New Ukraine army chief vows to step up counteroffensive as EU bids to finalise fresh Russia sanctions – Europe live

From 2h agoBack to Ukraine, the country’s new commander in chief said Ukraine’s ⁠armed forces have been tasked ⁠with stepping ⁠up ​counteroffensive actions.New commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi looks on during his meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP“The ‌president of ‌Ukraine has set ‌clear objectives for us: to continue and intensify offensive operations ‌in all domains, to plan new ​operations behind enemy lines, to develop our military ⁠and its technologies, ​and ​to build ​up the ​capabilities of ‌the Armed ​Forces ​of Ukraine,” Mykhailo Drapatyi said on Facebook.

Key events11m agoEU steps work on tackling Russia's shadow fleet with flag verification boardings, Kallas says48m agoGermany blames Russia for false information on nuclear-weapons research2h agoUkraine will step up counteroffensive actions, new army chief says2h agoSpain, France battle wildfires as heat continues to grip southern Europe2h agoMorocco calls for investigation into arrested national's death in Bologna2h agoAt least 15 people injured after two trams collide in Rotterdam2h agoEU talks on finalising 21st package of sanctions against Russia under way3h agoZelenskyy names new head of Ukraine's General Staff as he continues military reshuffle3h agoUkrainian military reshuffle will not change frontline situation, Kremlin says4h agoUS 'would like to see that war come to an end,' Rubio says, as he says he will discuss Ukraine with Lavrov4h agoRussia's Lavrov to meet US counterpart Rubio this Thursday4h agoVenice Biennale to challenge EU's decision to withdraw funding after Russia's return4h agoGreece braces for warmest day of the year so far4h agoFrench human organisations seek court ban on trading with or investing in Palestinian occupied territories5h agoHungary's Orbán confirms raid on Fidesz party's servers, questions legitimacy of new officials5h agoMy friends left Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Now I wonder if we live in the same world5h agoUkraine agrees to export drones to US under Pentagon plan - reports6h agoZelenskyy fires Ukraine’s army chief and offers Fedorov ‘prominent position’6h ago'We are bringing the war back home, to Russia,' Zelenskyy says after overnight strikes6h agoMorning summary: But can they do it on a Wednesday morning in Brussels?As we await any updates on whether the EU ambassadors managed to agree on the 21st package of sanctions on Russia, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas took to social media to highlight the work on tackling Russia’s shadow fleet.

In a post on X, she said: “We’re turning up the pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet. The oil tanker MV SOUTH STAR, suspected of sailing under false flag in breach of international maritime law, has been boarded on 20 July by Operation @EUNAVFOR_MED IRINI forces for flag verification. Every illicit voyage helps sustain Russia’s war machine.

We are matching our sanctions with action at sea. In parallel, Member States this week have authorised Operation @EUNAVFOR ATALANTA to begin conducting flag verification boardings of suspected Russian shadow fleet vessels, in the same way Operation IRINI does. This decision further tightens the net.”

Meanwhile, Germany ⁠denied online reports that it ⁠was ⁠conducting ​nuclear-weapons research, dismissing them on ⁠Wednesday as Russian propaganda ⁠aimed at ​discrediting Berlin’s ‌efforts to ‌support Ukraine.“The ‌German government regards these statements as part of the usual ‌Russian propaganda. The allegations made ​are simply unfounded …

it is an attempt ⁠to discredit Germany ​as Ukraine’s strongest ​supporter,” ​a government ​spokesperson ‌said in comments reported by Reuters.There is a bit of helpful background on Drapatyi from Reuters: “Drapatyi, 43, appears well-suited to his new role: a former field commander respected by troops for both his tactical leadership and moral integrity, he has held an array of high-level posts including head of ⁠Ukraine’s ground forces. That job in particular provided him with an insider’s view of troop recruitment, offering critical experience he will likely call upon to plug widespread personnel gaps that have enabled ​Moscow to make grinding gains along much of the front.

But he takes ‌the top spot at a time of ‌rising social and political tensions around Ukraine’s wartime leadership, as Kyiv seeks to regain the upper hand in the fifth year of war. Writing on social media, former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, ‌now Kyiv’s ambassador to London, said Drapatyi’s tenure would be ‘much harder than he imagines.’” Back to Ukraine, the country’s new commander in chief said Ukraine’s ⁠armed forces have been tasked ⁠with stepping ⁠up ​counteroffensive actions.

View image in fullscreenNew commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi looks on during his meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photograph: Ukrainian Presidentia