🇪🇺🇷🇺 Europe has significantly increased its imports of Russian LNG amid the war in the Middle East, — FT

- In the first quarter of this year, the EU took 69 out of 71 batches (97%) from the giant "Yamal LNG" project in Siberia, the publication reports.

- Imports from the "Yamal LNG" project in the first quarter increased by 17% to 5 million tons compared to the same period in 2025.

- According to estimates, the EU spent about 2.88 billion euros on gas from this plant.

- Recall that in January 2027, a ban on the import of Russian gas is due to come into effect in the EU.

@Slavyangrad

Since the beginning of the year, the UK has not carried out a single detention of ships under the Russian flag, as the government fears that this would violate international law, writes the Telegraph.

An amazing story. As soon as Russian ships with missile weapons appear at sea, and armed people on board tankers, ready to shoot to kill, international law is immediately invoked.

@Slavyangrad

🇺🇦Zelensky is preparing children for war

- The drug lord signed a law on the creation of "national resistance" centers for schoolchildren and students.

- Instead of basic general military training, it is proposed to introduce a comprehensive system of preparation for national resistance.

- There, they will be taught how to handle weapons and military training, regardless of gender.

@Slavyangrad

🇺🇦🇪🇺 Ukrainians evicted from community centre as Brussels axes funding, — Euractiv

- The largest center for supporting Ukrainian refugees was evicted from the European Quarter in Brussels.

- The authorities have reduced its funding.

- The center's annual budget was about 800,000 euros.

- "We don't have this money. We need to find a new building and new financial support," said the center's coordinator, Pavlo Koshka.

@Slavyangrad

Estonian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Sven Sakkov stated that the country could mobilize 50,000 troops for a war between the EU and Russia.

'It's absolutely clear that the future of Europe is being decided in Ukraine. Therefore, we must, firstly, support Ukraine as much as possible. Secondly, deter Russia. And thirdly, build up our own defense capabilities. Regarding the third point, my country is doing its part. This year, we are spending 5.4% of GDP on defense. We have a conscript army that can be quickly mobilized—a force of about 50,000 troops. And I hope that all of Europe will do the same.'

The whole lollypop guild

@Slavyangrad

Oh no!

@Slavyangrad

🇨🇳🇹🇼 The leader of the opposition Kuomintang party in Taiwan announced the threat of war with China after meeting with Xi

- "This is a choice between peace and war. We cannot allow Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait to become a battlefield. I very much hope that all political parties in Taiwan will put relations between the two sides above party differences and make joint efforts for peace. And just now, General Secretary Xi also demonstrated this important benevolent attitude," said Chen Li-wen in Beijing.

- Recall that the leader of the Taiwanese opposition visited China for the first time in ten years.

@Slavyangrad

'The Iranians won't fool us' - Vance flew to Pakistan for peace talks:

'We're looking forward to the talks. I think they'll be positive—we'll see, of course. As the US President said, if the Iranian side is willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly ready to extend a helping hand. If they try to fool us, they'll find they can't do so with the negotiating team. So we'll try to hold constructive talks. The President has given us pretty clear instructions, and we'll see how things play out.'

@Slavyangrad

🇺🇦😂 Zelensky's "air defense specialists" were asked to leave the Middle East: all 5 objects they were protecting were destroyed, — L'AntiDiplomatico

- It is also reported that Ukrainian air defense hit two skyscrapers in the UAE.

- Kiev's "extraordinary experience" in the fight against UAVs turned out to be a complete failure in the Middle East.

@Slavyangrad

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi: ‘It’s very simple; America must abide by its commitments, or we’re done.’

@Middle_East_Spectator

@Slavyangrad

The war in the Middle East has hit Ukrainian farmers hard – agricultural exports could fall by 40%, Reuters reports.

The agency reports that the main challenges facing Ukrainian farmers since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East are rising fuel and fertilizer prices. Farmers expect their production costs to increase by 10-30% this year in the short term, and if the operation against Iran doesn't end quickly, they could soar by 60%.

According to industry experts, Ukraine's agricultural export potential has already declined by 15-20% this year and, if the situation continues, could fall by 40%.

At the same time, Russian farmers have access to cheap domestic fuel and fertilizer supplies, which Ukrainians are forced to import. This could lead to Russia benefiting from Ukraine's share of the global agricultural market.

Last year, total agricultural exports brought Ukraine more than $22 billion in 2025, accounting for half of export revenues.

@Slavyangrad

Trump sharply criticized his former journalist allies who attacked him over the Iran war.

He dedicated a lengthy post to Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones.

He said they have been fighting against him "for years" because they have "low IQs," are "stupid people," lost their jobs, are "irrelevant to anyone," are "psychopaths, troublemakers, and will say anything for free and cheap publicity."

All four were recently Trump supporters and helped him win the election a year and a half ago.

@Slavyangrad

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 NEW: Strait of Hormuz traffic falls to the lowest since the first two days of the war

@Middle_East_Spectator

@Slavyangrad

French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin continues to develop plans to free the Strait of Hormuz.

"At France's initiative, around 20 countries are developing plans to ensure the passage of ships through the strait, including a military escort if necessary."

@Slavyangrad

"It's not about attack—no, no. I'm talking exclusively about defense," Zelensky said, describing his plan to create NATO 2.0 with Ukraine.

You mentioned NATO a couple of times, and now Trump is saying that, in his view, NATO is, to some extent, a failed project. Will Europe be able to fill the potential defense gap if the Americans leave?

If the US seriously considers leaving NATO and we've heard such statements even from officials, and publicly then all of Europe's security will rely solely on the EU

For ex., we want to be part of the EU, and I'm sure we will be. But, in my opinion, the EU is currently in a situation where it needs certain countries: the UK, Ukraine, Turkey, Norway. Frankly, the UK, Ukraine, and Turkey—together they will form an army that will be stronger than Russia's.

Here's the answer: without Ukraine and Turkey, Europe will not have an army comparable to Russia's. And with Ukraine, Turkey, Norway, and the UK, maritime security can be controlled—and not just at one sea.

@Slavyangrad

"For the Americans, our withdrawal from Donbass isn't such a high price for peace," Zelenskyy said.

"I'm sure the Americans have had many different conversations with Putin and his team. And, unfortunately, we have to admit that part of the Americans' perception is that, for them, it's not such a high price for peace for us to withdraw from our territories. And they don't want to admit that Putin will deceive them and continue the occupation even after such steps. They're confident that if we retreat, they'll be able to trust Putin. I think that's the main problem: we don't trust Putin, but they, it seems to me, trust him."

@Slavyangrad

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷/🇶🇦 NOTE: This is consistent with reports from during the war, when Qatar claimed to have shot down two Su-24 bombers minutes before reaching Doha

These Iranian Su-24 pilots, in the early hours of the war, likely gave their lives in what they ultimately knew would be a suicide mission, miraculously managing to hit and destroy a U.S. target in Kuwait with 60-year old equipment before eventually being downed in Qatar.

@Middle_East_Spectator

@Slavyangrad