Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky with senior officials, Kyiv, July 16, 2025
EA on TVP World: Trump on Ukraine — Serious Shift or Political Stunt?
Trump’s Approach to Ukraine-Russia Hasn’t Changed That Much
Wednesday’s Coverage: Trump Backs Away from Long-Range Missiles for Kyiv
Map: Institute for the Study of War
UPDATE 1620 GMT:
The toll has risen to seven civilians killed and 48 injured by Russian attacks on Ukraine over the past day.
A fifth person has perished in the Donetsk region in the east and a fatality has been recorded in the Kherson region in the south.
UPDATE 1607 GMT:
Hosting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said a post-ceasefire foreign force protecting Ukraine should include troops on the ground.
We’ve had our military planners, from a number of countries, working on plans. They are plans for the air, for the sea, and, yes, for land.
The fourth component is strengthening the Ukrainian capability itself, to ensure that remains in place and is stronger after any ceasefire.
So they are the four component parts, and that does include a land element.
Merz said Ukraine will be “much better positioned” as new supplies of arms arrive.
He indicated US weapons will be sold to NATO countries and transferred to Ukraine within days or weeks.
UPDATE 1401 GMT:
Ukraine has repatriated 1,000 bodies from Russia.
The victims include both troops and civilians.
In return, Ukraine handed over the bodies of 19 Russian soldiers.
UPDATE 0800 GMT:
NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, says he has been ordered to deliver Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine as quickly as possible:
I’m not going to reveal to the Russians or anyone else the exact numbers of weapons that we’re transferring or when those will happen, but what I will say is that preparations are under way.
We’re working very closely with the Germans on the Patriot transfer….So we’re doing that. And then we’re also looking at other capabilities and what those needs are, and working on proposals for our political leadership.
He added, “We’re going to move as quickly as we can on this.”
UPDATE 0719 GMT:
At least five civilians have been killed and 48 wounded by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day.
Air defenses downed 36 of 64 drones, and five were lost to electronic counter-measures.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region in south-central Ukraine, one person was murdered and 10 injured.
In the Donetsk region in the east, four civilians were slain and 29 injured. Hundreds of houses, shops, and cars were damaged.
Casualties were also reported from the Kherson and Kharkiv regions.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine must increase the proportion of weapons made at home from around 40% to 50% within six months.
In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky said he is counting on the incoming government under Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, whom he named on Monday, to deliver the increase. He had met with Svyrydenko, the outgoing Prime Minister and new Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, and outgoing Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to establish that the Defense Ministry will have “greater influence in the domain of arms production”.
We are thoroughly analyzing how all contracts, agreements, and investment projects are being implemented. We identified the steps that must be taken in the near future, as well as the key indicators by which the effectiveness of defense management will be assessed at the end of this year.
The President told the nation:
Rescue operations are underway in Dobropillia, Donetsk Region, after a Russian bomb hit a local store. The number of victims is not yet confirmed. This is horrendous, dumb Russian terror. Simply an attempt to kill as many as possible. Russia is all about vile strikes like this. pic.twitter.com/oMww1pO766
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 16, 2025
Uncertainty Over Trump Statement
Zelensky spoke amid ongoing uncertainty over the level of support pledged by Donald Trump on Monday.
Diplomats across Europe said they were neither briefed nor consulted ahead of Trump’s announcement, which featured a declaration that Patriot air defense systems will be sold to NATO countries who will transfer them to Ukraine.
Trump claimed that some of the systems could be delivered to Ukraine “within days”. But European and US officials said the plan was hastily devised without notification to the countries expected to be involved.
One European ambassador summarized, “It is my clear sense that nobody has been briefed about the exact details in advance. I also suspect that internally in the Administration they are only now beginning to sort out what it means in practice.”
Trump caused confusion with his proclamation that “17 Patriots” would soon be sent by one country to Kyiv. He did not specify whether he was referring to 17 batteries, which have multiple launchers; the launchers; or even individual missiles.
Officials have said Germany has committed to delivery of two batteries and Netherlands a third.
Kurt Volker, a former US Ambassador to Nato, projected that Ukraine could receive 12 to 13 Patriot batteries but it could take a year for them all to be delivered.
Trump also backtracked on his declaration on Monday that the US will sell long-range missiles for use deep inside Russia. He withdrew the commitment the following day.
