It is amazing how little the press is willing to dissect US decline under Trump. The US got no help with Iran, was scolded on Taiwan, says it got a small Boeing deal (China has not confirmed) and Trump appeased on Chinese students, microchips, etc. Xi even insulted US power.

"I know more about Taiwan right now than I know about almost any country..." Because of course he had to say that. Problem is he knows very little about any country.

THIS!!! U.S. House to force vote on Ukraine Support Act after rare bipartisan rebellion Bipartisan coalition secures 218th signature for discharge petition, bypassing leadership to deliver vital military aid and fresh sanctions on Russia Joint Statement 👇

Putin’s magic is that he can always get close to Trump. But Trump’s magic is that he turns everyone who approaches him into a loser.

It is notable that one of the most pronounced differences between Ukraine and the USA is that while both have corruption problems, the Ukr are investigating theirs up to the highest levels of govt, while the US govt is openly fostering more corruption.

Ukrainian drone forces "destroyed" Swedish troops during NATO exercises on the island of Gotland. The Swedish side stopped the training three times and tried to change tactics after realizing that under real battlefield conditions they would already have been killed.

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The reason for all of this was also on display this week. Ukrainian long and mid-range strike is getting better and more numerous. Putin was right to be worried that Moscow is not safe.

The table has turned Ukraine were reliant on the help of the US at the start of the war now Putin is reliant on the US…. “Putin pulled out his ace-in-the-hole and called on Donald Trump to come to his rescue.”

The ceasefire story is fascinating. Turns out that Trump seems to have pleaded with Zelensky on Putin’s behalf. The Ukrainians said that they agreed on the condition that prisoners are returned and the ceasefire covers only the parade area. kyivindependent.com/breaking-tru...

The President of Ukraine just issued a decree about the parade in Moscow on May 9th.

‼️ Zelenskyy on some foreign leaders' plans to attend Moscow parade: We don't recommend it

The Papal statement after meeting with Rubio was a significant rebuke to Trump and the US administration. No niceties, little agreement and the acknowledgment of strong differences of opinion. US standing in the world has arguably never been so low. www.thedailybeast.com/vatican-humi...

Read every word. Russia is a weakening but still intransigent aggressor. Ukraine has military momentum and moral legitimacy.

@phillipspobrien.bsky.social on Ukraine, Iran, and "Taking the Initiative" in war. "[President Zelenskyy] has actually wrong-footed the administration. The administration doesn't know how to deal with him now. They're used to people who lie, who suck up to Trump. And Zelenskyy just stopped that."

⚡️ EU visa approvals for Russians rise despite widespread support for the war.

Brilliant diplomatic play by #Zelenskyj: #Putin was tricked into breaking his proposed ceasefire, and demonstrated to the whole world that #Russia only wants war, by attacking a kindergarten. #Trump was tricked into showing everyone, that the #US no longer has any leverage in the war. #Ukraine

I propose placing this beer in every official UN building and, in especially critical situations, splashing Russian diplomats with it like holy water. We are ready to supply Lviv beer in unlimited quantities.

Horseshoe alert: Far-right joins former communists to bring down the Romanian government www.dw.com/en/romanias-...

Top-level officials are beginning to flee Russia. And that is a good sign. As the economy deteriorates, stealing becomes harder, competition inside the system grows more brutal, and the risk of ending up in prison - or dead - gets closer. When things go badly in Russia, Putin is never blamed⤵️

Opinion writers need to stop writing as if Trump is up to the challenges of our time. Stop saying, “Trump has an opportunity to…”, or “Trump should…”. We know who he is and we know he’s cognitively and ethically unfit. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/o...

"This is not just the most corrupt presidency in American history, it is among the most corrupt regimes on earth." And abject corruption on a mass scale, it turns out, is not politically popular. New from @monacharen.bsky.social:

Ukraine has ushered in a new era in which smaller countries can resist great powers. On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, I had a great discussion about this phenomenon with the always insightful duo of James Sherr & John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social www.powervertical.org/2026/05/01/u...

