Ukraine-Russia War, Today's News. Media: US and Kiev Working on Trump-Zelensky Phone Call
The United States and Ukraine are working to arrange a telephone conversation between Trump and Zelensky after the American halt to the shipment of some weapons to Kiev, including anti-aircraft defense systems: Politico reports. . 'A decision made to put American interests first,' the White House said. Russia applauds: "The fewer weapons are supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the war."
Wall Street Journal: “US weapons bound for Kiev blocked in Poland”
U.S. weapons already in Poland and headed to Ukraine have been blocked, including advanced air defense systems and precision missiles, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Pentagon confirmed the blockade in a July 2 briefing, citing an ongoing “capabilities review” aimed at ensuring U.S. military assistance “aligns with its strategic defense priorities.” The shipment to Poland includes more than two dozen Patriot PAC-3 missiles, more than two dozen Stinger air defense systems, Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and more than 90 AIM air-to-air missiles intended for use with Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets, according to U.S. administration and congressional officials cited by the Wall Street Journal . “We see this as a pragmatic, common-sense step toward a framework for what munitions are sent where,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said.
Media: US and Kiev working on phone call between Trump and Zelensky
The United States and Ukraine are working to arrange a call between Trump and Zelensky after the US halted the shipment of some weapons, including air defense systems, to Kiev, Politico reports. "The United States is briefing Ukraine today in Kiev and a call between Trump and Zelensky will be arranged shortly," a European diplomat familiar with the planning said. "The United States is still in the process of determining how best to support Ukraine's defense. This remains a priority."
Crosetto: “Russia has stabilized on a war economy”
"The concern about the growing threat from Russia has been shared with the allies. There are no signs of reconversion of Russian production to civilian purposes, not even in the event of a ceasefire." This was stated by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto in a hearing before the joint Foreign Affairs and Defense committees of the Chamber and Senate on the outcome of the NATO summit in The Hague. "Despite the human losses, 200,000 soldiers in the first half of 2025 and over a million since the beginning of the conflict - he added - Russia has managed to mobilize another 300,000 in six months without eroding internal consensus." "By 2025 alone, Moscow will be able to" have "over 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armored vehicles, 400 Iskander missiles, thousands of missiles of various types, tens of thousands of aerial bombs and over a million drones. The active military will reach 1.6 million and the reserves 5 million. Yesterday alone, 167 drones and 60 missiles were used to attack Ukraine, in a single day. Yesterday there was the still unconfirmed news of 25-30 thousand Koreans sent to the Ukrainian front. The war economy absorbs 43% of Russian spending. Most of these weapons are assigned to strategic reserves".
Tajani: “New sanctions against Moscow cannot be ruled out”
The NATO summit in The Hague "was an opportunity to reaffirm the Alliance's support for Ukraine", said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in a hearing with Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on the outcome of the NATO summit. President "Putin must demonstrate that he wants dialogue, the facts so far tell us that this desire is not there". Tajani notes that "to maintain pressure on Moscow we cannot exclude the use of new sanctions. Only in this way will we be able to increase the costs imposed on Russia for the continuation of this war".
Zelensky to US investors: “Don’t stop aid”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US investors in Ukraine to ask them to use their influence in their country to ensure the continued flow of military aid to Kiev, after Washington announced a pause in this flow to assess whether the United States has sufficient stockpiles of weapons to continue providing this assistance. "It is important for all of us in Ukraine that everyone now uses their personal influence to achieve a collective result. The continued support of the United States to Ukraine, to our defense, to our people, is in our common interest," Zelensky said in his address to the nation on Tuesday evening. Zelensky stressed the importance of the continued supply of air defense equipment to Ukraine, saying it ensures "protection for all companies operating in our state." Among the types of weapons the United States has temporarily stopped sending to Ukraine are missiles for Patriot anti-aircraft systems, which Ukraine uses to shoot down Russian ballistic and hypersonic missiles. In his speech last night, Zelensky said his administration was working with the U.S. administration to "clarify all the details of defense support." The suspended shipments were part of weapons packages approved during the administration of former President Joe Biden. The current White House resident, Donald Trump, has so far been reluctant to provide new aid to Ukraine.
Kiev, in Russian raid in Odessa 2 children poisoned in fire
Five people were injured, including a seven-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl, in a Russian air strike on a multi-storey residential building and other infrastructure in the port city of Odessa on Sunday night, regional governor Oleh Kiper said, according to Sky News. "The children, poisoned by combustion products, were taken to hospital," Kiper said. The three other injured people, all adults, were receiving medical attention at the scene. Ukraine's state emergency services shared photos showing rescuers carrying the children out of a burning multi-storey building in the dark and firefighters battling the flames, which have since been extinguished.
Kiev, “52 drones launched tonight on Ukraine, Odessa hit”
Russian troops attacked Ukrainian territory tonight with 52 drones, 40 of which were destroyed by air defense forces. This was stated by the Ukrainian Air Force cited by RBC. "On the night of July 3, the enemy attacked with 52 Shahed attack drones and other UAVs," the Air Force statement read. By 8 am local time, air defenses had neutralized 40 drones in the east and south of the country. Russian troops reportedly attacked mainly the southern and northern regions of Ukraine. Late yesterday, explosions were heard in Kiev and air defense operations were reported in the capital. In addition, the Russians struck Odessa at night: Mayor Gennady Trukhanov reported that residential buildings were damaged as a result of the attack, including a building where a fire broke out on the seventh to ninth floors. Four people were injured.
Ukrainian drone debris kills woman
A woman was killed and two people were injured when debris from a drone hit a private home in Russia's Lipetsk region, regional governor Igor Artamonov said.
Ukraine: Pentagon, we can't give weapons to everyone
The suspension of arms shipments to Ukraine is part of a review of U.S. military assistance to ensure it aligns with U.S. defense priorities, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, though he did not specify the types or quantities of weapons that would be halted during the suspension. "We are always evaluating the quantities of our munitions and where we are sending them. We can't give weapons to everyone, everywhere," the spokesman told reporters.
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