavrov meet in Beijing. Germany and the US prepare to deliver two Patriot missiles to Kiev.

8:16 PM | July 15

Trump: We will not supply long-range missiles to Kiev

The US administration does not intend to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles, President Donald Trump stated at a press conference at the White House.

According to the British newspaper The Financial Times, Kiev has asked Washington for the supply of long-range Tomahawk missiles, but the Trump administration has not yet made any decision on the matter for fear of their reckless use.

The FT also noted that the previous Biden administration had raised similar concerns regarding the use of cruise missiles against

targets on Russian territory, with the possible risk of widening the conflict.

7:56 PM | July 15

NATO to coordinate weapons delivery via mission to Kiev

NATO confirmed today that it will play a role in supplying weapons to Ukraine, which European countries will purchase from the United States through NSATU, the NATO Assistance and Training Mission for Ukraine.

NATO's European allies and Canada will assume the primary financing role, and NATO will coordinate the supply, including through NSATU. The military equipment will include air defense systems, ammunition, and other equipment, NATO sources told EuropaPress, in relation to the plans announced by US President Donald Trump and confirmed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during his visit to the White House.

In this way, NATO will maintain the coordinating role it assumed a year ago at the Washington summit to centralize military aid to Ukraine, although it will ultimately depend on contributions and purchases from European allies. Sources also confirmed that Germany, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Finland have pledged their support for the initiative, although the details of the plan, under which the United States will continue to send weapons to Ukraine through purchases made by European allies, are still being discussed.

6:56 PM | July 15

Tajani: Sending weapons to Kiev? The decision comes from NATO countries.

The decision on whether to send US weapons to Ukraine is up to NATO. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told reporters this when asked about Donald Trump's plan announced yesterday to sell US weapons and defense systems to alliance countries, who will then ship them to Kiev. The decision is NATO's:"We support supporting Ukraine," he explained, adding that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will present the initiative to the leaders of allied countries and then they will decide what to do. For now, he continued, it's important that the US has made a strong decision to support Kiev, following the major event in Rome, which was not only economic but also an important political signal.

6:44 PM | July 15

White House: Trump and Zelensky have just one question

The White House denied that, in his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump called for attacks on Moscow and St. Petersburg, as reported by the Financial Times. President Trump was simply asking a question, not encouraging further killings, spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told CNN. Trump, she added, is working tirelessly to stop the killings and end this war.

5:20 PM | July 15

Kallas: No agreement on the 18th sanctions package

It saddens me that we failed to reach an agreement today on the eighteenth package of EU sanctions against Russia for the war in Ukraine, and now the ball is in Slovakia's court. This was stated by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas in Brussels at the end of the Foreign Affairs Council. Kallas believes an agreement must be reached because negotiations have been ongoing for two months and Russia must be deprived of the means used to wage war in Ukraine. When asked why an agreement on the eighteenth package was not reached, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski replied:"Ask Hungary and Slovakia."

5:17 PM | July 15

Kallas: Moscow's chemical weapons attacks are intensifying.

Russia is using chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops, and the attacks are intensifying. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said this at the end of the Foreign Affairs Council. It's surprising, but since the beginning of the invasion, there have been over 9,000 cases of attacks using banned chemical weapons, according to Dutch and German intelligence services, and the fact that they're increasing is worrying. She wants Kiev to surrender, she added.

4:28 PM | July 15

Meloni: Trump's change of stance toward Putin is a good thing.

We continue to see no progress on the Russian side: Russia continues to target civilians with increasingly brutal attacks, demonstrating how little Moscow is committed to building the peace we all seek, despite the Trump administration's desire for dialogue, which Putin has decided not to embrace. We see a change of posture on the part of the United States and we welcome it. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated this in remarks to the press after her meeting with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker at Palazzo Chigi.

4:25 PM | July 15

Reuters: Putin unperturbed by threats, war to go ahead

President Vladimir Putin intends to continue fighting in Ukraine until the West commits to his peace terms, unperturbed by Donald Trump's threats of tougher sanctions, and his territorial demands could expand as Russian forces advance, three sources close to the Kremlin said in an exclusive to Reuters. Putin believes the Russian economy and military are strong enough to withstand further Western measures, the sources said.

4:08 PM | July 15

Shmyhal submits letter of resignation as Ukrainian prime minister

Denys Shmyhal has submitted his resignation as Ukrainian Prime Minister. In the reshuffle decided by Voldymyr Zelensky, he is expected to lead the Defense Ministry, replacing Rustev Umerov, who will become ambassador to the US.

