Press review: Kazan hosts ASEAN summit and Hormuz reopening shapes ruble, oil outlook

Press review: Kazan hosts ASEAN summit and Hormuz reopening shapes ruble, oil outlook Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, June 17th© Sergey Bulkin/TASSMOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Russia’s Kazan will host over ten Southeast Asian delegations for the Russia-ASEAN summit; Israel has only partially achieved its war goals in the Middle East; and the potential impact of the Strait of Hormuz reopening on ruble and oil prices. These were Wednesday’s top headlines across Russia. Media: Kazan to host over 10 Southeast Asian delegations for Russia-ASEAN summit In the coming days, key political figures from Southeast Asia will gather in Kazan. Among them will be the president of the Philippines, a US ally who will hold face-to-face talks with Vladimir Putin. The prime minister of Singapore, the only ASEAN country to have imposed sanctions on Russia, will also be in attendance. Experts say Southeast Asia is establishing itself as a new, stable center of power on the international stage. Moscow's active rapprochement with ASEAN allows it to effectively diversify its "pivot to the East." The summit’s agenda is packed with sessions where crucial documents will be adopted, as well as bilateral meetings. The parties will need to define their approaches to international issues and the direction of their partnership through 2030. Russia has a history of cooperation with ASEAN countries in various fields: from high technology to agriculture, Pavel Shaternikov, a senior lecturer at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, told Izvestia. "The main thing is that Russia’s pivot to the East should not be reduced to a pivot solely toward China. The more actively we cooperate with countries in Southeast Asia, the more positively we will be perceived there. Currently, many residents of the Asia-Pacific region still see Russia as either a remnant of the Soviet Union or an incomprehensible, cold northern country," he noted. "Russia is, of course, becoming better known in the region, but there is still much work to be done along this path," the expert emphasized. Previous Russia-ASEAN summits were held in person in Malaysia in 2005, Vietnam in 2010, Sochi in 2016, and Singapore in 2018. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 meeting was held via videoconference, which made it largely a formality, Mikhail Terskikh, a research fellow at the Center for the Indian Ocean Region at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ World Economy and International Relations Institute, told Vedomosti. The main value of such summits lies in bilateral negotiations because that is where real progress can be achieved, he said. Russia’s cooperation with various countries in the region proceeds along different tracks. Undoubtedly, some countries are interested in establishing oil and gas cooperation under current conditions. This effectively includes about half of the countries in Southeast Asia. However, there are also countries with which Russia traditionally develops military-technical cooperation, such as Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and to a certain extent, Cambodia, Terskikh noted. As for Singapore’s political course, the expert emphasized that it follows a highly pragmatic line. Despite its constraints, Singapore cannot be described as exclusively pro-American. In recent decades, Singapore has pursued a fairly balanced policy, cooperating with Russia when it serves its interests. According to Terskikh, the level of Philippine representation in Kazan is the biggest surprise of all. Unlike his predecessor, President Rodrigo Duterte, current leader Bongbong Marcos is pursuing a clearly pro-American course. Vedomosti: Israel outlines results of Middle East campaign Israel will continue to neutralize external threats in the Middle East and will also form new alliances with regional and non-regional countries, despite the US-Iran agreements to end the military confrontation on June 15, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. He also announced that Tel Aviv had achieved the goals of the Middle East war. However, he acknowledged that he was unaware of the text of the memorandum of understanding because Israel was excluded from the US-Iran talks. Netanyahu called on Israelis to remain vigilant, as the fight against Iran and its "proxies" in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria is not yet over. Israel has achieved its war goals only partially and tactically, Lyudmila Samarskaya, a researcher at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ World Economy and International Relations Institute, told Vedomosti. According to her, the Israelis managed to inflict serious damage on Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities; the country’s internal security structures were also affected, which was in line with the goal of "creating conditions" for regime change through domestic