Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner in Moscow as Washington tests a revised plan to end the Ukraine war. The talks come amid intensified Russian claims of battlefield momentum and unresolved questions over what security guarantees, if any, could underpin a deal acceptable to Kyiv.
Source: Washington Post
Russia Says Over 100 Drones Hit Overnight as Oil Depot Burns in Tambov
Russia reported more than 100 Ukrainian drones targeted multiple border regions overnight, igniting an oil depot in the Tambov region and prompting claims of widespread interceptions. The surge in long-range drone warfare underscores escalating risks to energy infrastructure and deepening spillover beyond the front lines.
Source: TASS
Belgium Blocks EU Plan to Tap Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine
Belgium rejected a European Union proposal to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort and economy, citing legal and financial risks. The move highlights divisions within the bloc over how to sustain long-term support for Kyiv while navigating complex sanctions law and market stability concerns.
Source: NPR
Belarus ‘Weather Balloons’ Shut Lithuania’s Main Airport in Suspected Hybrid Tactic
Vilnius Airport was forced into repeated closures after Belarus-launched weather balloons drifted over its runways, prompting Lithuanian accusations of deliberate disruption. The episode adds to a growing pattern of gray-zone pressure on NATO’s eastern flank that blurs lines between civilian activity and coercive state action.
Source: NPR
Belarus to Host Russian Intermediate-Range Missiles, Raising Deterrence Stakes
Minsk confirmed plans to deploy Russia’s Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile system, with officials signaling potential joint use in a crisis. The deployment, near NATO territory and Ukraine, would sharpen escalation risks and compress decision timelines in Europe’s already strained security environment.
Source: Jamestown Foundation
Five Chinese Workers Killed in Attacks in Tajikistan Near Afghan Border
Two attacks along Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan left five Chinese workers dead, with reports that a drone dropped grenades in one incident. The killings spotlight mounting threats to Chinese nationals and projects in Central Asia and the fragility of border security amid militant and criminal activity.
Source: The Diplomat
Honduras Vote Tensions Mount as Tally Flips and Trump’s Pardon Roils Politics
Honduras’ presidential race saw a dramatic lead change after a counting interruption, amid accusations of U.S. interference and controversy over Donald Trump’s pardon of former President Juan Orlando Hernández. The turmoil risks inflaming regional instability and complicating Washington’s counter-narcotics narrative.
Source: BBC
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