Moscow

As Kyiv's counter-offensive continues into its fourth month, with limited success and several Russian counterattacks, it is becoming clear that Moscow's plan may be to let Ukraine exhaust its men, tanks, shells and missiles against the strongest Surovikin Line, Jutarnji List reports.

Day 561 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

US Vice President Kamala Harris, Chinese premier Li Qiang and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov attended an East Asia summit in Indonesia on Thursday, offering an opportunity for direct, high-level diplomacy between the rivals.

Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed to extend their voluntary oil production cuts through the end of this year, trimming 1.3 million barrels of crude out of the global market and boosting energy prices.

The dual announcements from Riyadh and Moscow pushed benchmark Brent crude above $90 a barrel in trading yesterday, a price unseen in the market since November.

Armenia announced today that it will host joint military exercises with the United States next week, likely to irritate Russia, Reuters reported.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said the purpose of the "Eagle Partner 2023" exercise, which will take place from September 11 to 20, is to prepare Armenian forces to participate in international peacekeeping missions.

Day 559 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

Russia's air defence systems destroyed three drones early Tuesday which were trying to reach Moscow, the Russian capital's mayor said.

Sergei Sobyanin said there had been "no casualties", according to initial information.

Air defence forces "destroyed drones which were trying to carry out an attack on Moscow", he said on Telegram.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expects to make a rare trip abroad to meet with President Vladimir Putin in Russia to discuss providing arms to Moscow for its war in Ukraine, the United States said Monday.

"I invite Armenia to join NATO," he wrote on the social network X (Twitter), addressing Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Fellinger also added the phrase "Protect Armenia" and tagged U.S. President Joseph Biden's account in the post.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed his belief that the Black Sea grain initiative can be revived very soon, stressing that Russia's demands should be addressed to this end, in his one-day visit to Sochi, where he held lengthy meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.