Very reasonable piece by Martin Wolf, but the reactions below it are abysmal. Whatever happened to the financial times comment section? We need to protect Britain against the tyranny of the minority - www.ft.com/content/1a5a... via @financialtimes.com

Defense Minister of Germany Boris Pistorius: ‼️Ukraine is now Germany's defense partner, not just an aid recipient. Together with Ukrainian Defense Minister Fedorov Mykhailo, a declaration of intent was signed.

Opinion: China holds the cards — and might settle for flashy but empty announcements while playing a long game, writes Gideon Rachman. ft.trib.al/hMLfp4t

The suspensions reflect a regional trend: across the central Sahel, military juntas have targeted independent media outlets. The most recent example is the suspension of TV5 Monde in Burkina Faso.

With €50 million, we're putting concrete support behind our commitment. Strengthening protection systems, providing education and ensuring justice for the stolen children. The return of each child must be part of any peace agreement.

It's time to admit that a strong Ukraine is a strong Europe. Ukraine is not a burden on our resources; it is essential to Europe’s security, strength, and future More military aid faster means less war sooner, and innocent live saved www.euractiv.com/opinion/its-...

The Council of the European Union has imposed sanctions on 16 individuals and seven organizations responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children to #Russia. 📷: UNICEF 1/2

Russia's deportation and forced adoption of Ukrainian children is a deliberate attempt to break Ukraine's future. Important that we agreed to impose new EU sanctions against those responsible. Countering this abhorrent practice is an absolute priority for the Netherlands. 1/2

Opinion: Our first-past-the-post electoral system cannot handle the new era of multi-party politics. ft.trib.al/rG1yiDa

Russian officials continue to frame the deportation of Ukrainian children as an act of ‘humanitarian protection’. At the same time, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova over the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied Ukrainian territories.

Delighted to be speaking at Nevill Holt Festival this summer - join me there. Set in Leicestershire, the Festival brings together an incredible breadth of events, from world-class performance and music to conversation, comedy and more. Head to nevillholtfestival.com for tickets.

Good to see that the idea that Europe needs Ukraine for its strategic autonomy is breaking through. At this time there is mastery of modern warfare greater than that of Ukraine. If Europe isn't a remote backwater at the mercy of work powers in 20 years, it'll be thanks to Ukraine.

Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, now says “the tide has turned” and “we need Ukraine more than #Ukraine needs us.” Zelensky is no longer pleading for help on behalf of his people. Kyiv now offers the world weapons that work. Hot off the press 👇 nypost.com/2026/05/09/o...

If all else fails, blame the French

russia planned to use Iran to kill Americans. The plan involved training 10,000 students from Iran, Tajikistan and Syria to operate drones that would sink American landing ships and destroy personnel — The Economist. 1/ www.economist.com/europe/2026/...

Prime Minister Péter Magyar inaugural speech: "The psyche of the whole country was poisoned by politics that was artificially inciting hatred. The Hungarian state is not allowed to do anything like this ever again... This era is, once and for all, finished."

In the end, making Putin threaten, moan and beg to hold his pissy little 45 minute parade, from which he ran away like a frightened schoolboy, revealed more about the real state of the war than anyone could have expected.

Totalitarianism means giving the live of your son for Russia is something to be congratulated with. Igor is right, this is as much a death cult as ISIS

But at least Putin still has the support of the Republican party in the US

Photo: September 22, 1939, Brest-Litovsk: Nazi Generals Von Wiktorin and Guderian with Red Army General Rivoshein, together inspecting the joint German-Russian parade in honour of the occupation and division of Poland between Germany and Russia

Russia and China want to nail the US to the Iran crisis and bleed out as much as possible. Like Russia in Ukraine, the US has few options short of retreat and hoping it'll end. While the US continues to tolerate this abysmal incompetence in leadership, expect more self inflicted drama.

Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service repelled a Russian infantry assault in which troops advanced while carrying and moving inside pop-up toilet tents used as improvised anti-drone protection.

AI just supercharged disinformation warfare. Russian and Chinese operations can now generate fake voices, videos, and propaganda at massive scale to divide Americans and erode trust from within. #AI #Russia #NationalSecurity apnews.com/article/ai-c...

