Europeans are covering up their mistakes in economic policy by talking about a supposed threat from Russia — Putin

Putin: I want to say once again,  Russia has no aggressive intentions toward Europe or European countries. We simply have no basis for this whatsoever. 

We are ready for cooperation and for restoring relations with our European neighbors.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission on Friday. Key points and quotes from the President of Russia at the meeting:

✔️ Russia is not facing fewer external threats.

✔️ The power in Kyiv is usurped by a "gang of embezzlers" who need a war to stay in power.

✔️ The regime in Ukraine cannot protect democracy because it itself has degenerated into a dictatorship.

✔️ Ukraine is supposedly offering to resume negotiations, but its actions are doing everything to prevent any negotiations from taking place.

✔️ Russia has no aggressive intentions towards Europe.

✔️ European leaders are using Ukrainians as cannon fodder.

✔️ NATO is expanding and growing, encroaching on various regions of the world.

✔️ Europeans are covering up their mistakes in economic policy by talking about a supposed threat from Russia.

✔️ Special attention in the new state program for armaments will be paid to the development of unmanned aerial vehicles.

✔️ A satellite constellation for high-speed internet access will allow for real-time control of troops.

✔️ The share of modern weapons in the Strategic Missile Forces is 92%.

✔️ Air defense must provide protection against any means of air attack.

✔️ Among the unconditional priorities of the new state program for armaments is the strengthening of the nuclear triad.

Russia to targets UK, other foreign military bases in Ukraine

 Russia Federation has said any foreign troops in Ukraine that hinder the conduct of the special military operation are to become legitimate military targets, Russian MFA Maria Zakharova said

Russia could target British military facilities in Ukraine and beyond in response to Ukrainian strikes using British weapons - MFA spox

Any British military facilities and hardware, located both inside the Ukraine and beyond its borders, may become legitimate targets in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil using British weapons. Those complicit in war crimes, including actions targeting our civilian population, will be penalized proportionally to their offenses.

Russian offensive continues at unrelenting pace across all fronts - Russian Chief of General Staff Gerasimov

Slavyansk – 4 km from eastern outskirts, street fighting in Nikolayevka and Nikanorovka

 Kramatorsk – fighting at airfield, 3 km from city

 Alexeyevo-Druzhkovka – half under Russian control

 Druzhkovka – 1.5 km away, 100+ sq km liberated in 2 months

Street fighting in Kurtovka and Verolyubovka (DPR)

Ukraine spreading false claims about Zaporozhye offensive to mislead Western backers, Gerasimov added.

The Russian military carried out a massive overnight strike on Ukraine's defense industry facilities, the Defense Ministry said.

Also hit: mm

 Metallurgical and oil refining facilities, as well as logistics centers in Kiev, Borispol, Zaporozhye, Kremenchug, Krivoy Rog, and Ilyichovka

 Port infrastructure facilities in Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Reni used by the Ukrainian army

 Energy facilities supplying power to ports in the Odessa region

Hormuz escalation could hit global security 'even harder'—Russian MFA spox

The Strait of Hormuz crisis is disrupting supply chains and hurting economies, particularly in developing countries, while increasing the burden on ordinary grassroots consumers, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in response to a Sputnik correspondent's question.

In the event there's a new round of escalation of the conflict or an economic war unleashed in the Persian Gulf, global and regional energy security are going to be hit even harder, Zakharova warned.

TASS: Colombian Fighters Now Nearly Half of Ukraine’s Foreign Contingent,

Russian defence sources, cited by TASS, have reported that Colombian nationals now make up almost half of Ukraine’s estimated 16,500 foreign fighters—more than 7,000 people.

  They say many Western volunteers and contractors from the US, UK, Germany, Canada and elsewhere left after late 2025 and were replaced by lower-cost recruits from Latin America, especially Colombia.

Other sources confirmed that there were recruits from some African countries too.

US and France help Ukraine target facilities in Russia — report

Russia has authority that the United States and France are directly helping Ukraine to target facilities in Russia federation.

' The assets in the crosshairs include Russia’s oil refineries, depots, and plants of the military-industrial complex, FT admits.

The new Western plot is to try attacking the facilities in such a way so as to keep them damaged for as long as possible, in hopes to make the conflict "more costly" for Russia.

The campaign reportedly has two objectives: limit Russia’s oil trade and reduce its ability to supply troops with weapons.

