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Russia threatens West with ‘preemptive strikes’ as NATO looks to deliver Patriots ‘as quickly as possible’

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Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow should consider launching «preemptive strikes» against the West as the U.S. and its NATO allies ratchet up defensive support for Ukraine.

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«The statements of Western politicians on this topic are complete nonsense,» Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s security council, said in an interview with state media outlet Tass, according to Reuters reporting. 

«We need to act accordingly. To respond in full. And if necessary, launch preemptive strikes,» he added. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and former President Dmitry Medvedev attend a cabinet meeting in Moscow, Jan. 15, 2020. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SAYS REPUBLICANS READY TO MOVE ON RUSSIA SANCTIONS BILL WHEN TRUMP GIVES GREEN LIGHT

Medvedev’s comments come just two days after President Donald Trump announced secondary tariffs on Moscow by slapping 100% tariffs on nations that purchase Russian oil if the Kremlin does not enter into a peace agreement with Ukraine within the next 50 days. 

Reports also surfaced this week claiming that Trump had mulled the possibility of Ukraine hitting the Russian capital while in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month. Kyiv would not comment on the issue and the White House said the question was taken «out of context» and was not an attempt at «encouraging further killing.»

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Trump this week said the U.S. would be sending Patriot missiles to NATO nations that would then be routed to Ukraine, and on Wednesday he suggested the sophisticated weaponry was already en route to Germany.

«They’re already being shipped,» Trump told reporters from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. «They’re coming in from Germany and then replaced by Germany. And in all cases, the United States gets paid back in full.»

But the timing of the weapons delivery systems and where exactly they are being routed to remains unclear as a spokesman for Germany’s defense ministry on Thursday told reporters he had no knowledge of such an incoming shipment. 

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«I cannot confirm that anything is currently on the way. That is not known to me,» the spokesman reportedly told Swiss broadcasting outlet SRF, before noting that a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) will be held on Monday, when delivery specifications of U.S. Patriot systems will be hashed out. 

Patriot air defense missile system

Ukrainian and German soldiers train on the Patriot air defense missile system at a military training area in Germany in June 2024. (Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images)

PUTIN MUM ON TRUMP’S 50-DAY ULTIMATUM, KREMLIN OFFICIALS CLAIM RUSSIA ‘DIDN’T CARE’

But the quick delivery of the U.S. missile systems appears to be a top priority for Washington and NATO as Switzerland, which is not a NATO nation, also announced on Thursday that its anticipated receipt of five Patriot batteries, purchased from the U.S. in 2022 with a pledged delivery date to begin in 2026, had been delayed. 

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«The United States Department of Defense has informed the (Swiss Defense Ministry) that it will reprioritize the delivery of Patriot systems to support Ukraine, focusing on ground-based air defense,» the ministry said in a statement.

«No statement can be made at this stage regarding the exact timing and any further implications for Switzerland,» the ministry added. «Clarifications are ongoing.»

Medvedev on Thursday said the action by NATO amounted to a full-blown war against Russia by the West.

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«What is happening today is a proxy war, but in essence it is a full-scale war (launches of Western missiles, satellite intelligence, etc.), sanctions packages, loud statements about the militarization of Europe,» he told the Russian media outlet. 

Though the push to send Patriot systems and threats to sanction Moscow are significant as it is the first time since Trump entered office that he has looked to start actively countering Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort, not everyone is convinced it is strong enough. 

EU leaders earlier in the week commented on the length of time the president allotted for Putin despite months of diplomacy failing to yield real action on the battlefield. 

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Ukraine defends itself against Russia's deadly assult.

Soldiers of the 30th Prince Konstanty Ostrogski Mechanized Brigade fire a missile from a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher at Russian troops positions in the Donetsk direction, Ukraine, on June 3, 2025. (Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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And Zelenskyy noted that 50 days of waiting means another 50 days of death for Ukrainian citizens. 

«Fifty days, for us, is just – every day is scary,» Zelenskyy said in an interview with the New York Post released on Thursday.

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«Putin has wasted President Trump’s time,» he added. «I would very much like to see the United States, the Congress and the president put some pressure on this situation with sanctions and so the sooner, the faster it can be done, the better.»

