Russian Occupied

• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas recently told The Irish Times that the European Union should treat Israeli settlements similarly to Russian-occupied Crimea. • Kallas argued that implementing an EU-wide trade ban on goods from these occupied territories would be a principled stand. • France announced this week it will pursue a national trade ban, joining the UK, Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ireland.

• A new UN report warns of an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, where thousands of civilians are facing severe life-threatening risks. • Affected populations are currently struggling with critical food shortages and a systemic lack of essential medical assistance. • The situation highlights the precarious nature of civilian life under occupation and the difficulty of delivering aid to these contested regions.

• This week's international news highlights a series of diplomatic and military developments, including US-Iran talks aimed at ending their conflict and a sudden diplomatic dispute between Ukraine and Poland. • Ukraine has intensified its military operations by increasing strikes on Russian-occupied Crimea to destabilize Russian control in the region. • In political shifts, the report notes the resignation of Keir Starmer in the UK, alongside updates on the progress of the Fifa World Cup in the US.