Polish PM Tusk’s refusal to send troops to Ukraine a ‘grave error’, says ex-minister
Former Polish foreign minister Jacek Czaputowicz has criticised Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s decision that Polish troops would not participate in any stabilisation…
Defence
Latest reporting and analysis on defence.
US state secretary Rubio says Europe to be part of ‘any real talks’ on ending Ukraine war
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Ukraine and Europe would be part of any "real negotiations" to end the war with Russia.
Doubts surface over continued US military presence in Poland
Pete Hegseth, the US Defence Secretary, has praised Poland’s efforts in ramping up military spending to 5 per cent of its GDP.
Russian drone damages Chernobyl nuclear plant’s shelter, Zelenskiy says
A Russian drone caused significant damage to the radiation containment shelter at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy…
My principles on Ukraine, ‘and if you don’t like them, well, I have others’
After the latest Trump-Putin “pas de deux”, in the ever-evolving theatre of international politics, the diplomatic ballet by European leaders that comes next…
European leaders’ alarm at Trump-Putin negotiations on Ukraine
European diplomats have condemned what they saw as the sidelining of both Ukraine and its European allies following a surprise agreement between former US President…
Trump’s plan for Gaza: a new start on an intractable problem
There have been the predictable negative reactions around Europe about President Trump's comments on Gaza, and particularly the proposal effectively to remove the…
The Soviet Union erased Russia’s history as a European cultural nation
A crucial rule of successful diplomacy is that one does not have to approve of one enemy’s actions, but one does have to understand what motivates them.
Italy ends co-operation with UNRWA on Gaza aid but will still give funds
Italy has said it will no longer work with UNRWA, the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees, regarding aid in the Gaza strip.
France delivers Mirage warplanes to help defend Ukraine
France on January 6 delivered its first batch of warplanes to Ukraine as part of European efforts to strengthen Kyiv's hand in its war with Russia and show Paris'…
Putin questions Zelensky’s ‘legitimacy’ in new ceasefire push
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Ukraine could find a legal way to hold peace talks with Russia on ending their nearly three-year-old war, but…
Founding Israel: hatred, hypocrisy, dishonesty, hubris, all round
Eighty years ago last Sunday, Soviet troops “liberated” what remained of Auschwitz.
EC Vice-President Kallas: EU at risk of direct Russian attack ‘as soon as 2028’
The European Union is at risk of a direct attack from Russia as soon as 2028 if it fails to shore up its own defence, the bloc's foreign affairs tsar Kaja Kallas…
Trump pushes for peace with threat of Russian sanctions if Putin declines
US President Donald Trump has suggested that imposing additional sanctions on Russia was "likely" if President Vladimir Putin refused to engage in peace talks.
Trump to stop all aid to Ukraine? Claptrap
The fantasyland of contemporary Western European notions of the Western Alliance was well-illustrated this week by an article published by the former foreign minister…
German defence minister floats idea of sending troops to Ukraine
German defence minister Boris Pistorius has suggested sending troops to Ukraine if a demilitarised zone was established.
Relatives of Israeli hostages say EU not doing all it can for their release
Relatives of 94 Israeli and international hostages still held by Hamas said the EU has not used its influence and resources to bring the hostages home.
German authorities probe Russian espionage suspicions over activity at military sites
German police have launched an investigation into suspected cases of Russian espionage after drones were spotted over several military installations in Bavaria,…
Sweden to test ‘drone swarm’ as country bolsters NATO defence
Sweden has announced it is going to test new "drone swarm" technology amid reports the country has been increasing its level of defence integration with the rest…
Trump says ‘plans underway for peace-deal meeting with Putin’
US President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans were underway for a possible peace meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although no specific timeline…
EU warning to airlines about Russia after Azerbaijan plane crash
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has warned non-European carriers not to fly within western Russia airspace due to the risk of being unintentionally targeted…
US set to give $500 million more in military aid for Ukraine
The US was expected to announce $500 million (€484.
Russian ship suspected of targeting further vital transatlantic cables
Eagle S, the Russian ship suspected of deliberately cutting through communication cables in the Baltic Sea, has also been connected to attempted sabotage in the…
Germany’s Habeck calls for hike to 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence spending
Robert Habeck, the German economy minister and Greens candidate for chancellor, has proposed a dramatic increase in the country's defence spending to 3.
Ukraine probes French-trained brigade over ‘mass desertion’ allegations
Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation is reportedly investigating the 155th Mechanised Brigade, dubbed “Anne of Kyiv”, after almost 2,000 soldiers were reported…
Scores of Ukrainian and Russian POWs head home after swap
Ukraine and Russia have carried out a new exchange of prisoners of war, with the two sides bringing home a combined total of more than 300 former captives.
Syria ‘hopes for strategic partnerships’ with Ukraine
Syria hopes for "strategic partnerships" with Ukraine, its new foreign minister has told his Ukrainian counterpart, as Kyiv moved to build ties with the new…
US President Biden pledges billions more in Ukraine aid
The US has announced almost $6 billion (€5.
Putin: Fico’s Slovakia ‘has offered to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks’
Slovakia has offered to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has claimed.
Syria’s new leaders impose crackdown as violence flares in coastal area
Syria's new authorities launched a security crackdown in a coastal region where 14 policemen were killed, vowing to pursue "remnants" of the ousted Bashar al-Assad…