Drone Diplomacy Meets Economic Pressure: Ukraine launched a “large-scale” wave of hundreds of drones against Russia’s St. Petersburg and nearby Kronstadt as the city hosted the final day of Putin’s SPIEF, with Russian officials saying 141 drones were shot down over the Leningrad region and 376 across multiple regions; St. Petersburg’s governor urged residents to stay indoors and warned of possible mobile internet disruptions, while Ukraine said it hit the navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt and also struck an oil depot in Krasnodar. Talks Standoff: The strikes followed Putin’s rejection of Zelensky’s call for face-to-face talks, while Zelensky framed the attacks as a “just response” to Russian aggression. Western Support Signals: In parallel, the U.S. House advanced an $8bn Ukraine security aid package with loans for U.S. military equipment plus longer-term assistance and new Russia sanctions, and the UK said Keir Starmer will host Zelensky with Macron and Merz in London to coordinate support and pressure on Russia. Energy & Trade Ripples: Separately, market coverage warned LNG supply tightness could return as seasonal demand rises, while the UAE participated in the EBRD board meeting in Riga, highlighting the wider economic stakes of regional conflict. EU Politics & Controversy: EU lawmakers demanded Zelensky be stripped of the bloc’s top award over his decree naming a unit tied to the WWII-era UPA, arguing it glorifies genocide and ethnic cleansing. Sanctions/Corporate Energy Deal: The U.S. granted MOL more time to negotiate the purchase of a majority stake in Russia-controlled Serbian oil firm NIS, extending talks amid divestment pressure.