-
Russia denies Putin pushed Iran for 'zero enrichment' nuclear deal
Western countries and Israel suspect Tehran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, a claim Iran denies, defending what it calls its “non-negotiable” right to develop a civilian nuclear program.
-
“Ukraine's victory is a chance for the world to return to values” – Zhadan
-
Culture vs War: Serhiy Zhadan – the life of a poet in a city under shelling
-
Russia's summer offensive has fallen 'far short of expectations,' Zelensky says
Moscow’s ongoing summer offensive has not reached the Kremlin’s expectations as Ukrainian troops continue to thwart Russian attacks on various regions, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on July 13.
-
Large recovery budget: Ukraine is a priority for the EU
-
Kellogg to visit Ukraine: Zelensky on U.S. support
-
'The game is about to change' — Republican Senator Graham says he expects influx of US weapons shipments to Ukraine, ahead of Trump's 'major' announcement
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said in an interview with CBS News on July 13 that he expects an influx of U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine to begin “in the coming days,” as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to make a “major statement” on the war in Ukraine on July 14.
-
Unwavering EU stance – strategy to support and strengthen Ukraine | Wrap-Up Analytics
-
Ukraine war latest: German-funded long-range weapons to arrive in Ukraine by late July; NATO chief to visit Washington on July 14 as Trump prepares 'major statement' on Russia
Key developments on July 12-13:
- German-funded long-range weapons to arrive in Ukraine by late July, general says
- NATO chief to visit Washington on July 14 as Trump prepares 'major statement' on Russia
- Trump considering sending new funds to Ukraine for first time since taking office, CBS News reports
-
Russia denies reports about Putin's alleged secret push for Iran nuclear deal
Russia's Foreign Ministry dismissed a July 13 Axios report, calling it "deliberate disinformation." The original article claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin had secretly urged Iran to cease uranium enrichment to broker a new "nuclear deal" with the United States.
The Russian Foreign Ministry suggested the report aims to "escalate tensions surrounding the Iranian nuclear program." Moscow maintains it has "consistently and repeatedly" emphasized resolving this crisis "solely through political and diplomatic means" and has demonstrated readiness to assist in finding mutually acceptable solutions.
According to Axios's July 12 article, both Donald Trump and Iranian authorities were reportedly informed by Putin of his support for a deal in which the Islamic Republic would completely abandon uranium enrichment. The report suggests Putin has made this call to Tehran "repeatedly" in recent weeks, with Israeli officials also being apprised.
In the early hours of June 13, 2025, Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion", with Israeli Air Force bombing Iranian nuclear sites and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command centers for 12 days. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israeli territory. The U.S. entered the conflict on June 22, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. A ceasefire was agreed upon by Israel and Iran on June 24.
The official objective was to obstruct Iran's development of a nuclear bomb; however, the operation's success remains uncertain. France's latest intelligence estimate suggests Iran’s program has been set back at least several months. Axios reported on July 7 that Israel is preparing for possible new strikes if Iran resumes its nuclear pursuits, banking on potential support from Trump "under certain conditions".
Ahead of Israel's military action, five rounds of talks took place between Washington and Tehran in Oman’s capital, Muscat. Media reports indicated Iran was willing to halt the production of highly enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief, though they refused to completely discontinue their nuclear program. Axios further reports that U.S.-Iran negotiations may resume. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated on June 28 that Tehran is, in principle, open to this possibility.
-
Russian drones kill 1, injure 3 in Sumy Oblast amid attack on civilian, critical infrastructure
A Russian drone attack on the city of Sumy on July 13 killed one person and injured three others, Governor Oleh Gryhorov reported, amid a larger attack on the region’s critical infrastructure.
-
NATO chief to visit Washington on July 14 as Trump prepares 'major statement' on Russia
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will visit Washington on July 14-15, the military alliance’s press service announced on July 13. The visit comes as U.S. President Donald Trump previously said he intends to make a “major” announcement on Russia on July 14, potentially signifying a major policy shift on the war in Ukraine.
-
Occupation of Ukraine in WWII: would the German regime have differed from the Soviet one?