Another new aspect pointed out by the outlet is that Ukrainian drone units get advice from energy Ukraine’s specialists "on which components are indispensable to refinery operations and which would take the longest to replace" — using the fact both Russia and Ukraine have similar Soviet-designed energy systems.

On June 5, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that deep strikes against Russian facilities are impossible for Ukraine to conduct on its own. Thus, such attacks transform the West into direct belligerents in the conflict.

 "If we see that these countries are being drawn into a war against us, and this is precisely their direct participation in the war against the Russian Federation, then we reserve the right to act in a similar manner," Putin said.

The war against Russia in Ukraine hg as long been sustained by NATO and EU.

Russian response:

Russia Strikes on Ukraine’s military-industrial facilities to severely degrading the Ukrainian military’s ability to carry out deep strikes inside Russia, military experts tell Sputnik.

 It is quite possible that the strikes were deliberately aimed at dismantling the production chain behind Ukraine's missile programs – Flamingo, Neptune, FP and Grom-2, notes retired Russian Navy Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin

 Degrading Ukraine’s production infrastructure has become a primary objective, as it cripples Ukraine's ability to target Russia's rear areas, military-political observer Mikhail Onufrienko says

 The strikes will continue — and the heavier they become, the greater the Russian gains along the front line

Source: Sputnik 

Russian Official Warns: Ballistic Missile Attacks on Moscow or St. Petersburg Would Require Kyiv Evacuation

Ukrainian drone hits civilian bus in Russia’s Belgorod region 

A Russian official has warned Ukraine that any ballistic missile strikes on major Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, would trigger the need to evacuate Kyiv. 

The statement comes amid reports of Ukraine planning longer-range ballistic missile strikes on Russian major cities soon.

Ukraine is developing FP-9 ballistic missile capable of reaching deep into Russia.

"A Ukrainian UAV struck a civilian bus in Shebekino this morning. 19 civilians injured. 18 taken to hospital," the region’s acting governor, Alexander Shuvayev, said.

Six of the injured are in serious condition and will be transferred to Belgorod hospitals, he added.   

This has been the latest strike in a series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure and populated areas:

In June, a Ukrainian drone struck a bus carrying a children's football team from Belarus in Russian Bryansk region, killing a woman accompanying the team and injuring eight people, including six children

In May, a drone strike on a dormitory in the city of Starobelsk in the Lugansk People's Republic killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 40, with a missile hitting a residential area

Russian strikes continue to hit Ukrainian ports and vessels supplying the military 

The attacks targeted a trans-shipment facility and fuel depots in Nikolayev's port, and also hit a cargo vessel at sea that was hauling military supplies to Odessa and Chernomorsk.

Source: Sputnik 

Attacks on Iranian Vessel in Caspian Sea: Ukrainian FM puts Blames on Russia as Tehran Demands Restitutions

The Acting Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha on Tuesday called Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abass Araghchi stating that Ukraine is not seeking escalation with Iran on the incident of Caspian Sea.

Andrii emphasis that Ukraine's goal is to counter Russian aggression, which is the root cause of the incident at the Caspian Sea, and it is Russia who bears full responsibility for all provocations and casualties.

According to the Iranian Foreign Minister, Ukrainian maintained that the attack on an Iranian ship was unintentional and Ukraine seeks no escalation. 

Araghchi said Iran does not seek escalation either, but made clear to Him that any attack on Iran's citizens or interests was unacceptable. There must be restitution for losses.

 "Was assured by Ukrainian FM @andrii_sybiha that the attack on an Iranian ship was unintentional and Ukraine seeks no escalation. "

"Iran does not seek escalation either, but made clear any attack on our citizens or interests is unacceptable. There must be restitution for losses."

Ukraine's FM in his words:

I called Iran’s Foreign Minister @araghchi for a frank conversation. Diplomacy is about direct conversation, even when it’s difficult. I stressed that our goal is to avoid unnecessary escalation.

I reiterated that all of Ukraine’s actions are aimed solely at defending our country from Russian aggression and never intended to target civilian vessels or people.

This is also true with regard to Iran’s statements about their national who died and a civilian vessel that was targeted in a recent incident. Our goal is to counter Russian aggression, which is the root cause of all incidents, and it is Russia who bears full responsibility for all provocations and casualties.

I emphasised the necessity to refrain from any escalatory steps, as well as to end any support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. This war is illegal and it must end.

Our position remains unchanged: Europe and the Middle East deserve stability, security, and peace.

