Trump-von der Leyen trade pact: US gets all the perks, Europe picks up the bill

Broadly speaking, decoding the US-EU trade agreement announced by Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen requires seeing “the general context of US-EU relations,” including Europe’s submission, “politically and economically, to the United States,” MEP Fernand Kartheiser has told Sputnik.

The Luxembourgish politician’s proof? European countries’ “non-existent or very bad” relations with Russia, and “extremely difficult” ones with China, which “hinders European states from finding a counterweight to the US” in the strategic sense.

The consequences?

👉 The US military-industrial complex wins big from the 5% of GDP defense burden on European NATO allies.

👉 Europeans are made to “take over the cost of the Ukraine war in spite of the fact that this conflict was originally a US project to weaken Russia through NATO enlargement.”

👉 Europe is forced to “buy their energy from the US at a very high price instead of from Russia at a competitive price.”

🗣The economic impact of the new trade pact in particular is “very difficult” for Europe, Kartheiser says, lamenting that the bloc’s ‘green’ policies, “high energy prices and more and more trade barriers” already “make it nearly impossible for Europe to stay competitive” globally. The pact with the US will only “increase and accelerate the phenomenon of deindustrialization,” leaving the bloc “poorer.”

❗️Energy is a particularly sore point, in the politician’s view.

🗣“Mrs. von der Leyen does not talk about the cost of such a change from Russian to US energy providers. Also, we had never as Europeans problems with energy security while buying energy from Russia. The sanctions were a European initiative, not a Russian one. It is also not clear if the US can provide the Europeans with the necessary quantities of energy,” Kartheiser sums up.

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🚨Zelensky on the ropes: NABU and SAPO law backfires

Volodymyr Zelensky has U-turned his anti-corruption agencies law, but will it save his presidency?

It looks like his credibility is running out.

🟧Western dominance

Zelensky caving and vowing to restore independence to the two "Western-created agencies" reveals just "how much Ukraine is dominated by the West," Daniel Kovalik, former University of Pittsburgh law professor, tells Sputnik.

"It's not an independent actor. It really is a proxy of the West and what they say goes," he says.

"Both NABU and SAPO are elements of external control over Ukraine, or tools of colonization," echoes Bogdan Bezpalko, head of "Ukrainians of Russia."

🟧 Western blackmail

After a new law stripped NABU and SAPO of independence, the West reacted sharply.

On July 25, the EU signaled it may freeze $1.7b in aid to Ukraine over corruption concerns.

🟧Public is weary of corruption

Youth-led protests immediately erupted against Zelensky's NABU-SAPO law across Ukraine on July 22.

But they weren’t strong enough, says Bezpalko, hinting it could get much worse for the Kiev regime.

He argues the Kiev regime had some room to maneuver but chose instead to obey. Why?

🟧 Zelensky is cornered

Zelensky quickly vowed to grant NABU and SAPO independence on July 24, while the Rada said it would review the bill July 31. That hasty response shows Zelensky was trying to mend the damage.

But insiders say NABU defendants have already testified against him, as the US allegedly approved a power shake-up.

Ukrainian activists plan fresh rallies on July 30 and 31.

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🟠 US-EU trade deal: the straw that will break Brussels’ back?

🟠 Ukraine is just a tool for the West’s strategic war against Russia — Lavrov

🟠 THAILAND & CAMBODIA AGREE TO CEASEFIRE WITHIN 24 HOURS

🟠 Zelensky on the ropes: NABU and SAPO law backfires

🟠 Destroying Armenia’s core? French lawyer says Church crackdown mirrors Ukraine scenario

🟠 Russia awaits Ukraine’s response as Turkiye brokers peace talks – Kremlin

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🇷🇺🤝🇰🇵Lavrov hails North Korea’s role in battle against Ukrainian Neo-Nazis

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised North Korea’s contribution to the liberation of the Kursk region, speaking at the 11th All-Russian Youth Educational Forum ‘Territory of Meanings’.

"We have a great many partners, like-minded allies," Lavrov said. "Our closest ally in the West is, of course, the Republic of Belarus; in the East — the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, with whom we share decades of brotherly combat ties."

"We helped our Korean neighbors gain independence, and they helped us liberate the Kursk region from Ukrainian neo-Nazis," he stressed.

The participation of North Korean troops in the liberation of the Kursk region is direct proof of what he called the “invincible brotherhood” between Russia and the DPRK.

