- 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 24
Rubio and Lavrov hold 35-minute Manila meeting; US says Anchorage peace framework has failed
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that the peace framework discussed at the 2025 Trump-Putin summit in Anchorage is no longer viable, after a brief meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila.
- Jul 23
Rubio rejects Lavrov's demand to halt arms to Ukraine at ASEAN summit in Manila
At a half-hour meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Washington's military support for Kyiv will not change, despite Moscow's call to halt the 'unacceptable' arming of Ukraine.
- Jul 23
Lavrov warns Rubio against 'inadmissible' US arms to Ukraine as first meeting in 10 months yields no breakthrough
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that continued American arms deliveries to Ukraine are 'inadmissible' during a 30-minute meeting in Manila, while Rubio insisted Washington's policy remains unchanged and called for 'new ideas' to end the war.
- Jul 21
North Korea and Russia pledge mutual support at Moscow talks; 15,000 troops sent, 2,000 killed in Ukraine
Foreign ministers Choe Son-hui and Sergey Lavrov held their third strategic dialogue in Moscow, agreeing to accelerate cooperation. North Korea has sent up to 15,000 soldiers to fight in Ukraine, with at least 2,000 killed, according to South Korean intelligence.
- Jul 12
Ukraine’s drone blitz hits 90 Russian vessels in Sea of Azov, forcing suspension of navigation
Ukrainian drones have damaged around 90 vessels in the Sea of Azov in under a week, including tankers, ferries and dry cargo ships, forcing Russia to suspend navigation through the Don-Azov channel and disrupting traffic in the Kerch Strait.
- Jul 10
Ukraine's drone campaign cripples Russian refineries, triggering fuel crisis for 50 million
A wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and fuel depots has triggered a nationwide fuel crisis, with long queues, rationing, and remote work directives spreading across multiple regions.
- May 26
Russia warns diplomats to leave Kyiv, threatens 'systematic strikes' on decision-making centres in major escalation
Moscow has urged foreign citizens and diplomatic staff to evacuate Kyiv, warning of an imminent campaign of 'systematic strikes' targeting decision-making centres and military-industrial facilities in the Ukrainian capital.
- May 26
Russia Threatens Systematic Strikes on Kyiv and Mass Destruction as Germany and EU Summon Envoys
Russia demanded foreign citizens and diplomats leave Kyiv ahead of planned systematic strikes, prompting Germany and the EU to summon Russian diplomats on Tuesday.
- May 25
Lavrov Tells Rubio to Evacuate US Diplomats, Citizens from Kyiv as Russia Vows Systematic Strikes on 'Decision-Making Centers'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday that Moscow is launching systematic strikes on military and decision-making sites in Kyiv, urging Washington to evacuate its citizens and diplomatic personnel.
