NEW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected the peace conditions recently proposed by Ukraine and its European partners on June 7, demonstrating the Kremlin’s continued disinterest in peace proposals that do not accept Russian demands for Ukraine’s capitulation.
Other Key Takeaways:
Lavrov reiterated that the Kremlin’s unchanged negotiating position remains based on Russia’s maximalist demands. Lavrov also asserted that Russia seeks to fulfill alleged agreements achieved during the August 2025 US-Russia Alaska Summit, despite the absence of any official documentation of any agreement achieved at the summit.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov acknowledged the Ukrainian June 18 strikes on Moscow City and started to set information conditions to continue and intensify strike packages against Ukraine.
The Russian Central Bank reduced its key interest rate to 14.25 percent as the bank’s leadership continues to advocate for a more cautious monetary policy.
The reduction of the key interest rate amidst the Russian Central Bank’s leadership’s push for a more cautious monetary policy may indicate that the Kremlin is eroding the independence of the Russian Central Bank.
Ukraine’s intermediate- and long-range strike campaign against Russian fuel infrastructure continues to strain gasoline supplies. Russian authorities continue to impose fuel rationing in Russia and occupied southern Ukraine while some authorities deny that Russia is facing fuel supply shortages.
Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Hulyaipole direction.
Russian forces launched 90 drones against Ukraine on the night of June 18 to 19.
One question about Russian mindset has been stuck in my head for a long time🇷🇺🤔
What the fuck was the Kremlin thinking?
Seriously.
Russia had trade with Europe. It was making money from oil and gas. It had influence. It had Crimea. It had Donbas under constant pressure. It wasn’t isolated.
Then it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Did they really believe Ukrainians wouldn’t fight? Did they really believe the West would just sit back and watch?
Did they really think nuclear threats would make everyone surrender?
Or did they simply believe that force always wins because that’s the only language they’ve known for generations?
Whatever the answer is, this has turned into one of the biggest strategic miscalculations of the 21st century.
MORE: Reuters reported on June 17, citing four industry sources, that Russia will import gasoline from Asia by sea in June 2026 to manage the gasoline shortages throughout Russia.
Russia’s decision to import gasoline from Asia in 2026 after not doing so in 2025 suggests that the shortages this year will be worse. Ukraine has struck Russia’s western ports, including those near St. Petersburg, which will likely threaten efforts to import gasoline via western ports.
Russian milblogger Military Informant says that mobile fire groups are now escorting fuel and logistics convoys in Crimea. He said the progress is positive "provided the enemy does not sharply increase it's attacks".
𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧: The Sabres are closing in on an extension with Zach Benson!
The deal will likely be ~7 years at 7 million per season!
(H/T @KevinWeekes)
#Sabres | #Sabrehood | #LetsGoBuffalo
Ukraine and European manufacturer MBDA (maker of the Storm Shadow) have signed a deal to upgrade the Neptune ground-launched cruise missile, creating the Neptune 2.
MBDA will provide key subsystems that will be integrated and built by the Ukrainian manufacturer Luch.