As the Iran fiasco remains unsolved, US weapon deliveries to Europe are said to be delayed.
It’s also unclear how the fiasco might be resolved – after the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was announced, Iran and US President Donald Trump both said the Strait of Hormuz is open, but Trump later added that the US blockade is still in place.
Whether Tehran agreed to it is now the billion-dollar question – quite literally, as it would also decide whether the strait will actually stay open and whether oil will keep flowing. At least oil prices dropped slightly.
Ukraine braces for intensifying Russian assaults
Back in Ukraine, there are signs that Ukrainians now need to brace for more Russian strikes – Dnipro was hit hard overnight, and Kyiv’s top diplomat now says Russia is planning up to seven major airstrikes each month, citing intelligence from the spy agencies. Deputy chief of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) also said Russia has set a new timeline to capture Donbas by September after failing to do so in 12 years.
Meanwhile, another corruption scandal with military procurement has surfaced, with Russia now accused of training teenage influencers to churn out pro-war propaganda – remember how social media is said to have influenced European elections?
Russia also decided to host an exhibition about Poland’s so-called “Russophobia” – right on the site of the Katyn massacre, where 20,000 Poles were slaughtered by the Soviets. Really makes you wonder where the so-called Russophobia comes from.
But there is still some positive news – Ukraine’s foreign minister said Kyiv “has cards” and is eyeing progress with its EU accession with the new Hungarian administration, and Kharkiv’s new private air defense is said to have downed a jet-powered Shahed, and the country is set to receive a €2.7 billion ($3.2 billion) tranche after meeting some benchmarks by adopting and passing necessary laws.
Ukraine also received a new minehunter from the Netherlands – which is big considering how many of Ukraine’s naval assets were taken in 2014.
New chapter in EU-Hungary relations?
On the subject of Hungary, reports also suggest that Russian oil will flow through the Druzhba pipeline once more as early as next week, which somewhat aligns with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s earlier timelines. And even though the last, more troublesome Hungarian administration is being ousted, the EU is now playing it safe and eyeing “hard” safeguards for new members to prevent a similar situation.
In Europe, Russia has also raised the rhetoric against European arms makers, warning they are “legitimate targets” for backing Kyiv amid a flurry of drone deals – a move the former US ambassador simply described as “intimidation.”
But so far, there is still no end in sight. At least the Swedish king is here – the first monarch to have visited the country after the 2022 invasion started.
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