Tim McPhee, a spokesman for the European Commission, said that EU position on Gazprom's demand to pay for gas in rubles remains unchanged. Russia has demanded that European companies pay for gas in rubles in violation of their gas supply contracts. After they refused, the Kremlin has come up with a scheme under which buyers are obliged to deposit euros or dollars into an account at Russia's Gazprombank, which has to convert them into rubles and transfer the payment to Russian gas giant Gazprom. But McPhee said the scheme would breach EU sanctions because it involves Russia's central bank, which has been sanctioned by the European Union.
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Ukraine war latest: Drones attack Russia's Black Sea Fleet; Russian pipelines explode in country's Far East, HUR says
Pipelines supplying Russian military explode in Russia's Far East, HUR source says
Ukrainian drone strike on Russian airfield hits bomb depot, aircraft
Drones reportedly attack Russia's Black Sea fleet
'Impeccable results' — New Skynex video shows Ukrainian forces destroying Russian drones with German gun
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Friday, July 18
"Fighters from the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 505th Separate Marine Battalion have raised their battle flags in the settlements of Voskresenka and Yalta in Donetsk Oblast," the 20th Corps said in a statement on social media.
The number includes 1,180 casualties that Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Russian forces launched a series of overnight attacks across Ukraine on July 18, killing one person and injuring at least five others, according to local officials.
Friday, July 18
"We reject Hungary's manipulations, and we will not tolerate such disrespect for our military. Ukraine reserves the right to take appropriate action in response," Foreign Minister Adrii Sybiha.
All negotiating options have been exhausted for now, and continuing our blocking position would now endanger our interests," Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said.
European commercial satellites that Russia believes are aiding Ukraine are a legitimate target for signal jamming, Russia has told international regulators.
Germany will provide Ukraine with new long-range missiles "very shortly, very soon," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, without mentioning the name of the weapons being supplied.
The "Test in Ukraine" initiative will allow foreign companies and governments to create solutions for real war challenges while receiving immediate feedback from military personnel and improving products based on combat experience.
Held under NATO auspices, the exercises aim to boost combat readiness and interoperability among allied and partner nations.
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"On one hand, it is very positive that President Trump is taking on a strong stance on Russia... On the other hand, 50 days is a very long time if we see that they are killing innocent civilians," EU Special Envoy Kaja Kallas said.
Allied capabilities now allow NATO to "take that (Kaliningrad) down from the ground" faster than ever before, U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander General Chris Donahue said.
As part of the plan, the U.S. was weighing the sale of Patriot air defense systems from its own military stockpiles, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said.
