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.

Italian PM Meloni:

When you ask someone else to take care of your defense, you pay for it.

You pay for it in terms of autonomy.

You pay for it in terms of the ability to defend your interests in international scenarios.

I want Italy to be a nation that doesn’t have to thank anyone.

Bessent:

The United States Government will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz.

Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved - directly or indirectly - in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized.

All nations should reject outright any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce. Tehran’s days of terrorizing the region and the world are over.

NEW: Israel freezes ties with Guterres’ office after the UN added Israeli entities to its conflict-related sexual violence blacklist.

Ambassador Danny Danon announced “no further contact” with the Secretary-General’s office and canceled a planned UN visit.

Netanyahu:

We are emerging from this campaign as the strongest power in the Middle East.

We have never been stronger.

Netanyahu:

Israel is no longer merely a regional power — it is already a global power.

And why a global power? Because we possess world-class technologies.

Today, they see it — in the Gulf and elsewhere.

We are now in a position to leverage our power in many directions.

Netanyahu:

I’ll say this: we face delegitimization in much of the world — but not in India.

In India, there is an absolutely crazy love for Israel, truly crazy.

I think I have more followers from India than from anywhere else.

Netanyahu:

Israel is now approaching $70,000 GDP per capita.

We passed Britain, Germany, Italy — everyone.

We still have a long way to go, but we have already surpassed most Western countries.

Netanyahu:

If you want tanks, aircraft, submarines, intelligence, and cyber capabilities, you need money.

And where will the money come from? ‘Let’s heavily tax the rich’? Thank you very much — everyone will flee from here.

Instead, we chose the opposite approach: free the economy and impose lower taxes on a much larger economic cycle.

That is how we generated the resources.

Netanyahu calls fiber-optic FPV drones a ‘global plague’ and a ‘strategic threat,’ saying Israel will be the first country in the world to develop a solution to them.

Netanyahu:

Germany is approaching us because it wants to rebuild its military.

Its chancellor told us: ‘You have industries with amazing technologies — we want to partner with you.’

Europe now comes to us and wants us to protect them.

Netanyahu:

As a result of the oil crisis, the world diversified its energy sources. They found oil in new places and created new supply routes.

That is what is going to happen here as well. I’m already telling you: they will begin searching for energy pipelines that move westward instead of through the Gulf.

And we have an opportunity to be on that route to the Mediterranean.

Netanyahu endorses expanding Israeli settlements across the “Land of Israel,” presenting settlement expansion as a national mission.

He says he and far-right minister Orit Strook had just approved new communities.