protests. However, she warned that if the current agreement truly does not address these areas, it will be quite difficult to consolidate these gains in the long term. "Indeed, despite the Israeli leadership’s triumphant reports, ordinary Israelis do not view this as a victory. The outcome of the military conflict will most likely have a negative impact on the popularity of Netanyahu and his cabinet, primarily because the right-wing electorate is the most disappointed," the expert stressed. To some extent, Israel has achieved its war goals: it has expanded its zone of occupation in the region and is now unlikely to withdraw from there in the near future, Middle Eastern Studies Center President Murad Sadigzade pointed out. And although the Israelis were unable to bring about regime change in Iran, they have seriously weakened the capabilities of Iranian proxies. However, it is still too early to speak of an end to hostilities in the Middle East, as the ceasefire between Iran and the US could theoretically last until the end of the year, the expert noted: "The Americans’ withdrawal from the war was a measure they were forced to take. Iran, for its part, emerged from the crisis with grand ambitions. Therefore, a shift in the balance of power is currently taking place in the region, and under these conditions, the emergence of new crises is inevitable." The current cessation of hostilities in the Middle East will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the popularity of Israeli right-wing parties, Sadigzade emphasized. The expert also pointed to the possibility of early elections in Israel and a victory for opposition forces, since, in his opinion, issues of security and the elimination of external threats have thus far been closely linked to domestic political processes. "The failure of Israel's strategy could lead to a transformation of the country itself, as the opposition is trying to use foreign policy setbacks to its advantage," Sadigzade said. Vedomosti: Hormuz reopening may affect ruble, oil budget The expected reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could weaken the ruble, experts note. However, the impact on Russia will be delayed by one and a half to two months, so sharp fluctuations are not expected. According to forecasts, the exchange rate will begin to move toward 85 rubles per dollar as early as this fall, in combination with other factors. Analysts note that Russian exporters are still injecting increased revenue into the market, thanks to higher oil prices in the spring. Due to limited access to foreign capital, the domestic currency market is primarily driven by the current balance of supply and demand for currency, so no impact has been observed yet, Finam Financial Group analyst Alexander Potavin told Vedomosti. According to the Central Bank, at the beginning of the year, the exchange rate ranged between 76 and 78 rubles per dollar, then rose sharply in March to 84.84 rubles per dollar. After that, the US dollar began to weaken against the ruble, and on June 17, the Bank of Russia set the rate at 72.14 rubles per dollar. The effect of the decline in currency supply caused by a possible drop in oil prices will not become noticeable until August at the earliest, Ilya Fyodorov, chief economist at BCS World of Investments, emphasized. By late summer, the volume of foreign currency sales by non-oil and gas exporters will decline, while the Finance Ministry’s currency purchases will begin to have a cumulative effect, the expert noted. The ruble may gradually weaken as seasonal demand for foreign currency increases in the second half of the year and monetary policy continues to ease, Sovcombank chief analyst Mikhail Vasilyev stressed. Experts do not expect a sharp drop in oil prices even after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumes. Economists say it will take one to two months for shipping routes to fully resume. Even if traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resumes in late June, Persian Gulf countries will need until the end of the year to increase production, Potavin pointed out. The need for importing countries to replenish their oil reserves — which they actively used during the conflict — could provide additional support to the market, Fyodorov said. The decline in oil prices poses risks to the Russian budget; however, by the end of the year, the price of Russian oil will not fall below the cut-off price of 59 dollars per barrel, Zhanna Smirnova, macroeconomic analysis director at Dom.RF Bank, emphasized. The Urals price has fallen by about 30% over the past month; however, the volume of oil and gas revenues depends not only on global oil prices but also on export volumes, the discount on Russian oil, and the ruble exchange rate, Potavin noted. Media: Reasons behind NATO countries conducting defense drills in Suwalki Gap near Russian border On June 16-26, servicemen from Lithuania, Poland, and France will conduct large-scale drills to practice defending the Suwalki Gap, a