Russia

• Pres. Putin's promise of free grain for six African countries whose leaders paid him a visit doesn't seem to be enough to satisfy those leaders. The African Union and those leaders called on Putin to end his effective blockade on Ukrainian grain shipments to Africa.
• Yevgeny Prigozhin was reportedly spotted in St. Petersberg, which is where the Russia-Africa summit is taking place, and one of his associates said he attended Putin's meetings with African leaders. If true, it would seem Prigozhin still wields significant influence in Russia. Or it could have been one of his many body doubles.

• Pres. Putin acknowledged that Ukraine's counter-offensive has escalated "in a significant way" lately, but insisted Russian troops ably repelled the fresh attacks. Ukrainian officials remained characteristically quiet about how their operations are going.

• Pres. Bazoum and his allies - including Pres. Macron of France - continued to insist that the coup against him can be reversed.
• Some segments of the security forces seem allied with Bazoum, but the most powerful ones - including army chief Gen. Abdou Sikiko Issa - are aligning with the putchists. Issa's positioning is significant because army chiefs often emerge as junta leaders in successful coups.

• Kim Jong Un regaled visiting Russian and Chinese delegates with a show-and-tell of his favorite nuclear toys during a military parade honoring "Victory Day."
• The weapons exhibition deepened analysts' fears that Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu - who's leading the Russian delegation - could use this visit to lobby Kim to send Russia (more?) weapons to use in Ukraine.

• In an interview with CNN, Israeli PM Netanyahu tellingly refused to say whether he'd abide by a possible Supreme Court ruling striking down his controversial judicial "reform" law. Protests against the new law continue.
• Separately, U.S. National Security Advisor Sullivan is in Saudi Arabia this week for talks with Crown Prince MBS about potentially normalizing relations with Israel.