NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced unity in the desire to end Russia's war against Ukraine after an online summit with Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders.
Italian F-35 fighter jets, based in Estonia, were scrambled in response to provocative flights by Russian Su-24 and Su-27 aircraft. This is the first time F-35s have been scrambled as part of a NATO air policing mission.
Poland signed a $3. 8 billion agreement with the US to modernize 48 F-16 fighter jets. This will enhance the aircraft's compatibility with NATO and strengthen deterrence against potential aggression.
Germany has set up a "secret room" without windows for a virtual summit of European leaders to avoid interference. All participants surrender their phones, and translators are not allowed.
Ukraine has 5 key demands for a war settlement, including a long-term truce before territorial exchange, reparations, and security guarantees. The return of prisoners and children is also a priority.
The next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group ("Ramstein") will take place in September. Ukraine and Great Britain discussed preparations for the meeting and the development of joint productions.
Ukraine's allies are discussing a gradual easing of sanctions against Russia in the event of a full ceasefire, with the possibility of their renewal if violations occur. Italy insists on Europe's inclusion in Trump's negotiations with Putin regarding Ukraine.
American officials claim that Trump's rhetoric, if at times it sounds pro-Russian, is aimed at striking a deal. Trump seeks a personal meeting with Putin to assess his readiness for peace.
The deputy director of the information and press department of the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the territorial structure of the Russian Federation is enshrined in the Russian constitution.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin, where he was met by Ukraine's Ambassador to Germany Oleksiy Makeiev. A bilateral meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and participation in a video conference with European leaders, NATO Secretary General, and US President Trump are planned.
Ukraine offered Poland to use the EU SAFE instrument within defense cooperation. The parties discussed cooperation within NATO and joint counteraction to threats.
European leaders aim to prepare Trump for a meeting with Putin, fearing a "dirty deal" on Ukraine. They will hold a virtual summit to set boundaries and discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy is in Berlin, where he will meet with Chancellor Merz. After that, a video conference will take place with the participation of European leaders, NATO Secretary General Rutte, and US President Trump.
The Russian side demands that Ukraine cede strategically important unoccupied territory in Donetsk Oblast. This will allow Russia to gain more advantageous positions for a future offensive on Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts.
Latvia joins the NATO PURL mechanism, allocating at least 2 million euros for the purchase of weapons for Ukraine. This initiative provides for the centralized procurement of critically needed weapons, in particular air defense systems.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed preparations for the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on August 15, 2025. The goal of the talks is to find a diplomatic solution to the war.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with his Romanian counterpart Nicușor Dan. They discussed further joint diplomatic steps and EU support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian and European leaders are concerned about a possible meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska. They fear that Trump may be deceived a second time, and Putin will use the meeting to strengthen his position.
After 2022, European defense enterprises tripled the pace of building new production facilities, deploying over 7 million square meters of capacity. This is the largest rearmament surge in the region in decades.
Ukraine is considering freezing the front, recognizing Russia's control over occupied lands, provided there are security guarantees and a path to NATO. This comes ahead of a meeting between Trump and Putin.
Vladimir Putin will visit the USA for the first time in 18 years for a summit with Donald Trump in Alaska. The Kremlin seeks to avoid new sanctions and is looking for diplomatic ways to resolve the war in Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that US-Russia talks on Ukraine will not change the assessment of Russian policy. He emphasized that borders cannot be changed by force, and Ukraine must participate in decision-making.
Serhiy Leshchenko, advisor to the Head of the President's Office, stated that the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska would be symbolic. He emphasized that geostrategic decisions would not be made there.
Ukraine considers weapons exports: is selling possible during wartime?.
According to the NATO Secretary General, Trump will meet with Putin in Alaska on August 15 to test his seriousness about ending the war in Ukraine. Arms supplies to Ukraine will continue regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.
The US senator believes that ending the Russian-Ukrainian war will involve territorial exchange. He recalled the division of Germany and the Korean Peninsula as examples of coexistence of divided territories.
Washington likely confused Russia's readiness for a ceasefire with concessions. At the same time, the Kremlin does not plan to give up the occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
British journalist Daniel Hannan claims that Trump's meeting with the Russian dictator in Alaska is a defeat for Ukraine and Western values. According to his predictions, Putin will retain most of the captured territories, and the US will stop supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Right-wing populist Andrej Babiš, who is leading in opinion polls, could become the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. His return threatens to weaken support for Ukraine and strengthen the alliance of Orbán and Fico.
Trump's representative Steve Witkoff, who discussed a territorial exchange plan with the Kremlin, may participate in negotiations in the UK. These negotiations are intended to coordinate positions before the Trump-Putin summit on peace in Ukraine.
