Russian foreign minister; long-serving diplomat shaping Moscow's diplomacy
U.S. and Israeli intelligence has reported that Iran’s estimated time to produce a nuclear weapon has remained broadly unchanged since last summer despite Operation Midnight Hammer and two months of strikes that began on Feb. 28. Officials say recent attacks have focused on conventional targets; removing Iran’s highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile will be required to change the estimate.
Russia has warned foreign citizens and diplomatic staff to leave Kyiv, saying it is preparing systematic strikes on decision-making centres, command posts and drone facilities after a weekend barrage. EU and several European states have summoned Russia's envoys and said the threats are an unacceptable escalation; diplomats in Kyiv have not publicly departed.
British, French and German ambassadors have met Russian officials to press for direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv after the E3 leaders backed Zelenskyy’s proposal for a face-to-face summit. Moscow has rejected meeting before a deal is agreed and continues to strike and be struck by Ukrainian long-range and drone attacks that have disrupted Russian supply lines and fuel deliveries to Crimea.
G7 leaders have pledged tougher sanctions and stepped-up industrial support for Ukraine after meetings in Evian, but U.S.-led mediation has stalled while President Trump has shifted focus to the Middle East. Russia has accused the U.S. of abandoning neutral mediation, and Russian strikes and Ukrainian long-range drone attacks have recently hit Russian infrastructure and Kyiv's historic Lavra monastery.
Ukraine has escalated long-range strikes against Crimea, aiming to isolate the peninsula and disrupt energy and transport links. Russia is restricting fuel sales and cancelling public events, while Ukraine targets oil depots, transport corridors and power infrastructure ahead of the holiday season.
The Kremlin has made a show of defiance while Ukrainian strikes disrupt Russian fuel networks. Putin has admitted the strikes are painful, but demands a peace framework anchored in the Istanbul accords and expanded territorial goals. Moscow is doubling down even as fuel shortages bite. Follow developments as Western allies recalibrate support.
Since mid-July, Russia and Ukraine have traded deeper strikes: ballistic missiles and drones have hit cities around Kyiv and Sloviansk while Ukraine has struck deep into Russian territory, hitting oil depots, logistics hubs and Wildberries warehouses. A Russian strike on a grain ship leaving Odesa has killed foreign crew and prompted India to summon Russia’s envoy.
The pro-European government has dismantled parts of the prior administration, suspended state media services, and pushed a constitutional amendment to remove the Orbán-era president, setting a 12-year term limit for MPs. Protests and investigations accompany the shift as Hungary charts a new political course.
North Korea has reinforced its strategic partnership with Russia as Moscow and Pyongyang expand military and political cooperation. Choe Son Hui’s Moscow visit follows high-level exchanges with China, underscoring a widening alignment against the West. Experts say Kim Jong Un’s regime is pursuing tech and defense gains in exchange for economic and diplomatic support.
ASEAN foreign ministers are meeting amid renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities and a wider Middle East crisis that has destabilized energy markets. The Philippines hosts the talks, with focus on Myanmar’s civil war, the South China Sea code of conduct, and energy-security measures as global oil prices rise.
News outlets report US officials are examining possible Russian involvement in Iran-linked drone strikes on CIA facilities in the Gulf region, citing growing evidence of Moscow’s technical support for Tehran. Analysts say Moscow’s assistance could influence broader US-Iran dynamics as tensions persist.
The US and Russia remain engaged in diplomatic talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Rubio has described constructive discussions with Lavrov in Manila, emphasizing a possible role for the US in brokering a settlement, while Lavrov reiterates Moscow’s readiness for a political solution. Talks come amid broader regional tensions and Middle East concerns.
Ukraine has targeted an Iranian-linked vessel in the Caspian Sea, drawing Iranian retaliation warnings and Kyiv’s claim of strong long-range strikes. Tehran says the attack is hostile and uncalled for, while Ukraine asserts its action targets military cargo linked to Iran. The event marks a widening of the Russia-Ukraine conflict across maritime corridors.