"Everyone must know that in principle we have not yet started anything serious in Ukraine . At the same time, we do not even refuse to hold peace talks. But those who refuse must know that the further we move forward, the more difficult it will be for them to negotiate with . us ". Vladimir Putin said this in a meeting with the leadership of the State Duma, as reported by Russian agencies.
The Russian president also challenged the West: "Today we hear that they want to defeat us on the battlefield. What to say, that they try . We have heard many times that the West wants to fight us to the last Ukrainian. It is a tragedy for the Ukrainian. Ukrainian people, but it seems that everything is going in this direction ", his words.
The Russian troops seek the advance in Donetsk, where, however, they meet Ukrainian resistance: "The weapons we have received from Western partners work very powerfully. As a result, the losses of the Russian occupiers will only increase week by week ", Volodymyr Zelensky said. Today heavy bombings also in Kharkiv , where at least three civilian victims are recorded, Kiev said.
THE LOAN - Meanwhile , the European Parliament gives the green light to the one billion euro macro-financial loan to Ukraine , the first tranche of the 9 billion euro exceptional assistance package announced by the Commission in May. The loan, which is in addition to the over 1.2 billion euros disbursed in March and May, will help the country cover its financing needs, which increased due to the war and estimated by the International Monetary Fund at 37.3 billion. euro for 2022. A " rapid financial support in a situation of grave need " to guarantee "the basic functions of the Ukrainian state".
It will be disbursed in a single installment, provided that various criteria are met, including greater transparency and reporting on its use . The EU budget will exceptionally finance interest costs. A precondition for granting assistance is that Ukraine respects effective democratic mechanisms despite the concentration of power by the government during the war.
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The day by the hour:
Kiev, Pope Francis can come to Ukraine whenever he wants
"Pope Francis can come to Ukraine on any day, because it will be a moment of strong inspiration and support and will allow him to better understand the causes of the war". This was stated by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmitro Kuleba, as reported by Ukrinform. "We are waiting a lot for the Pope and we remind our colleagues in the Vatican - he added - that the invitation remains open. He can come every day. We are also ready to prepare for his visit: this visit is so important for us Ukrainians". Kuleba noted that there are millions of believers on Ukrainian territory, and the visit would be a strong moment of inspiration and support for Ukrainians who carry the weight and suffering of war on their shoulders. "Secondly, the Pope retains a great role as a peacemaker in international politics, and I think he would better understand the reasons for this war, seeing the suffering with his own eyes. This would allow us to find further ways to involve him in the end of this war or in the resolution of some humanitarian issues created by this war ", said the minister.
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Putin: "In Ukraine we haven't started seriously yet"
"Today we hear that they want to defeat us on the battlefield. What to say, that they try. We have heard many times that the West wants to fight us to the last Ukrainian. It is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, but it seems that everything goes into this. direction". Thus Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting with the leadership of the State Duma, as reported by Russian agencies.
"Everyone must know that in principle we have not yet started anything serious in Ukraine. At the same time, we do not even refuse to hold peace talks. But those who refuse must know that the further we move forward, the more difficult it will be for them to negotiate with. us, "Putin added.
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Kiev: "Three killed in the attack on Kharkiv"
The toll of the Russian attack in Kharkiv rises to 3 dead and 5 injured. This was stated by Oleg Sinegubo, head of the Kharkiv region, quoted by Ukrainska Pravda.
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Putin: "The West will not cause chaos in Russia"
"The West has been acting extremely aggressively towards Russia for decades." The complaint comes from Russian President Vladimir Putin quoted by TASS. The Russian leader then stressed that "the West will not be able to sow discord and cause chaos in Russia" and that the Russian authorities "are able to minimize the consequences of illegal Western sanctions".
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Explosions in Kharkiv
"A series of explosions were heard in Kharkiv in the evening". The UNIAN agency reports, citing local Telegram channels and social networks that refer to eyewitnesses who have published photos and videos showing clouds of smoke over the city. At the moment it is not known if there are any victims. "According to unconfirmed information - reports the agency -, enemy missiles have been recorded in various areas" and "after the bombing, strong fires broke out in the city".
