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European partners reportedly caught off guard as US halts arms shipments to Ukraine
The Trump administration’s decision to halt deliveries of key military aid to Ukraine has caught European partners off guard and prompted urgent requests for clarification, Bloomberg reported on July 2, citing unnamed sources.
The pause affects the delivery of several weapons critical to Ukraine’s defense, including Patriot air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery shells, Hellfire missiles, and munitions for F-16 fighter jets.
The White House confirmed the hold, describing it as part of a broader reassessment of U.S. military stockpiles. Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, the U.S. has not approved any new military aid packages for Ukraine.
According to Bloomberg, some European allies hope the Trump administration will soften or reverse the decision. The timing of the pause has raised particular concern as Ukraine faces one of the most intense waves of Russian missile and drone attacks since the start of the war.
In his evening address on July 2, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian and U.S. officials are working through the aid issue at a “working level,” including discussions on critical air defense support.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said it has not received any formal notification of delays or cancellations but has requested urgent consultations with U.S. defense officials.
The Foreign Ministry also summoned U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Ginkel, warning that “any hesitation” in military support would encourage further Russian aggression.
The Kremlin welcomed the decision, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying, “The fewer weapons that are supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the (war)."
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed understanding of Washington’s desire to safeguard its stockpiles but said that “Ukraine cannot do without all the support it can get."
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously signaled a shift in policy, indicating that future defense budgets would prioritize domestic needs over military support for Ukraine.
‘Major casualties among civilians’ — US freeze on air defense missiles is terrible news for UkraineThe halting of deliveries of air defense missiles from the U.S. will lead to“major casualties among civilians,” a deputy commander in Ukraine’s air defense told the Kyiv Independent. Politico reported on July 1 that the U.S. Defense Department (DOD) had halted shipments of some weapons previously
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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'Major casualties among civilians' — US freeze on air defense missiles is terrible news for Ukraine
The halting of deliveries of air defense missiles from the U.S. will lead to“major casualties among civilians,” a deputy commander in Ukraine’s air defense told the Kyiv Independent.
Politico reported on July 1 that the U.S. Defense Department (DOD) had halted shipments of some weapons previously promised to Kyiv out of concerns over the size of U.S. stockpiles, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The aid in question included several pieces of U.S. weaponry that have been critical to Ukraine’s ability to conduct the war.
Nick Schifrin, a reporter for PBS NewsHour, wrote on X that the halt included “PAC3 Patriots, 155mm artillery rounds, GMLRS, Stinger, AIM-7, and Hellfire missiles."
While the economics of losing such systems hurts the Ukrainian war effort, Ukraine’s military has managed to build its own equivalent to several of those since the war’s outset. The critical exception is air defense.
“Cutting off delivery of missiles for Patriot anti-air systems will mean a weaker air defense system over the country, and as a result, destruction of civilian infrastructure and major casualties among civilians,” Oleksii, a deputy commander who coordinates mobile air defense groups in Kyiv Oblast, told the Kyiv Independent.
In line with Ukrainian military policy, he asked not to be identified by last name.
Patriot missile systems are the best air defense Ukraine has ever had. More specifically, PAC-3 missiles for those systems are by far the most effective measure against Russian ballistic missiles like Iskander and Kinzhal.
Ukraine is highly secretive about the anti-missile missiles that remain in its stocks, but recent Russian strikes have been far more deadly than they were a year or two prior, with interception rates of ballistic missiles in particular dropping precipitously.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the upcoming wildfire and hurricane seasons in Washington, DC, U.S. on June 10, 2025. (Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images) That is in large part because the U.S. has already been slow-walking its aid deliveries since U.S. President Donald Trump took office, particularly when it comes to air defense.
Russian ballistic missiles travel several times the speed of sound. In the case of the Kinzhal, Russia touts a max speed of Mach 10. They arc far above the surface of the earth, unlike cruise missiles, which maintain a relatively low, flat trajectory, giving more time for a surface-based interception.
Why Ukraine can’t build Patriots and PAC-3sU.S. defense giant Raytheon has built Patriot missile launchers since the early 1980s, over the course of which it has progressively upgraded the system’s software. Lockheed Martin makes the PAC-3 missiles themselves, which are uniquely good at targeting ballistic missiles.
PAC-3s destroy incoming ballistic missiles by physically hitting them in the air, a feat of targeting that requires remarkably precise measurements and timing for launch calculations.
They are equipped with sensors from Boeing that are able to spot proximate ballistic missiles and make the high-speed, last-minute adjustments necessary to collide with them.
A Russian airstrike targeted Boeing’s office in Kyiv just weeks ago. The aerospace giant employs some 1,000 people in Ukraine.
A Russian drone is shot down by Ukrainian air defenses during a night strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 17, 2025. (Sergei Supinsky / AFP via Getty Images) 
Patriot air defense launchers are seen at a German military base in Sanitz, Germany, on June 11, 2024. (President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram) Ukrainian weapons production has been remarkably innovative since the war’s start. But the interlinking expertise and precision that makes the Patriot PAC-3 system work took decades to build while backed by the budget of the U.S. Department of Defense — and with nobody bombing their factories.
Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing each individually report revenues of well over $60 billion annually, which is significantly greater than the Ukrainian government’s annual tax revenue.
What Ukraine does — and doesn’t — haveUkraine still has a huge number of Soviet-made S-300 anti-air systems left over. But it is also running out of missiles for those systems — and many of the other former Warsaw Pact nations that earlier in the war sent their residual stockpiles to Ukraine have run out as well.
While S-300 munitions would, in theory, be cheaper to make than PAC-3s, they still require industrial facilities beyond what is required to make drones. While Russia still has them, Ukraine has never really had the chance to build them out.
Ukraine’s major weapons factories were set up by the Soviet Union and were not designed to operate independently. Ukraine-based factories made components for complex weapons systems that were only to be completed when they joined with engines or controllers, or launch vehicles from other Soviet manufacturers.
A Ukrainian soldier stands near the wreckage of an S-300 missile in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on March 6, 2023. (Diego Fedele / Getty Images) Given that the Soviet Union built them, Russia also knows exactly where many of those huge post-Soviet factories are and routinely bombs them.
Can Europe fill the gap?There are European manufacturers that make theoretically comparable air-defense systems, but they have proved themselves less effective within Ukraine and, maybe more importantly, are not made at the mass scale of Patriot missiles.
The U.S. government also controls the flow of Patriot systems and ammunition, meaning that if it wants to embargo Ukraine’s access to them, it can.
Overall, the U.S. denial of sophisticated air defense to Ukraine is a serious blow for which there is no ready technological solution.
“Likely – or certainly – that decision is aimed at weakening the tough negotiating position of our country, and at us accepting conditions that are dictated to us from outside,” Oleksii said.
Note from the author:
Hi, this is Kollen, the author of this article. Thanks for reading. With Russian forces massing at the front and air attacks intensifying across the country, Ukraine is holding up in the face of a tense summer. If you want more stories like this, consider joining our community today to help support our work.
