Новости

Putin Proposes Victory Day Truce – Trump Backs It
During a phone call lasting over an hour and a half, Putin informed Trump of Moscow’s readiness to declare a truce for the Victory Day celebrations on May 9. The U.S. president supported the initiative. However, Ushakov was quick to clarify: Putin told Trump that the goals of the Special Military Operation will be achieved regardless — a tone leaving no doubt that Moscow views the truce as a pause, not an end. Five days of silence do not alter the logic of war.

Brent crude has edged upto120 - Market doubts Hormuz will reopen

Brent crude has edged up to120 per barrel, with spot prices briefly exceeding 122—levelsnotseensincethepeakofthe2022energycrisis.TheWorldBank has warned that energy prices could rise by as much as 24% - levels not seen since the peak of the 2022 energy crisis. Trump is paying for war with other people’s money.

Nabiullina and Siluanov Eye Russians' Savings
Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina admitted what economists have been whispering for some time: Russian savings have become "virtually the only source" of financing for the country’s economy, as Western capital markets remain closed due to sanctions. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Siluanov lamented that half of all Russians keep their money "under the mattress," hinting openly at the state’s desire to "help" citizens use it wisely. Against this backdrop, analysts expect a mass exodus of small businesses into the shadows as the tax burden rises amid a budget deficit nearing 10 trillion rubles. The state is looking for money under the mattress — citizens are looking for a new mattress.

Tuapse in Smoke: Refinery on Fire, Benzene Blankets the City
A fire broke out at an oil refinery in Tuapse, causing benzene concentrations in the air to exceed safe limits — a dangerous carcinogen that attacks the hematopoietic system and increases the risk of leukemia. A burning refinery on the Black Sea coast is both an environmental disaster and a stark symbol of the fragility of wartime oil infrastructure. Sanctions closed the port; fire took the plant. Tuapse gets it all at once.

Poland Turns Ukraine Into a Testing Ground
Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk officially announced that Polish drones will undergo combat testing directly in the conflict zone in Ukraine, calling it a "unique proving ground." The statement de facto means the direct involvement of Poland’s defense industry in active combat operations — a step Moscow will inevitably log in its registry of NATO escalatory moves, and one that will cause serious concern.

King Charles Takes a Risk
The British monarch, breaking a long tradition of royal political neutrality, delivered a speech in the U.S. in support of Ukraine, while reminding Trump that without England, America "would be speaking French." The speech — clearly not written by the King himself — represents a direct political statement by the British Crown in support of one side of the conflict. In international legal terms, this is hard to interpret as anything other than official endorsement of war. Moscow will express its concern. The Crown has long been at war — it just hasn’t announced it officially.

Russian savings have become the sole fuel for the economy, oil is breaking records, the King of England is publicly taking sides in the war, and a five-day truce is being passed off as diplomacy — such was this day.

‘Iron Dome’ Over the Persian Gulf — History Rewritten
Israel secretly deployed an Iron Dome battery in the UAE early in the war with Iran — along with its military operators. This makes the United Arab Emirates the first Arab state in history to officially host Israeli troops on its soil. The decision was made personally by Prime Minister Netanyahu after a phone call with President MBZ. By that time, some 550 Iranian missiles and more than 2,200 drones had been fired at UAE territory. The Dome ultimately intercepted dozens of them. The Abraham Accords gave Israel and the Arab monarchies trade ties — the war with Iran has given them shared air-defense crews. Diplomats don’t make the world; Iranian missiles do.

Trump Disappointed in NATO — The Alliance Falls Silent
Donald Trump has publicly stated he is “very disappointed in NATO,” after allies refused to help the US in its war with Iran, calling their stance “shocking” and “a very stupid mistake.” The US has spent $350 billion defending its NATO allies — and in return received collective neutrality at the very moment Washington itself was drawn into a military conflict. Trump added his classic line — “we don’t need anyone’s help” — but the tone of his remarks reveals more grievance than pride. $350 billion invested, zero soldiers sent — an investment with a negative return.

