๐จ ๐ท๐บ๐ฎ๐ท Throwback when Putin was asked why he is not assisting Iran:
โIsrael today is almost a Russian-speaking country, two million people from the Soviet Union and Russia live there. We take that into account.โ
๐จ ๐ต๐ฑ๐ท๐บ Poland summoned Russia's ambassador after a Russian missile entered Polish territory during Moscow's latest large-scale attack on Ukraine.
๐จ ๐ช๐บ๐บ๐ฆ EU Commission releases additional โฌ3.47bn ($3.99bn) under โฌ90bn Ukraine Support Loan for drones, long-range drones, missiles and Gripen jets.
โWith this new disbursement under our โฌ90 billion loan package, we are helping Ukraine defend its people. We are also bringing our defence industries closer together, combining Europeโs industrial scale with Ukraineโs unmatched innovation.
This is our new Drone Deal taking shape. And let this new support send a clear message: every Russian strike strengthens Ukraineโs determination to be free and our determination to stand with Ukraine, for as long as it takes,โ said Ursula von der Leyen.
๐จ ๐ต๐ฑ๐ท๐บ Polish FM Sikorski says Russia could stage drone false-flag attacks by relaunching captured Ukrainian drones to blame Ukraine or target NATO:
"Russia could capture and repair stray Ukrainian drones that fall short, then launch them from a border area against itself or a NATO country, to blame Ukraine.
This scenario is discussed publicly. False flags are Russia's playbook."
๐จ ๐บ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ท Ukraineโs strike on an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea just showed how the Russia-Ukraine war and the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran risk merging. One civilian sailor died. Diplomacy averted immediate retaliation, for now. โ New York Times 1/4
If these wars converge further, the result could involve the U.S., Russia and others in open conflict across Eurasia and the Middle East. The next flashpoint remains the key unknown. โ New York Times 4/4
๐จ ๐ท๐บ Moscow court orders arrest in absentia of Zhanna Nemtsova, daughter of slain Putin critic Boris Nemtsov, over her role in an "undesirable organisation." โ Reuters
๐จ ๐บ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ถ Antonio Guteres: "I think the Iraqi government has indicated very clearly their wish for Iraq first of all not to be instrumentalized by anybody and second for the state to have the monopoly of the use of force inside Iraq and we fully support that determination of the government of Iraq."
๐จ ๐บ๐ณ Antonio Guteres: "Let me be clear, the fighting must stop on all fronts in the region. International navigation rights and freedoms in and around the strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab must be fully restored and diplomacy must prevail."
๐จ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ท Trump seeks an exit from the Iran war but gets clashing advice. Saudi Arabia pushes de-escalation; Israel doubts diplomacy and discusses ramping up pressure, even full-scale options. Conflict expands past his deadline. โ CNN 1/4 ๐งต
Internal Iranian power struggles, especially within the IRGC, raise fears of a prolonged fight. Trump claims it will โstraighten outโ soon, yet military and diplomatic paths both look blocked. โ CNN 4/4