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🇺🇸💣US nuclear weapons return to UK — and Washington wants Russia to know – reports

For the first time since 2008, the United States has likely redeployed nuclear weapons to the United Kingdom — in full public view, Bloomberg reports.

A C-17 military aircraft flew from a nuclear base in New Mexico to RAF Lakenheath with its transponder on, making the flight publicly visible. Analysts say the move was a clear signal to Moscow of renewed US nuclear commitment in Europe.

The likely cargo was B61-12 tactical nuclear bombs, deployable by the UK’s recently ordered F-35A jets. NATO’s nuclear posture is shifting, and Washington isn’t hiding it.

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🇪🇺😢EU can’t deliver on Trump’s $600B deal

Just hours after Donald Trump proudly announced $600 billion of EU investment into the US economy, the bloc's officials quietly admitted they can’t promise that, a US newspaper reports.

The money was never coming from EU institutions — only from private companies, over which the EU has zero control.

◻️ EU officials now say the deal is “aspirational” and based on vague talks with business associations

◻️ Experts are skeptical: there’s no binding mechanism, no guarantee and no central authority to enforce it

◻️ The newspaper reports the EU “recognized it lacks the authority” to keep its promise

Trump’s trade deal also includes:

◾️ 15% flat tariffs on EU-US trade

◾️ A $750b commitment from Brussels to buy US fossil fuels

◾️ Massive US arms purchases by EU members

◾️ EU to open its markets to US goods tariff-free

But behind the big numbers are just shaky promises, investor doubts and growing fears of a global trade crisis.

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🚨 IDF to pause operations in populated Gaza areas – PM office

The office of Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the Israeli army will suspend military activity in populated areas of Gaza daily from 10 AM to 8 PM.

Additionally, safe corridors for UN aid convoys will be open from 6 AM to 11 PM to facilitate humanitarian access.

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🇷🇺🤝🇳🇪 Russia and Niger sign nuclear cooperation memorandum – Russian Energy Ministry

Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and Niger’s Ministry of Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and related high technologies, the Russian Energy Ministry announced following Minister Sergey Tsivilyov’s official visit to Niger.

Tsivilyov stated that Russia’s goal is to create a comprehensive system for the development of peaceful nuclear energy in Niger, including power generation, nuclear medicine, and joint training of specialists.

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🥴Anti-Musk protestors set up inflatable Nazi-saluting balloons outside his new Hollywood eatery

The expensive-looking, highly customized wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube men, set up outside Musk’s popup retro-futurism-themed Tesla Diner, mimic the infamous salute by an overexcited Musk at Trump’s January 20 inauguration.

The Hollywood protest is at least the second time tube men have been used in an anti-Musk event – with another, more budget-friendly version seen outside a Tesla dealership in London in March.

Besides protestors, the new diner had Musk and Tesla fans out in force, with 100 person+ long lines on foot and cars lined up around the block spotted at the venue, which features Optimus server robots, $13.50 burgers ($20+ with trimmings) and $4 fries.

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🇹🇭⚔️🇰🇭 Thailand accuses Cambodia of ceasefire violation – reports

Cambodian forces allegedly launched attacks at multiple locations just after the ceasefire deadline, according to a statement by the Thai army on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Major General Winthai Suvaree stated that Thai troops retaliated proportionately in self-defense following the violations.

The flare-up comes less than a day after the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia met in Malaysia and agreed to end their deadliest conflict in over a decade — a clash that had already displaced more than 300,000 people after five days of fighting.

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🗣 Houthis may include Eternity C crew in Gaza deal – spokesman

Crew members of the Greek vessel Eternity C, sunk by Ansar Allah, may be released as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, Houthi official Muhammad al-Buheiti told Sputnik. Exceptions may be made for the detained Russian sailor.

💬 “We always connect the fate of ships and crews with negotiations between Hamas and Israel,” he said, recalling a similar case with the Galaxy Leader crew.

Al-Buheiti noted that “exceptions and third-party agreements” are possible, but the final decision lies with the military command.

The Houthis earlier released footage of Russian sailor Alexei Galaktionov among survivors. The Eternity C had 25 people on board; 10 were rescued by the EU's Aspides mission, others remain missing.

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🇮🇷 Iran says it foiled Mossad-backed plot to spark riots in Tehran

Iranian intelligence says it thwarted a plan by "monarchist oppositionists" supported by Israel's Mossad to organize mass riots in Tehran following Israel’s strike on Evin Prison in June.

