Europe buys Russian gas as much as China does

Recent data show that Gazprom's pipeline gas deliveries to Europe amounted to 14.6 billion cubic meters from January to June. These deliveries were made through the Ukrainian route and the Turkish Stream pipeline. This volume is significantly lower than the pre-invasion annual sales to Europe, which ranged from approximately 130 to 175 billion cubic meters. However, the current figure is comparable to the 15.2 billion cubic meters Gazprom delivered to China in the first half of this year.

Calculations indicate that by the end of 2024, Europe and China alternately emerged as the largest buyers of Russian pipeline gas.

Russia is trying to reshape the population in the occupied part of Ukraine

Russia is actively pursuing a policy aimed at altering the demographic makeup of the population in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories. According to a report by the National Resistance Center, the Russian forces are encouraging Ukrainians to leave these areas by enticing them to relocate to distant regions within the Russian Federation.

One of the strategies employed by the Russians involves persuading Ukrainians to accept housing certificates in Russia. The invaders present this move as a measure for their safety, but the underlying objective is to depopulate the region of its Ukrainian inhabitants.

The National Resistance Center highlighted that the Russians are employing a variety of methods to evict Ukrainians, ranging from forced deportations to offering financial incentives. Concurrently, the Russian authorities are bringing in their own specialists who are more aligned with the Kremlin's interests to replace the local population, effectively changing the demographic composition of these territories.

Russia building forces in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

Russia is building up its forces in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, adding at least 2,000 more troops there within the last few weeks, according to Dmytro Lykhovii, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Tavria group of forces. Lykhovii made this announcement on national television on July 23.

Despite the increase in troop numbers, there is no current indication that Russia is preparing for another offensive in the Zaporizhzhia area. Intelligence suggests that while Russia has amassed some 90,000 troops in the region, a significant change in the nature of hostilities is unlikely. Russia has continued to target civilian areas across Zaporizhzhia Oblast, but the front lines have remained largely unchanged in recent months. Although Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have captured the embattled village of Robotyne in May, Lykhovii denied that Ukrainian forces have lost ground in that area.

55% of Ukrainians oppose territorial concessions to achieve peace - poll

The percentage of Ukrainians opposed to making territorial concessions to Russia for peace has decreased over recent months, reaching 55% in May, according to a poll released by the Kyiv International Institute for Sociology (KIIS) on July 23. This is a decline from similar KIIS polls conducted in February and December 2023, where 65% and 74% were opposed, respectively.

Conversely, the number of respondents who would accept ceding territory to "achieve peace and preserve independence" has risen to 32% in May, according to the poll.

Geographical variations in opinions were noted, with the highest opposition to any kind of territorial concession coming from western Ukraine (60%), while the south showed the lowest opposition (46%).

When asked about potential conditions for peace, the majority of respondents (62%) supported a scenario where Ukraine regains all occupied territories and becomes an EU member but opts out of NATO membership. A second proposal, which involved ceding control of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea while regaining full control of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, and joining NATO and the EU, received 53% support.

Despite changing attitudes towards territorial concessions over time, Anton Hrushetskyi, Director of KIIS, stated that "Ukrainians are against 'peace on any terms.'" He emphasized that the primary requirement is safety and convincing guarantees, without which Ukrainians would not accept such options.

The idea of offering territorial concessions for peace remains controversial in Ukraine. Many fear it would lead only to a temporary cessation of fighting, allowing Russia to regroup and potentially resume the war later.

There is also growing external pressure on Ukraine to consider territorial concessions as a path to securing a ceasefire.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the war immediately if elected in November. His plan reportedly involves ceding territory to Russia, though specific details remain vague.

Trump's running mate, Senator JD Vance, is considered an even stronger opponent of U.S. support for Ukraine and has openly endorsed territorial concessions as part of a potential peace agreement.