EasyGloPo Weekly Newsletter
Here's What Happened - June 8-14
What to Watch
Russia-Ukraine Update
Russia continues its offensive in east and northeastern Ukraine. The Russians captured the villages Komar and Koptevo in Donetsk, and advanced towards the logistics hub Konstantinovka. Russia seized Loknia and Yablunivka in Sumy, and now control the Yunakivka-Sudzha highway previously used to supply Ukrainian forces in Kursk. The Russians are within 20 kilometres of Sumy City, within range of Russian artillery and drones.
Russian forces have entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast for the first time in the war, further increasing the pressure on Ukraine. Fighting continues in Kharkov Oblast, where the Defence Council ordered the evacuation of 7 villages.
As Russia advances, the General Staff Commander of Ukraine’s Armed Forces claimed Moscow has lost one million dead and wounded soldiers in the war.
Moscow and Kyiv continue exchanging aerial attacks. Ukrainian drones forced the closure of 2 Moscow airports and the grounding of flights Sunday. Ukrainian drones also caused a fire at a chemical plant in Russia’s Tula region.
Overnight Sunday into Monday, Russia fired close to 500 drones and 20 missiles across Ukraine, specifically targeting central and western regions. Russia struck Kyiv and Odesa with over 300 drones and 7 missiles Tuesday, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Russian drones also killed 3 and injured 60 in Kharkiv Tuesday night/ Wednesday morning.
Ukraine said it attacked a gunpowder plant in Tambov, western Russia, an ammo depot in Kursk and airfield in Voronezh. Kyiv also claimed strikes on the Rezonit electronic factory in the Moscow region caused explosions.
In diplomacy, both sides exchanged accusations of delaying a prisoner and remains swap agreed to at recent peace talks in Istanbul. Moscow and Kyiv exchanged prisoners under age 25 Monday. Severely wounded prisoners were exchanged Tuesday, including some captured in the Battle of Mariupol. On Wednesday, remains of fallen soldiers were exchanged by both.
Russia’s Ambassador to Washington said Moscow will soon host talks with the U.S. aimed at improving diplomatic relations. There is no sign negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will resume anytime soon.
As fighting rages, Moscow and Kyiv aim to bolster weapons productions and allied support. The Head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate claimed Russia is helping North Korea build production facilities for long-range drones on its territory. The drones would allow Pyongyang to strike South Korean targets throughout the country.
After U.S. Secretary of Defence Hegseth announced aid cuts to Ukraine in an upcoming defence budget, Germany’s Defence Minister visited Kyiv. He pledged 1.9 billion euros in additional military aid, and said Berlin would help Ukraine build long-range missiles. He also said Germany would not send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine, despite repeated requests. Taurus missiles would allow Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russia.
On Tuesday, the European Commission expected to propose new measures targeting Russian energy exports. This includes lowering the price cap on Russian oil exports from $60 to $45 per barrel, and strengthening restrictions on Moscow’s shadow fleet of oil tankers. All E.U. member states would have to approve the measures, and are unlikely to be implemented due to opposition in Hungary and Slovakia.
European efforts to stifle Russian energy exports come as Bloomberg reports Japan received a shipment of Russian oil from a tanker sanctioned by Washington and Brussels through a waiver. Russia’s Ambassador to India also revealed oil sales to New Delhi increased tenfold in the last 3 years.
Middle East Update
Israel seized a ship carrying aid bound for Gaza Monday. Israeli officials arrested the passengers, including climate activist Greta Thunberg.
On Tuesday, Israel launched a seaborne assault on the Yemeni port city Hodeidah. The attack damaged infrastructure that facilitates weapons shipments and aid deliveries for the Houthis.
Israel’s governing coalition appeared on the verge of collapse by midweek. Opposition lawmakers submitted a bill to dissolve parliament Wednesday. The U.K., Canada and other western countries announced sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, accusing them of inciting violence and denying aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
The U.S. and Israeli backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation accused Hamas of attacking a bus transporting Palestinian aid workers to a facility in southern Gaza. At least 8 Palestinians were killed.
