Fuel Crisis & Rationing: Putin admitted Russia is facing a “certain shortage” of fuel after Ukrainian drone strikes hit oil infrastructure, with queues and limits reported in Moscow and other regions; he said a task force is working on supply and distribution and that a full diesel export ban is being considered. Ukraine War Strategy: Putin said Russia will press offensives across multiple fronts and rejected Kyiv’s reported proposals to limit long-range strikes or pause hostilities, arguing reciprocal limits would benefit Ukraine more than Russia; he also floated Belarus as a possible venue for future talks. Energy Infrastructure Under Fire: Reports from occupied areas and Russian officials point to power outages and damage to the grid, while Putin acknowledged that strikes on energy facilities are driving shortages. Domestic Political Pressure: Russian lawmakers and party figures are pushing extreme wartime measures, including proposals to seize money from private bank accounts to fund the war, raising alarm in business circles. EU/NATO Diplomacy: Estonia’s foreign minister called drone incidents on NATO territory a “price worth paying” for hitting Russia’s oil lifeline, while also warning it’s premature to expect Putin to negotiate. US-Russia Talks: Putin said no war-ending agreement was signed after Trump talks in Anchorage, but that negotiations with US representatives remain open. Belarus-China Alignment: Xi met Lukashenko in Beijing, signaling deeper Belt and Road cooperation as Minsk continues to play a key role in Russia’s war posture.