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General Russia

“Russia Open to Economic Cooperation, Including with Western Companies – Peskov”.

According to the press secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov, Russia is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation with all states.

“Russia remains open to mutually beneficial cooperation with all states,” Peskov noted.

In addition, he said, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is open to those interested in economic cooperation with the Russian Federation.

“It is open precisely to those who are interested in economic relations,” Peskov noted.

According to him, foreign companies from Europe and the United States have previously expressed interest in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, but not publicly.

Russian media, citing the Roscongress Foundation, report that a number of American companies intend to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will be held on June 18-21, and applications have already been accepted.

France Middle East

Macron holds emergency meeting on Iran’s nuclear program

French President Emmanuel Macron has convened an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers, with the central agenda focusing on the escalating tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. This urgent deliberation underscores the growing geopolitical strain in the Middle East, where concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions have once again reached a critical juncture.

Notably, France’s military posture in the region remains significant. The French Navy’s flagship, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, is currently deployed in the Middle East as part of a strike group, positioning Paris as a key player in the unfolding crisis. While the precise nature of its role in any forthcoming large-scale military operations remains undisclosed, strategic assessments suggest that the carrier group could be involved in both defensive and offensive operations.

Historical precedents indicate that France has actively participated in regional defense measures. Last year, during a period of heightened hostilities, the French Navy and Air Force played a crucial role in neutralizing Iranian missile threats, particularly in coordination with Israel’s air defense systems. Given this backdrop, it is likely that the Charles de Gaulle strike group will once again be tasked with intercepting potential Iranian retaliatory strikes, ensuring the protection of allied assets in the region.

This latest development further highlights France’s strategic commitment to maintaining regional stability while reaffirming its position as a pivotal actor in European security policy. As Macron’s government navigates the complexities of diplomatic engagement and military preparedness, the coming days may prove crucial in determining France’s broader role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

Middle East

Israel bombs central Syria

Last night, the Israeli Air Force carried out large-scale air strikes on the T4 air base in Hama province in central Syria, which levelled the air base’s infrastructure.

A few days ago, according to reports in Turkish media, the Turkish army was planning to enter the said base and deploy air defence equipment there, but Israeli actions did not delay and destroyed the air base.

According to Syrian media, the strikes killed members of the Syrian army, civilians and 3 Turkish engineers who were at the air base and preparing the base for the deployment of Turkish forces.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has already condemned the Israeli strikes and accused them of violating the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

UK

Trump’s Tariffs Could Harm UK Trade, Business Secretary Warns

UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump pose a threat to the UK because they will damage global trade.

Speaking to Radio Times, Reynolds explained that anything that disrupts the global trading system poses a threat to the UK.

“Any barrier to trade, particularly between the UK and our main trading partner, which is the United States, is frustrating to me. It is a challenge. I recognise that the UK is in a better position than many other countries from what was announced last night, but I was still disappointed,” the minister said.

As a reminder, Donald Trump has announced a minimum basic tariff of 10% on almost all goods imported into the US. According to Trump’s decision, a 34% tariff will be imposed on China, 20% on the European Union, 46% on Vietnam, 32% on Taiwan, 24% on Japan, 26% on India, 25% on South Korea, 36% on Thailand, 31% on Switzerland, 32% on Indonesia, 24% on Malaysia, 10% on the United Kingdom, 17% on Israel, and 30% on South Africa.

Ukraine

The Flight of the Pumas!

Ukrainian officials report that the British Ministry of Defence is preparing to provide Puma HC2 military transport helicopters to Ukraine free of charge.

All twenty three of the UK’s Puma medium support helicopters, one of the RAF’s longest-serving aircraft, were retired on March 31, 2025. Eight of these helicopters have been modernised by Airbus, at a cost of £260m, and are scheduled to be flown to Ukraine.

Following the British Ministry of Defence’s decision, France is also considering transferring its decommissioned Pumas to Ukraine.

This military assistance is of great importance for Ukraine in terms of putting pressure on the Russian front lines, and could well change the status quo of the war in favour of Ukraine. The fact is clear: after Trump became president, the European continent has become more active in helping Ukraine.

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