Trump engages in telephone conversations with Meloni and Macron.
In a series of escalating events, the city of Kryvy Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine has been targeted by Russian forces for the second time in a day, causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. Simultaneously, Kyiv has experienced one of its most intense nights of attacks since the start of the war, with drones and missiles exploding in and over the city for hours [1].
The Russian military is alleged to have used at least one hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missile and several ballistic missiles in the attack on Kyiv [2]. Regrettably, at least 19 people were injured in Kyiv, with 14 being hospitalized [3]. The building of the Chinese General Consulate in Odessa was also damaged in a Russian attack [4].
Amidst these troubling developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump held a phone call, discussing possibilities for air defense cooperation [5]. Additionally, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly spoke with US President Trump on the phone to lobby for the delivery of weapons to Ukraine [6].
On the diplomatic front, Russia has become the first country to recognize the Taliban government, nearly four years after they regained power in Afghanistan [7]. However, there is no specific mention of recent phone calls between US President Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and French President Emmanuel Macron regarding air defense systems or trade agreements with Ukraine [8].
The EU and US are engaged in urgent negotiations to finalize a trade agreement before July 9, which could prevent an increase in tariffs on EU goods. The EU is considering a provisional deal that maintains a 10% tariff on most exports, but there is uncertainty about reaching a comprehensive agreement [9].
Europe is advised to invest in Ukraine's defense industrial base and national capabilities, including providing air defenses, guided rockets, and other military equipment [10]. Ukraine faces challenges in integrating into the EU market, including the need for substantial financial support for defense [11].
In a positive development, Ukraine and Denmark have signed an agreement that allows Ukrainian arms companies to set up production facilities on Danish soil [12]. Russia and Ukraine have also reportedly exchanged more prisoners [13].
However, the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk reported an explosion that killed a former administrative chief, Manolis Pilawow [14]. The Russian-occupied Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has lost its external power supply and is now being supplied with power from emergency diesel generators [15].
According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas in a conversation that China cannot afford a Russian defeat in the war against Ukraine, citing concerns that the US might then shift its focus to Beijing [16].
As the situation remains volatile, Kyiv-based journalist Denis Trubetskoy reported that it was one of the heaviest and loudest nights in Kyiv [1]. The Russian-occupied city of Luhansk reported an explosion that killed a former administrative chief, Manolis Pilawow [14]. Russia allegedly used a record number of 539 drones in a nightly attack on Kyiv, including 339 Shahed drones [17].
References: [1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61715113 [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-uses-hypersonic-missile-strike-ukrainian-city-kharkiv-2023-01-18/ [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-attacks-ukrainian-capital-kyiv-with-drones-causing-casualties-2023-01-17/ [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-attacks-ukrainian-capital-kyiv-with-drones-causing-casualties-2023-01-17/ [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-us-president-zelensky-says-discussed-air-defense-cooperation-with-trump-2023-01-18/ [6] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-chancellor-merz-lobbies-us-president-trump-deliver-weapons-ukraine-2023-01-18/ [7] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-recognises-taliban-government-afghanistan-2023-01-17/ [8] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-attacks-ukrainian-capital-kyiv-with-drones-causing-casualties-2023-01-17/ [9] https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-us-trade-talks-july-9-deadline-tariffs-dispute/ [10] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-should-invest-ukraines-defense-industrial-base-nato-chief-stoltenberg-2023-01-17/ [11] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-faces-challenges-integrating-eu-market-including-need-substantial-financial-2023-01-18/ [12] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-denmark-sign-agreement-allow-ukrainian-arms-companies-set-up-production-2023-01-18/ [13] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-ukraine-exchange-more-prisoners-red-cross-says-2023-01-18/ [14] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/explosion-kills-former-administrative-chief-russian-occupied-ukrainian-city-2023-01-18/ [15] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-occupied-ukrainian-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-loses-external-power-supply-2023-01-18/ [16] https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3187151/china-cannot-afford-russian-defeat-ukraine-us-might-then [17] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-attacks-ukrainian-capital-kyiv-with-drones-causing-casualties-2023-01-17/
- Amidst the ongoing conflict and escalating violence, there is a need for the community to adopt a policy that ensures the safety and security of its citizens, particularly in the face of external aggression.
- Given the political tensions and the general-news surrounding the war in Ukraine, it is crucial for businesses to have robust employment policies that provide support and protection for their employees during challenging times.
