Residents shelter in a metro station during a Russian drone and missile attack, Kyiv, Ukraine, July 21, 2025 (Reuters)

Sunday’s Coverage: Zelensky Proposes More Talks With Russia

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1709 GMT:

The UK has imposed sanctions on another 135 Russian tankers and two shipping companies linked to Moscow’s “shadow fleet” circumventing restrictions on oil exports.

One of the two companies is linked to Lukoil, one of Russia’s largest oil producers.

The tankers have transported $24 billion worth of oil since the start of 2024.

“New sanctions will further dismantle Putin’s shadow fleet and drain Russia’s war chest of its critical oil revenues,” UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. “As Putin continues to stall and delay on serious peace talks, we will not stand idly by.”

UPDATE 1704 GMT:

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has signalled that Trump Administration will impose tighter sanctions on Russia, calling on Europe to join the initiative.

“Russian oil is going to be subject to up to 100% secondary tariffs,” Bessent said. “I urge our European allies, who have talked a big game, to follow us if we implement these.”

Donald Trump declared last Monday, amid his frustration with Vladimir Putin over Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians, that the US would impose the tariffs unless Russia agreed to end its invasion within 50 days.

UPDATE 1513 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has posted about the three priorities in his proposed third round of talks with Russia over its 41-month invasion:

UPDATE 1449 GMT:

The Trump Administration has agreed to provide five Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, says German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Pistorius told a meeting of the Ramstein Group, the partners supporting Ukraine, he reached the agreement with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his trip to Washington a week ago.

Amid frustration that Vladimir Putin will not agree to a ceasefire, Donald Trump said he would sell the Patriots to NATO countries who would then transfer them to Kyiv.

UPDATE 0636 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has updated the toll from Russia’s overnight drone and missile strikes to at least two killed and 15 injured, including a 12-year-old boy.

The Russians launched more than 420 drones and more than 20 missiles. Air defenses downed 200 drones, blocked 203 with electronic counter-measures, and intercepted 24 missiles.

I am grateful to everyone working in Ukraine and with Ukraine to defend lives — to expand weapons production, strengthen our air defense, and continue work on sanctions. Only real pressure on Russia can stop this aggression.

UPDATE 0608 GMT:

There has been a sharp increase in the number of Russian “shadow fleet” vessels, circumventing restriction on the transport and sale of Moscow’s oil, through Irish-controlled waters.

Nineteen ships have been tracked passing through, or just outside, the Irish Economic Zone since May. Eighteen were tankers, and twelve were carrying full loads of crude oil.

Twelve of the vessels are subject to European Union sanctions and the remainder to US or UK sanctions.

The ships are taking an unusual route through or near Irish water, bypassing the quicker, safer, and less expensive English Channel. One possible cause is escalated monitoring by the UK of shadow fleet vessels — British officials are now challenging by radio an average of 40 vessels each month.

<;p>Some of the oil tankers appear to be avoiding designated areas which require them to reveal their cargos to authorities.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Responding to Ukraine President Voldoymyr Zelensky’s call for renewed talks to end Russia’s 41-month invasion, the Kremlin has restated its ultimata for Kyiv’s cession of territory and permanent weakness.

On Saturday, Zelensky said, “The momentum of the negotiations must be stepped up.” He emphasized his readiness to sit down with Vladimir Putin: “A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace – lasting peace.”

But on Sunday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov repeated that Ukraine must accept Russia seizing all of four regions — Donetsk and Luhansk in the east and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south — as well as Crimea, even though Kyiv controls parts of the territory.

Peskow also said Ukraine must abandon any pursuit of membership of NATO.

“The main thing for us is to achieve our goals,” the spokesperson told State TV. “Our goals are clear.”

The Kremlin drove home its point with a mass drone and missile strike on Kyiv overnight, killing at least one civilian and injuring eight.

“In the Darnytskyi district, a fire broke out on the roof of a non-residential building as a result of an attack. Details are being established,” said the head of the capital’s Military Administration, Tymur Tkachenko, just before 2 a.m.

Further explosions were reported over the next two hours.

Outdoor kiosks and residential buildings burned in the Dniprovskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts, and a day care center was set afire. Smoke engulfed the Lukianivska subway station where residents were sheltering.

The Russians also struck Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine. Infrastructure was damaged in three villages. Casualties occurred in one, but the victims are in stable condition.

“This is the largest attack since the full-scale invasion,” said Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv.

Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv was attacked by 12 Iran-made drones, with strikes in four locations. At least 50 windows were blown out in residential blocks, a fire was set at a civilian enterprises, and the power grid and gas pipeline were damaged.