Meanwhile, a Spokesperson for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said Tehran would respond to a U.S. proposal for a nuclear deal soon as President Trump’s deadline for an agreement approached. The U.S. and Iran had scheduled their latest round of nuclear talks for June 15 in Oman.
Later, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) declared Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations, citing repeated failures since 2019. Meanwhile, the Head of U.S. Central Command warned he’d presented Trump and Hegseth with options for dealing with Iran if nuclear talks failed.
Reports Thursday claimed Washington was withdrawing diplomatic and non-essential military personnel from the Middle East amid concerns of an Iranian attack. Nonessential staff from Kuwait, Bahrain and Baghdad were urged to leave, while American and European officials warned Israel was about to attack Iran. Officials in Tehran reportedly believed the U.S. aimed to use escalation to pressure Iran into signing an agreement.
Israel attacked Iran Friday, targeting nuclear and ballistic missile facilities. The Israelis codenamed the assault, “Operation Rising Lion”. U.S. officials initially claimed the attack was “unilateral”, and Washington was not involved.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Chief Hossein Salami, the Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri, the IRGC’s Aerospace Forces Commander and other military figures and nuclear scientists were killed.
Israel claimed strikes on Iranian air defences in the country’s west. Iran confirmed its largest nuclear site in Natanz was damaged without signs of leakage or contamination. Another 3 major nuclear sites were unscathed. Video showed Israel striking underground facilities storing ballistic missiles in Kermanshah, near Iran’s border with Iraq. Israel hit 100 Iranian nuclear and military sites in total, killing and wounding dozens of Iranian civilians.
Trump urged Iran to make a deal before “there is nothing left”, signalling additional attacks were imminent. He denied U.S. involvement, and meet with national security officials. Washington reportedly began moving military assets to the region.
Vowing retaliation against Israel and Washington, Iran fired 100 drones at Israel. Tehran then launched dozens of ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv, military and defence sites according to the IRGC.
On Saturday, the IRGC said it attacked Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities as well as energy infrastructure, killing and injuring civilians. Israel bombed the Shahran oil facility, an oil refinery in Abadan and an Iranian gas field. Israel also continued bombing operations targeting Tehran.
Amid the fighting, Iran cancelled nuclear negotiations with the U.S. scheduled for Sunday. An Iranian Member of Parliament warned Tehran is considering blockading the Strait of Hormuz, through which millions of barrels of Middle Eastern oil transit each day.
In Case You Missed It
Chinese Minerals
Reuters reports China agreed to resume exports of rare earth minerals and magnets to the U.S. following a call between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. China issued export controls on rare earths and magnets earlier this year in response to rising trade tensions with Washington. China and the U.S. held trade talks Monday and Tuesday in London. Late Tuesday, officials from both countries announced an agreement on a framework for reducing trade tensions and restrictions. There are rumours Washington is willing to ease semiconductor restrictions in exchange for concessions on Chinese rare earth exports.
Canadian Military Spending
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Ottawa will increase defence spending to 2% of GDP by the end of 2025. Carney had pledged to hit the NATO benchmark by 2030, but tensions with Washington has led to the deadline being moved forward.
AUKUS?
The U.S. will review the AUKUS military pact with the United Kingdom and Australia to ensure alignment with the Trump administration’s priorities and agenda. Australia’s Defence Minister said the development would not impact the delivery of nuclear submarines to Canberra.
South Korean U-Turn
After winning South Korea’s Presidential election last week, Lee Jae-Myung’s new administration will turn off loudspeakers broadcasting propaganda into North Korea. The move can be seen as a small step towards deescalating tensions with the North. Relations between Seoul and Pyongyang soured during the presidency of recently ousted Yoon Suk Yeol.
China-Africa Relations
China announced it would eliminate tariffs for 53 African countries at the China-Africa Economic & Trade Expo. This follows the U.S. imposing steep levies on several African countries earlier this year. China aims to position itself as a reliable trade alternative to the United States amid escalating tensions and protectionism.