Russian leadership ‘stuck in another century’, rejects postwar world order, Zelenskyy says as he suggests need to ‘change regime’
Over the last half hour, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Finnish Helsinki+50 conference marking the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Helsinki accords.
He said that “Russia keeps launching such attacks, even when the whole world is calling on it to stop the war, a war that Russia started, a war that Russia keeps dragging on, a war that only the Russian leadership wants.”
He did not mince his words as he accused Russian leadership of being “mentally stuck in another century, a time of brutal violence … [and] total disregard for human rights and equality.”
“We know that such ideas and such times must never return to Europe,” he said.
He said that “a total rejection of the post-second world war world … is the foundation of the current regime in Russia,” but that Moscow “can be pushed to stop this war.”
“We need to fully block Russia’s war machine, cut off its arms industry, limit its energy profits, and finally, put every frozen Russian asset including stolen wealth … to work, defending against the Russian aggression.
It’s time to confiscate the Russian assets, not just freeze them … to use them to serve peace, not war.”
But he warned:
“But if the world doesn’t aim to change the regime in Russia, that means, even after the war ends, Moscow will still try to destabilise neighbouring countries.”
Zelenskyy also pointedly helped Finnish president Alex Stubb and US president Donald Trump, saying that “Trump is truly interested in ending the war and we have to do everything we can to make sure the US and Europe act together for security.”
Key events
Ukrainian law reform ‘corrects damaging vote’ on anti-corruption agencies, restores key safeguards, EU commissioner says
EU enlargmenent commissioner Marta Kos welcomed the vote inr the Ukrainian parliament saying that “today’s law restores key safeguards, but challenges remain.”
Here is her reaction in full:
“The Rada corrected last week’s damaging vote undermining NABU’s & SAPO’s independence.
Today’s law restores key safeguards, but challenges remain.
The EU supports citizens’ demands for reform. Upholding fundamental values & fighting corruption must remain the priority.”
As the vote took place, crowds of demonstrators gathered outside the parliament, calling for a swift adoption of the new law.
Ukrainian parliament approves Zelenskyy’s legislation on independence of anti-corruption agencies
Just as expected (10:51, 11:19). Notably, 331 votes in favour, zero against.
Eight dead in overnight attacks on Kyiv as Putin ‘tests world’s resolve’, Ukrainian prime minister says
Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko just posted an update after overnight attacks on Kyiv, saying that the death toll from the strikes rose to eight as rescue efforts “continue across several districts” of the capital.
More than eighty people were injured, she added.
She said:
“This is how the Kremlin responds to calls for peace: with deliberate terror and the systematic targeting of Ukraine’s civilian population.
Putin is not seeking a solution. He is testing the world’s resolve, continuing to receive confirmation that mass murder has no real consequences.”
She called for more pressure on Russia’s war economy, full synchronisation of sanctions imposed against Moscow, and reinforcement of Ukraine’s air defences.
“Peace will not come through delay,” she said.
Separately, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s most senior aide, Andriy Yermak, is recently more active online, responding to assertive statements from Russian politicians.
In his latest post he took aim at the former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev who earlier this week dismissed Trump’s threat of sanctions against Russia as “a theatrical ultimatum” and insisting “Russia didn’t care.”
He replied with a film reference to a scene in the 1997 Air Force One movie and a warning:
“America doesn’t tolerate. America strikes back.”
Presidential bill on anti-corruption reforms expected to be approved today, Ukraine’s Sybiha says
Ukraine’s Sybiha was also asked about the anti-corruption law reform that prompted protests in Ukraine, as mentioned by Shaun earlier (10:51).
He defended the overhaul, while saying the Ukrainian government listened to criticism and that he hoped the revised bill would be passed by the country’s parliament today.
He said:
“We have Russian brutal aggression, but we are committed to the reforms.
Of course, we are hearing the reaction of our society. Of course, we are hearing the reaction of our international partners, but we are committed to the fight with corruption.
That’s our national interest, and because of security concerns, because of necessity to keep balance … influence of Russia on some bodies, this bill was initiated, and by the way, we expect that this bill will be approved today in our parliament.”
European history is being written with Ukrainian blood, foreign minister says
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha is talking at the Helsinki+50 conference now, following earlier speech by president Volodymyr Zelenskyy (9:57).
“Unfortunately, president, me, we must start every speech with the [same] words [that] today Kyiv was [again] under attack, that today Ukraine was heavily attacked, we have casualties today, several or many civilian children were killed,” he said, saying it points to a failure of the postwar order to stop similar aggressions.
He’s then made this powerful point:
“I am confident that Ukrainian security and European security, they are indivisible, that it also means collective responsibility. …
History has never ended: not after Helsinki, not after the Berlin Wall fell, and probably altogether [never].
We are writing now our history and the main ink for European history now is the blood of my compatriots, of Ukrainian people.”
Sweden urges EU to suspend trade element of association agreement with Israel
Elsewhere, the Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, urged the European Union to suspend the trade component of the bloc’s association agreement with Israel.
