Russian oil in the Black and Baltic Sea markets has plummeted to $34–36 a barrel. This has hit Russia's budget revenues, and, according to the Washington Post, the country's economy is currently in its worst state since the war began. The fall in prices is due to sanctions and a general trend of declining oil prices.
Meanwhile, there is a conflict within Donald Trump's team between two politicians. Rubio advocates a tougher stance on Russia, while Vitkov urges listening to Putin and making concessions to him. Classical politicians like Blinken, the former US Secretary of State, also joined the discussion, calling to apply pressure to Putin rather than Ukraine.
China has declared support for a speedy peaceful settlement to the war, though details remain unclear. In the US, Congress and the Senate have stressed that stopping intelligence sharing with Ukraine cannot happen without their consent, providing an additional safeguard for Ukrainian support.
The author urges support for Ukrainian soldiers at this crucial time in negotiations and highlights the significance of oversight in talks between the US, China, Russia, and Ukraine.
