The European Union: Common Foreign, Security and Defence Policy

Saturday, 8 July 2017 - 11:00 am (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination:
Category/Kategorie: General, Editorial, EU blog post series, European Union
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European External Action Service

European External Action Service

(Latest update: 23 August 2022)
Foreign relations of the European Union
Although there has been a large degree of integration between European Union member states, foreign relations is still a largely intergovernmental matter, with the 28 members controlling their own relations to a large degree. However, with the Union holding more weight as a single bloc, there are attempts to speak with one voice, notably on trade and energy matters. The EU’s foreign relations are dealt with either through the Common Foreign and Security Policy, decided by the European Council or the economic trade negotiations handled by the European Commission. The leading EU diplomat in both areas is the High Representative Federica Mogherini. The number of delegates began to rise in the 1960s following the merging of the executive institutions of the three European Communities into a single Commission. Until recently some states had reservations accepting that EU delegations held the full status of a diplomatic mission. Article 20 of the Maastricht Treaty requires the Delegations and the Member States’ diplomatic missions to “co-operate in ensuring that the common positions and joint actions adopted by the Council are complied with and implemented”. As part of the process of establishment of the European External Action Service envisioned in the Lisbon Treaty, on 1 January 2010 all former European Commission delegations were renamed European Union delegations and till the end of the month 54 of the missions were transformed into embassy-type missions that employ greater powers than the regular delegations. These upgraded delegations have taken on the role previously carried out by the national embassies of the member state holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union and merged with the independent Council delegations around the world. Through this the EU delegations take on the role of co-ordinating national embassies and speaking for the EU as a whole, not just the Commission. The first delegation to be upgraded was the one in Washington D.C., the new joint ambassador was João Vale de Almeida who outlined his new powers as speaking for both the Commission and Council presidents, and member states. He would be in charge where there was a common position but otherwise, on bilateral matters, he would not take over from national ambassadors. All delegations are expected to be converted by the end of 2010. Some states may choose to operate through the new EU delegations and close down some of their smaller national embassies, however France has indicated that it will maintain its own network around the world for now. The EU sends its delegates generally only to the capitals of states outside the European Union and cities hosting multilateral bodies. The EU missions work separately from the work of the missions of its member states, however in some circumstances it may share resources and facilities. In Abuja is shares its premises with a number of member states. Additionally to the third-state delegations and offices the European Commission maintains representation in each of the member states.

The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is the organised, agreed foreign policy of the European Union (EU) for mainly security and defence diplomacy and actions. CFSP deals only with a specific part of the EU’s external relations, which domains include mainly Trade and Commercial Policy and other areas such as funding to third countries, etc. Decisions require unanimity among member states in the Council of the European Union, but once agreed, certain aspects can be further decided by qualified majority voting. Foreign policy is chaired and represented by the EU’s High Representative, currently Federica Mogherini. The Union as a whole is increasingly representing its members in international organisations. Aside from EU-centric organisations (mentioned above) the EU, or the Community, is represented in a number of organisations:

The EU is also one part of the Quartet on the Middle East, represented by the High Representative. At the UN, some officials see the EU moving towards a single seat on the UN Security Council. The European Union is expected to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention). In 2005, the leaders of the Council of Europe reiterated their desire for the EU to accede without delay to ensure consistent human rights protection across Europe. There are also concerns about consistency in case law – the European Court of Justice (the EU’s supreme court) is already treating the Convention as though it was part of the EU’s legal system to prevent conflict between its judgements and those of the European Court of Human Rights (the court interpreting the Convention). Protocol No.14 of the Convention is designed to allow the EU to accede to it and the Treaty of Lisbon contains a protocol binding the EU to joining. The EU would not be subordinate to the Council, but would be subject to its human rights law and external monitoring as its member states are currently. It is further proposed that the EU join as a member of the Council once it has attained its legal personality in the Treaty of Lisbon. Where the EU itself isn’t represented, or when it is only an observer, the EU treaties places certain duties on member states:

  • Member States shall coordinate their action in international organisations and at international conferences. They shall uphold the Union’s positions in such forums. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy shall organise this coordination. In international organisations and at international conferences where not all the Member States participate, those which do take part shall uphold the Union’s positions.
  • In accordance with Article 24(3), Member States represented in international organisations or international conferences where not all the Member States participate shall keep the other Member States and the High Representative informed of any matter of common interest. Member States which are also members of the United Nations Security Council will concert and keep the other Member States and the High Representative fully informed. Member States which are members of the Security Council will, in the execution of their functions, defend the positions and the interests of the Union, without prejudice to their responsibilities under the provisions of the United Nations Charter. When the Union has defined a position on a subject which is on the United Nations Security Council agenda, those Member States which sit on the Security Council shall request that the High Representative be invited to present the Union’s position.

Common Security and Defence Policy

Common Security and Defence Policy

Common Security Policy
The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), formerly known as the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), is a major element of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union (EU) and is the domain of EU policy covering defence and military aspects, as well as civilian crisis management. The ESDP was the successor of the European Security and Defence Identity under NATO, but differs in that it falls under the jurisdiction of the European Union itself, including countries with no ties to NATO. Formally, the Common Security and Defence Policy is the domain of the European Council, which is an EU institution, whereby the heads of member states meet. Nonetheless, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, currently Federica Mogherini, also plays a significant role. As Chairperson of the external relations configuration of the Council, the High Representative prepares and examines decisions to be made before they are brought to the Council. European security policy has followed several different paths during the 1990s, developing simultaneously within the Western European Union, NATO and the European Union itself.

The European Security Strategy was written in 2003 and was the policy document that guided for a time the European Union’s international security strategy. Its headline reads: “A Secure Europe In A Better World”. The document was approved by the European Council held in Brussels on 12 December 2003 and drafted under the responsibilities of the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy CFSP Javier Solana. With the emergence of the ESDP, it is the first time that Europe has formulated a joint security strategy. It can be considered a counterpart to the National Security Strategy of the United States. The document starts out with the declaration that “Europe has never been so prosperous, so secure nor so free”. Its conclusion is that “The world is full of new dangers and opportunities”. Along these lines, it argues that in order to ensure security for Europe in a globalising world, multilateral cooperation within Europe and abroad is to be the imperative, because “no single nation is able to tackle today’s complex challenges”. As such the ESS identifies a string of key threats Europe needs to deal with: terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional conflict, failed states, and organised crime. The document was followed by the 2008 Report of the Implementation of the European Security Strategy: Providing Security in a Changing World. It concludes with the admonition “To build a secure Europe in a better world, we must do more to shape events. And we must do it now.” The 2009 Treaty of Lisbon renamed the ESDP to Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Unanimous decisions in the Council of the European Union continue to instruct the EU foreign policy and CSDP matters became available to enhanced co-operation.

The common security and defence policy shall include the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy. This will lead to a common defence, when the European Council, acting unanimously, so decides. It shall in that case recommend to the member States the adoption of such a decision in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

The policy of the Union in accordance with this article shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain member states, which see their common defence realised in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, under the North Atlantic Treaty, and be compatible with the common security and defence policy established within that framework.

Lisbon also led to the termination of the Western European Union in 2010 as, with the solidarity clause (deemed to supersede the WEU’s military mutual defence clause) and the expansion of the CSDP, the WEU became redundant. All its remaining activities are to be wound up or transferred to the EU by June 2011. Lisbon extends the enhanced co-operation mechanism to defence issues and also envisions the establishment of a Permanent Structured Cooperation in Defence. The following permanent political and military bodies were established after the approval of the European Council.

The following agencies has been established after the incorporation of the Western European Union within the EU

The CSDP is furthermore strongly facilitated by the European External Action Service.

© eubulletin.com

© eubulletin.com

Common Defence Policy
The Common Foreign and Security Policy sees the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as responsible for the territorial defence of Europe and reconciliation. However, since 1999, the European Union is responsible for implementing missions such as peacekeeping and policing of treaties. A phrase often used to describe the relationship between the EU forces and NATO is “separable, but not separate”. The same forces and capabilities form the basis of both EU and NATO efforts, but portions can be allocated to the European Union if necessary. Defence co-operation takes place within the Common Security and Defence Policy. However, it is planned that defence co-operation and integration between member states will be improved by establishing a Military Planning and Conduct Capabilities (MPCC) unit focused on military operations.

(It should be kept in mind that after the end of the First World War, the United States largely demilitarized itself, following the motto "If we have no army, we will neither be attacked nor drawn into war". This ended with Hitler seizing power and Germany raging in Europe. President Franklin D. Roosevelt realized that Germany could conquer the United States with a relatively low level of military intervention, whereupon the production of weapons of war was resumed and miliarization began on a large scale. In 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, followed by the declaration of war by Germany and Italy on the United States, after which the country entered the Second World War. As in so many other things, Hitler had completely underestimated the United States' considerable capacity, efficiency, productivity and innovative strength. Roosevelt ended American isolationism, which was only revived with the election of Donald Trump in 2016, and completely reorganized American foreign policy, laying the foundation for the development of the United States into a superpower. So if someone thinks anti-Americanism is appropriate, he should complain to the German Nazis and the Italian fascists in particular, because without them the United States would have seen no need to become a superpower.)

(It should be kept in mind that after the end of the First World War, the United States largely demilitarized itself, following the motto “If we have no army, we will neither be attacked nor drawn into war”. This ended with Hitler seizing power and Germany raging in Europe. President Franklin D. Roosevelt realized that Germany could conquer the United States with a relatively low level of military intervention, whereupon the production of weapons of war was resumed and miliarization began on a large scale (especially in the race between Nazi Germany and the USA in the development of the atomic bomb (Otto Hahn and J. Robert Oppenheimer)). In 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, followed by the declaration of war by Germany and Italy on the United States, after which the country entered the Second World War. As in so many other things, Hitler had completely underestimated the United States’ considerable capacity, efficiency, productivity and innovative strength. Roosevelt ended American isolationism, which was only revived with the election of Donald Trump in 2016, and completely reorganized American foreign policy, laying the foundation for the development of the United States into a superpower. So if someone thinks anti-Americanism is appropriate, he should complain to the German Nazis and the Italian fascists in particular, because without them the United States would have seen no need to become a superpower. The USA are founded by Europeans. How to come up with the idea to despise the United States on the other side of the pond therefore remains puzzling. Of course, Trump can be considered a completely incompetent and corrupt Baron Munchausen, but he is not the United States. He is only one of 327 million Americans, the majority of whom have very clear and liberal values.)

The European Defence Agency (EDA) was established in July 2004 and is based in Brussels. It supports the EU Member States in improving their military capabilities in order to complete CSDP targets as set out in the European Security Strategy. In that capacity, it makes proposals, coordinates, stimulates collaboration, and runs projects. The Member States themselves, however, remain in charge of their defence policies, planning and investment. Four strategies form the framework to guide the activities of the Agency and its 26 participating Member States: 1) the Capability Development Plan (CDP), 2) the European Defence Research & Technology; 3) the European Armaments Cooperation (EAC) and 4) the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). The EU Institute for Security Studies (EU-ISS) was inaugurated in January 2002 and is based in Paris. Although an EU agency, it is an autonomous think tank that researches EU-relevant security issues. The research results are published in papers, books, reports, policy briefs, analyses and newsletters. In addition, the EU-ISS convenes seminars and conferences on relevant issues that bring together EU officials, national experts, decision-makers and NGO representatives from all Member States.

The first deployment of European troops under the ESDP, following the 1999 declaration of intent, was in March 2003 in Macedonia. “EUFOR Concordia” used NATO assets and was considered a success and replaced by a smaller police mission, EUPOL Proxima, later that year. Since then, there have been other small police, justice and monitoring missions. As well as the Republic of Macedonia, the EU has maintained its deployment of peacekeepers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of EUFOR Althea mission. Between May and September 2003 EU troops were deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during “Operation Artemis” under a mandate given by UN Security Council Resolution 1484 which aimed to prevent further atrocities and violence in the Ituri Conflict and put the DRC’s peace process back on track. This laid out the “framework nation” system to be used in future deployments. The EU returned to the DRC during July–November 2006 with EUFOR RD Congo, which supported the UN mission there during the country’s elections. Geographically, EU missions outside the Balkans and the DRC have taken place in Georgia, Indonesia, Sudan, Palestine, and UkraineMoldova. There is also a judicial mission in Iraq (EUJUST Lex). On 28 January 2008, the EU deployed its largest and most multi-national mission to Africa, EUFOR Tchad/RCA. The UN-mandated mission involves troops from 25 EU states (19 in the field) deployed in areas of eastern Chad and the north-eastern Central African Republic in order to improve security in those regions. EUFOR Tchad/RCA reached full operation capability in mid-September 2008, and handed over security duties to the UN (MINURCAT mission) in mid-March 2009 (see Military operations of the European Union).

From 1 January 2007, the EU Operations Centre began work in Brussels. It can command a limited size force of about 2000 troops (e.g. a battlegroup). In addition to the EU centre, 5 national operational headquarters have been made available for use by the Union; Mont Valérien in Paris, Northwood in London, Potsdam, Centocelle in Rome and Larissa. The EU can also use NATO capabilities. With effect from 1 January 2007, the EU will have a third option for commanding, from Brussels, missions and operations of limited size (that is, like that of a battlegroup: some 2,000 troops). On that date, the new EU Operations Centre (EUOC) within the EU Military Staff (EUMS) will be ready for action. Using some EUMS core staff, as well as some extra “double-hatted” EUMS officers and so-called “augmentees” from the Member States, the EU will have an increased capacity to respond to crisis management situations. So far, the EU has had two options as to how to run a military operation at the Operation Headquarters (OHQ) level. One option is, in a so-called “autonomous” operation, to make use of facilities provided by any of the five Operation Headquarters (OHQs) currently available in European Member States. A second option is, through recourse to NATO capabilities and common assets (under the so-called Berlin Plus agreement), to make use of command and control options such as Operation Headquarters located at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium and D-SACEUR as the Operation Commander. The key question, which critics of the solution in particular have to face more and more often, is “What happens if we do not deploy the army, what are the risks and challenges and how could they be dealt with alternatively?” The answers are as sobering as they are enlightening, because there are no viable alternatives given. The earlier everyone realize this, the sooner we can start building the EU army. After all, nothing says more clearly and unequivocally “We belong together and there will never again be war between us” as a common EU army. Money can be replaced, human lives can’t. Of course, all of this takes time, but the first successful steps have been made (e.g. including PESCO, in addition to cooperations between the armies of the EU states (EU cooperation on security and defence)).

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Koerber-Policy-Game_What-to-expect-if-the-US-withdraws-from-NATO

“New Deal”, the restart of transatlantic relations
Not only since the seizure of power (if you have 3 million votes less than your competitor and still be declared the US president, that cannot be phrased differently) by the presidential fool Trump is the subject of “external security” for the US of great importance. It has to be the same for Europeans, but for them it has to be supplemented by the subject of “internal security”, e.g. in the joint fight against any form of terrorism within the EU by Europol and / or Frontex. In addition, there is the dealings with Turkey, which is increasingly hostile to the EU and which should be dealt with accordingly (freezing of the customs union (the threat of withdrawing from the refugee agreement no longer applies, especially since the EU front-line states have meanwhile secured their borders much better), suspension of all aid figures, no more military aid, freezing of NATO membership so that the Turkish leadership can calmly think about which alliance the country would like to belong to in the future or whether it would rather be wiped out between Russia and Iran. Admission to the EU has already been put on hold and will probably remain so for a few more years, etc.). One of these challenges is a justifiable solution to Brexit, in which Great Britain can manage an orderly exit from the EU. Barack Obama, in his usual eloquent-friendly-diplomatic manner, tried to make it clear to the Europeans that both the Second World War and the Cold War 1.0 were a thing of the past, so that Europe should finally organize its external security together and independently that it could stand up for itself and to pacify its “backyards” (Russia, Levant, Middle East, North Africa) (Hillary Clinton would have also asked for it and Biden will of course continue). It was a big mistake on the part of the Europeans to ignore the appeals, because instead of building up this common defense structure piece by piece over a period from 2008 onwards, it must now be done all the faster and more costly, because it is now clear that the USA is about to withdraw from Europe and the Middle East and instead concentrate on the Pacific area. The EU, especially supported and promoted by the economically strongest country in Europe, the military skiver Germany, must therefore develop joint military capabilities and begin with the EU core states. How could Germany’s role look like? As always, there are several ways to get there, but they all add up to “more”. With the 2% NATO target in mind, it is less important to develop capabilities within Germany (this is mainly about successful replacement purchases and the establishment of full operational readiness, from which the country is still light years away for various reasons) than it is to contribute to the protection of the EU’s external borders. Here it would be advisable to intensify the cooperation with the EU core states by subordinating considerable German contingents to the frontline states and stationing them on site (which at the same time makes the Bundeswehr more attractive as an employer if you know that you don’t end up in Bottrop during your service, but instead travel around Europe) in order to gradually achieve the establishment of a common defense structure (EU army) and at the same time contribute to strengthening mutual trust. That would go far beyond mere lip service and would send strong and clear signals. This is the easy part of the exercise, especially since good preparatory work has already been done. It becomes more difficult with the cooperation with the EU eastward enlargement (with the exception of the Baltic States) and south-east Europe. To explain to the Polish government that you intend to station German troops in the country should at least cause irritation. In particular, the ultra-nationalists of the PiS still fear that “Since 5:45 am we are now fring back” could occur again. So it will be a little more difficult and tricky to proceed. For example, in the context of joint procurement and the alignment of weapon systems and calibers (this applies all the more to Romania and Bulgaria, both of which still have to work with some military equipment from the Second World War), the partial assumption of costs or the increase of the respective defense budget from the federal defense budget, the provision of a “framework contingent” from which the EU eastward expansion could receive weapons and ammunition would come into question and services to a corresponding extent, so that German armourers also get something of the pie via the detour (similar to the way the US does it with Israel: an overall aid budget for support services is set, from which the Israelis, who are also obliged to buy mostly American products so that the domestic economy benefits from it and on the other hand no competing manufacturers are built abroad. In addition, the USA maintains large ammunition depots in Israel, from which the Israelis can receive deliveries. In Netanyahu’s propaganda language, this reads “Israel’s military superiority in the region” (Qualitative Military Edge (QME)). Observer can of course count on one finger what that actually means in practice). The aim of common defense would not be strengthened by pooling troops, but national defenses in the EU’s eastward expansion would. In cooperation with the Baltic States, both variants are already possible today (troops on site and support measures for the armies) and are already being given in some cases. All the measures taken together would bring Germany significantly closer to the 2% NATO target and at the same time ensure that the country would be taken seriously militarily. The military weakness of Germany has not only been the foreign policy Achilles’ heel since yesterday. The medium-term goal must be to build a powerful EU army that reports directly to the European Parliament and that complements NATO. This relieves NATO and the Europeans would be able to regulate their own affairs at any time, which in turn relieves the Americans.

