Russia Zelensky expects stronger air defenses in July

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi expects his country's air defenses to be strengthened against Russian air strikes in July.

The promised F-16 fighter jets in sufficient quantity and quality, Patriot air defense systems and longer-range missiles would have a decisive influence on the course of the war, Zelenskyi said in his evening video message broadcast in Kiev on Monday. Ukraine could receive even more protection of its airspace from the aggressor Russia this month.

Selensky has been calling for months for more support from Western allies in protecting its airspace from Russian bombs, missiles and drones. The country is on the way to achieving real security, the head of state continued. Several countries have promised Ukraine F-16 fighter jets and have also trained Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft. Russia sees this as a new escalation stage in the war.

"This month can bring more strength to Ukraine, especially in the protection of our airspace and real security for our country," he said. The country is relying above all on the USA as an ally.

Selenskyj thanks US delegation in Kiev for help

At a meeting with representatives of the US Congress in Kiev, Zelensky thanked Washington for its ongoing help in the fight against Russian aggression. "It is very important to have an unshakeable belief that life must defeat this Russian war and all of Putin's hostile ambitions," he said. This requires not only the courage of Ukrainians, but also that of Western partners.

Selensky said that fundamental decisions had been discussed to inflict more losses on the occupying forces in terms of logistics and equipment and to destroy Moscow's hopes of extending the war. "For Russia, all this must end in defeat - and only then will this whole idea of a war against Ukraine be defeated," said Zelenskyi.

US Republican Mike Turner said at the meeting with Zelenskyi that Washington supported the people of Ukraine in their fight for democracy. He indicated that possible strikes by the Ukrainian armed forces with US missiles against positions on Russian territory had also been discussed. No details were given.

Zelenskyi relies on additional Patriot deliveries

Zelenskyi said that the USA is not only helping with weapons, but also with financial support for the country's economy. He once again emphasized that the country needs more help with air defence in particular. "This is extremely important because the Patriot systems help us to save lives and protect the infrastructure. We are counting on receiving additional deliveries of these systems in the future," said Selensky.

Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for more than two years with Western help. Russia has occupied large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine since the start of the invasion on February 24, 2022.

Moscow reports further territorial conquests

Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine is becoming increasingly bogged down in positional fighting. According to the Russian military, it has captured two towns in eastern Ukraine. Units of the "West" grouping have captured the village of Stepova Novoselivka in the Kharkiv region and taken better positions, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced in its situation report. The village of Novopokrovske in the Donetsk region was also captured. Kiev has not yet officially confirmed the loss of the two settlements. The information could not be independently verified.

However, the Deepstate portal, which is close to the Ministry of Defense in Kiev, has partially confirmed the reports of success from Moscow. Novopokrovske has been marked as occupied for some time. Russian troops have been advancing there since the fall of Avdiivka, which the Ukrainians had turned into a fortress.

Stepova Novoselivka near the small town of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, on the other hand, is still marked by Deepstate as being under Ukrainian control. The Russian army has been trying for months to recapture the strategically important railroad junction lost during the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the fall of 2022.