Why Ukraine isn’t building its own version of US PatriotA series of Russian ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian cities have killed dozens of civilians in recent weeks, shaking an already uneasy sense of safety for Ukrainians living far from the front lines. The Russian strikes are growing more lethal as foreign air defense aid to Ukraine has dwindled, particularly
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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NATO chief urges continued US support for Ukraine as Pentagon halts arms shipments
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on July 2 that he understands Washington’s need to safeguard its own defense needs, but emphasized that Ukraine urgently requires sustained Western support.
“I totally understand that the U.S. always has to make sure its interests are covered,” Rutte told Fox News. “When it comes to Ukraine, in the short term, Ukraine cannot do without all the support it can get."
His remarks come as the U.S. Defense Department has halted deliveries of key weapons systems previously promised to Kyiv, including Patriot missiles, precision-guided artillery shells, Hellfire missiles, and munitions compatible with F-16 fighter jets.
The White House confirmed the pause in shipments, citing a broader reassessment of U.S. military stockpiles. No new U.S. military aid packages have been approved since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January.
“I understand the U.S. has to take care of its stockpiles, and at the same time, we have to allow for some flexibility here,” Rutte said. “Europeans, in the meantime, are really stepping up."
Military aid delays will ‘encourage Russia to continue war,’ Ukraine tells US envoyUkraine warned that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace.”
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
During last week’s NATO summit in The Hague, Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky met behind closed doors. Rutte described the conversation as “a very good discussion, particularly focusing on air defense systems."
The reporting of paused deliveries comes as Ukraine faces one of the heaviest barrages of Russian drone and missile strikes since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry responded by saying it has not received formal notification of delays or cancellations and has requested urgent consultations with U.S. defense officials.
The Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Ginkel the same day, warning that any hesitation in maintaining Ukraine’s defense capabilities would embolden Russia.
The Kremlin welcomed the halt in arms shipments, saying it brings the war closer to an war.
“The fewer weapons that are supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the (war),” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in response to the information.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously indicated that the upcoming defense budget will scale back long-term military support for Ukraine, reflecting a shift in Washington’s priorities.
‘Ukraine is biggest landmine challenge since World War II,’ says head of world’s largest demining organizationRussia’s full-scale invasion may have turned Ukraine into the world’s largest minefield. As of March 2025, Ukraine’s mine-affected land spans an estimated 139,000 square kilometers — or 23% of its territory — covering more ground than all of Greece and posing an immense threat to civilian life and recovery efforts.
The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko
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Ukraine says it wasn't officially informed of US weapons shipment halt
Editor’s note: The story is being updated.
Ukraine has not received any official notification from the United States about suspension or rescheduling of previously approved military aid packages, the Defense Ministry said on July 2, following media reporting that Washington had paused some weapons deliveries.
In a statement, the ministry said it is working to verify the current status of all elements in the agreed aid packages and has requested a phone call with U.S. defense officials for further clarification.
“Ukraine has not received official notices regarding the suspension or revision of the delivery schedules of agreed defense assistance,” the statement read. “We proceed based on verified facts and are reviewing each item in the supply chain."
Politico reported that the U.S. Defense Department has paused shipments of key air defense and precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns about declining U.S. stockpiles.
Among the withheld items are Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, and other munitions used by Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets.
The White House confirmed the decision, saying it was part of a broader reassessment of American military aid to foreign partners.
"(The decision) was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Ginkel on July 2 to voice concern over the reported pause in weapons shipments.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa warned during the meeting that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace."
The Kremlin has welcomed the reported move, with its spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, saying that “the fewer weapons that are supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the (war)."
The move comes as Ukraine faces intensifying Russian attacks. In June, Russia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type attack drones at Ukrainian targets, the highest monthly total since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The U.S. did not approve any new military aid packages after President Donald Trump took office in January. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also signaled that future U.S. defense budgets will reduce the scale of assistance to Ukraine.
Military aid delays will ‘encourage Russia to continue war,’ Ukraine tells US envoyUkraine warned that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace.”
The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
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Kremlin welcomes reported pause in US arms shipments to Ukraine, says it brings war's end closer
The United States' reported decision to suspend some arms deliveries to Ukraine could help bring Russia’s war in Ukraine to an end, the Kremlin said on July 2, according to Russian state-controlled media.
“The fewer weapons that are supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the… (Russia-Ukraine war),” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov’s comments came after Politico reported that the U.S. Defense Department has paused shipments of key air defense and precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns about declining U.S. stockpiles.
Among the withheld items are Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, and other munitions used by Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Ginkel on July 2 to voice concern over the reported pause in weapons shipments.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa warned during the meeting that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace."
According to Politico, Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby ordered the halt in June following a review of U.S. ammunition levels. The White House confirmed the decision, saying it was part of a broader reassessment of American military aid to foreign partners.
"(The decision) was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement.
The move comes as Ukraine faces intensifying Russian attacks. In June, Russia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type attack drones at Ukrainian targets, the highest monthly total since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The U.S. has not approved any new military aid packages after U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also signaled that future U.S. defense budgets will reduce the scale of assistance to Ukraine.
At a NATO summit in The Hague in late June, Trump said Washington was considering whether it could help provide more Patriot missiles to Kyiv but emphasized that U.S. and Israeli needs take precedence.
“They are very hard to get. We need them too,” Trump said after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Kremlin has long argued that Western arms shipments to Ukraine only prolong the conflict and raise the risk of escalation, while continuing to attack Ukrainian cities and advance on the battlefield.
Smashing previous monthly record, Russia launches 5,337 kamikaze drones against Ukraine during JuneRussia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine in June, according to data from the Ukrainian Air Force and Dragon Capital, smashing the previous record of 4,198 set in March. Russia’s bombardments, a fact of life after three years of full-scale war, have intensified dramatically in May
The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk
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Military aid delays would 'encourage Russia to continue war,' Ukraine tells US envoy
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry told U.S. Charge d’Affaires John Ginkel that delays in U.S. military aid would only prolong the war, the Foreign Ministry said on July 2 after the Pentagon reportedly paused some weapons shipments.
Ginkel met Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa at the request of Ukraine’s chief diplomat, Andrii Sybiha.
During the meeting, the Ukrainian side warned that “any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage Russia to continue war and terror, rather than pursue peace."
The meeting came against the backdrop of the U.S. media reporting that the U.S. Defense Department had paused some of the previously allocated shipments of air defense ammunition and other weapons to Kyiv amid a review.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly later confirmed the move, saying that the decision “was made to put America’s interests first following a (Defense Department) review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe."
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s readout, Betsa underscored Ukraine’s gratitude for U.S. aid and stressed the critical importance of continued deliveries, namely air defenses.
The Ukrainian diplomat also noted that Russia continues to reject a U.S.-proposed ceasefire that Kyiv agreed to during talks in Jeddah on March 11 and only intensifies its aerial attacks and ground offensives against Ukraine.
“Ukraine supports peace efforts and supports the U.S. calls for an immediate end to the killings and the war, stressing the need to compel Russia to seek peace,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Under these circumstances, strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and ramping up coordinated transatlantic pressure on Russia are critically important."
The aid pause comes in a critical moment as Russia is ramping up its aerial strikes across Ukraine and intensifying offensive operations along the front line.