Thank you to our defenders, men and women, who hold the front and protect Ukraine. Thank you to President Volodymyr Zelensky for his trust. Thank you to the entire team for their tireless work for our country. Glory to Ukraine! Shmyhal wrote on Telegram.

3:58 PM | July 15

Lavrov: We want to understand what's behind Trump's 50-day ultimatum.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reacted skeptically to recent statements by US President Donald Trump, who called for an agreement between Russia and Ukraine within 50 days."We've heard it all: 24 hours, 100 days... now we want to understand what's really driving the US president," Lavrov said at a press conference, quoted by Interfax. The Russian foreign minister then accused the European Union and NATO of exerting indecent pressure on Washington to militarily support Ukraine. Lavrov reiterated that the Russian military operation aims to root out threats to national security, threats that, according to Moscow, are fueled by decades of NATO expansion along Russia's borders.

3:47 PM | July 15

White House, Trump's question to Zelensky is just one.

The Financial Times misinterpreted Donald Trump's comments to Volodymyr Zelensky: his statements were taken out of context, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, according to Bloomberg. President Trump was simply asking a question, not encouraging further deaths, she added. The
Financial Times
reported that Trump asked Zelensky whether Ukraine could strike Moscow and St. Petersburg.

3:24 PM | July 15

EU sources: green light for 18th package of sanctions against Russia, expected tomorrow

Today's Foreign Affairs Council will not approve the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, as an agreement on the energy issue between Slovakia and the European Commission and the subsequent lifting of Prime Minister Robert Fico's veto are still pending. The package could instead be approved tomorrow at the meeting of EU ambassadors at Coreper. LaPresse learned this from an EU diplomatic source. Yesterday, Fico reported that he had forwarded the draft letter received from the European Commission addressing Slovakia's concerns regarding the ban on Russian energy imports to all interested Slovak political parties. So far, there has been no official comment and therefore no change in position on the 18th package of sanctions, another diplomatic source reports. We continue to work very closely with Slovakia on the challenges they will face when the flow of Russian gas through Ukraine ends next year, but I have no updates at this point. I can confirm that we are working closely with Slovakia on issues related to diversification, regulatory barriers, and diversification, and to find a solution as soon as possible. Contacts are ongoing, said European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen at the daily press briefing.

3:18 PM | July 15

Melania celebrated on Kiev's social media, Lady Trump becomes Trumpenko's agent

Ukrainian social media is praising Melania Trump for playing a key role in her husband's change of heart toward Russia. The idea arose when, during his meeting yesterday at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump claimed that Melania had been instrumental in exposing Vladimir Putin's duplicity."I go home and say to the first lady: I spoke to Vladimir today... We had a wonderful conversation. She replied: 'Really? Another city just got hit!'" the American president revealed.

A private family conversation (made public) which, as the Guardian claims, would have prompted him to reflect on the Kremlin leader's misconduct, so much so that he wanted to announce, that same day, a series of measures to support Ukraine, including the dispatch of Patriot air defense systems. But above all, the ultimatum to Russia: 50 days for a peace agreement.

2:47 PM | July 15

Lavrov: Istanbul talks are not over

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow's willingness to continue the talks initiated in Istanbul for a negotiated solution to the conflict in Ukraine. Indeed, according to Lavrov, the format is not exhausted. The Russian Foreign Minister is convinced of this and has also discussed it with his American colleagues."Our American colleagues are very familiar with our position. We have communicated this to them, we have spoken to them about the exhaustion of the format. It is not exhausted yet," Lavrov emphasized.

2:33 PM | July 15

Lavrov: Trump under enormous pressure from the EU and NATO

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today accused NATO and the European Union of exerting enormous pressure on US President Donald Trump to try to prolong the conflict in Ukraine. Trump, Lavrov said, quoted by the Tass news agency, is clearly under enormous and, I would say, inappropriate pressure from the EU and the current NATO leadership, who crudely support Zelensky's demands and continue to flood him with advanced weapons, including offensive ones, causing increasing harm to Western taxpayers. Lavrov spoke from Tianjin, China, where he attended a ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

2:18 PM | July 15

Lavrov: We want to understand what Trump's ultimatum means.

Russia isn't clear on what President Donald Trump means when he says an agreement on Ukraine must be reached within 50 days. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov supported this, TASS reports."We want to understand what's behind this statement about 50 days," he said."First it was 24 hours, then 100 days," he recalled."We really want to understand what drives the US president."

