July 9, 2025
Germany’s Merz says ‘diplomatic means have been exhausted’ in Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday told parliamentarians in Berlin that “diplomatic means have been exhausted” when it comes to efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Speaking during a budget debate, Merz criticized the massive overnight Russian air-assault and vowed Berlin would continue its support of Ukraine, “despite the efforts of the political left and the Russia-friendly right in this house.”
Merz said diplomacy is no antidote to the military excesses of a violent regime that questions the sovereignty of an entire nation and appears set on attempting to destroy political freedom across the whole European continent.
https://p.dw.com/p/4xBb2
July 9, 2025
Zelenskyy calls for ‘biting’ sanctions after overnight Russian attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday called for Western allies to impose “biting” sanctions on Russia after Moscow launched hundreds of drones and missiles overnight.
Zelenskyy called for allies to target Moscow’s energy sector as a way to cut off funding for Moscow’s war effort.
“Our partners know how to apply pressure in a way that will force Russia to think about ending the war, not launching new strikes.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4xB0Z
July 9, 2025
US suggests policy turnaround on supplying Patriots
Russia’s massive overnight attacks on Ukraine come as the US has announced that it will reverse course on a recent decision aimed at pausing the delivery of air-defense weaponry to Kyiv.
Though US President Donald Trump was unable to say who made the initial decision to pause the weapons, he voiced frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin when speaking to reporters in the Oval Office late Tuesday and said he had approved the delivery of US-made Patriot missile systems in what was his first approval of weapons deliveries to Kyiv.
To date, the US has only approved the delivery of three Patriot missile batteries to Kyiv — and that under Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden.
The Patriot is one of the world’s most advanced air-defense systems and is capable of intercepting aircraft as well as ballistic and cruise missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy‘s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak on Wednesday referenced the delivery and Russia’s overnight attacks on social media, writing, “It is quite telling that Russia carried out this attack just as the United States publicly announced that it would supply us with weapons.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4xB0T
July 9, 2025
Russia launches massive overnight drone and missile attack
Kyiv on Wednesday said that nearly 750 Russian drones and missiles were fired at targets in western Ukraine overnight Tuesday. The attack was by far the largest since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian air force representatives reported that 711 of the drones and at least seven of the missiles were downed by Ukraine.
“This is a telling attack — and it comes precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all,” wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social media.
The attacks mainly targeted Ukraine’s western Volyn region, the capital of which, Lutsk, borders Poland and Belarus.
https://p.dw.com/p/4xB0I
Welcome to our coverage
Welcome to DW’s coverage of the latest developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
On Wednesday, we start with Russia launching its largest air assault of the war and US President Donald Trump suggesting a course correction in his dealings with Russian President Vladimir Putin by announcing the US will reverse its decision to withhold defensive arms deliveries to Kyiv.
Stay tuned for more news and analysis.
https://p.dw.com/p/4xBMq