The Trump administration has yet to approve any new major aid package for Ukraine and revealed plans to reduce military assistance in next year’s budget. The pause comes despite U.S. President Donald Trump recently signaling support for further Patriot supplies to Kyiv.
Ukraine’s new interceptor UAVs are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the skyRussia’s Shahed drone swarms are pummeling Ukraine on a nightly basis, inflicting ever more death and destruction in cities that had managed to carve out some sense of normalcy amid wartime. Civilian alarm has grown. With traditional air defense stockpiles running low, the government is banking on newly created
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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USAID officially ends operation, remaining programs moved under State Department
USAID officially stopped implementing foreign assistance as of July 1, as the Trump administration seeks to realign international aid with its policies, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced.
“Foreign assistance programs that align with administration policies — and which advance American interests — will be administered by the State Department,” Rubio said in a statement on Substack.
The Trump administration has set its sights on the U.S.’s chief foreign aid agency, accusing it — despite little evidence — of fraud and of promoting a “liberal” or “leftist” agenda. Roughly 83% of USAID’s programs, or around 5,200 contracts, were terminated in March, and thousands of workers were laid off.
Founded in 1961, USAID has played a crucial role in humanitarian relief worldwide and has overseen thousands of programs supporting democracy-building, human rights, and economic development.
“USAID had decades and a near-infinite taxpayer budget to advance American influence, promote economic development worldwide, and allow billions to stand on their own two feet,” Rubio said.
“Beyond creating a globe-spanning NGO industrial complex at taxpayer expense, USAID has little to show since the end of the Cold War."
Contradicting Rubio’s comments, experts and former U.S. officials have criticized the decision and pointed to potentially devastating humanitarian consequences. Research by The Lancet estimated that USAID funding cuts could result in 14 million deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million children younger than 5.
“We will not apologize for recognizing America’s longstanding commitment to life-saving humanitarian aid and promotion of economic development abroad must be in furtherance of an America First foreign policy,” Rubio said.
The chief U.S. diplomat presented the step as part of President Donald Trump’s broader policies aimed at requiring international allies and partners to pay a greater share for projects around the world.
“Americans should not pay taxes to fund failed governments in faraway lands. Moving forward, our assistance will be targeted and time limited. We will favor those nations that have demonstrated both the ability and willingness to help themselves,” Rubio said.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, USAID has provided $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as well as $5 billion in development assistance and more than $30 billion in direct budget support to Kyiv.
Want to invest in Ukrainian startups from the US? This platform promises to be the bridgeHans Braunfisch wants Americans to invest in Ukrainian startups, but there’s a problem: there’s no clear path for individual investors to put money into the more than 26,000 Ukrainian startups out there. The former PwC consultant plans to change that with Pravo Venture, a platform streamlining foreign investment for
The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell
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As Russia ramps up missile attacks, US halts promised air defense shipments to Ukraine, Politico reports
The U.S. Defense Department (DOD) has halted shipments of some air defense missiles and other weapons previously promised to Kyiv out of concerns over the size of U.S. stockpiles, Politico reported on July 1, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The suspension comes as Ukraine faces a shortage of air defense munitions along with increasingly intense and deadly Russian bombardments. In June 2025, Russia launched 5,337 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine, shattering its previous monthly record.
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby made the decision to pause the aid deliveries after conduction a review of U.S. munitions stocks, three sources told Politico. Colby was reportedly concerned about dwindling levels of artillery rounds, air defense missiles, and precision munitions.
Among the items being held back from Ukraine are Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, drones, and other missiles Ukraine launches from F-16 fighter jets.
Colby made the decision in June, amid a surge in Russian mass aerial attacks against Ukraine.
The Pentagon’s decision “was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement issued after Politico published the story.
“The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran,” she said.
Since his inauguration in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has not approved any additional military aid packages for Ukraine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also announced recently that the U.S. will reduce the total aid it sends Ukraine in its upcoming defense budget.
At the NATO summit in The Hague in late June, Trump said he would “see” if the U.S. could supply Kyiv with additional missiles for its Patriot systems.
“They (Ukraine) do want to have the anti missiles, as they call them, the Patriots, and we’re going to see if we can make some available,” he said after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“They are very hard to get. We need them too. We are supplying them for Israel, and they are very effective."
But according to a source who spoke to Politico, plans to reduce and redirect air defense munitions and other weapons for Ukraine have been in the works for months. The administration is looking to redirect artillery shells, tank shells, and air defense systems to Israel or back to Washington.
“They have proposed repeatedly since March to pause the shipments,” the person said.
Colby, the reported architect of the decision, has previously advocated for reducing U.S. military assistance to Ukraine to prioritize deterrence efforts in Asia.
Russia on June 29 launched the largest missile and drone attack against Ukraine since the start of its full-scale war.
Ukraine’s new interceptor UAVs are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the skyRussia’s Shahed drone swarms are pummeling Ukraine on a nightly basis, inflicting ever more death and destruction in cities that had managed to carve out some sense of normalcy amid wartime. Civilian alarm has grown. With traditional air defense stockpiles running low, the government is banking on newly created
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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US sanctions Russian IT company Aeza Group over ransomware operations
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on the Russian IT company Aeza Group for hosting infostealers and ransomware operations, according to a press release published on July 1.
Restrictions were imposed on two subsidiaries and four members of the Aeza Group’s management as well, the statement read.
The U.S. Treasury Department characterized Aeza as a “bulletproof hosting service” that provided services to the Meduza and Lumma infostealers, as well as to the BianLian and RedLine ransomware groups.
Aeza Group also hosted the Russian-language darknet marketplace for illegal drugs, BlackSprut.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Aeza Group sells access to specialized servers that help cybercriminals avoid detection and resist attempts by law enforcement agencies to suppress their criminal activities.
Sanctions against the company involve blocking all assets of the named individuals located in the U.S. Any legal entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, by 50% or more by one or more of the mentioned individuals are also blocked.
Violation of the U.S. sanctions may result in civil or criminal penalties.
The news comes as Ukraine continues to call on the U.S. to strengthen sanctions against Russia. Despite Russia’s refusal to accept the ceasefire proposal and its army’s ongoing advance across Ukrainian territory, the Trump administration has not yet imposed new restrictions.
Meanwhile, Senators Lindsey Graham (R) and Richard Blumenthal (D) introduced a bill to impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue to buy Russian oil and raw materials.
The legislation currently has broad bipartisan support, with 82 out of 100 U.S. senators backing it. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson also voiced his support for the bill.
Ukraine’s new interceptor UAVs are starting to knock Russia’s long-range Shahed drones out of the skyRussia’s Shahed drone swarms are pummeling Ukraine on a nightly basis, inflicting ever more death and destruction in cities that had managed to carve out some sense of normalcy amid wartime. Civilian alarm has grown. With traditional air defense stockpiles running low, the government is banking on newly created
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
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"Peace" from the Kremlin? Russia's empty promises and Trump's attempts to meet with Putin
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After Trump cut support, US lawmakers press for action on Russian abductions of Ukrainian children
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced a resolution in Congress demanding the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, according to a press release published on June 30.