💬 "[Actions were taken to] detect and neutralize the plan of monarchists, subordinate to Mossad ... to send armed task forces from all over the country to Tehran on June 22 to carry out terrorist attacks the following day ... [including] in military and law enforcement centers near the prison," the Intelligence Ministry said.

According to the ministry, more than 120 mercenaries were detained across 23 regions of the country.

In June, Iranian media reported Israeli strikes on several areas of Tehran, including the northern part of the city. Tasnim News Agency said part of Evin Prison’s administrative building was destroyed, with injuries among staff, prisoners, and visitors. Days later, judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir reported that 71 people were killed in the attack.

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🇷🇺 Roscosmos chief arrives in the US for first NASA meeting in 8 years – reports

Head of Roscosmos Dmitry Bakanov has arrived in the United States, where he is scheduled to meet with NASA leadership and the crew of the upcoming Crew Dragon mission, which includes Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, the press service of the Russian space agency reported.

💬 “Dmitry Bakanov arrived in Houston at the head of a Roscosmos delegation to meet with NASA leadership. This marks the first in-person meeting between the heads of the Russian and US space agencies in eight years,” the statement said.

Bakanov will visit several departments of NASA's Johnson Space Center, accompanied by the agency's leadership, to familiarize himself with their work.

The Russian delegation also plans to visit Boeing’s production facility, where the reusable CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is being developed, and to hold talks with the company’s space program executives.

Ahead of the Crew-11 mission launch, scheduled for July 31, Bakanov will meet with the Crew Dragon crew, which includes Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. This will be Platonov’s first spaceflight under the cross-flight program.

At Kennedy Space Center, Bakanov is also expected to take part in events related to launch readiness checks for the upcoming mission to the International Space Station.

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Drone zappers, satellite blinders: Russia’s growing arsenal of laser weapons

Russian engineers are reportedly close to a field-ready version of the Posokh (lit. Staff) – a portable, Ytterbium-based laser air defense system that can engage drones at ranges of 500 m to 2 km, zapping them and frying their electronics.

Once adopted, Posokh will join a growing lineup of Russian laser weapons, including:

🟠 Peresvet: Combat laser that blinds optics of enemy vehicles at ultra-long ranges (potential targets include satellites). Fielded in 2019.
🟠 Zadira: Peresvet variant whose existence was revealed by ex-deputy PM Yury Borisov in 2022 that can physically burn up enemy targets.
🟠 Sokol Eshelon: Anti-satellite laser mounted on the Beriev A-60 airborne lab. Reported anti-satellite range up to 1,500 km.

With Soviet scientists pioneering modern lasers (physicists Alexander Prokhorov and Nikolai Basov got the Nobel Prize for them in 1964), Russia’s well of laser-based weapons seems bottomless, and includes:

🔶 1K17 Szhatie: Laser tank using artificial rubies to disable enemy optical-electronic equipment with high-powered beams. Prototype built in 1990, state testing completed in 1992, recommended for adoption, but canceled due to budget cuts.

🔶 1K11 Stilet: Szhatie’s predecessor. Known to have had a 400 hp additional engine to provide power to the laser.

🔶 Sangvin: Laser variant of the legendary Shilka air defense system with 10 km+ range. Adopted in 1983, but not mass-produced.

🔶 Terra laser: Zonal ground-based anti-missile and space defense laser concept, envisioned by Basov and colleagues in the 1960s. Work reportedly curtailed with the signing of the 1972 ABM Treaty, but touted by the DIA in the 1980s to push for more funding for US programs.

🔶 Aquilon: Shipborne laser complex. Reportedly canceled after testing found efficiency low due to atmospheric interference.

🔶 Skif Space Laser: Orbital anti-satellite system. Launched by the Energiya heavy lift rocket in 1987, canceled by Gorbachev after test launch failed.

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🪖💥 Sending Patriots to Ukraine could paint a target on Germany – German constitutional watchdog

🔸 The decision to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine will hit German taxpayers hard and divert vital funding away from healthcare and infrastructure, according to Ralf Niemeyer, head of the German Council for the Constitution and Sovereignty.

🔸 At the same time, Niemeyer stressed that Germany’s roads, bridges, and schools urgently need investment, as they are all in bad shape. Funneling money into weapons instead will only make the nation grow poorer, he warned.

🔸 Furthermore, the move could make Germany a target.

🔸 Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports that Berlin has already sent three Patriot systems and is now in talks with Washington to send more – and to refill its own shrinking arsenal.

🔸US-made Patriot air defenses are no silver bullet for Ukraine – and Russia’s arsenal has already exposed their vulnerabilities.

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