Russian attack on Chornomorsk: 1 civilian killed, 7 injured

Russian forces struck civilian port infrastructure in the city of Chornomorsk, Odesa Oblast, on July 3, killing one person and injuring seven others, according to Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, and Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Defence Forces of the South. The missile attack damaged several administrative buildings within the port infrastructure.

Putin says he will not cease fire in Ukraine: peace through mediators and Ukrainian Parliament not good enough for him

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russian forces will continue their military actions in Ukraine, citing skepticism about Ukraine's willingness to reciprocate a ceasefire. He expressed dissatisfaction with mediation efforts and dismissed the idea of negotiating directly with Ukraine's parliament.

In remarks reported by Russian state media outlets RIA Novosti and TASS, Putin emphasized the need for "irreversible and acceptable" steps from Ukraine before considering a ceasefire. He criticized what he described as Ukraine's failure to fulfill previous agreements, particularly regarding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Kyiv in 2022, which he claimed were not reciprocated.

Putin also expressed skepticism about engaging with Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada (parliament), suggesting that most members are aligned with what he views as illegitimate authorities in Ukraine. He described direct appeals to the parliament as "pointless" given the current political dynamics.

Regarding mediation efforts, Putin reiterated Russia's preference for direct negotiations but expressed doubts about the efficacy of relying solely on intermediaries to resolve the conflict.

These statements underscore Putin's cautious approach to ceasefire negotiations and his concerns about Ukraine's commitment to reciprocal actions and the role of external mediators in the peace process.

Zelenskyy comments on Orbán's ceasefire proposal

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's proposal for an immediate truce between Ukraine and Russia during Orbán's recent visit to Ukraine. Zelenskyy, in an interview with Bloomberg TV reported by European Pravda, stated that discussing a ceasefire alone is inadequate without a concrete plan.

Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's fundamental mistrust of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he described as a murderer and aggressor. He stressed the importance of Hungary recognizing Russia as an aggressor and respecting Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Reflecting on Ukraine's efforts since the Minsk agreements to negotiate a ceasefire, Zelenskyy pointed out that Russia has consistently undermined these efforts. He advocated for ceasefire negotiations to occur on an international platform in the presence of trusted countries and leaders, despite differing opinions on the steps to end the war. Zelenskyy underscored the necessity for mutual trust among all parties involved.

Moreover, Zelenskyy highlighted the need for certainty that Russia would not exploit a ceasefire to consolidate military equipment in occupied Ukrainian territories while Ukraine refrained from defensive strikes.

These comments from Zelenskyy outline Ukraine's stance on ceasefire negotiations and its conditions for moving forward amidst ongoing conflict with Russia.