1:35 PM | July 15

Barrot announces visit to Kiev for July 21

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot will visit Ukraine on July 21."Next Monday, July 21, at the invitation of Andriy Sybikha (Ukrainian Foreign Minister), I will travel to Ukraine for the ambassadors' conference," Barrot told reporters on the sidelines of the European Union foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. Barrot added that the purpose of the visit is to express France's and Europe's support for Kiev in the conflict with Russia.

1:11 PM | July 15

Bannon criticizes the arms shipment to Kiev: It's a European war

Steve Bannon, Trump's former strategist, voices the discontent of the MAGA movement and, in his podcast War Room, criticizes Donald Trump's decision to sell weapons to NATO for Kiev: Ukraine is becoming truly dangerous. It's a European war. Let Europe handle it, Bannon says, as reported by BBC. They have the resources. They have the manpower. We're about to arm people over whom we literally have no control, adds the former adviser, referring to Ukraine. This is an old-fashioned, attritional war in the blood-soaked lands of Europe, and they're dragging us into it, Bannon concludes.

1:02 PM | July 15

Zelensky meets Svyrydenko and Fedorov, preparing the first steps of the new government

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science, and Technology Mykhailo Fedorov, Zelensky wrote in a Telegram post."We are preparing the first steps of the new government. We have detailed the tasks for the next six months. The main goals are to increase domestic weapons production in Ukraine, ensure full procurement of the required volumes of all types of drones for the Ukrainian Defense Forces, implement significant deregulation and unleash our country's domestic economic potential, as well as ensure the full implementation of social support programs for our people. We have defined what results can be achieved in the first six months of the new government's work," Zelensky said. Yesterday, the Ukrainian leader proposed that Svyrydenko take over the government leadership from current Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

12:56 PM | July 15

Zelensky: The new government's priority will be to increase weapons production.

Increasing arms production in Ukraine: this is one of the main objectives for the next six months of the new Ukrainian government, which will emerge from the cabinet reshuffle announced yesterday by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The leader of Kiev himself wrote on Telegram, having met today with the current Minister of Economy—and future Prime Minister—Yulia Svyridenko and politician Mykhailo Fedorov. Meeting with Yulia Svyridenko and Mykhailo Fedorov."We are preparing the first steps of the new government. We have defined the tasks for the next six months," the message reads."The main goal is to increase arms production in Ukraine, fully ensure the procurement of the necessary volumes of all types of drones for the Ukrainian Defense Forces, implement significant deregulation and unleash our country's domestic economic potential, as well as ensure the full implementation of social support programs for our people. We have defined the results that can be achieved in the first six months of the new government's mandate."

12:01 PM | July 15

Russian Deputy Prime Minister: Ultimatum on Ukraine Unacceptable

Russia considers any ultimatum unacceptable. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said this after the US president yesterday gave Moscow 50 days to find a negotiated solution to the conflict in Ukraine. Tass reports.

11:37 AM | July 15

Moscow: Two more villages captured in Donetsk

The Russian Defense Ministry claims that its troops have seized control of two villages in southeastern Ukraine: Voskresenska and Petrivka, in the Donetsk region. Interfax reported this. Moscow's claims cannot be independently verified.

11:36 AM | July 15

FT: Trump encouraged Zelensky to strike deep into Russia

US President Donald Trump privately encouraged Ukraine to intensify its deep-sea strikes against Russian territory, asking his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky whether he could strike Moscow and St. Petersburg if Washington provided long-range weapons. The British newspaper Financial Times reported this, citing sources familiar with the conversation between the two leaders, which took place during a phone call on July 4. According to two people familiar with the conversation, the US president asked:"Volodymyr, can you strike Moscow? And St. Petersburg too?" The response was: "Absolutely. We can, if you give us the weapons." Trump reportedly supported the idea, arguing that the goal is to make the Russians feel pain in order to force them to the negotiating table.

11:36 AM | July 15

Media, Zelensky has an ally in Melania Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has an unexpected ally in the White House: Melania Trump, the first lady who, according to the president himself, is pointing out Putin's behavior, attacking Ukraine while he should be negotiating peace. The Times and American media suggest this, noting that the first lady was born in the former Yugoslavia. Yesterday, during a conversation in the Oval Office, Donald Trump stated:"I come home and I say to the first lady, 'I spoke with Vladimir (Putin) today, we had a great conversation.'" And she replied,"Really? And at the same time, another attack on a (Ukrainian) city." And then she once said to me, 'Well, that's weird because he just bombed a nursing home,'" the US president added. The admission suggests that Melania wields much more political influence over her husband than previously thought. Melania often speaks Slovenian with her son, and both she and Barron hold EU passports. According to journalist and biographer Mary Jordan, Melania's sympathy for Ukraine is not surprising, given that she grew up in the former Yugoslavia, where Russia was never well-liked.

