Russian President Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, stated that Moscow will continue to pursue its goals in Ukraine and remove the "root causes" of the conflict. The US has paused deliveries of air defense missiles to Ukraine amid Russia's escalating aerial attacks, which have included 5,438 drones launched on June 2022, a new monthly record. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the situation as "absolutely horrible and sleepless," while Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko called it a "deliberate act of terror" after Kyiv was targeted by Russia's forces, causing at least 14 people to be hospitalized.
https://wsvn.com/news/us-world/russia-hammers-kyiv-in-largest-missile-and-drone-barrage-since-war-in-ukraine-began/Russia launched its largest missile and drone barrage on Kyiv since the war in Ukraine began, killing one person and wounding at least 26 others, including a child. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss strengthening air defenses, joint weapons production, and ending the war with Russia.
https://www.boston25news.com/news/world/russia-launches/OOOE5TJCF5HWJJHAO7IGKNLN4U/Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Masood Pezeshkian, and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit in Khankendi, Azerbaijan. The meetings focused on strengthening Pakistan-Turkey relations, trade, defense, energy, regional connectivity, and investment. Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to advancing shared goals of peace, stability, and sustainable development with Turkey. He also expressed solidarity with Iran following the recent crisis, while appreciating President Pezeshkian's leadership. The meetings highlighted a growing strategic partnership between Islamabad and Ankara, as well as strong cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in various fields.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40371144/pm-shehbaz-discusses-trade-regional-peace-with-presidents-of-turkiye-iran-uzbekistanThe Economic Cooperation Organisation summit in Ashgabat brought together regional leaders from countries including Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to discuss bilateral relations and joint initiatives. The UAE's Dr Al Jaber met with Turkmenistan's Rashid Meredov to enhance cooperation in priority sectors. The UAE and Azerbaijan strengthened their economic partnership in areas such as entrepreneurship, SMEs, tourism, aviation, industry, innovation, technology, agriculture, food security, logistics, culture, energy, renewable energy, and investment.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/business/2025/07/04/uae-azerbaijan-explore-avenues-of-cooperation-in-energy-sectorUkrainian soldiers conducted combat drills amid ongoing tensions with Russia. The US reduced some military aid deliveries to Ukraine, prompting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to urge the EU to step up its support. In response, Ukraine has increased retaliatory strikes in Russia, resulting in a woman's death from a drone attack in the Rostov region. Talks aimed at securing a ceasefire, led by the US, have stalled.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14876573/Russia-accused-banned-chemical-weapons-Ukraine-Putin.htmlAustralian MP Ms Albanese accuses Israel of using its military campaign in Gaza to test new weapons and surveillance technologies, stating it is employing lethal drones and other unmanned technology to exterminate a population without restraint. She names over 40 companies that support Israeli settlements and military operations in Gaza, saying they have reaped near-record profits by supplying advanced weaponry to Israel, enabling it to drop massive amounts of explosives on the territory, six times the power of Hiroshima.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2025/07/03/israel-responsible-for-one-of-the-cruellest-genocides-in-modern-history-says-un-expert/ASEAN does not require an amendment to its charter for Papua New Guinea's membership due to the region's definition being geographically flexible, with Indonesia and PNG being neighboring countries. President Prabowo Subianto endorsed PNG's accession during the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, citing a stronger ASEAN as crucial amid geopolitical uncertainty. However, ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn suggests a more cautious approach to respond to the proposal.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/363841/asean-may-weigh-papua-new-guinea-accession-bid-soon-ri?utm_source=antaranews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=popular_rightThe forum will include ASEAN member countries, dialogue partners such as China and the US, and sectoral partners like Turkey and Switzerland. Other participating countries include Bangladesh, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Algeria, Uruguay, Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim, and Indonesia, which is expected to help in Myanmar peace mediation.
https://en.tempo.co/read/2024405/asean-to-discuss-timor-leste-papua-new-guinea-memberships-in-malaysia-meetingsDutch intelligence agencies have gathered evidence of widespread Russian use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, including chloropicrin, which was first used by Germany during World War I. Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans and head of the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency (MIVD), Peter Reesink, confirmed that Russia is intensifying its use of chemical weapons, making it a normalized and widespread practice. The US had previously accused Russia of using chloropicrin in May last year, while Ukraine alleges thousands of instances of Russian chemical weapon use.
https://channelnewsasia.com/world/russian-use-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine-widespread-dutch-defence-minister-says-5220351