• The first American Abrams tanks arrive in Ukraine: in combat before winter.
• Italian warplanes intercept Russian planes over Poland during a security mission in NATO airspace.
• British 007: “Moscow failed in counterattacks on Bakhmut and Orichiv.”
3:58 a.m. – Zelensky and Trudeau: new free trade agreement between Ukraine and Canada
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have signed a new free trade agreement between the two countries. As stated in a statement, this document will contribute to “a new favorable climate for economic relations between the two countries, for the development of trade in goods and services, for investments and for the formation of a highly competitive market economy in line with national ones “To create standards.” Priorities, the development of key sectors, the implementation of systemic reforms and the improvement of the general well-being of the population.
The agreement contains a chapter on digital trade between Ukraine and Canada, based on the principles of free and open development of the digital ecosystem of the economy. In particular, the digital component of the agreement guarantees the free cross-border transfer of information, the free choice of device location, the freedom of source code and open access to the Internet. The new agreement also contains updated chapters on rules and procedures of origin, competition policy, monopolies and state-owned enterprises, public procurement, environment, labor, policy development and management, transparency, anti-corruption and responsible business conduct. In addition, it regulates financial services, the temporary entry of traders, telecommunications, trade and gender, commerce and small and medium-sized enterprises.
3:50 a.m. – Hillary Clinton to Putin: “NATO expansion depends on you”
‘It’s a shame, Vladimir, you asked for this’: Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mocked Russian President Vladimir Putin over his complaints about NATO expansion after the invasion of Ukraine. Hillary Clinton spoke at the State Department, where her official portrait was unveiled, accompanied by her husband, former US President Bill Clinton, and current Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “That was a real point of contention.” And we have always said that no one is obliged “To join NATO, that people decide whether they want to join NATO,” he said in a short speech in which he accused the Russian president of creating the conditions for further expansion of NATO demonstration by Finland and Sweden.
When Hillary Clinton was at the helm of American diplomacy in 2009 under Barack Obama’s presidency, she initiated the famous “reset” of relations between Washington and Moscow following Russia’s attack on another former republic the year before the Soviet Union, Georgia , were already bad. But relations between the two powers deteriorated again following the return to the Kremlin in 2012 of President Putin, who personally accused Hillary Clinton of inciting demonstrations by Russian opposition leaders.
3:45 a.m. – Ukraine and NATO are examining how to reactivate wheat exports across the Black Sea
NATO is examining options to resume exports of Ukrainian agricultural products across the Black Sea, said Ukrainian Ambassador to NATO Nataliia Galibarenko. “NATO allies are considering various options for resuming exports of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, but it is too early to talk about final decisions,” Galibarenko told Ukrinform news agency. Regarding the possibility that NATO battleships could escort Ukrainian grain ships, the diplomat said that this was possible only in the territorial waters of NATO countries.
Some members of the alliance completely deny the possibility of creating a protected corridor for Ukrainian merchant ships, citing security reasons, he added. Turkey, for example, is trying to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative in the old format. On July 18, the Black Sea Grains Initiative brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, which envisaged a humanitarian corridor to enable safe maritime exports of Ukrainian and Russian agricultural products, expired after Russia refused to extend its participation, citing the continued violation of the package’s agreements to facilitate Russian exports of grain and fertilizers. The Russian Defense Ministry had said that from July 20 it would consider all ships sailing in the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports as potential military merchant ships, while the countries whose flag such ships sail will be considered to be involved in the conflict Kiev .
3:43 a.m. – Zelensky appoints Andrii Shevchenko as his advisor
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Andriy Shevchenko as his freelance adviser. The appointment decree was published on the head of state’s website. Shevchenko, a former Ukrainian footballer who played for Dynamo Kiev, Milan and Chelsea in London, won the Ballon d’Or as UEFA’s best striker in 2006, was the coach of his country’s national team from 2016 to 2021, which awarded him the title of hero Of Ukraine.