The European Union on Thursday adopted its 18th sanctions package against Russia, delivering one of the most far-reaching economic blows since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The package, which includes tighter enforcement of the oil price cap, new restrictions on financial institutions, and a ban on hundreds of shadow tankers, underscores the bloc’s resolve to weaken Russia’s economic foundation.
After weeks of tense negotiations and repeated blockades, Slovakia has confirmed it will no longer obstruct the European Union’s 18th package of sanctions against Russia. The announcement by Prime Minister Robert Fico on July 17 clears the path for the long-awaited measures to be formally adopted, marking a crucial moment for EU unity in its response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
Slovakia Aligns with EU on Stricter Sanctions Against Russia Read Post »
Germany will provide Ukraine with long-range missile systems “very soon,” Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during a July 17 press conference in London. The announcement signals a shift in Berlin’s position on supplying Ukraine with deep-strike capabilities as Kyiv continues to defend itself against Russian aggression. “We are acting very specifically and very soon,” Merz said, confirming that plans are already being made for the deployment of the long-range weapons.
Germany to Deliver Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine “Very Soon,” Merz Says Read Post »
There’s a reason Russia didn’t just put out international arrest warrants for myself and other journalists who visited Kursk when Ukraine partially seized control of the region. It’s because they had already planned the accompanying propaganda you’re now reading in your living room. The disinformation machine that normally resides in Russia itself has gone international, now playing out on our televisions and in the most respected newspapers. Pick up a copy of the New York Times this week.
New York Times Again Prints verbatim Russian propaganda Read Post »
European Union member states are considering the transfer of more than three additional Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, a potential escalation of support aimed at shielding the country’s cities and infrastructure from relentless Russian missile and drone attacks, a German government spokesperson confirmed Monday.
Germany Confirms EU May Send More Patriots Than Planned to Ukraine Read Post »
In a new op-ed published in USA Today, Secretary of State Marco Rubio praises the Trump administration’s NATO strategy as a “historic” success, touting a sweeping agreement under which alliance members will raise defense spending to 5% of GDP. But behind the celebratory tone lies a clear undertone of concern: America’s dominance in the global arms market is slipping and Trump’s Ukraine policy is largely to blame. Rubio calls on allies to open their defense contracts to U.S.
As the United States dismantles one of its most influential soft-power institutions, the Kremlin is preparing to take its place. With little fanfare, Russia is building its own version of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), hoping to fill the vacuum left by Washington’s retreat from global development programs. The effort, spearheaded through Moscow’s International Agency for Sovereign Development, aims to project Russian influence abroad under the guise of humanitarian aid —
Already filling the void left by the US, Russia builds a copy of USAID Read Post »
With Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s poll numbers plunging and opposition forces gaining ground ahead of next year’s election, his regime appears to be doubling down on its most reliable ally: Vladimir Putin. A new investigation by IStories has exposed the financial architecture behind this political alliance—tracing billions of dollars in Russian oil flows to a secretive company called Normeston Trading, which has enriched allies of both Putin and Orbán.