Kyiv estimates that Russia has abducted or forcibly displaced at least 19,500 Ukrainian children since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion of 2022, and has deported them to Russia, Belarus, or the occupied territories of Ukraine.
The resolution, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks and Michael McCaul, a Republican chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, condemns the abductions and calls for the repatriation of children even before a potential peace deal.
Senators Chuck Grassley (Republican) and Amy Klobuchar (Democrat) introduced the resolution in the Senate.
“These children have been stripped of their national identity, adopted into Russian families, or indoctrinated as soldiers for the Kremlin,” McCaul said in a statement.
“Russia’s mass-scale child abduction is nothing short of evil; the United States must demonstrate moral leadership by demanding every child be returned to his or her family in Ukraine before true peace can be achieved."
The Trump administration has previously cut funding for a Yale University-based Ukraine Conflict Observatory tracking the abduction of Ukrainian children. Nathaniel Raymond, the executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab overseeing the effort, has said the operation would cease on July 1 due to the lack of funds.
Since its launch in May 2022, the observatory has compiled evidence of Russian war crimes, including the deportation of Ukrainian children, many of whom were sent to reeducation camps or adopted by Russian families.
The database suggested that the actual number of abducted Ukrainian children could be higher than the figure provided by Ukraine’s Children of War database, placing it as high as 30,000. Over 1,360 children have been brought back home.
According to the resolution newly introduced in Congress, “Russia’s abduction and Russification of Ukrainian children demonstrates the intent of the Government of the Russian Federation to erase the Ukrainian nation and identity."
The document also says that Russia’s invasion “has significantly increased the risks of children being exposed to human trafficking and exploitation, child labor, sexual violence, hunger, injury, trauma, deprivation of education and shelter, and death."
Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, called the resolution “an important step in support of justice and peace."
The abductions have been widely denounced as war crimes and violations of international law. In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova over their roles in the deportation of Ukrainian minors.
Smashing previous monthly record, Russia launches 5,337 kamikaze drones against Ukraine during JuneRussia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine in June, according to data from the Ukrainian Air Force and Dragon Capital, smashing the previous record of 4,198 set in March. Russia’s bombardments, a fact of life after three years of full-scale war, have intensified dramatically in May
The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk
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'Russia cannot continue to stall for time' while bombing Ukrainian civilians, Kellogg says
U.S. Special Representative Keith Kellogg has pushed back against Russian claims that Ukraine and the United States are responsible for delaying peace negotiations, arguing that it is Moscow that continues to obstruct efforts to end the war it initiated.
“Peskov’s recent comments on the state of negotiations are Orwellian. Russian claims that it is the US and Ukraine stalling peace talks are unfounded. President Trump has been consistent and adamant about making progress to end the war. We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war. Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine,” Kellogg said on X.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on June 29 accused Washington and Kyiv of holding up progress, stating that future developments in peace talks depend on Ukraine’s stance, the effectiveness of U.S. mediation, and the situation on the battlefield.
“A lot depends, naturally, on the position of the Kyiv regime,” Peskov said in a televised interview with Belarus 1 TV, according to Reuters. “It depends on how effectively Washington’s mediating efforts continue,” he added.
Despite those remarks, Russia has rejected a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal and continued its attacks on Ukrainian cities launching record numbers of drones against Ukrainian cities. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin openly stated that “all of Ukraine is ours,” raising further doubts about the Kremlin’s willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations.
Peskov’s interview aired as the war moves into its fourth summer with no comprehensive ceasefire in place. Although two rounds of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul this year—on May 16 and June 2—the discussions have not led to any breakthrough on ending hostilities.
While the Istanbul meetings led to notable prisoner exchanges, they produced no tangible progress toward peace.
Smashing previous monthly record, Russia launches 5,337 kamikaze drones against Ukraine during JuneRussia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine in June, according to data from the Ukrainian Air Force and Dragon Capital, smashing the previous record of 4,198 set in March. Russia’s bombardments, a fact of life after three years of full-scale war, have intensified dramatically in May
The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk
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Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian forces push Russian army away from Sumy
Key developments on June 30:
- Ukrainian forces push Russian army away from Sumy, General Staff says
- Ukrainian military again denies reports on Russian troops entering Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
- After months of stalling, Russia blames Ukraine, US for slow pace of peace talks
- Germany vows to pursue ‘every path’ to boost Ukraine’s air defenses, FM Wadephul says in Kyiv
Ukrainian forces have stabilized the situation in Sumy Oblast and pushed the Russian army further away from Sumy, the region’s capital, Ukraine’s General Staff reported on June 30.
Moscow launched its new summer campaign in May, aiming to push deeper into Ukraine’s northeastern and eastern regions and disregarding Kyiv’s calls for an unconditional ceasefire.
Ukrainian troops advanced near the village of Oleksiivka, located less than 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the city of Sumy, and liberated the village of Andriivka, which had been captured by Russia in early June, the statement read.
A map of Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast (Nizar al-Rifal/The Kyiv Independent) In the meantime, Ukraine also stopped the Russian advance along the Yunakivka-Yablunivka-Novomykolayivka-Oleksiivka-Kindrativka line and the border with Russia near Kursk Oblast, according to the General Staff.
Russia has deployed its best brigades on this section of the front line and is using long-range artillery, aircraft, and attack drones, the General Staff said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky also said on June 30 that Ukrainian troops had halted the Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast.
“The Russian plan for an offensive in Sumy Oblast is not succeeding — thanks to every Ukrainian unit operating in the area,” Zelensky said after a meeting with the military leadership and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Smashing previous monthly record, Russia launches 5,337 kamikaze drones against Ukraine during JuneRussia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine in June, according to data from the Ukrainian Air Force and Dragon Capital, smashing the previous record of 4,198 set in March. Russia’s bombardments, a fact of life after three years of full-scale war, have intensified dramatically in May
The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk
Ukrainian military again denies reports on Russian troops entering Dnipropetrovsk OblastThe Ukrainian military on June 30 denied the latest reports that Russian troops had entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Since June 29, the Ukrainian battlefield monitoring group DeepState has marked a “gray” zone in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, identifying potential fighting in this section of the front line. Near the village of Dachne in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the zone extends almost a kilometer into the region.
Meanwhile, Kremlin propagandists claimed on Telegram that Russian troops had captured Dachne.
The estimated Russian advance in Donetsk Oblast as of June 29, 2025. (DeepState/OpenStreet Map) The reports were denied by spokespeople of two Ukrainian brigades and the Khortytsia group of forces on June 30, Suspilne reported.
“There are very active battles in the villages located near the administrative border of the region,” Viktor Tregubov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces, told Suspilne, adding that Ukraine is holding the defense line near the villages of Yalta, Komar, and Shevchenkove.
Tregubov added that Russian troops had not entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast as of noon on June 30.
The press service of the 3rd brigade of the National Guard, stationed in the nearby Pokrovsk sector of the front line, also denied the information about the breakthrough.
Nazar Voitenkov, spokesperson for the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, based in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, also said that the Russian army had made no advances into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
“We are holding the defense line. The line is constantly changing, but the enemy has not broken through,” Voitenkov said.
Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s counter-disinformation center, said on Telegram that fighting is taking place near the region’s administrative border, and Russian FPV (first-person-view) drones are also flying into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast,
But despite the heavy battles, there is no breakthrough, he added.
Russia pulls its scientists out of Iranian nuclear plant, as Israeli strikes threaten decades of collaborationIsrael’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have alarmed none more than Russia, the country that first brought nuclear power to Iran in defiance of Western objections. We’re “millimeters from catastrophe,” said Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on June 18 in response to a bombing campaign that Israel launched against Iran on June 13. Decades of conflict with the West have united Iran and Russia, despite a cultural gulf between the two nations that dwarfs the Caspian Sea that physically di
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
After months of stalling, Russia blames Ukraine, US for slow pace of peace talksAfter months of diplomatic stalling, the Kremlin on June 29 blamed Kyiv and Washington for the lack of progress in peace talks, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the pace of negotiations hinges on Ukraine’s position, the effectiveness of U.S. mediation, and battlefield developments.
“A lot depends, naturally, on the position of the Kyiv regime,” Peskov told Belarus 1 TV, in comments reported by Reuters, adding: “It depends on how effectively Washington’s mediating efforts continue."
Russia has repeatedly refused to a U.S.-proposed ceasefire agreement, has escalated attacks on Ukrainian civilians, and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared earlier this month that “all of Ukraine is ours."
Peskov made the remarks in a televised interview, as the full-scale war enters its fourth summer with no comprehensive ceasefire in sight, and two mostly inconclusive rounds of peace talks.
Russia and Ukraine have held two rounds of face-to-face talks in Istanbul this year, first on May 16 and again on June 2, following more than three years without direct negotiations. The meetings resulted in significant prisoner exchanges, but no significant steps toward a ceasefire.
During the June 2 meeting, both sides presented proposals for ending the war, but Putin later describedthem as "absolutely opposite" memorandums.
Ukraine's delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, a position supported by Western partners, while Russia insisted on a 2–3-day limited truce to recover the bodies of fallen soldiers.
"Russia rejects even the very idea of stopping the killings," Umerov said after the talks. "That's why we appeal to the world: pressure is needed for real peace, not for an imitation of negotiations."
Despite the deadlock, Russia said it is open to a third round of negotiations. "In general, we are ready for this," Putin told reporters on June 27, suggesting Istanbul could again serve as the venue.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed Ankara's willingness to host, and said efforts are underway to arrange a direct meeting between Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky — possibly with U.S. President Donald Trump joining the talks.
Zelensky has expressed support for a trilateral format and discussed the idea during the recent NATO summit in Brussels, where he and Trump also spoke about enhanced U.S. military assistance and co-production of air defense systems and drones.
So far, Trump has not imposed the additional sanctions on Russia he promised if peace efforts failed. "If the Istanbul meeting brings nothing, that clearly means strong new sanctions are urgently needed," Zelensky said on June 2.
While the Kremlin continues to reject a broad ceasefire, its forces are advancing in Ukraine's southeast, gaining territory in Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, and intensifying missile and drone strikes on civilians.
No date has been set for the next round of talks.
Russia-Iran alliance wavers as Tehran suffers major blowsTehran, Russia’s main ally in the Middle East, has been dealt a heavy blow as Israel dismantled its network of proxies and then struck targets in Iran. The recent Iranian-Israeli war, which ended with a ceasefire on June 24, showed that the regional balance of power has shifted in Israel’s favor. This could have a major impact on Russian-Iranian relations as Moscow will have to recalibrate its approach to the region. Russian-Iranian cooperation is likely to continue but Iran’s ability to helpThe Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
German minister vows to pursue 'every path' to boost Ukraine's air defensesGerman Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul pledged on June 30 that Berlin is exploring "every possible path" to provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems, amid intensifying Russian missile and drone attacks, according to RBK-Ukraine.
Speaking at a press conference during his visit to Kyiv, Wadephul said Germany is working with its defense industry, European allies, and the U.S. to urgently secure more systems for Ukraine's air shield.
"We are going down every path available," Wadephul said. "The German defense industry is trying to expand its capacity. We're speaking with our European partners, and I believe we must also move forward with the United States."
He added that he remains in close contact with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to assess whether existing systems from Germany's own stockpiles can be redirected to Ukraine.
Wadephul's visit came just a day after Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine to date, firing 477 drones and 60 missiles in a 24-hour period. In a video message posted on social media earlier on June 30, the German minister described Ukraine as "a country once again haunted by war," and reaffirmed Germany's solidarity.
"Germany stands by Ukraine," Wadephul said. "We must not allow freedom to be lost here. We have to support this country and ensure that a ceasefire is finally achieved. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin must realize he cannot continue this war and must negotiate a peace solution."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed Wadephul's visit in a post on X, saying the two discussed how to counter Russian aggression and deepen bilateral ties.
Sybiha said they also spoke about Germany's role in Ukraine's development of long-range capabilities and drones, calling it "win-win cooperation"— as well as Berlin's support for the 18th EU sanctions package and Ukraine's path to EU membership.
China unveils its new ‘graphite bomb’ — here’s how they workChina’s state TV broadcaster has revealed details of a new “graphite bomb” that can cause a “complete loss of electricity” across an area of 10,000 square meters, or knock out entire power stations, the South China Morning Post reported on June 29. An animated video released by China’s CCTV showed a missile being launched from a ground-based launcher and then flying to a target where it releases 90 small submunitions. They then bounce on the ground before exploding amid a mock-up of an electriThe Kyiv IndependentChris York
"I am grateful to Minister Wadephul for his moral clarity and personal contribution to Ukraine's resilience," Sybiha added.
Wadephul is expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky later during his visit.
The German foreign minister emphasized that witnessing the destruction firsthand is critical to understanding Ukraine's suffering and the urgency of sustained international support.
"This is indeed a difficult situation," Wadephul said. "And that is why German solidarity is so important right now."
Note from the author:
Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.
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Russia-Iran alliance wavers as Tehran suffers major blows
Tehran, Russia’s main ally in the Middle East, has been dealt a heavy blow as Israel dismantled its network of proxies and then struck targets in Iran.
The recent Iranian-Israeli war, which ended with a ceasefire on June 24, showed that the regional balance of power has shifted in Israel’s favor.
This could have a major impact on Russian-Iranian relations as Moscow will have to recalibrate its approach to the region.
Russian-Iranian cooperation is likely to continue but Iran’s ability to help Moscow is being diminished.
On the other hand, Russia, which is still heavily engaged in Ukraine, has few resources to spare for helping Iran.
“In public, Russian-Iranian relations will continue as business as usual,” Neil Quilliam, a Middle East expert at Chatham House, told the Kyiv Independent.
“Behind closed doors, however, Iran’s confidence in Russia has been undermined, and this no doubt will weaken the relationship.Tehran has learned to its cost that Russia is no longer a dependable ally.”
Russian-Iranian cooperationRussia has been Iran’s primary arms supplier, selling air defense systems, helicopters, and fighter jets to Tehran.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Iran has returned the favor by supplying Shahed combat drones to Moscow. Russia later licensed the technology and began producing the drones domestically.