«We would certainly like to speed up this process,» Zelenskyy added. «We, for our part, will work to provide more information [to Trump], more arguments for strong sanctions against Russia.»

Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the Pentagon or Germany’s Defense Ministry for comment. 

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Republican fundraising outpaces Democrats by nearly double, June numbers show

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As the Democratic Party continues to reel from its 2024 losses and deals with internal strife, Republican fundraising nearly doubled that of the Democrats in June, according to reporting by The Hill and a Fox News Digital review.

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The Hill reported that the Republican National Committee raised a grand total of $16.2 million in the month of June, far outstripping the Democratic National Committee’s $8.6 million during the same period.

The RNC currently has a war chest totaling $80.78 million, while the DNC has $15.22 million on hand, according to the outlet.

This comes as the Democratic Party had to deal with internal turmoil in June, including drama over former vice-chair David Hogg, a progressive activist, who decided to not seek reelection just months after being elevated to the role. Hogg had sparked considerable internal rifts with his push to primary older incumbent Democrats.

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ONE YEAR AFTER BIDEN’S UNPRECEDENTED EXIT FROM 2024 RACE, DEMOCRATS POLL NUMBERS AT ROCK BOTTOM

President Trump and House Republicans are leading a fundraising surge, while Democrats’ fundraising has not been helped amid the party’s internal divisions. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo; J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo; J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo; David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

At the time, DNC vice-chair Malcolm Kenyatta told Fox News Digital the process was «frustrating» and felt like a «slap in the face.»

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«We haven’t been able to be singularly focused,» Kenyatta said. «We’ve spent a lot of time talking about procedural nonsense within the DNC. I promise you nobody cares about that, and nobody wants to talk about it as little as I do. I want us to get refocused.»

This comes after Vice President Kamala Harris spent a whopping $1.5 billion during her 15-week campaign that ended in defeat to President Donald Trump, including burning through millions of dollars on star-studded events on the eve of the election, according to a report.

Despite this seemingly dire situation, Democratic Party leadership is taking an optimistic tone, saying in a Monday statement that this June was the «best-ever» for grassroots donations in an off-year in the committee’s history.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTY CATAPULTED INTO ‘NEW PHASE OF A COLD WAR’ IN ONE-YEAR WAKE OF BIDEN’S UNPRECEDENTED DROPOUT

Kamala Harris closeup shot

2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris burned through $1.5 billion during her failed presidential bid, including millions spent on high-profile events just before her loss to Trump. (Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The statement said the party has raised a total of over $50 million since the start of the year.

DNC Chair Ken Martin commented that «around the country, people are energized, ready to fight back, and empowering Democrats to win elections.»

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«The DNC is breaking grassroots fundraising records, bringing on more volunteers than ever, and raising record-setting funds to beat Republicans,» said Martin. «Democrats are back in the ring thanks to grassroots energy across all 50 states, and together, we’re going to defeat the toxic Republican agenda and put this country back on track for hard-working families.»

Meanwhile, The Hill also reported the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) outraised its counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, $32.3 million to $29.1 million in the second quarter of the year and $18.1 million to $12.7 million in June.

The outlet noted that despite the fundraising, the DCCC reported having $39.7 million on hand, while the NRCC has $37.6 million. However, this is the first time in four years that the NRCC outraised the DCCC in the first six months of an election cycle.

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WATCH: NANCY PELOSI SILENT ON WHY BIDEN DID NOT RELEASE EPSTEIN FILES

House Republicans at press conference

GOP House leaders are touting a financial edge, with Republican congressional campaigns outraising Democrats in key battlegrounds. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

A Fox News Digital review of NRCC fundraising numbers found that on average, Republican congressional candidates in swing districts outraised vulnerable House Democrats in the second quarter $1.1 million to $661,000 and have more money on hand by over $848,000.

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In a statement emailed to Fox News Digital, NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella said the committee was building a «historic» war chest.

«While House Republicans build a historic war chest to grow the majority, House Democrats are broke, divided, and hijacked by socialists,» said Marinella. «Donors are slamming the brakes because they know this party is pathetic, aimless, and has no chance of taking back the majority.» 

