Day 523 and the conflict in Ukraine continues with no end in sight.

Ukraine’s president is warning that his country will take the conflict directly to Russia. That’s after a drone attack in Moscow. No one has claimed responsibility. 

And Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed guarded openness to an African peace initiative, while Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev talks about the possible use of a nuclear weapon if the Ukrainian counter-offensive is successful.

Joining the discussion:

• Anton Fedyashin is a Russian affairs analyst and history professor at American University. 
• Klaus Larres is a European affairs analyst and professor of history and international affairs at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 
• Sergio Kudelia is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Baylor University. 
• Dmitry Babich is a Russian journalist and political analyst. 

Russian missiles slammed into the central Ukrainian hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, killing at least one person, wounding 10 and likely trapping others beneath rubble. https://t.co/BtGuQ04d0n

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 31, 2023

Workers dismount a Soviet emblem from the shield of the Motherland Monument in Kyiv, Ukraine. More photos of the day: https://t.co/GZ5vlnsYNa 📷 Valentyn Ogirenko pic.twitter.com/umb0paXAlz

— Reuters Pictures (@reuterspictures) July 31, 2023