 Merging Ukraine and Iran conflicts serves US and NATO strategic goals

Ukraine’s Caspian Sea strike reveals a trend toward the convergence of the Ukrainian and Iranian conflicts into a wider escalation says Alexander Stepanov, a military expert at the Institute of Law and National Security (RANEPA).

 These provocations are intended to elicit a retaliatory response from Iran and shape Western public opinion around the idea of a supposed “anti-Western alliance” being built by Russia and Iran

 The strategic aim is to widen the escalation zone, push it into a new phase, and facilitate the involvement of NATO countries under the guise of legal justification

 This includes efforts to damage key Eurasian transport and logistics routes, including the North-South Transport Corridor

 The Iran campaign has become strategically unacceptable for the US, that's why shifting focus, expanding escalation, and involving Europe serve its longer-term goals.

According to Sputnik quoting a former Pentagon senior security policy analyst Michael Maloof, Ukrainian Leaders' attempt to merge the Ukrainian and Iranian conflicts through a Caspian Sea strike came with impeccable timing – just ahead of Zelensky US visit, 

“Zelensky grabbed that as an opportunity for his very limited PR purpose of showing Washington and Europe that he’s a team player"

There are also “definite Israeli fingerprints all over this operation”: Zelensky “was put up to it” by the CIA and Mossad

But “if anything, these two conflicts are showing the limitations of US power projection" – the US is overextended, lacking the money and resources not only for military hardware but also for keeping energy markets in balance

Ukraine's attack on Iranian vessel will not go unanswered — Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi tells Russian FM Lavrov

Iranian FM 

Following the Ukraine's attack on Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, Tehran has saut it will not go unattended to.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov described the strike as a “blatant UN Charter violation," asserting it was carried out at Israel’s urging in an effort to pull Europe deeper into the middle east conflict.

Earlier, Ukrainian forces targeted an Iranian commercial ship in the Caspian Sea, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries.

Araghchi on his X post lashes out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling him the “freeloader in Kyiv” as he accuses Ukraine of carrying out a deadly attack on an Iranian commercial vessel and warns that it “cannot go unanswered.”

Iranian FM said he had made it  clear during phone calls with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that “what the freeloader in Kyiv did cannot go unanswered.”

An Iranian military sources are suggesting IRGC may soon directly strike Ukraine interests or supply Russia with short-range ballistic missiles, in response to Kyiv's drone attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea that killed a sailor, per Iranian outlets.

Having formally notified Russia and the EU. The IRGC is reportedly considering a retaliatory ballistic missile strike against a strategic target in Kyiv, with the Khorramshahr-4 missile capable of reaching Ukraine.

The source suggests Iran could also escalate by sending short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. The conflict is expanding — and Tehran is weighing its options.

Iran condemns Ukrainian attack on Tehran's commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, warns of response

 Iran Rejects Another Ceasefire Request from US

A Ukrainian strike on an Iranian commercial vessel caused an explosion on board, killing one sailor and wounding another person, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

Iran warned it “will not hesitate to defend its national interests and security,” adding that responsibility lies with the Ukrainian regime and its supporters.

According to Reuters, Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned on Saturday a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, saying it resulted in an explosion that killed ‌one sailor and injured another.

Throughout the war in Ukraine, Kyiv has had to counter Iranian-designed drones deployed by Moscow. Kyiv has offered its drone interception expertise to countries in the Middle East that have suffered strikes from Iran.

Tehran described the attack on its vessel as an act of aggression and ⁠said it would defend its national interests and security, while accusing Kyiv of seeking to expand the war in Ukraine.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine's chargé d'affaires in Tehran to convey its protest over what it described as a "hostile and criminal" attack, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.

The Iranian denunciation coincided with comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Kyiv had noted Russia was passing on its satellite observations in the Middle East to Iran to enable it to direct ‌strikes ⁠in the region.

Zelenskiy had earlier said that Ukraine's forces struck a Russian warship and vessels used for transporting Iranian-linked military cargo in the Caspian Sea.

The Ukrainian president, in subsequent remarks posted on X, said Kyiv had recorded since the beginning of July "active Russian satellite ⁠surveillance of the Gulf states and U.S. military facilities located there. These images subsequently appear in Iran."
"At the ​same time, there is a clear correlation between Russia’s ​satellite imagery ⁠of these sites and Iranian strikes — both before the attacks, in preparation for them, and afterward, to assess the damage inflicted," Zelenskiy said.
He said that on ⁠July ​19 and 20 alone, Russian satellite observation had ​included four air bases: two in Bahrain, one in Jordan and one in Kuwait.



