Europe is heading for the next humiliation. If Nvidia continues its triumphal march, the chip manufacturer could soon be worth more than the 50 largest comps in the Eurozone.

-

Holger Zschäpitz, Welt

The EU use to have have a larger GDP than the US, now the US economy dwarfs the EU economy.

@Slavyangrad

"Zelensky can make Putin look ridiculous in front of the whole world" - Ukrainian journalist Gordon, recognized as a terrorist in Russia, speaks out about a meeting between Putin and Zelensky.

@ukr_leaks_eng

‘It's just a habit’ — former German Defense Minister Guttenberg on Trump's changing attitude towards Putin.

‘We have seen this more than once in recent weeks and months. Such a change in attitude is just a habit for Trump. And it makes Europe a more dangerous place. It plays into the hands of someone who can simply wait — the cynic in Moscow. It helps no one. Therefore, I highly doubt that this will have a serious impact on reaching the agreement we urgently need — and which must take into account the interests of Ukraine, not just Moscow.’

Putin is not weak like Starmer or VDL, and negotiating games will have no effect. There is no point having a ceasefire when a peace agreement is what Russia desires.

@Slavyangrad

Shots fired!

@Slavyangrad

Lawlessness has taken hold." Banditry is destroying British cities

Lawlessness has taken hold in Britain, writes The Spectator. The author of the article recently returned to Bristol from a vacation in Menorca and was shocked by the contrast. In Britain, he was met by drug dealers, drunks, streets littered with garbage, and even a pyromaniac.

"To borrow one of the Prime Minister's favorite expressions, one could say the country is in 'managed' decline. Only this decline is very poorly managed," the author notes.

Unfortunately there are many such articles being written about places throughout the UK in a dire state.

@Slavyangrad

The EC has sent a warning to Kiev about a possible complete suspension of financial support, reports Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada deputy and former Vice PM for European Affairs Tsintsadze confirmed to the publication that the corresponding signal from the EU did indeed arrive.

According to her, the document notes "that financial aid from the EU will be frozen if the situation with the anti-corruption bodies is not resolved." It concerns "the entire next payment, not just a part of it."

At the same time, the European Commission stated in its letter that it "does not see Russian influence" in the anti-corruption bodies and considers them a pretext for repression.

Earlier, the NYT wrote that the EU might freeze part of the aid to Ukraine.

After that, Zelensky informed the head of the EC that he had signed all the necessary laws to receive the money.

Ukraine is not a sovereign state.

@Slavyangrad

Was this a fantastic deal by Donald Trump and terrible negotiating by the EU?

Professor David Collins: The U.S.-EU trade deal is "absolutely a victory on behalf of the Trump Administration."

@Slavyangrad

The enemy attacked Russia all night: 74 drones shot down over 5 regions

▪️During the night, air defense forces destroyed and intercepted 74 Ukrainian drones:
▪️43 – over Bryansk region.
▪️22 – over Rostov region.
▪️6 – over Kaluga region.
▪️2 – over Smolensk region.
▪️1 – over Leningrad region.

@Slavyangrad

Kiev's Ambassador to Warsaw Bondar claims that most Ukrainians who ended up in Poland because of the war do not consider long-term emigration as a final choice and are ready to return.

According to him, in Bodnar's Poland, about 15-20% of Ukrainian migrants who have found stable support in Polish society have already applied for citizenship and are actively integrating - opening businesses, arranging their lives and feeling comfortable.

@ukr_leaks_eng

Marco Rubio: "China is providing Russia with all the help it can without being detected.

"The Europeans have noticed this. There is no way Putin could have sustained this war without Chinese support, particularly by purchasing its oil."

"I think the Chinese have an incentive to see this war continue. They think that the longer this war lasts, the more it will distract us and prevent us from focusing on other parts of the world that interest them."

Someone is projecting....

@Slavyangrad

Fibre optic drone in the Sahel

One thing I can say with certainty is this war will have made the world a far more dangerous place. Proliferation of drone based weapons will be one of the great equalizers between rich and poor nations I suspect. Not to mention non-state actors pose a much greater risk


@Slavyangrad

"Trump hit them over the head with a two-by-four..."

Gordon Sondland, former US Ambassador to the European Union, on President Trump's new trade deal with the EU.