In a post on social media, he said “the situation in Gaza is utterly deplorable, and Israel is not fulfilling its most basic obligations and agreed-upon commitments regarding humanitarian aid.”
He said:
“Sweden therefore demands that the EU, as soon as possible, freezes the trade component of the association agreement. Economic pressure on Israel must increase.
The Israeli government must allow unrestricted humanitarian aid in Gaza.”
He added:
“At the same time, pressure on Hamas must increase so that the hostages are released immediately and unconditionally.
Sweden welcomes the fact that more countries in the Middle East are demanding that Hamas be disarmed and not have a role in the future governance of Gaza.”
Drone, missile attacks in Kyiv leave dozens injured on eve of crucial vote on anti-corruption bodies
Shaun Walker
in Kyiv
Explosions rang out for hours, making it another sleepless night for many in the Ukrainian capital before a crucial parliamentary vote on Thursday on legislation to restore independence to two anti-corruption bodies.
The bill, if passed, would essentially undo a law passed last week that curtailed their powers and led to a political crisis.
The surprise changes prompted rare wartime street protests against the president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and accusations that his office was trying to protect powerful associates from anti-corruption investigations.
Zelenskyy announced late last week that he had listened to the criticism expressed at a series of street protests and from various western officials and would table a new law.
Lithuanian PM resigns after allegations about his company dealings
Lithuanian prime minister Gintautas Paluckas has resigned from the post after growing questions over the alleged irregularities in dealings and financing of his company, with coalition partners threatening to leave the government if he remained in post.
While denying any allegations of impropriety aired in the media, Paluckas went on two-week leave, and then decided to resign on Thursday morning.
Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nausėda confirmed he received the resignation on Thursday morning, welcoming it as the right choice, LRT reported.
The internal government discussions will now begin to pick the successor, with deputy parliament speaker Jouzas Olekas, Vilnius mayor Robert Duchnevič and social security and labour minister Inga Ruginienė among the top candidates.
Russian leadership ‘stuck in another century’, rejects postwar world order, Zelenskyy says as he suggests need to ‘change regime’
Over the last half hour, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Finnish Helsinki+50 conference marking the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Helsinki accords.
He said that “Russia keeps launching such attacks, even when the whole world is calling on it to stop the war, a war that Russia started, a war that Russia keeps dragging on, a war that only the Russian leadership wants.”
He did not mince his words as he accused Russian leadership of being “mentally stuck in another century, a time of brutal violence … [and] total disregard for human rights and equality.”
“We know that such ideas and such times must never return to Europe,” he said.
He said that “a total rejection of the post-second world war world … is the foundation of the current regime in Russia,” but that Moscow “can be pushed to stop this war.”
“We need to fully block Russia’s war machine, cut off its arms industry, limit its energy profits, and finally, put every frozen Russian asset including stolen wealth … to work, defending against the Russian aggression.
It’s time to confiscate the Russian assets, not just freeze them … to use them to serve peace, not war.”
But he warned:
“But if the world doesn’t aim to change the regime in Russia, that means, even after the war ends, Moscow will still try to destabilise neighbouring countries.”
Zelenskyy also pointedly helped Finnish president Alex Stubb and US president Donald Trump, saying that “Trump is truly interested in ending the war and we have to do everything we can to make sure the US and Europe act together for security.”
Morning opening: ‘Showcase killings’ in Kyiv as Ukraine calls on Trump to act now
Jakub Krupa
Another night, another series of attacks on Ukrainian cities as Russia appears unfazed by the US threat of sanctions and secondary tariffs on its allies if it does not stop its invasion of Ukraine.
At least six people died, including a six-year-old boy, and 50 were injured in overnight attacks in Kyiv and across the country.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called the attacks “showcase killings” as he urged Ukraine’s allies to push Moscow “to come to a real negotiating table” saying “all the tools needed for this are in the hands of our partners.”
We are counting on everything now being voiced by America and Europe toward this goal to be fulfilled.
Zelenskyy’s most senior aide, Andriy Yermak, went further in his comments, calling Russia “a terrorist state.”
He added:
“Putin is showing the world that he’s not afraid and intends to keep killing our people — our children.
Sanctions and weapons are what’s needed.
I’m confident the U.S. and President @POTUS will stand by the principle of ‘peace through strength.’”
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, called on Trump to not wait until 8 August and reduce his deadline for a Russian ceasefire “to zero”.
“Putin does it on purpose. He does not care about any attempts to put an end to the killing. He only seeks to destroy and kill. Because the entire existence of this war criminal is based on this senseless war, which he cannot win but refuses to end. He must face justice.
It’s time to make him feel the pain and consequences of his choices. It’s time to put maximum pressure on Moscow. It is time to synchronise all sanctions steps. It’s time to achieve peace through strength.”
I will bring you all key updates from across Europe here.
It’s Thursday, 31 July 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.