Ukraine is preparing another strike on the Kerch (Crimea) Bridge, this time aiming to completely destroy it.

Source: The Guardian

Zelensky:

I am confident that the meeting with the US team in Saudi Arabia will be productive.

We will do everything to ensure that Ukrainian interests are taken into account as necessary.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly:

President Trump poses an existential threat to Canada and Europe is next.

North Korea unveiled for the first time a nuclear-powered submarine under construction.

The new nuclear-powered submarine is likely to be a 6,000-ton or 7,000-ton class vessel, capable of carrying around 10 ballistic missiles.

Governor of Lattakia:

We will bring all those who committed violations during the military operation to fair trials.

We carried out operations to arrest thieves who stole private property during the recent events.

Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces released a video showing the destruction of Russian special forces who attempted to infiltrate Sudzha via the gas pipeline.

China’s first domestically developed EUV machine, using LDP technology instead of ASML’s LPP, is being tested at Huawei’s Dongguan facility.

Trial production begins in Q3 2025, with mass production in 2026.

This marks a major step toward semiconductor self-sufficiency, reducing reliance on ASML amid U.S. export restrictions.

Israel will send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an effort to advance negotiations on the hostage deal.

Trump on Musk-Rubio relationship.

Trump reposts an article telling Americans to "Shut Up About Egg Prices" on Truth Social.

Three conditions Hamas set for possible deal with Israel:

- Prisoner exchange

- Complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip

- Commitment by Israel not to resume aggression.

Source: Al Jazeera

The US has rejected a Canadian proposal to set up a task force to tackle Russia's so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers.

Negotiations are underway at next week's G7 summit to formulate a joint statement on maritime issues. The US is pushing to strengthen language on China and water down language on Russia.

Canada proposes a sanctions monitoring task force; the US is pushing to remove 'sanctions' from its statement on Russia, replacing it with 'generating revenue'.

Source: Bloomberg

Israel will send negotiators to Qatar on Monday to try to secure more hostage releases.

Steve Witkoff will travel to Doha on Tuesday to broker a new deal between Israel and Hamas. Two US officials have confirmed this.

Witkoff is expected to join the Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli/Hamas negotiators, who began talks on Monday.

Source: Axios, Bloomberg

A majority of French people support increasing defense spending, even if it means increasing the public deficit, according to a poll.

La Tribune Dimanche, conducted a poll and found that 68% are very supportive or tend to support boosting the defense budget, and 66% favor financing it via deficit spending.

Source: Bloomberg

Geneva Centre for Security Policy's Sustainable Ceasefire Plan for Ukraine:

A possible third-party brokered ceasefire between the sides in Ukraine could be achieved through a variety of measures involving other countries and international organisations.

Military and Security Arrangements:

- Ceasefire line: It must be mapped and agreed, considering infrastructure and civilian needs.
- Buffer zone: Recommended 10-15 km wide with strict military withdrawal and no-fly restrictions.
- Heavy weapons restriction zones: Withdraw troops 7.5 km from the ceasefire line and restrict missile deployment.
- Joint Military Coordination Commission (JMCC): Acts as monitoring and dispute settlement body, possibly with third party oversight.

International Monitoring & Verification:

- A 15,000-strong international mission with military, police and civilian components.
- Includes reconnaissance, rapid reaction teams, static observers and UAV surveillance.
- Could be UN, OSCE or multinational coalition.
- Reports directly to a parent organisation (UN Security Council or OSCE).

Source: Geneva Centre for Security Policy, NYT

French Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu announced that France will provide military aid to Ukraine worth 195 million euros. The deal will be financed through interest from frozen Russian assets, according to an interview with the official in La Tribune Dimanche.

Russia may seek to test NATO's unity and Article 5 collective defense clause, Germany's BND intelligence chief Bruno Kahl told DW

He warned that Russia could pose a direct threat to Europe sooner if the Ukraine war ends before 2030.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa led morning prayers at a mosque in Mezzeh, his childhood home, and spoke about the events of the last few days in the coastal region.

Al Sharaa described the events as ‘expected challenges’. ‘We must preserve national unity and internal peace in the country and we have the ability to live together,’ he said.