Putin met North Korea's foreign minister in Moscow, praising war aid
What's new: Putin thanked Pyongyang for troops and weapons support for Russia's war in Ukraine as bilateral military ties deepen.
Channel News Asia, The Straits Times +1
Subject
#Vladimir Putin
Ukraine drone strike halted Russia’s biggest Omsk oil refinery
Why it matters: The plant processed about 22 million tons of oil in 2024, and the outage could worsen fuel shortages in Russia.
Kremlin: Nuclear arms are the only barrier to world war
New: the New START treaty expired in February, ending U.S.-Russia limits on warheads.
The Straits Times, Tribunnews
Ukrainian drone strike cuts power in Sevastopol, kills 2 in Russia
What's new: Moscow said it downed 323 drones overnight, while Kyiv said it hit Sevastopol's main power substation.
Russia weighs diesel export ban as Ukraine strikes squeeze fuel
Why it matters: shortages have spread across Russian regions, with Crimea cutting transport hours and limiting fuel sales.
Russia says US no longer neutral in Ukraine war mediation
Lavrov accuses Washington of shifting to sanctions pressure, while Putin says Europe is preparing for war through military spending.
The Straits Times, Tribunnews
Latvia intelligence sees Russian hybrid attack risk on Baltics, Poland
Riga sees the nearest threat as a Kremlin miscalculation that could test NATO's resolve, not a full-scale war.
Kazan summit adopts new ASEAN-Russia declaration
The two sides also agreed on a comprehensive 2026-2030 action plan covering maritime cooperation, energy, trade and security.
Russia-ASEAN summit in Kazan approves 2026-2030 plan
The forum also adopted the Kazan Declaration and pressed cross-border trade using national currencies.
Antara News, CNN Indonesia
Russia rejects EU ultimatums as bloc tests new Kremlin contacts
What's new: European Council President Antonio Costa's office opened diplomatic channels, exposing splits among EU leaders over talks.
Bloomberg, The Straits Times
Prabowo cancels trip to Russia-ASEAN summit in Kazan
Istana said Prabowo chose to focus on domestic affairs after earlier meetings with ASEAN leaders and Vladimir Putin.
Bloomberg, Channel News Asia +5
Russian artist critical of Putin shot dead in Poland
New: two Belarusian nationals are detained, but the main gunman is still being hunted and the victim's family has been moved to safety.
Prabowo cancels trip to ASEAN-Russia summit in Kazan on June 17
Istana said Prabowo chose to focus on domestic issues after earlier meeting Putin and ASEAN leaders on the forum's agenda.
Republika, CNN Indonesia +3
Singapore PM Wong heads to Kazan for June 17-18 ASEAN-Russia summit
Why it matters: Singapore is keeping channels with Moscow open through ASEAN even as its sanctions over the Ukraine war remain in place.
Putin and Trump discuss Ukraine, Iran by phone before G7
The two also said attacks on civilian infrastructure in Russia were hindering peace, while a U.S. envoy prepared to go to Moscow.
Trump holds separate calls with Putin, Zelenskyy before G7
What's next: Ukraine is set to dominate this week's G7 summit in France, where Zelenskyy plans further talks with Trump.
Bloomberg, PBS NewsHour
Putin raises Russian active-duty force to 1.51 million
The new ceiling puts Russia's armed forces at 2,399,000-plus personnel, up 7,360 from the March order.
Antara News, Republika +1
Prabowo scheduled to visit Russia on June 17, agenda still being set
The government has yet to receive a final itinerary from the secretariat, leaving the timing and details of the visit open to change.
Britain, France and Germany back Zelensky-Putin ceasefire talks
What's new: The European leaders tied support to an immediate ceasefire, security guarantees for Kyiv and frozen Russian assets staying in place.
Bloomberg, The Straits Times
Russia downs 50 Ukrainian drones near St. Petersburg before forum
What's new: Flight limits at Pulkovo disrupted more than 30 flights hours before the St. Petersburg economic forum opened.
The New York Times, BBC News (World) +3
Putin rejects Zelensky meeting call to discuss war's end
The Kremlin wants a draft agreement first, while Zelensky says the refusal shows Russia chooses to keep fighting.
PBS NewsHour, CNN Indonesia +2
Zelensky seeks Putin meeting to halt war, with ceasefire first
What's new: Trump backed direct talks, and the Kremlin said Zelensky could come to Moscow if he wants negotiations.
Bloomberg, BBC News (World) +5
House passes Ukraine aid, Russia sanctions bill in 226-195 vote
What's next: The measure heads to the Senate and faces a likely veto fight after 18 Republicans joined Democrats to force it through.
Germany, France and Britain weigh Ukraine-Russia talks push
What's next: European officials see any talks as months away and insist Kyiv must approve the format and timing.
House passes 226-195 bill for Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions
What's next: The measure faces a tougher path in the Senate and would likely draw a veto if it reached the White House.
The New York Times, The Straits Times +1
Ukrainian drones hit St. Petersburg oil terminal before Putin forum
What's new: The strike briefly shut Pulkovo Airport, disrupted mobile internet and also targeted the Kronstadt naval base.
The Straits Times, NPR
Russian drone hits apartment building in Romania, injuring two
A drone linked to Russia's war on Ukraine struck a building in Galati, Romania, injuring two and drawing a NATO rebuke.