Mike Baker

Now, whether Xi raised those concerns privately, that remains unclear.

So you say to yourself, what should we expect as the two-day summit continues today?

Well, probably not any major breakthroughs.

Instead, expect announcements focused on economic cooperation, trade, investment, and strategic coordination.

What we're unlikely to see is any serious public discussion about North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal or the areas where Chinese and North Korean interests may not fully align.

After all, the summit is designed to showcase partnership, not disagreements.

And that brings us to why Washington is watching all this so closely.

North Korea remains one of the most persistent national security challenges facing the U.S.

The reality is that whoever holds the most influence in Pyongyang gains greater leverage over any future negotiations involving North Korea's nuclear program.

All right.

Turning now to occupied Crimea, where Ukraine's campaign to isolate the strategic Black Sea Peninsula appears to be producing tangible results.

Russia first seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 during its original invasion of Ukraine, years before its full-scale invasion in 2022.

The annexation gave Moscow control of the headquarters of its Black Sea fleet, expanded its military reach into the region, and provided a launching point for future operations against Ukraine.

Since then, Crimea has been one of the Kremlin's most prized territorial acquisitions, a symbol of Russian power and a key military hub.

But more than a decade later, that strategic asset may be turning into a growing liability.

According to Reuters, Russian-installed authorities in Crimea have tightened fuel rationing measures after a series of Ukrainian drone strikes disrupted supply routes feeding the peninsula.

Officials have suspended cash sales of gasoline, halted the issuance of new fuel coupons, and capped purchases for existing coupon holders as shortages continue to worsen.

Residents have reported long lines at gas stations across the peninsula, with local authorities acknowledging what they describe as, quote, difficult circumstances.

While Russian officials have avoided providing specific details, the timing points directly to Ukraine's increasingly aggressive campaign against Russian logistics networks.

And fuel is not the only issue.