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Putin: "We will do everything to help Donbass residents"
The Russian leadership "will do everything to help the people living in Donbass". This was assured by Russian President Vladimir Putin, quoted by the Russian agency Tass.
"Russia will help the Donbass so that the people here can live in good conditions," adds the Kremlin leader, reiterating the accusations that Ukraine had "organized the genocide and isolated the residents" of this region for the past eight years. .
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Kiev: "Russians shoot pro-Ukrainians and Kreminna in the street"
"In Kreminna, Lugansk, Russian soldiers shoot residents with pro-Ukrainian views in the street." This was stated by the regional military chief Sergiy Gaidai on Fb, quoted by Ukrinform. "Everyone knows that the Russians persecute local residents with pro-Ukrainian views or those who refuse to cooperate with the occupiers. In Kreminna, terror has reached such a level that people are being killed in the streets. Local collaborators help the occupiers by reporting the people who are on the side of Kiev, giving their exact addresses, "said Gaidai. Kreminna has been under the control of Russian troops since 19 April.
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Johnson: "UK will continue to support Ukraine"
In his resignation speech in front of Downing Street, Boris Johnson addressed "the Ukrainian people" to ensure that the UK "will continue to support Ukraine" strongly even after its departure.
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Green light from the Eurochamber to one billion new aid
Green light by the European Parliament for the 1 billion euro macro-financial loan to Ukraine, the first tranche of the 9 billion euro exceptional assistance package announced by the Commission in May. The loan, which is added to the more than 1.2 billion euros disbursed in March and May, will help the country cover its financing needs, which increased due to the war and estimated by the International Monetary Fund at 37.3 billions of euros for 2022.
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EU: "We will prevent Moscow from using the G20 for disinformation"
"For the EU, the G20 remains a key forum for solving global problems, multilateralism must work even in times of crisis. Putin's brutal war in Ukraine excludes the possibility that the G20 will operate as if nothing had happened, in business mode. usual, since the Russian delegation risks compromising the reputation of the G20: we will certainly not allow Moscow to transform the G20 into its disinformation platform ". This was stated by a spokesman for the EU Commission, commenting on the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov in Bali.
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Moscow: "Ukrainians killed flying flags on Snake Island"
The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian soldiers who were trying to raise the flag of Ukraine on the recently reconquered Snake Island were killed overnight, the Guardian reports. On the night of July 7 - the ministry said - Kiev attempted to symbolically deliver the flag to the island. Around 5 am, several Ukrainian soldiers disembarked and took pictures with the flag. The Russian Aerospace Forces plane immediately launched a high-precision missile attack on the island and some soldiers were killed. The Ukrainian operational command confirmed the missile attack on the island, speaking of damage to the dock, but without any reference to casualties among its soldiers.
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Isw: "Russians braking after 133 days of war"
"For the first time in 133 days of war, the Russian military has not claimed ground advances in Ukraine in support of the assessment that Russian forces have largely initiated an operational hiatus." The American Institute for the study of war (Isw) writes this in its latest report. The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed territorial conquests every day since the war began, the report reads, but it has not claimed any new territory or movement of ground forces since it completed the encirclement of Lysychansk on 3 July.
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Russian missiles destroy grain-filled hangars in Odessa
Russian cruise missiles hit and destroyed agricultural hangars with tons of grain in the Odessa region overnight. This was reported by the Southern Operational Command of the Ukrainian Army, reported by Ukrinform. In the early hours of the morning, Federation planes attacked the island of the Snakes, liberated by Ukrainian forces in recent days: "The island was hit by two missiles launched from the air. The pier was significantly damaged", says Kiev.
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Kiev: "The Russian fleet is strengthened in the Black Sea"
Russia has strengthened its fleet in the Black Sea, which now consists of five missile-equipped ships, two submarines and an amphibious assault ship, the southern operational command of the Ukrainian army has announced, according to reports from Kyiv. Independent.
(Unioneonline)