Ex-Trump National Security Advisor Bolton on the US being stuck in the Middle East for a long time.

@Slavyangrad

Merz stated that Europeans are not ready to accept an agreement on Ukraine that will be concluded without their participation.

Like why does anyone need Europe to accept an agreement? Is China not going to accept an agreement either?

@Slavyangrad

A suspected Iranian drone attack hit the CIA’s station at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia on Monday, in what would amount to a symbolic victory for the Islamic republic as it lashes out at U.S. targets and personnel across the Middle East, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The U.S. and Saudi governments confirmed that two drones hit the U.S. Embassy complex in Riyadh but did not disclose that America’s spy hub was hit in the attack.

The CIA declined to comment.

An internal State Department alert obtained by The Washington Post said the attack “collapsed” part of the embassy’s roof and “contaminated” the inside with smoke. The notice said the embassy sustained “structural damage” and personnel “continue to shelter in place.”

@Slavyangrad

Trump criticized Biden for the free transfer of weapons to Ukraine for the second time in a day.

The US "stupidly" gave ammunition to Ukraine for free, which the Middle East could have bought, Trump said during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House.

According to him, the US possesses "top-class ammunition", but a significant part of it was given to Ukraine without financial compensation.

"We have top-class ammunition, much of which was given away stupidly, very stupidly, for free. When I give away ammunition, everyone pays for it. The Middle East would have bought a lot, as there are rich nations there. But it was given to Ukraine," Trump said.

@Slavyangrad

‼️🇪🇺 A protracted war in the Middle East threatens the EU with an economic crisis, — Bloomberg

▪️According to experts, the European Union remains the most vulnerable major economy to the consequences of the conflict with Iran due to its dependence on Middle Eastern oil and gas

▪️In 2026, the EU was expected to see moderate growth and decreasing inflation, but the escalation could change the forecast. If the conflict is short-term and the rise in energy prices is temporary, the damage will be limited

▪️However, a prolonged war and persistently high oil and gas prices could force governments to increase spending to compensate for rising tariffs and increase political pressure on current leaders

▪️Some analysts believe that Trump is interested in preventing a long-term surge in energy prices — this could negatively affect his position ahead of the US elections

▪️Iran, according to experts, is also not interested in an excessive escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, as China — its key economic partner — depends on this route for oil imports.

This last point is nonsense, if you a country trying to survive then why would you can about Chinese interests?

@Slavyangrad

European analysts have really strained themselves and come up with a new incredible absurdity - Ukrainians will fight with Russia until they are accepted into the EU🤦‍♀️

‘Analysts believe that a clear path for Ukraine to the EU is necessary for Zelensky to convince Ukrainians of the need for a peaceful settlement, especially if Ukraine, as expected, does not regain control over the territory and does not join NATO’ - Reuters.

The publication notes that France and Germany, as well as other European capitals, oppose the rapid admission of Ukraine into the European Union.

- Skabeeva

The EU could just cut funding if it wants Ukraine to make peaceful settlement.

@Slavyangrad

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić predicted a "hell" for Europe in the energy sector if the escalation in the Middle East continues.

"Everyone in Europe will be in hell if this continues. It's vital for people that the Strait of Hormuz remains open," the politician emphasized.

He proposed taking measures for subsidies for the upcoming month, as European countries cannot allow oil and gas prices to rise significantly in the face of energy shortages.

@Slavyangrad

'We need to dismantle the entire structure of the ayatollahs,' says Trump's ex-advisor Bolton, advocating for a radical overhaul of Iran's regime.

'Hegseth also claimed this morning that Trump has already changed the regime. That's simply not true. And the fact that Trump is willing to talk to the interim council or anyone else who requests a meeting doesn't mean a regime change. You don't change the regime in Iran by removing Supreme Leader Khamenei and replacing him with 'Anonymous Ayatollah No.1' or 'Anonymous Ayatollah No.2'. The regime changes when the entire structure of the ayatollahs and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is swept away. We're far from that yet. This isn't a 'done deal' situation. It will require much more coordination and work with the opposition than we've seen so far.'

