Kremlin on US relations: "Progress occurs gradually"
The situation in Ukraine remains volatile, with ongoing military operations and active diplomatic efforts between Russia, the USA, and Ukraine.
Russian forces have made territorial advances in eastern Ukraine, particularly near Kupyansk, while Ukrainian forces have pushed back near Chasiv Yar and in regions such as northern Kharkiv and western Zaporizhia. The USA has approved significant military aid to Ukraine, including a $104 million Foreign Military Sale.
Diplomatically, US President Donald Trump is planning to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, 2025. The potential peace deal under discussion could involve Ukraine ceding territory in the Donbas region to Russia, a proposal that concerns Ukrainian leadership. Trump has also engaged with both Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, aiming to broker an end to the war despite internal divisions within the US administration and skepticism from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia projects resilience despite sanctions and has moved tactical nuclear weapons closer to Ukraine's borders, raising fears of escalation. The US, under Trump, is balancing sanctions, military support to Ukraine, and negotiation efforts, but with some ambiguity about ultimate US goals regarding Ukraine’s borders and NATO membership.
In a related development, two men were killed in a Russian drone attack in the southeastern Ukrainian region of Saporischschja. The Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Olexiy Syrsky estimates Russian casualties in July at over 33,000 soldiers. He also states that Russia is sending an additional 9,000 soldiers to the Ukrainian frontline each month.
The situation at the frontlines near Pokrovsk, Dobropillia, and the border with the Dnipropetrovsk region near Novopavlovka is particularly critical, according to military observers. A Ukrainian military brigade reports drone footage that allegedly shows a Russian female soldier at the front.
European NATO partners have pledged more than a billion dollars in two days for the purchase of US-made weapons for Ukraine. Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have announced plans to purchase US weapons for Ukraine, aiming to contribute military equipment worth a total of $500 million (around €433 million).
Despite an EU-wide ban, the websites of Russian media are still accessible with few restrictions in many countries, including Germany. This raises concerns about information control and potential propaganda in the region.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that Russia's military has taken another village in the eastern Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk. The mineral extraction tax (NDPI) in Russia has decreased by 38% year-on-year in July, marking a significant drop in Russia's oil and gas revenues, which have dropped by nearly 30% compared to last year in July, marking the third consecutive month of decline.
Russia is reportedly considering suspending its long-range attacks in Ukraine as a possible concession to US President Donald Trump, while still intending to continue the war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov believes improving relations between Russia and the United States will take time.
In response to the verbal sparring between US President Trump and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, former SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich criticizes the exchange as "insensitive, reckless, and irresponsible."
US special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow on Wednesday for a meeting with Russian representatives. Trump has also announced that he will announce any penalties for buying Russian oil after the planned US-Russia meeting in Moscow on Wednesday.
This reflects a dynamic and complex situation balancing military realities with high-stakes diplomatic negotiations. The future of Ukraine hangs in the balance as both sides work towards a resolution.
- The ongoing military operations in Ukraine have sparked discussions about community policy, particularly concerning foreign military aid to Ukraine and potential territorial concessions.
- The volatile situation in Ukraine, marked by war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news, is a subject of intense diplomatic efforts among Russia, the USA, and Ukraine, with the potential for significant policy shifts.
