Trump announced his plan to help Ukraine today.

Trump’s “big announcement” on Ukraine is that he’s going to put 100 percent tariffs on Russia if there isn’t a Russia-Ukraine deal soon

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) July 14, 2025 at 11:47 AM

If this even happens, and I doubt it will, it will have absolutely no effect on Putin or Russia. For two reasons. First, all a 100% tariff on Russia means is that if any American tries to buy a Russian made product in the US then the American will pay 100% more for that item. Because, once again, tariffs do not work the way Trump thinks they do. The second reason is that we’ve got almost no trade whatsoever with Russia because of the sanctions we’ve placed on Russia.

How to sound tough but do nothing: Impose tariffs on a country where we already impose sanctions.

A 100% tariff on almost nothing will do almost nothing.

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— Justin Wolfers (@justinwolfers.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM

Of course, this gives Putin even more time to just keep doing what he’s doing:

On July 3, Putin told Trump that he plans to continue his offensive in Ukraine over the next 60 days.

Today, on July 14, Trump gave Putin 50 days,which is all the time he requested.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 2:07 PM

Not that Putin is going to stop in another fifty days.

Donald Trump: I speak to Putin a lot about getting this done, and I always hang up and say, “That was a nice phone call.” I go home and tell the First Lady, “I spoke with Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation.” She says, “Oh, really? Another city was just bombed.”
👀
Via Ostap Yarysh

— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 12:58 PM

Trump:My conversations with him (Putin) always very pleasant. I say, isn’t that a very lovely conversation? And then the missiles go off that night. I go home. I tell the First Lady, you know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation. She said, oh, really? Another city was just hit

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 12:27 PM

REPORTER: How did you deliver this news to Putin?

TRUMP: Say it?

REPORTER: How did you tell Putin this was coming?

TRUMP: Uhhhhh. I speak to him. A lot.

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) July 14, 2025 at 11:45 AM

According to Axios: NATO allies will buy around $10 billion of the U.S. weapons. The supplies ultimately bound for Ukraine include missiles, air defense weaponry and artillery shells.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM

🤔🇺🇸 The Pentagon was unable to clarify whether Ukraine would receive 17 Patriot systems, as Trump stated, or whether it was missiles.

❗️“We recommend that you contact the White House for clarification,” the Pentagon said in response to a request from media.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

I Am Counting On Sufficient Support From The Members Of Parliament For The New Configuration Of The Government Of Ukraine – Address by the President

14 July 2025 – 20:48

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

It has been a long day today. I met with General Kellogg – he has begun his visit to Ukraine, and it has been quite substantive. We had a productive discussion. I am grateful to President Trump for his readiness to help protect our people’s lives. This war continues solely because of Russia, solely because of Putin’s desire to prolong it, to drag it out. Russia is trying to make the war seem like the “new normal.” We must never put up with this. Absolutely everything possible – humanly possible – must be done to force Russia to stop the killings, to achieve real peace, and to ensure security. Peace is only possible through strength. We discussed this with President Trump. We discussed this with members of Congress. We are working at our teams’ level – teams of Ukraine and the United States – to secure the forces and means we need to protect lives and defend our state: American weapons, American sanctions against Russia – a sanctions bill has already been prepared in Congress – as well as European financing and support, our joint defense.

Ukrainian military officials, our intelligence and special services will provide General Kellogg with all the necessary information about what is happening right now on the frontline and about the new offensive actions Russia is preparing. Russia still has the money – the money to destroy the lives of its neighbors. And not only Ukraine. But the world knows where to hit so that Putin feels the pain and Russia feels the need to seek peace. Russia’s war financing must be cut off. Russia’s ties with Iran and North Korea must be cut off. Any supply of components and equipment for Russia’s military industry must be cut off.

I am grateful to our team, I am grateful to the United States, and I am grateful to Germany and Norway for preparing a new decision on Patriots for Ukraine. We are also working on major defense agreements with America. It is not yet time to reveal the details publicly, but together, we can achieve a great deal for the sake of security. Ukraine is absolutely ready for all honest and effective steps toward peace – lasting peace – and real security. It is Russia that is not ready. It is Russia that must be forced. And this is what is happening.

We will definitely continue to increase our domestic weapons production and develop all our defense projects – both our Ukrainian and joint projects with partners. And this is one of the top priorities for the renewed Government. We must increase the share of domestic weapons production – this is a clear and specific goal. We must engage in global tech competition through our own innovations. We must direct more of Ukraine’s economic strength to supplying our Defense Forces. It is important to carry out deregulation and give society more opportunities to develop our internal potential. It is also essential to eliminate all excessive bureaucracy and duplication of functions in our state institutions – this will definitely allow us to reduce all unnecessary spending. At the same time, we must provide greater social stability for our people – for all Ukrainians. All resilience programs in Ukraine must operate at full capacity.

