Russia launched an unprecedented overnight drone assault on Ukraine, deploying a record 728 drones just hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to send additional defensive weapons to Kyiv and leveled unusually sharp criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine’s air force reported that nearly all drones were intercepted and neutralized, many through electronic countermeasures. The latest strike adds to a wave of intensified Russian aerial attacks in recent weeks. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for stronger sanctions targeting Russia’s revenue streams, especially buyers of Russian oil.
Trump announced on Tuesday that he might support a Senate bill imposing severe sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports. “We get a lot of ‘b******t’ from Putin … he’s always nice, but it’s meaningless,” Trump said during a cabinet meeting. When asked about potential action against Putin, he replied cryptically: “I wouldn’t tell you. We want to have a little surprise.” Meanwhile, European countries are preparing a new package of sanctions against Moscow.
After returning to office this year promising a rapid end to the war, Trump’s stance on Ukraine has evolved — from firm backing to a position that partly acknowledges some of Moscow’s justifications for its full-scale invasion. Despite early diplomatic efforts, talks between Kyiv and Moscow have made little progress, as Russia has yet to accept Trump’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire that Ukraine has already agreed to.
Trump’s latest promise to provide more defensive weaponry overturned a Pentagon decision from days earlier to delay some critical supplies, even as Russian strikes increased pressure on Ukrainian defenses. Following Trump’s announcement, Zelensky directed his government to strengthen dialogue with the US to secure vital military aid, especially air defense systems.
Trump’s envoy on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is set to participate in an international aid conference on July 10–11 in Rome, attended by Zelensky and European partners.
ECHR blames Russia for MH17 tragedy and systematic abuses
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a landmark ruling on Wednesday, holding Russia accountable for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 and widespread human rights violations across Ukraine. The court found evidence of indiscriminate attacks, summary executions, torture including rape, and forced displacement by Russian forces and affiliated groups.
Ahead of the verdict, the Kremlin dismissed the court’s authority, with a spokesperson stating that Russia viewed its decisions as “null and void.” Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe in 2022, and in 2023, its parliament ended the ECHR’s jurisdiction within the country.
The ruling combined four cases, one of which centered on MH17 — shot down over eastern Ukraine during clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists, killing all 298 on board. The ECHR concluded that Russia failed to properly investigate, ignored requests for cooperation, and denied involvement, deepening the suffering of victims’ families.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp expressed hope that the ruling would offer victims’ relatives “a sense of justice and recognition,” though he acknowledged that it cannot erase their pain. Most MH17 victims were Dutch citizens.
Other cases included Ukraine’s complaints about pro-Russian separatists abducting Ukrainian children and broader claims of human rights violations since Russia’s full-scale invasion began over four years ago. Ukraine’s Justice Ministry hailed the decision as one of the most significant in interstate legal proceedings.
While the court may later decide on compensation, enforcing such rulings against Russia — which no longer recognizes its jurisdiction — remains unlikely, making the decision largely symbolic.
