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Denmark to invest in long-range weapons for first time citing Russia threat

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:08:38 +0000

Denmark to invest in long-range weapons for first time citing Russia threat

Denmark said on Wednesday that it would for the first time acquire "long-range precision weapons", citing the need to deter Russia, as Moscow's ambassador to Copenhagen called the move "pure madness". Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a press conference that the move was "a paradigm shift in Danish defence policy". "For the first time, Denmark is to build up military capacity in the form of long-range precision weapons," she told reporters.Frederiksen added that Russia would constitute a threat to Denmark and Europe "for years to come" and a decision was made to create a "credible deterrence".

Robert Micallef Thu, 09/18/2025 - 14:08

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EU to push for sanctions on Israel ministers and suspend bilateral support

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:28:05 +0000

EU to push for sanctions on Israel ministers and suspend bilateral support

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stated she would push to sanction "extremist" Israeli ministers and curb trade ties over Gaza, as she warned famine should not be used as a "weapon of war". Addressing the European Parliament on 10 September in the annual State of the Union, von der Leyen lamented that divisions among member states were holding back a European response but insisted the European Commission "will do all that it can on its own". "What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world. People killed while begging for food. Mothers holding lifeless babies. These images are simply catastrophic," von der Leyen said. The German politician said the Commission would put its bilateral support to Israel on hold, stopping all payments, but without affecting work with civil society groups and Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.

Robert Micallef Thu, 09/11/2025 - 18:28

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What role for the EU in the post-Washington South Caucasus?

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:55:40 +0000

What role for the EU in the post-Washington South Caucasus?

The agreements reached in the US-mediated summit of the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Washington on August 8 are poised to fundamentally reshape the region's future. Particularly, the deal concerning the Zangezur corridor – rebranded as the “Trump Route for Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) – holds significant geopolitical importance. If implemented, the TRIPP agreement would deal a severe blow to the regional standing of Russia and Iran. More importantly, it would pave the way for a strategic U.S. presence in this critical geography. This outcome represents a success that few would have predicted for the United States, especially for the Trump administration, given the region's notoriously complex and volatile geopolitics.

Robert Micallef Thu, 09/11/2025 - 11:55

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French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou ousted after just nine months in office

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:01:56 +0000

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou ousted after just nine months in office

Legislators toppled France’s government in a confidence vote on Monday 8 September, a new crisis for Europe’s second-largest economy that obliges President Emmanuel Macron to search for a fourth prime minister in 12 months. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was ousted overwhelmingly in a 364-194 vote against him. Bayrou paid the price for what appeared to be a staggering political miscalculation, gambling that lawmakers would back his view that France must slash public spending to rein in its debts. Instead, they seized on the vote that Bayrou called to gang up against the 74-year-old centrist who was appointed by Macron last December.

Robert Micallef Tue, 09/09/2025 - 11:01

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Von der Leyen: "precise" plans for the deployment of European troops in Ukraine

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:45:01 +0000

Von der Leyen: "precise" plans for the deployment of European troops in Ukraine

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, told The Financial Times on Sunday that the much-discussed security guarantees for Ukraine after the war are taking shape. She said that European countries are working on "fairly precise plans" for a multinational force in Ukraine.

Maximiliaan va… Mon, 09/01/2025 - 10:45

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UN Security Council meets in an emergency session to discuss Ukraine

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 06:37:23 +0000

UN Security Council meets in an emergency session to discuss Ukraine

On Friday afternoon (29 August), the United Nations Security Council held an emergency open briefing on Ukraine The meeting was requested by Ukraine in a letter it sent on Thursday (28 August) following large-scale Russian aerial attacks conducted overnight on Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine. Council members Denmark, France, Greece, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Slovenia, and the UK supported the meeting request. Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča briefed the Council at the start of the two-hour meeting. Among the participants and speakers was the Ukrainian prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko. Addressing the session, the Head of the EU Delegation to the UN, Ambassador Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, said that the EU objective remains clear: the EU supports an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire. We also welcome the efforts by the US to seek an end to Russia’s war of aggression and to stop the killing. As EU, we contribute to these efforts in order to achieve a just and lasting peace and long-term security for Ukraine and our continent. I urge all members of this Council to use their influence and maximize pressure on Russia to accept an immediate ceasefire and work towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.” He said that the EU will remain united in providing political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine, as it exercises its inherent right of self-defence. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and in defence of the UN Charter and international law. I respectfully submit that this Council, without any wavering or any hesitation, do the same, at a time when Russia intensifies its killings and continues to pursue its illegal objectives, instead of peace.”

dennis2020 Sat, 08/30/2025 - 08:37

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Russia-Azerbaijan Relations in Freefall with No End in Sight

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:39:16 +0000

Russia-Azerbaijan Relations in Freefall with No End in Sight

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia have been on an escalatory track since the crash of the Azerbaijani Airlines commercial airplane in December 2024. In the past, similar disputes were usually resolved quickly, leaving little lasting impact. This time, however, the crisis is far more complex and shows no signs of de-escalation. On the contrary, almost every month since the crash has marked new record lows in Baku–Moscow relations and appears likely to have a lasting impact on future bilateral ties. The situation has become so intricate and unpredictable that further deterioration cannot be ruled out.

Robert Micallef Thu, 08/21/2025 - 12:39

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Ukrainian suspect in the Nord Stream pipeline blasts arrested in Italy

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:30:27 +0000

Ukrainian suspect in the Nord Stream pipeline blasts arrested in Italy

A Ukrainian citizen suspected of participating in the undersea explosions in 2022 that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany has been arrested, German prosecutors said on Thursday 21 August. The suspect, identified only as Serhii K. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested overnight in Italy’s Rimini province, federal prosecutors said. According to an AP report, they added that he is believed to be one of the coordinators of the operation.

Robert Micallef Thu, 08/21/2025 - 12:30

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Trump plans Putin-Zelensky peace summit after talks in Washington

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:37:34 +0000

Trump plans Putin-Zelensky peace summit after talks in Washington

Russian President Vladimir Putin Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky look set for a peace summit after fast-moving talks on Monday 18 August between Donald Trump and European leaders that focused on the key issue of long-term security guarantees for Kyiv. Hopes of a breakthrough rose after Trump said he had spoken by phone with Russian counterpart Putin, whom he met in Alaska last week, following a "very good" meeting with the Europeans and the Ukrainian president at the White House on Monday.

Robert Micallef Tue, 08/19/2025 - 11:37

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In a show of solidarity, key European leaders will join Zelensky in Washington

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 12:57:41 +0000

In a show of solidarity, key European leaders will join Zelensky in Washington

Key European leaders will join Ukrainian president Zelensky at talks with US president, Donald Trump, in Washington on Monday (18 August). Zelensky is currently in Brussels where he met with European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. European leaders have announced they will be joining Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a trip to the White House on Monday. They include UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron, Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Speaking to the press after her meeting with president Zelensky, Von der Leyen said she is glad to be accompanying Zelensky and other European leaders to Washington tomorrow.

dennis2020 Sun, 08/17/2025 - 14:57

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