A little more than a week after disassociating itself from a statement by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) condemning Israel’s attacks on Iran, India joined other members of Brics in expressing grave concern at the military strikes on Iran and the escalation of the security situation in the Middle East.
The escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict and Tehran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz are likely to push Indian refiners to further ramp up oil purchases from non-West Asian suppliers — mainly Russia, West Africa, the US and Latin America — as shipping routes to Indian ports from these suppliers are detached from the critical choke point in the Persian Gulf, according to industry sources and experts.
Russia launched the biggest number of drones on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion three years ago, Ukraine’s air force said on Sunday (June 1, 2025).
The Air Force said 472 drones were launched over Ukraine. Russian forces also launched seven missiles alongside the barrage of drones, said Yuriy Ignat, head of communications for the Ukrainian Air Force.
Russia has expressed skepticism about the feasibility of a swift peace agreement with the United States regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has revealed that Moscow seeks a comprehensive, long-term resolution addressing the root causes of the war, rather than a temporary ceasefire that could lead to renewed hostilities.