Iranian youth stand under an Iranian-made Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicle in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 11, 2023. (Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto / Getty Images) Shaheds have been the main combat drones used by Russia to attack Ukrainian cities.
In 2024, the U.S. also confirmed that Iran had started supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, although there is no evidence so far of their use against Ukraine.
The Iranian regime, which is subject to international sanctions due to its nuclear weapons program, has also been able to survive due to economic cooperation with Russia and other non-Western countries such as China, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.
In 2024, Russian-Iranian trade rose 16% year-on-year to $4.8 billion, making Russia Iran’s fifth-largest trading partner.
Strategic partnership dealIn January, Russia and Iran also concluded a 20-year strategic partnership agreement.
The deal envisages cooperation in the anti-terrorism, energy, financial, and cultural spheres. It also has clauses on technology, cybersecurity, and efforts to fight money laundering and organized crime.
According to the agreement, if one of the sides is attacked, the other side cannot provide military or any other help to the aggressor.
“Russia neither has the capacity to help nor the will to do so, given its experience in Syria, where it suffered a strategic loss.”
“I would say the agreements (between Russia and Iran) are substantive — as with all strategic partnerships they have their limits; they stop short of a mutual defence pact, which is why Russia was not obligated to provide military assistance to Iran,” Emily Ferris, a Russia expert at the Royal United Services Institute, told the Kyiv Independent.
She argued that “it was an important signal of long-term intent to deepen the relationship, particularly around trade” and “suggested that neither side saw Western sanctions being eased imminently.”
Can Russia help Iran?As Russia is focused on its war against Ukraine, its ability to help Iran is very limited. The Kremlin condemned the Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran but did not provide any material help.
"Russia is already overcommitted in Ukraine and does not have the military resources to spare to become embroiled in another conflict," Ferris said. "It did not give Iran air defense systems that could have moved the dial on the war in Iran's favor. Russia's offer of mediation was swiftly shot down by the Americans."
Quilliam also argued that "there is no evidence to suggest that Russia helped Iran in any material way during the war with Israel."
"Russia neither has the capacity to help nor the will to do so, given its experience in Syria, where it suffered a strategic loss," he added in a reference to the fall of dictator Bashar al Assad's regime in December 2024. "Should the war resume, it is unlikely that Russia will provide material aid to Iran, at least in the short term."
There are some ways in which Moscow is still able to help Iran, however.
"Iran will need diplomatic backing in the (UN) Security Council going forward, which Russia could provide," Aron Lund, a Middle East analyst at Century International, told the Kyiv Independent. "It will need help rebuilding its air defenses and its missile program. Whether Russia can afford to sell or share that kind of equipment is an open question."
He added that "military-industrial collaboration" between Iran and Russia is likely to continue.
Could Russia help Iran with nukes?One of the areas where Russia and Iran have cooperated is the nuclear sector.
Israel's main military objective in Iran was the destruction of nuclear facilities.
The Israeli government justified the attacks by saying that Iran was on the verge of creating a nuclear bomb. The Israeli government has sought to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons as Iranian leaders have repeatedly called for eliminating Israel.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on June 12 that Iran was in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations, although IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a June interview he had no proof that Tehran was currently developing a nuclear weapon.
Robert Kelley, an engineer with over 35 years of experience in the U.S. Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons complex, said that Iran has the technological capacity to build a nuclear bomb and the only reason it has not done so is political.
“Did I hear former President Medvedev, from Russia, casually throwing around the ‘N word’ (nuclear!), and saying that he and other countries would supply nuclear warheads to Iran?"
"If Iran started, they could (build a nuclear bomb) in less than 18 months, probably much less," he told the Kyiv Independent. "Depends on how much they saved from the nuclear weapons program that ended in 2003 and how good their progress was. The U.S. built two different nuclear weapons designs in 18 months in the 1940s and there is a lot more to go on now."
There are different assessments of the damage caused by Israeli and U.S. strikes to Iranian nuclear facilities during the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington, DC, U.S. on June 24, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) Israel argued that it had caused significant damage to Iran's nuclear weapons program, while U.S. President Donald Trump claimed it had been "obliterated."
But CNN reported on June 24 that the U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities had not eliminated the core components of Tehran’s nuclear program and had likely delayed it by only a few months. The news outlet cited a leaked assessment by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the country's security council, said on June 22 that "a number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads" — a statement that some interpreted as a hint that Russia could help Iran to develop its nuclear weapons program.
On June 23, Trump lashed out at Medvedev.
“Did I hear former President Medvedev, from Russia, casually throwing around the ‘N word’ (nuclear!), and saying that he and other countries would supply nuclear warheads to Iran?" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "The 'N word' should not be treated so casually."
Medvedev responded the same day, arguing that Russia did not intend to supply Iran with nuclear weapons.
Nuclear non-proliferationRussia has been Iran's main partner in the civilian nuclear sector. It has built Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant and supplied the facility with enriched uranium.
At the same time, Russia has presented itself as a supporter of nuclear non-proliferation and opposed Iran's nuclear weapons program.
In 2015, Russia — along with the U.S., China, France, the U.K. and Germany — signed a deal to limit the Iranian nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
Missiles fired from Iran are pictured in the night sky over Jerusalem, Israel, on June 14, 2025. (Menahem Kahana / AFP via Getty Images) 
People observe fire and smoke from an Israeli attack on the Shahran oil depot in Tehran, Iran, on June 15, 2025. (Stringer/Getty Images) "So far, Russia has supported non-proliferation efforts in Iran," Marion Messmer, an arms control expert at Chatham House, told the Kyiv Indendent. "It doesn’t seem likely that a nuclear-armed Iran is in Russia’s interest — it would be disruptive in the Middle East, and it would give Iran more power when it’s likely that Russia prefers Iran to be the weaker party in the relationship."
Quilliam said that Russia "is unlikely to disrupt efforts to end Iran's nuclear program."
He added, however, that Moscow "may seek either to frustrate those efforts or come up with a creative diplomatic solution that serves its own interests, as it did with Syria’s chemical weapons issue."
Russia's regional influenceThe relationship between Moscow and Tehran is also changing because the influence of both Russia and Iran in the Middle East has decreased since 2023 as Israel dealt heavy blows to Iranian proxies.
One of them, the Gaza-based Islamist group Hamas, invaded Israeli territory, massacred 1,195 people, and took 251 people hostage in October 2023. Hezbollah, Iran's Lebanese proxy, also joined the war.
Since then, Israel has killed Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, destroyed much of their military infrastructure and invaded Gaza and southern Lebanon.
Russia's clout further diminished when the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, who was backed by Moscow and Tehran, collapsed in December 2024. Israel used the ensuing chaos to destroy the regime's military facilities and invaded southwestern Syria.
A bullet-riddled portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad adorns Hama’s municipality building after it was defaced following the capture of the city by anti-government fighters in Hama, Syria, on Dec. 6, 2024. (Omar Haj Kadour / AFP via Getty Images) Furthermore, Israel's attacks on Iran in 2024 and 2025, which destroyed much of the country's air defense and damaged nuclear enrichment facilities, weakened the Iranian regime itself.
