Global News Digest: Iran Conflict Escalation, Ukraine Updates, Energy Markets, and Diplomatic Developments
Quick Look
Multiple breaking developments across global geopolitics: US military operations against Iran continue with naval blockade and potential strikes; EU prepares for energy supply disruption; Russia reports battlefield advances in Ukraine; China-Russia LNG trade grows 18.2%; Trump signals Ukraine conflict resolution nearing; OPEC+ faces potential disruption as UAE exits.
AI-generated summary
EU preparing for possible energy supply crisis due to conflict in Iran — Spanish newspaper
The EC assures that there is currently no risk to supplies, though markets are feeling the impact of rising Brent crude oil prices, which has led to higher gas and oil prices in Europe
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Duration of stay on Russian prospective orbital station limited to about 3 years — expert
In Vyacheslav Shurshakov' estimates, typical length of space missions to ROSS would be about 10-11 months
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Putin could speak on Ukraine at news conference after Belarus talks on Thursday — Kremlin
The Russian president is scheduled to take questions jointly with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko
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China increased Russian LNG imports by 18.2% in 2025
As follows from the General Customs Administration statistics, the price of LNG imports for the reporting period amounted to $4.98 billion, same as in 2024
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Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass
Battlegroup North and Battlegroup South units gained control of settlements of the same name - Novodmitrovka, in the Sumy Region and in the DPR
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Canada's support not to help Kiev regime — Russian ambassador
Oleg Stepanov noted that these actions would "squeeze yet another sum of money" out of taxpayers' pockets
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Lavrov to meet with Kazakh president, hold talks with top diplomat
The visit is expected to yield a plan of contacts between the two countries' foreign ministries in the coming years
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Su-47 Berkut successfully serves as flying laboratory — Sukhoi Design Bureau chief pilot
According to Sergey Bogdan, the technological solutions used in the development of the Berkut cargo compartments were later successfully applied in the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter
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US leader says Russia offers help in resolving Iranian uranium issue
Donald Trump says he would prefer Russian leader's involvement "with ending the war with Ukraine"
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US administration considers option of declaring end to Iran war — Reuters
According to sources cited by the news agency, US intelligence services are analyzing "how Iran would respond" if the US president declares a unilateral victory
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US leader believes UAE's exit from OPEC, OPEC+ may help lower fuel prices
The Emirati state news agency WAM reported on April 28 that the country had decided to withdraw from OPEC and OPEC+ effective May 1 of this year
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US prepares plan for 'short, powerful' wave of strikes against Iran — news outlet
According to the report, Washington has effectively rejected Tehran's proposed three-stage plan, under which Iran is ready to negotiate with the US
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France, Poland's drills to cause irreparable damage to non-proliferation regime — diplomat
As Maria Zakharova stressed, Moscow will make every necessary effort to ensure that such provocative actions and plans are duly assessed during the Review Conference
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US says redirected over 40 vessels since beginning of naval blockade of Iran
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper says Tehran cannot sell around 69 million barrels of oil already loaded onboard its tankers due to the blockade
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US Congress Democrats may sue Trump over operation in Iran — Time
The newspaper reports that under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the US president had 60 days to continue military action without legislative approval, that is, until May 1
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NATO forces intercept missile presumably launched from Iran — Turkish Defense Ministry
According to the ministry, "all necessary measures are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at Turkey's territory and airspace"
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Drone war not causing stalemate on front — DPR head
Denis Pushilin added that Ukraine became a testing ground for the West
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US works to prevent Iran from buying arms from China, says Pentagon chief
The Pentagon chief also stated that the United States has enjoyed "an astounding military success" on the battlefield with Iran
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US secretary of war pledges particular US favor to allies who prove themselves
According to Pete Hegseth, US allies are "nations capable of doing far more for themselves than they have"
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Jet fuel prices in March surge more than twofold in March — IATA
This was mostly due to severe disruptions at major Gulf hubs due to war in the Middle East
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US policy was geared to undermine Russia's security — diplomat on New START suspension
Russian Ambassador at Large Andrey Belousov said that this was the reason why Moscow suspended its participation in the treaty
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Iran decides to end US aggression once and for all — Foreign Ministry
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh emphasized that the United States has consistently failed to acknowledge the shifts within Iran and the realities on the ground
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Trump says Ukraine is defeated, but illustrates his words with references to Iran
When asked which conflict - in Ukraine or in Iran - will be settled first, Trump said they might be resolved at the same time
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UAE's exit from OPEC could unsettle African oil market — portal
According to the portal, once production quotas are lifted, the United Arab Emirates could increase output by more than 40%, which will intensify competition in markets supplied by higher-cost producers, including countries in sub-Saharan Africa
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US leader says prospect of new strikes on Iran hinges on progress in talks
The deal will not be reached "unless they agree that there will be no nuclear weapons," Donald Trump says
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Canada training Ukraine's Azov fighters, despite statements to the contrary — diplomat
According to Maria Zakharova, on April 15, Canadian journalist David Pugliese published an article stating that, between January 13 and February 5, a fighter from the Azov brigade had undergone training at the Royal Military College of Saint-Jean
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US troop buildup near Iran not sign of any new decisions — White House
The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28
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Pezeshkian asks global community to judge which side, Iran or US, actually favors dialogue
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian invited the world to judge which side engages in terrorism
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Trump tells Putin deal to resolve Ukraine conflict is nearing
Yury Ushakov noted that, with regard to the Ukrainian settlement, "the US president stressed the importance of bringing hostilities to an end as soon as possible, as well as his willingness to do everything in his power to facilitate this"
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Trump says threatened Thailand and Cambodia with new duties
US President said he was sure that the duties is an important tool in the foreign policy for his administration
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Foreigners rightfully recognize Russia's T-72 as best tank in world — expert
"The T-72 is recognized as the most mass-produced second-generation tank and is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records," Sergey Suvorov said
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US may use hypersonic weapons against Iran — agency
According to Bloomberg, if the plan comes to fruition, this will be the first time that the US has deployed hypersonic missiles
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DPR court sentences US mercenary to 13 years in prison in absentia
The court found that Michael Keith Garcia Brigola arrived in Ukraine in March 2022 and joined the International Legion of the Ukrainian armed forces
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Russian forces push Ukrainian military 2 km away from border — military expert
According to Andrey Marochko, by developing success in the Kharkov direction, the Russian military is forming a buffer zone at the junction with the Belgorod border area
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What we know about detention of Russian man for plotting terror attacks in Crimea
FSB officers detained a Russian man, who plotted terrorist attacks in Crimea using improvised explosive devices under the direction of Ukraine's special services, the FSB revealed
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US leader says he offered Putin 'a little bit of a ceasefire' in Ukraine
Earlier, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Putin had informed his US counterpart during a phone call of his willingness to declare a ceasefire for the period of Victory Day celebrations
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AmCham Russia urges US to allow banks to use dollars for Russia payments
According to Robert Agee, American businesses are counting on anti-Russian sanctions being lifted
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Hegseth names deterrence of China as Pentagon's second most important task
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in his address to the US House Armed Services Committee that his department's main task is to protect the homeland