10:49 AM | July 15

France: Putin is barely advancing in Ukraine, it's a stalemate

According to Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Putin is barely advancing in Ukraine, paying a high price in terms of manpower while the Russian economy is collapsing, and is therefore targeting the civilian population to undermine Ukrainian morale. At the same time, he assures, France welcomes Donald Trump's decision to issue an ultimatum to Moscow and provide Patriots to Kiev. Putin has gone too far; he is now at an impasse and must reach a ceasefire.

10:29 AM | July 15

Media, Trump could give Kiev Tomahawk missiles

Donald Trump has considered sending Tomahawk missiles to Kiev, capable of hitting Moscow and St. Petersburg, according to the Washington Post, citing its own source. The Tomahawks are not included in the current aid packages, but could be included later if Trump decides to increase pressure on Putin. The Washington Post also reports that the White House may authorize Ukraine to use the 18 long-range ATACMs missiles currently in the country at their maximum range of 300 km. Kiev could thus strike military bases, airfields, and supply depots in the heart of Russia. The package could also include more ATACMs.

10:19 AM | July 15

Trump: I'm not ready to break up with Putin yet

In a conversation with the British BBC, US President Donald Trump reiterated his disappointment with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the ongoing war in Ukraine, but added that he was not yet ready to break up."I'm disappointed, but I'm not done with him," Trump said; "but I am disappointed," he insisted. Pressed to explain how he intends to end what he calls the bloodbath of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Trump responded:"We're working on it."

9:58 AM | July 15

Who is Yulia Svyrydenko, the new Ukrainian Prime Minister?

by Marta Serafini, correspondent in Kiev

​

​If the Ukrainian parliament were to confirm her nomination as expected, Yulia Svyrydenko, at just 39 years old, would become the country's second female prime minister.

Strengthening relations with Donald Trump's America and reviving the economy of a country devastated by over three years of war: these are the goals Volodymyr Zelensky has set himself by undertaking the biggest cabinet reshuffle since the beginning of the war and nominating Svyrydenko.

​

​Read the full article here

9:56 AM | July 15

Latvia: Working on a new EU sanctions package against Russia

Unfortunately, we see that the Kremlin clearly doesn't want to end the war. Therefore, our involvement is crucial. We must continue to put pressure on Russia. The 18th sanctions package is very important, and we should already begin work on the next package. Artjoms Ursulskis, Parliamentary Secretary at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said this upon his arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council. The shadow fleet should be a priority, as should all the ways we can weaken the Russian economy and reduce its opportunities to finance the war, he added, specifying that regarding the shadow fleet, sanctions should be applied not only to ships, but also to companies and individuals.

9:54 AM | July 15

Lithuania: Approve the 18th package and prepare the 19th

Europe must stop procrastinating on Ukraine. We must move forward with sanctions and then with further support for Ukraine following yesterday's announcements; we see that the United States still has leadership. And we must also unite and do the same, adopt the 18th package, with the lowering of the oil price cap, and begin preparing the 19th package, because we are not finished yet. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys stated this upon his arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council."And I don't accept the argument that the current sanctions aren't working. They are working. We have all the data showing how much Russia's costs are increasing to continue importing the materials it needs for its defense industry. So they are working, they are effective," he added.

9:27 AM | July 15

Xi to Lavrov: Beijing and Moscow must strengthen mutual support

According to Chinese President Xi Jinping, China and Russia must strengthen their mutual support. This is the message the Chinese president delivered to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during today's meeting in the Chinese capital, according to state media. Beijing and Moscow, Xi added, must implement the important consensus reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin and strengthen their mutual support in multilateral forums. The two countries must also unite the countries of the Global South and promote the development of the international order in a more equitable and reasonable direction, Xi said, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

8:59 AM | July 15

Medvedev: Trump's ultimatum? Theatrical, we don't care.

For Moscow, US President Donald Trump's ultimatum to Russia is theatrical. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a longtime close associate of Vladimir Putin, stated this, adding that Moscow doesn't care what Trump says. Yesterday, Trump announced he would send weapons to Ukraine and warned he would impose sanctions on Moscow if an agreement to end the war isn't reached within 50 days.