narrow land corridor separating Russia’s Kaliningrad Region from Belarus, which the West considers NATO’s Achilles’ heel and a key land artery connecting the Baltic states with the rest of the alliance. The stated goal of the drills, codenamed "Gallant Boar 2026," is to defend this route and coordinate troop actions. However, experts describe the frequently cited "Russian breakthrough" scenario as outdated and intended for a domestic audience to justify increased military spending. France’s participation is explained by both Paris’s geopolitical ambitions and purely pragmatic military objectives, expert Andrey Koshkin told Izvestia. "The presence of Lithuania and Poland at these drills is entirely natural - the exercises are taking place right on their borders. France’s inclusion in this framework, however, reflects Emmanuel Macron’s desire to establish Paris as a leading force in pan-European security," the expert noted. In addition, according to Koshkin, standard tasks related to coordinating troops within the alliance are being addressed, such as testing logistics and interoperability between the various countries’ armed forces. However, these exercises also carry an underlying agenda: they represent yet another attempt to demonstrate the alleged "Russian threat" to the world. The alliance is persistently promoting the narrative that Russia plans to "cut through" a land corridor into the Kaliningrad Region from Belarus using armored vehicles. However, this underestimates the capabilities of the modern Russian Armed Forces, military expert Viktor Litovkin emphasized. According to military expert Oleg Odnokolenko, the ultimate goal of the "Gallant Boar 2026" drills is to rehearse a land blockade of the Kaliningrad Region and strikes against it. "A military blockade of the Kaliningrad Region would essentially mark the beginning of an open armed conflict between NATO and Russia," the expert told Kommersant. "Russia’s response to such actions is outlined in its military doctrine. Coastal missile systems will block all routes along which NATO blockade ships would pass. In addition, Iskander systems will be deployed in the Kaliningrad Region, and Oreshnik systems will be deployed in Belarus. The entire European theater is within range, which guarantees that NATO will not dare impose a full-scale blockade of the Kaliningrad Region," he pointed out. "Any attempts at provocation in this region will be met with a harsh and asymmetric response. In the event of a real threat, Russia can neutralize the danger with high-precision, long-range weapons without engaging in local positional battles as envisaged by NATO planning," Litovkin stressed. Izvestia: Russia holding talks with Argentina on development of lithium deposits Russian businesses are discussing mineral extraction projects with Argentina. These talks are not being publicized, but Buenos Aires is showing a willingness to engage in dialogue, experts say. A key priority for Moscow is lithium, a scarce resource essential for the production of modern batteries and energy storage systems. These intensified contacts are taking place as the US seeks to block Russia's and China's presence in the region. Representatives of Russian companies regularly visit Argentina to discuss joint mining projects with local partners, Russian ambassador to Buenos Aires Dmitry Feoktistov told Izvestia. "Given the current political situation, such contacts are conducted primarily without undue publicity. As far as we know, the official authorities have not refused any requests from Russian companies," the diplomat noted. The ambassador did not specify which metals Russian companies are discussing - the conversation centered on mining in general. However, Russia’s primary interest in Argentina’s mineral resources has long been known: lithium. Global demand for this metal is growing rapidly because it is essential for producing batteries, electric vehicles, and high-tech energy storage systems. Lithium is also in high demand in the energy sector. Meanwhile, Argentina’s contacts with Moscow are taking place amid intense pressure from Washington. The Donald Trump administration is openly trying to push non-regional players — primarily Russia and China — out of Latin America, while Argentinian President Javier Milei is pursuing a pro-American course and has even applied for NATO global partner status. "A number of countries already hold this status, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Colombia, and Mongolia. Russia is actively developing trade and economic cooperation with them. So if Argentina possesses some of the world’s largest lithium reserves and desperately needs investors, it remains a key potential partner. However, the strict budgetary austerity measures implemented by Milei prevent the country from foregoing foreign investment in the energy and mining sectors. Argentina exemplifies the classic model of a state balancing geopolitical loyalty with its own resource interests. And in this balance, the economy invariably