International Press Review dated 14 - 25 July 2025
- Anton Kuchuhidze
- Jul 24
- 5 min read
The situation around the war in Ukraine remains extremely tense. Despite numerous international initiatives, calls for dialogue, and the search for a peaceful settlement, the fighting continues. In response to the threat posed by russia, Western partners are stepping up military and diplomatic support for Ukraine, while increasing sanctions pressure on moscow. In this context, the leading international media focused on the kremlin's position, as well as on the decisive steps taken by the United States and European allies to strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities and deter further aggression.
The Washington Post reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered to hold a personal meeting with russian president putin to negotiate an end to the war. However, the prospects for such an initiative remain uncertain. Despite preparations for a new round of talks, russia refuses to engage in dialogue at the highest level.
At the same time, another article from The Washington Post notes that the kremlin has declared its openness to peace talks with Ukraine, but the priority for russia remains achieving its military goals. Among moscow's key demands are the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four partially occupied regions, Ukraine's refusal to join NATO and a significant limitation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which is unacceptable to Kyiv.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration has decided to give Germany priority in the queue for Patriot systems so that Berlin can transfer two of its systems to Ukraine. This is the first time under the new US President that the US government has assisted allies in supplying weapons to Kyiv, while guaranteeing the replacement of US-made equipment. This policy is in line with Trump's policy of NATO countries purchasing American weapons for the purpose of transferring them to Ukraine. Similar agreements are expected to be signed in the near future with Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada, Finland, and other countries.
In addition, on 18 July, the European Union adopted the 18th package of sanctions against russia after six weeks of negotiations. The new restrictions are aimed at the energy sector and the banking system of the russian federation, according to Le Monde.
In an interview with The Washington Post, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, called on the United States and Europe to immediately increase the supply of air defence systems and long-range missiles, including Patriot, ATACMS and Taurus, without restrictions on their use in russia. Ukraine is in dire need of unconditional and prompt military support from the West to effectively deter the aggressor. General Syrskyi remains firmly committed and ready to continue the fight both at the front and in the information space.
Thus, the positions of the United States and its European partners demonstrate a growing determination to support Ukraine both on the battlefield and on the diplomatic front. Ukraine remains open to a peaceful settlement, but in the current circumstances continues to resolutely defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty, demonstrating resilience and readiness for a long struggle for a just peace.
Ukraine urgently needs the United States and Europe to transfer more air defense systems and missiles to Kyiv, Ukraine’s commander in chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky said in an interview with The Washington Post — and without a Biden-era ban on deep strikes against Russian military targets.
Syrsky’s call for ramped-up support comes amid a devastating wave of Russian attacks against Ukrainian cities this summer, with Moscow pummeling civilians nightly with ballistic missiles and hundreds of armed drones. Ukraine is also facing challenges on the battlefield as it struggles to mobilize the troops needed to stem the grinding advance of a numerically superior foe.
Russia is open to peace with Ukraine, but achieving its goals remains a priority, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday, days after U.S. President Donald Trump gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher sanctions .
Peskov and other Russian officials have repeatedly rejected accusations from Kyiv and its Western partners of stalling peace talks. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to intensify its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, launching more drones in a single night than it did during some entire months in 2024, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate.
The road to President Donald Trump’s highly coveted Nobel Peace Prize might ultimately run through Ukraine, but only if the administration abandons its ad hoc approach to achieving its foreign policy objectives.
Just sending more weapons to Ukraine will not end the conflict. What are also required are new sanctions against the Russian economy to affect its ability to continue the war. The proposed tariffs are not enough. President Donald Trump must understand by now that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not looking for a deal but Russian control of Ukraine. Unless Trump projects strength with weapons for Ukraine and severe sanctions for Russia, Putin will continue the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday renewed his offer to meet with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine , but hopes of progress were low as delegations prepared to hold another round of talks.
Putin has spurned Zelenskyy’s previous offers of a face-to-face meeting to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II. But the Ukrainian leader insists that lower-level delegations like the ones expected for talks in Istanbul on Wednesday don’t have the political heft to stop the fighting. The sides remain far apart on how to end the war begun by Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.
The Trump administration has moved Germany ahead of Switzerland for the next Patriot air-defense systems off the production line, paving the way for Berlin to send two Patriots it already has to Ukraine, according to three U.S. officials.
The U.S. promise to quickly replace Germany’s Patriots is the first instance of the Pentagon facilitating weapons deliveries for Ukraine since President Trump announced earlier this month that he favored sending more arms.
The effort to speed Patriots to Ukraine by backfilling Germany with systems from the American production line is consistent with Trump’s vow to have NATO allies pay the U.S. as part of providing additional weapons for Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine will hold new peace talks on Wednesday, July 23 as a follow-up to two rounds in Istanbul that made little progress on ending their war, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
"Today, I discussed with [Ukrainian Security Council chief] Rustem Umerov the preparations for the exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side. Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday," Zelensky said in his daily address on Monday, July 21. He added that more details would be released on Tuesday.
After six weeks of debate, the 27 EU member states reached agreement on Friday, July 18, on an 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine, targeting both the energy sector and the Russian banking system. This move increased pressure on Russia just days after Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, July 15, the sale of weapons to NATO countries for Ukraine and gave Vladimir Putin a 50-day ultimatum, threatening further sanctions.
"The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions package against Russia to date," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Friday morning. "We will keep raising the costs, so stopping the aggression becomes the only path forward for Moscow," she added. "We are striking at the heart of Russia's war machine," emphasized Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, who noted, when presenting the sanctions proposals, that Russian oil continued to generate substantial revenue for the country.
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