PUTIN SAYS HE WON’T BACK DOWN
Russia launched a massive, all-night drone barrage on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. Ukraine says that Russia fired a record 550 drones, along with 11 missiles. At least 23 people were injured in the attack.
The assault came amid major developments in the war this week. Russia claims to have taken complete control of Ukraine’s Luhansk region. Luhansk is one of the four Ukrainian regions that Russia annexed in September 2022. But this would mark the first time that Moscow gained control over the entire territory.
US President Donald Trump called his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday. After the call, Trump said that he was “disappointed”, and that he didn't think Putin was “looking to stop”.
RUSSIA FORMALLY RECOGNISES TALIBAN RULE IN AFGHANISTAN
Meanwhile, Russia has become the first country to formally recognise Taliban rule in Afghanistan. The Taliban has hailed Moscow's decision, calling it “courageous”.
The Taliban swept back to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. This immediately followed the US troop withdrawal in the country, which also led to the collapse of the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani.
Russia was one of the few nations who did not shut their embassy in Kabul after the Taliban took over. It Moscow signed an economic deal with the Taliban in 2022, to provide fuel and food to aid the struggling Afghan economy.
In April, Russia had removed the Taliban from their list of terrorist organisations. The official recognition of Taliban rule on Thursday marks the latest step in the improving relations between the two countries.
HAMAS CONSIDERING LATEST CEASEFIRE DEAL
In Gaza, Hamas is considering a new ceasefire deal mediated by the US. The deal calls for a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. It says that Hamas will release 10 of the remaining 20 living hostages, and the release of 18 bodies. Trump says Israel has agreed to the deal. If Hamas agrees as well, it will be a second major victory for Trump this week.
TRUMP’S “BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” PASSED
His first is the passing of his signature legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill”. The bill cleared both the US Senate and the House this week, despite frantic negotiations among the Republicans, and staunch opposition from the Democrats. Despite the hurdles, the Bill has passed by Trump’s unofficial deadline of the 4th of July, America’s Independence Day.
