New military aid for Ukraine. According to a European diplomat cited by Reuters, NATO allies have agreed to provide €40 billion in military aid to Ukraine next year. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s proposal has reportedly received backing from member countries and is poised for formal approval at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington next week. Although the initial call for a multi-year commitment faced partial support, the agreement incorporates provisions for reevaluating contributions in subsequent NATO summits. Furthermore, two reports will be compiled next year to comprehensively outline each country’s aid to Ukraine, aiming to enhance transparency within the alliance. Plans are also underway to unveil a new framework, titled “NATO Support and Training for Ukraine” (NSATU), aimed at coordinating sustained assistance for Ukraine.
Russia strikes Dnipro; numerous casualties are reported. As reported by Mayor Borys Filatov on his Telegram channel, at least five people were killed and 34 injured following Russian missile strikes on Dnipro on the morning of July 3. The attacks resulted in multiple fires and significant damage, including broken windows in two schools and three kindergartens and severe damage to a health clinic. Filatov and the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak, provided updates on the casualties and the ongoing emergency response. Filatov declared July 4 a day of mourning for the victims.
Hungary’s Orban visits Kyiv. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made his first visit to Kyiv since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider a ceasefire to expedite peace talks with Moscow. Orban, a staunch ally of Vladimir Putin, suggested a ceasefire tied to an accelerated negotiation deadline. However, Zelensky dismissed the proposal, stressing Ukraine’s requirement for a comprehensive peace strategy. Orban’s visit coincides with Hungary assuming the EU Council’s rotating presidency, during which it intends to highlight its key agendas. The visit aimed to mend tense relations between Budapest and Kyiv, focusing on exploring peace prospects and enhancing bilateral ties. At the same time, the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN reported that during Orban’s visit to Kyiv, the foreign ministers of Russia and Hungary held a telephone conversation. UNIAN quoted the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which announced that the call between Sergey Lavrov and Peter Szijjarto was initiated by the Hungarian side. They discussed current international agenda issues and the situation in Ukraine. The Russian ministers insisted on “Kyiv’s unconditional protection of the rights of all national minorities.”
South Korea says North Korea will deploy troops to fight alongside the Russian army; the US denies it. According to Radio Free Europe, the Pentagon currently lacks information confirming the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia to aid in the war against Ukraine. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated, “I don’t have anything for you on that. We certainly know that North Korea is supporting Russia’s efforts in Ukraine by providing various forms of military assistance, but I don’t have any specific information at this time regarding troops being sent to Russia.”
On June 21, South Korean TV Chosun, quoting a South Korean government official, announced that South Korea anticipates North Korea will dispatch significant engineering forces to the occupied Donetsk region as soon as July. These forces are said to be aimed at assisting in restoring infrastructure in occupied Donetsk. North Korea’s military is reported to possess ten engineering brigades. Chosun TV channel estimates North Korea could receive up to $115 million annually from Russia if it sends three to four engineering brigades to occupied Ukraine.