Tehran Takes the Nuclear File Off the Negotiating Table
Iran has officially announced via the Tasnim news agency that it is “no longer interested” in a deal that would impose limits on its nuclear program. Tehran now says it is prepared to discuss exclusively the terms for ending the war — the lifting of the naval blockade, compensation for damages, sanctions relief, and the status of the Strait of Hormuz. The nuclear issue could be taken up in separate talks “sometime later” — a phrase Washington will almost certainly read as diplomatic “never.” Tehran has thus reshaped the entire agenda: no longer negotiations over nuclear non-proliferation, but negotiations over the postwar order of the region. Iran has removed Trump’s main bargaining chip from the table — and is waiting to see how he reacts.

Araghchi Flies to Moscow — Putin to Meet
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has announced a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 27 — and this comes precisely as talks with the American side, mediated by Pakistan, have hit a definitive dead end. Tehran is systematically building an alternative diplomatic axis: first a visit to Pakistan, now Moscow — deliberately signaling to Washington that it has other interlocutors. Russia, for its part, gets a rare chance to position itself as a key mediator in the hottest conflict on the planet. While Washington waits for a phone call, Tehran heads to Moscow.

Japan Switches from Middle Eastern Oil to American
Tokyo has received its first batch of US oil since the start of the Iranian crisis: the tanker OTIS delivered approximately 910,000 barrels from Texas, completing a 35-day route through the Panama Canal, bypassing the closed Strait of Hormuz. For a country that traditionally sourced about 90% of its oil from the Middle East, this is not just logistical adaptation — it is a structural shift in energy policy, one Washington will undoubtedly regard as a strategic victory. The only question is how long it will last: American oil costs Japan considerably more, and the Strait is not about to reopen. 35 days at sea instead of 10 — safety always comes at the consumer's expense.

Fire at British Airbase — At the Most Inconvenient Moment
A fire has broken out at a British airbase used by the US to stage aircraft for the Middle East — an incident NATO would surely prefer not to comment on, given Trump’s already acute displeasure with the allies. The cause of the blaze has not been officially established, but the location and timing are unlikely to escape the attention of intelligence analysts on both sides of the Atlantic. A fire at a base that officially does not exist in this war — coincidence, or a message?

Final question: If Iran removes the nuclear file from the table, flies to Moscow for support, and NATO conspicuously steps aside — is the current geopolitical order not already de facto dissolved, simply not yet willing to admit it officially?

Tehran Activates Air Defense — Oil Jumps 5%
On the evening of April 23, air defense systems activated over the skies of Tehran — and that alone was enough to send Brent crude prices soaring 5%, settling firmly above the psychological threshold of $100 per barrel. Simultaneously, Iran intensified mining of the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to sink any vessels laying mines in the strait and triple demining operations. Tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked from both sides — from within by Iran, from without by the American fleet. The strait is closed; the market is open — for panic.

"We Are United" — Tehran Answers Trump with Consolidation
After Trump publicly claimed "disunity" within Iran's political establishment, the country's highest officials — President Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, Vice President Aref, and the Head of the Supreme Court — issued a joint statement within half an hour affirming the iron unity of the nation and government. The message is stark: "One God, one Leader, one nation, one path — Iran's path to victory, dearer than life." Washington's attempt to exploit internal contradictions in Tehran backfired with a rare display of public solidarity. Trump wanted a rift — he got a parade of unanimity.

"Reparations Credit": The EU Expects Money from Moscow
The EU Council has officially approved a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, intending to repay it using future "reparations from Russia" — a formulation that has already sparked intense debate over the feasibility of such a scenario. Simultaneously, the 20th sanctions package against Russia came into force: a ban on crypto-Russian platforms, restrictions on ammonia, the blacklisting of two ports — Murmansk and Tuapse — and, effective 2027, a ban on LNG terminal services for Russian companies. The EU has also prohibited transactions with the RUBx cryptocurrency and any support for the development of the digital ruble. €90 billion on history's promissory note — one could hardly imagine a bolder gamble.

Rafale over the Baltic: Europe Rehearses a Strike on Russia
France and Poland plan to conduct joint nuclear air exercises over the Baltic Sea, involving Rafale fighters armed with "nuclear warheads" — and to practice strikes on targets near St. Petersburg. The rhetoric has escalated to a new level: until recently, such scenarios were discussed only in closed analytical reports; now they feature in official military plans. Moscow has yet to respond officially, but the mere announcement is bound to affect ongoing peace negotiations. The world negotiates peace — and rehearses war. Simultaneously.

