Photo : Ukrainska Pravda
Photo : Ukrainska Pravda
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 15 July, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced his resignation following Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plan to replace with Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. The change comes amidst larger plans for a significant reshuffling of Ukraine's cabinet.
On 15 July, marking Ukraine’s Day of Statehood, Zelenskyy emphasized the deep connection between generations of Ukrainians throughout history. He spoke of the enduring bond uniting Ukrainians. He said: "A bridge through time, standing on three unshakable pillars: Ukrainians were here, Ukrainians are here, Ukrainians will be here…We do not want Russia here." He highlighted that Ukrainians are not motivated by praise from allies but by the fundamental drive for self-preservation.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 15 July, in response to US President Donald Trump's 50-day deadline for a resolution to the war, Russia President spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described Trump's remarks as "very serious." He emphasized that Russia will carefully evaluate the implications. Trump's threat of sanctions and tariffs marks a significant shift in the US's approach to Russia, driven by growing frustration over the lack of progress in peace talks. Russia has till now not accepted any US ceasefire proposals, Peskov reiterated that Russia is still open to negotiate and waits for Ukraine to propose the timing for a third round of talks. However, Peskov stated that Trump's statements could encourage Ukraine to continue the war than pursue peace.
On 15 July, Russian authorities reported a Ukrainian drone attack targeting Lipetsk and Voronezh regions overnight resulting in several injuries and damage to homes and buildings. According to Russia's Defence Ministry, 55 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over five Russian regions, including the Black Sea. In Voronezh, 12 drones were destroyed, with several suffering minor injuries from debris. Residential buildings in the city, as well as houses in nearby suburbs, were damaged. In Lipetsk, a drone crashed in the industrial area of Yelets, injuring one person. Ukraine is yet to claim the attack.
On 15 July, Russian forces claimed seizing control of two villages, Voskresenka and Petrivka, in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that up to 125 Ukrainian troops were lost during the offensive to capture Petrivka and up to 185 in Voskresenka. However, these battlefield reports are yet to be verified.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from Europe and the US
On 15 July, the BBC published an interview with Trump on his war in Ukraine. During the interview he criticized the lack of progress in ending and recalled several instances where he thought a deal was close. However it failed as Russia continue to carry out attacks, such as targeting a nursing home in Kyiv. Despite his frustration, Trump said: "I'm not done with him, but I'm disappointed in him." On the NATO, Trump showed a shift in his stance. He highlighted recent positive engagements with NATO's leadership, including a warm exchange with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and a pledge by NATO members to increase defence spending. Trump seemed to put aside past grievances over the US bearing a disproportionate share of NATO's costs, saying the situation had improved now that allies were paying their own bills.
On 15 July, Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, announced readiness to purchase the US weapons for Ukraine including Patriot missiles and send to Ukraine. Rasmussen emphasized Denmark's commitment to supporting Ukraine, noting that his country is the "biggest supporter of Ukraine per capita," and highlighted the "Danish Model," which aims to directly support Ukraine's defence industry. This model is expected to contribute EUR 1.3 billion in 2025, partly funded by profits from seized Russian assets.
On 15 July, the EU leaders gathered to discuss on Ukraine. However failed to approve a new round of sanctions against Russia, as EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas expressed disappointment following a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels. While Kallas said she was "really sad" about the lack of agreement, she remained "optimistic" that a deal could be reached the following day. For the sanctions to be adopted, all 27 EU member states must agree, and Slovakia has reportedly been blocking the measures due to concerns over a proposal to phase out Russian gas imports by 01 January 2028. On the same, Latvia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Artjoms Ursulskis, expressed confidence that any remaining issues blocking the approval of the 18th round of EU sanctions on Russia will be resolved. Ursulskis highlighted that the focus of the new sanctions should be on Russia's "shadow fleet," a network of “opaquely owned,” often uninsured ships used to bypass Western sanctions on Russian oil sales. He stressed that the sanctions should target not just the ships, but the companies that help in circumventing the sanctions, which significantly contribute to Russia's economy.