Consensus is that while Trump may play checkers, VDL plays UNO junior.

@Slavyangrad

Battle for Pokrovsk: Frontline Updates

Ukrainian forces currently maintain two isolated resistance points: one in the center of the city, the other in the Shakhtyorsky district. Communications between them are extremely difficult, continuous logistics have been missing for several days, reports “Military Chronicle.”

In the Rodynske area, the situation is not as compact as it seemed a few days ago. Local clashes continue there, and reinforcements of the Ukrainian Armed Forces periodically attempt to respond. However, so far the reaction is one-sided, as the main road remains under tight Russian fire control.

Russian drone units and firing observers, judging by some hysterical reactions from the Ukrainian side, have concentrated their main efforts in the direction of Hryshyne - a key supply artery from which ammunition and supplies previously came for the Pokrovsk grouping and Ukrainian units attacking Rodynske from their side.

At the same time, artillery and air treatment of the Myrnohrad suburbs intensifies - there the Ukrainian Armed Forces begin urgent work on residual defense reinforcement, but the readiness of the positions is low and, against the backdrop of massive FAB-500/1000 bomb attacks, the prolonged holding of the lines raises doubts.

Among the critical things: the Ukrainian Armed Forces no longer have a continuous front line virtually anywhere and the defense is focal, reserves are scattered and unable to close breaches quickly.

All signs of disintegration of the battle lines are becoming evident, however, not all reserves in this direction have been employed by Syrsky, so Pokrovsk can't be written off as a complete loss just yet.

And if anyone is wondering about that topic: yes, instances of friendly fire amongst the AFU defenders continue, according to reports.

@Slavyangrad

Ukraine will soon be attacked by jet "Shaheds" - Minister of Digital Transformation

▪️Fedorov stated that Russia will soon definitely switch to a modernized version of strike drones.

▪️Also, the Russian army is already using new solutions that allow "Shaheds" to bypass Ukrainian interceptor drones.

So according to Ukrainian reports these drones have been under production since 2024, but oddly while they are in serial production, they are never used. I’ve been puzzled by this for some time but I suspect they have been stockpiled for a later date.

One thing we see in this war is a weapon system or new tactic is deployed, then the other side adapts via a change in tactics or by creating a counter-measure, and the effectiveness decreases dramatically. This has been more problematic for Ukraine, because often a weapon system is given to Ukraine but not in great quantities at first, giving Russia a chance to adapt without taking too much damage. In other words why use a Geran-3, if the Geran-2 is still very effective. Only when Ukraine can respond to the Geran-2 effectively, use the Geran-3.

@Slavyangrad

The first submarine of the "Borei-A" class was commissioned in May 2020. The improved version has 160 ICBMs and much improved stealth characteristics, writes military watch.

The main points of the article:

🟥 Vladimir Putin participated in the flag-raising ceremony, reflecting the focus on fleet modernization;

🟥 "Knyaz Pozharsky" is the eighth ship of the 951 "Borei" project and the fifth ship of the improved 951A "Borei-A" project;

🟥 The ship has undergone significant improvements that increase its stealth and survivability;

🟥 "Knyaz Pozharsky" carries on board 16 RSM-56 intercontinental ballistic missiles, each of which can carry up to 10 nuclear warheads;

🟥 The capabilities of this class far exceed those of Cold War-era strategic submarines;

🟥 The entry into service of the "Knyaz Pozharsky" strengthens the second stage of Russian nuclear deterrence.

So, Donnie, about that ultimatum...

@Slavyangrad

Trump has not given a clear answer on what measures he will take against Russia if it does not cease hostilities by mid-August - Wall Street Journal

Giving an answer when asked if he will impose 100 percent tariffs against Russia, Trump declined to confirm details.

“It will be sanctions and, perhaps, tariffs, secondary tariffs,” the U.S. president said.

The analysts express skepticism that Trump will impose additional tariffs on countries such as India and China, which buy Russian raw materials, writes the WSJ.

There's also the risk that Putin will simply ignore this package of measures, leaving Trump with fewer levers of influence over the Russian leader, Ed Arnold of the Royal United Services Institute believes.

You have no cards, Donnie.

@Slavyangrad