According to preliminary forecasts, on July 22, Ukraine is expected to experience a very sharp rise in air temperature, reaching +35 and possibly +40 degrees Celsius or even slightly higher, according to weather forecaster Natalya Didenko.
“On Thursday and Friday, July 17-18, fresh air will break through over a significant part of Ukraine, albeit briefly, and the air temperature will drop to an unlikely +18+25 degrees, and in the south and east to +26+30 degrees. However, by next weekend, the thermometers will creep back up again. I don’t want to scare you in advance, but at the beginning of next week, tentatively on Tuesday, July 22, according to preliminary forecasts, Ukraine is expected to experience a very high jump in air temperature, that is, above +35 and probably up to +40 degrees and even slightly higher,” she wrote on her Telegram channel on Sunday.
Didenko noted that “this is a preliminary forecast because it is too far away.”
The admission campaign is in full swing at the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUBA) – creative competitions for applicants began in early July. Among those taking exams this summer are Ukrainian defenders. In particular, veteran Vadym Honcharenko and several of his comrades have decided to enroll at KNUBA. They have chosen modern and sought-after specialties, such as architecture, industrial and civil engineering (ICE), physical education and sports (coaching), cybersecurity, as well as a field to which the university pays special attention – ecology and environmental protection technologies (EPT). According to the veterans, they understand the importance of higher education and retraining: new knowledge will help them join the great reconstruction of the country and find themselves in a peaceful life. Vadym Honcharenko, who uses a wheelchair, notes that continuing his education is both a challenge and an opportunity for him. For the university and the Ukrainian Veterans Cluster, this case highlights the relevance of accessibility issues: they are now jointly seeking funding to adapt the educational space to the needs of students with disabilities.
“The war will end sooner or later, but education and reconstruction will definitely continue. We need to prepare for this now,” said Natalia Goncharenko, head of the Ukrainian Veterans Cluster, quoting a well-known opinion about the inevitability of peace and development. As the leader of a veterans’ organization, she emphasizes the need to invest in veterans’ knowledge today. Natalia added that the admission campaign is ongoing, and those who wish to obtain a master’s degree on a budgetary basis still have a chance to submit their documents—the state and partners provide separate funding opportunities for veterans. Thanks to the efforts of the Veterans Cluster and KNUBA, with the support of business partners, a program of special scholarships for veterans and their families has already been launched. The first benefactor of this initiative was Axor Industry. At a recent event dedicated to the launch of the Re:Veterans Platform reintegration program, Axor’s Deputy Marketing Director Olena Krekina presented a program of cooperation between employers on internships and employment for veterans. As a stakeholder representative, Olena is preparing to teach at the university starting next academic year in order to directly share her experience with veteran students.
These innovations are being implemented in line with the state policy of supporting defenders. On July 11, KNUBA and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs signed a memorandum of cooperation that expands opportunities for training and professional adaptation for veterans in Ukraine. “For the university, the veteran program is a response to one of the main challenges facing the country. We help veterans gain a new profession and return to civilian life with relevant knowledge and skills,” said KNUBA Rector Oleksii Dniprov. According to Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs Yulia Kirillova, combatants and their families can now obtain a master’s degree at KNUBA free of charge, as well as obtain another specialty based on a previously obtained diploma. In addition, veterans and their children can study at colleges affiliated with the university under a state program (CMU Resolution No. 432). For its part, the university provides the Ministry with expert support in creating a modern infrastructure for veterans. In particular, specialists from KNUBA and the Institute for the Reintegration of Veterans “Architecture of Resilience” are involved in developing the concept of “veteran spaces” — a network of multifunctional support centers for veterans and their families. It should be noted that KNUBA students who are children of veterans are already eligible for compensation for one year of study. All these steps are designed to ensure a smooth transition from military service to a successful civilian career for our defenders.
Veteran reintegration: employment and entrepreneurship after the war
The Ukrainian Veterans Cluster emphasizes that the most important result of all educational initiatives is a veteran (and their family) who is employed or a veteran entrepreneur who has started their own business. The goal is not only to obtain a diploma, but also to enable defenders to become economically independent and successful in peaceful life. Global experience confirms that the integration of veterans into the economy through education, work, or entrepreneurship gives a powerful impetus to the development of a country.