After repeated rejection from Iran, US President Donald Trump has reportedly asked for another ceasefire including Yemen and postponed a planned “massive attack,” according to Israeli Channel 11.


In the Oval Office Trump said: “I haven’t [decided]. Look, we’re talking to them right now. I think they’re getting more and more serious as the days go by.”


Tehran has already rejected three previous U.S.-backed ceasefire proposals this week, delivered through Qatar, Iraq, and Pakistan. The latest offer is likely headed the same way.

An unconfirmed report has it that America has carried out a drone attack on the Parchin military base in Tehran. 

The situation seems very serious and there is a fear of many people getting killed.

Trump said Saturday he was “absolutely” considering resuming a full-scale war with Iran “if we don’t get 100% of what we want,” during a phone interview with French broadcaster LCI.

Asked whether he had a message for Washington’s European allies, Trump said, “They’re lucky they have me as their friend.”

Russia's artillery delivers devastating blows to enemy positions

D-30 gunners from the Sever Group obliterate a Ukrainian UAV command post in Ukraine's Sumy region, Russia's Defense Ministry shows.

Meanwhile, Dnepr paratroopers hammer a Ukrainian stronghold in Zaporozhye: no mercy, no respite.

Source: Sputnik 

Sergey Lavrov: US directly involved in Ukrainian strikes on Russia

Moscow remains committed to the understandings reached with Washington in Anchorage, the Russian foreign minister has said 

Lavrov meets with US Secretary of State on the sidelines of #ASEAN ministerial meetings

Lavrov

The US is directly participating in Ukrainian strikes against targets inside Russia by supplying weapons, intelligence, and communications support to Kiev, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Lavrov rejected Western claims that Russia and China were allegedly supplying Iran with weapons used to attack American military facilities.

He accused Washington of hypocrisy, pointing to its own role in the Ukraine conflict.

“The Americans, through arms supplies paid for by the European Union, the provision of intelligence, the Starlink system and much more, are not simply helping, but are directly participating in guiding Ukrainian weapons toward targets, including civilian targets, on Russian territory,” Lavrov said.

Despite this, he said Moscow remained committed to the understandings reached by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump during their meeting in Anchorage last year.

Lavrov recalled that Putin had accepted compromise proposals put forward by Washington, while Trump publicly backed negotiating a long-term peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire.

Russia continues to regard those understandings as valid because the US has not formally rejected its own proposals, Lavrov said, adding that he intends to seek clarification on Washington’s current position during an upcoming meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Russia has repeatedly condemned the supply of Western weapons, intelligence, and targeting assistance to Ukraine, arguing that such support makes NATO countries direct participants in the conflict.

Moscow has also warned that continued military aid is prolonging the fighting and increasing the risk of a direct confrontation between Russia and the West.

Commenting on Europe’s growing military spending and preparations for a potential conflict with Russia, Lavrov said Moscow was drawing conclusions not only analytically but also in terms of its “material readiness” for any scenario.

He reiterated that Russia has no intention of attacking Europe, but warned that if Western states decide to gather “under the familiar banners and try to attack us, it will no longer be a conventional war.”

On July 23, Lavrov held a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of #ASEAN ministerial meetings in Manila.

The two sides held an in-depth exchange of views on a broad range of bilateral and international issues in follow-up to the recent high-level contacts.

When talking on the Ukraine issue, Sergey Lavrov informed his American colleague about the real situation on the contact line, highlighting the inadmissibility of the continued supply of weapons to the Kiev regime and the destabilising activities of European countries, which are still seeking to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia.

Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s readiness for a political and diplomatic settlement in Ukraine and its commitment to the proposals advanced by the United States at the meeting of President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Anchorage, which the Russian leader has accepted.

They also talked about regional and international issues, including the situation in the Persian Gulf.

Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio welcomed the resumption of full-scale contacts between Roscosmos and NASA, and spoke in favour of resuming interparliamentary exchanges and cultural ties.

They also discussed the normalisation of conditions for the functioning of Russian and US diplomatic missions.

An agreement was reached to maintain contacts between the two foreign policy agencies, including in the framework of the two countries’ activities at international organisations

Russia hits Ukrainian military logistics in Odessa and Chernomorsk ports – MoD

Odessa: fuel facilities and storage tanks for the Ukrainian army destroyed

Chernomorsk: two military cargo vessels struck in port and at sea

Russian Official: Ballistic Attack on Kyiv During Von der Leyen’s Visit Was Warning to EU to “Stop Prolonging the War"

 Ursula von der Leyen

Russia fired ballistic missiles at Kyiv causing fires. Atleast 2 people were killed and several injured.