Fox News Digital reached out to the RNC, DNC and DCCC for comment but did not immediately receive a response. 

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Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey, Paul Steinhauser and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.

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Russia bombards Ukraine hours before key meeting on Trump NATO weapons deal

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Russia attacked Ukraine overnight Monday and into the morning, killing two and injuring 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

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«Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity — in Kyiv, a kindergarten caught fire, along with residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. Ordinary apartment buildings were damaged in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and the region. 15 people have been injured, the youngest is a 12-year-old boy. Everyone is receiving assistance. Two people were killed in the attack,» Zelenskyy noted in the post on Monday.

TRUMP, RUTTE ANNOUNCE ‘REALLY BIG’ NATO ARMS PACKAGE AMID NEW 50 DAY DEADLINE TO PUTIN

«Throughout the night, Russia launched more than 420 drones and over 20 missiles, including ballistic ones. The waves of attacks lasted all night and continued into the morning. In the morning, ‘shaheds’ once again targeted the Kharkiv region. During the shelling, mobile fire groups, army aviation, electronic warfare units, Air Force warriors, and interceptor drones were in action. Many targets were shot down — but unfortunately, not all. That is why we must continue scaling up our interceptor capabilities. This is the kind of solution that can protect us from massive attacks,» he noted in another part of the lengthy post.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seen on July 10, 2025 in Rome. (Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

Last week while speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Donald Trump spoke about a plan involving other countries purchasing military equipment from the U.S. and supplying military equipment to Ukraine. 

Trump indicated that equipment will be swiftly delivered to the battlefield for Ukraine’s use.

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NATO CHIEF PRAISES TRUMP’S WEAPONS SALES TO ALLIES AS ‘SIGNIFICANT’ MOVE THAT COULD FORCE PUTIN TO NEGOTIATE

Firefighters work in destroyed building in Ukraine

Firefighters work in a destroyed apartment building after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

A NATO press release indicated that Rutte was slated to participate in a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on Monday.

«Last week, President Trump announced a new plan for large scale NATO weapons transfers and committed to getting these ‘quickly distributed to the battlefield,’» UK Defense Secretary John Healey MP was expected to say, in part, when opening the meeting, according to a UK government press release. «The UK government backs this policy, and we will play our full part in its success to bolster Ukraine’s immediate fight and to support our own and wider European security.»

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TRUMP SAYS US WILL SEND PATRIOT MISSILES TO UKRAINE, ADDS THAT PUTIN ‘TALKS NICE AND THEN HE BOMBS EVERYBODY’

Russian drones strike Kyiv, Ukraine

An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 21, 2025.  (REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)

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Russia’s Defense Ministry indicated that its forces downed 74 Ukrainian drones overnight, The Associated Press reported.

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Revolver en los basureros para buscar comida: el día a día de los indigentes en Cuba

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José Fernández se seca el sudor de la cara para «bucear» en un contenedor desbordado de basura en el céntrico bulevar de La Habana. Es un “trabajo” que le ha permitido “sobrevivir” en Cuba. Fernández le muestra a EFE el interior de una bolsita de plástico con comida que guarda “para luego”. “Aquí estoy… viviendo con lo que se puede”, dice.

Muy cerca de él, una mujer mayor pide dinero en la entrada de un restaurante con platos que ninguno de los dos podría pagar.

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Tras cinco años de profunda crisis, la percepción social en el país es que la mendicidad se ha disparado y cobrado factura a personas como José.

No es para menos: cobra 1.674 pesos cubanos (13 dólares, al cambio oficial) de pensión. Para poder comprar un cartón de huevos de 30 unidades necesitaría prácticamente el doble.

A unos kilómetros de ahí, en el acomodado barrio habanero de Miramar, José Luis Balsinder, de 56 años, cuenta a EFE que “nunca” había buscado en la basura. Pero su vida llegó a un punto de no retorno. “En mi vida había hecho esto, pero si no lo hago, no como”, lamenta.

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Balsinder recorre un día sí y otro no los casi 50 kilómetros que separan a La Habana y Guanajay en Artemisa (oeste), donde vive. “Si aquí no hay, imagínate allá”, afirma.

