We have reached the 146th day in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. There is great anticipation for the summit of the heads of state guarantors of the Astana process (Russia, Iran, Turkey) on Syria. According to what is learned from the Tass agency, Vladimir Putin will also hold bilateral talks with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts Ebrahim Raisi and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and will meet the Iranian spiritual leader and leader Ali Khamenei.
Two years after the Astana “troika” summit held remotely due to Covid, “the time has come to discuss the hot topics that have accumulated in this period”, underlines Tass, according to which at the end of the summit the leaders they intend to adopt a joint declaration, the draft of which “has been prepared and has practically already been agreed”. And while Tehran is trying to strengthen the fragile ties that exist between the protagonists of the “Astana triad”, at the same time, the meeting between the first lady Olena Zelenska and the secretary of state Antony Blinken is scheduled for today, while Wednesday will report to the Stars and Stripes Congress.
A race to strengthen or define alliances to guarantee an increasingly restricted room for maneuver on the one hand for the sanctions imposed, on the other for energy suffering. In the last few hours, Gazprom’s announcement of the total closure of the Nord Stream1 gas pipeline for “technical reasons” has caused great alarm. A justification that has created strong discontent in Berlin and unrest in the European Union.
Tensions also on the northern border of Ukraine. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has in fact threatened the breakdown of diplomatic relations with Belarus if he intervenes in the country in support of the Russian troops who have invaded it.
The deepening – Zelensky’s fist against intelligence
The interview – Bernardo Valli: “Putin in the hands of the generals”
The portrait – Erdogan, the return of the Sultan
Updates hour by hour
00:49 – Kiev, Russian attack in the Odessa region, at least 4 injured
The Russians launched a missile attack in the Odessa area of Ukraine, injuring at least 4 people. This was announced by the deputy head of the military administration of the district, Oleksiy Matsulevych, according to reports from the Ukrainska Pravda. According to the same source, two houses were completely destroyed following the missile attack.
00:30 – The US defense secretary calls his Ukrainian colleague: “Contact group on July 20”
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian colleague Oleksii Reznikov. At the center of the discussion, he reported the Pentagon, the meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine to be held virtually with allies and partners on 20 July. The two leaders exchanged views on military assistance in Kiev and agreed to remain in close contact. Reznikov also updated Austin about the situation on the ground
00.00 – Zelensky: “Significant losses inflicted on the Russians and the occupiers”
“Our armed forces have inflicted significant logistical losses on the invaders, it is increasingly difficult for the Russian army to maintain positions in the captured territory.” This was stated by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in his usual evening address to the country. “Step by step, we move forward, stop supplying the occupants, identify and neutralize collaborators. The prospect is obvious: the Ukrainian flag will be in all our towns and villages. The only question is about time “, added the Kiev leader, informing that the” personnel audit “is underway within the secret services after the surprise suspension of Ivan Bakanov, his childhood friend, with allegations related to treason.