Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin no longer holds the initiative in the war, claiming Russian forces are losing 30,000 soldiers a month while refusing to end the conflict.
During meetings in Washington, Zelensky said he secured approval from U.S. President Donald Trump for the co-production of Patriot interceptor missiles. The White House described the talks as positive and productive. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate advanced a sanctions bill targeting Russia's energy revenue.
Russian officials pushed back sharply. Dmitry Medvedev rejected calls for mobilisation, saying 200,000 volunteers enlisted in the first half of the year. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio against continuing arms deliveries to Kyiv. The United Nations noted that June was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022.