Europe has promised more air defence systems and ammunition for Ukraine<\/a> hours after Kyiv<\/a> was hit by another barrage of Russian drones and missiles overnight<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) <\/a>on Monday, UK defence secretary John Healey said Ukraine and its allies stand at a moment of \u201cmaximum opportunity\u201d to bolster Kyiv for negotiations to end the war. He called on the UK and other allies to use Donald Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Vladimir Putin to start a \u201c50-day drive\u201d to arm Ukraine ahead of any talks.<\/p>\n Politico reported London and Berlin confirmed that Germany will spend \u20ac170 million in UK-led procurement of air defence ammunition for Kyiv.<\/p>\n The announcement comes only hours after Russia<\/a> unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months<\/a>, launching 450 drones and missiles, according to Ukraine\u2019s air force.<\/p>\n The hours-long attack killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a> said.<\/p>\n The heaviest strikes hit Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district, where a kindergarten, supermarket and warehouse facilities caught fire. In Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district, a drone struck the entrance to a subway station where people had taken cover.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Kremlin<\/a> spokesman Dmitry Peskov<\/a> confirmed that Vladimir Putin<\/a> would visit Beijing for events to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in September, and said there could be a meeting with Donald Trump<\/a> if he is there too.<\/p>\n <\/a>\u2018Putin wants us to panic\u2019: How Russia has amped up its aerial strikes on Ukraine<\/p>\n Jabed Ahmed21 July 2025 17:04<\/p>\n <\/a>Russian airstrikes hit Konstantinivka, damaging homes and warehouses<\/p>\n Russian forces have launched fresh airstrikes on the eastern Ukrainian city of Konstantinivka, damaging residential buildings and warehouses but causing no casualties, local officials have said.<\/p>\n Sergii Horbunov, head of the city\u2019s military administration, said two FAB-250 bombs were dropped on the city on Monday, striking at least eight sites, including warehouse premises, private homes and a car.<\/p>\n \u201cFortunately, there are no victims among the civilian population,\u201d Mr Horbunov said, describing the attack as \u201canother example of targeted terror against civilians.\u201d<\/p>\n He also urged residents still living near the front lines to evacuate if possible, warning of ongoing danger from further strikes.<\/p>\n Jabed Ahmed21 July 2025 15:58<\/p>\n <\/a>Europe promises more air defence for Ukraine<\/p>\n Europe has promised more air defence systems and ammunition for Ukraine hours after Kyiv was hit by another barrage of Russian drones and missiles overnight.<\/p>\n Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), Politico reported the German defence minister Boris Pistorius said: \u201cTogether we have to stop this war machine by joining forces to support Ukraine with all our might. First and foremost, this requires us to urgently bolster Ukrainian air defense.\u201d<\/p>\n Germany will spend \u20ac170 million in UK-led procurement of air defence ammunition for Kyiv, London and Berlin confirmed on Monday, according to the publication.<\/p>\n Tara Cobham21 July 2025 15:41<\/p>\n <\/a>Ukraine\u2019s allies stand at \u2018moment of maximum opportunity\u2019 \u2013 Healey<\/p>\n Ukraine and its allies stand at a moment of \u201cmaximum opportunity\u201d to bolster Kyiv for negotiations to end the war, John Healey has said.<\/p>\n The Defence Secretary said the UK and other allies must use Donald Trump\u2019s 50-day ultimatum to Vladimir Putin to start a \u201c50-day drive\u201d to arm Ukraine ahead of any talks, to strengthen its hand against Russia.<\/p>\n Speaking at the 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), Mr Healey told allies gathered from 52 nations: \u201cThis is a moment of maximum opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cLast week, President Trump announced a new plan for large scale Nato weapons transfers, and committed to getting these, he said, quickly distributed to the battlefield.<\/p>\n \u201cThe UK backs this policy. We will play our full part in its success.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Healey added: \u201cAlongside this new agreement to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself, President Trump also started the clock on a 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to peace or to face crippling economic sanctions.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd as members of this UDCG, we need to step up, in turn, a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and to help push Putin to the negotiating table.\u201d<\/p>\n Jabed Ahmed21 July 2025 15:31<\/p>\n <\/a>Poland readies ‘how to’ guide to coping in case of war<\/p>\n Poland is preparing a manual on how to cope in case of war or natural disaster, officials have said.<\/p>\n The 40-page pamphlet, titled “Safety guide”, gives advice on getting clean water, responding to air raids or blackouts and locating bomb shelters, as part of the first public awareness campaign of its kind in Poland in decades.<\/p>\n Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has repeatedly warned that the threat of a global war is serious and real, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine and allegations of Russian sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks against the West.<\/p>\n Russia has repeatedly denied that it engages in sabotage or cyberattacks on other countries and says it has no intention of starting a war with Nato.<\/p>\n “Wars are not won on the front lines. The Ukrainian example shows it very clearly,” said Robert Klonowski, Polish interior ministry deputy director.<\/p>\n The booklet warns that during a crisis, supplies of food, medicine, and gasoline could run short, the government said. <\/p>\n The booklet, which will be released online in September in Polish, will later be translated into English and Ukrainian, with plans to produce a Braille and children’s version, the ministry added.<\/p>\n The ministry plans to deliver printed copies to all 14 million households in Poland.<\/p>\n Jabed Ahmed21 July 2025 14:58<\/p>\n <\/a>\u2018Putin wants us to panic\u2019: How Russia has amped up its aerial strikes on Ukraine<\/p>\n In response, president Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a> urged Ukraine\u2019s allies to scale up production of air defence systems and interceptor drones to help protect against future attacks.<\/p>\n Russia\u2019s aerial attack on Ukraine is the latest in a streak of record-breaking aerial attacks over the past two months. Below, The Independent looks at how, and why, Russia has decided to target Ukraine\u2019s cities with such devastating force.<\/p>\n Jabed Ahmed21 July 2025 14:28<\/p>\n <\/a>How the EU aims to put the squeeze on the Russian economy with new sanctions package<\/p>\n Steffie Banatvala21 July 2025 14:00<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Jabed Ahmed21 July 2025 13:30<\/p>\n![\"UK](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/4939f7b317357da506b4144ad01f85aaY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzUzMTg1Nzkx-2.77926392.jpg\")
UK defence secretary John Healey (left) and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius pictured together last year (PA Archive)<\/p>\n
![\"File:](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-WAR-1fouqcgh.jpeg\")
File: A Russian drone is shot down by Ukrainian air defences during night strike on Kyiv (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n