Ukrainian Magura naval drones were first used by the US military during international exercises, confirming the growing interest of the world in Ukrainian defense technologies. At the same time, discussions are ongoing in the US and NATO about further support for Ukraine, the role of the Alliance and the prospects for a diplomatic settlement of the war. The European Union is also preparing to extend temporary protection for millions of Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homes due to the Russian invasion.
US first used Ukrainian Magura naval drones during international exercises
Ukrainian Magura naval drones were first used by the US military during exercises in the Philippines. As Bloombergreports, US special forces used Ukrainian unmanned boats to destroy a large target ship, which was successfully sunk. This was the first test of Ukrainian naval drones within the framework of exercises in the Indo-Pacific region and confirmed their effectiveness outside the conditions of the war in Ukraine. Video recordings of the exercises recorded the moment of hitting, exploding and sinking the target.
Against this background, interest in Ukrainian naval drones continues to grow among the countries of the region. The manufacturer Uforce reported that it is negotiating with several countries in the Indo-Pacific region and is considering the possibility of creating at least two production sites there. According to the company's executive director Oleg Roginsky, during the war, Ukrainian Magura drones have already sunk about ten Russian warships, which became the main argument for potential customers. At the same time, countries in the region, in particular Taiwan and Japan, are actively expanding their own programs to create naval unmanned systems, considering them an important element of modern defense.
Rubio denied claims about agreements between Trump and Putin in Alaska
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, that during the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska in 2025, no agreements were reached on ending Russia's war against Ukraine. He said this after a meeting of foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council, commenting on statements by Russian officials about the alleged existence of such agreements. According to Rubio, only proposals were discussed in Alaska, which were never implemented. He stressed that if the agreement really existed, the war would have already been over.
The head of American diplomacy also stated that the US administration is ready to continue to play a constructive role in achieving peace. He emphasized that the war is exhausting both Ukraine and Russia, and also creates an additional burden on Europe. According to Rubio, President Trump has been trying to help end the war diplomatically for a long time. At the same time, he reiterated that there were no official agreements between Washington and Moscow after the meeting in Alaska.
The US removed seven Russian citizens and two vessels from the sanctions list
The US Treasury Department has decided to remove seven Russian citizens, two vessels and two Turkish companies from the sanctions list. This was reported by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Department. Among the individuals whose sanctions were terminated are representatives of the Russian banking sector, investors and the son of Russian oligarch Vladimir Potanin, Ivan Potanin. The vessels “Gennady Yegorov” and “Vyacheslav Arshinov” were also removed from the list.
In addition, sanctions were lifted against two Turkish companies that had previously been subject to restrictions on suspicion of facilitating the circumvention of sanctions against Russia. The US department’s statement does not explain the reasons for this decision. At the same time, the changes occurred as part of the regular review of the sanctions lists of the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The decision was not accompanied by statements about changing the general US sanctions policy towards Russia.
Rutte said that NATO plays a key role in protecting the United States
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that the Alliance is crucial not only for the security of Europe, but also for the protection of the United States itself. He stated this during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. According to Rutte, Russia poses a direct threat to all NATO allies, including the United States. He drew attention to the fact that Russian nuclear submarines, located in the North, are primarily aimed at a possible strike on American territory.
The NATO Secretary General stressed that the collective defense of the Alliance remains the basis for the security of the transatlantic space. He emphasized that potential threats from Russia concern not only European states, but also the United States directly. Rutte noted that this is why cooperation between allies within NATO must maintain strategic importance. His statement came amid ongoing discussions about the role of the Alliance and the future security architecture in Europe.
The European Commission proposes to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians until 2028
The European Commission has has introduced to extend the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians who left for the European Union countries due to a full-scale war until March 2028. At the same time, the new rules provide for changes for men of military age who will arrive in the EU without permission from the Ukrainian authorities to leave. As explained by the European Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, such a decision should take into account both the need for protection of people and the defense needs of Ukraine. According to him, it was the Ukrainian side that asked the European Union to introduce an appropriate exception.
Currently, more than 4.3 million Ukrainian citizens enjoy temporary protection in the EU countries. At the same time, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, called on European states not to reduce the level of support for Ukrainian refugees. He stressed that the security situation in Ukraine does not yet allow for a safe and dignified return of people home. The current temporary protection mechanism gives Ukrainians the right to reside, work and access to social services in the countries of the European Union.
Photo: Main Intelligence Directorate
Author: Danylo Pievchev