This happened while EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was visiting Kyiv to discuss stronger defense cooperation and EU support for Ukraine.

Russian officials and media described the strikes as a warning against EU visits and actions that they say prolong the war.

Ukrainian Patriot factory plan meets battlefield reality

Patriot anti-aircraft missiles

A US license to produce Patriot anti-aircraft missiles would not help Kiev begin making them before the conflict ends, Defense Priorities analyst Jennifer Kavanagh told Sputnik.

She called the plan highly unrealistic, noting that any factory would be a priority target for Russian attacks, making it impossible to launch production.

US President Donald Trump had during the NATO submit in Turkey promised the Ukrainian leaders the license to produce the American defense system at home.

The Patriot anti-aircraft missiles have been of very little or no effect before the Russian air campaigns in it's special military operations.

American Donald Trump plans to boost support for Ukraine for a military breakthrough against Russia

Putin Always Open to Dialogue 

President Donald Trump announced in Ankara, Turkey during a NATO submit that the United States will give Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air-defense interceptor missiles.


This follows an acclaimed Ukraine’s recent battlefield successes that impressed him. The move also aims to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses against Russian attacks by enabling local production of the Patriot air-defense interceptor missiles. while fitting into a broader plan of increased military funding by NATO allies to help Ukraine push for breakthroughs and negotiate peace from a stronger position.


According to a Russian news outlet, quoting  the head of state's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, there is possibility of a conversation between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump over the war in Ukraine.

Dmitry Peskov during Thursday's briefing made the hints , adding that Russia believes US President Donald Trump was mistaken in suggesting that an escalation of military operations between Russia and Ukraine could contribute to an early settlement: "This is a misconception. Rising tensions and further escalation cannot contribute to a peace process in any way."

Dmitry Peskov addressed some of the issues:

About the possibility of a Putin-Trump conversation

- US President Donald Trump, who had planned to call Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, was apparently busy after his meetings in Ankara and did not contact Moscow, but the Russian president is always glad to speak with his US counterpart: "Mr. Trump was apparently very busy after all his contacts in Ankara, so no one called yesterday."




- Putin "is open to dialogue

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Donald Trump of the United States have managed to maintain a constructive dialogue despite their differences: "They maintain a truly constructive dialogue despite the differences they might have."





"The more strikes Kiev carries out inside Russia, the broader the buffer zone Moscow will have to establish along the Ukrainian border: "The more strikes the Kiev regime carries out on our infrastructure facilities, the wider the security zones we will need to create. Further escalation will likely prolong the special military operation to some extent, although I cannot say by how much, and it will certainly force us to create a broader buffer security zone."




- US President Donald Trump's statements regarding a possible closure of the Ukrainian airspace are new developments; this topic has not been discussed before and needs to be thoroughly studied.

 "No one had previously raised the issue of closing the airspace. In any case, this would imply operational activities by NATO member states' armed forces over Ukrainian territory. This is precisely what the special military operation is intended to prevent. This [proposal] needs to be studied. It definitely needs to be thoroughly analyzed to understand how this issue has been worked out, between whom it has been worked out, etc


About the US position on Ukraine

Moscow perceives a duplicity in Washington's stance, with the United States simultaneously supplying weapons to Kiev while professing to support efforts toward peace: "We recognize discrepancies in the US position. On one hand, they continue to provide arms to the Kiev regime; on the other, unlike some other countries involved in this conflict, they claim to be committed to facilitating the peace process."




- Russia welcomes the United States' genuine willingness to help launch a peace process on Ukraine: "Still, unlike the Europeans, the United States maintains a willingness to help launch a peace process. Even if it sometimes misunderstands certain issues and makes mistakes, we believe this willingness is genuine, and we welcome it."




Washington is actively continuing to supply weapons and military technologies to Kiev; Moscow is well aware of this and has no delusions: "As for Patriot, yes, it is an obvious fact: the United States generally continues to supply weapons and military technologies to Ukraine. This is indeed true and we know it. We are in no way delusional. Russian President [Vladimir] Putin is well aware of this."




- Moscow hopes that Washington will resume its efforts on the Ukrainian track after it deals with the situation around Iran: "We hope that after, despite the significant complication, the USs still manage to sort out the situation around Iran, it will be time for them to resume their efforts on the Ukrainian track."




