Politics
Iranian vessels have begun passing through the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz
Iranian tankers and cargo ships have begun passing through the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz following an agreement between Tehran and Washington. According to Iranian news agencies, several vessels have already crossed the US control line.
The NATO summit in Ankara is set to determine the Alliance’s future security architecture – Erdogan
Turkey is finalising preparations for the NATO summit, which will take place in Ankara on 7–8 July. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has described the upcoming meeting as a crucial step in shaping the Alliance’s future security architecture.
The UK has announced new sanctions against Russia’s energy sector and support for Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector
At the G7 summit, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the introduction of a new package of energy sanctions against Russia. London also confirmed an agreement to supply enriched uranium to Ukrainian nuclear power stations over the next two years.
The CIA Director has expressed doubts about Iran’s willingness to make concessions on its nuclear programme
John Ratcliffe, Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, has cast doubt on Iran’s willingness to comply with the nuclear commitments that Washington is insisting upon. He voiced these assessments during discussions with President Donald Trump and his advisers.
The UK is set to tighten sanctions against Russian tankers
The UK is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia, which will target vessels in the shadow fleet and tankers used to transport Russian LNG.
The arbitration tribunal partially recognised Russia’s violations in the Kerch Strait, but rejected most of Ukraine’s claims
The Arbitration Tribunal in The Hague found that Russia had committed certain violations during the construction of the Kerch Bridge, but rejected most of Ukraine’s claims regarding Russia’s control over the Kerch Strait.
Zelenskyy arrived in Evian to attend a special G7 meeting on Ukraine
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has arrived in Evian, France, where he is taking part in a special session of the G7 summit dedicated to Ukraine. A series of bilateral meetings with leaders of states and international organisations is also scheduled as part of the visit.
The Foreign Ministry has criticised UNESCO over its statement regarding the attack on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi has criticised UNESCO for condemning the attack on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra without explicitly naming Russia as responsible for the attack.
Fedorov announced the launch of new Defence Forces contracts
Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has announced that the signing of new Defence Forces contracts has begun in Ukraine. These contracts provide for fixed terms of service, guaranteed deferrals following the end of the contract, a new payment system and greater predictability for service personnel.
Russia has once again refused to hold its main naval parade
In 2026, the Russian Ministry of Defence does not plan to hold the so-called main naval parade in St Petersburg. According to the Russian publication *Fontanka*, preparations for the event have not even begun. This is one of the Russian Federation’s flagship military events, which has been held in St Petersburg since 2017. In 2025, it was cancelled entirely, and in 2024, it was significantly scaled back.
Lukashenko apologised to Zelenskyy and stated that Belarus has no plans to take military action against Ukraine
Belarus’s self-proclaimed president, Alexander Lukashenko, has apologised to Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his harsh remarks and stated that Minsk is not expected to take military action against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy called on the EU to speed up Ukraine’s accession following the opening of the first round of negotiations
The countries of the European Union have decided to open the first negotiation chapter on Ukraine and Moldova’s accession to the EU. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described this move as a sign that European progress cannot be stopped.
