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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia's commitment to its special military operation in Ukraine, citing positive momentum on the front lines and criticizing NATO's declaration of Russia as a threat. He emphasized Russia's openness to peace talks while insisting that Kiev's actions and Western support for Ukraine will not deter Moscow's objectives.
NATO leaders gathered in Ankara, Turkey, for their annual summit, with defence spending and the future of US commitments to the alliance at the forefront. Reports indicate a pledge to boost defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 and significant military aid for Ukraine, while concerns persist over US arms deliveries and President Trump's stance.
NATO's 32 member states are holding two days of talks in Ankara, Turkey, to review progress since last year's summit in The Hague and address divisions over defence spending, the Ukraine war, and the Iran conflict. US pressure on allies to raise budgets to 5% of GDP, along with a fragile US-Iran ceasefire, dominate discussions.
European leaders are confronting the possibility that the US may not be able to arm Nato allies as promised, with depleted US stockpiles and delayed deliveries prompting discussions of a European-led defence coalition. Proposals include a coalition of the willing led by France and the UK, while French President Emmanuel Macron calls for expanded EU weapons production.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO allies to deliver promised missiles, noting that none of the 200 missiles agreed with Norway have arrived. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged member states to 'pull their weight' as Russia's ballistic missiles pose a serious threat to Kyiv.
The NATO summit held in Ankara on July 7-8 was the shortest in at least 20 years, consisting of a working dinner and a single plenary session. Leaders are expected to reaffirm commitments to increase military spending and provide long-term aid to Ukraine, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not permitted to address the summit. The compressed format is seen as aimed at avoiding disagreements with US President Donald Trump.
Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv killed at least 24 people and injured dozens, striking residential areas for the second time in a week, Ukrainian officials reported. The assault comes ahead of a NATO summit in Turkey, where President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to press allies for more air defences, particularly against ballistic missiles.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends his final Nato summit in Ankara, seeking to strengthen the European pillar of the alliance amid US pressure on defence spending. Reports suggest the UK may face criticism from President Trump, while a new UK-led missile project is unveiled.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte says European allies and Canada are on track to match US defense spending, projecting a $258 billion increase in 2025-2026. The two-day leaders' summit in Ankara will focus on turning pledges into capabilities, with Ukraine's president attending a dinner hosted by Turkey's president.
Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8, European leaders are reportedly set to announce a two-year aid package for Ukraine worth at least €140 billion, with the United States declining to contribute. NATO members have yet to agree on the timing of future assistance, with Italy opposing the extension of aid into 2027.
Russian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and the Foreign Intelligence Service, have accused the United Kingdom of directing Ukrainian terror attacks, specifically citing a drone strike on the Siege of Sevastopol panorama. Zakharova also linked Ukrainian President Zelensky's announced 40-day operation to what she called the Kiev regime's terrorist nature.
Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing at least 14 people and wounding about 60, according to Ukrainian officials. The strike came on the eve of a NATO summit, prompting urgent calls from President Zelenskyy and EU leaders for more air defense support.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday evening, the first visit by a Western European head of state since Syria's new authorities took power in December 2024. The trip follows Syria's announcement of his expected visit and includes talks on bilateral ties and economic cooperation.
Russian officials reported a civilian death in Crimea and injuries in Yaroslavl after Ukrainian drone attacks, while the Russian Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down hundreds of UAVs overnight. The reports, carried by the Russian state news agency TASS, include different tallies for the number of drones downed.
Kyiv suffered a Russian ballistic missile attack early Monday, with multiple casualties and damage to residential buildings. Reports vary on the exact toll, but local officials confirmed deaths and injuries, with people possibly trapped under rubble.
US President Donald Trump plans to meet with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on July 8 on the sidelines of the NATO summit, and then hold follow-up talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a senior US official cited by Reuters. The goal is to end hostilities as soon as possible.
Ukraine and Russia are locked in a war of words over the eastern city of Kostiantynivka, with Kyiv insisting it remains in control while Moscow claims its forces have taken the city. The fighting has drawn international attention as the city is seen as a gateway to the Donbas region.
Severe storms forced an evacuation of Washington, D.C.'s National Mall during the 250th anniversary of American independence, delaying President Donald Trump's speech. The event resumed later with a firework display, while other cities also faced storm-related disruptions.
US President Donald Trump offered Russian President Vladimir Putin help in resolving the Ukraine war during a nearly 90-minute phone call on Saturday, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. The call, which also touched on the upcoming NATO summit, was described as "businesslike and quite constructive" by Ushakov, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he also spoke with Trump.
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Ukraine conflict in a phone call, with Trump stating the need to end the war and planning to raise the topic at the NATO summit in Turkey. Kremlin officials highlighted the importance of continued US-Russia dialogue, while overnight Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least 28 people.