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

The footage shows the following hits in order:

🟠An airborne assault by the 1st separate brigade of the National Guard near the settlement of Zolotoy Kolodez with FAB-500 missiles.
🟠An airborne assault by the 225th separate regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the settlement of Verkhnyaya Tersa with FAB-500 missiles.
🟠An airborne assault by the 28th separate brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with FAB-3000 missiles near the town of Kostyantynivka.

@Slavyangrad

Sky News tells the British about Russia's dominance in the Arctic.

'As the Arctic warms, new shipping routes are opening up. Commercial shipping via the Northern Sea Route along Russia's coast could shorten the journey between Asia and Europe by up to 40%, bringing huge savings to companies. If Russia can control access to these routes, it could generate significant revenue. This is partly why it is investing so heavily in polar icebreakers.'

Russia currently has 48 icebreakers—significantly more than any other single country. It is also the only country with nuclear-powered icebreakers. In stark contrast, the United States has only eight icebreakers, and only four of them have actually been tested in polar conditions. Together, the United States and its NATO allies possess more than 60 icebreakers, but most of them are based outside the Arctic Circle.'

It's not just numbers of icebreakers, its the type of icebreakers. The nuclear icebreakers are unmatched.

@Slavyangrad

A South Korean representative and Qatari bank executives are scrambling behind the scenes to release $7 Billion dollars worth of frozen Iranian funds held by South Korea in Qatari banks

The frozen assets are a result of U.S. financial sanctions, and Iran wants them released immediately.

@Middle_East_Spectator

@Slavyangrad

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇱/🇮🇷 NEW: Iran has rebuilt Yahyabad railway bridge in Kashan, after it was bombed by Israel on April 7th, just three days ago

Reconstruction efforts around the country, especially of vital infrastructure, are progressing at a rapid pace.

@Middle_East_Spectator

@Slavyangrad

—❗️🇮🇷/🇵🇰 NEW: Iran’s delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and FM Abbas Araqchi, was received by Pakistan’s Defence Chief Field Marshall Asim Muneer

@Middle_East_Spectator

@Slavyangrad

—❗️🇮🇷/🇵🇰/🇺🇸 The Iranian delegation in Islamabad consists of:

– Parliament Speaker, Dr. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf

– Foreign Minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi

– Secretary of the Defense Council, Ali Akbar Ahmadian

– Governor of Iran’s Central Bank, Abdolnaser Hemmati

– Various security, political, military, economic, and legal attachés

– Several members of Parliament

@Middle_East_Spectator

@Slavyangrad