United States

Russia sentences ex-US soldier to 13 years on drug charges

Former U.S. paratrooper and musician Michael Travis Leake has been sentenced to 13 years in Russian prison on drug charges, a Moscow court's press service said on July 18.

Biden departure from 2024 race increasingly likely, top Democrats say

Biden has become more "receptive" to arguments that he should step aside, sources close to the U.S. president said on July 18.

Zelensky, Trump to hold phone discussion, CNN reports

The leaders are expected to speak over the phone on July 19 in their first conversation since Trump left office in 2021.

Trump formally accepts nomination as Republican presidential candidate

Former U.S. President Donald Trump accepted his third nomination on July 18 in his first speech since surviving an attempted assassination.

Working with Trump would be 'hard work, but we are hard workers,' Zelensky says

Working with Donald Trump if he is re-elected U.S. president would be "hard work, but we are hard workers," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a interview with BBC on July 18.

With a Trump victory more likely, Ukraine launches charm offensive

'Let's be realistic' – Kremlin on Trump's plan to end war in '24 hours'

Trump has promised to end Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine within a day if elected but has not publicly elaborated on how he plans to achieve that.

Zelensky: Lifting ban on strikes on Russian territory did not lead to escalation

“The fewer restrictions we have on the use of effective weapons, the more Russia will seek peace,” Zelensky said, addressing the Fourth European Political Community summit in the U.K. on July 18.

Germany to halve Ukraine military aid, Reuters reports

The move comes amid increasing concern that a Donald Trump victory in the upcoming U.S. presidential election will see a dramatic cut in Washington's support for Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression.

Opinion: Could Ukraine survive a JD Vance vice presidency?

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s nomination of J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential running mate has sent shockwaves across the Western alliance, particularly Ukraine, which is on the front lines of Western liberal democracy’s battle against authoritarianism. Vance has been strident in his

'I don't care' – JD Vance on Ukraine, in his own words

The selection of Ohio Senator J. D. Vance as Donald Trump's running mate this week has sent ripples of concern around the globe, felt not least in Ukraine. One of the most vocal opponents of U.S. aid to Ukraine, Vance has an extensive back catalog of statements that might

The Counteroffensive: A JD Vance vice presidency would be a disaster for Ukraine

Editor’s Note: This article was published by the twice-weekly newsletter “The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak” on July 16, 2024, and has been re-published by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to "The Counteroffensive," click here. J.D. Vance’s selection as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s running

Russian media: Medvedchuk sends letter to Trump seeking to blame Ukraine for assassination attempt

Viktor Medvedchuk, a former pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmaker, sent a letter to Donald Trump claiming that “Ukraine's trace may appear” in the case of Republican Party nominee assassination attempt, the Kremlin-controlled TASS news agency claimed on July 16.

Lavrov arrives in New York to chair UN Security Council meetings

Russia, a permanent member of the council, assumed the one-month rotating presidency on July 1 for the first time since April 2023.

JD Vance opposes military aid, NATO membership for Ukraine. He's now Trump's VP pick

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump selected Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate on July 15. The 39-year-old conservative, whose fame ballooned after the publication of his 2016 memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," was announced as Trump's pick for vice president on the first day

Trump names senator in favor of Ukrainian territorial concessions as his running mate

"Any peace settlement is going to require some significant territorial concessions from Ukraine, and you're gonna have a peace deal because that's the only way out of the conflict," Senator J. D. Vance said in February.

US prohibits Ukraine from striking deep inside Russia due to fears of war spreading

"I think it is important to understand that we do not want to see unintended consequences of an escalation that could turn this conflict into a broader one that goes beyond Ukraine. I think this is something that we all need to consider and take very seriously," Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder said in an interview with the Voice of America.

The Counteroffensive: What the Trump shooting could mean for Ukraine

Editor’s Note: This article was published by the twice-weekly newsletter “The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak” on July 14, 2024, and has been re-published by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to "The Counteroffensive," click here. The assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump on July 14

Zelensky wishes Trump a speedy recovery after assassination attempt

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wished former U.S. President Donald Trump "a speedy recovery" following the attack at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13.

Biden condemns Trump rally shooting

U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that he was aware of the shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania and condemned the incident.

Trump shot at during Pennsylvania rally

At a rally in Pennsylvania, gunshots were reportedly fired at former U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting security staff to rush him off stage.

Bloomberg: Orban spoke against Ukraine's NATO membership during meeting with Zelensky in Washington

Orban refused to back military support for Ukraine during the summit on July 11 and suggested that Kyiv should not join the alliance, according to Bloomberg’s sources

Kremlin spokesman threatens Europe over decision to host US missiles

"Our country is in the crosshairs of American missiles located in Europe. We've been through all this before," he said in an interview with Russian TV propagandist Pavel Zarubin. "We have enough potential to deter these missiles. But the capitals of these states are potential victims."

US developing new 'extended-range' missile for Ukraine's Air Force

The new weapon to be developed is an Extended-Range Attack Munition (ERAM), that aims to be a low-cost, quick to produce air-launched missile with a range of around 460 kilometers. The manufacture of the weapon is intended to begin no later than two years after the awarding of the contract and up to 1,000 are to be produced each year.

Orban discusses 'ways to make peace' with Trump in Florida

"We discussed ways to make peace. The good news of the day: he’s going to solve it," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote on X.

Zelensky to address US governors in Utah

The surprise visit to Utah comes after Zelensky's stay in Washington, D.C., for the annual NATO summit. The allies gathered in the U.S. capital to outline further support for Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression.

NATO summit ends with 32 countries signing Ukraine Compact

"This historic Compact creates a unified and comprehensive security architecture to support Ukraine today and in the future, in war and in peace," a White House press briefing said.

Biden defends candidacy, dodges questions on US weapons restrictions

Speaking after the conclusion of the three-day NATO summit in Washington, Biden fielded questions on his record and foreign policy while avoiding direct answers regarding Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied weapons.

Biden mistakenly introduces Zelensky as 'President Putin' as concerns over fitness for office mount

U.S. President Joe Biden introduced President Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin" during his speech on the final day of the NATO summit on July 11, as questions over Biden's fitness for office continue to increase.

Biden announces new aid package for Ukraine at NATO summit

This is the eighth package approved by Biden since the end of April when the U.S. Congress passed a foreign aid bill containing close to $61 billion for Ukraine.

Kyiv, US arms company agree to set up NATO-standard ammunition production

Ukraine's state-owned company, Ukrainian Defense Industry (Ukroboronprom), signed an agreement with the U.S. weapons manufacturer Northrop Grumman on ammunition production, the Presidential Office said on July 11.

Orban to meet Trump in Florida after NATO summit, Time reports

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may travel to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after the NATO summit in Washington, where allies affirmed Ukraine's "irreversible" path toward membership as well as $43 billion in funding for next year.