Despite European sanctions, Russia’s energy exports are projected to generate €233 billion in 2025, with over €20 billion stemming from EU purchases. This surpasses the EU’s planned military aid to Ukraine. Continued EU energy imports, totaling approximately €2 billion monthly, significantly bolster Russia’s military capabilities. This highlights the limited effectiveness of sanctions in curbing Russia’s war effort.
Russia’s energy minister, Anton Rubtsov, has warned that heavy taxation is making oil production unprofitable, threatening the country’s vital export revenue. This comes as Russia’s oil and gas revenue plummeted by a third in May, reaching its lowest level since July 2023. The high tax burden, implemented to offset sanctions-related losses, is deterring investment and potentially impacting long-term production. Experts warn that while tax cuts could boost production, they risk widening the budget deficit, leaving the Kremlin in a difficult financial balancing act.
President Trump is reviewing all restrictions on Ukraine’s warfighting capabilities, believing the current limitations hinder efforts to bring Russia to the negotiating table. This follows Germany’s announcement that there are no longer range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine, a move the Kremlin deemed dangerous. Upcoming meetings between Trump administration officials and German representatives will discuss further support for Ukraine, including potential new sanctions against Russia. Military analysts suggest lifting restrictions could significantly alter the war’s dynamics, allowing Ukraine to target key Russian military infrastructure.
A roundtable discussion among Russian lawmakers condemned Western animation, toys, and video games, alleging a negative influence on Russian children. State Duma deputy Yana Lantratova highlighted the perceived shift from positive Soviet-era characters to flawed Western counterparts like Shrek and the Grinch. The lawmakers argued that these characters, despite seeming innocuous, promote undesirable traits while being presented as positive role models. This cultural infiltration, they claimed, erodes the image of the purely positive character prevalent in Soviet media.
Germany, alongside its major allies, has lifted all range restrictions on weapons provided to Ukraine, enabling Kyiv to strike military targets deep within Russia. This policy shift allows Ukraine to utilize long-range weaponry for defensive purposes, a capability previously unavailable. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov deemed this action dangerous and detrimental to peace efforts. While the specifics of supplied weapons are now undisclosed by the German government, the decision marks a significant escalation in military support for Ukraine.
A trilateral agreement between the UK, Ukraine, and Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries will leverage frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities. This $3 billion initiative, allocated between 2025 and 2026, will fund the procurement of foreign weaponry, equipment repair, joint defense projects, and crucial materials, including domestically produced goods. The plan aims to unlock the full potential of Ukraine’s $35 billion defense industry capacity, currently hampered by funding limitations. This project falls under the G7’s Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration initiative, utilizing windfall profits from seized Russian assets to support Ukraine’s self-defense against ongoing Russian aggression.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, speaking at a NATO Parliamentary Assembly session, highlighted China’s crucial role in supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine through the provision of dual-use goods and sanctions circumvention. He further emphasized the collaboration between Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, citing North Korea’s acquisition of Russian technology and Iran’s use of Russian funds for regional destabilization. This interconnected aggression, Rutte stressed, demands a clear-eyed and unified response from NATO. The cooperation between these four nations presents a significant threat to global stability.
In response to a proposal to restrict remaining Western companies in Russia, President Putin advocated for aggressive retaliatory measures, calling for these companies to be “strangled” due to perceived Western attempts to cripple the Russian economy. This follows the departure or scaling back of numerous Western firms after the invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s directive targets companies still using Western software, reflecting a hardening stance against foreign businesses. While Russia has seized assets from some companies and employed harsh rhetoric, it concurrently explores potential pathways for re-engagement with Western firms in the future.
In the past day, Russia suffered significant losses, with 990 soldiers killed or wounded and over 300 pieces of military equipment destroyed. These losses add to the already staggering total estimated since February 24, 2022, including nearly one million military personnel and tens of thousands of armored vehicles and artillery systems. The reported figures encompass a wide range of military assets, from tanks and aircraft to drones and cruise missiles. Confirmation of these numbers is ongoing.
Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braže has urged the EU to halt issuing visas to Russian citizens due to escalating security risks, citing a 25% increase in Schengen visas granted to Russians in 2024 compared to 2023. This call echoes a similar plea from Latvia’s Interior Minister, highlighting concerns about Russia’s ongoing threat to European security. The sharp rise in visa approvals, with over 565,000 Schengen tourist visas issued to Russians in 2024, further underscores these anxieties. Braže’s appeal emphasizes the potential security vulnerabilities posed by Russian nationals traveling within the Schengen Area.
John Q. Hosedrinker