Media coverage
Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), European Intervention Initiative, European Defence Fund, Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), The Guardian, 24 December 2003: Pakistan admits it may be source of Iran’s nuclear expertise, Irish Times, 11 March 2005: Pakistan says Khan supplied key nuclear technology to Iran, Reuters, 13 March 2014: Merkel warns Russia of ‘massive damage’ if it persists, Military.com, 7 August 2014: Why the US Military Puts Israel, Gaza in Europe, Haaretz, 20 May 2015: Pakistan Is the Only Muslim Nuclear State – So Why Is Israel’s Hysteria Reserved for Iran?, DW, 15 February 2018: Changing Europe revives interest in an EU military, Politico.eu, 3 June 2018: Merkel endorses Macron’s EU military plan, Times of Israel, 9 December 2018: Israel signed off on sale of phone spying tool to Saudi Arabia – report, Politico.eu, 11 November 2018: Macron wants Europe to buy its own military hardware, The New York Times, 14 January 2019: Trump Discussed Pulling U.S. From NATO, Aides Say Amid New Concerns Over Russia, New York Times, 14 January 2019: Trump discussed pulling U.S. from NATO, aides say amid new concerns over Russia, France24, 15 February 2019: Timeline of US withdrawal from Syria remains vague after Munich conference, NATO, 15 February 2019: Secretary General at Munich Security Conference: “If we stand united we will be ready to face the future.”, Gov.uk, 15 February 2019: Speech: The Munich Security Conference, The New York Times, 15 February 2019: What Is the Munich Security Conference, and Why Does It Matter?, Times of Israel, 15 February 2018: Gantz to speak at Munich security conference after Netanyahu cancels, Politico.eu, Munich Security Conference: Live blog, Times of Israel, 16 February 2018: Pence doubles down on call for EU to quit Iran nuclear deal, The Washington Post, 16 February 2019: Democrats on ‘reassurance tour’ for European allies worried about Trump, Jerusalem Post, 16 February 2019: Pence says time has come for EU to withdraw from from Iran Nuclear Deal, Times of Israel, 16 February 2019: EU, Germany reject US call to leave Iran nuclear deal, Times of Israel, 16 February 2019: Merkel warns US pullout from Syria risks boosting Iran, Russia, Haaretz, 16 February 2019: Merkel Defends European Stance on Iran as Pence Campaigns Against Nuclear Deal, The New York Times, 16 February 2019: Merkel Rejects U.S. Demands That Europe Pull Out of Iran Nuclear Deal, The Washington Post, 16 February 2019: Trump foreign policy under attack from all sides at European security conference, Times of Israel, 16 February 2019: Sissi: Israeli-Palestinian conflict is main source of instability in Middle East, The Guardian, 17 February 2019: Trump: EU must take back 800 Isis fighters captured in Syria, The Washington Post, 17 February 2019: Democrats offer European allies the promise of a post-Trump future. But can they deliver?, Times of Israel, 17 February 2019: Iran’s Zarif says there is ‘great risk’ of war with Israel, The New York Times, 17 February 2019: Rift Between Trump and Europe Is Now Open and Angry, Jerusalem Post, 17 February 2019: Qatar: Palestinian issue core stumbling block to ties with Israel, The Guardian, 18 February 2019: Why Trump and his team want to wipe out the EU, The New York Times, 18 February 2019: Europe to Mike Pence: No, Thank You, CNN, 18 January 2019: New York Times: Trump raised withdrawing the US from NATO several times in 2018, Politico.eu, 14 March 2019: Germany under fire over NATO defense spending (no wonder that the rest of the EU is turning to the Trump course. Actually, there is a rare chance here to work on joint projects as the beginning of a future EU army. Due to the refusal attitude of the SPD this chance is given away. Once again, the SPD makes it clear that it is not fit for the EU if it is not even involved in a core issue such as “EU security” and the resulting demands of the EU eastern enlargement. There are fair weather politicians at work who are overwhelmed with the current challenges. Beyond the security of the EU, a change of the security and political landscape is currently taking place. The US is increasingly retreating and rightly expects that the EU will not only take care of itself, but also assume military responsibility for itself and the “backyard” (Eastern Europe, Levant and North Africa). In view of the developments in the region, the EU has already lost considerable space here to Russia and Iran. It does not matter how your point of views on the subject are: foreign policy is only credible and effective, if it can be enforced militarily when needed. If this can not be done, foreign policy positions on the receiver side are at best perceived as recommendations for action, in the worst case dismissed as pure ramblings. Not only the EU states, but also the NATO states, rightly expect that Germany, as Europe’s largest economic power, will fulfill its given role militarily as well. Unlike a few decades ago, today in NATO there is no fear of Germany’s strength, but rather of the obvious and worrying weakness of the country), Reuters, 22 March 2019: Germany must meet military spending commitments: conservative leader, NPR, 2 April 2019: Trump’s Tough Talk On German Defense Spending Is Straining A Decades-Long Friendship, BBC, 3 April 2019: Nato chief Stoltenberg reaffirms bond in US Congress address, Reuters, 3 April 2019: NATO chief warns of Russia threat, urges unity in U.S. address (following the old guiding principle “Si vis pacem para bellum” (If you want peace, prepare for war or Arm yourself to the teeth and let it see all potential attackers, so they do not even come up with stupid ideas)), France24, 3 April 2019: Pence calls Germany stance in NATO ‘unacceptable’, The Atlantic, 3 April 2019: Trump Learns to Live With NATO—And Vice Versa, France24, 3 April 2019: NATO chief warns US Congress of rising threat from Russia, The Washington Free Beacon, 20 March 2019: Why Germany Should Love a World Dominated by America, Reuters, 14 May 2019: ‘Poison pills’: Pentagon tells EU not to block U.S. companies from defense pact, DefenseNews, 14 May 2019: European Union’s defense-collab push could fizzle, report warns, DefenseNews, 16 May 2019: European Union rejects US claims to internal defense coffers, D-Day, France24, 3 June 2019: D-Day: The forgotten battles beyond the beaches of Normandy, CNN, 5 June 2019: D-Day: What happened during the Normandy landings?, Reuters, 5 June 2019: ‘Thank You’ – Queen Elizabeth and world leaders applaud D-Day veterans, The Guardian, 5 June 2019: Trump, Macron and May address veterans in Portsmouth D-day commemoration – live news, BBC, 5 June 2019: Donald Trump joins Queen for 75th D-Day anniversary, The Guardian, 5 June 2019: Britain must not turn its back on the world made possible by D-Day, France24, 5 June 2019: Live: Queen joins world leaders, WWII veterans for 75th D-Day anniversary, The New York Times, 5 June 2019: For France, a D-Day Ceremony Laced With Paradox, BBC, 5 June 2019: The Queen praises the ‘courage and sacrifice’ of D-Day, Times of Israel, 5 June 2019: Foe, now friend: Germans find place at D-Day sites in France, The New York Times, 5 June 2019: The Donald Thinks D-Day Is About Him, The Guardian, 6 June 2019: Boris Johnson’s backers are cynics enabling disaster, France24, 6 June 2019: France remembers Resistance fighters killed on D-Day, The New York Times, 6 June 2019: Trump Honors D-Day Soldiers on 75th Anniversary: Live Updates, The Guardian, 6 June 2019: D-day anniversary: Macron and Trump to meet again on Normandy beaches, NPR, 6 June 2019: D-Day 75th Anniversary: Trump, Macron And Other Leaders Mark A Historic Day, France24, 6 June 2019: Trump the transatlantic nightmare? Not for these D-Day vets, The Guardian, 6 June 2019: World leaders pay tribute to veterans at D-day ceremony in Normandy – live news, BBC, 6 June 2019: D-Day: Veterans and world leaders mark 75th anniversary, Normandy for Peace World Forum, Washington Times, 5 July 2019: Joe Biden: There will be ‘no more NATO’ if Donald Trump is reelected, Jerusalem Post, 7 July 2019: NATO no more? Biden says Trump will lead to the organization’s implosion, France24, 13 July 2019: Macron announces creation of French space force, France24, 14 July 2019: As it happened: European leaders join Macron for Bastille Day parade, The New York Times, 23 July 2019: The World Used to Fear German Militarism. Then It Disappeared., Politico.eu, 12 September 2019: EU defense commissioner may face turf wars, Politico.eu, 5 November 2019: UK, US could take part in EU military projects under draft plan, DW, 7 November 2019: Germany must play active military role, says defense minister, BBC, 7 November 2019: Nato alliance experiencing brain death, says Macron, France24, 7 November 2019: Macron claims NATO is suffering ‘brain death’, DW, 7 November 2019: Angela Merkel condemns Macron’s ‘drastic words’ on NATO, Politico.eu, 8 November 2019: Von der Leyen praises NATO, in contrast to Macron, Arab News, 9 November 2019: Biggest threat to European stability and security comes not from without, but within, Arab News, 9 November 2019: Europe, Turkey and a ticking time bomb, Politico.eu, 10 November 2019: Jens Stoltenberg deploys to Washington, Politico.eu, 10 November 2019: Germany’s ‘brain dead’ defense debate, Politico.eu, 12 November 2019: France dominant in new flurry of EU military projects, France24, 12 November 2019: Macron promotes multilateral solutions for global problems at Paris Peace Forum, Politico.eu, 13 November 2019: Emmanuel Macron’s transatlantic turbulence, France24, 15 November 2019: Trump to attend NATO summit in London to urge defence spending hike, Politico.eu, 17 November 2019: German defense minister hits back at Macron’s NATO criticism, Politico.eu, 19 November 2019: US ambassador to NATO questions Macron’s rationality, The Detroit News, 19 November 2019: California to stop buying GM, Fiat Chrysler cars over mpg fight, Politico.eu, 20 November 2019: NATO to Macron: We’ll get back to you, Politico.eu, 25 November 2019: Will the real NATO please stand up?, Politico.com, 25 November 2019: NATO’s Next Threat: Its Own Leaders, The Guardian, 26 November 2019: Nato to consider expert panel after Macron brain-dead claim, France24, 28 November 2019: France’s Macron defends ‘brain death’ criticism after talks with NATO chief, BBC, 28 November 2019: Macron is a sponsor of terrorism, says Turkish foreign minister, The Guardian, 28 November 2019: Macron defends ‘brain-dead Nato’ remarks as summit approaches, Gulf Times, 28 November 2019: Macron sticks by NATO criticism; Germany warns it could divide Europe, France24, 29 November 2019: Turkish FM counters Macron’s Syria criticism by accusing him of sponsoring terrorism, Politico.eu, 29 November 2019: Erdoğan to Macron: Get your own ‘brain death’ checked first, France24, 29 November 2019: France to summon Turkey’s ambassador after Erdogan slams Macron’s NATO comments, The Guardian, 29 November 2019: The Guardian view on the Nato summit: the Watford credibility gap, France24, 29 November 2019: NATO chief ‘optimistic’ that allies will support France in Sahel region, The National, 1 December 2019: Turkey crisis threatens to spoil Nato’s 70th birthday party, Haaretz, 1 December 2019: Turkey, Not Trump, Is the Biggest Threat to NATO Right Now, The Washington Post, 2 December 2019: NATO hopes to get through 70th anniversary without explosions from Trump or Macron, The Guardian, 2 December 2019: Trump re-election could sound death knell for Nato, allies fear, CNN, 2 December 2019: NATO is showing its age as the alliance turns 70, The National, 2 December 2019: Nato meeting to reset fraying relations between allies, Arab News, 2 December 2019: NATO summit faces new row, BBC, 3 December 2019: Nato summit: Trump blasts Macron ‘brain dead’ comments as ‘nasty’, Politico.eu, 3 December 2019: Allies unite to defend NATO — against Macron, France24, 3 December 2019: Trump criticises European allies ahead of NATO’s 70th anniversary summit, Gulf Times, 3 December 2019: Trump launches NATO summit with attack on ‘nasty’ France, Politico.com, 3 December 2019: Disruptor-in-chief Trump bulldozes into NATO gathering, The Guardian, 3 December 2019: Macron clashes with both Erdoğan and Trump at Nato summit, France24, 3 December 2019: France’s Macron accuses Turkey of ‘sometimes working with IS group proxies’, CNN, 3 December 2019: Trump and Macron clash at NATO summit, Politico.eu, 3 December 2019: Jens Stoltenberg’s (Trump) mission accomplished, DW, 3 December 2019: NATO recognizes China ‘challenges’ for the first time, Politico.eu, 3 December 2019: Now playing in London: The Donald and Emmanuel Show, Arab News, 3 December 2019: Macron says time for Turkey to clarify ambiguous Daesh stance, The National, 3 December 2019: France accuses Turkey of supporting ISIS ‘proxies’ fighting its Nato allies, The Washington Post, 3 December 2019: As impeachment inquiry rages at home, Trump unsettles the world stage at NATO, The New York Times, 3 December 2019: For Trump and Europe, a Surprising Role Reversal, The Guardian, 4 December 2019: How does Nato look at the age of 70? It’s complicated, France24, 4 December 2019: NATO unity on the line as sparring leaders mark 70 years, The Guardian, 4 December 2019: Trump cuts short Nato summit after fellow leaders’ hot-mic video, Politico.com, 4 December 2019: The Trump reality show: NATO edition, The Guardian, 5 December 2019: What’s it like to stand stark naked on the world stage? Ask Donald Trump, The New York Times, 5 December 2019: NATO Is Full of Freeloaders. But It’s How We Defend the Free World., Arab News, 5 December 2019: Joschka Fischer: Europe must act as though NATO is already dead, Die Zeit, 4 December 2019: No More Excuses, Berlin!, Israel Hayom, 6 December 2019: If NATO is going to fight terrorism, it needs Israel (from an Israeli point of view, it would certainly be a good idea to attempt to become a member of NATO so that, in accordance with Article 5, NATO would then have to fight Israeli wars. NATO participation in the “Centennial Adventure Middle East Conflict” could only be endorsed by crazy fanatics, of whom there are some in the EU and US, but fortunately without decision-making power. However, NATO’s reception conditions stipulate that new members are not involved in wars during the admission in order to exclude the aforementioned scenario. Israel, however, is at the same time with several countries in a state of war, so that the reception desire remains what it is: An unfulfillable desire. Since Netanyahu and his right-wing to right-wing extremist coalition have proven remarkably unable to make peace and a political turn towards the center can be ruled out in the next few years, it will take decades before the issue could be seriously on the table (Major non-NATO ally). The same applies to Netanyahu’s aspiration to Israel’s accession to the EU. The hurdles for this are even a lot higher), Arab News, 8 December 2019: Disillusionment at NATO despite policy shifts, The Guardian, 11 December 2019: Senate committee passes bipartisan bill to stop Trump withdrawing from Nato, Israel Hayom, 16 December 2019: NATO’s strategy to protect Europe is doomed to fail, Politico.eu, 16 December 2019: EU capitals missing targets on collaborative defense spending, CNN, 18 December 2019: China’s first domestically-built aircraft carrier officially enters service, Arab News, 18 December 2019: Turkey warns of ‘escalation’ if US ends Cyprus arms embargo, Politico.eu, 23 December 2019: NATO’s Stoltenberg says he’s ‘ready’ to meet with Putin, Gulf Times, 27 December 2019: Russia says first hypersonic missiles enter service, The Guardian, 27 December 2019: Russia deploys first hypersonic missiles, Politico.eu, 8 January 2020: As EU stumbles, Putin and Erdogan take charge in Libya, Arab News, 10 January 2020: Turkey treads a fine line amid US-Iran tensions, France24, 11 January 2020: Forces loyal to Libyan strongman Haftar announce ceasefire, The Guardian, 12 January 2020: Britain must prepare to fight wars without US help, says defence secretary, Gulf Times, 14 January 2020: Berlin summit to build on shaky Libyan ceasefire, France24, 16 January 2020: Turkey’s Erdogan says country sending troops to Libya, France24, 16 January 2020: Turkey’s Erdogan says country sending troops to Libya, Arab News, 17 January 2020: Chances of ‘Berlin breakthrough’ in doubt after Turkish threat, France24, 17 January 2020: Libya strongman Haftar in Greece for talks ahead of Berlin peace conference, Politico.eu, 17 January 2020: The Libyan conflict explained, BBC, 18 January 2020: Global Hawk drones: A look at Nato’s new spy tool, DW, 18 January 2020: EU cuts pre-accession aid to Turkey by 75%, Taiwan News, 18 January 2020: EU cuts pre-accession aid to Turkey by 75%, France24, 18 January 2020: Europe will face terror threat if Tripoli govt falls: Erdogan, Politico.eu, 18 January 2020: Erdogan: Road to peace in Libya goes through Turkey, Arab News, 18 January 2020: UN Libya mission ‘deeply concerned’ over disruption in oil production, urges restraint, Gulf Times, 18 January 2020: Putin to attend Berlin’s Libya peace talks as Russia expects progress, France24, 18 January 2020: Can Europe, caught scrapping or napping, mend its credibility at Berlin talks on Libya?, The Guardian, 18 January 2020: Libya: blockade of oil ports threatens Berlin ceasefire plan, Politico.eu, 18 January 2020: Borrell suggests EU military mission to protect cease-fire in Libya, Al Arabiya, 19 January 2020: Leaders vow to form multilateral committee at Berlin summit on Libya, Arab News, 19 January 2020: Turkish, Syrian forces must leave Tripoli, Macron tells Libya peace summit, France24, 19 January 2020: World powers agree to strengthen arms embargo in Libya’s war, France24, 19 January 2020: World powers agree to strengthen arms embargo in Libya’s war, Arab News, 19 January 2020: Leaders in pledge to stay out of Libya war, Al Arabiya, 20 January 2020: EU must consider ways to support ceasefire in Libya: Borrell, Jerusalem Post, 21 January 2020: Berlin confab on Libya ends with call to enforce arms embargo, Arab News, 21 January 2020: Will Turkey abide by provisions of Berlin Summit?, Politico.eu, 22 January 2020: Von der Leyen: EU must develop ‘credible military capabilities’, DW, 22 January 2020: EU’s von der Leyen: Europe needs ‘credible military capabilities’, France24, 7 February 2020: Macron unveils nuclear doctrine, warns EU ‘cannot remain spectators’ in arms race, Politico.eu, 7 February 2020: Macron calls for European dialogue on French nuclear arms, The National, 7 February 2020: Macron urges greater EU role in curbing nuclear threats, The National, 10 February 2020: UK must maintain security links with Europe after Brexit, says report, The Guardian, 10 February 2020: Macron’s post-Brexit nuclear ambitions are destined to fail, Politico.eu, 13 February 2020: Europe’s geopolitical year ended before it began, Politico.eu, 13 February 2020: European defense plans: What could possibly go wrong? (in addition to the general sluggishness, especially in Germany, in the further development of the EU (this is not just about building a common EU defense structure – individual armies of the states can no longer master the growing challenges alone – but also about the credible further integration and deepening of the EU as such, which are the building blocks for the survival and future viability of the EU), of course particularly disruptive forces from within (the nationalistically led EU southeast and east enlargements, Johnson’s United Kingdom) and from outside (Putin’s Russia, Erdogan’s Turkey, Trump’s USA, Netanyahu’s Israel, China and Iran) play very negative roles), DW, 14 February 2020: Top EU diplomat wants European strategy for Middle East peace, DW, 14 February 2020: John Kerry says Trump’s handling of global challenges is ‘unacceptable’, BBC, 14 February 2020: Global defence spending is on the rise in an unstable world, Politico.eu, 14 February 2020: Emmanuel Macron’s Russian roulette, Politico.eu, 14 February 2020: The world’s most dangerous people? They’re in office., DW, 15 February 2020: Munich Security Conference: NATO secretary-general defends trans-Atlantic ties, CNBC, 15 February 2020: Pompeo says criticism of Trump’s ‘America First’ policy doesn’t ‘reflect reality’ (Pompeo might be right, that the West is winning. For sure not because of the current and dysfunctional US administration, but anyway), Politico.eu, 15 February 2020: POLITICO Brussels Playbook: Munich Security Conference Special Edition: Pompeo’s pep talk — Macron not mad — Fading five-star HQ, DW, 15 February 2020: Munich Security Conference: France’s Macron envisions new era of European strength, Politico.eu, 15 February 2020: State Department keeps quiet as Pompeo meets Lavrov in Munich, France24, 15 February 2020: Macron calls for better long-term relations with Russia, Politico.eu, 15 February 2020: Europe turns deaf ear to US warnings on Chinese 5G, Al Arabiya, 16 February 2020: NATO chief dismisses France’s Macron nuclear call, The Guardian, 16 February 2020: ‘Westlessness’: is the west really in a state of peril?, Politico.eu, 16 February 2020: ‘Global Britain’ is missing in action, Politico.com, 16 February 2020: Trump camp finds no appeasement at Munich, Politico.eu, 17 February 2020: After Pompeo speech fell flat, Pelosi says messenger may be to blame, Arab News, 23 February 2020: Democratic powers can combat ‘Westlessness’ by working together, Gulf Times, 3 March 2020: A European strategy is missing in action, Politico.eu, 4 March 2020: Europe must step up, German leadership hopeful Röttgen says, Reuters, 19 March 2020: NATO scales down exercises due to coronavirus, Politico.eu, 26 March 2020: NATO sets up expert panel to help it reflect, Politico.eu, 4 April 2020: Meet Macron’s Mr. NATO, Politico.eu, 1 May 2020: NATO preparing for second wave of coronavirus infections: report, DW, 2 May 2020: Germany: SPD call to withdraw US nuclear arms stokes debate (the corona virus has apparently affected him severely. However, questioning nuclear participation and thus Germany’s security is completely unacceptable), Politico.com, 3 May 2020: Members of Germany’s ruling coalition tell Trump to take U.S. nukes home, DW, 4 May 2020: Germany underscores commitment to US nuclear deterrence, The Guardian, 12 May 2020: Europe must prepare for US exit from vital Russia treaty, former Nato generals warn, The Guardian, 13 May 2020: World nuclear arms spending hit $73bn last year – half of it by US, France24, 21 May 2020: Trump to withdraw US from ‘Open Skies’ treaty, BBC, 21 May 2020: Open Skies Treaty: US to withdraw from arms control deal, The New York Times, 21 May 2020: Trump Will Withdraw U.S. From Another Major Arms Accord, Arab News, 21 May 2020: US says pulling out of Open Skies treaty, citing Russian violations, The Guardian, 21 May 2020: Trump loyalist John Ratcliffe confirmed as new US intelligence chief, DW, 22 May 2020: NATO allies alarmed, annoyed by US Open Skies exit, The New York Times, 23 May 2020: European Defense and ‘Strategic Autonomy’ Are Also Coronavirus Victims, Politico.eu, 29 May 2020: European defense hopes live to fight another day (just), Arab News, 1 June 2020: The decline of Europe’s strategic Middle Eastern role, Der Spiegel, 3 June 2020: Biden Advisers on Nuclear Sharing: Striking at the Heart of the Trans-Atlantic Bargain, France24, 5 June 2020: US planning to slash troops in Germany: report (it is not surprising that Trump is an enemy of free democracies and the West as a whole. Instead, he prefers dictatorships. In this respect, this step follows his long-term strategy to transform the United States into a Russian-style dictatorship. Stationing the troops in Poland is just another building block. “The West” now only consists of Western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), The Guardian, 5 June 2020: Trump orders 9,500 US troops to leave Germany, DW, 6 June 2020: German conservatives slam reported US troop withdrawal (of course it is a mistake, but above all a gift for Trump’s campaign aid Putin by further weakening NATO. At the same time, it is the ultimate wake-up call for the EU to organize its own security independently. As a counter reaction, the order for the 45 F-18 jets should be canceled and instead the European projects should be significantly strengthened and expanded (Eurofighter and others). This also includes the fleet of armable drones from European productions. The same applies to the army and navy. On the one hand, the 2% NATO spending target will be achieved, on the other hand, the money remains in the family. It should also be considered to replace the US nuclear warheads stored in Germany with European models. The topic of “security” is just too sensitive to be dependent on the daily-based mood of Trump. In any case, the EU must become much more independent from China and the United States anyway if it wants to successfully overcome the emerging challenges not only in the military area at all levels and in all areas), The Guardian, 6 June 2020: ‘Regrettable’: Germany reacts to Trump plan to withdraw US troops, Politico.eu, 6 June 2020: Trump orders large withdrawal of US forces from Germany, The New York Times, 6 June 2020: Has ‘America First’ Become ‘Trump First’? Germans Wonder, DW, 7 June 2020: German foreign minister laments decline of US ties, DW, 7 June 2020: Opinion: Trump is playing election games with US troops in Germany, The Washington Post, 10 June 2020: Trump pulling troops from Germany is yet another decision made from petulance, Politico.eu, 11 June 2020: US to pull troops from Germany, ex-ambassador Grenell confirms (Trump’s lapdog couldn’t get done anythng in Germany and is now weakening America’s vital security interests by removing stuff from U.S. infrastructures, needed to takle challenges in the Middle East and Africa. Germany doesn’t need a single of these soldiers for its security. Good riddance and enjoy your stay in eastern Poland. What a joke he is! :-D ), Arab News, 14 June 2020: Plan to withdraw US troops from Europe a mistake, Jerusalem Post, 15 June 2020: Nuclear powers decreasing but modernizing their arsenals, Der Spiegel, 15 June 2020: Withdrawal of U.S. Troops: Trump’s Former Ambassador to Germany Gets His Revenge, France24, 15 June 2020: EU foreign ministers to hold talks with US counterpart Pompeo as rifts fester, Der Spiegel, 15 June 2020: Wolfgang Schäuble on Germany and Europe: “We Germans Have Reached Agreements with NATO and We Must Adhere to Them”, Politico.com, 15 June 2020: Trump confirms he wants to pull thousands of U.S. troops from Germany (Trump obviously need once again urgent campaign support from Moscow for the presidential election. On the other hand, American isolationism has only weakened the United States. Russia and China will thank Trump and make further gains. At the same time, Trump believes that more than 200,000 corona-dead Americans are perfectly acceptable for his campaign), Military Times, 15 June 2020: Trump confirms plans to pull some US troops out of Germany, CNN, 16 June 2020: Trump indicates he’s not budging on reducing number of US troops in Germany, Politico.eu, 16 June 2020: After blindsiding allies, US gives no details on Trump’s troop plan, DW, 16 June 2020: Berlin says Washington benefits from US troops in Germany, DW, 16 June 2020: US military in Germany: What you need to know, BBC, 17 June 2020: Why Trump’s plan to withdraw US troops has dismayed Germany, The Guardian, 17 June 2020: German ministers hit back at Trump plan to withdraw US troops, Politico.eu, 19 June 2020: Portuguese defense minister: Macron is wrong on NATO (despite Trump), DW, 20 June 2020: How will Europe guarantee its security without the US?, The Spectator, 22 June 2020: Matthew Lynn: Trump is right to pick a fight with Germany, DW, 23 June 2020: NATO chief Stoltenberg: World needs more German leadership, DW, 23 June 2020: Stoltenberg: US presence in Europe is important for NATO, The Washington Post, 23 June 2020: The Daily 202: Trump faces mounting GOP blowback over order to pull troops out of Germany, Politico.eu, 24 June 2020: Trump says he will ‘probably’ reassign troops from Germany