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John Bolton, former national security adviser to Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to illegally retaining classified information. He faces up to five years in prison, a $2.25 million fine, and other penalties under a plea deal. Sentencing is scheduled for October 28.
The Bank of Russia has set the official dollar rate at 77.0611 rubles for June 27-29, 2026, up 1 ruble and 42.64 kopecks from the previous figure. The euro and yuan also rose against the ruble.
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Russia, with Moscow reporting 660 drones intercepted across 13 regions and Crimea. The strikes targeted energy and industrial facilities, causing fuel shortages and power outages, while Ukrainian officials accused Belarus of aiding Russia's drone operations.
Poland and Baltic states are preparing for potential Russian provocations, with US intelligence warnings and Latvian intelligence citing hybrid attack risks. NATO's Article 5 commitment and upcoming summit in Turkey are central to the response.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds force commander Esmail Qaani threatened Israel, demanding its withdrawal from Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi accused Italy and Romania of complicity in US attacks on Iran, while Italy denied the allegation, saying it authorized only technical and logistical flights.
At the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk, Polish and Ukrainian officials struck a conciliatory tone despite President Zelenskyy's absence amid historical disputes. Ukraine expects to sign over 160 agreements worth more than €10 billion, and the EU confirmed the first tranche of a €90 billion loan.
Oman and Iran are at odds over temporary shipping corridors in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned that only Tehran-designated routes are safe. The dispute, which threatens a fragile US-Iran ceasefire, centers on control of the strategic waterway and maritime fees.
The Trump administration has formally asked Congress for $87.6 billion in additional spending, with roughly $67 billion earmarked for Defense Department needs linked to the war with Iran. The request, sent by the Office of Management and Budget, also covers farm aid and Ebola response funding and arrives amid congressional resistance and a recent war-powers vote.
Russia and Belarus have denied reports that Moscow is pressuring Minsk to open a new front in the Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says Moscow wants Belarus more involved, while Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin accuses the West of stoking tension and trying to drag Belarus into the conflict.
NATO members are set to pledge €70 billion in military aid to Ukraine for 2026 and at least equivalent levels in 2027 at a summit in Ankara. The pledge, which includes €30 billion annually from an EU loan, reflects a shift toward European and Canadian funding amid US reluctance to contribute directly. However, reports differ on the final figure, with some suggesting a lower amount, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged restraint on new financial commitments.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has reiterated Minsk's desire for peace in Ukraine, saying Belarus has enough land and resources and wants no war. He also met with representatives of Vladimir Zelensky, urging Kyiv to negotiate seriously, while accusing a global 'party of war' of prolonging the conflict.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf Arab allies that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a regional tour in Bahrain. The visit aimed to sell the preliminary US-Iran accord to skeptical partners, while Iran's negotiator called the deal a 'declaration of America's defeat'.
On day 118 of the Iran war, Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned against an alternative shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Bahrain for Gulf Cooperation Council talks. Tehran called its interim deal with Washington a 'declaration of America's defeat,' and the US sought to reassure Gulf allies of its commitment to their interests.
US President Donald Trump said it may never be known who was at fault for the February 28 strike on a girls' school in Minab, Iran, that killed more than 175 people, mostly children. Initial internal US military investigations suggested US forces were likely responsible, but the Pentagon has not acknowledged preliminary findings. Trump has alternated between blaming Iran and saying it was a mistake.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with munitions makers at the White House as his administration pushes to expand weapons production after military operations drew down US stockpiles. The Pentagon also awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to ramp up THAAD interceptor production, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented that the US economy is undergoing militarization.
US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with NATO allies for not offering support during the US-Israel war on Iran, saying 'We were let down.' NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended European contributions, noting thousands of US flights took off from European bases. Trump also praised Turkey's president for staying out of the conflict.
Leaders of the E5 nations met in Berlin, pledging to deepen NATO-Ukraine ties and increase defense spending. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the time for negotiations with Russia will come, while stressing Europe's continued support for Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation has drawn reactions from European leaders, with French President Emmanuel Macron pledging to continue their joint policy. Starmer was a key figure in Europe's 'coalition of the willing' for Ukraine, and his departure may affect momentum in European security efforts.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that Western nations do not have a deliberate strategy to provoke Russia into using nuclear weapons, as they understand the consequences of such a conflict. He also criticized NATO, saying its unity evaporates in real war, citing the aftermath of strikes on Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said there can be no rules for Kiev amid increasing attacks on Russian cities, and dismissed Hague Conventions as outdated. At the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum, he also argued talks with Ukraine are pointless and compared Western sanctions to piracy.