- Jul 27
US and Iran pause attacks after 13 nights of airstrikes, oil drops 6% as diplomacy gains room
After 13 consecutive nights of US airstrikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on American allies, both sides have held fire for two days. Behind-the-scenes talks via Oman, Qatar and Pakistan are underway, while Brent crude fell 6% to $91.
- Jul 27
Iran threatens retaliation after Ukrainian drone kills sailor on Caspian Sea vessel
Tehran says one sailor died and another was wounded when a Ukrainian drone hit an Iranian commercial vessel on the Caspian Sea, calling the attack a violation of the UN Charter and vowing self-defense.
- Jul 27
Iran threatens retaliation after Ukraine strikes Iranian ship in Caspian Sea, killing one sailor
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called President Zelensky a 'freeloader' and said the drone strike on an Iranian commercial vessel, which killed one sailor, 'cannot remain unanswered'.
- Jul 26
Iran threatens retaliation after Ukrainian drone strike kills sailor on Caspian Sea cargo ship
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea killed one sailor and will not go unanswered, while Kyiv says it targeted ships ferrying weapons between Iran and Russia.
- Jul 26
Iran accuses Ukraine of deadly long-range strike on merchant ship in Caspian Sea; one sailor killed
Tehran says a Ukrainian long-range strike hit an Iranian merchant ship in the Caspian Sea on Saturday, killing one sailor and wounding another. Kyiv claims the vessel was ferrying military cargo to Russia.
- Jul 25
Russia kills 10 at Kyiv defence expo, Zelenskyy says event should never have been held
A Russian ballistic missile strike on a defence industry drone demonstration near Kyiv on Friday killed 10 people and injured nearly 100, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to say the event should never have taken place in wartime.
- Jul 25
Trump threatens EU with tariffs and Section 301 probe over 'illegal' 890 million euro Google fine
The US president announced an immediate trade investigation on Friday and warned the bloc would 'pay a very big price' after Brussels penalised the Alphabet unit for breaching its Digital Markets Act.
- Jul 24
US imposes 10-12.5% tariffs on 60 nations over forced labor, replacing struck-down global levy
The tariffs, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, took effect at midnight Eastern Time on July 24, replacing a temporary 10% global tariff that the Supreme Court had invalidated. The EU, Canada, and the UK face the lower rate; Australia, China, and Japan the higher one, though existing deals may shield some.
- Jul 24
EU adopts 21st Russia sanctions package, freezing oil cap at $44 and granting Greek LNG shipping exception
EU ambassadors agreed on the 21st sanctions package against Russia on 23 July, freezing the oil price cap at $44 per barrel and granting Greece a one-year exception for LNG shipments to non-EU countries.
- Jul 24
EU clinches 21st Russia sanctions deal after Greece wins one-year exemption for LNG tankers
EU ambassadors overcame months of deadlock on Thursday morning, agreeing to a 21st sanctions package after Greece secured a one-year exemption for its LNG tankers carrying Russian gas to non-EU countries.
- Jul 23
EU approves 21st sanctions package against Russia, freezes oil price cap at $44.10 after Greek shipping exemption
After weeks of wrangling, EU ambassadors agreed to freeze the oil price cap at $44.10 per barrel for 12 months, add 32 Russian banks to the transaction ban, and target the shadow fleet, but watered down LNG transport restrictions to satisfy Athens.
- Jul 13
EU split over Israeli settlement trade ban as foreign ministers fail to reach majority for action
A proposal to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank won the most support among EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, but fell short of the simple majority needed to compel the European Commission to draft sanctions.
- Jul 13
France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK summon Russian envoys over an FSB-orchestrated cyber sabotage campaign spanning a dozen European nations
Paris, Berlin, The Hague and London will all call in Russia's ambassadors after EU and UK intelligence linked Moscow's FSB to hacks on government networks, critical infrastructure and military supply routes, with 13 EU and 24 UK individuals and entities sanctioned.
- Jul 11
EU cuts 2 million euros in funds to Venice Biennale over Russian pavilion dispute
The European Commission officially recommended halting a 2-million-euro grant after the Biennale allowed the Russian pavilion to open, drawing sharp backlash from Italian regional and party officials.
- Jul 8
EASA tells airlines to avoid Iran, Iraq and Lebanon airspace until 31 August after new US-Iran strikes
The EU aviation safety agency has told carriers to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq and Lebanon through 31 August, citing a fragile US-Iran truce and the risk of further military action after a new round of strikes.
- Jul 4
Ukraine's Fedorow resigns as defence minister, blasts military leadership as protests erupt in Kyiv
Mychajlo Fedorow stepped down after a power struggle with Commander-in-Chief Olexandr Syrskyj, accusing him of blocking reforms and undermining morale. Hundreds protested in Kyiv as parliament confirmed a new prime minister.
- Jun 17
Turkey accuses European Parliament of giving platform to terrorist groups after report condemns democratic backsliding and violations against Greece
Ankara issued a furious response after the European Parliament adopted a resolution criticising Turkey’s erosion of democracy, its Blue Homeland doctrine, and abuses against Greece and Cyprus, and warned of possible sanctions on Turkish officials.
- Jun 16
Trump announces signed US-Iran ceasefire deal at G7, Strait of Hormuz set to reopen
President Donald Trump confirmed the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Iran to end the Gulf war, while global oil prices fell sharply on the prospect of the Strait of Hormuz fully reopening.
- Jun 16
Russian drone strike sets UNESCO-listed Pechersk Lavra cathedral ablaze in Kyiv, drawing global condemnation
A Russian kamikaze drone struck the Dormition Cathedral of the Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in the early hours of Monday, triggering a large fire and prompting swift condemnation from European leaders.
- Jun 8
Turkey scrambles F-16s as Greek, French and Dutch defence ministers fly to Cyprus for EU summit
Two Turkish F-16s shadowed aircraft carrying the Greek, French and Dutch defence ministers to an informal EU defence summit in Nicosia on Sunday evening, while radio interference was reported from the breakaway north.