The same happens in NATO countries where traditional defense companies are not eager to lose business and manufacturing to agile startups, dismissing them as "housewives" industries www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

1/ Independent drone development in Russia is being crushed by the heavy hand of the state, according to Russian warbloggers. They say that large corporations have captured the military procurement system, effectively locking out independent developers. ⬇️

Poland has signed a €43.7 billion EU defense loan as Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Warsaw is now “setting the direction for Europe” on security and defense.

Is this China helping to pin down and possibly defeat the US in the gulf? Iran may seek to draw out negotiations while rebuilding air defense capabilities with Chinese help.

The number of cargo trains going from Xi’an in central China to the Iranian capital Tehran has risen from around one per week before the conflict to one every three or four days since the start of blockade on April 13, according to people with knowledge of the shipments.-Bloomberg

Little change on the front, still heavy infantry pressure on the front, but the distinct lack of vehicles means russia can't really capitalise on any of it and they just end up out of position and KIAd. Those plinths at the memorials aren't going to fill themselves via @uacontrolmap.bsky.social

Ukraine is now taking the war to Russia. It is as clear a sign as any that Europe together can protect itself in the future without the USA.

Its actually alarming to me how many "good" folks go, Trump is bad, Trump attacks Iran, so Iran is good. Is everyone 12? Both of them are bad, and while Trump is a pedo rapist, IRGC shot 10 000 of its own citizens, including children into their faces, and raped nurses who helped the kids into death

💥 Ukrainian housewife kitchen drones equipped with shotguns destroy Russian drones at a cost of just one shotgun shell, about $0.50.

Of great interest!

Happy 100th birthday to Sir David Attenborough, national treasure.

Greek fishermen discovered a suspected Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV) hidden inside a sea cave off Lefkada island. The vessel was recovered by the Hellenic Coast Guard amid reports it may have carried explosives 🇺🇦 🇬🇷 www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Um, I’m not sure quite sure what the US Department of Defence is trying to say with that tweet?

Being able to continue to manufacture and deploy unmanned systems that wreck opfor economies is becoming the new normal. Like Ukraine vs Russia, Iran can probably make the cost too high.

French prosecutors are summoning Elon Musk to the French capital again—this time to face preliminary criminal charges in a sprawling investigation into his social-media platform, X. on.wsj.com/4wgu0Lf

Fear? Russia is being pushed back. How sustainable is a peace where a war criminal aggressor is rewarded with pieces of European territory?

China hands two former defence ministers suspended death sentences - www.ft.com/content/570f... via @financialtimes.com

We have a fun episode tonight on @theteamhouse.bsky.social with Alma Katsu who served with both the CIA and NSA, and now writes spy novels. We get into the lies behind the Iraq invasion, discuss how tech changed these agencies, Havana syndrome, and much more. youtu.be/oBkL3NaTC4g?...

My latest piece in the @newyorker.com

Oekraïne stelt een staakt-het-vuren voor, Rusland antwoordt met luchtaanvallen op een kleuterschool in Sumy. Steeds opnieuw toont Poetin wie de kwade agressor is. Daar kunnen geen Russische propaganda, trollenlegers en desinformatiecampagnes tegenop. (1/2)

The assumption that Trump would be good for Israel was almost gospel truth in Israel. But by now it must be clear that Trump serves no purpose other than his own This assumption has turned Israel into a pariah incapable of explaining and even defending its interests news.gallup.com/poll/702440/...

"Air defense rings around Moscow are being reinforced by pulling systems from the regions - the Russian Federation cares more about the parade than the entire country. This opens up additional opportunities for our long-range sanctions. Our corresponding priorities will be determined." - Zelenskyy.

Have you noticed that when dictatorships provide us with weaponry, it's ok, but the EU does it for Ukraine it's warmongering?

Horrific footage from the site of the Russian strike on a kindergarten in Sumy. 📹: Suspilne

Gulf States Fear an Emboldened Iran Is Taking Advantage of a Hesitant U.S. The likely conclusion in Tehran, Gulf governments fear, is that further escalation pays off because Trump is so intent on extricating himself from the war that he will ignore renewed Iranian attacks on America’s allies.