to Poland (for Western Europe, this decision is a definite turning point in time, which moves the original line of defense from the Cold War, the former German-German border, finally to Poland’s eastern border with Russia. Basically, this was already clear when Poland joined the EU, but is now being formalized by the transfer of the US troops to Poland, so that with the transfer, Poland will form the buffer zone between Russia and Western Europe. Could be worse), Arab News, 25 June 2020: Trump tears up traditional US approach to Europe, France24, 25 June 2020: Trump says US moving some troops from Germany to Poland after Duda meeting, Arab News, 27 June 2020: Why Middle East and North Africa is ranked the world’s ‘least peaceful region’, Politico.eu, 30 June 2020: Macron wants greater European involvement in Sahel counterterrorism, DW, 1 July 2020: Donald Trump approves plan to pull 9,500 troops from Germany, The Guardian, 4 July 2020: ‘Alarm bells’: how China’s assertiveness led to Australia’s defence overhaul, DW, 6 July 2020: Opinion: A year in the service of Germany can’t do any harm, Politico.eu, 12 July 2020: Trump national security adviser heading to Europe for talks on China, The Guardian, 13 July 2020: The world needs grown-up leadership. Time for Germany to step up, CNN, 14 July 2020: US allies once seemed cowed by China. Now they’re responding with rare coordination, DW, 16 July 2020: Germany seeking unity on identifying threats to the EU, DW, 17 July 2020: NATO spending rules need revising due to coronavirus, German defense chief says, Arab News, 19 July 2020: Blow to Erdogan as US boots Turkey out of F-35 strike fighter program, Reuters, 23 July 2020: Putin and Trump discussed arms control, Iran in phone call: Kremlin, The Hill, 23 July 2020: Trump talks coronavirus, arms control in phone call with Putin, DW, 26 July 2020: Putin says Russian navy will be armed with hypersonic weapons, DW, 29 July 2020: US to withdraw or relocate more troops in Germany than previously thought (with his election defeat in sight, he wants to do his boss in the Kremlin a favor and follow the suggestions of the running gag Richard Grenell to cushion the expected crushing defeat. It will cost the U.S. billions and reputation in the international community. A minority of Americans voted for the old fool, so they wanted the result), France24, 29 July 2020: US to withdraw 11,900 troops from Germany, about half to be redeployed in Europe, CNN, 29 July 2020: US to withdraw nearly 12,000 troops from Germany in move that will cost billions and take years, Politico.eu, 29 July 2020: US to pull 12,000 troops from Germany after Trump calls country ‘delinquent’ (DW, 26 April 2020: SIPRI: Germany significantly increases military spending), NPR, 29 July 2020: Defense Secretary Esper Says U.S. Plans To Cut Troops In Germany By A Third, BBC, 29 July 2020: US to withdraw 12,000 troops from Germany in ‘strategic’ move, DW, 29 July 2020: Former US commander: Troop withdrawal from Germany ‘gift to Kremlin’, The National, 30 July 2020: US to take 6,400 troops home from Germany and move 5,600 more, The Guardian, 30 July 2020: Russia-aligned hackers running anti-Nato fake news campaign – report, DW, 31 July 2020: Germany’s Bundeswehr to help German states after US pullout (we can only hope that Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer will be successful. The negotiations so far have not been very promising. However, since the general conditions have changed, Trump could have accidentally pushed a positive development so that the EU becomes more militarily independent and, above all, capabilities are developed and produced in Europe), DW, 1 August 2020: UAE launches Arab world’s first nuclear power plant (even if the path from a nuclear power plant to a nuclear weapon is much further than one might think, the concerns against the background of the Qatar crisis since 2017 must be taken seriously. If Qatar does actually perceive the nuclear power plant as a potential threat, an arms race in the Persian/Arabian Gulf can quickly occur), CNN, 2 August 2020: Trump’s Germany troops pullout may be his last gift to Putin before the election, DW, 4 August 2020: Nearly half of Germans support withdrawal of US troops: survey, DW, 9 August 2020: Why nuclear weapons will always be with us, Politico.eu, 12 August 2020: The old transatlantic relationship ain’t coming back, DW, 15 August 2020: Pompeo signs deal to move US troops from Germany to Poland (in the light of the current developments in EU’s eastward expansion, Germany should now invest a large amount of money to significantly strengthen the EU defense structure and therefore only invest in European defense industry. Since there is currently the far rightist of the EU’s eastward expansion and in the White House are of no use at all, it is now a matter of time of bringing the other EU states together and establish a EU army. The challenges that are looming on the horizon cannot be mastered otherwise. No single state is strong enough on its own to adequately address them), BBC, 15 August 2020: Pompeo signs deal to redeploy troops from Germany to Poland, Politico.com, 15 August 2020: U.S., Poland sign defense cooperation deal, Politico.eu, 19 August 2020: Why the Mali coup matters to Europe and the world, DW, 19 August 2020: Mali coup leaders pledge transition leading to fresh elections, CNN, 19 August 2020: Why the Mali coup could worry Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, BBC, 19 August 2020: Mali coup: Military promises elections after ousting president, DW, 21 August 2020: Germany, France, Britain to keep troops in Mali despite coup, CNN, 21 August 2020: Satellite photos appear to show Chinese submarine using underground base, CNN, 22 August 2020: Trump’s planned troop pullout from Germany has many military holes, Jerusalem Post, 5 September 2020: Russia, US, Turkey and EU have military tensions that border Middle East, Financial Times, 9 September 2020: China’s Middle East strategy comes at a cost to the US, The National, 12 September 2020: Is Erdogan interested in a deal with Europe?, DW, 12 September 2020: Greece announces ‘robust’ arms purchase amid tension with Turkey, The National, 12 September 2020: Erdogan warns Macron not to ‘mess with Turkey’ over eastern Mediterranean, France24, 12 September 2020: Erdogan warns Macron ‘not to mess with Turkey’ amid Mediterranean tensions, The Guardian, 12 September 2020: Erdoğan warns Macron: ‘Don’t mess with Turkey’, DW, 13 September 2020: Turkish gas exploration ship leaves contested waters in Mediterranean, U.S. News, 13 September 2020: Turkey’s Oruc Reis Survey Vessel Back Near Southern Shore, Ship Tracker Shows, Arab News, 17 September 2020: Erdogan ordered to back down in eastern Med, DW, 21 September 2020: German military launches space junk tracking system, DW, 21 September 2020: UN marks 75th anniversary as coronavirus ‘lays bare’ world’s fragility, The National, 22 September 2020: After 75 years, where does the UN stand?, Arab News, 23 September 2020: How Erodgan-led Turkey went from NATO ally to liability, Politico.eu, 24 September 2020: 2020: The year diplomacy died, DW, 29 September 2020: Germany’s UN reform bid revives an old ambition, Politico.eu, 29 September 2020: Macron calls on Europe to quit dependency on US arms (it’s high time to do so), Arab News, 29 September 2020: US intensifying plans to move military assets from Incirlik to Greece, Politico.eu, 1 October 2020: John Bolton: Trump could pull US out of NATO, The National, 3 October 2020: German Unity Day: Celebrations 30 years after reunification, DW, 5 October 2020: US, Russia meet to discuss nuclear arms pact, Politico.eu, 6 October 2020: EU court ruling threatens EU-UK data flows, Arab News, 7 October 2020: Europe’s contradictions exposed by Middle East crises, Israel Hayom, 15 October 2020: Russia, US divided over extending last nuclear arms pact, The Guardian, 15 October 2020: Military spending to be increased by 40% as tension with Russia grows, Politico.eu, 20 October 2020: Reporter’s Notebook: Trump, Biden and the ‘f****** Germans’ (one can probably assume that the German government would have even voluntarily let Nord Stream 2 disappear into oblivion, if the nutjobs of the governments of the EU eastward expansion and the Trump administration had not so vehemently demanded it. Instead, completing the project has now become a matter of credibility. After Trump’s dealings with the EU and individual EU states over the past four years, it is of course also about not making a single political success possible for him before the presidential elections, no matter how small, and that works surprisingly well. Although the Trump administration is currently trying desperately to promote the “Three Seas Initiative” in order to increase its influence on the EU eastward expansion along the way, the USA can directly bury its economic goals without the cooperation of the EU core countries. Neither Paris, Rome nor Berlin will submit to the Trump dictation. This, of course, against the background that Trump’s policies are just as insane as Putin’s policies. However, this cannot hide the fact that neither Berlin, Paris nor Brussels have any convincing counter-strategies. “We wait for the next US president” is neither sufficient nor a strategy at all. All current and many future challenges are already known, so that appropriate concepts for investments can be developed, which in the end should lead to much more European self-sufficiency in order to, among other things, decouple from Trump’s trade war with China. Also in other areas, such as NATO / Common Security (the EU sees itself as “soft power”, but without appropriate armament and defense structures that take part in solving problems in Europe, the Levant and North Africa with credible clout, from “soft power” only “chat room” remains) or international treaties (e.g. the Iran deal), it is clear that the EU has to develop its own lines and solutions in order to be able to keep up with future global competition), The Washington Post, 20 October 2020: Trump administration and Russia near deal to freeze nuclear warheads, extend New START pact, Politico.com, 20 October 2020: Agreement on warheads brings U.S., Russia closer to extending nuclear treaty, DW, 21 October 2020: China has the world’s largest navy — what now for the US?, Politico.eu, 21 October 2020: US and Russia poised to extend New START arms treaty, Al Jazeera, 23 October 2020: Erdogan defends testing Russian S-400, shrugs off US criticism, Politico.com, 23 October 2020: Hopes dim for nuclear agreement with Russia before Election Day, Al Jazeera, 23 October 2020: Greece and Turkey agree to cancel war games: NATO chief, France24, 25 October 2020: UN treaty banning nuclear weapons to take effect as 50th country ratifies text, Al Arabiya, 29 October 2020: How might a potential Biden win change US policy on Turkey?, Haaretz, 30 October 2020: Former U.S. Ambassador Warns Trump Might Ditch NATO, ‘Turning America’s Back’ on Israel, DW, 2 November 2020: Trans-Atlantic ties paramount to European security: German defense minister (regardless of how the US presidential elections will turn out: As already written several times above, one should not assume that there will be a 180 ° turn in US politics with a US President Joe Biden. The realignment of US foreign policy has already been initiated under Barack Obama, but the EU and its states refused to believe it. The catastrophic, incompetent and criminal Trump administration has now made things clear. But neither the EU nor its federal states have learned from this sufficiently and at the necessary speed. Should Joe Biden be able to win the election, the EU would only have gained a little time, but would still have to speed up considerably on the subject of “Common Security”. If the corrupt Trump were to succeed in stealing the US elections through some sort of manipulation (it could even happen, albeit unlikely, that there are enough fools among US voters who might re-elect the ridiculous clown), the EU should prepare better today than tomorrow for the fact that he will push the US out of NATO. At the same time, that would be the end of the “West” as we know it, because that would also be the beginning of the exit from all transatlantic cooperation. This would have a considerable negative effect on both sides, but it would at least give the EU the positive impetus to finally get its butt up and to form a real union within a very short time if the individual states do not want to go south), Arab News, 3 November 2020: Allies must take note of Iran’s belligerence, says Saudi FM, DW, 3 November 2020: Austria attack: World leaders condemn ‘horrifying’ shootings in Vienna, Politico.eu, 4 November 2020: Trump or Biden, Europe is the loser (it is apparently time to take off the rose tinted glasses when assessing the USA and its democratic basis. The US has never been a so-called “full democracy” according to the Democracy Index. Even US experts estimate the situation in such a way that “the USA is on the way to democracy”. Trump has now made it clear for four years that this path is not his path. This has been foreseeable for years and has noticeable consequences in practice. In the US institutions hollowed out by Trump, one can often no longer find any contact persons because thousands of positions are vacant. It cannot be made clearer that there is no interest in a dialogue. What does this mean for Germany and the EU? For Germany, first of all, what has already been described several times in some of the articles on this blog, namely the much clearer assumption of personal responsibility and initiative in many areas (trade, economy, climate, security, etc.). For the EU, this should mean, among other things, a considerably deepened Union, possibly in connection with the concentration on the core EU, in order to be able to act quickly. And what about NATO? With Trump’s second term in office, only a rump organization with Canada, the EU (Common Security and Defense Policy), Great Britain and Australia would remain. In addition to the various negative consequences for the EU, this has the remarkable advantage of a multi-trillion investment program for domestic demand, if only to become largely self-sufficient in the areas of energy, technology and weapons technology), Politico.eu, 4 November 2020: Time for Europe to move past ‘pax Americana’, DW, 5 November 2020: Germany approves billion-euro purchase of 38 Eurofighter jets, France24, 5 November 2020: Macron urges Europe to strengthen border controls after terror attacks, Al Jazeera, 8 November 2020: Europe’s ‘Muslim question’ and the new secular crusade, The National, 9 November 2020: Second Trump term ‘could have killed off Nato’, Politico.eu, 9 November 2020: Germany promises not to backtrack on defense spending after Trump, The National, 10 November 2020: The Middle East’s fault lines are constantly shifting, DW, 10 November 2020: Germany’s imams seen as key in combating radicalization, France24, 10 November 2020: France calls for ‘rapid and coordinated’ European front against terrorism, Politico.eu, 10 November 2020: Reality lags behind rhetoric in EU leaders’ push on terrorism, The National, 10 November 2020: Macron pushes Europe for crackdown on ISIS ticking timebomb threats, Al Arabiya, 10 November 2020: Europe must stand united against all extremism: Hamas, Hezbollah & Muslim Brotherhood, CNN, 10 November 2020: Trump’s ousting of officials and elevation of loyalists could have lasting effects, DW, 11 November 2020: EU weighs tighter border controls after Paris terrorism summit, CNN, 11 November 2020: Trump administration removes senior defense officials and installs loyalists, triggering alarm at Pentagon, Politico.eu, 13 November 2020: EU ministers vow to step up terror fight, but migration deal slips away, Politico.eu, 15 November 2020: Europe’s Biden bind: Stick with US or go it alone?, The Washington Post, 16.11.2020: French and German foreign ministers: Joe Biden can make transatlantic unity possible (a very good, promising and open approach to initiate the “New Deal”. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris need relief and support measures from the Europeans, who have an obligation here to help ensure that the presidency of the two can also be successful in terms of foreign policy), DW, 16 November 2020: France’s Macron calls for European independence ahead of Pompeo meeting, Politico.eu, 16 November 2020: Berlin stresses US ties after Macron knocks minister’s pro-American op-ed, France24, 16 November 2020: Macron walks diplomatic tightrope while hosting Trump ally Pompeo, The New York Times, 16 November 2020: Trump Said to Be Preparing Troop Cuts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, Politico.eu, 17 November 2020: German defense minister to Macron: EU depends on US security guarantee, France24, 17 November 2020: Trump orders troop cuts in Iraq and Afghanistan, CNN, 17 November 2020: US announces further drawdown of troops in Afghanistan and Iraq before Biden takes office, DW, 18 November 2020: Afghanistan: NATO girds for US troop withdrawal (that the in every respect incompetent, corrupt and criminal Trump clan has absolutely nothing to do with democracy and instead maintains the closest friendships to the autocrats and dictatorships of this world is well documented. The love that has now been added to Islamist terrorists, in this case the Taliban, is astonishing, but of course it cannot be a surprise), France24, 18 November 2020: Taliban hails US troop drawdown from Afghanistan as ‘good step’ (Donnie’s Taliban friends are still in love with him), DW, 18 November 2020: Germany’s Maas: Hasty US troop drawdown in Afghanistan could hinder peace process, DW, 19 November 2020: Afghanistan withdrawal: ‘We’re sending a message that the US can’t be trusted’, Politico.eu, 20 November 2020: Low defense spending puts strategic autonomy at risk, EU review says, DW, 21 November 2020: Opinion: What role will the EU play in foreign affairs?, DW, 22 November 2020: US officially withdraws from Open Skies transparency pact, CNN, 22 November 2020: US formally withdraws from Open Skies Treaty that bolstered European security, Politico.eu, 25 November 2020: Europe’s alliance with the US is the foundation of its security, The National, 25 November 2020: The Iranian spy whose Paris ‘bomb plot’ could have sparked a war, Politico.eu, 27 November 2020: Terror trial in Antwerp to test EU-Iran relations, Al Arabiya, 28 November 2020: Belgium court charges Iranian diplomat with 20-year prison term over terrorism, Politico.eu, 28 November 2020: Greece blasts Berlin for shunning plea for Turkey arms embargo (and he has every reason to do so. Instead of delivering the submarines to Turkey, Federal Minister of Defense Kramp-Karrenbauer should take over the submarines for the German Navy, whose fleet is already weakened and are deploying them in the eastern Mediterranean, especially since Turkey is obviously less and less a NATO partner country), Politico.eu, 29 November 2020: EU military boost would bring benefits, says bloc’s top general, France24, 30 November 2020: Iranian official blames Paris-based opposition, Israel for death of nuclear scientist (the Iranian leadership is playing a dangerous game here. If, on the one hand, it takes on Netanyahu’s Israel and Trump’s America, the bitter opponents of the JCPOA, and, on the other hand, on France and the EU, the clear supporters of the JCPOA, then the country threatens to end up empty-handed), Politico.eu, 30 November 2020: Europe must step up on defense, German Greens leader says, NPR, 30 November 2020: Biden Is Good News For Europe, But China Challenges Await, France24, 1 December 2020: ‘Less unpleasant but not fundamentally different’: Transatlantic divides after Biden win, Politico.eu, 1 December 2020: US and Turkey target each other in NATO meeting, DW, 4 December 2020: US defense bill challenges Trump’s Germany troop withdrawal, Der Spiegel, 4 December 2020: Germany’s Foreign Minister on the Future of Trans-Atlantic Relations: “We Have Waited a Long Time for This”, DW, 4 December 2020: Opinion: Germany never took Trump’s troop threat seriously, The National, 4 December 2020: Who is Helga Schmid, the new head of the OSCE?, DW, 5 December 2020: Germany: Human chain against weapons exports outside Bundestag (they still do not understand that the fully comprehensive insurance of the US Army for Germany and the EU has expired and therefore a lot more must be invested in equipment and armament. Internal and external security are the foundation of a democracy, without which, by the way, the right to demonstrate cannot be guaranteed. Alternatively, the peace movements could present credible (this is exactly why it will fail) agreements with Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Xi Jinping, Hassan Rohani/Ali Chamenei, Bashar al-Assad, the various groups of Islamist extremists and terrorists on their demilitarization so that the Eu itself could think about it too. It can be assumed, however, that those named will not be very impressed that the peace movements can dance their names), DW, 7 December 2020: US, China ruled global arms market in 2019: SIPRI, Jerusalem Post, 8 December 2020: Will Austin’s appointment see Israel move from EUCOM to CENTCOM? (United States European Command (EUCOM), United States Central Command (USCENTCOM or CENTCOM)), DW, 8 December 2020: Friend or foe: China has NATO worried, Europa.eu, 9 December 2020: Security Union: A Counter-Terrorism Agenda and stronger Europol to boost the EU’s resilience, The Times, 11 December 2020: Nato needs more than brave words to survive, DW, 11 December 2020: Ban on Syria deportations will be allowed to expire, Haaretz, 11 December 2020: U.S. vs. Turkey: The 7 Rifts That Divide the Key NATO Allies, The National, 11 December 2020: EU agrees to map out sanctions on Turkey over Mediterranean drilling, France24, 11 December 2020: EU Summit: Turkey says European sanctions plan is ‘biased, unlawful’, DW, 11 December 2020: Study shows how Islamic State built arsenal in Middle East, Politico.eu, 11 December 2020: EU leaders move toward sanctioning Turkey, DW, 14 December 2020: No armed drones for the German army — for now (hard to believe: after four years of total madness, the Trump administration actually made one correct decision), France24, 14 December 2020: US imposes sanctions on Turkey over purchase of Russian air defence system, DW, 14 December 2020: US sanctions Turkey over purchase of Russian air defense system, Times of Israel, 14 December 2020: US sanctions NATO ally Turkey for buying Russian S-400 air defense system, Arab News, 14 December 2020: US sanctions NATO ally Turkey over Russian missile defense system, Jerusalem Post, 15 December 2020: The US has sanctioned NATO ally Turkey – now what?, The National, 15 December 2020: Turkey left ‘shaken’ by US sanctions over S-400 missile system, DW, 15 December 2020: NATO dismisses new anti-nuclear UN treaty as risky, ineffective, Al Jazeera, 17 December 2020: What do US sanctions on Turkey mean for NATO?, Politico.eu, 18 December 2020: German SPD under attack after shooting down armed drones, The Times, 19 December 2020: Chinese military expansion into Pacific ‘poses greatest threat to America and allies’, The Scotsman, 19 December 2020: New Cold War: World’s democracies must wake up to a chilling new reality after massive cyberattack on US – Scotsman comment, The Times, 19 December 2020: ‘To win against Russia and China we must beat them at their own game’, Foreign Policy, 21 December 2020: China Used Stolen Data to Expose CIA Operatives in Africa and Europe, Politico.eu, 21 December 2020: Germany, stop worrying about boosting military spending, Reuters, 22 December 2020: ‘Good riddance,’ China says as Germany leaves U.N. Security Council (that the two injustice regimes would prefer to see further dictatorships represented in the UN Security Council is of course understandable from their point of view. It is all the more important to regularly confront them with reality. It’s nice to see that they still jump over every stick that you hold out to them. It shows how much they are under pressure. Ambassador Heusgen obviously did everything right), Politico.eu, 22 December 2020: Sweden edges closer to NATO membership, DW, 28 December 2020: What’s next for NATO after Donald Trump?, Al Jazeera, 29 December 2020: US sanctions no obstacle to Russia-Turkey military ties: Lavrov, Foreign Policy, 31 December 2020: What Merkel Really Thinks About China—and the World, Irish Times, 1 January 2021: Ireland takes seat on powerful UN Security Council, aiming to be ‘consensus builder’, Arab News, 5 January 2021: New UN Security Council members share resolve to end regional conflicts, CNN, 5 January 2021: UK says its aircraft carrier strike group is ready to deploy. China’s already watching, Foreign Policy, 8 January 2021: What Could Stop an ‘Unhinged’ U.S. President From Ordering a Nuclear Strike?, Arab News, 10 January 2021: Why Biden has chance to reopen door to Turkey, The Wall Street Journal, 14 January 2021: Trump Orders Military Shift to Spur Israeli-Arab Cooperation Against Iran (United States Central Command (CENTCOM), United States European Command (EUCOM) – at least some good news in these days. A win-win situation for all parties involved), Military Times, 15 January 2021: In waning days, Trump shakes up CENTCOM to increase Arab-Israeli efforts against Iran, Jerusalem Post, 15 January 2021: Regional ramifications as Trump seeks to include Israel in CENTCOM, The National, 15 January 2021: Russia to follow US out of Open Skies treaty, Al Arabiya, 15 January 2021: Russia withdraws from Open Skies Treaty after US departure, France24, 15 January 2021: Pentagon includes Israel in Middle East command area, Jerusalem Post, 18 January 2021: Israel under CENTCOM: Why does it matter?, The Washington Post, 21 January 2021: Biden administration to seek five-year extension on key nuclear arms treaty in first foray with Russia, Foreign Policy, 21 January 2021: Why Attempts to Build a New Anti-China Alliance Will Fail, Politico.eu, 22 January 2021: NATO chief backs New START nuclear weapons treaty extension, NPR, 22 January 2021: U.N. Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Takes Effect, Without The U.S. And Other Powers, The New York Times, 22 January 2021: Kremlin Welcomes Biden’s Offer to Extend Nuclear Treaty, Politoc.eu, 23 January 2021: German Greens go nuclear over call to renew NATO vows (A New Agreement, 20 January 2021: More Ambition, Please!, Al Jazeera, 29 January 2021: Italy permanently halts arms sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel Hayom, 1 February 2021: NATO 2030 and Israel (now, that’s a big amount of wishful thinking, which most likely will not materialize), Politico.com, 3 February 2021: Europe troop withdrawal plans ‘on hold,’ top general says, Al Jazeera, 3 February 2021: US and Russia extend nuclear arms control treaty to 2026, DW, 5 February 2021: Germany welcomes Biden plan to halt US troop withdrawal, The Times, 5 February 2021: China’s plans for $39bn port city alarm Australia, DW, 5 February 2021: Drone, jet and tank projects top Merkel-Macron defense talks, Arab News, 7 February 2021: The Empires Strike Back at Europe, DW, 7 February 2021: Germany reports record €53 billion in NATO defense spending, Al Jazeera, 9 February 2021: Turkey signals compromise with US over Russian S-400 missiles, CNN, 9 February 2021: North Korean hackers stole more than $300 million to pay for nuclear weapons, says confidential UN report, France24, 11 February 2021: UN report: N. Korea used millions in stolen cryptocurrencies to support banned weapons programmes, Haaretz, 11 February 2021: Illegal Missile Sale to ‘Asian Country’ Could Harm Israel-U.S. Ties, DW, 12 February 2021: Wolfgang Ischinger: Europe is surrounded by a ‘ring of fire’, Politico.com, 12 February 2021: Austin to press NATO allies on defense spending, Politico.eu, 15 February 2021: NATO defense chiefs to discuss staying in Afghanistan a bit longer, Al Jazeera, 15 February 2021: NATO will leave Afghanistan when ‘time is right’: Stoltenberg, Al Arabiya, 16 February 2021: In NATO debut, Biden’s Pentagon aims to rebuild trust damaged by Trump, The National, 16 February 2021: Joe Biden to reinvigorate ‘sacred’ Nato after divisive Donald Trump era, DW, 16 February 2021: NATO in a quandary as it awaits Joe Biden’s Afghanistan plans, Al Arabiya, 18 February 2021: Russian Su-27 fighters intercept French jets approaching border over Black Sea (feeding the Russians with their own medicine. The only thing they will understand. That’s exactely how the West should act on almost all Russian borders, to keep them busy and at the same time dry up their defense budget – like during Cold War I), DW, 18 February 2021: Taliban threat in Afghanistan ‘will significantly rise,’ says German defense minister, The National, 18 February 2021: Nato chief dismisses early withdrawal of Afghan troop trainers, DW, 18 February 2021: Munich Security Conference brings trans-Atlantic’s Fantastic Four back together, Politico.eu, 18 February 2021: Live blog: Biden at Munich Security Conference, France24, 18 February 2021: NATO to expand Iraq mission to around 4,000 personnel, Politico.eu, 18 February 2021: US defense chief charms allies during NATO debut, Arab News, 18 February 2021: Why the West may be on the march again, NPR, 19 February 2021: Biden Takes His ‘America’s Back’ Message To The World In Munich Speech, The New York Times, 19 February 2021: World Leaders Meet on Security and Democracy: Live Updates, The National, 19 February 2021: Joe Biden warns the global dynamic has shifted to a focus on meeting shared challenges, Al Arabiya, 19 February 2021: Democracy ‘under assault,’ Biden says in first message to international community, Gulf News, 19 February 2021: US President Joe Biden: The ‘transatlantic alliance is back’, Mercator Institute for China Studies, 21 February 2021: Towards ‘extreme competition’: Mapping the contours of US-China relations under the Biden administration, The National, 25 February 2021: Global military spending grows as US dominance is ‘being challenged’ by China, DW, 26 February 2021: Germany committed to Afghan peace process, minister says, Politico.eu, 26 February 2021: EU leaders, eyeing autonomy, get noisy on defense, Asia Society policy Institute, 26 February 2021: The Decade of Living Dangerously: The Impact of U.S.-China Strategic Competition on Asia, The National, 5 March 2021: Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg: EU cannot defend Europe by itself, The New Yorker, 5 March 2021: Letter from Biden’s Washington: What Does National Security Even Mean Anymore?, CNN, 6 March 2021: China has built the world’s largest navy. Now what’s Beijing going to do with it?, DW, 7 March 2021: China warns US not to cross ‘red line’ on Taiwan, The Algemeiner, 8 March 2021: Germany Can Show True Repentance by Confronting Iran (not the first time, that pro-Netanyahu lobbyists are trying to drag Germany and the EU into the Crime Minister’s Middle East Bullsh!t Bingo and for sure not the last time that it won’t work. The most important reason is, that it would be against the fundamental selfinterests of Germany and the EU, including security interests. The second one is, that Netanyahu massively contributed to the Israel-Iran dispute, not least by pushing Trump to abonden the Iran deal, without having a reasonable alternative at hand and by doing so enabling Iran to develop own nuclear war heads or in other words: “you break it, you own it”. Meanwhile Germany and the EU are trying to keep the Iran deal alive, e.g. by maintainig the INSTEX mechanism, to bring US President Joe Biden in the position to re-start negotiations. Netanyahu did never anything good to Israel and is only interested in his self-enrichment through various criminal actions. Sooner or later the Israelis will pay a price for that. Iran is also a challenge for Germany. The bigger task, however, is to protect the Israelis from their greatest enemy, and that is clearly Netanyahu), DW, 10 March 2021: NATO must reduce military emissions — Jens Stoltenberg, Israel Hayom, 11 March 2021: Israeli president, IDF chief of staff to visit Europe next week, The National, 13 March 2021: Britain to set out biggest international strategy review in decades with a defence overhaul, The Algemeiner, 14 March 2021: IDF Chief, Israeli President to Lobby European Leaders Against Iran Deal Starting Tuesday (no leader in Germany, France or Austria is nearly as stupid as Trump, and, unlikle Trump’s senior advisor for the conflict, Jared Kushner, they have read far more than just seven books about the Middle East conflicts, so that the lobbying efforts won’t work), CNN, 14 March 2021: Biden administration started outreach to North Korea last month, but country is unresponsive, BBC, 14 March 2021: North Korea ‘not responding’ to US contact efforts, DW, 16 March 2021: German and Israeli presidents discuss Middle East and the coronavirus (it is remarkable how very different the views on the Iran deal are. Here it becomes clear once more), Times of Israel, 16 March 2021: In Germany, Rivlin says he trusts Europe will ‘stand by us’ against ICC probe, Jerusalem Post, 16 March 2021: Rivlin heads for diplomatic trip to Europe, warning of Iranian danger, France24, 16 March 2021: US Secretary of State Blinken warns China over ‘coercion’ on first Asia visit, DW, 16 March 2021: UK pledges to increase nuclear warhead stockpile, boost Asian ties following foreign policy report, BBC, 16 March 2021: Integrated review: UK to lift cap on nuclear stockpile, CNN, 16 March 2021: UK labels Russia top security threat, issues warning on China, and promises to build more nuclear warheads, Politico.eu, 16 March 2021: UK move to lift nuclear cap is ‘insurance policy,’ says minister, NPR, 16 March 2021: Pentagon Pushes For Bigger Effort To Deter China’s Growing Military Might, DW, 17 March 2021: Biden says Putin is a killer and ‘will pay a price’ for election interference (where he’s right, he’s right! Just think of the numerous Russian war crimes in Syria, the annexation of Crimea, the attacks on eastern Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan and Chechnya. Putin can get away with the term “killer” instead of “war criminal”. On the other hand: As head of state, Biden could and should have found more diplomatic words in order to make the same statement), The Guardian, 17 March 2021: Biden: Putin is a ‘killer’ and will pay for interference in US election, France24, 17 March 2021: Russia recalls US ambassador after Biden threatens sanctions for election-meddling, The Hill, 17 March 2021: Russia recalls ambassador after Biden says Putin will ‘pay a price’ for interference, The Times, 17 March 2021: Boris Johnson attacked for pushing trade links with China, DW, 17 March 2021: Russia warns UK nuclear arsenal plan harms global security, CNN, 17 March 2021: US sanctions 24 Hong Kong and Chinese officials ahead of Blinken meeting with Beijing, The Times, 18 March 2021: ‘Killer Putin’ will pay for poll meddling, vows Biden, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 19 March 2021: Israel: Below the Surface (The New York Times, 7 April 2019: Will the Israeli ‘King’ Be Recrowned?), The Times, 19 March 2021: US and China trade barbs at Alaska talks, DW, 20 March 2021: US seeks to strengthen security ties with India, The National, 21 March 2021: US in joint military exercises with France, Belgium and Japan in Gulf of Oman, Jerusalem Post, 21 March 2021: Iran, Russia and Turkey signal growing alliance, The National, 21 March 2021: US confirms new security pact with Jordan, DW, 23 March 2021: Blinken seeks to ‘revitalize’ NATO alliance, The Guardian, 23 March 2021: Taiwan China threat to invade is ‘closer than most think’, says US admiral, Al Arabiya, 23 March 2021: NATO affirms unity, attempts to put Trump era behind it, The National, 23 March 2021: Blinken promises to work with Nato allies on Afghan withdrawal, BBC, 23 March 2021: North Korea missiles: Biden says launch ‘not provocation’ (the North Koreans will never get over the fact that, despite the support of China and Russia, they completely screwed up their attack on South Korea (Korean conflict). Since then, the regime is seeking revenge and has made anti-Americanism a raison d’être, which is visible in every corner of the country and on which everything else is based, including the silly saber rattling. The regime is of course aware that 20 minutes after a North Korean missile hits US territory, North Korea will cease to exist. For years, the regime has only been kept alive by donations from all over the world, especially from China. Russia and China have a keen interest in it, especially since a united Korea under South Korean leadership would mean that US soldiers would stand at the borders of Russia and China to pat them on the fingers when things are going the wrong direction. From their point of view, it is more pleasant to promote the nuclear-armed North Korean terror regime. Against the background, it doesn’t really matter what the Biden administration does, especially since nothing will change anyway. Kim Dim Sum will continue to seek for international attention in order to be able to fool his slaves into believing that he has an international say, although this is of course anything but true and the country will experience another painful military defeat in the event of another attack on, for example, South Korea), Financial Times, 23 March 2021: North Korea nuclear tensions: US plays down first North Korean rocket test under Biden presidency, DW, 24 March 2021: US Secretary of State Blinken calls on NATO allies to help counter ‘aggressive and coercive’ China, Politico.eu, 24 March 2021: US and EU resuscitate ‘dialogue on China’, Arab News, 24 March 2021: Chinese FM reveals initiative to protect MidEast: Al Arabiya, The National, 24 March 2021: US and Turkey break the ice in Nato meeting but deep disagreements remain, Arab News, 25 March 2021: Middle Eastern NATO would increase stability and prosperity, DW, 25 March 2021: Can China impose military force against Taiwan?, Xinhua, 25 March 2021: China, Hungary agree to strengthen cooperation in various fields, Mercator Institute for China StudiesN, 26 March 2021: Likeminded coordination boosted, with Chinese pushback, Israel Hayom, 26 March 2021: ‘I don’t regret helping my people and my land’, Jerusalem Post, 26 March 2021: Pollard: Jews ‘will always have dual loyalty’ & should consider spying for Israel, Arab News, 26 March 2021: China, Saudi Arabia to cooperate in new ways, Jerusalem Post, 26 March 2021: China, Iran expected to sign 25-year accord, Iranian state media says (the West had it’s chance to start re-integrating Iran in its influence sphere, but actively missed out on this possibility by massively overplaying its hand. Now it’s China’s turn), Al Jazeera, 26 March 2021: Taiwan reports largest ever incursion by Chinese air force, Arab News, 26 March 2021: EU extends olive branch to Ankara with key conditions, The Times, 26 March 2021: I’ll save world from an over-mighty China, vows Biden, DW, 28 March 2021: German submarines fitted with Russian technology: report, CNN, 30 March 2021: NATO scrambles jets 10 times to track Russian military planes across Europe, Haaretz, 30 March 2021: China Is Involved in a Sensitive Israeli Project. Israeli Government Claims It Didn’t Know, CNN, 30 March 2021: NATO scrambles jets 10 times to track Russian military planes across Europe, The New York Times, 30 March 2021: Fighting Escalates in Eastern Ukraine, Signaling the End to Another Cease-Fire, DW, 1 April 2021: Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘aggravating’ situation in Donbass (so the war criminals from the Kremlin want to ignite the next stage), France24, 1 April 2021: Ukraine says Russia massing troops on border, US warns Moscow, CNBC, 1 April 2021: The West waits for Putin’s next move as Russia-Ukraine tensions rise, Al Jazeera, 1 April 2021: Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘muscle-flexing’ as tensions rise, DW, 1 April 2021: US pledges support for Ukraine amid tensions with Russia, The National, 1 April 2021: Ukraine leader says Russia creates threatening atmosphere in ceasefire talks, The Washington Post, 1 April 2021: The administration could be facing its first serious test with Russia, France24, 2 April 2021: NATO condemns Russian military build-up as Moscow warns escalation could ‘destroy’ Ukraine, DW, 2 April 2021: Russia warns West against sending troops to back Ukraine (of course, the war criminal Putin want to slaughter as many Ukrainians as possible without being interrupted by the West), France24, 3 April 2021: Biden offers Ukraine ‘unwavering support’ over Russia standoff, DW, 3 April 2021: South Korea and China seek progress on denuclearization, CNN, 3 April 2021: Doing business in China is difficult. A clash over human rights is making it harder (Added to this is the closer cooperation that has just been concluded between China and Russia, including on security issues, in order to split the Asian region among one another. The EU’s path is then already mapped out and, out of pure self-interest, it will not lead to closer cooperation with the extremely dubious regimes in China or Russia), DW, 4 April 2021: Germany, France condemn Ukraine escalation, call for restraint, The National, 4 April 2021: Will the China-Iran deal change the Middle East?, Arab News, 5 April 2021: Lack of international accountability has emboldened war criminals, DW, 6 April 2021: US asks Russia to explain Ukrainian border ‘provocations’, DW, 6 April 2021: Ukraine urges NATO to set up membership path, The Guardian, 6 April 2021: Ukraine Country pressures Nato for membership as Russia amasses troops at border, The Washington Post, 7 April 2021: China builds arms systems using American chip technology, CNN, 7 April 2021: China flanks Taiwan with military exercises in air and sea, Jerusalem Post, 7 April 2021: China sends more jets; Taiwan says it will fight to the end if there’s war, Foreign Policy, 7 April 2021: Philippines Leaning Toward Allowing U.S. Troops After All, Reuters, 8 April 2021: China says U.S. to blame for tensions over Taiwan, DW, 8 April 2021: Opinion: Vladimir Putin hedges his bets on Ukraine, The Hill, 8 April 2021: Pentagon chief to visit Europe, Israel amid tensions with Russia, Iran, DW, 8 April 2021: Germany urges Russia to reduce troop presence near Ukraine, The New Yorker, 8 April 2021: Vladimir Putin Has a Message: “Hey, Joe, Are You Listening?”, The New York Times, 8 April 2021: Biden Backs Taiwan, but Some Call for a Clearer Warning to China, Foreign Policy, 8 April 2021: Japan Toughens on China as Beijing Issues Threats, Reuters, 9 April 2021: Analysis: Russian military buildup raises stakes as fighting in Ukraine intensifies, The Guardian, 9 April 2021: Russia Kremlin officials say they ‘will not stand aside’ if Kyiv launches assault (the war criminals from the Kremlin wants to be seen as victims? *hahaha*), CNN, 9 April 2021: Russian forces are massing on Ukraine’s border. Bluff or not, Putin is playing with fire, DW, 9 April 2021: Russia, after sending troops to Ukraine border, calls escalation ‘unprecedented’, Al Jazeera, 9 April 2021: Ukraine rules out offensive against Russia-backed separatists, CNN, 9 April 2021: South Korea rolls out the KF-21, joining elite group of global supersonic fighter jet makers (the “bad hair day” guy from North Korea will like it), Arab News, 9 April 2021: Ukraine must remain independent and sovereign, The National, 9 April 2021: Could Europe’s reemergence in Asia be a win-win this time?, EU vs Disinfo, 9 April 2021: Donbas: Creating Fakes on the Ground, CNN, 9 April 2021: US considering sending warships to Black Sea amid Russia-Ukraine tensions, Reuters, 10 April 2021: Ukraine says it could be provoked by Russian ‘aggression’ in conflict area, Politico.eu, 10 April 2021: Western countries ‘regret’ Russia’s rebuff of meeting on Ukraine, The Guardian, 11 April 2021: Ukraine Soldier reportedly killed in artillery fire from Russia-backed troops, Al Jazeera, 11 April 2021: Ukraine says soldier killed in shelling by Russia-backed forces, The Guardian, 11 April 2021: US: Blinken warns against Chinese aggression on Taiwan, Politico.com, 11 April 2021: Trudeau government threatens Halifax Security Forum over proposed Taiwan award, Al Arabiya, 11 April 2021: US warns of ‘consequences’ if Russia acts ‘aggressively’ in Ukraine, Al Jazeera, 11 April 2021: Ukraine turns to Turkey as Russia threatens full-scale war, The Hill, 11 April 2021: Blinken to return to Brussels to discuss Russia, Ukraine tensions, Politico.com, 11 April 2021: Blinken warns China, Russia about military action, CNN, 12 April 2021: Ukraine’s President heads to the trenches as Russia masses its troops, DW, 13 April 2021: Biden talks to Putin about Ukraine, suggests meeting, DW, 13 April 2021: Ukraine: NATO slams Russia’s troop buildup on border, France24, 13 April 2021: US officials tour Europe to shore up allied support on Russia, China and Iran, Politico.eu, 13 April 2021: US to deploy 500 additional troops to Germany this year, The Guardian, 13 April 2021: Ukraine: Biden urges Russia to de-escalate tensions in call with Putin, Politico.eu, 13 April 2021: How the showdown between Russia and Ukraine could go wrong, NPR, 13 April 2021: Biden’s National Security Team Lists Leading Threats, With China At The Top, DW, 14 April 2021: Japan seeks German help to counter China’s clout in Indo-Pacific, The Guardian, 14 April 2021: Ukraine still outgunned as Russia prepares for larger conflict, DW, 14 April 2021: US sends unofficial delegation to Taiwan, angering China, Al Arabiya, 14 April 2021: US, NATO to work together on Afghanistan withdrawal plan: Blinken, Al Jazeera, 14 April 2021: Biden’s goal: Ending ‘America’s longest war’ in Afghanistan, The Times, 14 April 2021: US withdrawal from Afghanistan: Return to barbarism is all but certain, The National, 14 April 2021: Biden pledges imminent end to US military campaign in Afghanistan, NPR, 14 April 2021: ‘It’s Time To End This Forever War.’ Biden Says Forces To Leave Afghanistan By 9/11 (it is astonishing that a not small part of the US population knows nothing at all about the ongoing war or that their country is involved in it. The majority of those who know it have been calling for an end to the operation for a long time, even if that means that in the future, due to the renewed strength of the Taliban, another operation could be necessary. Ultimately, however, one must also recognize that Afghanistan cannot be pacified. All the great powers and their allies tried for decades and ultimately had to withdraw without any results), The New York Times, 14 April 2021: ‘Time to End America’s Longest War,’ Biden Says, Defending Afghan Exit, BBC, 15 April 2021: Afghanistan: ‘We have won the war, America has lost’, say Taliban, Arab News, 15 April 2021: As US withdraws, new players to dominate Afghan scene, The Times, 15 April 2021: We beat you and will take power in Afghanistan, Taliban taunt Joe Biden, Arab News, 15 April 2021: Europe and Middle East would be stronger together, CNN, 15 April 2021: Biden starts to execute on policies Trump abandoned by crossing off another campaign promise, Al Arabiya, 15 April 2021: German, French defence ministers to discuss joint combat jet, DW, 16 April 2021: Germany’s Angela Merkel speaks with Ukrainian and French leaders over Russia’s border maneuvers, France24, 16 April 2021: Russia tensions on menu as Macron holds talks with Ukraine’s Zelensky, Al Jazeera, 16 April 2021: Ukraine may seek nuclear weapons if left out of NATO: Diplomat (that would only be logical. After all, Ukraine only got rid of its nuclear weapons because of a non-aggression pact with Russia. Russia broke this agreement years ago. In order to increase Ukrainian security and to counter Russia’s permanent aggressions towards Ukrainw, the purchase of new nuclear weapons is practically imperative), The Guardian, 16 April 2021: What did 20 years of western intervention in Afghanistan achieve? Ruination, Reuters, 16 April 2021: Hungary blocks EU statement criticising China over Hong Kong, diplomats say, Israel Hayom, 16 April 2021: For Biden and the West, it’s ‘take 2’ on Turkey, DW, 17 April 2021: Russia sends warships for maneuver amid tension near Crimea, France24, 17 April 2021: Macron urges ‘clear red lines’ with Russia amid buildup near Ukraine, France24, 18 April 2021: Ukrainian soldiers sceptical that Western sanctions will deter Russian troops (and they are of course absolutely right about it. You can’t deal with a war criminal like Putin like with sane people. A triple strategy is needed here. Ukraine’s wish to become more and more quickly integrated into NATO should be granted immediately. At the same time, military support for Ukraine from the West should be massively increased. Ultimately, the West’s sanctions regime against Russia should be significantly expanded and hit where it really hurts, namely at the revenues from oil and natural gas. Russia will then try to sell more to China. However, the Chinese only pay 1/3 of what the West pays. That would put Russia on the same path as the former Soviet Union and would have the same result, namely state bankruptcy), France24, 18 April 2021: Macron says world must ‘define clear red lines’ with Russia as tensions rise over Ukraine, Politico.eu, 18 April 2021: Europe’s strategic long-shot: more warships in the Indo-Pacific, DW, 19 April 2021: EU discusses Russia strategy as tensions grow in Ukraine, Politico.eu, 19 April 2021: Borrell offers ‘hope’ — but no EU action — on Russia-Ukraine standoff, Al Jazeera, 19 April 2021: EU warns ‘spark’ could set of escalation at Ukraine borders, Politico.eu, 20 April 2021: Merkel: Retreat from multilateralism is world’s ‘biggest threat’, Al Jazeera, 20 April 2021: ‘Unprovoked escalation’: US slams Russian plan to block Black Sea, CNN, 20 April 2021: Top military official warns China and Russia are modernizing nuclear weapons faster than US, The New York Times, 20 April 2021: ‘We Know How to Defend Our Interests’: Putin’s Emerging Hard Line, DW, 21 April 2021: Vladimir Putin warns against crossing Russia’s ‘red line’ (instead of looking for solutions to the problems he has created himself, the war criminal continues to threaten others), France24, 21 April 2021: Putin warns of ‘quick and tough’ response to any provocation by the West, DW, 21 April 2021: Opinion: Russia’s Vladimir Putin counts on the EU to help him again, CNN, 21 April 2021: Protesters across Russia call for Alexey Navalny’s release on same day as Putin’s annual address, The New York Times, 21 April 2021: Putin Warns of a Russian ‘Red Line’ the West Will Regret Crossing, Der Spiegel, 22 April 2021: Clouds of War in Ukraine: Tensions Rise in Crimea and Donbass as Russia Deploys Troops, DW, 22 April 2021: Russia orders soldiers back from Ukraine border after weeks of tension, Politico.eu, 22 April 2021: Russian troops to pull back from Ukrainian border, DW, 23 April 2021: West needs to do more to help Ukraine fend off Putin threat, ex-US diplomat says, Politico.com, 26 April 2021: Spy chiefs look to declassify intel after rare plea from 4-star commanders, CNN, 27 April 2021: Britain is sending a huge naval force through some of the most tense waters in Asia, Haaretz, 29 April 2021: America No Longer Considers Turkey a Strategic Partner (when someone behaves like a wild boar, he will be treated as such. That simple), France24, 2 May 2021: North Korea accuses Biden of pursuing hostile policy, warns of reprisal, The National, 2 May 2021: North Korea warns US it will respond to Joe Biden’s deterrence policy, NPR, 2 May 2021: North Korea Warns U.S. Over Biden’s ‘Big Blunder’, Al Jazeera, 2 May 2021: China’s carrier group conducts exercises in South China Sea, Jerusalem Post, 3 May 2021: Iran wants to use China to counter US – what are the implications?, Al Jazeera, 3 May 2021: In arms race for air superiority, Russia challenges US hegemony, France24, 4 May 2021: David Petraeus: US troop withdrawal ‘is not going to end the endless war in Afghanistan’, DW, 4 May 2021: Germany eyes new Afghanistan role after troop withdrawal, Politico.eu, 5 May 2021: US to join EU project on military mobility, Der Spiegel, 6 May 2021: The U.S.