Russia

Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel expressed support for former President Donald Trump’s position on Russian energy during a Tuesday interview with CNN International, acknowledging that continued reliance on Russian fossil fuels indirectly finances the war in Ukraine. Van Weel emphasized the need for both the United States and Europe to accelerate their transition away from Russian oil and gas.

President Trump said NATO should shoot down Russian jets violating their airspace, while noting U.S. backing would depend on circumstances.

Russia, China, and Iran are using Charlie Kirk’s assassination to spread disinformation, inflame tensions, and destabilize the United States.

Russian MiG‑31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace near Vaindloo Island in the Baltic Sea and remained inside for about 12 minutes, Estonian officials report. Although NATO‑deployed Italian F‑35s signaled the Russian aircraft to leave, radar and visual monitoring suggest the Russian pilots ignored the signals. The aircraft were flying without flight plans or active transponders at the time.

The foreign influence in the United States is the target of new legislation introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who says adversaries have long exploited tax-exempt organizations to promote hostile interests.

India’s involvement in Russian military exercises and its continued purchases of Russian oil are complicating efforts to deepen ties with the European Union, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels. These actions, she noted, are “obstacles to our cooperation” as the EU and India strive for closer strategic alignment.

Bulgarian authorities arrested Russian national Igor Grechushkin at Sofia’s airport, nearly five years after a massive explosion at Lebanon's Port of Beirut that killed over 200 people. Grechushkin is the owner of the ship MV Rhosus, which brought tons of ammonium nitrate to Beirut in 2013—a shipment at the center of the tragedy.

President Trump demanded that NATO allies pause their purchases of Russian oil as the president is considering new sanctions against the country.

Ukrainian drones struck one of Russia’s largest oil refineries overnight, igniting a large fire and adding pressure to Russia’s growing fuel crisis, Ukrainian military officials confirmed Saturday.

Russia on Friday dismissed a Western plan to provide Ukraine with long-term security guarantees, even as more than two dozen countries pledged troops and resources to a proposed “reassurance force” after any eventual peace deal. The announcement followed a Paris summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and attended by Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, with leaders from the U.K., Germany, Italy, and other allies joining remotely.