Ukraine updates: Germany to help provide 5 Patriot systems

Skip next section Germany to help send 5 Patriots to Ukraine — Pistorius07/21/2025July 21, 2025

Germany to help send 5 Patriots to Ukraine — Pistorius

German Defense Minister , who was attending a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) Monday, has said that Germany will “contribute to providing” five to Ukraine, DW’s Teri Schultz reports from Brussels.

The pledge comes after at the Pentagon last week.

“I agreed with Pete Hegseth (…) that Germany will contribute to providing the five urgently needed Patriot systems as quickly as possible. How we can achieve that is something we will coordinate closely and in a spirit of mutual trust among partners within the next few days,” Pistorius said during brief televised opening remarks at the start of the meeting of the UDCG, also known as the Ramstein group.

Berlin had previously only discussed providing two Patriot systems, with an additional one expected to be financed by Norway.

After Pistorius met with Hegseth, US President Donald Trump reportedly called the German defense minister to offer to sell Germany a total of five Patriot systems.

Germany, together with France, chairs the UDCG’s air defense “capability coalition.”

It was not immediately clear whether Germany would pay for the weapons itself, or if it will seek contributions from other NATO members for the two additional systems.

At a meeting with NATO boss Mark Rutte last week, to Ukraine’s NATO and European allies, who would then provide the weapons to Kyiv.

https://p.dw.com/p/4xngf

Skip next section Outcry forces Italian cultural institution to cancel concert by Putin ally Gergiev

07/21/2025July 21, 2025

Outcry forces Italian cultural institution to cancel concert by Putin ally Gergiev

The Royal Palace of Caserta near Naples announced the cancellation of a scheduled concert featuring unapologetically pro-Kremlin conductor Valery Gergiev.

“The Directorate of the Royal Palace of Caserta has ordered the cancellation of the symphony concert conducted by Valery Gergiev, scheduled as part of the Un’Estate da Re (King’s Summer) festival for July 27,” read a brief statement from the house.

No reason was given for the decision but the concert’s original scheduling at the baroque palace triggered public outrage in Italy as well as condemnation from Ukraine and .

Russia’s ambassador to Italy called the situation “scandalous.”

Italian Cultural Minister Alessandro Giuli said the move was aimed at “protecting the values of the free world.”

Giuli said the concert, organized by the region of Campania, risked devolving “into a sounding board for Russian propaganda.” Gergiev, who has vociferously supported Putin since the early-1990s, has refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine — something that .

Though he has played concerts in Asia since then, he has been entirely shunned in Europe, with concert houses across the continent refusing to work with him.

https://p.dw.com/p/4xnDb

Skip next section Kremlin open to peace talks but cites massive differences

07/21/2025July 21, 2025

Kremlin open to peace talks but cites massive differences

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is open to peace talks with Ukraine — which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed should take place this week — but said it was not clear when it would actually agree to them.

Peskov said much diplomatic work remained before talks could take place, as terms proposed by both sides remained “diametrically opposed.”

Moscow wants Ukraine to cede territories that Russia has illegally occupied since launching its 2022 invasion. Kyiv wants Russia to end its attack and respect Ukraine’s desire to join the NATO military alliance.

Peskov said Russia would again be represented by Kremlin advisor Vladimir Medinsky — as was the case in previous talks held in May and June — and not President Vladimir Putin, who has played coy when invited to the negotiating table by both Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.

It is thought that the next round of talks will, like the previous two, take place in Istanbul, Turkey.

Previous negotiations led to the large-scale exchange of prisoners, yet offered no breakthroughs toward attaining peace.

https://p.dw.com/p/4xmzv

Skip next section UK defense secretary: ’50 days to arm Ukraine’

07/21/2025July 21, 2025

UK defense secretary: ’50 days to arm Ukraine’

UK Defense Secretary John Healey told colleagues at Monday’s Ukraine Contact Group meeting that US President Donald Trump’s declared 50 day timeline for ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine means allies have 50 days to arm Ukraine “and force [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to the negotiating table.”

Trump issued the ultimatum last week after announcing that Ukraine’s European allies would be purchasing US-made Patriot air-defense systems to help Kyiv defend itself.

European and NATO allies have been forced to increase support for Kyiv as the US has withdrawn its own since Trump returned to the White House.