-China Confrontation: “We Need To Avoid Stumbling into a Major War”, Politico.eu, 6 May 2021: Green leader says Germans must ‘take more responsibility for own security’, The Times, 7 May 2021: China eyes two new foreign bases to cement growing naval power, DW, 13 May 2021: Opinion: In Ukraine conflict, Putin hits NATO’s credibility, Al Arabiya, 14 May 2021: Pentagon may delay moving Israel to US CENTCOM area of responsibility after violence, Politico.eu, 16 May 2021: EU foreign ministers to discuss Israel-Palestine conflict on Tuesday, The Guardian, 18 May 2021: Analysis EU sidelined and divided as war rages again in Middle East (the EU states merely pursue different economic interests in the region and understandably have no interest in further involvement. After all, they would have to be powdered with a clasp bag if they were to allow themselves to be militarily drawn into the more than 100-year-old Middle East conflict and thus finally bring the Middle East conflict to Europe, including the influx of even more Muslim and Jewish extremists and terrorists), Politico.eu, 18 May 2021: Borrell calls for Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire, but Hungary blocks joint EU position (not very surprising. Still, it is interesting that the only supporter of Netanyahu is his autocratic colleague from Hungary. In the past few months, backbenchers and Israel lobbyists have called for the country to join the EU. There is at least one clear answer to that: Forget about it!), DW, 18 May 2021: Middle East seeks a mediator as Israel strikes Gaza, Politico.eu, 18 May 2021: On Israel-Palestine, Americans and Europeans swap scripts (on scripts only, as the EU still lacks a working security architecture to be able do deliver more than just babbling), Al Arabiya, 21 May 2021: Iran displays long-range drone, names it ‘Gaza’ in honor of Palestinians’ struggle, Arab News, 24 May 2021: As US scales back in Middle East, China may step in: US general, Forbes, 27 May 2021: Russian Bombers In Syria Are A Threat 40 Years In The Making (later, the simpletons from the Kremlin will try again to claim that “NATO is threatening Russia”. Of course, only right-wing and left-wing extremists will believe it), DW, 28 May 2021: Scorched earth: The climate impact of conflict, France24, 28 May 2021: Croatia to buy 12 used Rafale fighter jets from France for €1 billion, Irish Times, 28 May 2021: Ireland had to rely on EU ship to patrol fishing waters due to Naval shortages, Politico.eu, 28 May 2021: In Europe, a coronavirus boom for foreign surveillance firms, DW, 1 June 2021: NATO ministers meet to lay groundwork for summit, Politico.eu, 1 June 2021: Ahead of NATO summit, France urges Europe to muscle up, CNN, 2 June 2021: US and allies send message to Russia with NATO state flyover, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2021: The Taiwan Temptation, Reuters, 4 June 2021: Ukraine must show good will if it wants Russian gas transit, Putin says (is Nord Stream 2 just an economic project? Obviously not. It is a political weapon of the Kremlin. The partner countries’ warnings about Russian reprisals are becoming true. Berlin has to take countermeasures here and shouldn’t even start gas deliveries through the pipeline), DW, 6 June 2021: NATO: Jens Stoltenberg warns Russia and Belarus, The Guardian, 6 June 2021: Joe Biden: US president trumpets democracy abroad in Post op-ed – as threats spread at home, DW, 6 June 2021: Germany: Russian spy activity becomes ‘more brutal’, The National, 6 June 2021: Biden looks to reset relations with Europe trip, DW, 6 June 2021: Biden says US stands with European allies ahead of Putin summit, The Hill, 7 June 2021: Biden invites Ukraine’s president to the White House, DW, 7 June 2021: Germany warns: AI arms race already underway, Jerusalem Post, 7 June 2021: Iran hopes Russia and China oppose US role in MidEast, Central Asia, DW, 7 June 2021: Russia officially withdraws from Open Skies treaty, DW, 7 June 2021: UN nuclear watchdog warns on North Korea and Iran, Atlantic Council, 7 June 2021: Secretary General Stoltenberg explains why NATO is getting serious about cyber and China ‘is not an adversary’, France24, 8 June 2021: Director-general Audrey Azoulay: UNESCO members must support peace ‘in the long term’, The Times, 8 June 2021: Russia’s meddling in Germany ‘returns to Cold War levels’, DW, 9 June 2021: Munich Security Report: Is China a partner, rival or both?, France24, 10 June 2021: Macron announces the end of France’s anti-Islamist Operation Barkhane in the Sahel, The Hill, 10 June 2021: Russia prepping to give Iran advanced satellite system that will boost military spying capabilities, The Washington Post, 11 June 2021: Russia is preparing to supply Iran with an advanced satellite system that will boost Tehran’s ability to surveil military targets, officials say, Al Jazeera, 11 June 2021: What to expect from Biden’s first NATO summit as US president, Jerusalem Post, 11 June 2021: UAE, Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana elected to UN Security Council, France24, 11 June 2021: NATO chief says worsening security situation in Sahel region ‘of great concern’, CNN, 11 June 2021: Iran says its naval vessels have reached the Atlantic for the first time, The National, 11 June 2021: UAE and four others elected to UN Security Council, The Washington Post, 11 June 2021: Biden’s test in Europe: Drawing red lines with Putin and Erdogan, France24, 14 June 2021: Biden tells NATO allies: I want Europe to know the U.S. is there, CNN, 14 June 2021: President Biden arrives at NATO for first visit as President, BBC, 14 June 2021: Nato summit: Nato must face up to China’s rise, alliance chief says, Politico.eu, 14 June 2021: Biden embraces NATO, but European allies are weak, CNN, 14 June 2021: Biden is about to confront two relentless forces that could seriously hamper his presidency, Reuters, 14 June 2021: At NATO, Biden says defence of Europe a “sacred obligation”, Politico.com, 14 June 2021: NATO Summit: NATO searches for brain life, France24, 14 June 2021: ‘NATO is critically important for US interests,’ Biden tells alliance at first summit post-Trump, CNN, 14 June 2021: Biden preparing intensely for Putin’s tactics with aides and allies, The Guardian, 14 June 2021: Nato summit: Leaders to agree that China presents security risk, Arab News, 14 June 2021: NATO summit statement: ‘We call on Iran to stop all ballistic missile activities’, The National, 14 June 2021: Nato summit: leaders adopt tough stance on Russia and China, Al Arabiya, 14 June 2021: NATO to expand collective defense clause to jointly respond to attacks in space, Al Jazeera, 14 June 2021: NATO says China presents ‘systemic’ challenges, The Hill, 14 June 2021: Biden reflects on ‘diminished’ GOP at NATO in wake of post-Trump fallout, The Atlantic, 14 June 2021: The Wreckage Donald Trump Left Behind, DW, 14 June 2021: NATO must ‘stand up’ to authoritarian regimes China and Russia, says Stoltenberg, Politico.eu, 16 June 2021: EU’s Borrell on Russia: Prepare for relations to get worse, BBC, 16 June 2021: Germany withdraws platoon from Nato mission in Lithuania, Politico.eu, 17 June 2021: Biden-Putin summit gives US allies hope of better Russia ties, DW, 18 June 2021: Merkel, Macron: ‘Russia is a big challenge for us’, The Sunday Times, 20 June 2021: Chest-thumping Xi marks regime’s centenary with Taiwan show of force, The New Yorker, 20 June 2021: Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, and the Weight of History, The Times, 21 June 2021: Taiwan is ill prepared for China’s harassment, The National, 22 June 2021: Europol warns of extremist plots to use Covid as a biological weapon, BBC, 22 June 2021: Russian jets and ships target British warship, DW, 23 June 2021: Russia says it fired warning shots at UK destroyer in Crimean waters, The Guardian, 23 June 2021: Crimea Royal Navy ship sparks diplomatic row between Russia and UK, CNN, 23 June 2021: Russian forces confront British warship in Black Sea military encounter, The Times, 23 June 2021: Russia is a threat, says minister amid Black Sea ‘clash’ confusion, Financial Times, 23 June 2021: Berlin and Paris propose reset for EU relations with Moscow, BBC, 24 June 2021: Dutch PM Rutte: No place in EU for Hungary with anti-LGBT law (of course, Mark Rutte is right and there is more. Orban’s role as the leader of the inner-European EU haters would justify his expulsion. In addition, he is the sales representative and main gateway for all non-European enemies of the EU, from Vladimir Putin to Xi Jinping to Benjamin Netanyahu. The expulsion of Hungary would be problematic insofar as the absolute majority of Hungarians are EU supporters, which is why a regime change should be worked on), DW, 24 June 2021: Why Putin and NATO are facing off on the Black Sea, BBC, 27 June 2021: Classified Ministry of Defence documents found at bus stop, The Sunday Times, 27 June 2021: Classified MoD documents found dumped behind bus stop in Kent, The Hill, 27 June 2021: Russia-China alignment strengthens dangerously while US alliances atrophy, DW, 28 June 2021: US and allies begin large-scale naval drill in Black Sea, Reuters, 28 June 2021: Ukraine, U.S. to start Black Sea military drills despite Russian protest, DW, 29 June 2021: Sea Breeze: Ukraine, US Black Sea drills raise tensions with Russia, BBC, 30 June 2021: Afghanistan: US military ‘days away’ from completing pull-out, DW, 30 June 2021: US and NATO withdraw from an Afghanistan still at war: What you need to know, The Times, 30 June 2021: You have failed, Karzai tells allies leaving Afghanistan after 20 years, Arab News, 30 June 2021: Germany withdraws last troops from Afghanistan, CNN, 2 July 2021: China is building a sprawling network of missile silos, satellite imagery appears to show, Politico.eu, 2 July 2021: Orbán, Le Pen, Salvini join forces to blast EU integration, The Washington Post, 2 July 2021: Ransomware attack likely hit ‘thousands’ of companies, researchers say, The New York Times, 2 July 2021: Hundreds of Businesses, From Sweden to U.S., Affected by Cyberattack, DW, 3 July 2021: Russia: Putin approves strategy to counter Western influence, NPR, 3 July 2021: A ‘Colossal’ Ransomware Attack Hits Hundreds Of U.S. Companies, A Security Firm Says, BBC, 3 July 2021: Swedish Coop supermarkets shut due to US ransomware cyber-attack, DW, 3 July 2021: Russian warplanes carry out drills in Black Sea, TechCrunch, 3 July 2021: A new ‘digital violence’ platform maps dozens of victims of NSO Group’s spyware, The Hill, 3 July 2021: Biden: ‘Initial thinking’ recent ransomware attack not Russian government, France24, 4 July 2021: Massive US ransomware attack forces Swedish shops to shut, FBI investigating, France24, 4 July 2021: Hackers demand $70 million to restore data after massive US cyberattack, Reuters, 5 July 2021: Hackers demand $70 mln to restore data held by companies hit in cyberattack – blog, DW, 10 July 2021: DW joins NATO’s Sea Breeze naval training in Black Sea, DW, 11 July 2021: North Korea, China vow cooperation in the face of ‘hostile forces’, CNN, 12 July 2021: US warns China it stands behind South China Sea ruling and is committed to Philippine defense, DW, 12 July 2021: Beijing defiant five years since the South China Sea ruling, Arab News, 12 July 2021: History repeating itself as Western troops leave Afghanistan, DW, 13 July 2021: Japan warns Taiwan tensions pose ‘regional security risk’, CNN, 14 July 2021: Biden administration looks to set up ‘red phone’ to China for emergency communications, Arab News, 14 July 2021: Why EU should play a greater role in Gulf security, Politico.eu, 15 July 2021: Why Merkel can’t stop apologizing, The New York Times, 17 July 2021: Israeli Companies Aided Saudi Spying Despite Khashoggi Killing (Pegasus (spyware)), Washington Post, 18 July 2021: Private spy software sold by NSO group found on cellphones of journalists, activists worldwide, Haaretz, 18 July 2021: The Pegasus Project: How NSO’s Pegasus Is Used to Spy on Journalists, The Washington Post, 18 July 2021: Invisible surveillance: How spyware is secretly hacking smartphones, The Washington Post, 18 July 2021: Takeaways from the Pegasus Project, The Guardian, 18 July 2021: What is Pegasus spyware and how does it hack phones?, The Hill, 18 July 2021: Surgeon general: ‘We are still seeing a proliferation of misinformation online’, Politico.com, 18 July 2021: Spyware used to target journalists and activists around the world, reports indicate, BBC, 19 July 2021: Pegasus: Who are the alleged victims of spyware targeting?, The Guardian, 19 July 2021: NSO clients spying disclosures prompt political rows across world, DW, 19 July 2021: Pegasus spying reports ‘completely unacceptable,’ says EU’s von der Leyen (in the end, a middle ground that has been developed in-house and networked from state to state or an EU-wide network will be the most sensible solution. The tools that are used in Germany and France, for example, have not only failed to prevent the terrorist attacks of recent years. The terrorists themselves acted out of nowhere. If security services are required by law to be blind and deaf, then they cannot do their job properly. The only ones who benefit from it are those from whom the populations are supposed to be protected), France24, 19 July 2021: Morocco and Hungary deny reports that they infiltrated phones with Pegasus spyware, BBC, 19 July 2021: China accused of cyber-attack on Microsoft Exchange servers, Politico.eu, 19 July 2021: Europe joins US to condemn cyberattacks from China, Politico.com, 19 July 2021: NATO’s next mission: Find a new boss, Politico.eu, 19 July 2021: Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine see joint path to EU, CNN, 20 July 2021: US blames China for hacks, opening new front in cyber offensive, Haaretz, 20 July 2021: Spyware Revelations Place Israel on the Bad Guys’ Side, Politico.com, 20 July 2021: State Department nominee: Russia’s use of chemical weapons ‘chilling and shocking’, Irish Times, 20 July 2021: The Irish Times view on Israeli spyware: big brother is listening, France24, 20 July 2021: Phones of Macron and some French ministers targeted in Pegasus affair, French media reports, Haaretz, 20 July 2021: The Pegasus Project: Where Netanyahu Went, NSO Followed: How Israel Pushed Cyberweapon Sales, The Guardian, 20 July 2021: The Pegasus project: French minister’s phone shows traces linked to NSO spyware, DW, 21 July 2021: Pegasus spyware allegations leave Indian democracy hanging by a thread, Haaretz, 21 July 2021: Macron Calls for Probe After Being Targeted by Israeli Spyware Pegasus, Irish Times, 20 July 2021: Macron targeted in project Pegasus spyware case on behalf of Morocco, The Washington Post, 20 July 2021: France voices anger over world leaders’ presence on list, orders spyware probe, DW, 21 July 2021: Pegasus — the favorite cyber weapon of dictators (no wonder that Netanyahu has massively promoted the exports. After all, he himself has constantly shown that he has no understanding or sympathy for democracy and the rule of law. In addition, he has expressed himself increasingly hostile toward the EU in recent years, so that no one need to be surprised about such actions), Haaretz, 21 July 2021: Israel’s NSO and Pegasus Are a Clear and Present Danger to Democracy Around the World, DW, 21 July 2021: US, Japan, S. Korea hold talks on N. Korea’s nuclear threat, The Washington Post, 21 July 2021: ‘Somebody has to do the dirty work’: NSO founders defend spyware they built, The Guardian, 22 July 2021: Why Israel is more concerned about Ben & Jerry’s than the Pegasus revelations, Politico.eu, 22 July 2021: Pegasus: Macron changes one of his numbers and cellphones, France24, 22 July 2021: Pegasus Affair: Macron changes phone, reinforces security in wake of spyware allegations (Anyone can count the result of the “investigation” on one finger, especially since it is already clear beforehand what will come of it in the end, namely “We are totally innocent and have done everything right”. Here, too, Israel acts like Russia and China: Deny it until the facts are so overwhelming that they can no longer deny them), Times of Israel, 22 July 2021: Israeli panel to review potential misuse of NSO spyware around world, Politico.eu, 22 July 2021: US Space Force seeking alliances in Europe to guard orbit, Haaretz, 22 July 2021: NSO’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week Is Just the Start, DW, 22 July 2021: Tajikistan holds largest-ever military drill amid Taliban advance, Haaretz, 22 July 2021: Israel’s Drone Diplomacy Tries to Offset Heavy Loses in Ice Cream War, The Algemeiner, 22 July 2021: Israeli Air Force Holds ‘First of Its Kind’ International Drone Exercise, Haaretz, 23 July 2021: Was Israel Aware of NSO Clients’ Surveillance Targets?, Times of Israel, 25 July 2021: Firms like NSO are causing direct harm to Israel, says diaspora affairs minister (as was to be expected. In addition to the diverse challenges in connection with Israel, there is now the fact that Israel is a security problem for the West), CNN, 25 July 2021: Global phone hacks expose darker side of Israel’s ‘startup nation’ image, The Guardian, 25 July 2021: The Pegasus project: Emmanuel Macron ‘pushes for Israeli inquiry’ into NSO spyware concerns, The Sunday Times, 25 July 2021: All the bad guys loved an Uzi. Now Israeli cyberspies are the autocrat’s weapon of choice, The Hill, 25 July 2021: WhatsApp chief: US allies’ national security officials targeted with NSO malware, DW, 25 July 2021: Putin warns of ‘unpreventable’ strikes by Russian navy, Haaretz, 25 July 2021: Three Stories Reveal What Israel Prefers to Hide About NSO, France24, 26 July 2021: France, UK sign new security deal to protect against Channel terror threat, Politico.eu, 26 July 2021: UK and France sign post-Brexit Channel security pact, The New York Times, 26 July 2021: A 2nd New Nuclear Missile Base for China, and Many Questions About Strategy (China is thus expanding its claim to global export of economic oppression to include the military component. Russia can only watch the latter jealously, while it has never been able to keep up with the former anyway. “Enemy Red” is getting stronger every day and the question is when the West will finally be able to provide a common, adequate answer. while working on a solution, there is absolutely no reason to take any consideration of the objections made by China’s vassal states), Haaretz, 27 July 2021: U.S. Lawmakers Call for Punitive Measures Against Israeli NSO Over Spyware Allegations, Times of Israel, 27 July 2021: Gantz heads to Paris to discuss NSO Group with French counterpart (the damage has already been done. In Israel they wanted to talk about Ben & Jerry’s instead of talking about the fact that the (former) Israeli government poses a serious security risk, especially for the EU), France24, 27 July 2021: Israel minister to discuss Pegasus scandal in France visit, Al Arabiya, 27 July 2021: Israel Defense Minister Gantz to visit France to discuss NSO, Iran, CNN, 27 July 2021: Satellite photos show massive Chinese missile silo field under construction, researchers say, Arab News, 28 July 2021: Austria rejects EU military cooperation with Turkey, The Times, 29 July 2021: Afghans on the march to Europe as Taliban advance, CNN, 29 July 2021: Navy charges sailor in connection with 2020 fire on USS Bonhomme Richard, NPR, 29 July 2021: The Navy Accuses A Sailor Of Starting One Of Its Worst Ship Fires Outside Of Combat, The New York Times, 29 July 2021: Navy Charges Sailor With Arson in Fire That Destroyed Warship, BBC, 30 July 2021: US sailor charged over massive USS Bonhomme warship blaze in 2020, Arab News, 30 July 2021: Jordan, Greece, and Cyprus send firm message to Ankara over actions in the Med, The Guardian, 30 July 2021: US voices concern with Israeli officials about Pegasus revelations, Haaretz, 30 July 2021: French Intelligence Confirms Findings of NSO Investigation, The National, 31 July 2021: A Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan was not inevitable and Nato isn’t blameless, The New York Times, 31 July 2021: As Fears Grip Afghanistan, Hundreds of Thousands Flee, BBC, 31 July 2021: Afghanistan: Fighting rages as Taliban besiege three key cities, The National, 31 July 2021: Fighting rages for key Afghan cities as Taliban blamed for attack on UN, The Guardian, 1 August 2021: Afghanistan: Resurgent Taliban escalates nationwide offensive, France24, 1 August 2021: Afghan forces struggle against Taliban assaults on major cities, CNN, 1 August 2021: Taliban threaten to seize first provincial capital as fighting intensifies across Afghanistan, Arab News, 1 August 2021: Afghanistan’s women fear the worst as Taliban advance sows alarm and terror, DW, 2 August 2021: German warship sets sail for Indo-Pacific region, The Guardian, 2 August 2021: The Pegasus project: Princess Latifa campaigner had ‘phone compromised by spyware’ (Israel has evidently become a far greater threat to freedom, democracy, peace and security than was evident during Netanyahu’s terms in office. The West should take a clear and precise position very promptly and take appropriate measures against this hostile behavior), BBC, 2 August 2021: Afghanistan: Street fighting rages as Taliban attack key city, CNN, 2 August 2021: Taliban take over TV station in strategic city as US airstrikes pound key positions in Afghanistan, Haaretz, 2 August 2021: In First, Israeli Spyware Found on U.K. Phone. The Target: A British Human Rights Lawyer, NPR, 2 August 2021: After Being Silent For Decades, Japan Now Speaks Up About Taiwan — And Angers China, Times of Israel, 6 August 2021: Israel ‘would ultimately like to see regime change in Iran,’ says envoy Erdan (good luck with that one. As the international community isn’t stupid enough to fall for Erdan’s propaganda plots, Israel will try to achive its goal fully on its own), Jerusalem Post, 6 August 2021: Israel is taking the fight with Iran to the world, Al Arabiya, 6 August 2021: US drops plan to vacate troop bases in Germany, Belgium, DW, 7 August 2021: UK tells its nationals to leave Afghanistan immediately, France24, 7 August 2021: Taliban capture second Afghan provincial capital, says deputy governor, BBC, 7 August 2021: Afghanistan war: Sheberghan falls to Taliban, militants say, The Guardian, 7 August 2021: Afghanistan: Taliban seize second provincial capital in two days, Politico.eu, 7 August 2021: EU optimistic on nuclear deal despite Iran leadership change, Khaleej Times, 8 August 2021: US sends B-52 bombers to Afghanistan in attempt to stop Taleban advance, The New York Times, 8 August 2021: Live Updates: Taliban Seize 3 Afghan Capital Cities in a Day, DW, 8 August 2021: Afghanistan: Taliban overrun city of Kunduz — live updates, France24, 8 August 2021: Taliban seize control of three more Afghan provincial capitals, BBC, 8 August 2021: Afghanistan war: Taliban capture three regional capitals, CNN, 8 August 2021: Taliban seizes Kunduz, first major Afghan city to fall in vacuum left by US troop withdrawal, The Guardian, 8 August 2021: Afghanistan: Major coup for Taliban as fighters take city of Kunduz, DW, 9 August 2021: Afghanistan: Civilians fear for their lives amid Taliban advances, France24, 9 August 2021: Taliban seize provincial capitals in blitz across northern Afghanistan (The Washington Post, 9 December 2019: Unguarded nation), The National, 9 August 2021: West is losing ‘the Great Game’ for Afghanistan, DW, 9 August 2021: Afghanistan: Germany rejects calls to return troops as Taliban seizes cities, CNN, 9 August 2021: Things look grim in Afghanistan, even with US airpower. In 22 days, they could be much worse, The Hill, 9 August 2021: Grim Afghan news raises risk for Biden of Taliban takeover, Los Angeles Times, 9 August 2021: Stunning speed of Taliban victories ramps up the pressure on Kabul — and Washington, The National, 10 August 2021: Official: protracted Afghan war Pakistan’s worst nightmare, DW, 10 August 2021: Taliban on the rise in Afghanistan after US pullout, Arab News, 10 August 2021: How a costly proxy war can be prevented in Afghanistan, DW, 10 August 2021: Afghanistan: Taliban push forward amid human rights fears, The Times, 10 August 2021: Taliban assault brings Afghan warlords back to the front line, France24, 10 August 2021: US vows to isolate Taliban if they seize power by force as militants advance, DW, 10 August 2021: German army veterans feel ‘anger and grief’ at fall of Kunduz , The Times, 10 August 2021: Russia and China hold joint military drills, DW, 11 August 2021: Afghanistan: US warns Kabul could fall ‘within 90 days’ — live updates, The Guardian, 11 August 2021: Afghanistan: Government could fall to Taliban in 90 days, US officials say, DW, 11 August 2021: Not too late to preserve fragile progress in Afghanistan, BBC, 11 August 2021: Afghanistan war: Taliban back brutal rule as they strike for power, CNN, 11 August 2021: Fear and resentment reign in Afghanistan as the Taliban overruns more cities, The Times, 11 August 2021: Taliban to seize Kabul within a month, fears US, Irish Times, 11 August 2021: The Irish Times view: Afghanistan in peril, Haaretz, 11 August 2021: How Israel’s Defense Minister Embarrassed NATO Over Iran, The New York Times, 11 August 2021: America Needs to Start Telling the Truth About Israel’s Nukes, DW, 12 August 2021: Afghanistan troop withdrawal was a ‘mistake,’ says former German general, The Guardian, 12 August 2021: Afghanistan: UK and US send troops as Taliban advances, DW, 12 August 2021: Afghanistan: Taliban take control of Herat in major victory for militants, France24, 12 August 2021: Taliban seize third-largest city Herat, much of Kandahar as Afghan forces retreat, BBC, 12 August 2021: Afghanistan: Major cities fall to Taliban amid heavy fighting, CNN, 12 August 2021: US and UK sending troops to Afghanistan to aid evacuations, Arab News, 12 August 2021: Taliban take Herat as Afghan forces retreat; insurgents capture gateway Ghazni, The Times, 12 August 2021: British troops rush to evacuate Kabul embassy as Taliban close in, Politico.eu, 12 August 2021: Europe a fearful bystander as Taliban sweeps through Afghanistan, The Atlantic, 12 August 2021: What We Got Wrong in Afghanistan, Arab News, 12 August 2021: Afghanistan at the crossroads as civil war looms, The New York Times, 13 August 2021: Biden Could Have Stopped the Taliban. He Chose Not To., DW, 13 August 2021: Taliban on the rise in Afghanistan after US pullout, BBC, 13 August 2021: Afghanistan: ‘World silently watches this war against women’, The Guardian, 13 August 2021: Afghanistan: Taliban seize four more provincial capitals, Politico.eu, 13 August 2021: UK defense secretary: Afghanistan turning into failed state where al-Qaeda will return, BBC, 13 August 2021: Afghanistan: Panic and disbelief as thousands flee Taliban onslaught, France24, 13 August 2021: Afghanistan ‘spinning out of control’ as Taliban capture two major cities, CNN, 13 August 2021: Belarus floods the European Union with migrants, taking a page out of Putin’s playbook, Politico.com, 13 August 2021: ‘It may never happen’: The $88 billion gamble on the Afghan army that’s going up in smoke, Los Angeles Times, 13 August 2021: U.S. troops’ return to Afghanistan has ominous parallel to recent history in Iraq, The New Yorker, 13 August 2021: The Return of the Taliban (with the active support of the cowardly Afghan army and the corrupt Afghan government. 20 years of work, thousands of victims and billions in costs, only to ultimately become a terrorist state again. The sacrifices and the effort were far too great for the West. This should be given much greater consideration in future decisions. Freedom, justice, democracy and the western way of life are not meant for everyone), Arab News, 13 August 2021: Why Afghanistan’s Taliban proved unstoppable after all, The Washington Post, 13 August 2021: Taliban gains threaten slow-building U.S. effort to rescue Afghan allies, NPR, 13 August 2021: A Quarter-Million People Have Fled Their Homes As Violence In Afghanistan Escalates, The Hill, 13 August 2021: Vietnam shadow hangs over Biden decision on Afghanistan, The New York Times, 13 August 2021: Afghanistan’s Unraveling May Strike Another Blow to U.S. Credibility, The Washington Post, 13 August 2021: As Taliban widens its grip, Afghans reckon with life under militant rule. It could be a harbinger of the country’s future., Politico.eu, 13 August 2021: UK defense secretary: Afghanistan turning into failed state where al-Qaeda will return, Arab News, 13 August 2021: Biden has deserted Afghanistan. Europe must act, Politico.com, 13 August 2021: ‘It may never happen’: The $88 billion gamble on the Afghan army that’s going up in smoke, The National, 14 August 2021: Collapse of Afghan forces echoes Iraqi military capitulation of 2014, BBC, 14 August 2021: Afghanistan: Diplomats hasten exit as Taliban near Kabul, France24, 14 August 2021: Afghan president addresses nation as Taliban close in on Kabul, The National, 14 August 2021: Republicans pile on Biden over Afghanistan as Pentagon blames Afghan forces, The Guardian, 14 August 2021: Afghanistan: President in urgent talks as Taliban push closer to Kabul, France24, 14 August 2021: Afghan women, girls fear return to ‘dark days’ as Taliban push closer to Kabul, Jerusalem Post, 14 August 2021: Unpredictable consequences from the Afghan crisis, BBC, 14 August 2021: Afghan conflict: Taliban near Kabul and attack northern stronghold, CNN, 14 August 2021: Taliban claim to have captured Gardez, the 19th provincial capital to fall, The New York Times, 14 August 2021: Analysis: Taliban’s Sweep Follows Years of U.S. Miscalculations, The Washington Post, 14 August 2021: Taliban pushes closer to Kabul, takes control of key northern city Mazar-e Sharif (the Iran-haters will not like to hear that, of all things, Iran is once again taking in Afghan refugees and thus protecting the West from large waves of refugees, even though Iran is mostly Shia Islam and Afghanistan is mostly Sunni Islam. Since Iran is once again in an economic crisis, significantly increased by the corona pandemic, this will probably come with a price tag. So wait and see what will pop up during the next talks in Vienna), Arab News, 14 August 2021: Another east Afghan province falls to Taliban without battle, The Hill, 14 August 2021: Pelosi ‘deeply concerned’ for women amid Taliban gains in Afghanistan, The National, 14 August 2021: If Kabul falls, it will be America’s ‘Suez moment’, NPR, 14 August 2021: Here’s Why Biden Is Sticking With The U.S. Exit From Afghanistan, The Hill, 14 August 2021: US risks faltering on world stage amid chaotic Afghanistan exit, DW, 15 August 2021: Afghanistan: President Ghani leaves Kabul as Taliban advance — live updates, France24, 15 August 2021: Live: Afghan president leaves country as Taliban enter Kabul, DW, 15 August 2021: The US has failed in Afghanistan, BBC, 15 August 2021: Taliban enter Kabul as Afghan government collapses, DW, 15 August 2021: Timeline: US and NATO involvement in Afghanistan, CNN, 15 August 2021: The militant fighters are assuming control of the Afghan capital and have seized the presidential palace, The Sunday Times, 15 August 2021: Panic as Taliban enter Kabul, Irish Times, 15 August 2021: Afghan president Ashraf Ghani leaves Kabul for Tajikistan, official says, The National, 15 August 2021: Former US Centcom chief: military alone ‘insufficient’ to achieve goals in Afghanistan, Al Arabiya, 15 August 2021: Turkey to work with Pakistan to prevent new flood of Afghan refugees, Arab News, 15 August 2021: World reacts as Taliban sweep through Afghanistan, The National, 15 August 2021: How Afghan warlords gave up to the Taliban with surprising ease, The New York Magazine, 15 August 2021: The Withdrawal From Afghanistan Was Destined for Disaster, The Washington Post, 15 August 2021: Scenes from Afghanistan after the Taliban advanced on Kabul, Los Angeles Times, 15 August 2021: Taliban floods Kabul, president flees and Afghan government collapses; U.S. rapidly evacuates, The Economist, 15 August 2021: Taliban triumphant: America may pay dearly for defeat in Afghanistan, The New Yorker, 15 August 2021: Does the Great Retreat from Afghanistan Mark the End of the American Era?



