Russian authorities express displeasure over Trump's alleged illegal declaration of punitive tariffs aimed at India
In recent developments, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to be a source of international concern. Here's a roundup of the latest news:
Russia's aggression in Ukraine shows no signs of abating, with intensified attacks on strategically important railway lines. A nighttime Russian air strike on the Ukrainian railway hub of Losowa damaged the train station and other infrastructure buildings. Tragically, a railway employee was killed, and ten others were injured.
Ukraine claims to have destroyed two Russian tanks in the past day, and the Ryazan refinery of Russian state-owned Rosneft is currently operating at only 48% of its normal capacity after Ukrainian drone attacks.
The US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, described the introduction of secondary sanctions against countries buying Russian oil as an "obvious next step" to end Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. However, India dismisses criticism from the US and EU over its oil imports from Russia as "unjustified and unreasonable."
Meanwhile, the EU is preparing a package of sanctions against China, following reports of Chinese companies shipping drone engines to Russia, labelled as "industrial cooling fans" to circumvent Western sanctions. This escalation appears to be the trigger for the growing EU frustration with China’s complicity in sustaining Russia's war effort.
In December 2024, the EU imposed travel bans, asset freezes, and economic restrictions on Chinese entities and individuals supplying drone and microelectronic components to Russia. Mid-2025, the EU is preparing further sanctions targeting covert Chinese shipments of drone engines, and in July 2025, the EU included two Chinese banks in its broader Russia sanctions package.
China denies involvement and describes the EU sanctions as unreasonable, claiming strict export controls on drones and opposing the measures. However, EU officials emphasize the significance of China’s material support in sustaining Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
Elsewhere, the Netherlands announced a new weapon package worth around 500 million euros for Ukraine, including U.S. weapons and ammunition for Patriot air defense systems. US Special Representative Keith Kellogg is expected to travel to Ukraine later this week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Ukraine, marking Erdogan's first visit to Kyiv since 2012. The frontline in Pokrovsk remains the most active combat zone between Russian attackers and defenders.
A study finds that Ukrainian refugees prioritize job opportunities over higher welfare benefits when choosing a country to go to. More than 3,300 Ukrainian refugees in Europe were surveyed.
Russian ultranationalist Putin ideologue Alexander Dugin has criticized the U.S.'s escalating rhetoric over Russia's war in Ukraine. Oleksandra Bienert, chairwoman of the Alliance of Ukrainian Organizations, rejected the proposal by CSU chairman Markus Söder to pay Ukrainians living in Germany benefits according to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act instead of citizen's income.
Brigade General Christoph Huber of the 45th Panzer Brigade of the German Armed Forces in Lithuania has reaffirmed the goal of transforming the troops stationed in Lithuania into a deployable brigade within two years. A Russian nuclear submarine base in the Kamchatka region appears to have been damaged following last week's strong earthquake.
ntv's Russia correspondent Rainer Munz looked at the shadow soldiers in the Kremlin's service and recent Russian comments on nuclear weapons. Putin's forces attempted to advance there in 45 attempts over the past day.
These developments underscore the ongoing complexity and volatility of the situation in Ukraine, with international tensions continuing to rise.
- The EU's preparation of sanctions against China, due to reports of Chinese companies shipping drone engines to Russia, highlights the growing tension in the international politics surrounding the Ukraine conflict.
- In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the employment opportunities offered by different host countries are of significant importance to Ukrainian refugees, as revealed by a recent study.