Él era guardia de seguridad y con un sueldo de 2.500 pesos (20 dólares, al cambio oficial) no le alcanzaba para vivir con lo más básico. Ahora tiene que esculcar en los depósitos de basura o encontrar “suerte” entre la gente que le regala algo para comer.

“Disfrazados”

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Para la ahora ex ministra de Trabajo y Seguridad Social, Marta Elena Feitó, ni Fernández ni Balsinder existen en realidad.

Cuba se encuentra sumida en una grave crisis económica desde 2020, evidente en la escasez de básicos, los frecuentes apagones, la creciente dolarización y una inflación galopante. Foto EFE

La funcionaria entró en el centro de la polémica tras declarar el pasado lunes en el Parlamento que en el país no hay mendigos sino personas “disfrazadas” en busca de una vida “fácil” con el fin de evadir el fisco.

Los diputados –todos militantes del Partido Comunista (PCC, único legal) o miembros de organizaciones afines al Gobierno– aplaudieron a la ministra cuando terminó de hablar.

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Un día después, el presidente cubano, Miguel Díaz-Canel, reprobó las palabras de Feitó, quien también es miembro del Comité Central del PCC. Al término de la jornada presentó su renuncia al cargo.

El Gobierno cubano se refiere a los indigentes como “personas con conducta deambulante”. Según cifras oficiales, entre 2014 y septiembre de 2023 se identificaron 3.690, mayormente hombres de edad avanzada.

Al respecto, el primer ministro cubano, Manuel Marrero, afirmó en el Parlamento que “más de 310.000 personas están en situación de vulnerabilidad”. Es decir: un 3 % de la población.

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Las cuentas no dan

Marrero también anunció que, a partir de septiembre, se doblará la pensión mínima de los 1.528 pesos cubanos actuales (12,7 dólares, al cambio oficial) hasta los 3.056 pesos (25,4 dólares). El precio del cartón de huevos.

Tanto las pensiones como el sueldo medio estatal –5.839 pesos cubanos o unos 48,6 dólares, al cambio oficial– se encuentran por debajo de las necesidades básicas de una familia, según cálculos independientes.

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Un hombre revisa un contenedor de basura en La Habana (Cuba). Foto EFEUn hombre revisa un contenedor de basura en La Habana (Cuba). Foto EFE

El costo de la canasta básica de alimentación subió un 18 % en un año y pasó de los 19.975 pesos mensuales (166 dólares) de finales de 2023 a los 24.351 (202 dólares) al cierre del año pasado, de acuerdo con cálculos realizados por el economista independiente Omar Everleny, con base en datos oficiales.

Según el experto, eso sería lo que necesitaría un núcleo familiar de dos personas para adquirir una canasta de 17 productos de alimentos básicos (incluyendo los subvencionados por la cartilla de racionamiento). No se incluyen los costos para el transporte, internet, ropa y el aseo personal.

Eufemismos

La economista cubana Tamarys Bahamonde es tajante. Para ella, el oficialismo ha utilizado históricamente “eufemismos que esconden la realidad” como el término “vulnerabilidad” o la “conducta deambulante” para hablar de la pobreza en la isla.

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“La vulnerabilidad indica el peligro de tener el problema mañana, no ahora. Si eres vulnerable, no eres pobre en el presente, lo serás en algún momento. Si el discurso oficial no menciona directamente a los pobres, asume que no los hay y eso es grave, porque si no identificas la pobreza como un problema nunca lo vas a atender”, explicó.

En su reprobación a la exministra del Trabajo, Díaz-Canel aseguró: “No se defiende a la revolución cuando ocultamos los problema que tenemos”.

Pero Bahamonde va más allá. Señala que otro “gran problema del discurso” es decir “conducta deambulante” porque asume que el problema no es un “problema del sistema (político), sino de la conducta de las personas: “Ellos quieren ser así y asumir eso es peligroso”.

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Para la experta “la pobreza en Cuba es sistémica porque el sistema no genera las suficientes condiciones socioeconómicas para que las personas puedan salir del ciclo de pobreza”.

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