CNN, 16 August 2021: Chinese and Russian militaries link up, but analysts say both sides have differing objectives, The Guardian, 16 August 2021: ‘There are no women in the streets’: The day life changed in Kabul, DW, 16 August 2021: Enough with Western hypocrisy over Afghanistan, The Atlantic, 16 August 2021: Afghanistan Is Your Fault, France24, 16 August 2021: Why didn’t they fight? Speed of Afghan collapse surprised even the Taliban, The Guardian, 16 August 2021: US and UK: Swift Taliban takeover proves analysis badly wrong, France24, 16 August 2021: Macron says that Afghanistan must not be ‘sanctuary of terrorism’ again, DW, 16 August 2021: Afghans in Germany terrified at situation back home, France24, 16 August 2021: Afghanistan: Three people fall from plane as thousands attempt to flee Kabul at any cost, The Guardian, 16 August 2021: US politics live: ‘I stand squarely behind my decision,’ Biden says after Taliban takes Kabul, The Times, 16 August 2021: Afghanistan: Taliban come looking for interpreter UK left to his fate, France24, 16 August 2021: From military commander to the Taliban’s top diplomat, Mullah Baradar’s ascent to power, CNN, 16 August 2021: Biden’s botched Afghan exit is a disaster at home and abroad long in the making, The Times, 16 August 2021: Afghanistan: ‘I’m still in shock. Kabul looks so different in a day’, DW, 16 August 2021: Afghanistan takeover sparks concern from NATO allies, France24, 16 August 2021: China ready for ‘friendly relations’ with Taliban, welcomes Afghan development projects, Politico.com, 16 August 2021: Kabul’s collapse followed string of intel failures, defense officials say, The Times, 16 August 2021: Race to escape Kabul carnage, DW, 16 August 2021: Taliban surge in Afghanistan: EU and NATO in state of shock, CNN, 16 August 2021: The US President stood by his decision to withdraw troops, but had a list of who he blames for Afghanistan’s collapse, Politico.com, 16 August 2021: U.N. secretary-general: ‘We cannot and must not abandon the people of Afghanistan’, Arab News, 16 August 2021: 7 dead in airport mayhem as thousands flee Taliban takeover, The New York Times, 16 August 2021: Haiti Quake Destroyed Many Churches, Shredding a Mainstay of Support, BBC, 17 August 2021: Biden defends ‘messy’ US pullout from Afghanistan, Politico.eu, 17 August 2021: Disbelief and betrayal: Europe reacts to Biden’s Afghanistan ‘miscalculation’, Al Arabiya, 17 August 2021: Russia, China embassies are only diplomatic missions functioning in Afghanistan (for domestic political reasons, China and Russia have to take the “sunday weather” tour. Russia has a pretty rustic, violent and Taliban-like bunch sitting in the Caucasus, and the proportion of Muslims in China is not that small either. What looks like taking advantage in Afghanistan is actually limiting damage in advance at home. Something else has at least as much explosive power: China and Pakistan have already started to mentally divide Afghanistan’s raw material reserves among themselves. It will be interesting to see what will happen when the Afghans notice that a few Taliban warlords have stuffed their pockets full while they themselves remained poor and ultimately even the raw material deposits will be exploited. Then a few people might be hanging from cranes, lanterns and trees again. Amusements Taliban style), The Times, 17 August 2021: China and Russia are already playing the new Great Game, CNN, 17 August 2021: French military aircraft lands in Kabul carrying special forces, Arab News, 17 August 2021: EU says it will work with Taliban only if human rights respected, The Guardian, 17 August 2021: Pakistan Country divided over success of Taliban in Afghanistan, The Washington Post, 17 August 2021: Allies, rivals reconsider America’s global role in wake of Afghanistan exit, DW, 17 August 2021: EU ‘will have to talk’ to Taliban, but wary of recognition, Irish Times, 18 August 2021: Michael McDowell: Would a bloody civil war in Afghanistan have served any purpose?, CNN, 18 August 2021: New images show Russia may be about to test nuclear-powered ‘Skyfall’ missile, Irish Times, 18 August 2021: Russian spy ship spotted off west coast of Ireland, France24, 18 August 2021: Pakistan cheers Taliban out of ‘fear of India’ – despite spillover threat, Haaretz, 19 August 2021: Why Israelis Don’t Care About the NSO Scandal, The New York Times, 19 August 2021: Trump’s Deal With the Taliban Draws Fire From His Former Allies, The National, 19 August 2021: Belt and Road: China’s unfolding opportunity in Afghanistan amid Taliban takeover, The New Yorker, 19 August 2021: Will the Next American War Be with China? (one have to see things from the opposite direction: Why should the US President orient himself to the requests from the Middle East when they do what they want without taking US interests into account? That was and is of course particularly true of the Israeli governments. It is not a new development that the US Democrats are thoroughly annoyed by being asked to provide unconditional aid and in return they are tricked over and over again. That won’t go well for much longer. By far the most important mission of Biden is to reconcile America with itself. The US withdrawal from the Middle East, as it began under Obama, is part of the mission to enable the US to turn towards China. America wants to remain a world power and therefore cannot get tangled up in the small-small conflicts of the Middle East, while China is making rapid gains. What applies to the Middle East, of course, also applies to the EU. A lot of states now will have to learn to swim quickly on their own if they want to stay in the game. Israel and Netanyahu tried to torpedo the revival of the Iran deal, with the support of the Gulf states. To complain now that the deal isn’t back yet is pretty flimsy and a self-made problem), DW, 20 August 2021: Biden says allies not questioning US ‘credibility’ after Taliban takeover — live updates, Politico.eu, 20 August 2021: After Afghanistan: What the UK and Europe should do next, CNN, 20 August 2021: Europe left exposed as Biden walks America away from the world stage (the EU had all the time in the world to equip itself with sufficient military capabilities and thus to enable itself to face all possible scenarios. The EU has once again failed to do just that. This is not Biden’s problem, but the problem of the EU states. It is true that Biden is responsible for the consequences of the hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan. The fact that the EU states were unable to find their own solution because they lacked own capabilities is completely the problem of the EU itself. If you want to play with the adults, you have to be an adult yourself), DW, 20 August 2021: Jens Stoltenberg: NATO has ‘some leverage’ with Taliban, Politico.eu, 20 August 2021: NATO ministers float Kabul extension for Afghanistan evacuations, The Atlantic, 20 August 2021: Liberal Democracy Is Worth a Fight, Der Spiegel, 20 August 2021: A Trillion Dollar Illusion: The Entirely Predictable Failure of the West’s Mission in Afghanistan, The Guardian, 21 August 2021: After Afghanistan, the Pax Americana is over – as is Nato. About time too, Irish Times, 21 August 2021: West hopes rebranded Taliban can save it from further embarrassment, The Guardian, 21 August 2021: Europe: Greece extends border wall to deter Afghans trying to reach continent (after the country has not overcome the consequences of the wave of refugees from Syria to this day and especially the Eastern European EU states are refusing to accept their share of refugees for racist reasons, Greece’s reaction is very understandable. It becomes even more understandable when you look at how Turkey tries to use refugees as weapons against Greece), The National, 21 August 2021: Greece gears up for Afghan refugee wave with new fence on Turkish border, BBC, 21 August 2021: Afghanistan’s Uyghurs fear the Taliban, and now China too, The Hill, 21 August 2021: EU leader says ‘there is no recognition’ of Taliban, The Washington Post, 21 August 2021: Amid new security concerns, Pentagon hints at more rescues outside Kabul airport, Jerusalem Post, 22 August 2021: As deadline nears, Israel urges UNSC to expand UNIFIL’s mandate (as UNIFIL is a dead horse for years, the UN should get off the horse and suspend the mission all together. The efforts and costs aren’t worth it anyways, as there are no measurable results or successes given), The Sunday Times, 22 August 2021: The £2 trillion Afghani-shambles, DW, 22 August 2021: Friends, enemies, neighbors? The Taliban and the Middle East, Al Arabiya, 22 August 2021: President Erdogan says Turkey cannot bear Afghan refugee burden for EU, The Sunday Times, 22 August 2021: Afghanistan: Boris Johnson to push Biden for extended withdrawal deadline, Arab News, 22 August 2021: As the US quits, China looks to move in, France24, 22 August 2021: Afghan ‘tragedy’ shows EU needs geopolitical muscle: Borrell (it would be very good if the EU finally set up its own army. However, when it comes to common defense, the EU is in a deep comatose sleep. Afghanistan is far away. The impacts are not close enough and loud enough to finally wake up the deciders. It will probably take a few more crises and millions of refugees before the lights in the sleeping car compartment are switched on), Gulf Times, 23 August 2021: ‘EU needs own geopolitical muscle independent of US’, Brussels Morning, 23 August 2021: Borrell calls for formation of EU army, The National, 23 August 2021: China weighs up risk and benefit of being in Taliban Afghanistan, Arab News, 23 August 2021: Russia, Turkey close to signing new S-400 missile contract – Ifax, Jerusalem Post, 23 August 2021: Russia hosts Jordan’s king, hints at UAE deal, DW, 23 August 2021: Merkel leaves Ukraine with a difficult legacy, Politico.eu, 23 August 2021: Crimea summit a reminder: The West hasn’t undone Russian annexation, The Hill, 23 August 2021: Biden envoy calls on North Korea to restart nuclear talks, France24, 24 August 2021: Kamala Harris accuses China of using intimidation to back South China Sea claims, France24, 25 August 2021: Doctor recounts Afghan escape: ‘When people fell off planes, humanity fell to the ground’, The National, 25 August 2021: US exit from Afghanistan ‘opens door to Iranian influence’, France24, 25 August 2021: Biden confirms August 31 Afghanistan pullout despite pressure from G7 allies, BBC, 25 August 2021: More than 10,000 awaiting Kabul airport evacuation, France24, 25 August 2021: Afghan women’s groups eye uncertain future under vague ‘Islamic framework’, Irish Times, 25 August 2021: Fighting for basic human rights is not some delusional feminist obsession, BBC, 25 August 2021: Bilal Sarwary: ‘The plane hit the tower and all our lives changed’, CNN, 25 August 2021: US warns of ‘very specific threat stream’ from ISIS-K against airport crowds, The Guardian, 25 August 2021: Who’s to blame for the Afghanistan chaos? Remember the war’s cheerleaders, CNN, 25 August 2021: Taliban tell Afghan women to stay home from work because soldiers are ‘not trained’ to respect them, The Times, 25 August 2021: Taliban efforts to seal border will fail, says Raab, CNN, 25 August 2021: A leadership structure shrouded in secrecy, The New York Times, 25 August 2021: An ISIS branch is posing the biggest immediate terror threat to the evacuation efforts., European Council on Foreign Relations, 25 August 2021: The fall of the Afghan government and what it means for Europe, The Washington Post, 25 August 2021: U.S., allies speed up effort to get people out of Afghanistan, NPR, 25 August 2021: What To Know About The Spying Scandal Linked To The Israeli Tech Firm NSO, DW, 25 August 2021: Looking back on Germany’s involvement in Afghanistan, The Hill, 25 August 2021: Embassy warns Americans to avoid Kabul airport gates, DW, 26 August 2021: Afghanistan: Final German evacuation flight leaves Kabul airport (that is one big oath of disclosure. Not even 1/3 of those who campaigned for German interests in Afghanistan in many ways were flown out. The time window for evacuations by airlift does not end until 31 August 2021, but the Federal Minister of Defense surrenders a week earlier), DW, 26 August 2021: Afghanistan: Blasts rock Kabul Airport, The Guardian, 27 August 2021: ‘Bad options all around’: Biden’s vow to avenge Kabul attack could take years, France24, 27 August 2021: ‘World must guarantee safe passage for Afghans whose lives are in danger’, Israel Hayom, 27 August 2021: Afghanistan’s lessons for Israel (interesting that there are apparently people in Israel who believe that they are doing nation-building in Palestine, even though they themselves are still in the middle of the process), NPR, 27 August 2021: The U.S. Has Set Up A Mass Vaccination Site For Afghans Arriving In Virginia, France24, 27 August 2021: World leaders condemn ‘heinous’ attack outside Kabul airport , The New Yorker, 27 August 2021: U.S. Retaliation for the Kabul Bombing Won’t Stop ISIS or End Terrorism, BBC, 27 August 2021: Afghanistan: US to continue Kabul evacuations ‘until last moment’, The Atlantic, 27 August 2021: A Bungled Mess, NPR, 27 August 2021: The U.S. Does Not Plan To Stop The Evacuations Out Of Kabul, The Washington Post, 27 August 2021: Past presidents left a mess in Afghanistan — but Biden owns the current calamity, Politico.eu, 27 August 2021: After Afghanistan, let’s not be misty-eyed about the West’s rules-based order, The Hill, 27 August 2021: Pentagon official holds first talks with Chinese military under Biden: report, Times of Israel, 28 August 2021: US says drone strike kills alleged planner of Kabul airport bombing, Al Arabiya, 28 August 2021: US conducts drone strike against ‘planner’ of ISIS in Afghanistan after Kabul attack, Times of Israel, 28 August 2021: US says drone strike kills alleged planner of Kabul airport bombing, Haaretz, 28 August 2021: U.S. Airstrike Kills Alleged Kabul Attack Planner, France24, 28 August 2021: US strikes IS group ‘planner’ in eastern Afghanistan following Kabul bombings, Arab News, 28 August 2021: US drone strike targets Daesh ‘planner’ in Afghanistan: Pentagon, The Atlantic, 28 August 2021: How Afghanistan Changed a Superpower, Politico.com, 28 August 2021: History Dept.: The Old Cliché About Afghanistan That Won’t Die, The Times, 30 August 2021: Europe risks irrelevance unless it muscles up, The Guardian, 30 August 2021: The Guardian view on dealing with the Taliban: No good options, France24, 30 August 2021: Core US diplomatic staff leave Kabul as withdrawal deadline looms, The Guardian, 30 August 2021: What a story to tell the world: Britain values dogs more than Afghan people, France24, 30 August 2021: US military completes withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan, BBC, 30 August 2021: US completes withdrawal from Afghanistan, The Times, 30 August 2021: British ‘asked for gate in Kabul attack to stay open’, CNN, 30 August 2021: Last US military planes have left Afghanistan, Politico.com, 30 August 2021: Pentagon prepared for ‘mass casualty’ attack at Kabul Airport hours before explosion, Al Arabiya, 30 August 2021: ISIS claims responsibility for rocket attack on Kabul airport, The Times, 30 August 2021: UN safe zone in Kabul ‘impossible without troops’, The National, 30 August 2021: The West was always slow to help Afghan interpreters – I saw so in 2015, Arab News, 30 August 2021: What Afghan scenario means for Russian-Iranian rapprochement, The New York Times, 30 August 2021: After 20 Years of Fighting, U.S. Leaves Country to Taliban, Arab News, 30 August 2021: Taliban celebrate victory as last US troops leave Afghanistan, New York Post, 30 August 2021: Surreal photo shows moment last US service member leaves Afghanistan, The National, 30 August 2021: Osama bin Laden’s top aide returns to Afghanistan, The Hill, 30 August 2021: US intercepts rocket targeting Kabul airport, The New York Times, 30 August 2021: In Afghanistan, an Unceremonious End to America’s Longest War, Gulf News, 30 August 2021: US ends 20 years of war in Afghanistan. How did we get here?, New York Post, 30 August 2021: Hundreds of Americans left in Afghanistan as last US planes depart Kabul, The Washington Post, 30 August 2021: U.S. departs Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war, Los Angeles Times, 30 August 2021: America’s longest war ends as last U.S. troops depart Kabul airport, NPR, 30 August 2021: The Final U.S. Military Plane Has Left Afghanistan As America’s Longest War Ends, Khaleej Times, 31 August 2021: Last US troops leave Afghanistan: Pentagon, Independent, 30 August 2021: Taliban appear to fly US Black Hawk helicopters over Kandahar, The Guardian, 31 August 2021: How the US created a world of endless war, DW, 31 August 2021: US President Joe Biden declares Afghanistan war ‘over’, Politico.com, 31 August 2021: The Hidden Message In Joe Biden’s Afghanistan Speech, France24, 31 August 2021: Biden says the only choice in Afghanistan was ‘leaving or escalating’, BBC, 31 August 2021: Afghanistan: Joe Biden defends US pull-out as Taliban claim victory, Politico.com, 31 August 2021: Biden tries to shift blame on Afghanistan, Irish Times, 31 August 2021: Biden defends Afghanistan exit in White House speech, NPR, 31 August 2021: Biden Lays Out The Costs Of War To Defend His Decision To Leave Afghanistan, The National, 31 August 2021: Joe Biden defends Afghanistan withdrawal in defiant speech, Al Arabiya, 31 August 2021: Biden calls Afghanistan withdrawal ‘success’, warns ISIS-K: We’re not done with you, Arab News, 31 August 2021: President Biden defends Afghanistan withdrawal, warns Daesh: ‘We are not done with you’, Politico.eu, 31 August 2021: Poland plans a state of emergency on border with Belarus, The Washington Post, 31 August 2021: Declaring Afghan war over, Biden defends evacuation efforts, The New York Times, 1 September 2021: Biden Defends Afghan Pullout and Declares an End to Nation-Building, The Times, 1 September 2021: We’ve entered a new age of global insecurity, The New York Times, 1 September 2021: Afghanistan Was a Wake-Up Call. Europe Needs to Step Up., France24, 1 September 2021: Wake-up call? Afghanistan highlights need for ‘autonomous’ EU military force (of course, this is not a wake-up call for the EU. The threat has to be in Warsaw before the flower children of the EU realize that the world is not a meadow of flowers. For years it has been evident that the EU has to face major tasks in the MENA region because the USA is withdrawing from the region, but the preparations for these tasks are at best significantly below average. This is irresponsible and a threat to the EU from within), The National, 1 September 2021: No, America is not exiting the Asia-Pacific anytime soon, DW, 1 September 2021: Ukraine’s Zelensky presses Biden on NATO membership, CNN, 1 September 2021: White supremacist praise of Taliban takeover concerns US officials, The Times, 1 September 2021: Covid’s most toxic scar could be a generational war across Europe, The National, 1 September 2021: Biden’s pivot from international interventions worries allies, Politico.com, 1 September 2021: No, Afghanistan Is Not the End of American Power, The Times, 2 September 2021: Nuclear bases could move to US if Scots break away, France24, 2 September 2021: Proposals for an EU army re-emerge after Afghan pullout – but many remain ‘hard to convince’, The Times, 2 September 2021: Trident would be removed ‘at pace’ by an independent Scotland, Politico.eu, 2 September 2021: Afghan debacle doesn’t mean European military advance, The Times, 2 September 2021: Britain and the EU must forge strong foreign policy bond, Times of Israel, 2 September 2021: Israel formally moves to US Central Command’s area of responsibility, The National, 2 September 2021: Red Sea competition growing as Russia enters region, Al Arabiya, 2 September 2021: US military equipment previously owned by Afghan army spotted in Iran: Reports, Khaleej Times, 3 September 2021: Biden says Ida, wildfires show climate crisis has struck, Politico.eu, 3 September 2021: West lacks clear plan to rival China’s ‘Belt and Road,’ Estonia says, Arab News, 4 September 2021: Why the Middle East no longer trusts America, DW, 4 September 2021: The Afghanistan fiasco will not herald a new world order, Politico.eu, 5 September 2021: EU defense plans ‘can never replace’ NATO, says Stoltenberg, The Hill, 5 September 2021: Blinken and Austin to visit Gulf and European allies to discuss failed Afghanistan war, Politico.eu, 6 September 2021: For EU, Afghanistan is now a four-letter word, BBC, 6 September 2021: Taiwan says 19 Chinese warplanes entered air defence zone, Global Times, 6 September 2021: US and its puppets’ reaction to China’s Maritime Traffic Safety Law reflects their supremacy mind-set (this is how China’s state propaganda looks like), Al Arabiya, 6 September 2021: US will be ‘going back into Afghanistan’ in the future: Republican Senator, Arab News, 6 September 2021: Middle East’s efforts to defuse tensions merit Western attention, Haaretz, 7 September 2021: Germany’s ‘FBI’ Bought Israeli NSO’s Spyware Despite Knowledge of Rights Abuses, Report Says, CNN, 8 September 2021: Royal Navy warships leave Britain for landmark Pacific deployment, Politico.eu, 8 September 2021: Charles Michel insists on EU strategic autonomy after chaotic Afghanistan evacuations, Reuters, 9 September 2021: U.S., EU officials to kick off new trade, tech council on Sept. 29 -White House, Haaretz, 9 September 2021: Israeli NSO Was Used to Snoop on Orbán Critic in Hungary, Report Reveals, The Washington Post, 9 September 2021: Vladimir Putin, agent of chaos, is using a huge military exercise to keep the West on edge, DW, 10 September 2021: Russia, Belarus to demonstrate strength with joint maneuvers (because of the weak state terrorist Aljaksandr Lukaschenka, Belarus finally became a slave state to Russia), The Washington Post, 10 September 2021: Russia, Belarus start major military drills after moves toward closer integration, DW, 10 September 2021: US War on Terror is still omnipresent, Palestine Chronicle, 10 September 2021: Following Afghanistan Defeat: Can EU Win Own ‘Independence’ from the US?, DW, 11 September 2021: A symbol of the US’ decline as a world power, Arab News, 12 September 2021: In Afghanistan as in Iraq, the West had no easy options after 9/11, Politico.eu, 12 September 2021: EU should speed up military efforts, leading MEP Weber says, DW, 12 September 2021: Belarus: Lukashenko eyes $1 billion arms deal with Russia, Al Arabiya, 13 September 2021: North Korea test fires long-range cruise missile: KCNA, The Guardian, 13 September 2021: Afghanistan: Taliban takeover will reshape Middle East, official warns, Politico.eu, 13 September 2021: Biden’s European tilt is nothing to be happy about, The National, 13 September 2021: Afghan terror training camps ‘could cause wave of attacks in Europe in five years’, The Times, 14 September 2021: China sends warships to waters off Alaska, Al Arabiya, 14 September 2021: Al-Qaeda could use Afghanistan to attack US within 12 months: Intelligence officials, The Guardian, 15 September 2021: European Union: Von der Leyen: EU must acquire ‘political will’ to build own military, DW, 15 September 2021: China denies port visit by German warship, The Guardian, 15 September 2021: The Pegasus project: EU commissioner calls for urgent action against Pegasus spyware, CNN, 15 September 2021: Biden unveils major new pushback against China, The Times, 15 September 2021: Submarine pact with Australia against China, CNN, 15 September 2021: Biden announces trilateral partnership with UK and Australia (the EU’s progressive self-dwarfing in this matter is becoming unbearable. When the EU hippies (especially those from Berlin) are constantly babbling about “love and light”, they need not be surprised that they are excluded from international decisions. Because on the international stage, the EU stands for one thing above all else, namely to be a bunch of rich but defenseless weaklings), Irish Times, 15 September 2021: EU needs political will to build defence policy, says von der Leyen, The Washington Post, 15 September 2021: In challenge to China, U.S. to share highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology with Australia, The New York Times, 15 September 2021: Biden Announces a Defense Deal With Australia in a Bid to Counter China, CNN, 16 September 2021: Satellite images reveal North Korea expanding facility used to produce weapons-grade uranium, BBC, 16 September 2021: China denounces US-UK-Australia pact as damaging, The Guardian, 16 September 2021: China will deride Australia’s nuclear shift saying it is America’s lackey – but Beijing has only itself to blame, The Times, 16 September 2021: Al-Qaeda regroups amid Afghan chaos ‘to plan US attacks’, The Guardian, 16 September 2021: Aukus: Theresa May questions if pact could lead to war over Taiwan, CNN, 16 September 2021: America’s deal with UK and Australia leaves France bruised and Europe in the cold on China, The Times, 16 September 2021: Analysis: Is the West entering an arms race with Beijing?, Politico.eu, 16 September 2021: Biden shuns EU with Asia-Pacific power play, Global Times, 16 September 2021: EU eyes geopolitical power in 2021 SOUA, loses faith in US, CNN, 17 September 2021: Trump abandoned this giant trade deal. Now, China wants in, DW, 17 September 2021: EU’s new Indo-Pacific strategy: What are the objectives and challenges?, CNN, 17 September 2021: Washington has a China fixation and France got in the way, France24, 17 September 2021: Australia at heart of Indo-Pacific alliances to counter China, CNN, 17 September 2021: France recalls its ambassadors to the US and Australia over new national security partnership, France24, 17 September 2021: France recalls its ambassadors to US and Australia in submarine deal backlash, The New York Times, 17 September 2021: France recalls its ambassadors to the U.S. and Australia to protest Biden’s submarine deal., The Guardian, 17 