United 24 Media:
πΉ Netherlands May Convert Old Trains into Mobile Hospitals in Case of War with Russia β AD
The Dutch Ministry of Defense is considering transforming decommissioned train carriages into mobile hospitals as part of preparations for a potential conflict with Russia, AD reports.
The ministry is in talks with national railway operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) over the sale of 24 retired carriages. These would be repurposed to transport and treat wounded soldiers.
The initiative is part of a broader plan to integrate the logistics sector into military operations. The carriages, originally intended for sale abroad and replacement with newer models, could soon serve in a defense capacity.
NS confirmed the discussions but said the proposal is still in the evaluation stage.
πΈ Mayor of Latvian City of Ogre Injured During Russian Shelling in Ukraine
Egils Gelmanis, the mayor of Ogre, Latvia, was injured during Russian shelling while on a visit to Ukraine, LSM.lv reports.
According to municipal spokesperson Patriks GrΔ«va, Gelmanis was on a business trip to deliver vehicles and other essential aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Ukrainian sources have confirmed that his condition is stable.
πΉ Putin Is Afraid of America β Zelensky on Kelloggβs Visit
βPutin is afraid of America. General Kellogg arrives, and we havenβt had any massive shelling for two nights,β President Zelensky said in an interview with Newsmax.
βPeople are already joking β give Kellogg a Ukrainian passport and let him live in Ukraine,β he added.
πΈ βI told President Trump that I wanted to buy weapons that only they have. He replied that the U.S. wants to buy Ukrainian drones,β President Zelenskyy said in an interview with Newsmax.
πͺπΊ The European Union has once again failed to adopt new sanctions against Russia, Reuters reports.
EU ambassadors were unable to approve the 18th package of sanctions today, as Slovakia continues to block the decision.
πΉ Russian Finance Committee Urges Urgent Tax Hikes to Save Budget β The Moscow Times
The Finance Committee of the Federation Council has called for an immediate increase in taxes on Russian citizens to address growing budget shortfalls, The Moscow Times reports.
βIn light of more pessimistic economic forecasts and declining oil and gas revenues, we must urgently begin consolidating the budget,β said committee head Anatoly Artamonov. He suggested using all available means to boost state revenues, including abolishing certain tax benefits, which now account for nearly a third of the federal budget, and cracking down on under-the-table βenvelope salaries.β
The federal treasury, now spending every third ruble on the warβits highest share since Soviet timesβis in growing need of funds.
According to the Finance Ministry:
β’ Oil and gas revenues fell 17% in the first half of 2025
β’ Total revenues rose just 3%, meaning a real-term decline when adjusted for inflation
β’ Spending surged by 20%
As a result, the budget deficit hit 3.7 trillion rubles in six monthsβsix times more than the same period last year.
Reserves are also running dry: the liquid assets of the National Welfare Fund dropped from $120 billion pre-war to $52.6 billion as of July 1, 2025. If oil prices remain low, the fund could be depleted entirely by next year.
π€‘ The Kremlin has called on the United States to pressure Ukraine into continuing negotiations with Russia.
Putinβs spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow urges βeveryoneβ to push Kyiv toward talks. He once again accused Ukraine of βwanting warβ and claimed that all expressions of support for Ukraine are viewed by Kyiv βnot as signals for peace, but as encouragement to continue the war.β
πΈ The European Commission has proposed doubling the Ukraine Assistance Fund from β¬50 billion to β¬100 billion.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen announced the proposal while presenting the draft EU budget for 2028β2034, which totals β¬1.816 trillion.
She noted that the current fund is βslowly but surely running out,β and its replenishment is essential to ensure continued support for Ukraine.
πΊπ¦πΊπΈ Keith Kellogg visited National Guard training sites in Ukraine
Trumpβs special representative observed the training of Ukrainian troops and praised their courage, professionalism, and valuable combat experience β calling it an example for other armies around the world.
πΊπΈ The US State Department declined to say which countries would pay for American weapons for Ukraine
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce avoided answering questions about which countries agreed to finance the delivery of US weapons to Ukraine.
βI will not discuss what we can or cannot negotiate or have diplomatic discussions about. Of course, I am far from being able to discuss what NATO leadership may talk about,β Bruce said.
Earlier, Reuters reported that Donald Trumpβs statement on the purchase of American weapons for Ukraine remains unclear not only to US allies but also to officials within his own administration.
πΉ On July 17, Ukraineβs Parliament has approved the appointment of Yulia Svyrydenko as Prime Minister of Ukraine.
Yulia Svyrydenkoβs appointment was backed by 262 members of parliament, making her the 19th Prime Minister of Ukraine and the second woman ever to hold the post. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally nominated her to lead the government.
βI look forward to seeing the new governmentβs action plan presented in the near future,β Zelenskyy wrote on social media following a meeting with Svyrydenko on July 14.
βοΈTrump could end the war in Ukraine by the end of 2025 if he follows through on his threat to impose severe sanctions on all buyers of Russian oil and gas, said Andriy Yermak.
According to him, such a move would force China and India β Russiaβs largest importers β to pressure the Kremlin into a peace deal.
βOnly economic problems can really put pressure on Putin and force him to admit that continuing this war is costing him too much,β said the head of the Office of the President.
Yermak also expressed optimism about Trumpβs resolve, recalling his tough stance on Iran.
On July 14, Trump threatened Russia with 100% tariffs and secondary sanctions against countries buying its oil if Moscow does not sign a peace agreement with Ukraine within 50 days.
πΈ President Zelenskyy has appointed former Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanyshyna as Special Representative for the Development of Cooperation with the United States.
βIn this role, Olha will work to maintain momentum in relations with America while all necessary procedures for approving her candidacy as Ukraineβs Ambassador to the United States are underway,β the president said.
πΉ As a result of repatriation efforts, the bodies of 1,000 deceased individuals have been returned to Ukraine, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported.
According to the Russian side, the bodies belong to Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel.
Law enforcement officers and experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs will carry out all necessary examinations to identify the repatriated remains.
πΊπ¦ Officially: Denys Shmyhal is the new Defense Minister of Ukraine.