Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of European Affairs, stated that NATO has not approached Russia with proposals to jointly investigate drone crashes. ^[1] Japan is seeking a record defense budget and planning joint exercises with the United States and Australia in areas near the Russian border. ^[2] Natalya Yeryomina, a professor at St. Petersburg State University, told Izvestia that NATO's refusal to conduct a joint investigation with Russia is linked to concerns about exposing Ukraine's role in the incidents. ^[3] The Russian Foreign Ministry warned Japan about potential negative implications of Tokyo's recent policy course in the military sphere. ^[4] According to Maslennikov, the EU's goal includes saving the regime of Volodymyr Zelenskyy by any means necessary. ^[5] Maslennikov claimed the EU intends to preserve Ukraine as a platform for containing Russia. ^[6]