EA on TVP World: Will Trump Get Tough With Putin Over Ukraine?
Monday’s Coverage: Kyiv Hits Railway Network in Southwest Russia
Map: Institute for the Study of War
Amid Ukraine’s drone attacks on facilities supporting Vladimir Putin’s invasion, two major Russian oil refineries have halted or cut production.
After strikes on Saturday, the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in the Samara region, more than 1,000 km (621 miles) east of Moscow, has shut down. Two sources said drones damaged the main primary oil refining unit.
The complex has a production capacity of 8.3 million metric tons of oil per year.
The Ryazan refinery, 210 km (130 miles) southeast of the capital, has halved output. Two primary oil refining units have ceased operations.
The refinery is the fourth-largest in Russia, processing around 13.1 million metric tons of crude oil last year.
See also Ukraine War, Day 1,256: Kyiv Strikes Deep Inside Russia
The arrangement was established last month, reversing the Trump Administration’s ban on military assistance for Kyiv against Russia’s 41-month invasion. Frustrated with Vladimir Putin’s refusal of a ceasefire and angered at Russian killing of Ukrainian civilians, Donald Trump agreed to the sales to NATO members, who will then transfer the arms to the Ukrainians.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans posted on Monday that the first tranche will include parts and missiles for US-made Patriot air defense systems:
: Just had a call with President @ZelenskyyUa who expressed sincere gratitude to the Netherlands for the €500 million military support package pledged today. The Netherlands is the first country to follow up on the NATO-US weapons deal that includes the purchase of American…
— Dick Schoof (@MinPres) August 4, 2025
Zelensky wrote of his gratitude to the Netherlands after a discussion with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, “Ukraine, and thus the whole of Europe, will be better protected from Russian terror.”
NATO Secretary Mark Rutte encouraged other members to participate in the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List initiative, “This is about getting Ukraine the equipment it urgently needs now to defend itself against Russian aggression.”
He said he expects “further significant announcements from other allies soon.”
The US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Wheeler, echoed the expectation of more participants over coming weeks:
We’re moving as fast as possible….I think we’ll see it moving very quickly, certainly in the coming weeks, but some even sooner than that. The Dutch are just the first of many.