Diplomacy
The European Commission President visited Kyiv over the weekend. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is reportedly planning a visit to Kyiv with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Sanctions
No news of note
Consequences
The U.S. has reportedly been quietly encouraging agriculture and shipping companies to buy and transport more Russian fertilizer amid concerns about a global food crisis.
Germany may lend billions to rescue Gazprom Germania GmbH, which is now under the control of the country’s energy regulator.
Rebranded former McDonald’s restaurants reopened in Russia.
Ukraine Sitrep
Russia appears to be making progress again in taking the key eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk. Ukraine believes that, at the current rate and without a sizeable increase in Western weapons deliveries, Russia could take all off Donetsk and Luhansk by August or September. Ukraine laid out some of that wish list on Twitter.
Some in Congress are raising concerns with tracking the aid money being sent to Ukraine to ensure it is not lost to waste or fraud.