September 2021: The Aukus pact is a sign of a new global order, BBC, 17 September 2021: Aukus: France recalls envoys amid security pact row, The Guardian, 17 September 2021: Aukus: China vows to resist ‘interference’ as Taiwan welcomes support from allies, The Times, 17 September 2021: Snubbing the French is a foolish mistake, Irish Times, 17 September 2021: France recalls ambassadors from US, Australia over submarine deal (behaving like a pussy won’t solve the underlying problem. The UK is little more but a poodle to the US. If and when France and the EU want to be taken seriously on the international stage, both have to invest in its militaries. Talking is one part of problem solvings. The other is to be in the position to force problem solvings. Only when the later is given, you are in the position to play on the international stage. France and the Eu are fare away from it), The New York Times, 17 September 2021: The Sharp U.S. Pivot to Asia Is Throwing Europe Off Balance, The Washington Post, 17 September 2021: France recalls its ambassadors to the United States and Australia over submarine dispute, Los Angeles Times, 17 September 2021: An arms race is heating up on the Korean Peninsula. Is the window for diplomacy closing?, The New York Times, 17 September 2021: The Secret Talks Behind the U.S. Deal That France Called a ‘Betrayal’, The National, 18 September 2021: What is Aukus and why are the French angry? (if you are honest you have to recognize that Australia’s interests are served much better with the AUKUS agreement than with the agreement with France. Australia is located in the middle of the Indo-Pacific and is on the front line with China. With the orientation of US foreign policy towards the Indo-Pacific, the US is a natural partner. France and the EU are not. Since the United Kingdom is of little importance for Australia, but Queen Elizabeth II is still head of state and the country belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations and Commonwealth Realm, BoJo was able to jump on the agreement as a free rider), Arab News, 18 September 2021: Franco-American tension over submarine deal puts fresh strain on trans-Atlantic ties (one can see it this way or quite differently: To get the EU to start some actions, it usually needs a kick in the bottom from outside. The US is now delivering this kick again, as it did under Trump. Some people have to be forced to be happy. When it comes to common security issues, this certainly includes almost all heads of government in the EU member states), The Times, 18 September 2021: The submarine deal is a real downer for China, The Guardian, 18 September 2021: Aukus: France’s ambassador recall is ‘tip of the iceberg’, say analysts, CNN, 18 September 2021: Explainer: Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine deal is fueling anger in the country. Here’s why, BBC, 18 September 2021: Aukus: France recalls envoys amid security pact row, France24, 18 September 2021: Australia made ‘huge mistake’ by cancelling submarine deal, French ambassador says (above all, France should slowly step on its own brakes, because France cannot cope without NATO either), The Washington Post, 18 September 2021: As France escalated its submarine dispute, it decided to go a bit lighter on Britain. Here’s why., Politico.eu, 18 September 2021: French ambassador likens submarine deal cancellation to ‘treason’ (if France would have been in Australia’s position, it would had made the same decission), Global Times, 18 September 2021: AUKUS gives Canberra special treatment, a psychological blow for Japan, India as Quad members, DW, 19 September 2021: France accuses US, Australia of ‘duplicity’ over submarine deal collapse, BBC, 19 September 2021: Aukus: Australia defends role in security pact amid French condemnation, France24, 19 September 2021: PM Morrison rejects France’s accusation that Australia lied over cancelled submarine deal, CNN, 19 September 2021: Australia had ‘deep and grave’ concerns about French submarines, Al Arabiya, 19 September 2021: West imploding over submarines deal: What is going on with US, UK, Australia, France?, The Guardian, 19 September 2021: Aukus: UK-France defence summit cancelled in row, BBC, 19 September 2021: Aukus: Australia defends role in security pact amid French condemnation, Al Arabiya, 19 September 2021: Australia PM on US submarine deal: I don’t regret prioritizing our national interests, The Washington Post, 19 September 2021: Biden seeks a phone call with France’s Macron to calm the waters, France24, 20 September 2021: Biden requests phone call with Macron amid submarine spat, Al Arabiya, 20 September 2021: US will not back out of Australia submarine deal, Biden to speak with Macron soon: WH, The Guardian, 20 September 2021: Japan urges Europe to speak out against China military expansion, Al Arabiya, 20 September 2021: France could block EU-Australia trade deal in retaliation for submarine crisis, France24, 20 September 2021: France seeks EU support in submarine row with US, UK, Australia, Al Arabiya, 20 September 2021: EU Chief says France’s treatment in Australia, US, UK submarine deal ‘unacceptable’, Haaretz, 21 September 2021: EU Backs France in Submarine Dispute: ‘Is America Back? We Don’t Know’, The New York Times, 21 September 2021: In U.N. Debut, Biden Confronts Doubts About U.S. Global Leadership, Al Arabiya, 21 September 2021: UN chief Guterres urges US-China dialogue, warns of divisions, The New York Times, 21 September 2021: Australia’s Submarines Make Waves in Asia Long Before They Go to Sea, Al Arabiya, 21 September 2021: German FM calls US submarine actions ‘irritating,’ ‘disappointing’, Politico.eu, 21 September 2021: EU’s Breton calls for ‘pause and reset’ in transatlantic relationship, BBC, 21 September 2021: Joe Biden urges unity amid tensions with allies (not only Biden see it that way, but also a number of observers in Europe who have been warning of the development for years. The EU has slept since the Obama presidency. It had more than a decade to face the changed conditions and adapt its security architecture accordingly. But she preferred to refrain from doing just that. To look for a scapegoat in Washington is downright ridiculous. This is a completely self-made problem, originated and operated in the capitals of the EU federal states), France24, 21 September 2021: Macron and Modi vow to ‘act jointly’ in Indo-Pacific as submarine row intensifies, CNN, 21 September 2021: EU official says ‘something is broken’ with US ties as sub spat casts shadow over Biden’s UN address, NPR, 22 September 2021: France To Send Its Ambassador Back To The U.S. Following A Macron-Biden Call, The National, 22 September 2021: Biden and Macron seek calmer waters after row over Australia submarines, Arab News, 22 September 2021: AUKUS dispute opens the door for Russia, France24, 22 September 2021: Submarine dispute: France has ‘every right to be angry,’ says ex-Australian PM, The Guardian, 22 September 2021: Aukus pact: France to send ambassador back to US after Macron-Biden call, France24, 22 September 2021: French ambassador will return to US as Biden, Macron seek to restore ‘confidence’, Arab News, 24 September 2021: European army proposal faces multiple complex hurdles, Arab News, 24 September 2021: AUKUS snub exposes EU’s shortcomings, Times of Israel, 25 September 2021: Phones of 5 French ministers said infected with malware from Israel’s NSO Group, Politico.eu, 25 September 2021: The Joe they don’t know: Europe reckons with Biden’s Asia push, Politico.eu, 25 September 2021: Germany can no longer avoid its responsibility to European defense, The Guardian, 25 September 2021: ‘Free and open’: Quad leaders call for ‘stable’ Indo-Pacific in veiled China dig, France24, 25 September 2021: US and allies vow to pursue ‘free and open’ Indo-Pacific region at Quad summit, The National, 26 September 2021: Turkey’s Erdogan eyes more Russian missiles, The Times, 27 September 2021: China condemns ‘evil intentions’ after UK sends frigate through Taiwan Strait, Politico.eu, 27 September 2021: France to ink Greek defense deal after losing sub contract, Al Arabiya, 27 September 2021: Greece set to boost military cooperation with France: Greek PM Mitsotakis, Politico.com, 28 September 2021: Top generals contradict Biden, say they urged him not to withdraw from Afghanistan, The National, 28 September 2021: Trump admin wanted even faster Afghanistan pullout, Gen Milley says, The Times, 28 September 2021: China unveils new drones in race for air superiority, Politico.com, 28 September 2021: Pentagon leaders: Kabul withdrawal was a ‘strategic failure’, The Times, 28 September 2021: ‘Stop being naive’ about US military commitment, Macron tells Europe, BBC, 28 September 2021: Afghanistan: Al-Qaeda could threaten US in a year – general, The Guardian, 28 September 2021: ‘An audacious first step’: Greece to buy French warships in multibillion-euro defence deal, Al Arabiya, 29 September 2021: Biden’s nominee for US envoy to Turkey threatens more sanctions over Russia , CNN, 29 September 2021: North Korea says it tested a hypersonic missile. If true, it could change the military equation in east Asia, BBC, 29 September 2021: North Korea says it fired new ‘hypersonic missile’, The Atlantic, 29 September 2021: The People With the Most to Lose in a U.S.-China Cold War, Times of Israel, 1 October 2021: How a Jewish Manhattan Project scientist quietly helped the Soviets get the bomb, DW, 1 October 2021: South Korea looks to Germany for reunification pointers, The Guardian, 2 October 2021: Taiwan: China flies record 38 planes over Taiwan defence zone in national day show of force, Times of Israel, 2 October 2021: Taiwan rages as China sends record 38 jets into its defense zone, Politico.eu, 2 October 2021: Charles Michel declares 2022 ‘year of European defense’ (and at thje end of 2022 we will find out, that nothing has changed. Surprise, surprise!), France24, 2 October 2021: Taiwan slams largest-ever incursion by Chinese into air defence zone, DW, 2 October 2021: Taiwan rebukes China over largest ever air incursion, France24, 2 October 2021: NATO condemns Russian military build-up as Moscow warns escalation could ‘destroy’ Ukraine, The Guardian, 3 October 2021: Taiwan: Chinese planes fly over defence zone in second day of record show of force, CNN, 3 October 2021: China sends 77 warplanes into Taiwan defense zone over two days, Taipei says, BBC, 3 October 2021: US concerned by China military jets near Taiwan, France24, 3 October 2021: North and South Korea restore hotline after spike in tensions, CNN, 4 October 2021: China sent 52 warplanes into Taiwan defense zone on Monday, Taipei says, The Times, 4 October 2021: Taipei warns of war as China steps up harassment of Taiwan, The Guardian, 4 October 2021: Taiwan: Ministry reports record Chinese incursions into its air defence zone, CNN, 4 October 2021: Russia test fires submarine-launched hypersonic Tsirkon missile for first time, The Guardian, 5 October 2021: The US must avoid war with China over Taiwan at all costs, The Times, 5 October 2021: War could be triggered at any time, says Beijing, The Guardian, 5 October 2021: Taiwan: President warns of ‘catastrophic consequences’ if island falls to China, France24, 5 October 2021: Will Russia’s hypersonic missile test relaunch Cold War-style arms race?, CNN, 5 October 2021: 5 things to know about China’s record surge of warplanes near Taiwan, France24, 5 October 2021: Taiwan says it needs to be alert to China’s ‘over the top’ military activities, The Hill, 5 October 2021: Biden and Xi agree to abide by Taiwan agreement, The National, 6 October 2021: Europe divided on plans for its own army after Aukus submarine row (let the Eastern EU states fully rely on NATO if they think that this is a clever idea. The Western EU states should instead form a strong defense structure in addition to NATO), The Guardian, 6 October 2021: Taiwan: China could mount full-scale invasion by 2025, island’s defence minister says, CNN, 6 October 2021: China could mount ‘full-scale’ invasion of Taiwan by 2025, The National, 6 October 2021: Doomsday arsenal: US discloses nuclear weapon count for first time since 2017, CNN, 6 October 2021: Biden administration reveals number of nuclear weapons in US stockpile, France24, 6 October 2021: NATO expels eight ‘undeclared intelligence officers’ from Russian mission, The Guardian, 6 October 2021: Nato: Eight members of Russia’s mission expelled for spying, The Times, 8 October 2021: Taiwan vows to defend freedom at all costs, The Guardian, 8 October 2021: Taiwan Secret group of US military trainers has been in country for at least a year, France24, 8 October 2021: US special ops forces secretly training Taiwan’s military, says Pentagon official, Gulf Times, 9 October 2021: China’s Xi says reunification with Taiwan ‘will be realised’ (the Taiwanese are being threatened with being forced into the Chinese dictatorship like Hong Kong), Al Arabiya, 9 October 2021: Explainer: How China flights near Taiwan inflame tensions, What are US, EU roles?, The Guardian, 9 October 2021: Taiwan: Xi Jinping vows to fulfil ‘reunification’ with China by peaceful means, CNN, 9 October 2021: Chinese President Xi Jinping vows ‘reunification’ with Taiwan by peaceful means, France24, 9 October 2021: China’s President Xi vows peaceful ‘reunification’ with Taiwan, The Sunday Times, 10 October 2021: Taiwan will not bow to China, vows Tsai Ing-wen during national day celebrations, The New York Times, 10 October 2021: U.S. Navy Engineer Charged in Attempt to Sell Nuclear Submarine Secrets, DW, 10 October 2021: US: Nuclear engineer and wife charged with trying to sell secrets, The Washington Post, 10 October 2021: Navy nuclear engineer and his wife charged with trying to share submarine secrets with a foreign country, Arab News, 10 October 2021: Erdogan, Putin and a mystery closed-door summit, NPR, 11 October 2021: Pro-Iran candidates are the biggest losers in Iraq’s election, Arab News, 12 October 2021: Europe’s role in Gulf and Middle East security, Reuters, 12 October 2021: Cleric Sadr wins Iraq vote, former PM Maliki close behind -officials, France24, 13 October 2021: Pro-Iran parties denounce ‘scam’ after Iraq election setback, The National, 13 October 2021: Why is European colonialism still cherished by some?, Politico.eu, 13 October 2021: Ireland: British ‘bad faith’ on protocol sends warning to the world, CNN, 13 October 2021: With all eyes on Taiwan, tensions are building on another Chinese frontier: India, France24, 13 October 2021: Pro-Iran parties denounce ‘scam’ after Iraq election setback, Saudi Gazette, 14 October 2021: The Greater Middle East and the danger of fundamentalism, DW, 14 October 2021: Germany’s Angela Merkel receives Spain’s Carlos V European Award, Al-Monitor, 15 October 2021: Russian-Iranian competition heats up in South Caucasus, The Algemeiner, 15 October 2021: Is the US Withdrawal From the Middle East a Good Thing?, DW, 16 October 2021: Why Saudi-Iran relations are thawing — for now, Financial Times, 16 October 2021: China tests new space capability with hypersonic missile, Reuters, 17 October 2021: China surprises U.S. with hypersonic missile test, FT reports, Gulf Times, 17 October 2021: Russia scrambles fighter jet to escort US military plane (Russia’s laughable try to become a world power. Nothing more but lies, smokes and mirrors), France24, 17 October 2021: China slams US, Canada for sending warships through Taiwan Strait, Jerusalem Post, 17 October 2021: IAF, Luftwaffe fly over Knesset in Jerusalem as Blue Flag drill launches (what a waste of tax money, just to perform a laughable and useless show somewhere in the desert. As if European countries would be stupid enough to engage militarily in the endless Middle East conflicts. Israel has just been transferred from EUCOM to CENTCOM. Perhaps this shall create the wrong impression as if this isn’t the case, but that Israel is now being looked after by both EUCOM and CENTCOM), Times of Israel, 17 October 2021: German military planes fly over Jerusalem for 1st time since WWI in show of ties, Stars and Stripes, 18 October 2021: ‘Breathtaking expansion’: US Strategic Command leader expects further revelations of China’s nuclear weapons advancement, The National, 18 October 2021: Russia ends mission to Nato after eight members expelled over spying claims (Putin will succeed in bringing Russia to its knees, just as his predecessors ruined the Soviet Union), Politico.eu, 18 October 2021: Russia shuts diplomatic mission to NATO, BBC, 18 October 2021: Russia to suspend Nato diplomatic mission, DW, 18 October 2021: Russia suspends its mission to NATO, Gulf Times, 18 October 2021: Qatar participates in the joint meeting between the NATO Council and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) countries, The Guardian, 18 October 2021: Weapons technology: Beijing denies report claiming it launched a hypersonic missile, BBC, 18 October 2021: China denies testing rare hypersonic missile, DW, 18 October 2021: China denies hypersonic missile launch, France24, 18 October 2021: Pentagon chief to hold military talks in Georgia on first stop of Black Sea visit, The Algemeiner, 18 October 2021: What Are America’s True Interests in the Middle East?, The National, 19 October 2021: Why is Russia suspending its mission to Nato?, Times of Israel, 19 October 2021: Israel said to approve $1.5 billion budget for potential strike on Iran, DW, 19 October 2021: US defense chief: Russia is an ‘obstacle to peace’, The National, 19 October 2021: Gen McKenzie: Taliban takeover was ‘shot in the arm’ for global extremists, The Algemeiner, 19 October 2021: Expanding the Abraham Accords Requires a US-Saudi Reset, DW, 19 October 2021: NATO-Russia rift is next level in Putin’s escalation, The Times, 19 October 2021: China and Russia send warships between Japanese islands, DW, 19 October 2021: North Korea test-fires ballistic missile off east coast, France24, 19 October 2021: N. Korea test fires ‘submarine-launched’ ballistic missile into waters off Japan, DW, 19 October 2021: NATO-Russia diplomacy at a new low, The New York Times, 19 October 2021: China’s Bullying Is Becoming a Danger to the World and Itself, The Washington Post, 19 October 2021: If Biden won’t fight China’s importing of Iranian oil, Congress should, The Hill, 19 October 2021: Let’s plug the sanctions gaps that enable Iran to sell oil to China and Venezuela, The Washington Post, 19 October 2021: Chinese military tests hypersonic vehicle as part of program to rapidly expand strategic and nuclear systems, The National, 20 October 2021: Nato’s relations with Russia at ‘lowest point’ since Cold War, Al Arabiya, 20 October 2021: NATO will still seek channels with Russia despite spy dispute, The National, 20 October 2021: US Navy tests unmanned speedboats that launch nano drones in Arabian Sea, Politico.eu, 20 October 2021: The future of Europe is at stake in the fight for Germany’s finance ministry, Al Arabiya, 20 October 2021: Philippines protests as its patrol boats are threatened by Beijing in South China Sea, Politico.eu, 20 October 2021: Borrell: China’s threats to Taiwan pose risk to EU, The Hill, 20 October 2021: Top US diplomat calls for ‘sustained and substantive dialogue’ with North Korea, Stars and Stripes, 20 October 2021: B-1 bombers deploy to Diego Garcia in Indian Ocean for first time in 15 years, DW, 21 October 2021: Germany, 4 EU states launch military reaction force initiative — report (great, and a long overdue step), Politico.eu, 21 October 2021: German defense minister warns Europeans: Don’t detach from NATO, Jerusalem Post, 21 October 2021: Liberman: Conflict with Iran a matter of time, not far off (“This is a problem of the international community but first of all ours” – Benjamin Netanyahu managed to drag Bush Junior into the Iraq war with the help of lies and falsified information. He also succeeded in persuading Trump to take the completely crazy step of a unilateral exit from the Iran deal, which has resulted in Iran today being closer than ever to building a nuclear weapon. However, it is a complete misjudgment to deduce that the international community would have to compensate for the mistakes of the largely incompetent Israeli leadership. That is by no means the case. The member states of the international community are primarily committed to the security of their own populations and not to Benjamin Netanyahu’s perverse violent fantasies. For decades he has wanted to wage war against Iran and is getting closer and closer. To make this dream come true, many soldiers and civilians from the Levant, including quite a few Israelis (only to please a deeply corrupt, incompetent, Islamophobic criminal), will die, but certainly no others, because they will stay out of it. So, good luck with you war games. Enjoy), Times of Israel, 21 October 2021: IDF said to resume practicing potential strike on Iranian nuclear sites, Al Arabiya, 21 October 2021: US holds three ‘successful’ test rocket launches for hypersonic weapons program, DW, 21 October 2021: NATO defense ministers talking Russia as relations plummet, CNN, 21 October 2021: Hypersonic weapon test failure a blow to US in race with China and Russia, DW, 21 October 2021: German cybersecurity office issues warning, Politico.eu, 22 October 2021: US defense chief says EU must choose own new military capabilities, The Guardian, 22 October 2021: Nuclear weapons: China’s hypersonic glider test threatens to drive new arms race, France24, 22 October 2021: Macron, Biden discuss ‘stronger’ European defence after submarine row, Arab News, 23 October 2021: Turkish defense minister warns against alliances that harm NATO, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 26 October 2021: What would Germany’s military do if Israel were in a fight for survival?, CNN, 26 October 2021: US has few good options if China seizes islands close to Taiwan, war game concludes, DW, 26 October 2021: Poland plans to bolster military amid threats from Belarus, Russia, The Times, 27 October 2021: Poland to double size of army under threat from Russia, The Times, 27 October 2021: EU dither is allowing Putinism to take hold, Al Arabiya, 28 October 2021: India deploys US weapons to fortify disputed border with China, Jerusalem Post, 28 October 2021: Taiwan president confirms US troops training soldiers on island – CNN, The Times, 28 October 2021: US troops are training in Taiwan, president confirms, Times of Israel, 28 October 2021: IDF liaison sets up shop in US CENTCOM offices, solidifying move, France24, 28 October 2021: Taiwan president confirms small US military training presence, The Times, 28 October 2021: Taiwan is relying more and more on American protection, France24, 28 October 2021: Biden stresses ‘rock solid’ US commitment to Taiwan at East Asia Summit, Gulf Times, 29 October 2021: US was ‘clumsy’ in sub deal, Biden tells Macron, DW, 29 October 2021: Europol identifies 12 members of global cybercrime gang after raids, The New York Times, 29 October 2021: Nuclear-Powered Submarines for Australia? Maybe Not So Fast., France24, 30 October 2021: With heightened rhetoric, is US moving away from ‘strategic ambiguity’ on Taiwan? (it should be kept in mind, that China isn’t only a threat to Taiwan, but to every democratic country. Just have a look at what Tibet, Hong Kong, etc. have become), The National, 31 October 2021: Erdogan and Biden seek to repair ties at G20 bilateral meeting, Gulf Times, 1 November 2021: US opposed to China actions on Taiwan, stresses Blinken, Haaretz, 1 November 2021: Bennett and Macron Agree to Deal With NSO Scandal ‘Discreetly’ at Climate Talks, Atlantic, 1 November 2021: How War With China Begins, Gulf Times, 2 November 2021: Messages from Macron to Morrison leaked amid submarine deal row, Palestine Chronicle, 2 November 2021: The West’s China Complex: Beijing as the Enemy and the Savior, Al Arabiya, 3 November 2021: Pentagon: China’s nuke force growing faster than predicted, Times of Israel, 3 November 2021: Pentagon warns China expanding nuclear arsenal faster than expected, Jerusalem Post, 3 November 2021: Israeli companies NSO and Candiru blacklisted by US, Al Arabiya, 3 November 2021: US blacklists Israel’s NSO, Candiru for spyware undermining national security, Times of Israel, 3 November 2021: Malicious activities: US blacklists Israel’s NSO Group and Candiru spyware firms, Haaretz, 3 November 2021: U.S. Blacklists Israeli Cyberarms Firms NSO, Candiru for Harming ‘National Security and Interests’, The Guardian, 3 November 2021: Pegasus project: Israeli spyware company NSO Group placed on US blacklist, DW, 3 November 2021: Poland summons Belarus envoy over armed border incursion, France24, 3 November 2021: US blacklists Israeli firm behind Pegasus spyware, DW, 3 November 2021: US sanctions NSO Group, Israeli maker of Pegasus spyware, The Hill, 3 November 2021: Blacklisting of NSO Group shakes up spyware debate, CNN, 3 November 2021: Pentagon warns China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, DW, 3 November 2021: Pentagon: China’s nuclear arsenal growing faster than predicted, The Economist, 3 November 2021: China seeks to join the nuclear big league, DW, 4 November 2021: Hungary admits to using NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware (it would have been a surprise if Netanyahu’s autocratic colleague hadn’t used the software), Times of Israel, 4 November 2021: Hungary admits buying Israeli-made NSO spyware allegedly used against opposition, The Atlantic, 4 November 2021: Russia Took Advantage While the West Slept, DW, 5 November 2021: US issues $10m bounty in hunt for DarkSide hackers, The Washington Post, 5 November 2021: Blacklisting this Israeli spyware firm is only a first step, Politico.com, 5 November 2021: Congress pressures Biden to defend Taiwan, DW, 6 November 2021: German engine technology found in Chinese warships — report, Haaretz, 6 November 2021: NSO Blacklisting: Global Reckoning Begins for Spyware and Its Tools of