Today, I spoke with Yuliia Svyrydenko – I have proposed that she head the Government of Ukraine and renew its work based on her extensive experience in supporting Ukrainian production and Ukrainian entrepreneurship, which Yuliia has as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy. The tremendous experience of Denys Shmyhal will undoubtedly be valuable in the role of Minister of Defense – this is exactly the area where the country’s greatest resources, the heaviest workload, and the highest responsibility lie right now. I am counting on sufficient support from the Members of Parliament for the new configuration of the Government of Ukraine. It is also important that the Government promptly conducts an audit of all agreements with our partners to determine what is working and what requires reassessment or intensification.

Today, I met with the Minister of Defense of Denmark – I thanked him for the support. Our cooperation with Denmark is nearly exemplary – many projects have already been implemented, and many agreements are in place. Today we discussed our next joint steps. And we are currently preparing for a conversation with the President of France – I always value Emmanuel’s perspective and the coordination of our policy, our collaboration with France.

I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine! I thank everyone who is helping us keep global attention focused on Ukraine, on the needs of our state and our people.

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

For the 229th consecutive day, Rustaveli Avenue is blocked in Tbilisi. ✅🇬🇪✊

Protests continue in 8+ cities across Georgia.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM

Giorgi Bachiashvili was reportedly beaten in a solitary cell—on his birthday.

VivaMed clinic confirms he suffered multiple head injuries and lacerations.

His cell was supposed to be under surveillance.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:54 AM

It becomes obvious from Bachiashvili’s letter that Ivanishvili demands crypto codes from him. And had him brutally beaten when Bachiashvili refused.

Ivanishvili and the regime are fully focused on extracting money from everyone and anyone, and they seem in a rush. I wonder why.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 7:12 AM

🧵 1/ Investigative outlet iFact has uncovered that two Russian nationals, Yulia and Maria Arkhipova, purchased 14,000 square meters of land in the village of Shukhuti, Lanchkhuti Municipality, Guria, where they are reportedly building a cosmodrome named Kolkheti.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM

2/ At the same time, they have been sending information about Georgia to Pravfond, a Russian foundation established by a decree from Dmitry Medvedev.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM

3/ According to the investigation, a checkpoint for Cosmodrome Kolkheti is under construction. The Arkhipovas arrived in Georgia in February 2022, founded two companies, and acquired land—some legally, others allegedly by deceiving locals.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM

4/ The investigation reveals Pravfond covered legal expenses for Russian intelligence officer Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted of murdering Georgian citizen Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM

5/ Joint reporting by OCCRP and Lithuania’s national broadcaster LRT has shown that Pravfond financed Kremlin-linked lawyers, propagandists, and agents across Europe.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM

6/ In Georgia, the Arkhipovas are reportedly issuing “recommendations” aimed at improving the status of Russians in the country. These include:

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM

7/

– Granting Russian the status of a second official language;
– Strengthening the political and civic presence of Russians through engagement of both local and newly arrived Russian nationals;

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM

8/ – Easing the procedures for residency and citizenship for Russians in Georgia; –
Conducting a national census to determine the actual number of Russians living in Georgia.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM

9/ iFact notes that recent legislative changes by the ruling Georgian Dream party appear to align with some of these recommendations.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM

10/ For instance, the citizenship process has been simplified, and heads and deputies of structural units in public institutions are no longer considered public servants, eliminating the requirement to know the Georgian language.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM

Regime prisoner democratic leader Zurab Girchi Japaridze rushedly escorted into his home, handcuffed, to briefly attend his mother’s wake. They only gave him 15-20 minutes.

His mother was his biggest worry in prison.

No one, not even regime supporters could explain his fault.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM

The regime is fully focused on extracting and extorting money – beginning from inter-clan struggles to not allowing businessmen to leave Georgia without paying a huge tribute first, and now to rushed proceedings regarding hundreds of tax disputes and more. 1/

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM

“Suddenly, courts have begun urgently reviewing hundreds, if not thousands, of tax disputes that were on the shelves. Some lawyers have even accumulated fifty cases to review this week. Judges are being processed in a conveyor belt and are not allowed to go on vacation. 2/

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM

Presumably, in order to replenish the budget, all disputes have been ordered to be urgently concluded in favor of the government.

