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FIFA has announced that its inaugural U-15 World Cup and Festival, scheduled for October in Azerbaijan, will be open to all member associations, potentially allowing Russia to participate for the first time since its 2022 ban. However, conflicting reports regarding the tournament's location and date have emerged, with some suggesting a September event in the United States.
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.
Russian officials have accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of making threats against Belarus following a drone attack on a bus carrying a Belarusian youth football team in Russia's Bryansk Region. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the actions as barbaric, while warning that Moscow is ready to ensure Belarus's security.
Japan's Naomi Osaka beat Russia's Yekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets at the 2026 WTA Bad Homburg Open, advancing to the quarterfinals. Earlier, Alexandrova had upset compatriot Mirra Andreeva in the second round. Both Russian players competed under neutral status.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will chair a business council meeting on June 30 focused on economic cooperation with Africa and preparations for the third Russia–Africa summit scheduled for October 28–29 in Moscow. The summit agenda is expected to cover artificial intelligence, independent payment systems, food security, and other priority areas.
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.
The Iraqi Oil Ministry denied reports that Baghdad plans to leave OPEC, saying its push for higher production quotas is part of its ongoing policy. The denial follows a Shafaq News report that Iraq was considering quitting the group if its quota demands were rejected.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said no final agreement on Ukraine was reached at the Anchorage summit, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov disputed that characterization, saying US proposals were accepted. The exchange highlights friction between Washington and Moscow over the status of the talks.
Oil prices have dropped to levels not seen since before the Iran war began in late February, as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz gradually resumes following a US-Iran interim deal. The resumption has allowed stranded tankers, including Iraqi crude cargoes, to exit the Gulf, though analysts caution that a sustained recovery hinges on a final peace pact.
The European Union has released the first tranche of a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, with reports differing on the exact amount. Ukrainian and EU officials frame the support as a long-term commitment to the country's recovery and defense, while details on drone funding and membership negotiations also emerge.
The Kremlin has demanded an explanation from Apple after the company removed VK apps and subsidiary services from the App Store, a move Russian officials describe as politically motivated and affecting tens of millions of Russian-speaking users worldwide. VK, which says it has never been sanctioned, insists the removal is unjustified, while the Russian digital development ministry calls it an act of unfair competition.
Former US Marine intelligence analyst Scott Ritter visited the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics and the Zaporozhye Region, where he said he witnessed evidence of Ukrainian attacks on civilians. Ritter told TASS he feels a responsibility to accurately convey the stories and 'truth' of the people he met to an American audience.
Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Senator Grigory Karasin, have criticized the OSCE, with Lavrov suggesting Russia might withdraw from the organization he called 'half-dead.' Karasin echoed that the OSCE now focuses on fueling hostility between countries, raising questions about the organization's future role.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not attend the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, Poland, amid a diplomatic row over his naming of a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelenskyy of Poland's highest honour, and several Ukrainian officials returned their Polish awards in response.
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, causing widespread destruction and a rising death toll. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency, while Russia, the EU, and Germany offered assistance. As rescue efforts continue, officials report varying casualty figures and significant damage, including in the hardest-hit state of La Guaira.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have secured a spot in the FIFA World Cup playoffs for the first time after Brazil's 3-0 victory over Scotland in Group C. The result ensures that at least four third-placed teams will finish with fewer points than Bosnia, who took third in Group B with four points. Brazil topped Group C with seven points, while Scotland and Haiti finished below.
Following the Russia-ASEAN summit, the Russian-Thai Business Council's executive director outlined plans for bilateral trade in national currencies, a direct shipping route, and an investment protection agreement, with the next joint commission meeting set for August.
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.