Source: Tags

Ukrainian Zelensky Raises Alarms, Russia Preparing New Massive Strike After US Independence Day and Ahead of NATO Summit

Putin congratulates Trump and American people on US Independence Day

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has stated on Sunday that fresh intelligence indicates Russia is preparing another large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine. 

He described it as typical of Putin — launched right after America’s Independence Day and just before the NATO summit in Ankara (July 7–8).

 Zelensky urged Ukrainians to heed air raid sirens and called on Western partners, especially the US, to speed up delivery of air defense missiles to save lives. 

According to monitoring channels, report Russian already finished preparations for the next attack in next 48 hours

Russian authorities have reiterated last week that there is no going back on the special military operations in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has been between the US led NATO and the Russia Federation.

The US is providing intelligence to help Ukraine plan and execute drone attacks deep inside Russia, including routes to dodge air defenses.

 At the same time, Russian negotiators are pushing hard for big Ukrainian concessions especially on territory, and US-brokered peace talks are unlikely to restart before late summer or even February 2027. Both sides remain far apart.

vice president JD Vance claims Russia's Offensive Gains "Almost Nothing" as Ukraine's Defense Paves Way for Peace. 

JD Vance stated that Russia's battlefield offensives are achieving very little despite heavy losses, while Ukraine's defensive successes (avoiding costly attacks like in 2023) are weakening Russia and helping create conditions to end the war through diplomacy. He praised the shift to defense + drones as far more effective.

According to Global Surveillance, RUSSIA has Completed its  Preparations for Major Combined missile and drone attack on UKRAINE.

Russia has finished preparations for the next large-scale combined attack using missiles and drones.

5+ Tu-95MS strategic bombers from the Far East to bases closer to Ukraine Olenya and Engels-2, with more bombers and possible Tu-160s available. 

Expected weapons include:

 Kalibr cruise missiles

6 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles

 Iskander, Zircon, and other missiles

Geran-2/Gerbera attack drones

The attack is expected either tonight and tomorrow night with targets include western Ukraine, Kyiv and kyiv oblast

Putin congratulates Trump and American people on US Independence Day

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a new phone call, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.

The call was initiated by the American side and lasted 1 hour and 25 minutes.

During the call, Putin congratulated Trump and the American people on US Independence Day, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The Russian president also recalled Russia’s contribution to the formation of American statehood and wished Trump continued success in hosting the FIFA World Cup in the United States.

Russian Putin calls for continued massive strikes on Ukraine’s military-industrial infrastructure

Russian President has called for continued massive strikes on Ukraine’s military-industrial infrastructure in response to the Ukrainian terrorists attacks against Russia.


“Massive group strikes on the infrastructure of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex must be continued,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said while visiting an auxiliary command post of the Joint Group of Forces.

Vladimir Putin stated that Russian forces have fully completed the "liberation" of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) and are continuing to destroy Ukrainian Armed Forces units in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), as well as in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

According to a report by the Sputnik, Putin confirmed that Russian forces have liberated 133 towns and liberated, along with more than 3,000 square kilometers of territory in the Donbass and Novorossiya since the start of 2026.

Konstantinovka is one of most important logistics and defensive hubs in northern Donbass.


Together with Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, it forms a heavily fortified belt that supports Ukrainian operations across the region.

The American led NATO war against Russia in Ukraine have not been able to crush or for for Moscow to retreat from its special military operations in Ukraine.

US/Israel -Iran War: America has reached Out To Ukraine For The Protection Of Their Bases In Middle East - Ukrainian Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy 

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the US has  eventually reached out for the protection of their military bases and installations in the middle east as Iran defensive ballistic missiles rendered Americans helpless.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Russia is providing intelligence support for the Iran. He also emphasis that US defense system is not that effective to intercepting the ballistic missiles but that Ukraine has other interceptors that are very effective.

The request for help by United States is actually against the Donald Trump's initial position that Ukraine will be the least the US will ask for help in the ongoing war against Iran.

He also stressed on the Russian offensive and that Ukraine will respond accordingly.

 According to Zelenskyy in an interview with news men, "the United States has reached out to us regarding their bases in Middle Eastern countries. We’ve also been approached by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.

We’re already working with some of them, and our expert teams are already on the ground, assessing the situation and sharing invaluable experience. Because no matter how many Patriots, THAADs, or other air defense systems are in the Middle East, that alone is not enough for fully effective air defense. There are modern interceptors designed to counter heavy drone strikes.