@Slavyangrad

An Iranian missile fell directly in Jerusalem

@Slavyangrad

Israel is bombing homes in Lebanon

@Slavyangrad

Ukrainian media are summing up the interim results of Zelensky's war with Russia.

'As of today, there are already about 1.5 million veterans in Ukraine, including those who have received disabilities. And a significant part of them still experience discomfort when communicating with civilians.'

- Skabeeva

@Slavyangrad

And now it's been confirmed that the Iranians seriously damaged the AN/FPS-132 missile attack warning system in Qatar (which costs more than a billion dollars). The side facing northeast, that is, towards Iran, was hit. Pieces from the explosion even landed on the roof.

@Slavyangrad

The war in the Middle East has led to a sharp drop in European stock markets due to rising energy prices, writes the Financial Times.

In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 index fell by 2.9% — the most dramatic daily drop since Trump introduced global tariffs last April — amid a 20% increase in gas prices in Europe.

The German Dax index dropped by 3.2%, extending Monday's decline of 2.4%.

Futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indicated a drop of 1.6% and 2.1% respectively in major Wall Street indices.

"These are panic sales. It's fear of stagflation. The market underestimated the scale of this war," said Emmanuel Cau, head of European equity strategy at Barclay.

The price of gold, which rose on Monday amid investors' pursuit of defensive assets, fell by 1% on Tuesday along with stocks and bonds. Analysts suggested that traders might liquidate other positions to cover losses.

"People are reducing risks. It seems that the market is psychologically shifting from a scenario of a short war to a scenario of a long war," said Peter Schaffrik, global macro strategist at RBC Capital Markets.

@Slavyangrad

Putin is the "only obvious winner of the war with Iran," writes Bloomberg columnist Mark Champion.

He draws this conclusion from the rapid depletion of American missiles in Iran, as well as rising oil and gas prices.

"Russia has already become a clear beneficiary of President Donald Trump's decision to start a war with Iran. And this benefit will grow as the conflict drags on," Champion believes.

"An operation lasting four to five weeks would significantly deplete American stocks of missiles - both offensive and defensive - while pushing up global oil and gas prices, on which the Russian economy and military budget depend," the author writes.

"Any prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz or the destruction of the Persian Gulf countries' oil and gas export facilities could also revive the market for Russian fuel under sanctions. Tanker ships that had been idling with full holds of unsold oil after the US pressured India to reduce purchases from Moscow would likely find buyers," Champion's column says.

As for missiles, their intensive use against Iran jeopardizes the supply of missiles for the Patriot system to Ukraine and postpones the transfer of Tomahawks to Kiev even further. "Launching a Tomahawk or Patriot missile takes a few minutes. Replacing it can take up to two years," the author writes.

In his opinion, "Trump's war with Iran could not have started at a more convenient time for the Kremlin and a more unfavorable one for Kiev"

"A sharp rise in global oil prices would have come to Moscow's aid. As would any reduction in the availability of American missiles and interceptors or - even better - the formation in the White House of a sense that after Iran, the US needs a truce in Ukraine regardless of the conditions. Any pressure that Putin might have felt to make concessions in order to achieve a lasting peace agreement would have dissipated," the article says.

Marc Champion writes under nonsense. Another Brit with a Russian obsession

@Slavyangrad

The German Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador over Iran's retaliatory strikes on American military bases, calling them 'civilian targets'. They also clarified that such strikes threaten German military personnel 🤦‍♀️

'We unconditionally call on the Iranian regime to immediately stop its reckless attacks on states in the region. We condemn the indiscriminate and disproportionate missile and drone attacks by the Iranian regime, including against civilian targets. These attacks threaten our allies, our military personnel, and our citizens in the region.'

@Slavyangrad