"Russia has seen its influence and ability to project power into the Middle East diminish since Oct. 7, 2023 and the collapse of the Assad regime," Quilliam said. "Regional players have come to view the U.S. as a dependable ally, but they have now come to view Russia as a liability."
Lund also argued that "Russia will need to take changed realities into account" amid the weakening of Iran and its allies.
"It’s possible that Russia will want to re-balance its Middle Eastern position over the longer term, if Iran starts looking like a resource drain that can’t offer much in return," he added. "The Iran ties have been positive for Russia, but they also come at a cost – especially in relation to Israel, but also among the Gulf Arab states."
Spoiled relations with US and IsraelApart from the regional balance of power, the Israeli-Iranian war may also have an impact on Moscow’s relationship with Washington.
The U.S. joined the war against Iran on June 22, attacking three Iranian nuclear sites with bunker buster bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Trump's support for Israel's war effort may potentially strain U.S.-Russian relations.
"Trump’s support for Israel and its participation in the Israel-Iran war is highly personalized," Quilliam said. "It has the potential to spoil relations between the U.S. and Russia but so much depends on Trump's temperament and his willingness to accommodate Putin's concerns."
He argued that Putin "will feel betrayed by Trump and, therefore, less willing to negotiate in good faith."
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin meets with Iran’s foreign minister at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on June 23, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov / Pool / AFP via Getty Images) "As such, Trump-Putin relations will likely cool, and this may force the U.S. to recalibrate its position towards Russia vis-a-vis Ukraine," Neil continued.
But other analysts argue that the impact of the Israeli-Iranian war on U.S.-Russian relations should not be overestimated.
"Israel’s interest is ultimately to get Russia to distance itself from Iran, and that’s one reason the Israelis are reluctant to see their ties with Moscow deteriorate too much."
"I don’t think this war makes much difference to Russian-American relations, to be honest," Lund said. "They had plenty to disagree on already. It could go the other way, too, if the war is followed by a diplomatic process. Russia will try to position itself as a facilitator of any new nuclear agreement between Iran and the United States."
He also said that the U.S. "needs Russian acquiescence or support in order to get a new Iran (nuclear) deal endorsed by the Security Council."
"So there is in fact some level of shared interest here, despite the very severe Russian-U.S. disagreements on most other things relating to Iran," Lund added.
Russian-Israeli relations have also been undermined by Israel's wars with Iran and its proxies.
Analysts say, however, that the Iranian-Israeli war will not lead to a complete break between Russia and Israel.
Quilliam argued that Russian-Israeli relations "will remain unchanged, as the two countries are accustomed to deconflicting interests in theatres of war, as they did in Syria."
Lund said that Russian-Israeli relations were "bad already" before the Iranian-Israeli war.
"In so far as we are now about to enter a diplomatic phase, Russia could try to act as a go-between for the Israelis, since it has relations with both parties," he added.
"Israel’s interest is ultimately to get Russia to distance itself from Iran, and that’s one reason the Israelis are reluctant to see their ties with Moscow deteriorate too much. They need to be able to continue that bargaining."
Note from the author:
Hello! My name is Oleg Sukhov, the guy who wrote this piece for you.
I was born in Russia and moved to Ukraine in 2014 because I couldn't stand the suffocating atmosphere of that semi-totalitarian country. I used to think it might be possible to transform Russia into a liberal Western-oriented country. Now it's clear that it's a lost cause.
But at least I can atone for the crimes of my homeland by exposing its barbaric aggression against Ukraine and providing objective and independent coverage of what is going on there. I'm also trying to contribute to Ukraine's transformation into a full-fledged Western liberal democracy strong enough to defeat Russia.
Our publication needs help from every one of you — support Ukrainian wartime journalism, become a member of the Kyiv Independent.
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Hungarian FM says US lifted Russian sanctions that hindered expansion of Paks Nuclear Power Plant
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on June 29 that Washington has lifted sanctions that hindered the expansion of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, where Russia’s state-owned energy company Rosatom is to build two new reactors.
“Construction of the major pieces of equipment for the Paks nuclear plant is proceeding in Russia and France,” Szijjarto said, as cited by Bloomberg.
“On-site in Paks, construction can now proceed at a faster pace."
The expansion project, which has endured significant delays, is led by Rosatom and will add to the four active reactors.
The anti-Russian sanctions were imposed by former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration. The U.S. has not reacted to Szijjarto’s comments so far.
Since returning to the Oval Office in 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has tried to push Russia and Ukraine into peace talks to end the war at all costs and has not yet imposed additional sanctions on Russia for its ongoing war against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia has found loopholes to circumvent sanctions, such as using its shadow fleet or relying on other financial mechanisms.
Hungary’s Energy Minister Csaba Lantos said in 2023 that he expects the Paks II to be finished in 2032.
Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Ukrainian president’s commissioner for sanctions, said the situation with the expansion of the nuclear plant is “much more complicated.” He accused the Hungarian foreign minister of “manipulation."
Vlasiuk explained in a Facebook post that Paks faces a sanctions exemption from the EU. The U.S. has not lifted the sanctions, though there is a new licence that offers the possibility of conducting transactions related to civilian nuclear energy that began prior to November 2024.
EU fails to adopt new Russia sanctions due to Hungarian, Slovak opposition, source saysUnlike Ukraine-skeptic Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Slovakia has not previously attempted to block EU sanctions.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
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Trump meets Zelensky at NATO summit | Ukraine This Week
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur explains key takeaways from this week’s NATO summit, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump held their third in-person meeting since Trump’s return to office. Also, Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau charges the highest-ranking serving official in a land grab case involving public land, illegal apartments, and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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F-16 pilot killed during Russia's overnight massive air attack, Air Force says
A lieutenant colonel flying a U.S.-made F-16 fighter jet was killed during the overnight aerial strike while on duty, the Air Force said on June 29.
Russia launched a “massive” missile and drone strike across Ukraine early on June 29, unleashing over 500 aerial targets, including various types of missiles and attack drones, according to the Air Force’s statement.
Maksym Ustymenko, born in 1993, was killed after shooting down seven aerial targets, the Air Force said in a statement. The Air Force added that his aircraft was damaged while he was trying to shoot down the last one, losing altitude and crashing.
“Maksym Ustymenko did his best to take the plane away from the settlement, but did not have time to eject,” the Air Force said on Telegram, honoring that he died “like a hero.”
“The work of Ukrainian pilots is extremely dangerous and risky, both when striking enemy ground targets and repelling air attacks,” the Air Force added, saying that the F-16 pilots destroy dozens of Shahed-type drones.
Russia has intensified its aerial campaign on Kyiv and other cities over the past month. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia has launched over 2,700, or roughly 9.5%, of the total number of Shahed-type drones deployed during the entire full-scale war in June alone.
Though well protected with Western air defense systems compared to other cities, Kyiv has also faced a number of deadly attacks in June, with the June 17 missile and drone strike on Kyiv killing 30.
The Air Force said that Ukraine had to use “all available means” to repel the Russian aerial attack overnight on June 29, including elite F-16 jets.