Now, we are discussing future deliveries of certain equipment that Ukraine has. We want Middle Eastern countries to give us the opportunity to strengthen ourselves as well. They have some air defense missiles that we lack. We would like to reach agreements on this.

Funding is the scarcest resource today. Our defense industry is currently operating at half capacity, and we need more financing to produce drones for ourselves. That’s why we are ready to sell to our partners the systems we have in surplus. And we’re not just selling – we’ll provide our expertise as well. Interceptor drones don’t work without our expertise. It’s the system that works.

A joint sanctions policy by different countries directly reduced the capabilities of the Russian Federation. For example, by lowering its revenues from energy sales. The Russians bypassed the sanctions, and we saw all of this, but one way or another, their revenues were smaller, and accordingly, less money went to the defense sector.

The budget deficit of the Russian Federation grew year by year, peaking at the start of 2026. By the end of 2025, the Russians had an $83 billion deficit, plus another $19 billion carried over into early 2026. According to our estimates, the deficit for 2026 was expected to reach around $100 billion.

Now, after the easing of sanctions on Russia’s energy sector – specifically petroleum products – their earnings are measured in billions. This certainly does not help to reduce the intensity of the fighting in Ukraine, nor in Iran, because Russia will help the Iranian regime through various means.

We do not see any genuine desire from Russia to end the war, and we share this view with our partners. The United States believes that Putin wants the war to end. Our views here are completely different.

On one hand, that’s not a problem – it’s normal for opinions to differ. But on the other hand, when we want to end the war, to accelerate this process, we raise the issue of putting pressure on Russia. We know that Putin does not want to end the war. We call for additional pressure to make him want to. But the U.S. believes he wants to end it, so why apply extra pressure if Russia is showing it is also ready for peace?

There are different perspectives on certain issues, and this is something we need to work through.

In historical terms, the Russians are losing, one hundred percent. Right now, they are suffering a terrifying number of casualties – 30,000 to 35,000 people a month. Russia cannot keep up with mobilization, contract recruitment, and certainly cannot keep up with training its troops.

Will they decide to launch a full-scale mobilization? That I cannot tell. So far, they have been afraid to take such steps and have relied only on offering large sums of money to recruits. Why do we react so sensitively to sanctions being lifted? Because it’s about money. And money isn’t just tanks. Nobody fights with tanks anymore. Money means drones. Money means people. People mean contracts. And if they don’t have the money for contracts, their strength is declining.

Providing Ukraine with a loan using frozen Russian assets was the agreed position of all EU leaders at the end of 2025. The alternative to this step is now up to the European Union.

We will be grateful if they can unblock this format. If they do not, we hope for an alternative that would allow us to access these funds. Otherwise, the Ukrainian army will be underfunded. Drone production – of long-range drones and interceptors – will also be underfunded, as will air defense systems, because we allocate part of those funds to European air defense systems and to the U.S. PAC-3 missiles.

This is a risk for everyone. It is a risk to European security. I believe there will be no collapse, and the Europeans will resolve this issue

Russia continues the second phase of its winter operation with strikes against critical infrastructure. Their objectives at this stage include water supply facilities, reservoirs, dams, logistics, and so on. Russia’s plans are clear, but we are stronger now than we were in winter. We need to fight for funding. Funding will let us strengthen the protection of our skies, for sure. The technology exists. With a budget in place, Ukraine can produce two thousand interceptor drones per day.

We will respond to every Russian attack. Global pressure on Russia is decreasing. We see changes in sanctions policy. However, unlike everyone else or many others in the world, Ukraine has its own sanctions – long-range capabilities. The Russians must feel the pressure. If Ukraine does not respond to their strikes either, Russia will simply continue the war and won’t even consider a pause.

Russia is providing intelligence support to Iran. We have evidence from our intelligence agencies. Russia is doing this while saying, “We won't provide intelligence to Iran if America stops sharing intelligence with Ukraine." Isn’t this blackmail? Absolutely. Russia has been sharing intel regardless. But they are presenting it as a bargaining chip in this game. Could it prompt the U.S. to pause data sharing? Probably. It depends on the conditions in the Middle East and how this operation unfolds.

