Ukraine-Russia News
LAST UPDATE: August 2, 2025
Putin Rejects ‘Excessive Expectations’ for Truce Deal in Ukraine
Russia’s President Putin dismissed U.S. and Western calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine as based on “excessive expectations,” confirming that Russia’s war objectives remain unchanged while rejecting pressure to accept a truce timeline (Bloomberg.com).
Insight
By reframing ceasefire demands as unrealistic, Russia maintains leverage by managing international expectations and signaling that any peace must conform to its strategic terms—shifting diplomatic burden onto Ukraine and its allies.
Zelenskiy says he talked with Starmer about formats of summit on peace
President Zelenskiy reported discussing potential formats for a peace summit with UK Prime Minister Starmer, coordinating with U.S. partners, including President Trump, on how to structure leader-level negotiations on Ukraine peace (TradingView).
Insight
Putin’s rejection of public pace-setting contrasts with Zelenskiy’s push for organized diplomatic engagement, reflecting divergent strategies: Kyiv seeks multilateral frameworks; Russia favors opacity and unilateral control.
US deploying nuclear submarines in response to ‘provocative’ Russian comments: Trump
Former President Trump announced via AFP that he has ordered the deployment of two U.S. nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions” in response to “highly provocative” remarks by former Russian official Medvedev (The Moscow Times, The Moscow Times).
Insight
Trump’s deployment marks a rare and escalatory move — transitioning from verbal sparring to military signaling, injecting renewed nuclear brinkmanship into U.S.–Russia confrontation over Ukraine.
Germany to send more US air defences to Ukraine
Germany will supply Ukraine with additional U.S. Patriot air-defense launchers and components, prioritizing delivery within days and full systems in 2–3 months, under a deal funded by Berlin, as Russia intensifies air raids including a strike killing 31 in Kyiv (フィナンシャル・タイムズ, Reuters).
Insight
Berlin’s move underscores Germany’s role as Ukraine’s top defense backer in Europe and demonstrates NATO coordination to accelerate critical air defence support amid surging Russian aerial assaults.
Russian central bank lifts forex purchases restrictions for new foreign investors
Russia’s central bank has lifted restrictions on foreign currency purchases for new investors from “unfriendly” countries, allowing them to enter Russia’s financial markets via designated investment lanes (TradingView, MarketScreener).
Insight
The easing reflects Moscow’s attempt to attract foreign capital under controlled terms, suggesting gradual liberalization of capital controls to stabilize external financing while retaining oversight.
Under the Rubble in Kyiv, Rising Death Toll From a Russian Strike
A Russian missile-drones strike on Kyiv killed at least 31 people, including children; rescuers continue to recover bodies, with devastation deepening trauma and underscoring civilian risk in urban areas (ウォール・ストリート・ジャーナル, Reuters).
Insight
The strike underscores Russia’s increasing use of indiscriminate aerial cluster weapons, driving international pressure for broader air defence deployments and shifting humanitarian concern toward Kyiv.
