Published July 21, 2025last updated July 21, 2025Kyiv has intensified attacks inside Russia, targeting the capital Moscow for the second day running. Meanwhile, Russia continues to pummel Ukraine as EU leaders meet to discuss military aid. Join DW for the latest.
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Kyiv’s mayor advised residents in the capital to remain in bomb shelters as Russia launched another 450 drones and missiles overnightImage: Thomas Peter/REUTERSSkip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to knowUkraine launched major drone attacks on Russia overnight, sowing chaos at the country’s airports.
Kyiv has increasingly targeted the Russian capital, launching at least 60 drones at Moscow over the weekend.
EU and UK leaders from the Ukraine Contact Group have convened to discuss further military support for Kyiv.
Beijing has slammed EU sanctions on Russia that affect Chinese interests, saying they will have “negative consequences” for the bloc.
Here are the latest developments of Russia’s war in Ukraine on Monday, July 21:
Skip next section China threatens EU over sanctionsJuly 21, 2025
China threatens EU over sanctionsBeijing has voiced anger over EU sanctions against Russia that affect Chinese businesses just days before the two sides are set to meet for trade talks in the Chinese capital, saying they could have “negative consequences” for the bloc.
Over repeated Chinese warnings, Brussels on Friday announced its 18th sanctions package against Russia for its war of aggression in Ukraine. Two Chinese financial institutions are among those entities included in the package.
The EU has been trying to pressure China into using its influence over its close ally Russia to bring about an end to the war — to no avail.
Beijing on Monday said it will protect the rights of its companies and is prepared to introduce counter sanctions on the EU.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are scheduled to arrive in Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang on Thursday.
EU representatives say China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, as well as the conflict in the Middle EastChina’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, as well as the conflict in the Middle East, Beijing’s limits on the export of rare earth minerals,and the growing trade deficit between the two will all be discussed at this week’s meeting.
In 2024, the EU had a roughly €300 billion ($350 billion) trade deficit with China.
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Skip next section Germany, UK to lead Ukraine Contact Group meeting in support of KyivJuly 21, 2025
Germany, UK to lead Ukraine Contact Group meeting in support of KyivGermany and the UK will lead the 29th meeting of the so-called Ukraine Contact Group to discuss the current state of weapons deliveries to Kyiv as Washington drags its feet on providing US-made — but EU-purchased — Patriot air-defense systems.
The virtual meeting will be headed by Defense Ministers Boris Pistorius from Berlin and the UK’s John Healy. Some 50 high-ranking defense officials, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Although the production and delivery of ammunition and artillery rounds for Ukraine will be discussed, the most important topicwill be how to deal with the flip-flopping of US President Donald Trump.
Trump has confounded NATO allies with his approach to the nearly three-and-a-half year Russian invasion — first signaling support for Moscow and publicly chiding Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and then voicing disappointment with Vladimir Putin before issuing threats against Russia that remain nebulous and unfulfilled.
After the Pentagon surprisingly halted weapons deliveries to Ukraine just weeks ago, Trump last week agreed to allow Germany and other EU and NATO allies to purchase US air-defense systems — an approach pitched by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Although Trump promised the systems would be delivered within days, sources say there are no signs of movement more than a week later.
Russian President Putin has dramatically escalated Russia’s air assaults on Ukraine since Trump signaled his change of heart and analysts expect that to continue until Ukraine and Russia sit down to negotiate any future peace deal.
Trump recently gave Moscow 50 days to end the conflict or face more US sanctions. Russia has only increased its air assaults since then.
Could US Patriot systems be a gamechanger for Ukraine?To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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Skip next section Russia blasts Ukraine with barrage of some 450 drones and missilesJuly 21, 2025
Russia blasts Ukraine with barrage of some 450 drones and missilesRussia continued its massive drone and missile attacks on Ukraine as it seeks to break Kyiv’s will 1,248 days into itsinvasion of the country.
Ukraine’s Air Force on Monday said it had downed 224 drones and missiles from a total of 424 Russian drones and 26 missiles fired upon the country overnight. Kyiv said another 203 Russian drones disappeared from their radar and were likely jammed electronically.
Russia has launched several thousand drones and missiles at Ukraine in recent weeks in what is also seen as a snub of US President Donald Trump’s declared intention of striking a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv.
Authorities in Kyiv say at least one person was killed in the overnight attacks and at least two injured.
Several buildings in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv — including a high-rise apartment complex, a supermarket and a kindergarten — were damaged in the attack.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko advised residents to remain in bomb shelters even as the entrance to one of them in a city subway station was targeted in the Monday morning Russian attack.
Ukraine: Kyiv residents seek safety from Russian attacksTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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Skip next section Ukraine stepping up attacks inside RussiaJuly 21, 2025
Ukraine stepping up attacks inside RussiaUkraine continued to defend itself against Russian aggression this weekend and increased its attacks on the capital Moscow, sowing chaos and closing down airports there.
Russian media reported that thousands of passengers had been stranded after their flights were cancelled as a result of Kyiv’s latest barrage of drones targeted Moscow.
Russia’s Defense Ministry on Monday said it had downed 117 drones overnight, following 172 that it downed the night prior. It also said that it had downed 30 drones in the Moscow region on Saturday night and another 30 on Sunday.
The attacks on the capital were the heaviest since Russia launched its invasion of neighboring Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
To transport passengers, authorities added extra train service from Saint Petersburg to Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would increase its attacks deep inside Russia in an effort to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
Zelenskyy has said he wants direct talks this week. Russia has so far ignored his call as well as US President Donald Trump’s threat of serious consequences for Russia if it does not soon agree to a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy calls on Putin to enter ceasefire talksTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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Skip next section Welcome to our coverageJuly 21, 2025
Welcome to our coverageWelcome to DW’s coverage of the latest developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
On Monday, we start with Ukraine stepping up attacks inside Russia and increasingly targeting the capital Moscow, where airports were largely closed.
China has also sharply criticized EU sanctions on some of its businesses in the bloc’s effort to chip away at Beijing’s support for Moscow.
Stay tuned for the latest news and analysis from the ongoing war.
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