If this assumption is confirmed, the next step will be to forcibly extract money from businesses. 3/

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM

Everything will become clear this week.
International isolation can be devastating for businesses” – says politician Roman Gotsiridze.

All this certainly means something. 4/4.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM

Belarus:

A Mi-24 helicopter of the Belarusian Air Defense Forces reportedly intercepted a Russian Gerbera UAV flying towards Ukraine over the Gomel region of Belarus, on July 12. This means that Belarus has intercepted more Russian drones than all NATO/EU forces combined.

— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 4:13 AM

Back to Ukraine.

Ukraine hit back in its shadow war with Russia this weekend by “eliminating” two operatives allegedly responsible for the most prominent targeted killing in Kyiv since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began. My report.
www.ft.com/content/1903… via @financialtimes.com

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— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) July 14, 2025 at 8:14 AM

From The Financial Times:

Ukraine hit back in its shadow war with Russia this weekend by “eliminating” two operatives allegedly responsible for the most prominent targeted killing in Kyiv since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began.

The operation followed the killing of Ukrainian Col Ivan Voronych in broad daylight on Thursday, which sent a chill through Kyiv and marked the latest in an escalating battle between Ukraine’s and Russia’s vast and powerful state intelligence agencies.

Voronych, a veteran of Ukraine’s intelligence services and senior figure in the SBU’s elite special forces Alpha unit — a rough equivalent to the UK’s Special Air Service and the US Delta Force — was shot point blank near his home as he walked to his car.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the country’s main domestic intelligence agency, said on Sunday that it had tracked down two Russian intelligence operatives who went into hiding following the killing. The operation was personally overseen by the agency’s head Lt Gen Vasyl Maliuk.

The pair of assassins — a man and a woman — allegedly carried out the murder under orders from Russia’s FSB, according to an SBU statement. The agency said they were located in the Kyiv region and killed during a gunfight on Sunday morning. It did not disclose their names.

Ukrainian media named the shooter and his partner and reported they were both citizens of Azerbaijan. The Ukrainian news site Censor said they had entered Ukraine via Moldova in May. The FT could not independently confirm that information. Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry and embassy in Kyiv did not respond to requests for comment.

A video of Maliuk at the scene showed him standing over the bodies of the two alleged assassins, who lay prone in a grassy area. With assistance from national police, the SBU had identified the suspects through surveillance and counter-intelligence measures, Maliuk said. The investigation found the operatives had monitored Voronych’s routine before receiving a weapon from an FSB handler in Kyiv.

More at the link.

AASM Hammer air strike on Russian base t.me/soniah_hub/1…

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM

Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast:

Kharkiv region is under the russian drone attack, at least 6 explosions reported in Chuhuiv‼️

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 3:21 PM

Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast is on fire following russian drone strikes!

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM

Sumy Oblast:

Two people have died and four others were injured as a result of Russian shelling in the Shostka community of the Sumy region.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 6:55 AM

Among the injured is a one-year-old child. The attacks caused fires and damaged apartment buildings, private homes, and non-residential structures.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 6:55 AM

WARNING!! WARNING!! GRAPHIC IMAGERY!! WARNING!! WARNING!!

Two people were killed and four others injured, including a 7-year-old child, in a russian airstrike on the Shostka district in Sumy Oblast.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 6:37 AM

ALL CLEAR!!!!

Kharkiv:

For hours, Russian drones have been in and out of Kharkiv. I hear occasional sounds of air defense and drone buzz. 01:25

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM

Russian drone strikes Kharkiv in the broad daylight earlier today‼️

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 10:49 AM

Zlatopil, Kharkiv Oblast:

Zlatopil in the Kharkiv region was hit by a Russian drone attack, leaving one person dead and ten wounded.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 8:45 AM

Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast:

Pokrovsk. Bleeding, dying city. Yet another one that Russia destroys.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 8:04 AM

Vinnytsia, Vinnytsia Oblast:

14.07.2022.
Vinnytsia.
29 lives cut short by russia.

We will never forget.

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM

Chernihiv:

Meanwhile, the Russians are attacking Chernihiv with Shahed drones. Five explosions have already been heard in the city.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM

Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

The Air Force carried out a strike, dropping a high-precision GBU-39 aerial munition from a MiG-29 on a Russian drone command post in the Zaporizhzhia region.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 11:43 AM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.

🐶🇺🇦 This true Odesa beauty sits on her “iron horse” with such a majestic air, as if she were a princess who has deigned to take a ride through the city. Her white dress flutters in the wind, her pearls glisten in the sun—pure aristocracy!

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM

Open thread!