Gasoline Outpaces Inflation, Workers Dwindle Year by Year
Retail gasoline prices in Russia have risen 3.52% since the start of the year — outpacing overall inflation of 3.16% — with a liter jumping 14 kopecks in the last week alone, reaching 67 rubles. Meanwhile, Russia's Minister of Labor acknowledged a severe demographic crisis: through 2032, the economy will need to attract 1.7 million new workers annually, and over the coming years, 12 million people from industry, education, and public administration will retire. Either raising the retirement age or forced overemployment — both options threaten social unrest. Expensive fuel, cheap labor — a formula familiar to any great power in decline.

Concluding question: Is Europe capable of simultaneously financing Ukraine through loans secured against "future reparations," conducting nuclear exercises at Russia's borders, and still seriously counting on peace negotiations — or has this already become a theater of the absurd with nuclear staging?

Trump Wants a Deal — Iran Won’t Surrender, Pakistan Passes Notes
Trump is weary of the conflict and is ready to unfreeze Iranian assets in exchange for a “favorable deal,” while Pakistan shuttles draft proposals between the sides — covering sanctions, enrichment, money, the nuclear program, and the future. Iran’s President Pezeshkian responded curtly: “Iranians do not bow to force.” American signals, he said, “carry the bitter message of capitulation,” and the deep historical distrust of the United States remains intact. Meanwhile, Trump is discussing the seizure of Kharg Island as a third-phase option — either new strikes or peace, for Iran to decide.

UAE Warns the US: Dollars Are Running Out — We’ll Switch to Yuan
Abu Dhabi has informed Washington of a possible shift to the yuan or other currencies for oil sales — the country has almost no dollars left after two months of war. The UAE is asking the US to allow an exchange of dirhams for dollars, but Washington refuses — its own defense industry needs the currency. An independent nation seeking permission from an ally to change its trade currency — otherwise, sanctions.

Economists Speak Out: The Superprofit Resource Model No Longer Works
Economists are stating plainly: the model built on superprofits from resource sales is exhausted. “Quite significant changes await us,” they say, and this is “a matter of survival for the political elite.” Minister Reshetnikov acknowledged the depletion of reserves a week earlier; now experts add that change is inevitable — not a revolution, but “an objective process.” Meanwhile, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency has lifted flight restrictions to the UAE and over Iran — peaceful life is returning faster than wars are ending.

Russians Abroad Cut Off from Banks Due to VPN Blocking
The Ministry of Digital Development ordered a ban on VPNs — security systems failed to distinguish foreign traffic from tunneled traffic, cutting off access for all overseas IPs. Tourists in Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, and Vietnam cannot transfer money, pay taxes, or buy tickets home. Sellers on marketplaces have lost 40% of conversions from Telegram and YouTube. Roskomnadzor is now called “the most criticized agency.”

Druzhba Resumes — Madjar Already Demands Oil from Zelensky
Technical tests of the Druzhba pipeline are scheduled for Tuesday; Ukraine expects supplies to resume as soon as tomorrow. Hungary’s new prime minister, Madjar — an opposition figure who came to power as an anti-Orbán candidate — has immediately demanded that Zelensky “stop the blackmail” and resume oil transit to Hungary. Within a week, he has adopted the same position on energy as Orbán.

Arctic Gas Carrier Undergoes Trials — Interior Minister in Pyongyang
The Zvezda shipyard has begun sea trials of the second Arc7 gas carrier, capable of breaking ice over two meters thick on its own — the series is being built with delays due to sanctions, but it is being built. Interior Minister Kolokoltsev has flown to North Korea to discuss “law enforcement cooperation” with his North Korean counterpart. Norway scrambled F-35s to intercept a Russian Il-38 near its borders — the 19th such mission since the start of the year. Arctic gas carriers, ministers in Pyongyang, and reconnaissance planes off Norway’s coast — Russia is building alternative logistics alongside alternative alliances.

While the UAE asks Washington for permission to trade in yuan, Russian tourists cannot buy tickets home because of internet blocks, and Madjar demands oil from Zelensky — the new world order is being shaped not by declarations, but by these small, humiliating details.