-
3.5 billion euros in new funds pledged for Ukraine's reconstruction after Recovery Conference, ministry says
Ukrainian officials signed agreements, memorandums, and joint statements on raising funds totalling 3.55 billion euros following the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 (URC) on July 10-11 in Rome.
-
Putin implements emergency measures to avert looming economic crisis in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin is urgently demanding measures to save the nation's faltering economy as the situation spirals out of control, according to Russian media reports. Experts are cautioning that the magnitude of Russia's economic challenges renders most of Putin's crisis-response measures ineffective.
Amid a sharp downturn in industrial business activity, the Kremlin is making emergency efforts to stabilize the situation. On Saturday, Putin issued an urgent directive to maintain production volumes in the manufacturing sector at last year's levels, no matter the cost. The Kremlin's has published a list of mandates outlining that the Russian government and Central Bank are tasked with urgently "boosting demand," supporting investments, and ensuring funding for industrial projects.
The document explicitly states that production in 2025 "must not decrease" compared to 2024. This is an attempt to formally prevent a downturn, even if it requires state financial injections and statistical manipulations.
Economists are observing that the measures laid out by the Kremlin can only temporarily delay the decline. Despite record state financial inputs, the scale of issues—from declining household incomes to disrupted supply chains—is so vast that the impact of the president's urgent orders will likely be more symbolic than substantial.
Confirming this situation, data from the PMI business activity index shows a drop to 47.5 points in June, indicating sustained contraction territory. This marks the most significant decline since the spring of 2022, when the economy was hit by sanctions and financial markets panic, reports The Moscow Times.
S&P Global, which surveys Russian companies, notes that business activity has fallen in three of the last four months. Companies cite continuous order reductions and sustained demand decline. Production has contracted for the fourth consecutive month, with the pace of decline in June being the steepest in three years.
In 2024, the manufacturing sector officially showed growth, driven by state orders for the war with Ukraine. However, outside military contracts, demand has begun to wane. Diminished purchasing power, declining new orders, and slowing investments suggest that last year's "growth" was a temporary over-inflated illusion.
Thus, Moscow is increasingly desperate to hold onto an economy slipping into prolonged crisis, along with the remnants of the illusion of "stability."
-
Russia scales up propaganda operations across Africa, Ukrainian intelligence says
By the end of the year, Russia Today plans to launch broadcasting in Amharic for an audience in Ethiopia, Ukraine’s military intelligence said says.
-
Kim Jong Un pledges full support to Russia amidst Ukraine war
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed his country's unwavering support for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine. As reported on Sunday, July 13, by the North Korean state news agency KCNA, during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Kim expressed North Korea's readiness to "unconditionally support and encourage all actions by the Russian leadership to eliminate the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis".
A day prior, Lavrov held talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in the coastal city of Wonsan. There, he also met with Kim. "We exchanged views on the situation surrounding the Ukrainian crisis. Our Korean friends have confirmed unequivocal support for all the goals of the special military operation and the actions of the Russian leadership and army," said the head of the Russian foreign ministry. He expressed gratitude for the involvement of the Korean People's Army in the battles in the Kursk region.
During a press conference, Lavrov was asked about the potential deployment of North Korean troops to new fronts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Lavrov responded that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would decide on the form of support to be provided to Russia in the war.
In their meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to future cooperation under a 2024 partnership agreement, which includes a mutual defense pact.
Intelligence reports from South Korea and Ukraine indicate that Pyongyang plans to dispatch an additional 25,000 to 30,000 troops in the coming months to support Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine.
-
Balkan countries release joint statement supporting Ukrainian NATO accession after summit
The joint summit declaration was released by Ukraine and the Croatian government on July 12.
-
US aid swings and mysterious deaths in Russia | Ukraine This Week
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down a recent string of mysterious deaths and arrests among Russia’s elite, as well as and explains the implications Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could have for a future conflict between China and Taiwan. Also in this episode: The U.S. resumes some military aid to Ukraine after an abrupt halt by the Defense Department last week.
-
Russia launched over 1800 drones on Ukraine in one week, Zelensky says
Over 1200 glide bombs and 83 missiles of various types were also launched on Ukraine in the past week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 13.
