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Donald Trump has said that US weapons are already “being shipped” to Ukraine as Washington ramps up its military support for Kyiv.
A number of Kyiv’s European allies will purchase Patriot air defence missile systems from the US to assist Ukraine’s defence. Mr Trump is also set to send a batch of offensive weapons to assist Ukraine’s war effort, although the exact makeup of this package is currently unknown.
“They are already being shipped,” Mr Trump said of the Patriots on Monday, adding that they are arriving from Germany.
Just hours later, dozens were injured in Ukraine after Russia launched a 400 drones in a mass air attack across the country. A total of 57 drones and one ballistic missile were reported to have struck 12 locations across the war torn country, according to the Ukrainian air force.
“Unfortunately, 15 people were injured, including one child. All are receiving the necessary medical care,” Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.
“We need to systematically strengthen our defenses: more air defense systems, more interceptors, and more determination — so that Russia feels our response.”
It comes after the US president told Volodymyr Zelensky he should not target Moscow after reportedly privately discussing strikes on the Russian capital with the Ukrainian leader.
Arpan Rai17 July 2025 05:55
Ukraine is ready for more peace talks with Russia, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said yesterday, but gave no specific date.
Mr Sybiha reiterated Kyiv’s call for a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders, saying it would be the most effective step to help agree a ceasefire.
“We are ready for such negotiations in any format, in any geography,” he said during a visit to Lublin, in Poland.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels
Arpan Rai17 July 2025 05:44
The Ukrainian military has claimed that Russia has lost 1,170 troops in just one day, bringing the wartime casualty total of Russia’s war to more than 1,030,000 people.
Dozens of artillery systems and a handful of tanks, combat vehicles and tankers were also lost over the past day, Ukraine’s General Staff said.
The Independent could not independently verify the numbers.
Arpan Rai17 July 2025 05:30
US president Donald Trump said that weapons are already being shipped to Ukraine.
On being asked yesterday about what he thought of Patriot missiles being purchased by the US allies, Mr Trump said: “They are already being shipped”.
He added that the Patriot anti-missile defence systems are coming in from Germany.
“And in all cases, the United States gets paid back in full. So what’s happening, as you know, is the European Union, if you look, mostly European Union stuff, but let’s put it in the form of Nato, it’s very similar, but Nato’s going to pay us back for everything,” the US president said.
Mr Trump also added that he has not spoken to Russian president Vladimir Putin since sanctions against Russia were announced on Monday.
Arpan Rai17 July 2025 05:29
A meeting of Patriot owner nations and Ukraine donors, who want to help bring new Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine could take place Wednesday next week, a source told Reuters.
It comes after Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington will supply Patriot air defence systems, missiles and other weaponry to Ukraine and that the arms would be paid for by other Nato countries.
Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada all want to be part of the initiative to fund the Patriot systems, Nato chief Mark Rutte said on Monday.
France has ruled itself out, according to a report in Politico.
Soldiers stand during Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to a military training area to find out about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, at an undisclosed location, in Germany (via REUTERS)
Arpan Rai17 July 2025 04:57
France will not assist in a project announced by Donald Trump under which US weapons would be supplied to Ukraine with funding from European countries, Politico is reporting.
Paris will not be joining the initiative to purchase American weapons due to president Emmanuel Macron’s long-term position that Europeans should build their own defence industrial base through local procurement, two French officials familiar with the matter said.
The French government is looking to increase its own defence spending as it cuts other areas of the budget.
Germany, meanwhile, has taken a different stance. Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes that purchasing US weapons is one of the only ways to quickly arm Ukraine.
Emmanuel Macron arrives at the Bastille Day military parade in Paris on Monday (AFP/Getty)
Arpan Rai17 July 2025 04:55
A strike by Russian forces on a shopping centre and market in Dobropillia, a town near the frontline of the 40-month-old war, killed two people, injured up to 27 and caused widespread damage, officials said.
Vadym Filashkin, governor of eastern Donetsk region, said a 500kg (1,100lbs) bomb was deployed at 5.20pm, when shoppers were out.
He said there were two dead and 22 people injured, with eight nearby apartment blocks and eight cars destroyed. Video posted online showed areas around the shopping centre on fire with smoke billowing skywards.
“Firefighters are extinguishing the blaze as there is a possibility that people are still inside the shopping centre,” Mr Filashkin told Ukrainian television.
“The occupier dropped the bomb at a time when Dobropillia was crowded with people. Many were out shopping. The occupier specifically targeted the shopping centre. All nearby shopping centres have been either destroyed or damaged,” he said.
Ukraine’s national emergency services put the number of injured at 27.
Arpan Rai17 July 2025 04:45
There are two candidates for the post of Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Ukrainska Pravda is reporting.
Defence minister Rustem Umerov and justice minister Olha Stefanishyna are both being considered for the post, sources in Volodymyr Zelensky’s team said.
Earlier reports had suggested Mr Umerov was the frontrunner for the role.
“It looks like Umerov’s candidacy has not been firmly decided on yet. Stefanishyna may become ambassador to the US,” a high-ranking source told the outlet.
It is unclear what role Mr Umerov would take if Ms Stefanishyna takes the US role.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has carried out a political reshuffle this week, nominating as his new prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the driving force behind a minerals deal with the United States. Outgoing prime minister Denys Shmyhal has been put forward as the new defence minister.
Ukraine’s (L-R) justice minister Denys Maliuska, first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko, head of the office of the president Andriy Yermak, defence minister Rustem Umerov and prosecutor general Andriy Kostin attend a press conference in Davos (EPA)
Arpan Rai17 July 2025 04:39
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he was counting on his new incoming government to take measures to boost the proportion of weapons made at home to 50 per cent within six months.
Mr Zelensky said he, outgoing prime minister Denys Shmyhal and outgoing defence minister Rustem Umerov had decided at a meeting yesterday that the defence ministry would have “greater influence in the domain of arms production”.
“Ukrainian-made weapons now make up about 40 per cent of those used at the front and in our operations,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
“This is already significantly more than at any time in our country’s independence. The production volumes are truly large, but we need more,” he said.
“Our goal is to reach 50 per cent Ukrainian-made weaponry within the first six months of the new government, by expanding our domestic production. I am confident this is achievable, though not easy,” Mr Zelensky said.
Arpan Rai17 July 2025 04:30
A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and injured six in Russia’s southern city of Belgorod, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
Mr Gladkov said all six injured were being treated in hospital for shrapnel wounds. Six homes suffered damage in the drone attack.
The regional governor later reported another drone had injured a resident of a village northeast of Belgorod.
Russia’s defence ministry said Russian air defence units had destroyed 48 Ukrainian drones over a three and a half period ending at 11.30pm (2030 GMT).
At least 29 drones were destroyed over Belgorod region on the Ukrainian border, with a further 16 over Bryansk region, another border region to the west, according to the Russian defence ministry.
Arpan Rai17 July 2025 04:14