How Russia’s Military Operation Has Impacted Ordinary Citizens, According to a New Survey
The findings reveal a nation facing economic strain, emotional toll, and shifting views—while many feel unaffected.
And a whole world in BRIEFLY.
Trump’s Ukraine Envoy Steve Witkoff Has Business Ties to Sanctioned Billionaire Len Blavatnik
Blavatnik holds both U.S. and U.K. citizenship and has generously funded election campaigns for both Democrats and Republicans.
Russian Railways Faces Mounting Debt Amid Suspicions of Engineered Financial Crisis
Amid a new multi-billion-ruble bond issue, analysts suspect Russian Railways’ deepening financial troubles may be part of a calculated strategy to trigger a covert ownership change.
Russia’s Unmanned Systems Troops: Grand Plans, Slipping Deadlines
The effort to establish a dedicated Unmanned Systems branch within Russia’s Armed Forces is sputtering. The deadline Defense Minister Andrei Belousov set for standing up an independent service by the third quarter of 2025 now appears likely to slip.
Putin Demands Monetary Normalization and Industrial Growth
At a recent meeting with cabinet members, President Vladimir Putin forcefully raised the need to normalize monetary policy and secure industrial growth.
China Receives First LNG Cargo From a U.S.-Sanctioned Russian Project
If confirmed, this would mark the first such delivery amid Moscow’s efforts to sustain energy exports, Bloomberg notes.
The EU Moves Closer to Using Russian Assets to Rebuild Ukraine
Brussels is seeking a way to channel the returns from frozen Russian funds into Ukraine’s defense and postwar reconstruction without resorting to immediate confiscation.
Why the Russia–India–China Reboot Won’t Last
Trump’s trade war has pushed Moscow, New Delhi, and Beijing into a tactical rapprochement. Yet beneath the outward unity lies an old, deep-seated mistrust.
Unconditional Support, Rising Pride: Russia’s National Identity Hardens
According to the latest Levada Center poll, feelings of national pride and identity have risen markedly in recent years.
Ukraine Fortifies Itself Against a “Dictated Peace”: How Kyiv Is Building Its Own Security Guarantees
Even if President Donald Trump periodically signals a readiness to allow Kyiv to strike targets on Russian territory, Ukraine’s room for maneuver remains limited.
Rubio’s Mission: How Washington Is Building “Security Guarantees” for Ukraine
The administration of President Donald Trump is trying to jump-start the stalled peacea process in the war in Ukraine—and a key role in that effort has been assigned to Marco Rubio.
Germany: Uproar After Friedrich Merz’s Remarks on Possible Bundeswehr Participation in Ensuring Ukraine’s Security
As Le Monde notes, even a hypothetical mention of a potential role for the German army in security guarantees for Ukraine instantly split a country steeped in a pacifist political culture.
India’s Nayara Turns to the “Dark Fleet” and Russian Crude: How EU Sanctions Reshaped Its Logistics
Nayara is a major player in India: its refinery of about 400,000 barrels per day accounts for 8% of the country’s processing capacity, and its network of filling stations covers roughly 7% of the retail fuel market.