prevails," Valdai Club expert Alisa Kazelko pointed out. TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews Press review: EU seeks to derail Ukraine talks as oil prices fall on Mid-East peace hopesTop stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, June 16thRead moreRussian troops envelop Konstantinovka from all sides after liberating Artyoma — expertAndrey Marochko said that the liberation of the settlement of Artyoma is a strategic success of the Russian Armed ForcesRead moreVance notes high level of support for Putin in Russia in his new bookAccording to the US vice president, every independent and objective effort to assess the popularity of the Russian president "had found high levels of support among rank-and-file Russians"Read moreWhat is known about detention of three Ukrainian agents plotting terrorist attacksThe perpetrators planned to carry out sabotage and terrorist attacks targeting Russian servicemen and volunteers, transport infrastructure and fuel and energy facilitiesRead moreRussian forces successfully advance near Belitskoye under Rodinskoye in DPR — expertAccording to Andrey Marochko, Russian troops will continue to advance in this sectorRead moreKiev is resorting to terrorist tactics amid Russian military advances — expertRussian forces are conducting active offensive operations in all sectors of the special military operation zoneRead moreFSB nabs accomplices of Kiev’s special services in three Russian regionsAn improvised explosive device based on a plastic explosive of foreign manufacture and improvised Molotov cocktails were confiscated from the attackersRead moreYacht that caused incident with Russian frigate was sailing from Britain to FranceThe yacht departed at 4:15 a.m. GMT from Lymington Bay in Hampshire County in southwest EnglandRead moreTrump calls Obama administration’s transfer of $350 billion of arms to Ukraine 'crazy'The US leader emphasized that Washington was selling weapons at presentRead moreUkrainian brigade command begs to be allowed to step down due to casualties in ZaporozhyeAccording to the Russian security officials, 15 servicemen from the brigade were killed by aerial strikes in a single sector aloneRead moreIRGC Navy keeps requiring vessels to coordinate with them despite lifted US blockadeThe Iranian broadcaster said that all Iranian vessels are currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz unhinderedRead moreCanada understands Zelensky is spent force, says Russian ambassador to OttawaAccording to Oleg Stepanov, the Canadian government masks its helplessness with the predictable trappings of empty public-relations stuntsRead moreUkraine loses 5 Starlink satellite communication stations from actions of Battlegroup EastRussian forces also eliminated 12 drone control pointsRead moreUK investigates reports of Russian frigate firing off warning shots in English ChannelAccording to the BBC, the incident allegedly occurred on June 16 about 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of WightRead morePersian Gulf countries running out of interceptor missiles - BloombergIran has fired almost 1,200 ballistic missiles and 4,000 Shahed drones at the Gulf states since the start of the warRead moreRussia’s top diplomat comments on Germany’s military buildup, Zelensky’s public posturingAccording to Sergey Lavrov, Russia values Turkey’s diplomatic efforts on Ukraine but highlights "that any sustainable, long-term, and reliable settlement requires addressing the root causes of the crisis"Read moreUS military strikes vessel allegedly carrying drugs, one killedTwo people survivedRead moreNow that deal with Iran is done, US to focus on Ukraine — TrumpThe US president confirmed plans to discuss the Ukrainian peace process at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 summitRead moreWest paints Russia as villain amid Patriot strike: situation around Kiev-Pechersk LavraThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has said that it is ready to help assess the damage done to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra after the missile attackRead moreEurope fears potential US-Russia talks without EU involvement — PoliticoThe publication added that European governments are closely monitoring US-Russia contacts amid ongoing discussions on security issuesRead moreIsrael, US attack amusement park in central IranNo information on casualties or damage has been reported yetRead moreG7 leaders intend to tighten sanctions pressure on Russia's oil and gas sectorAccording to the leaders of G7, the deal between the US and Iran on unblocking the Strait of Hormuz creates suitable conditions for this stepRead moreChina demands UK revoke sanctions against Chinese companiesOn June 16, authorities of the United Kingdom expanded the sanction list against RussiaRead morePress review: EU seeks to derail Ukraine talks as oil prices fall on Mid-East peace hopesTop stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, June 16thRead morePezeshkian asks global community to judge