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Boris Nadezhdin Leaves Russia After Political Crackdown

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Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin has announced that he is temporarily outside Russia after being labelled a “foreign agent” and barred from contesting the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections. In a video posted from Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, Nadezhdin said he was “alive and free” and would share his future plans later.

The 63-year-old former lawmaker has been a vocal critic of Russia’s war in Ukraine while attempting to remain active within the country’s political system. His political ambitions were halted after the Justice Ministry designated him a “foreign agent” in July, followed by police questioning and a court fine over alleged display of extremist symbols on social media, accusations he rejected.

Nadezhdin’s departure adds to the growing number of prominent Kremlin critics who have either left Russia or been imprisoned since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. Russian authorities say such measures are necessary to protect national security, while opposition figures argue they are part of a broader crackdown on political dissent.

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Romania Shoots Down Second Drone After Airspace Breach

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Romania said it shot down a second drone that entered its airspace in two days near the border with Ukraine. The drone was detected by radar on Saturday morning over a sparsely populated area in the Danube Delta, prompting the Romanian military to scramble two F-16 fighter jets before it was brought down.

The incident follows Friday’s interception of another drone, which Romanian prosecutors identified as Russian. It marked the first time Romania, a NATO member, had actively shot down a drone after experiencing dozens of airspace breaches since Russia intensified attacks on Ukrainian ports along the Danube River in 2022.

Romanian officials say drone incursions have become more frequent as Russian strikes around Ukraine’s Odesa region increase ahead of the harvest season. The growing attacks are raising concerns over security, energy supplies, and key trade routes in the Black Sea region.

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Russia Awaits New U.S. Peace Proposal on Ukraine

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Russia said it will wait for new proposals from U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, while continuing its military campaign. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow believes the Trump administration is sincere in seeking a peaceful settlement, but added that Russia will pursue its objectives on the battlefield until a viable agreement is reached.

Peskov claimed that previous U.S. peace proposals were accepted by Russia but rejected by Ukraine, accusing European allies of encouraging Kyiv to continue the conflict. He said the Kremlin remains interested in diplomacy and hopes U.S.-led mediation efforts will resume after disruptions caused by the Middle East crisis.

Although Russia welcomed Washington’s willingness to negotiate, Peskov noted that the United States continues supplying weapons to Ukraine, calling its position contradictory. He said Moscow would continue engaging with any peace initiatives that align with its interests while awaiting fresh diplomatic proposals from the U.S.

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Defence Takes Centre Stage at Farnborough Airshow

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The 2026 Farnborough Airshow is expected to focus more on defence technology than commercial aviation as global security concerns continue to rise. Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have increased demand for advanced weapons, drones, and AI-powered military systems, making defence companies a major presence at this year’s event. Organisers say defence exhibitors now account for nearly half of the record 1,600 participants.

Industry leaders believe emerging defence startups are reshaping the sector with faster innovation in autonomous and AI-driven technologies. While traditional military platforms such as the F-35 and Eurofighter remain important, experts say future investments are increasingly shifting toward unmanned systems and advanced defence technologies.

On the commercial aviation side, Airbus and Boeing are still expected to announce aircraft orders, but supply chain challenges and production constraints are likely to limit major deals. Manufacturers remain focused on increasing aircraft deliveries and overcoming ongoing shortages of critical components and jet engines to meet growing global demand.

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France to Summon Russian Envoy Over Alleged Cyberattacks

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France has announced that it will summon the Russian ambassador to Paris in the coming days over an alleged cyberattack campaign targeting several European countries, including France. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the attacks were aimed at espionage and sabotage and accused Russia of orchestrating the operation.

Alongside the diplomatic move, France plans to impose sanctions on nine Russian individuals and four Russian entities allegedly linked to the cyber campaign. According to Barrot, the attacks were carried out under the direction of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).

The announcement comes as the European Union works to finalise its 21st package of sanctions against Russia in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. France has previously accused Moscow of launching cyberattacks against the country and says it will continue taking measures to strengthen its cybersecurity and national security.

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Putin, Lukashenko Hold Talks Amid Rising Ukraine-Belarus Tensions

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held talks at Putin’s Valdai residence on Friday, with discussions expected to focus on the war in Ukraine alongside trade, economic cooperation, joint projects and regional security. The Kremlin said no documents would be signed and no joint press conference was planned following the meeting.

The meeting comes as tensions between Belarus and Ukraine have intensified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accused Putin of trying to persuade Lukashenko to deepen Belarus’ involvement in the war, a claim rejected by both Moscow and Minsk. Lukashenko said he recently met representatives of Zelenskiy and warned them against dragging Belarus into the conflict, while the Kremlin has accused Ukraine of threatening Belarus’ sovereignty over alleged signal relay stations.

