Zelensky:

As one partner said today during our meeting, Europe cannot protect itself without Ukraine. And it means Ukraine has to be in NATO.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fostered a Pentagon culture characterized by distrust, strict information control, and concerns over loyalty.

According to current and former officials, Hegseth has fired senior leaders, blocked promotions, restricted access to information, expanded leak investigations, and centralized decision-making.

One example was the abrupt firing of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George after months of tension. Officials said George had sought a meeting with Hegseth to improve relations but was dismissed before it took place.

Sources said many senior officials now avoid drawing attention from Hegseth's office out of concern for potential professional repercussions.

Source: CNN

BIG: Iran agreed to halt fire against Israel after the US unfroze $3 billion in Iranian assets, flown from Abu Dhabi to Tehran despite active airspace restrictions — according to an IRGC-affiliated news agency.

The deal was brokered via a Qatari delegation, with the US also promising Israel would restrain its attacks on Lebanon.

Source: KAN

EU’s Kaja Kallas on Israel:

We see public opinion that is increasingly critical in member states that haven't been so critical before.

As we are all democracies, governments also depend on their public opinion.

We see shifts.

Zelensky on Russia:

They change the direction [of drones] to divide us in Europe, to pressure on Europe, Finland, our Baltic friends — and then to use it like rhetoric that Ukraine attacked.

This is what they wanted from the very beginning.

Zelensky:

Europe can't just mediate, to my mind, because Europe stands on our side.

If EU mediates it means they will think about whether to put sanctions or not — because they're mediators, they have to be in the middle..

Europe has power to stop him (Putin).

Iran's Ghalibaf:

We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak other languages far more fluently. Break your commitments, and we'll switch to what we speak best.

You ride the horse you saddled!

Spain's Defense Minister Robles on the collapse of FCAS jet project:

This is very worrying news for Europe and its strategic economy.

It was a major project and is, without a doubt, a failure.

Spain needs a 6th-generation fighter and will explore many alternatives.

Spain will do everything possible to secure one.

BREAKING: Trump:

I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz. There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured.

Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

A key obstacle to an Iran deal has been Trump’s shifting demands and frustration with the negotiation process.

According to mediators, Trump has been frustrated by his inability to speak directly with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and by Tehran’s slow pace of negotiations. They say he has repeatedly changed terms that his own team had already discussed with Iranian officials.

In the first round of talks after the April cease-fire, Trump’s envoys—Steve Witkoff and JD Vance—reportedly proposed a deal under which Iran would suspend uranium enrichment for 10 years.

Iranian officials say they accepted that framework, only for Trump to later demand a 20-year suspension, helping derail the talks.

More recently, while negotiators waited for Khamenei’s response to a draft agreement, Trump reportedly added new conditions related to Iran’s nuclear program and access to frozen assets, further deepening Iranian mistrust of the negotiations.

Source: NYT

U.S. investigation has determined that an Iranian drone hit and brought down a U.S. Apache helicopter.

The investigation still hasn't determined if it was intentional or not.

Source: Barak Ravid

Netanyahu warned cabinet last night that Israel may have to face Iran alone — without U.S. backing, accepting the costs of that:

Weapons cutoffs and global isolation.

"We don't want to get there, but we know we can."

IDF Chief of Staff Zamir was sharper on the emerging nuclear deal:

As we see it right now — almost any deal is a bad deal.

Source: i24

FCAS fighter is dead, but Germany has a new plan.

The day after France and Germany killed the joint NGF, Airbus Defence and Space led seven German companies in sending a letter to Chancellor Merz proposing a new German-led "Team Gen 6" alliance to build a 6th-gen fighter for Europe.

The group — Airbus, Hensoldt, MBDA Deutschland, MTU, Rohde & Schwarz and others — plans to formally sign and unveil at ILA Berlin this week, timed to Germany's new national aviation strategy.

The pitch: German industry is ready to lead what Franco-German industrial politics killed.

Spain is the natural next partner; Sweden/Saab is also in play.

France will likely go its own way with a Dassault-led Rafale successor.

GCAP (UK/Italy/Japan) isn't ruled out but isn't the focus.

Source: FT

An Iranian Shahed drone brought down the U.S. Apache helicopter.

Source: CNN

Despite recent tensions, U.S. and Iranian negotiators have made progress on a potential nuclear deal. The main points under discussion are:

Pause uranium enrichment — The U.S. wants Iran to stop enriching uranium for 20 years; talks are converging around a possible 15-year freeze.

Reduce Iran’s uranium stockpile — Iran’s enriched uranium would be diluted ("downblended") under international supervision, preventing its use in weapons.

Dismantle nuclear facilities — The U.S. wants Iran to shut down major sites at Natanz, Fordo, and Isfahan. Iran may agree to close some but wants to keep at least one facility operating.

Allow surprise inspections — International inspectors would get broader access to verify compliance, including potentially unannounced inspections.

The talks remain fragile due to renewed military tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the U.S. However, both sides are still negotiating, with detailed discussions potentially continuing in Switzerland.

A major unresolved issue is when and how Iran would regain access to roughly $25 billion in frozen assets.

Source: NYT

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

Foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire.

To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave.

We prefer language of diplomacy but speak other languages too.

Trump on Iran:

It's actually pretty simple. It's the one with the power wins. We have all the power.

Source: ABC News

Asked whether the U.S. might help rebuild Iran afterward, Trump replied, "Yeah," comparing it to a Marshall Plan before adding:

"But we'll get half their oil."

Source: ABC News

Trump on Iran:

If people are stupid, we'll end up in something where we have to wipe out an entire infrastructure of a nation.

Source: ABC News

Iranian official to Al Jazeera:

The U.S. Apache helicopter was not flying over international waters.

Iran will respond forcefully and immediately to any U.S. attack against Iran.

Iran’s football federation says its allocation of World Cup tickets has been withdrawn just days before the tournament, preventing many supporters who had already made travel plans from attending matches.

Each federation is normally allocated 8% of tickets for its matches. Iran did not say who made the decision but urged FIFA to uphold neutrality and fairness.