On July 27, Valeriy Klochok recapped the day’s key Ukrainian and international developments. Donald Trump announced a delay of at least 30 days in the imposition of new tariffs against China amid ongoing trade talks. Both the US and China agreed to a pause and not to introduce new restrictive measures for at least three months.
Russian forces carried out attacks across several regions of Ukraine. In Donetsk Oblast, the village of Ilinivka was shelled, resulting in the death of one civilian and injuries to three others. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast’s Nikopol district, a 54-year-old man was injured. In Sumy Oblast, a civilian bus was attacked, killing three and injuring twenty. In Kherson, a 58-year-old woman was fatally wounded during shelling.
Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted over 70 Ukrainian drones in various regions. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to St. Petersburg for Russian Navy Day celebrations. However, the official parade was canceled this year due to security threats.
Among international news, Russia launched direct flights to North Korea amid growing isolation. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the UN of weak response to the rights of Russian speakers in Latvia. The report also highlighted Russia’s continued rhetoric about protecting Russian speakers to justify its actions abroad.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law reforming ARMA and factoring, aimed at securing EU financial aid under the Ukraine Facility program. The Verkhovna Rada is expected to adopt legislation to restore the independence of anti-corruption agencies, necessary for renewing EU support.
In a key diplomatic story, Austria’s foreign minister stated she is open to public debate on NATO membership in response to global instability. She also claimed Trump was ready to offer Putin five Ukrainian regions and keep Ukraine out of NATO in exchange for ending the war. Confirmation or comment from Trump is awaited.
Additionally, the US and China are set to uphold the tariff pause and avoid trade war escalation. Trump said he cannot currently lower tariffs on European goods below 15% despite EU requests.
US media report Trump plans to spend nearly $1 billion from the budget to renovate a plane gifted by Qatar, a move causing debate domestically. In summary, the day brought significant developments in both domestic Ukrainian and global politics.
