Zelensky in Sweden:

Because of the war in Iran, the supply of Patriot missiles has become more complicated.

On Tuesday I sent a special letter to the President of the United States and to Congress, outlining every aspect of what is needed — how a sufficient supply of Patriot missiles and systems could help bring this war to an end.

I believe Europe must have, here at home on its own continent, all the capabilities necessary for protection. We need our own European ballistic missile defense — in sufficient numbers and with sufficient capabilities.

BREAKING: Zelensky in Sweden:

We will get jets with weapons, not just jets. These Gripens with specific weapons — especially Meteor missiles — which can destroy targets at 100 kilometers.

We think that we will push out these Russian jets, and they will not be able to use glide bombs massively. This is number one.

There are a lot of other things I can't share with you publicly — but this is a very important moment.

Zelensky in Sweden:

We will buy all 150 Gripens. We will have enough financing for this.

As I said, on this 90 billion, we will manage all our decisions between Ukraine and Sweden step by step.

Zelensky:

We very much hope that Ukraine will receive licenses to produce Patriot PAC-3 missiles — so that we could help other countries as well that might face this need, as we now see in the Middle East. Everybody needs it.

Ukraine has not yet received licenses for Patriot production. I believe we can receive it in the future — or we can build our own system.

Zelensky:

As of now, diplomacy cannot stop Russia; we are stopping them with our long-range sanctions.

Zelensky:

I think that in December–January, we will get the first Gripens with our Ukrainian pilots.

Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson:

We have already started the training of pilots since quite some time — alongside when the other aircraft were provided for Ukraine.

We started training pilots for future use, and now we can obviously increase the numbers being trained.

Three Russia-linked “shadow fleet” tankers were struck by Ukrainian sea drones last night near Kilyos — just 2–3 km from Türkiye’s coast.

Two drones hit Velora but failed to detonate; a third struck James II nearby.

Altura (previously hit in March) was also damaged. All crew evacuated safely.

The blasts were felt in Istanbul’s Rumelifeneri neighborhood.

A serious fire or oil spill could have threatened Istanbul and its airport.

The Trump administration has been pushing the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to design a $250 bill featuring Trump's portrait — which would be the first living person on U.S. currency since 1866, when it was banned by law.

Two Treasury political appointees pushed bureau staff on this, even providing mock-up designs. The bureau's director told them it was illegal and would take years — and was abruptly reassigned in April.

The political appointee who led the push has since been named acting director.

Source: WaPo

The Pentagon confirmed U.S. troops in active war zones have been targeted using commercially available location data.

In a letter to Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Central Command reported "multiple threat reports" of adversaries exploiting such data to surveil or target personnel.

Lawmakers are now pushing the Pentagon to act, calling the adtech industry a national security threat. Their recommendations include disabling ad IDs on military devices, auto-disabling location sharing in the field, and ditching Chrome for more privacy-focused browsers.

Source: Reuters

Netanyahu: We are now in 60% of the Gaza Strip, more or less. We were at 50%; now we’ve moved to 60%. My directive is to move to—

Audience: 100! 100!

Netanyahu: Wait, let’s go in order. First 70%. Let’s start with that.

Netanyahu on Lebanon:

We are striking them and will strike them very hard.

We know that the struggle continues; therefore, it has no end unless you surrender.

Russian official Sergei Shoigu:

The warning for foreign ambassadors to leave Kyiv was “completely serious and deliberate.”

The strike on Kyiv that Russia had warned about could be carried out at any moment.

Russian official Sergei Shoigu:

The Russian base in Armenia exists and operates there for the sake of Armenia’s security.

EU's Kaja Kallas:

We can’t be mediators, really, because we are defending the interests of Europe and the interests of Ukraine, because Ukraine is also in Europe.

We can’t be mediators. We can’t be neutral, treating them equally, because we have been clearly on Ukraine’s side.

EU's Kaja Kallas:

Too many countries continue to do business with Moscow while simultaneously enjoying privileged access to European markets and investments.

So Europe must use its leverage more effectively when it comes to trade, investment, market access, and partnerships.

And this is why we are also preparing new sanctions on Russia to really pressure them, so that they would go from pretending to negotiate to actually coming to the negotiation table.

BIG: The U.S. and Iran have agreed on a 60-day ceasefire extension and nuclear talks framework, but Trump is personally holding up the signing.

He’s asked mediators for a few days to think it over before making a final call.

Source: Axios

Angela Merkel on Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization:

The destruction of a civilization is clearly against international law.

Angela Merkel:

Underestimating Putin would be a mistake — even now. But not believing in ourselves would be just as much a mistake.

In my last European Council meeting in 2021, I pointed out that just a few days earlier President Biden had met President Putin in Geneva, and I proposed that we Europeans should also find a format to meet with President Putin.

That failed at the time because people said, ‘No, on Russia policy we do not have a common position.’ And I think you then have to keep working until you do have a common position.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. plans to block Iranian airlines from accessing landing rights, refueling services, and ticket sales as part of increased economic pressure on Iran.

Italian PM Meloni:

Decades ago this nation decided to give up nuclear energy. We paid the price for it.