8:49 AM | July 15

Zelensky on Statehood Day: Ukrainians are here and will remain here

Ukrainians were here, Ukrainians are here, Ukrainians will remain here. And on this earth, life always triumphs, our values prevail, as does our spirit. Happy Republic Day, fellow citizens! Happy Day of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X and Telegram on Ukrainian Statehood Day. The Baptism of Rus-Ukraine is a historic event marking the Christianization of Rus, an Eastern Slavic state whose capital was Kiev.

8:31 AM | July 15

Moscow: Several injured in Ukrainian drone strikes over Russia

Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia last night caused several injuries, according to local authorities. An unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into an industrial area in the city of Yelets, Lipetsk Region, injuring one person, Governor Igor Artamonov said, cited by the Tass news agency. Another drone crashed near a private home in the Dobrinsky District, causing no injuries. In the city of Voronezh, the capital of the region of the same name, several people were injured when debris from a drone intercepted by anti-aircraft defenses fell to the ground, Governor Alexander Gusev said. Several residential buildings were damaged.

The moment the Ukrainian drone hit a building in Voronezh, Russia: the dive and the explosion

8:01 AM | July 15

Kallas: I hope new sanctions against Russia are imposed today or tomorrow.

We want a political agreement on the 18th sanctions package against Russia. We're very close. I hope it happens today, today, or tomorrow at the latest. There's still some work to do. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said this upon arriving at the Foreign Affairs Council.

7:59 AM | July 15

Sweden: We will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine

Sweden will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine rapidly and consistently, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on X."I welcome President Trump's important decision to enable the delivery of more advanced weapons to Ukraine and to significantly increase economic pressure on Russia," he wrote in his message."As one of Ukraine's largest donors, and together with our NATO allies, Sweden will continue to contribute to rapid and consistent supplies to Ukraine. Time is of the essence. The sooner we all come together to force Russia to end its brutal war against Ukraine, the more lives will be saved."

7:41 AM | July 15

Trump to the BBC: "I'm disappointed with Putin, I trust almost no one."

I trust almost no one. This is how US President Donald Trump responded, in a telephone interview with the BBC, when asked whether he still trusted Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Trump then said he was disappointed in Putin, but I'm not done with him. After reiterating that he had tried four times to reach an agreement that would end the war in Ukraine, Trump said that we are working to end the bloodshed in Ukraine. We'll have a good conversation. I'll tell him, 'Well, I think we're close to doing that,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kiev, Trump added.

7:33 AM | July 15

Russian drones hit Kharkiv, woman injured

A 68-year-old woman was injured last night in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine in a Russian drone strike targeting the village of Prykolotne, in the Kupyansky District, the State Emergency Service announced on Facebook, as reported by Ukrinform. Two houses and four other buildings were destroyed by fires, it added.

7:22 AM | July 15

Moscow mocks Trump: Uncle Sam blows soap bubbles

by Marco Imarisio 

​

​The photo generated by artificial intelligence shows an Uncle Sam with the features of Donald Trump shooting soap bubbles at the Kremlin towers with a toy gun . This isn't the usual mockery of ultranationalist Telegram channels, but the way RIA Novosti, one of the three state-run news agencies, decided to illustrate its commentary on the announcement made by the American president. The title, with further mockery, is an obvious reference to the phrase Trump uttered towards Volodymyr Zelensky during their first, ill-fated meeting at the White House: Washington doesn't have the cards to threaten Moscow.

​

​Read the full article here

7:21 AM | July 15

Kiev: Do you know how many more people could die in Ukraine in these 50 days?

by Marta Serafini, correspondent in Kiev

​

​Do you know how many more people could die in Ukraine in these 50 days? A Ukrainian Defense source spoke on condition of anonymity. But there are also those who are open about their opinions, like Maksym Buzhanskyi, MP for the ruling Servant of the People party, who told Corriere: These weren't the statements we expected. But thank God, Trump, and Europe for these new weapons anyway.



Relief over the arrival of the Patriots, but unease and concern over the ambiguity of the tycoon's words are hanging in the air in Kiev after Trump's remarks in the Oval Office. While Axios anticipated an announcement yesterday morning about the shipment of offensive weapons, in addition to the Patriots, it didn't arrive, or at least not so explicitly. A problem for military analysts who have long been pointing out that air defense alone isn't enough to deter Putin. Deterrence—this is the basic rule of military doctrine—also requires offensive capability.

