Sweden Says Russia Falsifies Data to Mask War‑spending Strain
NEW: Sweden has intelligence that Russia is systematically manipulating data to fool Ukraine’s western allies into believing its economy has withstood the strain of its lavish war spending and western sanctions, its intel chief tells me and @ChristopherJM https://t.co/CeRXjEYGfi
Film Mimics Surkov, Reveals Empty Trickster Illusion
This movie is inspired by Surkov’s postmodern trickster genius image, but unwittingly does a lot to expose the hollowness behind it. It’s mostly a series of tedious, vapid monologues without much insight. The promised “wizardry” was sorely lacking https://t.co/MP552KwYZg
FSB Expands Control over Russia's Internet Landscape
A really excellent story from @thebell_io on how the FSB – the same unit behind Navalny's poisoning, no less – are taking over Russia's internet. The sort of depth and breadth you don't see too often these days. A must...
Vlast Relaunch Offers Rare Kremlin Insight Amid War
The newsletter led by the great @faridaily_, the best-sourced reporter on the Russian elite, has relaunched as @vlast. As Putin's war grinds on and access to reliable information about the Kremlin gets even harder, there couldn't be a better time...
Trump Threatens Ukraine Aid to Force European Coalition on Hormuz
Donald Trump threatened to stop supplying weapons for Ukraine in order to pressure European allies to join a “coalition of the willing” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, @lauramdubois @HenryJFoy @ak_mack and @GeorgeWParker report https://t.co/pto4HaBALr
Putin Urges Oligarchs to Fund Budget Amid War
NEW: Vladimir Putin has asked oligarchs to donate to Russia’s budget in a bid to stabilise the country’s finances as he presses on with his invasion of Ukraine. The comments made it clear Putin won't back down despite strains on...
US‑Iran Conflict Bolsters Russia’s Grip on Global Food Markets
“An official from an Asian or African country who needs urea before the monsoon does not discuss the Ukrainian question. He calls the Kremlin, and the Kremlin picks up,” she said. On how the US war with Iran is strengthening Russia...
He Shattered Hopes of Ending Middle East Wars
“All of these options basically suck,” said Goldenberg. But one thing is certain: “He has definitely destroyed the concept that he’s going to be the guy who gets us out of Middle East wars.” https://t.co/MknkHw4Pxz
Lukashenko Claims Trump Invites Belarus for Major Deal
Belarus' Alexander Lukashenko says Trump has invited him to Mar-a-Lago to discuss a "big deal" with the US. This would presumably bring his country in from the cold after years of sanctions over his repressions and help for Russia's invasion of...
Medvedev, Medvedchuk Claim Russia’s New Regions Merit Referendums
Ex-president Dmitry Medvedev and Viktor Medvedchuk, Putin's favorite Ukrainian, have written a long article arguing Russia's "new regions" had the right to hold "referendums." That Russia's army had already annexed them from Ukraine is glossed over... https://t.co/06WkWbT190
Russian Aide Brands US Iran War a Global Economic Tragedy
In some of Russia's harshest criticism of the US war in Iran, which Putin has tried not to say much on, top aide Nikolai Patrushev calls it a "tragedy" that will "set global trade and economics back years" and "has...
Remembering Len Deighton, a Literary Legend
RIP to Len Deighton, one of the absolute very best to ever do it https://t.co/T4JoM0Rxh1
Ukraine’s Drones Now Threaten Every Russian Region
How it started: Kyiv in 3 days How it's going, 4 years later: Shoigu says "...the pace of development of [Ukrainian] unmanned drone systems and the sophistication of the methods used to deploy them are such that no region of Russia...
Kremlin Hints at Future Ukraine Peace Talks, Timeline Vague
The Kremlin says there may be a new round of peace talks with Ukraine "in the foreseeable future," which sounds like a step down from the usual "soon"... https://t.co/amwYlwVvT4
Belgian PM Urges Russia Normalization for Cheap Energy
Belgium’s PM Bart de Wever: “We must normalise relations with Russia and regain access to cheap energy. That is common sense. [...] We must end the conflict in the interest of Europe, without being naïve towards Putin.” https://t.co/BopPAyhKSL