Jul 24, 2026, 09:30 PM UTC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that intelligence reports indicate Russian forces have prepared missiles for a large-scale strike within two days.

The announcement comes amid ongoing aerial attacks across Ukraine. In Kharkiv, a Russian attack drone struck near a residential high-rise in the Saltivka district, shattering windows and causing at least one injury. Air defense forces reported intercepting 81 drones and one of three ballistic missiles launched toward the Kyiv region. Air Force official Yuri Ihnat stated that Russian forces also targeted southern Ukraine with Onyx missiles. Meanwhile, in Zaporizhzhia, guided aerial bomb strikes injured 30 people, including seven children, according to emergency services. Local authorities continue recovery operations as air threat alerts persist.

Sources: Ukrinform

US President Donald Trump has introduced new import duties ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent on approximately 60 trading partners, including the European Union, Canada, and Australia. The measures took effect immediately following the expiration of temporary emergency duties limited to 150 days under a US Supreme Court decision.

The White House justified the tariffs by claiming affected partners failed to adequately combat forced labor. Under the updated framework, European Union imports face a 10 percent levy, while other nations face duties up to 12.5 percent. Legal analysts and international partners have questioned using anti-forced-labor statutes for broad economic tariffs, characterising the action as a maneuver to bypass the court ruling.

Sources: DW, Rzeczpospolita, Tagesschau

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, to address bilateral relations and regional security developments. The meeting comes as Ankara continues its diplomatic engagement regarding the conflict in Ukraine and broader regional stability.

In parallel developments reported by state broadcaster TRT Haber, France requested assistance from the European Union to combat ongoing wildfires. Meanwhile, Turkish authorities outlined infrastructure plans for the Istanbul Northern Railway project, which is projected to transport 33 million passengers annually. Legal proceedings also advanced in Ankara, where a deputy mayor was arrested in an ongoing municipal investigation.

Sources: TRT Haber (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation)

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pressed his British counterpart to convene an international summit next week focused on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway remains closed following escalating conflict with Iran, disrupting global shipping routes and increasing pressure on President Donald Trump's administration to restore navigation.

The proposed talks aim to coordinate international efforts to safeguard merchant shipping through the vital maritime corridor. Neither Washington nor London has officially confirmed the attendee list or exact schedule for the meeting. The initiative highlights growing diplomatic and defense urgency among Western allies to reopen the choke point, which typically handles a significant portion of the world's seaborne oil supplies.

Sources: Bloomberg

Protests have resumed in Kyiv and several other cities across Ukraine, escalating what has been described as the country's most significant internal political crisis since the start of the full-scale war. Demonstrators returned to the streets following a brief lull, demanding that President Volodymyr Zelensky restore former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov to his post. The renewed demonstrations indicate that earlier attempts by the administration to calm public discontent, including replacing top military leadership, have so far failed to diffuse domestic tensions. Protesters warned that demonstrations will persist until their demands are addressed by the leadership.

Sources: El Mundo