Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

Ukraine and the World Bank have signed an agreement for $444 million in additional funding for the THRIVE healthcare reform program.

“The war in Ukraine has entered a potentially decisive phase, and we must seize this moment. Ukraine needs funds to produce weapons and defend itself against russia. I believe it is our shared responsibility not to let up,” said Minister of Defence of Germany Boris Pistorius.

“We must help Ukraine with missiles and air defense systems, and we must impose tough sanctions against russia,” said US Representative from Nebraska Republican Congressman Don Bacon, one of the leading Republicans on the House Armed Forces Committee.

“The darkest place in hell is reserved for those who plan, order, and even justify such attacks,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in response to russian minister of foreign affairs sergey lavrov’s arguments justifying russia’s airstrike on Ukraine on the night of July 2.

Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal believes that the inability to deter putin will cost more than defense spending. “Supporting Ukraine is already enhancing Europe’s security,” he emphasized. “Investing in deterrence today is much cheaper than paying for the consequences of aggression tomorrow.”

The government of Estonia has approved a draft law which will prohibit the purchase of real estate by citizens of russia and belarus who do not have long-term resident status or the right to permanent residence in the country, as well as by companies controlled by such individuals.

The downturn in russia’s services sector continued in June 2026, as weakening consumer demand triggered a sharper decrease in output and new orders. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the services sector fell to 48.2 in June from 48.7 in May. A reading below 50 points indicates a decline in business activity, while a reading above 50 points indicates its growth.

Chronicles of the Fuel Crisis:

• The 2026 harvest in russia is running two weeks behind schedule.

• The cost of trucking freight on the 100 most popular routes in russia has reached a historic high, as shown by data from the ATI freight exchange. Specifically, on June 30, the exchange’s index reached 2,057 points for the first time since records began. The ATI index tracks the aggregate change in rates set by shippers on the ATI freight exchange.

• Food producers in the rf have asked the government to impose a moratorium on fines for late delivery of goods to shops.

• In a number of russia’s regions, filling stations have begun giving priority to government officials and employees of state institutions when dispensing petrol.

• Restrictions on public transportation have also been introduced in many regions.

• An increasing number of russian regions are deploying police patrols at filling stations to manage lines of people waiting to fill up.

• In 12 russia’s regions, AI-92 petrol has become more expensive than its US counterpart (Regular). Regular petrol in the USA costs an average of $3.8470 per gallon, or $1.0164 per liter. That is 78.32 rubles at the official exchange rate as of June 29.

• “eurotrans,” one of russia’s largest fuel operators, has made a technical default.

• russians have begun to give up domestic travel.

• novorossiysk has announced the suspension of free fuel sales. It is one of russia’s major oil hubs.

Smartphone sales in russia fell by 7–10% in the first half of the year. The market continues to shrink. At this, the average price of devices rose by 2–4%.

Shareholders of PJSC “kamaz” have approved the board of directors’ recommendation not to pay dividends for 2025. The decision was made due to the lack of net income.

In 2025, 568,000 russians were declared insolvent (by 31.5% more than the previous year).

The Sejm of Poland has supported extending the suspension of the right to asylum at the border with belarus for another 60 days.

After a second belarusian bus was attacked in bryansk region, state secretary of the security council of the rb aleksandr volfovich, has urged residents of the rb to refrain from traveling to russia, especially to border regions.

belarusian locomotive crews are increasingly refusing to operate freight trains on the unecha–bryansk section in russia due to the threat of drone attacks. As a result, over the past two months, the share of trains on that section operated by russian locomotive crews has risen to 90%.

In January–May, sales of trucks manufactured by the belarusian company “maz” fell by 10% in russia.