which side, Iran or US, actually favors dialogueIranian President Masoud Pezeshkian invited the world to judge which side engages in terrorismRead moreRussian stock market accelerates decline on Trump’s statementsThe MOEX Russia plunged below 2,500 points first time since June 10Read moreIran divides countries into three categories based on use of Strait of Hormuz — TVAccording to the TV channel, all states are divided into three categories — "hostile," "neutral," and "friendly"Read moreTanker with Iranian oil change course, heading to China — PTIThe change in the destination of Pin Shun appears to be payment-related, Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst at Kpler, notedRead moreRelations between Moscow, Ankara continue strengthening — top Turkish diplomatHakan Fidan noted that Russia-Turkey top- and high-level meetings, as well as business contacts had regular natureRead moreReadiness to receive Zelensky in Moscow, Witkoff-Kushner visit: Kremlin briefingThere are no official channels for communication between Moscow and Kiev, Dmitry Peskov stressedRead moreKremlin outlines Russia-ASEAN summit programThe program begins on the evening of June 17 with a reception on behalf of the president of the Russian Federation in honor of the heads of delegationsRead moreRussia, ASEAN have significant potential to expand trade — secretary-generalAccording to Kao Kim Hourn, Russia and ASEAN are developing their partnership at a time when economic adaptability and resilience are increasingly importantRead moreVance notes limited capacity of US to support Ukraine in new bookThe US vice president wrote that even the most ardent supporters of Kiev now acknowledge this fact Read moreStop list expansion practice to continue — Russian Foreign MinistryThe Russian Foreign Ministry said that in the statement on introduction of personal restrictions against Canadian nationalsRead moreTrade turnover between Russia, ASEAN up 60% over last decadeYury Ushakov said that it amounted to about $22 blnRead moreControl over Strait of Hormuz de facto handed to Iran — TVDespite the work on the agreement on opening the strait that is due to be signed on June 19, during the recent conflict Iran demonstrated its ability to block access to this major waterway, the sources said, adding that US intelligence suggests that Iran can do it againRead moreWhat we know about incident with Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich in English ChannelThe crew of the frigate Amdiral Grigorovich acted in strict accordance with international shipping regulations and took every measure to prevent a collision, the Russian Defense Ministry stressedRead moreUS discusses charging vessels for transit through Strait of Hormuz — PoliticoAround 500 vessels, including 220 oil tankers, remain in the Persian Gulf near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz awaiting safe passageRead moreUS awaits Zelensky’s agreement to peace settlement in Ukraine — congresswomanAnna Paulina Luna also published a link to Vladimir Zelensky’s X post about a meeting held in Evian-les-BainsRead moreTrump says Iran has 48 hours to make deal or open straitTime is running out: 48 hours remain before all hell rains down on them, US President saidRead moreUkrainian troops trapped near Drobyshevo in Donetsk region - military expertAccording to Andrey Marochko, several fire pockets have been formed between the settlements of Drobyshevo and StavkiRead moreWest working out scenarios for pre-emptive strikes against Russian naval bases — aideNikolay Patrushev noted that it is no secret that merchant ships regularly arrive at Russian ports with magnetic mines attached to their hulls, saying there are reasons to believe that the mines are planted at European portsRead moreUpper house speaker slams US-Israeli operation against Iran as geopolitical mistakeValentina Matviyenko emphasized that this intervention has destabilized the Middle East, triggering an energy crisis, yet it ultimately changes nothingRead moreUS-Israeli strike on humanitarian aid aircraft in western Iran reportedThe Civil Aviation Organization of the Islamic Republic called on all international bodies to take appropriate measures in response to this incidentRead moreRussian troops liberate Novy Donbass community in Donetsk region over past day — top brassThe Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,330 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hoursRead moreIN BRIEF: US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashes at Edwards Air Force BaseAccording to preliminary reports, eight crew members on board were killedRead moreG7 to up supplies of air defense systems, interceptors, long-range systems to UkraineThe Group of Seven countries are ready to consider licenses allowing Ukraine to raise the volume of its own military production Read moreUkraine loses more than 21,000 troops in first 15 days of JuneThe Ukrainian forces sustained the heaviest casualties from actions by Russia’s battlegroups Center and EastRead