Russia-Ukraine war: A weekly recap and look ahead (Aug. 1)

Caption

A grain combine harvester collects wheat near Novoazovsk outside Mariupol, Ukraine. / AFP via Getty Images

As the week begins, here's a roundup of key developments from the past week and a look ahead.

What to watch this week

Monday: As a ship loaded with Ukrainian grain left Odesa for the first time since the war began, there are hopes that it will be the first of many resuming the country's exports.

Tuesday: The trial of WNBA star Brittney Griner continues in Moscow.

Wednesday: ASEAN-led meetings get underway in Cambodia, where Ukraine will be on the agenda. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be among top diplomats gathering in Phnom Penh.

Friday: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are expected to meet in Sochi, Russia.

What happened last week

July 25: Russia's Gazprom said it would reduce the amount of gas it sends through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 20% of capacity. On the same day, Russia announced it would quit taking part in the International Space Station after 2024.

July 26: European Union energy ministers agreed on an emergency deal to ration natural gas to help EU countries get through the coming winter.

July 27: On the same day that Brittney Griner's trial continued in Moscow, the U.S. proposed a prisoner swap in which Moscow would free Griner and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine imprisoned in Russia, in exchange for the U.S. release of imprisoned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

July 28: Russian missile strikes targeted Ukraine's Kyiv and Chernihiv regions on the same day that Ukrainian authorities announced an operation to liberate the occupied region of Kherson in the south.

July 29: Ukraine and Russia blamed one another for shelling that killed dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war in eastern Ukraine. Also, Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the first time since the war began, urging Russia to accept the proposal aimed at bringing home Griner and Whelan. Blinken also pressed Russia on allowing Ukrainian grain exports.

July 30: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a mandatory evacuation of people in the eastern Donetsk region. Also, Gazprom cut off gas shipments to Latvia. Russia demands payment in rubles and has already stopped gas shipments to other EU countries after their refusal to do so.

July 31: Marking Russia's Navy Day, President Vladimir Putin approved a new naval doctrine highlighting the U.S. and NATO as the the biggest threats to Russia.

In-depth

Who is Viktor Bout, the prisoner the U.S. may trade for Brittney Griner?

In the Russia-Ukraine war, drones are one of the most powerful weapons.

At 75, the CIA is back where it started — countering the Kremlin.

Phoenix Mercury fans long for Brittney Griner's release from Russian captivity

It's official: The U.K. will host next year's Eurovision contest on behalf of Ukraine.

Special report

Russia's war in Ukraine is changing the world: See its ripple effects in all corners of the globe.

Earlier developments

You can read past recaps here. For context and more in-depth stories, you can find more of NPR's coverage here. Also, listen and subscribe to NPR's State of Ukraine podcast for updates throughout the day.

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