The European Union failed for a second day to approve a new package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday as Slovakia continued to seek concessions over gas supplies, four EU diplomats told Reuters.

EU ambassadors once again failed to approve the 18th sanctions package against Russia during the meeting of the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) in Brussels on 16 July. Source: European Pravda,

India is confident of meeting its oil needs from alternative sources if Russian supplies are hit by secondary sanctions, oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday.

Russia’s crude exports hit a one-month high, driven by a surge in weekly flows that coincided with a sharp drop in refinery runs. The increase came before President Donald Trump’s threat of secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil if Moscow fails to make a swift peace with Ukraine.

Russia launched another large-scale attack on Ukraine, injuring 15 people, while Ukrainian President Zelensky called for more air defense systems and interceptors to counter the terror, and President Trump warned Russia of tougher sanctions if the attacks don't end.