Wednesday briefing: Will Zelenskyy’s domestic struggles harm his reputation on the global stage?

<p>In today’s newsletter: A recent government reshuffle has exposed deep fractures within Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s wartime cabinet</p><p></p><p>Good morning. Another week, another diplomatic success for Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Monday, his first meeting with Andy Burnham as PM confirmed continuity in the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine. “We’ve got your back,” Burnham said as the pair spoke in Portsmouth. Yesterday, in Washington DC, after attending the funeral of Lindsey Graham – a once supportive Republican senator – Zelenskyy and Trump held a “positive and productive” meeting, as per the White House. Overnight, the US Senate advanced a sweeping Russian sanctions bill.</p><p>Save for that somewhat shaky start in the early days of Donald 2.0, these well-executed global stage set-pieces have come to define Zelenskyy’s wartime leadership. The <a href="https://www.kielinstitut.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker">hundreds of billions</a> he has secured in military, financial and humanitarian aid from the US, Europe, the UK and beyond during a period of global economic unease is remarkable.</p><p><em><strong>UK news </strong></em>| Young people will be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jul/28/young-people-new-work-support-mcfadden-benefits">expected to engage</a> with new support to find work, Pat McFadden has said.</p><p><em><strong>World news </strong></em>| At least <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/29/japan-earthquake-death-aftershocks">13 people have been killed</a> after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan, injuring hundreds and knocking out power and water to tens of thousands.</p><p><em><strong>Europe news </strong></em>| Nearly 4,000 people<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/28/france-bordeaux-lacanau-evacuation-wildfires-madrid-spain"> have been evacuated from</a> tourist sites on France’s Atlantic coast as the return of winds and extreme heat jeopardises firefighters’ battles to contain wildfires raging in France and Spain.</p><p><em><strong>US news </strong></em>| Donald Trump <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/28/trump-netanyahu-zelenskyy-meetings">hosted back-to-back White House meetings</a> with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, as Ukraine seeks more firepower for its air defences and the Israeli prime minister tries to repair his strained relationship with the US president.</p><p><em><strong>UK news </strong></em>| Led By Donkeys <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/28/led-by-donkeys-compensation-seizure-gaza-protest-banner-london">has received compensation</a> after a giant banner it displayed in Parliament Square saying “Yes It’s A Genocide” was seized by officials and destroyed.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/29/wednesday-briefing-will-zelenskyys-domestic-struggles-harm-his-reputation-on-the-global-stage">Continue reading...</a>