Although Belarus has not deployed its troops to fight alongside Russia, it allowed Russian forces to use its territory to launch the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and later agreed to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons. Zelenskiy said this week that the disputed relay stations had stopped functioning, though there has been no independent verification of the claim.

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Russian Opposition Leader Jailed for Anti-War Posts

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Russian opposition politician Maxim Kruglov, deputy leader of the Yabloko party, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian army. The charges stem from two Telegram posts he made in 2022 regarding the war in Ukraine. Kruglov denied wrongdoing and argued that the case reflects growing restrictions on free expression in Russia.

During the court hearing, Kruglov said the prosecution effectively criminalizes political disagreement and public dissent. He rejected claims that his posts were motivated by political hatred, stating that his work has always focused on improving life in Russia. The Kremlin maintains that wartime censorship laws are necessary to preserve national unity amid its confrontation with the West.

The verdict comes just months before Russia’s parliamentary elections, in which Yabloko hopes to participate despite its limited political influence. Party leader Nikolai Rybakov condemned the ruling as unjust and urged voters to support Yabloko as a way of opposing current government policies. Kruglov reaffirmed his anti-war stance and expressed hope for a future Russia where differing opinions can be openly expressed.

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G7 Summit in France: European Leaders Challenge Trump on Interim Iran Deal and Ukraine Strategy

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At the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, European leaders are preparing to confront U.S. President Donald Trump over his preliminary peace deal with Iran and his current strategy regarding the war in Ukraine. While Trump arrived buoyed by an interim agreement aimed at ending the broader Middle East conflict—with a formal signing targeted for Friday—European allies fear the deal is superficial. They warn that a weak agreement risks entrenching Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and France, Britain, and Germany are pushing for a direct role in the upcoming 60-day negotiation window to ensure a more robust framework than what an inexperienced U.S. team might secure.

Concurrently, the summit serves as a critical battleground for reshaping the Russia-Ukraine diplomatic narrative. European diplomats are attempting to convince Trump that past U.S. peace proposals have leaned too heavily in Moscow’s favor. Leaders like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that Ukraine has strengthened its domestic military production and successfully struck strategic targets deep inside Russia, arguing that Vladimir Putin’s war economy is highly strained under sanctions. European nations want to signal an openness to talks with Putin, but insist that stricter sanctions and increased military support for Kyiv must remain on the table to show that Moscow is the party blocking peace.

The security of global energy supplies is also a dominant focus of the summit’s agenda, particularly regarding the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that European leaders, alongside representatives from the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt, will discuss a potential Franco-British-led maritime mission and alternative energy routes to bypass the volatile waterway. While Trump confidently stated that the strait would be “completely open” by Friday, European policymakers remain cautious, balancing their immediate energy security anxieties against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s concerns that the Middle East crisis is dangerously diverting American attention and resources away from the four-year war in Europe.

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Germany Ends Joint Fighter Jet Project with France

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Germany has decided to withdraw from the joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet programme with France, bringing an end to one of Europe’s most ambitious defence collaborations. Launched in 2017 by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, the project aimed to strengthen European defence capabilities and reduce reliance on external partners.

The programme faced years of disagreements between key industry partners, including Dassault Aviation and Airbus, over leadership, responsibilities, and aircraft design. France preferred a lighter carrier-capable fighter, while Germany sought a larger aircraft focused on air superiority, making it difficult to align their military requirements.

The decision comes amid growing European defence spending and changing security priorities following the war in Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had already questioned the long-term relevance of a costly manned fighter jet programme. While some FCAS components may continue, the cancellation highlights ongoing challenges in achieving deeper European defence integration.

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Kremlin Says No Putin-Trump Call Planned as Ukraine Mediation Remains on Hold

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The Kremlin said there are currently no plans for a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that while direct mediation efforts on the Ukraine conflict remain paused, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner continue to maintain communication with both Moscow and Kyiv.

According to Peskov, discussions between Russia and American negotiators are ongoing through existing channels, although no dates have been set for a possible visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Russia. Their earlier mediation efforts had stalled in February amid broader geopolitical tensions linked to military action against Iran.

The comments came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described a recent conversation with Witkoff and Kushner as positive and expressed optimism about renewed peace efforts. Peskov also dismissed the prospect of European mediation, arguing that European leaders are more focused on supporting the continuation of the conflict rather than advancing peace negotiations.

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