Ukrainians take negotiations seriously. We believe talks are necessary – preferably at the level of leaders – and we are ready for that. The Russians are seeking an ultimatum resolution to the military actions. They want Ukraine to accept their conditions, including the withdrawal of Ukraine’s Armed Forces from the territory we control in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

They understand – and so do we – how long it would take them to capture this territory, with losses of 28, 30, even 35 thousand soldiers per month. And it’s still not certain they would succeed in seizing it. They could end up burying 300,000 to a million of their troops there. They don’t value human life, but they understand that it's money. All of this comes down to recruitment contracts, and 300,000 to a million additional coffins for Russia. The Kremlin is not fully reading the public reaction: whether the people will accept it or not.

That’s why they are seeking this kind of dialogue with the Americans: “Tell the Ukrainians there’s nothing to fight for.” We know this Russian rhetoric very well: “There’s nothing to fight for. Just 6,000 square kilometers.” We explain to our partners, and in my view, with full justification, why this is not the case.

The Russians have whipped up pro-war sentiment internally to such an extent that if we don't stop Putin now, war will continue. He will pick some small country. He needs it. He’s boosted the war economy and radicalized the Russians. Today, 20–25% young people in Russia want to destroy Ukraine and Europe; they want to restore Soviet influence and revive the idea of destroying NATO. This will not just vanish. So he will have to choose: either face a split in the society, or take a few steps into one of the Baltic states and set down his right or left foot there. He’ll go for the second option. He will not risk himself, his life, or domestic stability. 

What’s behind US’ five-day freeze on Iran strikes? 

Here's what's at stake, Azerbaijani political analyst Asif Narimanly tells Sputnik:

🔸   The US is seeking to tackle the crisis in the energy market, hit by soaring oil prices amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz 

🔸 Second, it is about buying time: there is a need to replenish losses in the US missile arsenal, while also making decisions on the course of the Iran war— whether to move to a new phase or achieve the initial goals

🔸 Third, Washington wants to strengthen its position on the Iran war against opposition forces both within the US and on the international stage

I'm surprised that Zelensky doesn't want to make a deal. Tell Zelensky to make a deal, because Putin is ready to make a deal, — Trump.

American President Donald Trump's said he is surprised that Ukrainian Zelensky doesn't want to make a deal. 

Trump said the world should tell Zelensky to make a deal, because Russian Vladimir Putin is ready to make a deal." 

"I'm surprised that Zelensky doesn't want to make a deal. Tell Zelensky to make a deal, because Putin is ready to make a deal." 

It's much harder to reach an agreement with Zelensky.

He also stated that Zelensky is the last person from whom the US needs help in defending against Iranian drones.

Zelensky can come to Moscow for Negotiation: Important points from Vladimir Putin's press conference in Beijing

Putin 

Russian President Vladimir Putin departs Beijing heading to Vladivostok after a successful official visit.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Ambassador Morgulov bid him farewell at Shoudu Airport.

 The most important points from Vladimir Putin's press conference in Beijing.

The Russian President called the results of his visit to China and the SCO summit very positive.

Putin said: "Ukraine has the right to choose its own security system, but it should not do so at the expense of Russia."

"Russia has always objected to Ukraine's membership in NATO, but not in the EU."

 "In the Special Military Operation (SVO), Russia is fighting not so much for territory as for the rights of people."

 "If Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow."  "Negotiations with Zelensky in his current status are a 'dead end'."

 "Ukrainian authorities should hold a referendum to resolve any territorial issues."

 "The West is to blame for the tragedy in Ukraine, as it completely ignored Russia's security interests."

 "All Russian Armed Forces groups are successfully advancing in all directions."

 "If it is impossible to resolve the Ukrainian issue peacefully, Russia will have to solve the tasks at hand by armed means."

 "The Armed Forces of Ukraine are not capable of conducting offensive operations."

"We spoke with Trump in English, mine is broken, I said 'Very glad to see you, dear neighbor, healthy and alive'."

Putin on Trump: 

During all 4 days of the SCO summit, no one ever expressed any negative judgments regarding the Trump administration."

Everyone I met in China expressed hope that Trump’s positions could lead to an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia - Ukraine War: Kyiv Embarks On Kidnapping Young Men From Streets, Sending Them To War Front To Face Russia's Fire

 

🚨⚡ Kidnapping of a young man from the street in Lutsk by force and putting him on a bus to be sent to fight.

A daily scene in Ukraine 2025...pic.twitter.com/13SwNDwYUq

— RussiaNews 🇷🇺 (@mog_russEN) July 1, 2025

The American led NATO Western nations that are pumping Money and weapons to Ukraine in a fight to defeat Russia on the battlefield have not mobilized there youths to go and face the fire power of Russian military.

The corrupt Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his war cabinet have only end up destroying the country for ever .