“Veterans are not only a force that protects, but also a force that builds,” emphasizes Axor, a company that supports veteran initiatives. The main task is to help defenders realize their potential in peaceful life. In Ukraine, this philosophy is already being implemented through retraining programs, partnerships with businesses, and support for entrepreneurship among former military personnel. After all, every veteran who finds employment or starts a successful business is not only a personal victory for the soldier, but also a contribution to the sustainable development and recovery of the country.
The administration of US President Donald Trump is stepping up pressure on key allies in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly Japan and Australia, demanding clear commitments on their role in the event of a war between the US and China over Taiwan, the Financial Times reports, citing informed sources.
“US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby has been actively raising this issue in recent months at meetings with representatives of the Japanese and Australian defense ministries. According to sources, this has surprised allies, as the US itself does not provide Taiwan with security guarantees,” the report said.
“Specific operational planning and exercises that are directly applicable to an unforeseen situation in Taiwan are being advanced with Japan and Australia,” one of the publication’s sources said.
However, the Japanese Ministry of Defense noted that the issue of an emergency situation in Taiwan is hypothetical and that responses to it should be based on national and international law. The Australian Embassy in the US declined to comment.
According to the publication, Colby’s efforts are part of Trump’s agenda to “restore deterrence and achieve peace through strength,” which includes calls for allies to increase defense spending.
It is also noted that Colby advocates revising the AUKUS security agreement, which allows Australia to acquire nuclear submarines, and calls on European allies to reduce their military presence in the Indo-Pacific region and focus on the Euro-Atlantic direction.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted the importance of productive meetings of the Verkhovna Rada next week in his evening address on Saturday.
“A law on multiple citizenship has already been passed, and this is an important issue, particularly for those who are fighting for Ukraine. I am eagerly awaiting the unblocking of this law so that it can be signed without delay,” the head of state said.
He also said that two significant decisions on international agreements had been prepared: “First of all, the agreement on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Russian Aggression must be ratified, and it is also worth supporting our country’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on Landmines. Russia has never been a party to this convention and actively uses all types of mines. We in Ukraine need parity in defense — in particular, the political and legal foundations for such parity,” Zelensky explained.
In addition, “a bill on a military ombudsman has already been prepared for its second reading, and this new systemic step is necessary to implement the necessary changes in the army. I will be grateful to the people’s deputies who support these and other decisions that are extremely important for our state this week,” Zelensky added.
European leaders and industry circles have reacted strongly to US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will impose 30% tariffs on imports from the EU from August 1, a significant increase on the current 10% base rate, according to Euractiv.
According to the publication, the decision has caused outrage among EU member state leaders, who are calling for an immediate and tough response from Brussels. European diplomats will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss measures
Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament’s Trade Committee, called Washington’s actions “arrogant and a slap in the face” and said that countermeasures should take effect as early as Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron called on the European Commission to resolutely defend the EU’s interests if no agreement is reached by August 1.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez noted the strength of the single market, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed hope that escalation could be avoided.
Hungary criticized the European Commission, saying that tariffs should have been lowered after Trump’s return.
Meanwhile, representatives of European industry are warning of serious consequences of the new tariffs. The Federation of German Industries (BDI) called Trump’s statement “an alarm bell” and called for a quick solution to avoid further escalation. According to official data, German exports to the US have already fallen to their lowest level since March 2022,” the statement said.
The food industry, particularly the wine sector, is particularly affected. The Italian wine association UIV said the new tariffs could lead to an embargo on 80% of Italian wine exports to the US. “This is the darkest page in the relationship between two historic allies,” said UIV President Lamberto Frescobaldi.
Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery, Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Antonio Tajani signed a grant agreement for EUR6 million in non-repayable aid for the reconstruction of two irrigation systems in the Odesa region,
according to the press service of the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development.
“This decision will improve the efficiency of agricultural production in southern Ukraine, stabilize water supply, and reduce resource losses in arid areas,” said Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery and Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba.
The ministry added that the ministers signed a number of other agreements on financing key areas of recovery: agricultural infrastructure, cultural heritage sites, medical facilities, housing programs, and ensuring Ukraine’s access to Italian financial mechanisms.