moreFirefighting efforts worsened damage to Sevastopol Panorama, museum saysAccording to the statement, 90% of the canvas was lostRead moreTrade turnover between Azerbaijan, Russia down 1.6 times in 5M 2026In January-May 2025, trade between the two countries was $2.161 billionRead moreArgentina defeats Algeria in FIFA World Cup matchThe match ended with a score of 3:0Read moreSecond stage of deal with Iran, meeting with Zelensky and Ukraine: Trump’s statementsAccording to the US leader, in the event of an Israeli attack on Lebanon, the deal with Iran may remain in placeRead moreUS-Iran deal to cover Israel, Lebanon, Gulf countries — VanceThe US vice president called the agreement "a true regional peace deal"Read moreNATO forces intercept missile presumably launched from Iran — Turkish Defense MinistryAccording to the ministry, "all necessary measures are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at Turkey's territory and airspace"Read moreRussia’s latest Starlink satellite jammer shows high efficiency — expertThe Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare system does not switch off Starlink communications as such but instead ‘stuns’ a particular satellite for the duration of its flight over the area of the system’s operationRead morePutin to hold numerous bilateral meetings at Kazan summit — aideThe Russian president will meet with almost all the leadersRead moreMore than 90% of Sevastopol defense panorama destroyed in Ukrainian attack, museum saysSome items survived, including cannons, cannonballs and metal elements of the exhibitionRead moreCritics of deal with Iran essentially propose endless war for US — VanceThe US vice president says that the opponents of the agreement are "not actually dealing with the reality" of what is in the documentRead moreDutch court refuses psych evaluation for former Spartak Moscow FC striker PromesAccording to ourt’s spokesperson Melissa Zijlstra, all other appeals filed by the football player's defense during the preliminary hearing on June 12 were also turned downRead moreUS military aircraft struck by Iran makes it to Kuwait — TVIran also fired at two US UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters conducting a search and rescue operationRead moreVance notes that all US interceptor missiles could not meet Kiev's needs in new bookThe US vice president said he expressed this opinion during a conversation "with a key Ukrainian parliamentary leader" in 2024Read moreFACTBOX: Moscow refinery damaged, 172 UAVs target Russia in Ukraine's new attackMore than 30 drones were destroyed in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky and four districts of the Rostov Region, Governor Yury Slyusar saidRead moreOman, Iran reiterate commitment to ensuring free navigation in Strait of HormuzTthe parties expressed hope that the sides will make efforts to create a favorable climate for promoting the political and diplomatic process and maintaining security and stability in the regionRead moreEast Timor’s PM arrives in Kazan to attend Russia-ASEAN summitThe Russia-ASEAN summit is taking place in Kazan from June 17-19Read moreJapan bought about 364,000 barrels of Russian oil in MayThe purchases concerned oil linked to gas supply contracts under the Sakhalin-2 project, which is exempt from anti-Russian sanctionsRead moreIran to hit more targets if US attacks Kharg Island — ambassadorTehran’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Amir Hossein Hosseini also expressed hope that the conflict would be resolved diplomaticallyRead moreAnniversary Russia-ASEAN summit with Putin's participation begins in KazanInvitations were sent to 14 delegationsRead moreDuration of stay on Russian prospective orbital station limited to about 3 years — expertIn Vyacheslav Shurshakov' estimates, typical length of space missions to ROSS would be about 10-11 monthsRead moreUS troop buildup near Iran not sign of any new decisions — White HouseThe United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28Read moreRussia appreciates Turkey’s diplomatic efforts in Ukrainian conflict settlement — LavrovThe Russian foreign minister added that it is necessary to solve the problem of eradicating the root causes of this crisisRead moreFrance national team begins World Cup with victory over SenegalThe match ended with a score of 3:1Read moreFilipino president, sultan of Brunei fly in for Russia-ASEAN summitThe Philippines holds ASEAN’s rotating chairmanship for 2026Read moreRoscosmos invites NASA chief to RussiaThe US Senate unanimously voted to appoint Nelson to the post of NASA chief in late AprilRead moreNATO countries want to turn Armenia into their outpost in South Caucasus — expertAccording to Alexander Stepanov, Armenia has been within NATO’s sphere of influence since 1992, but military-political cooperation between the parties has only recently reached its peakRead moreUS may cancel sanction carveouts for Russian oil soon — TrumpThe US leader said that the oil is now flowingRead moreFurther phases of BRICS