Day: July 21, 2026

During Putin’s visit to Beijing in May, his top priority was securing a deal for the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline. But Chinese officials reportedly told the Russian delegation they would only agree if Russia sold gas at the same below-market price charged to domestic consumers and instructed them not to bring up the pipeline again until Moscow changed its terms.

Putin left China after signing 42 agreements and joint declarations, but without the pipeline deal Russia badly needs.

A report by the WSJ says China has become indispensable to Russia by purchasing discounted Russian oil, supplying key components for its defense industry, and helping Moscow mitigate Western sanctions. China now accounts for nearly 40% of Russia’s foreign trade and about one-third of Russia’s export revenues, while Russia makes up less than 4% of China’s foreign trade.

According to the report, Beijing is deliberately delaying the pipeline negotiations in the expectation that Russia’s economic position will weaken further, allowing China to secure even more favorable terms.

The Wall Street Journal also reports that Xi has used China’s growing leverage to extract concessions from Moscow, including persuading Russia to accept the Chinese yuan as the primary currency for a planned Shanghai Cooperation Organization development bank after Moscow had resisted the move for more than a decade.

The report concludes that although the two countries continue to project an image of a close strategic partnership, the underlying relationship has shifted decisively in China’s favor, with Russia now far more dependent on Beijing than China is on Moscow.

— @visegrad24 Jul 21, 2026

⚡️BREAKING: Iran has announced that Cruise Missiles have Struck Amazon’s Central Data Station in Bahrain

The facility hosts the daily cloud data for Persian Gulf Countries, Telecom Networks, and Major Banking Applications

— @IranObserver0 Jul 21, 2026

Ukraine has struck one of the largest power plants in western russia.

This marks a significant strategic shift. Until now, Ukraine had largely refrained from targeting major russian power plants. That restraint appears to be over.

The rules of engagement have changed.

— @rshereme Jul 21, 2026

🇮🇱🇺🇦🇷🇺Israel Refused aid Ukraine in order to Avoid Upsetting Russia, Now Faces Iranian Drone Backlash
says Ex UK Defence Secretary

Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace claims he urged Israel’s government to help Ukraine early in the war, but Israel refused to avoid angering Russia.

As a result, Russia kept buying large numbers of cheap Iranian drones (hundreds of millions to over $1 billion spent).

Wallace says ordinary Israelis are now paying the price through Iranian attacks.

— @Globalsurv Jul 21, 2026

WSJ reports that Iranian missiles have become faster, more lethal and more advanced despite US and Israeli strikes.

US officials believe Iran remains capable of further developing its military capabilities.

— @Currentreport1 Jul 21, 2026

Yesterday’s Russian losses: 1,600 troops, 8 tanks, 82 armored vehicles, 3 artillery systems, 6 MLRS, 1,769 UAVs, 605 vehicles. Russia keeps losing hardware faster than it can replace it.
Guided Links:

daily_losses

UAV_war

frontline_analysis

— @jalle51 Jul 21, 2026

BREAKING:

Israeli intelligence believes that Iran has moved thousands of nuclear centrifuges into tunnels deep inside Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified underground facility near Natanz – WSJ

The assessment says the centrifuges could be used to enrich Iran’s existing stockpile of 60% highly enriched uranium to weapons-grade for potential use in nuclear warheads.
Video
 

— @Currentreport1 Jul 21, 2026

💥 Ukraine struck one of the largest combined heat & power plants in western Russia.
Lipetsk CHPP-2 capacity —
Electrical: 515 MW
Thermal: 1,002 Gcal/h

Located immediately next to the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Combine (NLMK), one of Russia’s largest steel producers.

— @igorsushko Jul 21, 2026

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Syrsky apologized to former Defense Minister Fedorov, saying he only learned of their conflict after it became public.

kyivpost.com/post/80710

— @KyivPost Jul 21, 2026

BREAKING:

USA says China and Russia are helping Iran to targets American bases in Gulf countries.

This will be a big escalation if they don’t stop supporting Iran.

— @World_Affairs11 Jul 21, 2026