Tensions escalate in the Ukraine-Russia conflict as Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly compares the situation to the Cuban Missile Crisis. In a bold move, Putin has ordered four Russian ships, believed to be nuclear-capable, to make a port call in Havana between June 12 and 17 before heading to Venezuela. This provocative action has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Russia is planning to send combat vessels to the Caribbean region this summer as part of naval exercises, according to a senior US official. The exercises, which are believed to be in response to US support for Ukraine, are expected to include port calls in Cuba and possibly stops in Venezuela. The official stated that Russia's regular military exercises will involve heightened naval and air activity near the United States, leading up to a global Russian naval exercise in the fall. This move is seen as a way for Russia to project its global power and assert its presence in the region.