Ukraine received its first batch of F-16 jets in the summer of 2024, but it has not revealed many details about how and where they are used in operations since they are a high-priority target for Moscow. Their pilots have received months of training abroad.
Ukraine war latest: US signals more Patriot missiles for Kyiv after Zelensky-Trump talks at NATO summitKey developments on June 25: * Zelensky, Trump hold talks on NATO summit sidelines * ‘Something unknown’ hits key Russian drone facility in Taganrog, Ukrainian official says * Russia has launched over 28,000 Shahed drones at Ukraine since 2022, with nearly 10% fired in June alone, Zelensky says * Donetsk Oblast city “on
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
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Russia reviving efforts to expand LNG exports after US sanctions, Bloomberg reports
Russia is making another attempt to expand its exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) after U.S. sanctions disrupted production at its flagship Arctic LNG 2 plant, Bloomberg reported on June 28.
Arctic LNG 2, owned by the Russian company Novatek, was envisaged as Russia’s largest LNG plant and aimed to produce almost 20 million metric tons of LNG per year. The U.S. State Department targeted the Arctic LNG 2 project with sanctions in 2024.
An LNG vessel has reportedly docked at the Arctic LNG 2 facility for the first time since October, according to ship-tracking data and satellite images analyzed by Bloomberg. Data suggests that at least 13 vessels of Russia’s “shadow fleet” have been assembled to potentially serve Arctic LNG 2.
These include four ice-class vessels, including the one currently docked at Arctic LNG 2. Three others are idling in the Barents Sea, along with three traditional LNG vessels. Two more vessels are being repaired in China and another two are idled in the Gulf of Finland. One ship is located near a floating storage facility in Russia’s Far East.
While pipeline shipments of Russian gas to Europe have declined sharply since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s shadow fleet — a group of aging oil tankers used to circumvent global sanctions — continues to grow.
Moscow now has more vessels at its disposal than it did last year, according to Malte Humpert, founder of the Arctic Institute think tank.
“If (Russia) can find buyers, this small fleet should be sufficient to lift cargoes,” Humpert told Bloomberg.
Finding buyers may present a difficulty, due to wariness about sanctions violations. Former U.S. President Joe Biden sanctioned ships and companies connected with exports from Arctic LNG 2 in 2024, thought it is not yet clear if U.S. President Donald Trump will enforce sanctions as strictly.
Representatives of Arctic LNG 2 have continued to search for buyers in China and India, but have not yet made any sales, traders familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
Arctic LNG 2 cut production from its gas fields to almost zero in November 2024, after halting liquefaction the previous month due to Western sanctions. The U.S. sanctioned two vessels and two entities connected to Arctic LNG 2 in September 2024, after previously targeting the project in a sweeping round of sanctions late August.
The August sanctions likely forced Novatek to scale back its operations at the facility. Novatek itself was sanctioned after the outbreak of the full-scale war in 2022.
Despite escalating war plans, Putin claims Russia will cut military spending starting in 2026Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on June 27 that Moscow plans to cut its military expenditure beginning next year, in a rebuke of NATO members’ plans to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.
The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
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Ukraine's parliament working on bill to organize post-war elections, speaker says
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk said on June 28 that Ukraine’s parliament is preparing a draft bill to hold elections following the end of the martial law period enacted as a result of the war.
“We are working on this draft law, because for the next elections, a new special draft law is needed that will regulate the so-called post-war elections,” Stefanchuk said on Ukraine’s marathon TV broadcast.
“We are preparing various basic scenarios so that people can exercise their fundamental constitutional right to vote. And this must take place in Ukraine. And I believe we will be able to find the right legislative compromise,” he added.
The reason for separate legislation on a post-war election, Stefanchuk previously said, was due to the fact that Ukraine’s Constitution does not not provide clarity on the details of holding elections following the end of a martial law period.
No details on the bill or timeline for implementation were provided.
Russia’s full-scale invasion and the subsequent declaration of martial law in Ukraine meant elections have been impossible to hold, and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s term has been extended, something constitutional lawyers say is allowed under Ukrainian law.
Despite criticism, Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, passed a resolution on Feb. 25 to hold elections after “a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace is secured” in the country.
While polling shows a vast majority of Ukrainian citizens do not support holding elections before a full peace deal, the lack of elections has stirred some controversy with Ukraine’s allies.
At the start of his second term in office, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to hold elections — something that Ukraine has thus far refused to do citing the difficulties of holding elections amid active warfare, as well as security implications.
Zelensky has previously said he is willing to step down in exchange for a peace agreement.
Russian propaganda has widely used the issue of elections in Ukraine to discredit the Ukrainian leadership. Mocow has repeatedly claimed that Zelensky is no longer a legitimate president, as his first term was originally meant to end on May 20, 2024.
Russia has amassed 111,000 troops near Pokrovsk, Syrskyi saysPokrovsk remains the “hottest spot” along the front line but “the situation is under control” and Russia has not crossed the administrative border from Donetsk to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert
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Half of Americans support sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil and gas, poll finds
Around 50% of Americans support sanctions against countries that purchase Russian oil and gas, according to the results of a YouGov poll published on June 27.
A bipartisan sanctions bill in the U.S. Senate aims to slap 500% tariffs on imports from countries that continue to purchase Russian energy products. U.S. President Donald Trump has not backed the measure and a vote on the bill has reportedly been postponed.
In a YouGov survey of adult U.S. citizens conducted June 12-16, 24% said they “strongly support” sanctioning Russian energy buyers while 25% said they “somewhat support” secondary sanctions against these countries.
Like the Senate bill, support for secondary sanctions among respondents was bipartisan. Of “strong supporters,” 26% indentified as Democrats while 27% were Republicans.
More Republicans than Democrats said they favored the specific 500% tariff penalty proposed by legislators. While 29% of respondents who “strongly supported” the measure were Democrats, 41% were Republicans. Only 32% of survey respondents overall said they supported the 500% tariff.
The 500% tariff has been championed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally and co-author of the sanctions bill alongside Democrat Richard Blumenthal. Along with tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, the bill would also slap “bone-crushing” new sanctions against Russia, according to Graham.
A majority of Americans support increasing or maintaining U.S. sanctions against Russia, the survey found. Here the division along party lines is stark, with 59% of those in favor of increasing sanctions on Moscow identifying as Democrats and only 37% identifying as Republicans.
The poll also showed that about 50% of Americans oppose cutting military aid to Ukraine. According to YouGov, 26% of U.S. adults are in favor of increasing military aid while 23% believe Washington should maintain its current levels of support.
The results illustrate the contrast between the prevailing views of the American public and the policies of the Trump administration. Trump has repeatedly undercut the Senate sanctions bill, requesting delays to the vote and calling on lawmakers to weaken the proposed measures.
While Trump has at times threatened to impose new sanctions on Russia, he has never followed through on any of those threats and consistently shoots down domestic and international appeals to get tough on Moscow. At the recent G7 Summit in Canada, Trump reportedly insisted that sanctions would be at odds with U.S. business interests.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also announced earlier this month that Washington will cut military aid to Ukraine in its upcoming defense budget.
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The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek
