🇺🇸 💰 US pledges long-delayed payment as UN debt crisis deepens

The White House plans to make a significant initial payment to the UN “in a matter of weeks” to begin clearing its massive arrears, US Ambassador Mike Waltz was cited by Reuters as saying.

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned the United Nations is at risk of "imminent financial collapse" due to unpaid fees, the majority of which are owed by the US.

Key figures:

➖ $2.19B—total arrears to the UN regular budget alone (that's over 95% of all unpaid regular budget dues from all countries combined)

➖ $2.4B—owed for current and past peacekeeping missions

➖ $827M—unpaid for 2025 (zero paid into the regular budget last year)

➖ $767M—already due for 2026

➖ $43.6M—arrears for UN tribunals

When asked if the money Waltz spoke of would go towards last year's dues or those for 2026, or both, he said: "Just in general, towards the arrears, and also in recognition of some of the reforms that we've seen."

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇷🇺 🔥 Russian latest MLRS Sarma undergoing trials on the battlefield

It'll debut at the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Equipped with a modern automated fire control system, it allows to be deployed quickly, integrating with recon and combat systems

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇸🇪 Swedish defense companies profit from Ukraine conflict

Sweden has provided Ukraine with $9 billion in military aid since the start of Russia’s special military operation and plans to allocate another $8 billion to Ukraine for the purchase of weapons and other assistance, Russian envoy in Stockholm Sergey Belyaev told Sputnik.

🔹 Sweden has already announced plans to give Ukraine an additional $8 billion in 2026-2027 for direct purchases and joint production of weapons and military equipment, international assistance to Ukraine and co-financing of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex.

🔹 Sweden's defense sector and lead firm Saab are raking in massive profits amid the Ukraine conflict, with its end unprofitable for business, Belyaev revealed.

"Saab's strong economic performance contributes to the growing influence of the defense sector on the Swedish economy as a whole. As a result, a possible peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict or a sharp policy shift in the government are becoming unprofitable for Swedish firms, who are linked to defense contracts," he said.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔶 Trump authorizes up to 25% tariffs on countries trading with Iran

🔶 'Very good talks' on Ukraine, Iran — Trump

🔶 US approves $185 million military support package for Ukraine

🔶 US contractors face penalties over late Ukraine ammo deliveries

🔶 US & India announce interim trade framework

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🚨 Ukrainian soldiers in ‘death zone’ due to Russian drones – Syrsky

Right now, “Ukrainian frontline soldiers are in greater danger than” at the beginning of the conflict, Oleksandr Syrsky told German media.

👉 The Ukrainian commander-in-chief pointed to “technological advances in drone construction,” which he said means that “the so-called death zone, where Ukrainian soldiers are particularly at risk along the 1,200-km front, now extends to a depth of 20 km.”

📍 Russia’s Defense Ministry earlier said Russian forces had carried out a massive strike and five combined attacks against the Ukrainian military over the past week. Russian forces also liberated the villages of Popovka in the Sumy region, Zelenoye in the Kharkov region, as well as Stepanovka, Toretskoye, and Sukhetskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🚨 🇮🇷 Iran will retaliate by attacking US bases in Gulf if America strikes - Foreign Minister

Iran considers its nuclear program non-negotiable, Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi said, adding that the date of the new Iran-US negotiations isn't scheduled yet.

He also rejected possibility of withdrawing enriched uranium from the country.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

😍 🇨🇳 China rings with dazzling 20,000-drone display

Hefei, China, hosts a breathtaking show featuring tens of thousands of synchronized aerial drones.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD UPDATE: HUGE GAINS AND DEVASTATING UKRAINIAN LOSSES

⚡️ CHUGUNOVKA IN THE KHARKOV REGION FREED

By liberating the settlement of Chugunovka in the Kharkov region, the Russian forces have expanded the buffer zone along the border with the Belgorod region.

🟠 In response to Ukrainian terrorist attacks, the Russian Armed Forces conducted a massive strike with long-range attack UAVs and high-precision weapons, including Kinzhal hyperesonic missiles, targeting transport and energy infrastructure supporting the Kiev regime’s forces

🟠 Russian air and missile firepower obliterated temporary deployment points for Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries in 158 places

🟠 Air defense superiority: one guided aerial bomb and 168 UAVs were shot down by Russian air defense systems over the past 24 hours

🟠 Ukrainian losses: around 1,305 troops killed or wounded

Read about the origins of Russia's special military op HERE

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🪖🇭🇺🇪🇺 'Hungary says NO'

Orban explains why Hungary opposes EU’s idea of sending troops to Ukraine.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔥🇷🇺 Sanctions hit hard? Russia found the antidote

Russia has replaced Western components in vehicles with domestic alternatives, neutralizing the impact of sanctions.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔥🇷🇺 Russian Sever battlegroup liberates Popovka in Sumy region

Soldiers are strengthening the buffer zone and providing additional protection to civilians from Ukraine's terrorist threats.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇷🇺 Russian Pacific Fleet's corvette Gremyashchy returns to base

It took part in the Russian-Myanmar Marumex 2025 joint naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal.

The ship also held drills to search and destroy a mock enemy submarine near Kuril Islands.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt