Ukraine gives Musk state honour, CIA chief visited Moscow

CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a semi-routine visit to Moscow amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to US President Donald Trump. The visit came as the Kremlin reported that Ratcliffe engaged in discussions with Russia's special services but did not meet President Vladimir Putin. Russian officials have praised the interactions between the CIA director and their intelligence services as a positive step toward resolving the crisis in US-Russia relations.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has honored SpaceX founder Elon Musk with the Order of Freedom, recognizing Musk's contributions to Ukraine's defense efforts. Musk's Starlink satellite internet service has become crucial for Ukrainian battlefield communications and drone operations since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The Ukrainian leader has also requested the use of Starlink over Russian territory to target missile launchers, in an attempt to reduce Russia's ability to prolong the conflict.

Ukraine's efforts to disrupt Russian operations have been met with setbacks, as repair works at NKHP, a key grain terminal at Russia's main Black Sea export port, could take up to four months. The ongoing attacks have disrupted grain shipments through Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports, accounting for 70% of Russia's grain exports. The Russian government is considering scrapping its grain export duty and exploring alternative routes for exports through the Baltic, Caspian, and Far Eastern ports.