Two U.S. Stoli Group vodka subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy due to a cyberattack and a protracted legal battle with the Russian government. The Russian government, aiming to reclaim ownership of the privatized vodka brand, has pursued politically motivated charges against Stoli Group's owner, Yuri Shefler. Shefler, exiled from Russia in 2000, rebranded Stoli to distance the company from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The bankruptcy filings reveal substantial debt incurred through legal fees and decreased sales due to boycotts. The company's actions are framed as a demonstration of support for Ukraine.

Jake Sullivan, the White House national security advisor, denied reports that the U.S. is considering giving Ukraine nuclear weapons. This follows a New York Times article suggesting President Biden might do so. Sullivan emphasized that the U.S. is instead focusing on providing Ukraine with conventional weapons and support. Russia has condemned the idea of nuclear weapons in Ukraine as "absolute insanity." This situation is tied to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees.

This episode explains MI6 chief Richard Moore warned of a widespread Russian sabotage campaign targeting Europe, collaborating with France's DGSE to counter it. He highlighted the dangers of a Russian victory in Ukraine, emphasizing the threat to global security and urging continued support for Ukraine. Moore linked this Russian aggression to recent incidents, including explosions and a plane crash, raising suspicions of Russian involvement. He cautioned against a potential Trump-Putin peace deal, viewing it as detrimental to Ukraine and Western security interests. Finally, despite concerns about Trump's "America First" approach, Moore expressed confidence in the enduring strength of the US-UK intelligence alliance.