The main events by the morning: July 2

• The World Bank has recognized Russia as a high-income country. In the report for the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, Russia was transferred to the category of high-income countries – more than $14 thousand per capita. Previously, the country was in the «above average» category.

• NATO has developed a plan to support Ukraine in the event of Trump's victory in the US presidential election. According to the WSJ, the alliance plans to send a high-ranking civilian official to Ukraine who will coordinate military supplies. The plan also provides for ensuring the proper level of equipment and training of the Ukrainian army in order to bring them closer to NATO standards.

• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will visit Kyiv today. This is his first visit to Ukraine since the outbreak of hostilities in February 2022.  The main topic of the meeting is «the possibility of achieving peace.»

• Conservative journalist Tucker Carlson said that «Biden is finished.» According to him, even many Democrats believe that the US president has serious cognitive problems. Carlson is confident that Trump is the most likely winner of the upcoming presidential election, although the situation is complicated by the fact that Trump is due to be sentenced on July 11.

• The EU increased imports of Russian LNG by 6.3% in the first half of 2024. Total LNG exports from Russia increased by 2.7% year-on-year over this period. France became the largest buyer of Russian LNG, increasing imports by 86.8%.

• A court in the United States has lifted the ban on LNG exports imposed by the Biden administration. 16 states, including Texas, filed a lawsuit against the ban, arguing that the restrictions negatively affect the economy and energy supply. The White House initially imposed the ban in order to combat climate change, considering it as the main «existential threat» to humanity.