India will keep buying Russian oil despite Trump's threats

Indian officials have stated they will continue purchasing discounted oil from Russia, despite threats of punitive measures from U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to The New York Times, two senior Indian officials confirmed that New Delhi’s policy remains unchanged. One of them clarified that the Indian government has not instructed oil companies to reduce imports from Russia.

At a recent news conference, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal declined to respond directly to Trump’s warnings but suggested there would be no shift in India’s stance. He emphasized that India's foreign relations are based on their own merits and are not shaped by pressure from third parties. “India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership,” he said.

Some analysts interpret Trump’s statements as part of a broader negotiation strategy, particularly as Washington and New Delhi work to finalize an early-stage bilateral trade agreement.

Russia begins production of hypersonic missile and plans to deploy it in Belarus

On August 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has begun producing a new hypersonic missile named "Oreshnik" and confirmed plans to deploy it to Belarus later this year.

The statement came during an interview with Russian state media while Putin was visiting the Valaam Orthodox Monastery alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus, a key ally of Moscow, borders both Ukraine and Russia and has played a critical role in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, allowing Russian forces to launch attacks from its territory. The two countries also hold frequent joint military drills.

Putin said that Russian and Belarusian forces have already selected launch sites for the Oreshnik missile system in Belarus. He added that preparatory work is underway and expected to be completed by the end of the year. The first batch of Oreshnik missiles and associated systems, he noted, has already entered military service.

Russia first used the experimental missile in a strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on November 21, an attack Putin described as retaliation for Ukraine’s use of U.S. and British long-range missiles on Russian territory.

While specific technical details remain classified, analysts believe the Oreshnik may be an upgraded version of the RS-26 “Rubezh” missile, a system originally developed by Russia in 2011.

Putin is not ready to seriously negotiate - UK foreign secretary

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he does not believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently prepared for serious peace negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine.

In an interview with The Guardian, Lammy stated that Putin still holds maximalist and imperialist ambitions and is not ready to negotiate in good faith.

"My sober assessment is that Putin is not ready to seriously negotiate. He still has maximalist and imperialist ambitions. The battle Ukraine has fought, with UK, European and American support, is immense," Lammy said.

He added that while he expects negotiations to be underway within a year, the key question will be how genuine Russia is about participating in those talks.

Lammy also expressed admiration for the Ukrainian people and their determination.

"Even if the world left them behind, they’d still be waging a guerrilla war, such is their belief in their country. It’s deeply inspiring," he said.

The USA and NATO are developing a new funding mechanism for Ukraine's weapons deliveries

The United States and NATO are developing a new funding mechanism to support the transfer of weapons to Ukraine, according to a report by Reuters on August 1. Under this initiative, NATO member states would collectively finance the purchase of U.S.-made arms for Ukraine, aligning with Kyiv’s own priority list of military needs.

This approach comes as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Russia, frustrated by President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to engage seriously in peace negotiations. Trump has issued an ultimatum demanding a peace agreement by August 8, warning of severe new tariffs on Russia and its economic partners, including China and India.

According to Reuters, the mechanism would use Ukraine’s Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) to guide purchases, with weapons delivered in packages of approximately $500 million. The effort is being led by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, with alliance members coordinating payment responsibilities.

One European official told Reuters the goal is to secure at least $10 billion in total funding, calling the target ambitious but achievable.

While specific timelines remain unclear, sources confirmed that negotiations are already underway for at least one tranche of weapons transfers. Separately, Germany announced it will send two additional Patriot air defense launchers to Ukraine “in the coming days,” with further components to follow over the next few months.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has floated a new negotiation framework just a week before Trump’s deadline expires, but progress appears stalled. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that recent high-level talks with Russian officials yielded “no progress” on reaching a ceasefire.

Russia continues to reject proposals for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, first suggested in a joint Kyiv–Washington initiative in March.