7:14 AM | July 15

Xi and Lavrov meet, Putin's visit to China discussed

Chinese President Xi Jinping received Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Lavrov was in the Chinese capital as part of his participation in the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The statement noted that several issues related to bilateral political contacts were discussed at the highest levels, including preparations for Russian leader Vladimir Putin's visit to China to attend the SCO summit and the celebrations marking the anniversary of World War II. Russian news agency Tass reported that Xi met with Lavrov after the Chinese president held a general meeting with the SCO foreign ministers. The Russian Foreign Minister arrived in China following a visit to North Korea, where he received assurances of support in the conflict with Ukraine.

7:10 AM | July 15

Kuleba: Moscow needs to be stripped of its oil money. Trump is wavering; perhaps it's best for him to back out.

by Marta Serafini, correspondent in Kiev

​

​It would be good for everyone—Ukraine, Europe, and the United States—if we saw a less enthusiastic diplomatic involvement from the White House in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Since Dmytro Kuleba is no longer Foreign Minister in the Zelensky government—he now teaches at Harvard and Sciences Po—he has allowed himself the luxury of getting straight to the point, especially when it comes to the complicated relations between Kiev and Washington.

​

​ In recent weeks, we have witnessed many about-faces by the White House on Ukraine. What's going on?

There are two groups in the current administration. One is anti-Ukrainian and tries to mask its efforts to weaken Ukraine under the guise of"America First." And the other, truly pro-American, understands Ukraine's importance to America's position in the world. The first group seems to be represented by the Pentagon. The second by the State Department and the CIA. That's why we'll see more bad decisions, then good decisions, and then bad decisions again: both of these groups are powerful and will compete for influence over President Trump. So there will be further attempts to hinder aid to Ukraine, some of which won't even be made public.

​​Read the interview here

7:08 AM | July 15

Trump will provide weapons to NATO for Ukraine. Putin will receive a 50-day ultimatum.

by Viviava Mazza, New York correspondent

​

​Trump's big announcement on the war in Ukraine that has been anticipated for days arrived yesterday. And it's a two-part announcement. The first part concerns weapons: We will supply weapons to NATO in large quantities. They will deliver them (to Kiev, editor's note) and pay them 100%. This is a huge shift in attitude toward the Ukrainians from his initial belief that giving more weapons—especially offensive ones—to Kiev would hinder the achievement of a peace agreement. Trump called Mark Rutte, who was on vacation, last Thursday to announce his decision and summon him to the White House.

​

​Read the full article here

6:14 AM | July 15

Russian Defense Ministry: 55 Ukrainian drones shot down

Air defense forces shot down 55 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

6:09 AM | July 15

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov meets with President Xi Jinping in China

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a bilateral meeting in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian news agencies Tass and Ria Novosti reported this morning. The meeting took place in the Chinese capital following a meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Lavrov met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Sunday, focusing on the Ukrainian issue.

1:48 AM | July 15

Estonia: US weapons in Kiev a sign of West's closeness

US President Donald Trump's decision to send military aid to Ukraine is the clearest sign yet that the West stands and remains with Kiev. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna wrote this in a press release published this evening. Lithuanian Foreign Minister took a similar stance, however, emphasizing that the European Union continues to lack clear guidelines for ensuring military support and clear prospects for integration into the European Economic Area.

01:47|July 15

Pistorius, Europeans should dig into their pockets

At the end of his meeting with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called on Europeans to prepare to invest in US defense systems to help Kiev against Russia."It's clear, and this is a call to all European NATO members, that we all need to open our wallets in some way, because the important thing is to raise the necessary funds for air defense, as Ukraine is under great pressure in this area," Pistorius told public television ARD. Pistorius was referring to US President Donald Trump's change of stance regarding arms shipments to Ukraine and possible sanctions against Russia and countries supporting Moscow, a topic the German Defense Minister discussed with his counterpart and welcomed on ARD. Trump's initiative regarding arms shipments to Ukraine requires, first and foremost, that European countries procure them, among which Germany wants to play a leading role. Today we discussed the scope of US deliveries, and what is clear is that, as Trump said, the United States is not paying and the Europeans will have to do so. But it is better for the United States to be involved than not, because it has the production capacity, Pistorius said.

1:31 AM | July 14

Germany and the US prepare to deliver two Patriot missiles to Kiev

German and US authorities are preparing the delivery of two Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine, worth two billion euros. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made this announcement to reporters after his meeting with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth. The delivery, he added, will be financed by Berlin."We still need to clarify the final technical, logistical, and financial details," he clarified, as reported by German broadcaster N-TV."These details," he concluded,"seem mutually resolvable, and we will get to work quickly."