Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich - June 18, 2026!

Геополитический дайджест от Михаила Ажгиревича за 18 июня 2026!

Iran naval blockade lifted - the war is officially over

CENTCOM confirmed the end of the naval blockade of Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is reopening, and Putin - at the Russia-ASEAN summit - was among the first to welcome the Trump-Pezeshkian agreement, expressing hope it would form the basis for future deals. Stabilisation in the Middle East, Putin noted, "will have a positive effect on global energy and food markets" - diplomatic translation: Russian oil flows freely again. The Iran war ended - and the first to celebrate was Putin, speaking to ASEAN.

Israel thinks Trump is secretly conspiring

Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich - June 17, 2026!

Геополитический дайджест от Михаила Ажгиревича за 17 июня 2026!

Ukrainian strike hits children's football bus - Belarus, Bryansk, Gelendzhik

Ukrainian forces struck a bus carrying a Belarusian youth football team near Bryansk as it travelled to a holiday in Gelendzhik - one woman was killed, six people injured including four teenagers. Russia's Investigative Committee opened a terrorism case, Peskov called the strike deliberate and promised the continuation of the military operation as a response. Russia has long been at war - but a children's football bus as a target belongs to a separate genre of military logic.

Hormuz to open in a day or two - Trump promises, Iran

Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich - June 13, 2026!

Геополитический дайджест от Михаила Ажгиревича за 13 июня 2026!

Gabbard declassifies the biolabs - and names Fauci as a liar

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard published declassified documents on U.S.-funded Ukrainian biolaboratories conducting research on anthrax, Ebola, plague and Marburg fever - with virtually no oversight. Gabbard directly accused Fauci and Biden's national security team of lying to the American people about the programme's existence. Notably, Gabbard leaves office on June 30 - the documents appeared in her final days. On her way out, Gabbard put on the table what others spent years hiding. A farewell gift with biological contents.

Iran deal - tomorrow, or maybe not

Pakistan's

Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich - June 12, 2026!

Геополитический дайджест от Михаила Ажгиревича за 12 июня 2026!

Deal on the finish line - but the IRGC objects and Khamenei stays silent

Pakistan's prime minister announced the finalisation of the U.S.-Iran memorandum text, and Qatar's delegation achieved a breakthrough with Araqchi and Qalibaf present - but IRGC Commander General Vahidi, also in the room, disagreed with several terms. The text has been sent to Khamenei for final approval, which has not arrived. An Iranian MP already called the new version "more damaging" to Iran than previous drafts. Agreement agreed by everyone except those who decide. Classic Iranian diplomacy.

UAE unfreezes up to $20 billion for Iran - the

Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich - June 8, 2026!

Геополитический дайджест от Михаила Ажгиревича за 8 июня 2026!

EU warships to seize tankers - the shadow fleet is now a target

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that Operation IRINI in the Mediterranean has been granted new rules of engagement, allowing European warships to intercept and detain tankers suspected of carrying Russian oil. Originally designed to block arms shipments to Libya, IRINI has been quietly repurposed into a naval enforcement tool for energy sanctions.  Kallas rewrites the rules in the Mediterranean - Russia will rewrite its shipping routes in response.

The European trio arms Ukraine - and integrates its defence industry

Britain, France and Germany announced after

Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich - June 3, 2026!

Геополитический дайджест

Netanyahu thanks America, Trump reminds everyone who saved whom

Netanyahu addressed the American public with a rallying cry: "When we fight Iran, we're fighting for you" - a transparent attempt to keep Washington on side as Trump's patience visibly wears thin. Trump, meanwhile, claimed that his decision to launch operations against Iran personally saved Israel from annihilation: "If it weren't for me, there would be no Israel." Two allies publicly trading gratitude while privately trading insults - the special relationship, 2026 edition. Netanyahu fights for America, Trump saves Israel. Both claim the debt - neither plans to pay it.

Araqchi draws

Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich — June 2, 2026!

Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich — June 2, 2026!

Trump screams at Netanyahu — the 'unbreakable' bond cracks

According to Axios, Trump erupted at the Israeli Prime Minister over reports of a planned strike on Beirut: "You're f**ing crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. Now everyone hates Israel because of you." A sitting U.S. president publicly humiliating his closest Middle Eastern ally — rare under any circumstances, explosive in the middle of Iran negotiations. Trump saved Netanyahu from prison — Netanyahu thanked him by planning to bomb Beirut.*

Kazakhstan to store Iran's uranium — Russia's fingerprints on the deal

Astana announced readiness to accept

Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich — May 28, 2026

Геополитический дайджест от Михаила Ажгиревича за 28 мая 2026!

US and Iran Sign Memorandum — Hormuz Set to Reopen

Washington and Tehran have reached a 60-day memorandum of understanding: Iran will clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days and guarantee "unrestricted" passage for vessels — the document now awaits Trump's signature. The nuclear program has been deliberately placed on a separate track: Tehran successfully decoupled the two agendas, securing a ceasefire without making its central concession. Sixty days of quiet have been purchased at the price of deferring the nuclear question — possibly indefinitely.

Russia Bans Armenian Produce — The Tomato War Continues

Russia's agricultural watchdog

Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich — May 26, 2026

Геополитический дайджест от Михаила Ажгиревича за 26 мая 2026!

Israel crosses the "Yellow Line" — 70 airstrikes in 12 hours

The Israel Defense Forces have launched a ground incursion beyond their self-declared buffer zone in southern Lebanon, simultaneously unleashing a barrage of over 70 airstrikes in a 12-hour period. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly declared that the Israeli government will not allow Donald Trump to broker what he called a "bad deal" with Iran — effectively asserting an Israeli veto over American diplomatic efforts in the region.

EU digs in at Kyiv — Brussels dismisses Moscow's evacuation warning

European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper rejected Russia's Foreign Ministry recommendation

Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich — May 24, 2026

Геополитический дайджест от Михаила Ажгиревича за 24 мая 2026!

 

"Oreshnik," "Kinzhal," "Zircon" — Russia's Strike of Retribution Against Ukraine

Russia launched a massive strike against Ukrainian military targets, deploying its full hypersonic arsenal: Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal, and Zircon missiles struck the command centers of the Ground Forces' supreme headquarters, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) headquarters, air bases, and defense industry facilities. Russia's Ministry of Defense explicitly emphasized that strikes on civilian infrastructure were neither planned nor carried out — residential buildings in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district were hit by Ukraine's own Patriot air defense missiles, which burned through more than 70% of their ammunition stockpile overnight. When air defense