Russia formally recognized government in Afghanistan on 3 July 2025, becoming the first country to do so since the Taliban's return to power in 2021; the decision followed Russia's removal of the Taliban from list of banned terrorist groups in April 2025

Russia is not committing to a meeting between Ukrainian President Zelensky and President Putin, which US President Trump has encouraged as a next step toward ending the war; Foreign Minister Lavrov argued any meeting should be prepared “gradually”

Despite its 8,8 magnitude, damage caused by the earthquake that struck the Kamchatka peninsula on 30 July was relatively minor; lack of devastation and fatalities was attributed by Kremlin spokesperson to high-quality construction and local preparedness

Ukraine and Russia launched a wave of air attacks along the Black Sea coastline a few hours after direct peace talks between the two nations ended without any breakthrough on a ceasefire