Global Conflict Escalation and Economic Aid

European Union leaders have agreed to lend Ukraine €90 billion over the next two years, but failed to reach an agreement on using frozen Russian assets. The loan will be backed by the EU budget and is seen as a significant step in supporting Ukraine's economic resilience. Ukraine needs an estimated €137 billion over the next two years to cover its military and public services. The decision comes as US talks with Russia are set to continue, with US President Donald Trump saying a solution is closer than ever. Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the EU's approach, saying he has already agreed to several compromises.

The US has carried out a 'massive' strike against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria in response to a deadly attack on American forces. The operation, called Operation Hawkeye Strike, involved fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery targeting over 70 IS locations across central Syria. The strike was in retaliation for an IS ambush in Palmyra that killed two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter. The US Central Command (Centcom) stated that the operation employed over 100 precision munitions against known IS infrastructure and weapons sites. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the operation as a 'declaration of vengeance' against IS terrorists. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a prominent IS leader and several fighters were killed in the strike.

The U.S. military conducted a strike on an alleged drug-running boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing four people, as part of a series of operations against drug-trafficking vessels in the region. This strike is the latest in a campaign by the Trump administration to pressure Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whom the U.S. accuses of collaborating with drug cartels. The strikes have been criticized by Venezuela and some lawmakers, with concerns raised about potential war crimes and the lack of transparency regarding the operations.

The U.S. conducted airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation for an attack that killed two American soldiers and a U.S. interpreter on Saturday. The operation, dubbed 'Operation Hawkeye Strike,' involved multiple aircraft and artillery, striking over 70 targets across central Syria. The U.S. Central Command described the operation as a 'massive strike' and reported using 'more than 100 precision munitions targeting known ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites.' President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth vowed retaliation after the attack, with Trump stating that the strikes were 'very successful' and 'we hit every site flawlessly.'

The article discusses recent developments in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. EU leaders met to discuss using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's war efforts, but tensions arose due to fears of Russian retaliation. Meanwhile, Russian spymaster Sergei Naryshkin reported having a telephone conversation with the new head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli. US President Donald Trump has been pressuring Ukraine to secure a peace deal, with US envoys set to meet with a top Putin adviser. Russia has also deployed nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus.