As a European, I hang my head in shame. The US has shown that if you blockade an oil exporter, they fold quickly. Europe can do this to Russia and shut down oil tanker traffic out of the Baltic. But it doesn't. Innocent Ukrainians pay the price every day. robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/…

‼️Ukrainians @BlackseanewsNet have used OSINT research to now publish a new Russian Oil Tanker Tracking Database, exposing a staggering list of 1,753 tankers transporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products. 🛢️ 🛑Violators must be sanctioned. tankers.blackseanews.net

Quite right, US asking for UA help in air defence. Who could have expected that US so underestimated the threat of "Shahed" drones?

Whose missiles are best - British, French or American? Your own ones. Since 2022, Ukraine was capable to develop its own cruise and ballistic missiles, and long-range drones to hit Russia's depth. Only several European countires have such capabilities now.

According to available information, at least 1436 citizens from 36 African countries are currently fighting in the ranks of Russia's invasion army in Ukraine. The number represents those identified, though the actual number could be higher. Russia recruits nationals of African countries using a variety of methods. Some are offered money, while others are duped and do not realize what they are signing up for or are forced to do so under duress. Signing a contract is equivalent to signing a death sentence. Foreign citizens in the Russian army have a sad fate. Most of them are immediately sent to the so-called "meat assaults," where they are quickly killed. The Russian command understands that there will be no accountability for the killed foreigner, so they are treated as second-rate, expendable human material. Most mercenaries do not survive more than a month. There are two options to avoid such a fate. First, do not be recruited and do not sign any documents with Russian authorities. I urge all African governments to issue public statements warning their citizens against joining the Russian invasion army. Fighting for Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine is illegal, immoral, and violates the UN Charter and international law. Second, if you've already been deployed to the front lines, look for any opportunity to desert and become a prisoner of war. The majority of foreign mercenaries in our custody became prisoners of war during their first combat. They all saved their own lives. We treat POWs in accordance with all international humanitarian law standards. Ukrainian captivity provides a ticket to life and the possibility of returning to your home country. Russia attempts to recruit people from other countries, not only nationals of African countries. We will provide more specific information about the regions and countries from which foreign citizens are recruited by the Russian occupation army and then taken captive. We once again urge all governments to make every effort to disrupt Russian recruitment schemes and to inform their citizens that such activity is illegal.

Instead of just watching the Trump show and betting on Trump solving European security, Europe should undertake its own comprehensive plan and beat Putin: 1. Militarily, we must work with Ukraine to immediately establish an integrated air defense system that networks airspace surveillance and systems, improves drone defense, protects civilians from rockets and cruise missiles, and leverages the valuable frontline experience of the Ukrainians to protect NATO’s eastern flank while simultaneously improving Kyiv’s defenses. This means using NATO air defense systems to provide a protective umbrella over Western Ukraine. 2. At the same time, Europe needs to swiftly provide long-range weapons to Ukraine so it can target Russian command centers, ammunition depots, airfields, and drone factories deep in the Russian hinterland. This will give Ukraine important military advantages while also meeting European security interests. 3. Moreover, Europe should launch an emergency €10bn ($12bn) program to support the Ukrainian arms industry, stabilize its budget with €50bn in macro-financial aid, and systematically build up Ukraine’s future armed forces with a multi-year, multi-billion-euro program. This would be financed by confiscated Russian assets. 4. Europe must further prepare its military presence in Ukraine using the EU’s Article 42, which would also be feasible for a German mandate, and open to partners such as the UK, Turkey, Japan, or Australia. The recently agreed Multinational Force – Ukraine (MNF–U) headquarters is being established in Kyiv, is being led by a British two-star officer answerable to three-star officers in London and Paris, an unmistakable signal of pan-European determination and a useful template for the inclusion of non-EU partners. 5. Economically, we must stop the money that funds Moscow’s war machine. Europe must abruptly and finally end all energy and raw material imports from Russia — no oil, no gas, no liquefied natural gas, no uranium, or titanium, not even through third countries like India. Every euro spent on Russian energy and raw materials prolongs the war. 6. Another immediately feasible step is to completely stop the so-called shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea. Old tankers that circumvent sanctions must no longer be allowed to sail in the Baltic Sea for environmental and safety reasons, and to shut down the flow of further monies to the Kremlin’s coffers. 7. Building on the positive steps taken in EU sanctions packages 18 and 19, existing sanctions must be further tightened and consistently enforced, including against third countries that help Russia circumvent them. These states should finally face tangible economic and political consequences. This is another means of reducing the Kremlin’s income. 8. To secure its own ability to act, the EU must not allow individual member states to continue blocking decisions in an existential situation. Hungary must be temporarily stripped of its voting rights in the Council of the European Union with immediate effect. 9. Europe should no longer serve as a leisure or sanctuary destination for Russians. Until the war concludes, no new Schengen visas should be issued to Russian citizens, and those with existing visas should gradually be withdrawn, starting with diplomatic passports and visas for officials, oligarchs, and their children. 10. Lastly, Europe must directly address the Russian people. We must tell them that the war machine that has caused over one million Russian casualties, including 250,000 dead, can end, and that a peaceful and prosperous future with Russia and for Russia is possible — but only when Russia loses its war of imperial conquest. This European roadmap is realistic and can be implemented immediately. We should finally abandon the illusion that time is on our side. Europe cannot defeat Putin with strongly worded condemnations, stilted political communication, and bureaucratic policy management. Every month we hesitate costs human lives, destroys infrastructure, and weakens Europe’s credibility.

Former Ukrainian MP @HopkoHanna has insisted that the war "is winnable" for Ukraine and called on allies for more support. She was speaking to Sky's @JonathanSamuels on the 34th anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the USSR. Ukraine latest ➡️ trib.al/1kGDyb1

Hello, sorry to disturb you, but have you heard anything about Taurus and those crippling sanctions? Let me know, thanks.

To everyone trying to spin the story and blame Zelensky for what happened in the Oval Office—claiming he was “disrespectful” to Trump and Vance—here’s the truth: Later today, Trump made it clear that his real issue with Zelensky is that he refused to surrender to Putin. That’s the story—nothing else.

There is good and evil, God and Devil, right and wrong, freedom and dictatorship, victim and aggressor. The choice is obvious for any real Christian.

"Do you have a suite?"

RT @JuliaDavisNews: “You don’t look grateful.”

"Why don’t you wear a suit? Do you own a suit?"

VP Vance asked for a thank you for an aid package he voted against. His administration also told Zelensky that he (1) has to give up parts of his country to Putin , (2) cant join NATO, (3) has to pay back the US for past aid, and (4) there will no new aid. So exactly why does Vance think he is owed a thank you? The American people deserve a thank you & have received it from Zelenskyy many times.

Interestingly, NATO has been 130 km away from Saint Petersburg for over 20 years, and it has been totally okay all those years. The half of the Black Sea coastline has been under NATO for decades, and it was totally fine. Russia's Kaliningrad has been surrounded by NATO countries for over 20 years. Sweden and Finland (with over 1,000-km common border with Russia) join NATO, and Putin couldn't care less - no threat at all, in his words. But when it's Ukraine, which NATO refused to accept for like 20 years and doesn't want now, it is a "grave existential threat" to the world's biggest nuclear power, because of which it had to unleash the deadliest European bloodbath since WWII involving the North Korean military. Believe it or not, but it feels like it was never about NATO for Russia.

Shockingly

Musk: "What are Ukrainians dying for? What exactly are they dying for?" Their homes. Their freedom. Their autonomy. Their prosperity. Their speech. Their future. What are you fighting for, @elonmusk? More money, power, and racist jokes on X?

You know, J.D. Vance wasn't there to inform the defenders of Kyiv in 2022 that Ukraine couldn’t win, so they fought bravely and fiercely and eventually defeated the Russian onslaught to take the Ukrainan capital, thus totally derailing Putin's blitzkrieg.

The t-shirt has clarification at its back - small as Moscovia in 1462. This is when Moscovia didn’t steal yet the name from Kyiv Rus. @mfa_russia rename your X account to @mfa_moscovia. Get prepared for your imminent end.

What is UN Secreatry General doing in Russia? Meeting the war criminal is so important?