Ben Hall

Europe editor at the Financial Times, former world news editor and Paris correspondent

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Should Europe be preparing for transatlantic divorce and if so, how? You can ask me on Thursday Feb 26 at 13.00 GMT

https://t.co/TpKX7ZSaWt

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Luuk van middelaar

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Russia is intensifying its attacks in Ukraine. Can it make a breakthrough and will Ukraine's stretched defences hold out? @HoansSolo gives me his expert assessment

Putin steps up summer offensive against Ukraine https://t.co/NkICtvD3hs via @ft

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Trump’s shameful Crimea ultimatum to Ukraine https://t.co/bPPpLabcxk via @ft

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

From ally to antagonist to predator.

FT leader: how should the Europeans respond to Trump's demolition of the transatlantic security relationship

Europe and the crumbling Atlantic alliance https://t.co/iXunp3BnA2 via @ft

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

“This is Europe’s moment to accelerate and execute,” @EmmanuelMacron tells @khalafroula @labboudles and me. “It has no choice. It is running out of road.”

https://t.co/kHl3JRTCQy via @ft

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

There's a warning for the rest of Europe in the failure of Austria's mainstream parties to strike a coalition deal, paving the way for Chancellor Kickl

Austria’s far right hits Europe’s soft centre https://t.co/IGup35zLIV via @ft

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Escalatory dominance? Putin's IRBM missile attack shows Russia's enormous effort to calibrate the actions and not just the words.

Vladimir Putin climbs escalatory ladder with missile experiment https://t.co/aQGXr8IfHH via @ft

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Once again Estonia is outrider for more robust European support for Ukraine, before and after any "Trump peace". But could the Europeans really be guarantors of UA security without US?

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Europeans should be willing to deploy troops to guarantee Ukraine's security if Nato not an option, says @Tsahkna

European troops in Ukraine would secure Trump peace deal, says Estonia https://t.co/9h6sVczSbd via @ft

[Thomas de Waal @Tom_deWaal]

https://t.co/UDOzB1GgE5 A really good summary of what is at stake in 🇬🇪 #Georgia ahead of tomorrow's election. Glad to be quoted.

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

"A battle for the soul of Europe" - my and @NastyaStognei 's take on Georgia's parliamentary elections this weekend, a watershed moment for the country

Is Georgia slipping back into Russia’s orbit? https://t.co/npIf41ulHl via @ft

[Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM]

Ukraine is facing its darkest moment in the war. And President Zelensky faces increasing pressure from western allies to pursue negotiations, despite skepticism about Russia’s willingness and concerns over Kyiv’s weak position. w/ @hallbenjamin @HenryJFoy
https://t.co/lFwa4Ghbgl

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Germany should be doing more not less to bolster European security. My take on the @Bundeskanzler fiasco over slashed aid for Ukraine.

Ukraine is the victim in Germany’s botched budget debate https://t.co/PwcQBzReV7 via @ft

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

The always perceptive @Andriypzag tells me why it was so important for Ukraine to change the war narrative with Kursk incursion - and how Putin will eventually have to pull troops away from Donetsk

Ukraine wrongfoots Russia in Kursk https://t.co/KJFiBk3ZjS via @ft

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Does it make sense for Ukraine to seize Russian land as leverage for negotiations? Everything will depend on the cost.

Ukraine prepares for Trump trade with Russian land grab https://t.co/cBOykObzC5 via @ft

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

@EmmanuelMacron's bet that the French would say no to the far-right paid off; his bet that this would clarify how they wanted to be governed did not. My take.

France heads back to its postwar era of ungovernability https://t.co/FZ0pAc1kiR via @ft

[Peter Foster @pmdfoster]

.@ft @hallbenjamin sums up French elections 2nd round:

“an invidious choice: a far right dangerously close to power and a leftwing bloc under the glowering influence of the far-left Mélenchon. After Macron’s reckless wager, there is no alternative.”

https://t.co/lbImFRc1t6

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Update - far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has said the left will pull out its candidates if third behind centrists. Will Macron's camp reciprocate?

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Far-right Rassemblement National is on course for an absolute majority - unless the other parties can unite to stop it in the coming days

French election live: Far-right wins first round, survey shows https://t.co/ZhieRTVa7u via @ft

[Ben Hall @hallbenjamin]

Exit polls suggest there will be a huge number of triangulaires or three-way contests in the run-off on July 7, splitting the opposition to RN vote