Donald Trump publicly announced on Monday a change in his attitude towards Vladimir Putin, and in the coming days, the possible effects of this change on the war in Ukraine will be clarified. In an interview with the BBC broadcasted on Tuesday, the U.S. president explained that he felt "close to a deal" with the Russian leader "up to four times." Nevertheless, he stated that he is not "done" with Putin. From Moscow, former Russian President Medvedev downplays Trump's words, labeling them as a "theatrical ultimatum."
On Monday, Trump promised "100%" secondary sanctions on Russia if a peace agreement with Ukraine is not reached in 50 days. Trump also confirmed the delivery of weapons to Ukraine through NATO. In Europe, the EU's top foreign policy official, Kaja Kallas, has indicated that the Twenty-Seven are very close to approving a new package of sanctions - the eighteenth - against Russia for the war in Ukraine.
Russia Says Willing to Negotiate After Trump's Comments, but Adds Does Not Accept Ultimatums
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, stated on Tuesday that Moscow is willing to negotiate after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened sanctions on buyers of Russian exports, but added that Russia does not accept ultimatums.
Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine on Monday and threatened to impose sanctions on buyers of Russian exports unless Moscow agrees to a peace deal in Ukraine.
Trump Asked Zelensky if Ukraine Could Strike Moscow, FT Reports
U.S. President Donald Trump privately encouraged Ukraine to intensify deep attacks on Russian territory, even asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if he could strike Moscow if the U.S. provided long-range weapons, reports the Financial Times on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with these discussions. The newspaper, citing two people familiar with the conversation between Trump and Zelensky, said the U.S. president had asked his Ukrainian counterpart if he could target military objectives inside Russia if provided with weapons capable of doing so.
The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The agency could not verify the information.
Russian Forces Capture Two Villages in Ukraine's Donetsk Region, Says Russian Defense Ministry
The Russian Defense Ministry stated on Tuesday that its troops had taken control of the villages of Voskresenka and Petrivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield report.
Ukraine Welcomes Trump's Announcements but Fears They May Incentivize Putin's Offensive
While awaiting details on the delivery timelines and the type of weaponry Kiev will receive, Ukrainians view with relief and optimism Washington's decision to send additional military equipment. However, the 50-day deadline set by President Donald Trump for signing a peace agreement, interpreted as a new concession to the Kremlin to conquer more territory before sitting down to negotiate, has raised concerns.
"Putin has almost two months to focus on his summer offensive without fear of being sanctioned for it," says a Ukrainian soldier fighting on the Kharkiv front during his leave in Kiev, identified simply as Vladislav, to EFE. Concerns about Trump's ultimatum deadline to Putin for imposing new sanctions against Russia and those buying its oil stem, in part, from a report published by the U.S. media Axios.
The publication states that Putin told Trump in their July 3 call that he planned to intensify his efforts over the next 60 days to conquer all Ukrainian regions that Moscow has declared Russian. "Whether this deadline ends up being an opportunity for Russia will largely depend on the weapons Ukraine receives," the soldier states. "If they only send us defensive weapons to protect mainly the rear, the U.S. can claim to protect the Ukrainian civilian population while facilitating a new Putin campaign; if they also send us long-range missiles and other offensive weapons, we can change the course of the war in our favor," he adds.
Netherlands Also Open to Supporting Plan to Supply Patriots to Ukraine
The Netherlands are open to supporting U.S. President Donald Trump's promise to send Patriot anti-aircraft defense missiles to Ukraine, and hope that other countries will follow suit, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said on Tuesday.
"The Netherlands already does a lot... (But) we will study what we can do in relation to Mr. Trump's announcements and will proceed from there," he told reporters before a meeting with EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels.
Denmark Commits to Supporting Financing of Patriot Systems for Ukraine
Denmark will "do its part" to potentially finance the delivery of U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft defense systems to Ukraine, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated on Tuesday, without providing further details. "After some hesitation on the part of the United States, it seems they have joined the right side (...) and would deliver the Patriot systems if they can be financed. And Denmark will also contribute," Rasmussen told reporters in Brussels.
China Criticizes Trump's Threat to Russia
China criticized on Tuesday "coercion that leads nowhere", referring to President Donald Trump's threat to heavily tax Russia's trading partners if the offensive in Ukraine is not stopped within 50 days.
"Coercion or pressure cannot solve problems," said Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press conference, adding that Beijing supports a "political solution to the crisis in Ukraine."
Ukrainian Drone Attack Leaves at Least 16 Injured in Two Russian Regions
At least 16 people were injured in the Russian regions of Lipetsk and Voronezh following Ukrainian drone attacks during the past night, local Russian authorities reported on Tuesday. "So far, it is known that 16 people were injured as a result of the overnight attack, 15 of them in the city of Voronezh," said regional governor Alexander Gusev via Telegram.
Two of the injured are in serious condition: one in a coma and another with lung damage from shrapnel scattered by the drones' explosion. The Voronezh governor also reported a woman injured in the rural area who was also hospitalized, but her life is not in danger. On the other hand, Lipetsk governor Igor Artamonov reported through his social media channels an injured person from a downed drone. The Russian Defense Ministry claims to have shot down up to 55 drones during the night.
Navalny's Widow Calls for Ban on Conductor Gergiev at Italian Festival
Julia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has publicly called on Italian authorities to prevent conductor Valery Gergiev from participating in a music festival at the Royal Palace of Caserta (south) on July 25, considering him "an accomplice to the worst crimes" of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an open letter published on Tuesday by the newspaper 'Repubblica,' Julia Navalnaya stated that Gergiev's presence in Italy "would be a gift to the Russian dictator" and recalled that the musician has publicly supported Kremlin policies, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 for over a decade.