This is well worth reading open.substack.com/pub/persuasi...

"President Zelensky has set a target of 50,0000 Russian casualties per month—a rate at which they expect that Russia will have so much trouble reconstituting its forces that it will lose the ability to continue to fight." ICYMI @brynntannehill.bsky.social:

In comparison, the real war that is changing is Ukraine-Russia. And fascinatingly, Trump and his acolytes seem to be getting this.

Chinese companies continue to massively supply drone components to Russia and Iran, despite US and EU sanctions. China's customs data reveals hundreds of containers shipped to drone factories. In particular, Xiamen Victory Technology openly sells Limbach L550 engines -

The Silence is Deafening - Where is the international condemnation? open.substack.com/pub/shaunpin...

RU: "We want a ceasefire on May 9." UA: "Let’s start on May 6." RU: Shells seven regions on May 5, killing 27 people and injuring 147. UA: ... RU: Sends two Shahed drones into a kindergarten.

For the first time, an air raid alert in Russia extended more than 2,000 km from the Ukrainian border — reaching the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug–Yugra. Overall, air raid alerts were declared in 18 regions of Russia. Flight restrictions were introduced at 18 airports. Source: hromadske

No longer seen as the “Leader of the free world?” Heck, as long as Trump is in the White House, America is no longer even ON THE SIDE OF the free world.

Important steps. The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on 35 individuals and entities. These are aimed to disrupt: ◾️Russian drone production; ◾️Networks exploiting migrants to recruit them for Russia's war against Ukraine

President Stubb: We in Europe have to get out of the mindset that it's only us helping Ukraine. We have to ask ourselves the question: how can Ukraine help us? That's why I have, from the beginning, been a strong advocate of Ukraine's EU membership and of Ukraine's NATO membership.

Russian state-scum strikes civilians in Ukraine while requesting a ceasefire for their parade in Moscow.

It is a brutal example of the mathematics of war, but also a crucial one. The battlefield is getting more dangerous for human beings. The Russians are paying the price while, thankfully, the Ukrainians are not.

The project includes trips to Russia, meetings with "SMO heroes", propaganda lectures, and internships in Kremlin media - all under the cover of "patriotic education." From the first lesson they are told: the internet is a battlefield, and you are soldiers.

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Hi All, Just sent out my free weekend update. With recent developments clear, it is safe to ask this question. Is Ukraine taking the initiative from Russia in the ranged and land wars? The Ukrainians did in the sea war and now seem to be doing it in other domains. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Yet another Russian attack on civilians in Kherson. A Russian drone struck a bus this morning. Two killed. Seven injured, including four municipal workers. Russian human safari on civilians in Kherson continues.

Russia's return to big sports is being normalized. This is wrong and unethical. President of the Russian Curling Federation Dmitry Svishchev is using legal threats and public pressure in Moscow's bid for international readmission into another Olympic sport, Politico reported.

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🔸While Russia outspends Ukraine in raw budget figures, Kyiv is winning the "adaptation race." By integrating civilian tech startups with military needs, Ukraine has created a high-speed innovation loop that allows low-cost drones to strike targets 1,500 km away.

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❗️Ukrainian Navy launched strikes on Russian vessels that guard the Kerch bridge.          Sobol and Grachonok vessels are key elements of Russia's shore guard used to guard the Kerch bridge. Systemic Ukrainian work to destroy Russian air defense in Crimea is paying off.

The EU has launched a new platform for testing military technologies in real combat scenarios. "Backed by a budget of EUR 35 million, the platform is designed to fast-track high-priority innovations directly to the Ukrainian battlefield ," the statement said. Source: EC's press service 📷: Pixabay

King Charles spoke of the need for "unyielding resolve" for Ukraine during his speech in the US Congress⤵️

Merz not holding back and making it clear Trump was humiliating reveals another important thing. He understands that the US under Trump will never fight for Europe and he no longer is pretending the US is a reliable ally. This is a good thing.

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Hungarian oligarchs begin fleeing the country, transferring assets, in anticipation of corruption investigations giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT