Washington is growing irritated with the Kremlin's actions. Donald Trump is sharply criticizing Putin; the Senate is preparing a new round of sanctions; and the State Department is publicly confirming that the United States will continue to support and defend Ukraine despite domestic political turmoil.
New anti-record for Russian drone attacks: Trump promises more weapons
Russia carried out its largest nighttime attack since the start of the war, launching 728 drones and six hypersonic missiles mainly at Lutsk and the western regions of Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense systems destroyed most of the targets, but debris caused serious damage to civilian infrastructure.
Against this backdrop, Trump announced his intention to increase the supply of defensive weapons to Kyiv. In response, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Western partners to intensify sanctions, especially in the energy sector and regarding the sale of Russian oil.
Trump's announcement of a new wave of support showed the Ukrainian diaspora in the U.S., who interact with American authorities, that despite previous criticism, the White House is ready to respond to changes on the front lines.
Zelensky met with Kellogg in Rome
Rome hosted a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. The talks were held behind closed doors, with no statements to the media.
The meeting took place amid preparations for the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, set to begin on July 10 in Rome under the auspices of the Italian government. However, Zelensky's visit to Italy is strategic as well as diplomatic, given Washington's change in rhetoric regarding military aid to Kyiv. The Rome meeting could mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in both military and post-war reconstruction efforts.
Trump on Putin: "He kills a lot of people"
U.S. President Donald Trump has once again sharply criticized Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin. Trump said that the Russian leader wants to appear "nice," but in reality "talks a lot of nonsense." Trump claims that Putin is destroying the Ukrainian military and sacrificing his own soldiers; now, weekly losses could reach 7,000 people.
International journalists say these statements show that Trump's attitude toward Putin has become more critical. Although Trump previously avoided harsh rhetoric, his current statements may influence the administration's future actions regarding Russian aggression.
The US Senate is preparing tough sanctions against Russia and its energy partners
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has announced that the US Senate adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia, China, and India, which are key buyers of Russian energy resources.
The bill imposes a 500% tariff on imports from any country that continues to purchase oil, gas, or uranium from Russia. Graham stressed that it is time to change the rules of the game for Putin and those who finance his war.
President Donald Trump confirmed that he is considering the initiative. According to media reports, they are coordinating, and the Senate is awaiting a signal from the White House to begin voting.
State Department: US has not changed its course in support of Ukraine
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, that the United States remains committed to supporting Ukraine.
She said that the White House administration cares about the Ukrainian people, recognizes the war's victims, and is seeking to help Kyiv defend itself. Bruce emphasized that the U.S. president is determined to defend Ukraine and has not changed his position since the start of the full-scale invasion.
She also reported on the resumption of arms supplies after a standard review of available reserves at the Pentagon.
Author: Danylo Pievchev