Newly released audio reveals that former President Donald Trump claimed to have threatened to bomb Moscow and Beijing during separate conversations with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. The recordings, captured at a 2024 private fundraiser, show Trump recounting his warnings to the Russian and Chinese leaders about invading Ukraine and Taiwan, respectively. Trump stated both leaders seemed skeptical but that he believed a small amount of perceived threat would deter them. The audio’s release will likely be analyzed closely by both Russia and China, as it offers insight into Trump’s potential foreign policy strategies.
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Russia unleashed its largest single-day drone attack on Ukraine to date, launching 728 Shaheds and 13 missiles overnight. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 718 objects were neutralized amid the assault, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to emphasize the need for peace efforts. As the attacks continue, and Russia makes advances, former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed growing disappointment with Vladimir Putin and is now considering sending more Patriot missiles to Ukraine.
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Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead in his car with a gunshot wound, just hours after being dismissed from his position by President Vladimir Putin. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, with the primary theory being suicide. Starovoit’s death occurred after he had served as transport minister for just over a year, following nearly five years as governor of the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine. This event adds to a series of deaths of high-ranking Russian officials, some of which have been ruled as suicides, since the start of the war in Ukraine.
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Russian authorities reported the death of Roman Starovoyt, former transport minister, by apparent suicide, shortly after his dismissal by President Vladimir Putin. Starovoyt was found with a gunshot wound in his car outside Moscow on July 7th. His dismissal came amid scrutiny of his role in preparing border defenses in the Kursk region, which saw incursion from Ukraine, and the transportation industry’s struggles due to Western sanctions and Ukrainian attacks. The Kremlin did not give a reason for his firing, and the Moscow Times reported his deputy is implicated in a corruption scandal.
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Following a phone call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, Russia launched a devastating aerial attack on Kyiv using a record number of drones and ballistic missiles. Ukrainian officials condemned the assault as a deliberate act of terror and a clear interpretation of Moscow’s diplomatic stance. This sustained attack resulted in significant damage and casualties, with at least 23 injuries and one confirmed fatality. The attack has intensified calls for increased military aid to Ukraine.
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In Kyiv, a massive Russian drone attack, described as one of the worst of the three-year conflict, struck multiple buildings and residential areas. The attack, which lasted 13 hours, resulted in at least one death and over twenty injuries, with Ukrainian forces intercepting a significant number of drones and missiles. This record-setting assault came shortly after a phone call between former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, where no progress towards a ceasefire was made. Amid the destruction, residents expressed frustration, with some drawing a connection between the call and the attacks, raising concerns about the future of US support for Ukraine as some weapons shipments are paused.
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U.S. Special Representative Keith Kellogg refuted Russian claims that the United States and Ukraine are hindering peace negotiations, arguing Moscow is responsible for obstructing efforts to end the war. Kellogg, responding to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov’s statements, emphasized former President Trump’s commitment to achieving a ceasefire and trilateral talks. Despite these calls, Russia has rejected U.S.-backed proposals and continued attacks, including recent statements by President Putin, casting doubt on the Kremlin’s willingness to negotiate. Although peace talks have occurred, no breakthrough on ending hostilities has materialized.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi refuted Russian justifications for the war in Ukraine, highlighting that the claims of NATO expansion being a threat contradict President Putin’s own statements from 2004. At that time, Putin welcomed NATO enlargement and expressed hope it would strengthen trust. Tykhyi accuses Putin of rewriting history to justify his aggression. He emphasized that NATO expansion has never threatened Russia; instead, it has denied Moscow the ability to conquer sovereign European nations.
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During a press conference at the NATO summit, President Trump suggested the possibility of Putin invading other countries, while also stating he believes the Russian leader is “misguided”. Trump indicated he’s in regular contact with Putin, who offered to help with the Middle East conflict. Although Trump previously stated he would negotiate an end to the Ukrainian invasion within 24 hours, he now deems such negotiations “more difficult”. Finally, Trump confirmed a “good” meeting with Zelenskyy and would “see” if the US would supply Ukraine with Patriot systems.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced he will not engage in telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing the failure of previous attempts to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine. Merz pointed to the attacks following Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit and a phone call between Putin and former Chancellor Olaf Scholz as evidence of the ineffectiveness of such communications. While Putin has expressed openness to discussions with Merz, the current chancellor has stated that he would only consider a meeting if it could contribute to ending the war. Furthermore, Merz noted a growing skepticism and criticality toward Putin from US President Donald Trump, indicating an aligning assessment within Europe.
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John Q. Hosedrinker