expansion will follow, says South African presidentIt is noted that the membership will take effect from January 1, 2024Read moreZelensky expects separate meeting with Trump on WednesdayAccording to Vladimir Zelensky, representatives of the two countries will hold meetings at various levels over a 24-hour periodRead moreIran calls on Saudi Arabia to ‘eject’ US troops from regionIran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nationRead moreSingapore’s PM arrives in Kazan for Russia-ASEAN summitHead of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov met Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at Kazan International AirportRead moreUS president threatens strikes on Iran’s energy, civilian infrastructureDonald Trump called on Iranian leaders to open the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that otherwise the country "will be living in hellRead moreMbappe becomes top scorer in history of French national football teamThe player scored his 58th goal in the match against Senegal and surpassed Olivier GiroudRead moreKremlin aide comments on Russia-ASEAN Summit, possibility of Putin-Zelensky meetingMoscow has received no proposals from any party to arrange a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky in the United StatesRead moreMbappe enters top 3 in World Cup goals, surpassing MessiThe player has 14 goals in the tournamentRead moreRussia’s Medvedev secures confident win at 2026 ATP Halle Open in GermanyThe athlete defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry from ArgentinaRead moreKremlin closely following developments after US airstrikes in SyriaEarlier on February 26, the US carried out airstrikes near the Syrian-Iraqi borderRead moreLocal firms participated in construction of biolabs in UkraineThe companies participated in the construction of diagnostic centers and reference laboratories in Odessa, Uzhhorod, and Kherson, according to declassified US intelligence materialsRead moreAnother strike hits area near Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in IranOne of the facility’s security guards was killed, Iran’s AEOI saidRead moreTwo US nuclear submarines ‘closer to Russia,’ Trump says"We always want to be ready", US president addedRead moreUS fighter jet downed over Iran likely conducted strikes on ground targets — mediaAccording to CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean, the pilots of the downed fighter had sidearmsRead moreEU aid to Ukraine frozen — BorrellThe ex-chief of EU diplomacy said the situation is similar with the approval of new sanctions against RussiaRead moreFour documents to be approved at Russia — ASEAN summitThe first document will be the Kazan Declaration of the summitRead moreIran survives attacks, brings US to its knees - Israeli mediaAccording to the report, for a long time, Israel has not seen such a consensus in society, between the leftist and far-right forces, that the US-Iran deal is a "strategic defeat" for Israel and a "failure" for the United States and moderate Sunni states in the regionRead moreRussian MP warns of nuclear proliferation risk if Israel uses nukes against IranAlexey Pushkov noted that the question of whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will use nuclear weapons in Iran has been actively discussed on American television in recent daysRead moreBattle-scene fragments of Sevastopol Panorama survive after Ukrainian attackThe best-preserved sections depict the Defensive Tower on Malakhov Kurgan and the fortifications on the right flank of the Senyavin Battery, the Sevastopol Defense Museum reportedRead moreRussia does not count on UN's mediating role in Ukrainian issue — Foreign MinistryDeputy Minister Alexander Alimov says the behavior of the UN Secretariat and the Secretary-General "deprives them of such a role, such authority, and such credibility" Read moreNorway national team defeats Iraq in World Cup matchThe match ended with a score of 4:1Read morePutin to discuss prospects for expanding cooperation with prime minister of LaosOn June 18, on the sidelines of the anniversary Russia-ASEAN summit in Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to have a meeting with Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay SiphandoneRead moreRussia closes entry into country for 103 Canadian nationalsRussia does not accept the hostile line of the Canadian political elite that razed bilateral relations with Moscow to the ground, the ministry addedRead moreUS interested in calling on Arab nations to help pay for cost of Iran operation — officialThe United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28Read moreKalashnikov Group delivers next batch of upgraded AK-12 assault rifles to Russian troopsThe number of AK-12 assault rifles supplied to the troops has increased considerably since the start of the special military operationRead moreHungary views China as pillar of multipolar world — OrbanHungarian prime minister recalled that Hungary has always adhered to the ‘one China’ principleRead more