News

Gilman's Release Could Restart Ukraine Talks

The release of American citizen Robert Gilman is being viewed as a potential catalyst for resuming dialogue between Washington and Moscow on a Ukraine settlement. Against this backdrop, the visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv remains announced as taking place "within a week to ten days," though specific dates have still not been named. The humanitarian gesture is being used as a warm-up before difficult negotiations — classic diplomatic mechanics, in which a symbolic step precedes substantive talks.

Karoline Leavitt Steps Down as White House Press Secretary

Karoline Leavitt has announced

Russia–Japan: Putin makes first visit to Iturup, Japan summons Russian ambassador
Tokyo issued a "resolute protest," calling the visit incompatible with its stance on the "Northern Territories," while Medvedev responded by reaffirming that the Kuril Islands belong to Russia in perpetuity. The symbolic gesture predictably triggered a harsh reaction from Tokyo.

Russia grain: KSK grain terminal in Novorossiysk halts operations
The decision followed a drone attack overnight on August 12 — the third major terminal at the port to suspend operations. Russian grain exports through the key port are once again under threat.

Ukraine–Russia: Ukraine proposes mutual halt to strikes

United States: The Market Buys Back Inflation, Ignoring the Oil Shock

On August 12, the S&P 500 set a new record at 7,748, the Nasdaq gained nearly 1% on earnings from CoreWeave and Super Micro, and July inflation came in exactly at forecast - 3.4% year-on-year - allowing the market to exhale. The direct conclusion: the elites are holding only one scenario in mind - the Fed will not raise rates - while everything else, including the war in the Middle East, is treated as background noise as long as it doesn't hit inflation directly.

Oil: The "Geopolitical Premium" Is

Beijing Warns Washington of Response to Anti-Russian Sanctions

Following the U.S. Senate's passage of a bill sponsored by Senator Graham, which grants the president the authority to impose 100 percent tariffs against the largest buyers of Russian oil, including China, India, and a number of other countries. The Chinese Embassy in Washington openly stated that Beijing "firmly opposes unilateral sanctions" and will take the necessary measures to protect its companies if the law takes effect. This looks to me like a moment of truth—the bill is currently stuck in the House of Representatives until September, but if it passes, we

Military Pressures White House to End Iran War as Weapons Stockpiles Run Low

Top U.S. military leadership is urging the Trump administration to bring the conflict with Iran to a close, with Pentagon officials openly acknowledging that weapons stockpiles have fallen to critically low levels. At the same time, Trump is leaving open the possibility of a "massive escalation" while also stating he is prepared to declare victory without a nuclear deal if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened. According to Reuters, the White House is prepared to lift the blockade on Iranian ports as soon as an agreement on

Moscow gives Armenia one month to choose between the EAEU and the EU

Deputy Foreign Minister Galuzin stated that Yerevan must announce a referendum by December, or else at the CSTO summit on November 11 Armenia could be stripped of its voting rights and quota positions over debts owed to the organization. Talk of an "intelligent divorce" is turning into a harsh ultimatum.

Russian Armed Forces strike Kyiv's and Zaporizhzhia's defense industry

A logistics terminal storing components for drones and the Zaporizhstal plant, which produces armor-grade rolled steel, were hit. The strikes were aimed at the industrial base of Ukraine's

United States: The Euphoria of August 9 Deflated by the 11th

On August 9, the Nasdaq surged 1.30% and the S&P 500 gained 0.62%, with Tesla and Nvidia dragging the market upward on hopes for an imminent agreement over the Strait of Hormuz. By August 11, everything had reversed - the Nasdaq slipped back into negative territory, Nvidia fell 2.86%, Apple dropped 1.62%, the VIX ticked up, and ten-year bond yields crept toward 4.7%. The direct conclusion: the elites were not buying the deal itself but the hope of one, and as soon as "almost ready" failed to turn into

Russian Armed Forces strike Odesa CHP plant and seven power substations

A combined missile and air strike left a significant part of Odesa region without electricity, and also hit gas field infrastructure in Sumy region. Southern Ukraine's energy sector is once again the focus of Russian strikes.

United States provides Ukraine with intelligence for strikes on Russian energy facilities free of charge

According to The Atlantic, Washington is sharing information to enable attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. A symmetrical response to strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities is reportedly being prepared with American assistance.

Vucic: the world is on the brink

Scarborough back in the crosshairs: Beijing openly warns Manila

On August 7-8, the People's Liberation Army conducted coordinated naval and air exercises near Scarborough Shoal, and China's Ministry of National Defense directly called them a "serious warning" to the Philippines. Here's how I see it: the dispute has been escalating for a third consecutive month, water cannons and patrols have already become routine, and while this once looked like a demonstration of force, it increasingly resembles groundwork for a harsher scenario should Manila fail to back down.

Beijing builds a wall against brain drain in tech

This week it became

Deadline for Putin's ultimatum expires as Witkoff and Kushner head to Moscow

On August 8, the 10-day deadline set by Trump's ultimatum on settling the conflict in Ukraine expired, with the president himself emphasizing that further developments depend on Putin. At the same time, Witkoff and Kushner are expected to arrive in Moscow as early as next week, part of a US diplomatic effort on two fronts simultaneously — the Ukrainian and the Russian. Tight deadlines paired with simultaneous visits suggest Washington clearly wants to force a resolution rather than wait for the initiative to shift to the other side