Although the US remains the single largest donor to Ukraine, Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) documents that the UK, European Union and Nordic countries now provide far more military aid than the US.

https://p.dw.com/p/4xmDs

Skip next section China threatens EU over sanctions

07/21/2025July 21, 2025

China threatens EU over sanctions

Beijing has voiced anger over EU sanctions against Russia that affect businesses just days before the two sides are set to meet for trade talks in the Chinese capital, saying they could have “negative consequences” for the bloc.

Over repeated Chinese warnings, Brussels on Friday announced its 18th sanctions package against Russia for its war of aggression in Ukraine. Two Chinese financial institutions are among those entities included in the package.

The EU has been trying to to bring about an end to the war — to no avail.

Beijing on Monday said it will protect the rights of its companies and is prepared to introduce counter sanctions on the EU.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are scheduled to arrive in Beijing for talks with Chinese President and Prime Minister Li Qiang on Thursday.

EU representatives say China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, as well as the conflict in the Middle East , Beijing’s limits on the export of rare earth minerals, and the growing trade deficit between the two will all be discussed at this week’s meeting.

In 2024, the EU had a roughly €300 billion ($350 billion) trade deficit with China.

https://p.dw.com/p/4xlkE

Skip next section Germany, UK to lead Ukraine Contact Group meeting in support of Kyiv

07/21/2025July 21, 2025

Germany, UK to lead Ukraine Contact Group meeting in support of Kyiv

Germany and the UK will lead the 29th meeting of the so-called Ukraine Contact Group to discuss the current state of weapons deliveries to Kyiv as Washington drags its feet on providing US-made — but EU-purchased — .

The virtual meeting will be headed by Defense Ministers from Berlin and the UK’s John Healy. Some 50 high-ranking defense officials, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Although the production and delivery of ammunition and artillery rounds for Ukraine will be discussed, the most important topic will be how to deal with the flip-flopping of US President Donald Trump.

Trump has confounded NATO allies with his approach to the nearly three-and-a-half year Russian invasion — first signaling support for Moscow and and then that remain nebulous and unfulfilled.

After the Pentagon surprisingly halted weapons deliveries to Ukraine just weeks ago, — an .

Although Trump promised the systems would be delivered within days, sources say there are no signs of movement more than a week later.

Russian President Putin has dramatically escalated Russia’s air assaults on Ukraine since Trump signaled his change of heart and analysts expect that to continue until Ukraine and Russia sit down to negotiate any future peace deal.

. Russia has only increased its air assaults since then.

https://p.dw.com/p/4xlb2

Skip next section Russia blasts Ukraine with barrage of some 450 drones and missiles

07/21/2025July 21, 2025

Russia blasts Ukraine with barrage of some 450 drones and missiles

Russia continued its massive drone and missile attacks on Ukraine as it seeks to break Kyiv’s will 1,248 days into its invasion of the country.

Ukraine’s Air Force on Monday said it had downed 224 drones and missiles from a total of 424 Russian drones and 26 missiles fired upon the country overnight. Kyiv said another 203 Russian drones disappeared from their radar and were likely jammed electronically.

Russia has launched several thousand drones and missiles at Ukraine in recent weeks in what is also seen as a snub of US President ‘s declared intention of striking a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv.

Authorities in Kyiv say at least one person was killed in the overnight attacks and at least two injured.

Several buildings in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv — including a high-rise apartment complex, a supermarket and a kindergarten — were damaged in the attack.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko advised residents to remain in bomb shelters even as the entrance to one of them in a city subway station was targeted in the Monday morning Russian attack.

https://p.dw.com/p/4xlAY

Skip next section Ukraine stepping up attacks inside Russia

07/21/2025July 21, 2025

Ukraine stepping up attacks inside Russia

continued to defend itself against aggression this weekend and increased its attacks on the capital Moscow, sowing chaos and closing down airports there.

Russian media reported that thousands of passengers had been stranded after their flights were cancelled as a result of Kyiv’s latest barrage of drones targeted Moscow.

Russia’s Defense Ministry on Monday said it had downed 117 drones overnight, following 172 that it downed the night prior. It also said that it had downed 30 drones in the Moscow region on Saturday night and another 30 on Sunday.

The attacks on the capital were the heaviest since .

To transport passengers, authorities added extra train service from Saint Petersburg to Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would increase its attacks deep inside Russia in an effort to force Russian President to the negotiating table.

Zelenskyy has said he wants direct talks this week. Russia has so far ignored his call as well as US President Donald Trump’s threat of serious consequences for Russia if it does not soon agree to a ceasefire.

https://p.dw.com/p/4xl9v

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