Summary of global news: Strikes near Kiev, Putin on Russian defense, Zelensky on Ukrainian conflict, Khan's ICC removal, EU sable fur sanctions avoided, and various geopolitical tensions.
Romania downs third drone in as many days, attributing the incidents to Russia, escalating tensions. Meanwhile, the EU manages a delicate trade balance with the US, facing new tariffs and a potentially inflammatory Google fine amid fragile truce.
US President Donald Trump expresses trust in Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping's assurances that their countries are not supplying weapons to Iran, despite allegations from some US circles.
Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted Wildberries, Russia's largest e-commerce company, destroying warehouses and billions in inventory. Hundreds of small businesses storing goods are devastated, highlighting Ukraine's new strategy to erode Russian normality and disrupt logistics.
A woman was detained in Moscow by the FSB for attempting to plant an improvised explosive device under a security officer's car and plotting terrorist activity in exchange for help to move to an EU country.
The Russian stock market experienced a decline at the start of the main trading session, with both the MOEX and RTS indices falling. Concurrently, the yuan weakened against the ruble, dropping below 11.5 rubles for the first time since July 16, 2026.
Russian influencer Anna Otavina sustained second-degree burns after a power bank exploded next to her bed in her Moscow penthouse, igniting her hair and bedding. She now warns followers about the dangers of unattended charging and using power banks on soft surfaces, urging caution with unknown quality devices.
The EU unveiled its largest sanctions package in four years against Russia, leading FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich to suspend his activity. The measures target 218 individuals and entities, including banks, vessels, and military-industrial complex, while Ukraine faces ongoing attacks.
China's significant role in global maritime finance and shipping has led to a carve-out in certain regulations, demonstrating Beijing's economic leverage. An EU official detailed how Chinese financial arrangements and shareholding in vessel companies create a risk of asset loss for borrowers.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Secretary Sergey Lavrov amid reports of Russia's alleged involvement in Iran's drone attacks on US military sites in the Middle East, particularly the CIA embassy station in Riyadh, prompting a US intelligence investigation into the strikes' precision.
Russia's attacks on civilian cargo ships in the Black Sea have halted all vessel traffic to Ukraine's Odesa region ports for the first time since 2023, strangling vital export corridors and raising global food security concerns. Ukraine has requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting for July 27.
The MOEX Index (IMOEX2) opened Thursday's morning session on the Moscow Exchange up 0.34% at 2,143.34 points, settling at 2,140.49 points with a 0.21% gain by 7:10 a.m. Moscow time.
The Russian stock market, represented by the MOEX and RTS indices, began the main trading session with a decline, while the yuan also fell against the ruble on the Moscow Exchange.
Ukraine attacked four Wildberries warehouses in Russia, escalating its drone campaign against the country's top online retailer. The strikes, targeting a key economic driver, threaten disruption for businesses and millions of Russian consumers.
Rosaviatsiya has restricted flights in the Moscow air hub until August 12, limiting altitudes to 4,900 meters and prohibiting transit flights for safety. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia expects no significant impact on Russian passengers, primarily affecting carriers flying through Moscow airspace without landing.
Greece faces new challenges balancing support for Ukraine with protecting its economy, encountering EU sanctions hurdles over Russian LNG shipping and security concerns after a Ukrainian drone incident. The country is providing aid and reconstruction support but remains cautious due to potential Russian hybrid warfare.
Hanna Notte, director at the James Martin Center, stated in The New York Times that Russia will not abandon its position in the Ukraine conflict, attributing this to failed isolation attempts by the West and significant support from non-Western nations.
Russia's extensive nuclear arsenal has proven ineffective in the Ukraine war, despite threats. The article argues tactical nuclear weapons are unlikely to be used due to historical ineffectiveness in non-nuclear conflicts, risk of radioactive fallout on Russian territory, and Moscow's claim over eastern Ukrainian oblasts.
Russia and ASEAN foreign ministers met in Manila, reaffirming shared approaches to international issues and discussing enhanced cooperation in areas like food and energy security, digitalization, and high technologies, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of their relations.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev visited Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, signing a strategic partnership declaration. Discussions centered on increasing Azerbaijani gas supplies to Germany via the Southern Gas Corridor and developing the Middle Corridor trade route, as Europe seeks to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
Russia expelled an Italian military attache and his aide, giving them three days to leave, in a tit-for-tat response to Italy's earlier expulsion of Russian diplomats. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko highlighted the principle of reciprocity, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called Moscow's action an "act of revenge."
FBI Director Kash Patel is reportedly planning a trip to Russia in mid-October, including visits to Moscow and St Petersburg, according to Politico. The unconfirmed visit comes amid heightened US-Russia tensions over the Ukraine war and has drawn criticism from influencers and political groups.
Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on Crimea's infrastructure have caused severe fuel, electricity, and water shortages, leading to widespread frustration among residents and disrupting daily life on the peninsula since its 2014 annexation.
At least three Chinese nationals were wounded in a major Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow that injured 10 people total, while India confirmed four of its citizens were casualties in a separate Russian missile attack on a ship leaving Odesa[1][2][5].
