Donald Trump’s sanctions decision quickly influenced the Kremlin, prompting not Foreign Minister Lavrov but special envoy Kirill Dmitriev—closely tied to Putin and influential circles—to head to Washington. Moscow’s rhetoric toward the West is gradually softening, while mounting economic difficulties and the threat of new sanctions are affecting Russia’s negotiating position.
Inside Russia, wage arrears are rising, military production is slowing, and the Central Bank has been forced to slightly lower the key interest rate. Russia continues massive shelling of Ukraine, as evidenced by recent civilian casualties and destruction in Kherson and Kharkiv.
Ukraine responds by destroying Russian air defense systems in occupied territories. Amid sanctions, Hungary is actively seeking ways to bypass restrictions to secure energy, while India and Japan are partially revising their Russian energy imports but maintain some level of cooperation.
In Europe and the US, debates continue about further assisting Ukraine and using frozen Russian assets for aid. The UK’s prime minister stresses the importance of increased weapons supplies and backs the idea of using seized Russian assets to support Ukraine. Meanwhile, Putin is discussing granting new loans to Central Asian countries despite Russia’s fiscal problems.
The main intrigue remains Dmitriev’s visit to the US—whether the Kremlin is initiating new talks or merely stalling for time, given political and economic pressures. International debate continues over sanctions, military support for Ukraine, and economic stability.
