Russia-Ukraine War, Iran Nuclear Deal, and Global Oil Prices Dominate News

As of 11:22 a.m. Moscow time (8:22 a.m. GMT), Brent was down 4.89%, trading at $85.96 per barrel

Russian official dismisses as provocation IAEA report of blasts near ZNPP

"On the one hand, they want to show they are doing something useful, on the other - to sow the thought of Russia’s inability to ensure nuclear safety in the collective mind of the West," an adviser to the head of Russia’s Rosenergoatom nuclear power engineering company says

Moscow and St. Petersburg to allow road accident participants not to call in police as experiment

Now they can do so if the damage caused as a result of a road accident does not exceed 30,000 roubles

IN BRIEF: Key statements from Kremlin spokesman Peskov briefing

According to Dmitry Peskov, Russia is concerned about the latest escalation between the US and Iran and calls on all parties to exercise restraint and return to negotiations

Russia still waits for US to appoint its ambassador to Moscow — Ambassador Darchiev

The diplomat added that Moscow hopes this will happen "sooner or later"

Russia promises to do its best to prevent escalation in Transnistria

According to Igor Dodon, the most dangerous development of events would be Moldova's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine through the escalation of the situation in Transnistria, which, in fact, the radicals in Kiev and Chisinau are seeking, Maria Zakharova said

Iran wants to end war rather than normalize relations with US — parliament speaker

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf blamed the United States and Israel for the latest escalation

Iran conveys its latest draft of deal proposal with US through Qatar — CNN

The TV channel reported that Qatar helped resolve some of the remaining points of contention in the document, including the procedure of future talks on the nuclear program and the easing of sanctions pressure on the Islamic Republic

Trade turnover between Russia, Kazakhstan gained 16% to $6.46 bln in Q1 2026

"Russia keeps the status of one of key trade partners of Kazakhstan, ranking second by the volume of mutual trade and remaining the critical destination for imports, industrial cooperation and production supplies," the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan informed

Memorandum obliges US to avoid interference in Tehran’s affairs — top Iranian diplomat

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that an end to Israel’s aggression against Lebanon will also be an integral part of the deal

US gives Ukraine carte blanche for attacks inside Russia, diplomat says

"Being driven by ambitions of world domination, Washington has been intensifying tensions with Russia as it seeks to inflict a 'strategic defeat' on our country and it is not looking to avoid escalation, despite statements by a number of high-profile US officials," Maria Zakharova noted

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 205 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and a US-made armored vehicle in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Europe missed its chance to talk with Russia in 2021, Germany’s former top diplomat says

According to Sigmar Gabriel, "the Europeans would be foolish not to try to get their foot" in negotiations with Russia

Russia sought for eight years to stop war in Ukraine — Putin

"They were carrying airstrikes on Donetsk," the Russian president noted

Iran will not get funds ‘for simply signing a deal’ — US vice president

JD Vance says the deal is structured to prioritize the concerns of the US and its allies

British PM says has no plans to step down following Defense Ministry resignations

Analysts say that Defense Ministry resignations have dealt a serious blow to Keir Starmer's authority