Repression, Haaretz, 6 November 2021: Israel’s Lapid Says ‘No Problem’ With U.S. Consulate in Ramallah, but Not in Jerusalem (the UN should work on a resolution that makes it clear that Tel Aviv is and will remain Israel’s de jure capital, while West Jerusalem is and will only be tolerated as the provisional seat of government. There can only be a conceivable change in status through a negotiated peace treaty with Palestine. It is up to Israel to decide whether this peace treaty will exist or not and thus also to decide whether West Jerusalem will ever be internationally recognized as Israel’s capital or not), CNN, 7 November 2021: Israel says no room in Jerusalem for an American Consulate for Palestinians, Los Angeles Times, 7 November 2021: Palestinians, Israel spar over U.S. mission in Jerusalem, Jerusalem Post, 7 November 2021: China has the world’s largest navy, third-largest air force – report, Haaretz, 7 November 2021: Blacklisting Is Not Enough: Democrats Want Sanctions on Israeli Spyware Firm NSO, The Hill, 7 November 2021: China triggers growing fears for US military, The Washington Post, 8 November 2021: China is rising as a nuclear power. Its ambitions warrant global attention., DW, 8 November 2021: Suspected hackers arrested in European sting, Khaleej Times, 8 November 2021: 7 suspected hackers arrested in global ransomware crackdown, Jerusalem Post, 8 November 2021: US charges Ukrainian, Russian, over cyberattack, seizes $6 mln in ransom payments, CNN, 8 November 2021: US seizes $6 million in ransom payments, Haaretz, 8 November 2021: NSO Spyware Used Against Palestinian Activists From NGOs Israel Outlawed, Report Says, Times of Israel, 8 November 2021: Report: Palestinian activists’ phones hacked with controversial NSO Group tech, The Times, 8 November 2021: Belarusian soldiers ‘escorting hundreds of migrants’ towards Polish border, The Guardian, 8 November 2021: Belarus: Border guards escort hundreds of migrants towards Polish border, Jerusalem Post, 8 November 2021: Belarus is using refugees for politics. Turkey did the same thing – analysis, CNN, 8 November 2021: Crisis worsens on Poland-Belarus border, BBC, 8 November 2021: Poland fears huge migrant breach on Belarus border, DW, 8 November 2021: Poland says Belarus ‘fully’ controls migrant convoy, Jerusalem Post, 9 November 2021: EU close to deal on new round of Belarus sanctions, diplomats say (the sanctions are working better and better and should therefore be expanded considerably. Belarus is becoming Putin’s problem more and more, and that is a good thing), Reuters, 9 November 2021: Taiwan says China can blockade its key harbours, warns of ‘grave’ threat, Times of Israel, 9 November 2021: Israel said lobbying US to reverse blacklisting of NSO spy firm, Jerusalem Post, 9 November 2021: Lessons need to be learned from the NSO affair – analysis, Politico.eu, 9 November 2021: Poland blames Putin for instigating border crisis, The Times, 9 November 2021: Putin accused of pulling strings in border crisis, CNN, 9 November 2021: EU accuses Belarus of acting like ‘gangster regime’ as thousands of freezing migrants camp on Polish border, The Guardian, 9 November 2021: Belarus: EU condemns ‘gangster-style’ tactics in Polish border crisis, BBC, 9 November 2021: EU accuses Belarus of gangster-style migrant abuse, CNN, 9 November 2021: Satellite images show China’s most advanced aircraft carrier yet, DW, 9 November 2021: How will EU react to Poland-Belarus border crisis?, BBC, 9 November 2021: Hundreds of migrants at Belarus’ border with Poland, France24, 9 November 2021: EU accuses Belarus of ‘gangster’ methods as migrants shiver at border with Poland, DW, 9 November 2021: Taiwan: China is using ‘gray zone’ tactics to take control, France24, 10 November 2021: Poland accuses Putin of orchestrating Belarus border crisis to destabilise EU, BBC, 10 November 2021: Belarus accused of terrorism over migrant crisis, Politico.eu, 10 November 2021: European defense leaders warn: Belarus migrant crisis could morph into military crisis, The New York Times, 10 November 2021: Unlike Before, Poland Gets Support From Europe on Tough Borders, BBC, 11 November 2021: Belarus threatens to cut off gas to EU in border row (fortunately, the buttocks of the butcher of Minsk are on ice. A very good time for the EU to finally put the political end to the state terrorist – not only in its own interest, but also to liberate the Belarusian population from the Belarus gulag), The Guardian, 11 November 2021: Belarus Lukashenko threatens to cut gas deliveries to EU if sanctioned over border crisis, The Times, 11 November 2021: Huge far-right protest as Belarus threatens to cut off Europe’s gas, CNN, 11 November 2021: Tensions are rising on the Poland-Belarus border. Here’s what you need to know, Politico.eu, 11 November 2021: Lukashenko threatens EU with gas cutoff as border tensions rise, The New York Times, 11 November 2021: Migrants in Peril, and Raw Emotions, in European Border Standoff, DW, 12 November 2021: Kremlin dismisses warnings about troop buildup, France24, 12 November 2021: EU sees ‘progress’ as Turkey curbs Belarus flights, Russia dismisses gas threats, CNN, 12 November 2021: Russia and Belarus hold military drills as EU border crisis grows, The Guardian, 12 November 2021: Belarus: Team of 10 UK troops sent to Poland to assist on border, The Times, 12 November 2021: British troops deployed to Polish border as tensions with Russia rise, The National, 12 November 2021: Russia sends paratroopers to Belarus-EU border for ‘war games’ amid escalating crisis, New York Times, 12 November 2021: Migrants Say Belarusians Took Them to Border and Supplied Wire Cutters, CNN, 13 November 2021: UK army chief warns risk of accidental war with Russia is greater than ever, Politico.eu, 13 November 2021: EU admits US shift to Asia is ‘undeniable’, The Guardian, 14 November 2021: Belarus: Polish PM urges ‘concrete steps’ by Nato to address border crisis, The Guardian, 14 November 2021: UK must be ready for war with Russia, says armed forces chief, The Times, 15 November 2021: If we falter the Balkans will explode again, France24.com, 15 November 2021: EU to impose new sanctions on Belarus in migrant crisis at Polish border, The Times, 15 November 2021: Britain and Nato vow to stand by Ukraine as Russian troops mass at border, DW, 15 November 2021: Ukraine: NATO alarmed by Russian troop buildup on border, The National, 15 November 2021: US says Russia conducted ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ missile test, DW, 15 November 2021: Belarus crisis: Poland says migrants marching to border, The Guardian, 16 November 2021: Belarus: Polish police fire teargas at people trying to cross border, The Times, 16 November 2021: Belarus border crisis escalates with tear gas and water cannon fired at migrants (in view of the late summer temperatures in the border region, the Polish defense should rely more on the use of water anyway. Well-watered guests of Lukashenko (and indeed everyone and not only those who are directly involved in attempting to storm the Polish border fortifications) simply freeze better to the ground and of course also commit fewer crimes. On the one hand a very humane and efficient problem solution, on the other hand even very environmentally friendly and therefore sustainable. Incidentally, Lukashenko is also entrusting the full care and entertainment of his guests. They will then be returned to their home countries within two weeks), The Guardian, 16 November 2021: The Poland-Belarus border crisis is what happens when humans are treated as weapons, CNN, 16 November 2021: Chaos in eastern Europe suits Putin, The Guardian, 16 November 2021: Russia: Moscow admits to anti-satellite missile test but denies ‘dangerous behavior’, BBC, 16 November 2021: Polish forces tear-gas migrants at Belarus border, The Guardian, 16 November 2021: Technology: Israeli firm’s spyware linked to attacks on websites in UK and Middle East, DW, 16 November 2021: EU security strategy gets an overhaul — but will it really be an upgrade?, France24, 16 November 2021: NASA chief ‘outraged’ by Russia missile test that endangered astronauts on ISS, Politico.eu, 16 November 2021: EU arms itself against Russia, China with age-old tactic: A policy document, DW, 17 November 2021: Belarus: Lukashenko agrees to EU talks on ending migrant standoff, France24, 17 November 2021: Merkel and Lukashenko discuss need for talks, aid in migrant border crisis, Arab News, 17 November 2021: Manufactured migration crisis a potent weapon for EU’s enemies, France24, 17 November 2021: Armenia-Azerbaijan ceasefire holds one day after deadly border clashes, The Times, 17 November 2021: US-China nuclear talks unlikely to produce cuts in warheads, Politico.eu, 17 November 2021: Russia must be stopped in Ukraine, The Times, 17 November 2021: Belarus border crisis ‘could last years’, Poland warns, as violent clashes continue, CNN, 17 November 2021: China’s hypersonic missile test ‘went around the world’, top US military leader says, Palestine Chronicle, 17 November 2021: From Pegasus to Blue Wolf: How Israel’s ‘Security’ Experiment in Palestine Became Global, The Atlantic, 17 November 2021: An Unlikely Threat to the Western Alliance, The Washington Post, 17 November 2021: Belarus’s Lukashenko tried to use migrants as a weapon. That’s now turned against him., Foreign Policy, 18 November 2021: Pentagon Quietly Puts More Troops in Taiwan, Politico.eu, 19 November 2021: Germany’s nuclear option: No nukes (as the role of “Gas-Gerd” shows, the SPD leadership is a big fan of Russia’s dictator Putin. They would totally prefer to handing over Germany and the EU to him. NATO is of course an obstacle on the way, which is why it should be abolished. An important component for this is to reduce the spendings on the Bundeswehr so badly that it can no longer function as an army, so that Germany would be completely defenseless. The exact opposite would be necessary, however, so that Germany could finally live up to its international role and responsibility, which has been demanded by all NATO partners for years. But that cannot be achieved with “Olaf and the traffic light men” and their love for the Soviet Union. They prefer to dwarf Germany and the EU even further, only to wonder why half the world does not take them seriously and instead, quite rightly, laughs at them), Gulf Times, 19 November 2021: US warns Beijing after standoff with Philippines, Politico.eu, 19 November 2021: Lukashenko on migrants: ‘They’re not coming to my country, they’re going to yours’ (no, they are his guests, so that he has to take care of them), BBC, 19 November 2021: Belarus’s Lukashenko tells BBC: We may have helped migrants into EU, Politico.eu, 19 November 2021: British, Estonian troops to be sent to Poland amid border crisis, The Times, 19 November 2021: Biden’s team wants EU allies to get real on ‘strategic autonomy’, Al Arabiya, 20 November 2021: Armenia and Azerbaijan agree to talks in Brussels to overcome tensions: EU, Jerusalem Post, 20 November 2021: US patrol boats sent to back up Ukrainian Navy near Black Sea, DW, 20 November 2021: US defense chief reaffirms commitment to Middle East allies, CNN, 20 November 2021: The EU realizes it can’t rely on America for protection. Now it has a blueprint for a new joint military force, DW, 21 November 2021: Poland: Belarus crisis is ‘greatest attempt to destabilize Europe’ since Cold War, The Guardian, 21 November 2021: Instability grips a weakened Europe as global predators smell blood (and what is the traffic light coalition doing? Close their eyes and babble about cuts in the defense budget so that Germany will definitely not be able to meet the challenges. It is time for Germany to vote for charismatic politicians again and to get rid of the irresponsible and spineless), DW, 21 November 2021: Russia slams Western ‘hysteria’ over Ukraine, Politico.eu, 23 November 2021: Ukraine: NATO’s original sin, CNN, 23 November 2021: The West’s leaders agree that democracy is under attack. How they can defend it is less obvious, The Guardian, 23 November 2021: As China threat rises, can Aukus alliance recover from rancorous birth?, Foreign Policy, 23 November 2021: What Russia Really Wants in the Balkans, The Times, 24 November 2021: West has a week to stop the rot at Interpol, CNN, 24 November 2021: What a Crown Prince’s trip to Turkey tells us about the post-American Middle East, France24, 24 November 2021: Biden invites Taiwan to its democracy summit, sparking China rebuke (that the Chinese leadership has nothing to do with democracy isn’t that surprising), BBC, 26 November 2021: Ukraine leader alleges coup plan involving Russians, CNN, 26 November 2021: Ukrainian President says group of Russians and Ukrainians planning coup against him, The Guardian, 26 November 2021: Ukraine: Intelligence warning of Russia-backed December coup, president says, Politico.eu, 26 November 2021: Ukraine PM calls for NATO’s help against Russia, Jerusalem Post, 26 November 2021: A Russia-backed coup against Ukraine planned for December – Zelensky, The Atlantic, 26 November 2021: NASA Is Practicing Asteroid Deflection. You Know, Just in Case., The National, 26 November 2021: Biden ‘concerned’ about Russian threats against Ukraine, Arab News, 27 November 2021: US military presence in the Gulf is a strategic priority, Politico.eu, 28 November 2021: EU, NATO stress unity on Belarus, The New York Times, 28 November 2021: As China Speeds Up Nuclear Arms Race, the U.S. Wants to Talk, DW, 28 November 2021: Taiwan scrambles fighter jets after China sends aircraft, Arab News, 29 November 2021: Region at risk due to divisive water policies, The National, 29 November 2021: Latvia calls for permanent US troops to guard against Russian threat, Arab News, 29 November 2021: Why Biden’s frozen conflict policy is doomed to fail, Al Arabiya, 29 November 2021: Latvia calls for permanent US troops to guard against Russia threat, DW, 29 November 2021: Meeting near Russian border, NATO weighs response to Moscow’s military maneuvers, The Washington Post, 29 November 2021: Threat of Russian invasion of Ukraine tests Biden administration, Arab News, 30 November 2021: How Europe can be an effective partner to the MENA region, Politico.eu, 30 November 2021: NATO warns Russia of ‘high price’ for any attack on Ukraine, The Times, 30 November 2021: Pentagon gets in shape for Pacific base race against China, The Guardian, 30 November 2021: Ukraine: Russia will act if Nato countries cross ‘red lines’, Putin says, France24, 30 November 2021: NATO ministers to discuss Russia’s Ukraine build-up amid invasion fears, DW, 30 November 2021: NATO warns Russia against Ukraine ‘aggression’, The Times, 1 December 2021: Why the fate of Ukraine lies in the hands of one man: Putin, The National, 1 December 2021: Blinken says Russia is building capacity to invade Ukraine in ‘short order’, The Times, 1 December 2021: EU suspends asylum rules to tackle Belarus border crisis, DW, 1 December 2021: EU makes efforts to strengthen eastern border with Belarus, The Guardian, 1 December 2021: Ukraine: US warns Russia has plans for ‘large-scale’ attack, France24, 1 December 2021: US urges Russia to retract troops from Ukraine border, threatens sanctions, The Washington Post, 1 December 2021: The best response to Russia’s threats is a closer relationship with Ukraine, The Atlantic, 1 December 2021: Iran Feels Cornered by the Biden Administration, CNN, 2 December 2021: US and Russia officials meet as concerns grow over Ukraine, The Times, 2 December 2021: Russia has no say in Ukraine joining Nato, Moscow told, CNN, 2 December 2021: Analysis: Would Putin get away with invading Ukraine again?, BBC, 2 December 2021: Russia warns of military confrontation nightmare, Foreign Policy, 2 December 2021: Russians Believe Ukrainians Want to Be ‘Liberated’, CNN, 3 December 2021: Russia positions more forces, supply lines as fears rise of potential Ukraine invasion, The National, 3 December 2021: Biden aims to make it ‘very difficult’ for Putin to move against Ukraine, Arab News, 3 December 2021: NATO needs to enhance its relations with MENA nations, Al Arabiya, 3 December 2021: US State Department phones hacked with Israeli company spyware: Sources, Haaretz, 3 December 2021: Israeli NSO Spyware Found on Phones of U.S. State Department Officials, The Times, 3 December 2021: Great expectations: why the West is looking to Germany to counter Russian aggression, DW, 4 December 2021: US claims Russia planning Ukraine offensive, CNN, 4 December 2021: US intelligence estimates Russian troop levels on Ukraine border could reach 175,000, The Times, 4 December 2021: Putin to demand from Biden guarantees against Ukraine joining NATO (it is primarily up to Ukraine to decide whether or not to become a member of NATO. Obviously, the Ukrainian government is striving for membership, also in order to be able to better defend itself against Putin and his state terrorists in eastern Ukraine and in Crimea), Politico.eu, 4 December 2021: Putin’s choice: Hot war or a deeply frozen conflict, The Times, 4 December 2021: Xi lures Commonwealth with military diplomacy, DW, 4 December 2021: US claims Russia planning Ukraine offensive, Al Arabiya, 4 December 2021: Russia dismisses US media reports about possible Ukraine offensive, The New York Times, 5 December 2021: What’s Driving Putin’s Ukraine Brinkmanship?, France24, 6 December 2021: US vows to boost military presence if Russia attacks Ukraine, The Times, 6 December 2021: Putin invites Ukrainian separatist leaders into his party, France24, 6 December 2021: Israel lays down law on cyber exports, after Pegasus spy scandal, Politico.com, 6 December 2021: U.S. and Europe ready ‘significant and severe’ sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine, France24, 6 December 2021: Video: On Ukrainian frontline, Russian troop build-up reports spark concerns, The New York Times, 6 December 2021: On Ukrainian Front, Grinding War and Weary Anticipation of Invasion, The Hill, 6 December 2021: Five things to know about Russia’s troop buildup near Ukraine, CNN, 6 December 2021: Biden faces high-stakes test in call with Putin over Ukraine, Politico.eu, 7 December 2021: UK to Russia: Invading Ukraine would have ‘catastrophically high’ consequences, The Times, 7 December 2021: Western leaders plan reprisals if Russia invades Ukraine, Politico.eu, 7 December 2021: What’s Putin really up to with Ukraine?, The Guardian, 7 December 2021: Ukraine: Prepare a swift response to possible Russian invasion, Latvia tells west, Politico.com, 7 December 2021: Biden warns Putin on call against Ukraine invasion, BBC, 7 December 2021: Biden and Putin talk as Ukraine tensions rise, The National, 7 December 2021: Biden takes hard line with Putin over possible Ukraine invasion, Jerusalem Post, 7 December 2021: Only Israel votes at UN to oppose ME nuclear-free zone, The Hill, 7 December 2021: Biden tries to tamp down tensions with Putin call, The Washington Post, 7 December 2021: Biden tells Putin U.S. will take economic, other actions if Russia escalates Ukraine conflict, The New York Times, 7 December 2021: Biden Warns Putin of Economic Consequences if Aggression Continues, CNN, 7 December 2021: China threatens the US with retaliation over diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics (the Chinese leadership can try to reverse guilt and there will certainly be many grateful buyers for the lie at home. The fact is, however, that the political boycott of the Winter Games is the consequence of blatant violations of human rights and international law by China. Of course, the German government does not want to offend any important trading partner more than necessary, but it is rather embarrassing that the Federal Republic of all countries did not immediately sided with the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK, especially since it was Nazi Germany that, with the 1936 Summer Olympics, virtually provided the blueprint for the upcoming propaganda show in China. Berlin is currently sending the signal to Beijing: “Oh, we did it in 1936 too. We hope you enjoy doing it as well!” One can only hope that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will quickly gain format and influence so that in the future China will get the responses in a way that is understood there. In any case, caresses are the wrong way to go), NPR, 7 December 2021: Why Russia-Ukraine tensions have again reached a boiling point, CNN, 8 December 2021: ‘Ukraine isn’t in NATO’: Biden rules out US troops but vows sanctions if Russia invades, Politico.com, 8 December 2021: Sending U.S. combat troops to Ukraine ‘not in the cards right now,’ Biden says, The Times, 8 December 2021: Russian invasion of Ukraine would be like World War Two, warns defence chief, The Guardian, 8 December 2021: Ukraine: Russia expects urgent talks with US after Biden-Putin summit, The National, 8 December 2021: Biden warns Putin of severe consequences if Ukraine attacked, DW, 8 December 2021: Transatlantic allies ramp up pressure on Russia over Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 9 December 2021: Turkey won’t confront Russia in event of war in ally Ukraine, The Hill, 9 December 2021: Biden reassures Ukraine’s Zelensky of U.S. support amid Russian aggression, The Washington Post, 9 December 2021: Amid fears of a Russian invasion, Biden seeks united front with Ukraine and allies, The Times, 10 December 2021: Flashpoint Ukraine: can Biden find a balance between deterrence and provocation?, Arab News, 10 December 2021: NATO chief rejects Russia demand to bar Ukraine entry (if Russia would be a democracy and not be run by a bloodthirsty dictator, it could ask for NATO membership as well), The Times, 10 December 2021: We’ll protect you from Russia, Biden tells eastern Europe, The Guardian, 10 December 2021: ‘Nobody wants to be Putin’s slave’: On the Ukraine frontline as tensions rise, The Times, 11 December 2021: Putin blames Nato for pushing Kiev towards war, The National, 11 December 2021: Truss and Blinken warn of ‘serious consequences’ if Russia invades Ukraine, The Times, 11 December 2021: Of course the Russians are coming to Ukraine. They want to rebuild their empire, France24, 11 December 2021: US: Russia should withdraw from Ukraine border or face ‘massive consequences’, Politico.eu, 11 December 2021: G7 ministers warn of ‘strong response’ if Putin advances into Ukraine, The Guardian, 12 December 2021: Ukraine: G7 leaders warn Russia all sanctions on table over border buildup, The Guardian, 12 December 2021: Naftali Bennett: Israel’s PM to visit UAE to discuss deepening ties (As expected a few months ago in this blog post, the US withdrawal from the region is leading to the expected reactions. According to the motto “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”, Iran, which has been built up as a “rogue nation” over the years, ensures that the Arab Gulf States open up to Israel in order to find a common line towards Iran. As was also to be expected, the Arab Gulf states do not share Israel’s desire for an open war with Iran, especially since this could set the entire Gulf region ablaze. Apart from that, solid economic interests naturally also play a role. The same applies to parts of the North African states. Should this result in the revival of the “Union for the Mediterranean”, it would have been worth all the trouble of recent years), The Times, 13 December 2021: Russia has ‘no trust’ in Nato over Ukraine (yes, the poor Kremlin terrorists. Again totally misunderstood by the rest of the world, the little rascals! :-D ), France24, 13 December 2021: EU imposes sanctions on Russian mercenary group Wagner over human rights abuses, The National, 13 December 2021: Aukus price tag: report warns of $80bn cost for Australia’s nuclear submarine plan, Politico.eu, 14 December 2021: How Europe can calm the Russia-Ukraine crisis, The Times, 14 December 2021: France and Hungary want Europe to have its own army, The National, 14 December 2021: UAE suspends discussions with US on F-35 sale over sovereignty concerns, Al Arabiya, 14 December 2021: UAE suspends talks on F-35 deal with US; State Dept hopes solve ‘outstanding issues’, Israel Hayom, 14 December 2021: ‘Russia may soon be forced to deploy mid-range nuclear missiles in Europe’ (the Russians already stzationed rocket systems capable of nuclear war heads in Kaliningrad, pointing at Paris, London and Berlin, but are accusing NATO of alleged aggressions towards Russia? Who is this bimbo trying to trick?), The Times, 14 December 2021: West should not fall for Putin’s Ukraine bluff, Politico.eu, 14 December 2021: Commission calls for tougher border rules to tackle migrants, disease and terrorists, Arab News, 14 December 2021: Virus and migrant worries spur EU to toughen border rules, Politico.eu, 15 December 2021: Don’t fall into Putin’s trap, Estonian PM warns the West, CNN, 15 December 2021: Microsoft warns China, Iran, North Korea and Turkey are exploiting software vulnerability, The Guardian, 15 December 2021: Germany: Olaf Scholz condemns Covid ‘truth denial’ in inaugural speech, Politico.eu, 15 December 2021: Scholz wants dialogue with Moscow but warns of ‘high price’ for attacking Ukraine, The Guardian, 15 December 2021: Ukraine: EU to warn Vladimir Putin of ‘massive consequences’ of invading, Foreign Policy, 15 December 2021: Europe Accidentally Built an ‘Amnesty International With Guns’, The National, 15 December 2021: Germany’s Scholz warns of ‘high cost’ if Russia violates Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Al Arabiya, 16 December 2021: Ukraine’s leader seeks Russia sanctions before it’s too late, The Times, 17 December 2021: Russia demands Nato remove all troops from eastern Europe (of course, right after the Russian state terrorist permanently withdrew his gangsters from Crimea, eastern Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Syria and along the EU borders), Politico.eu, 17 December 2021: EU leaders threaten Russia with sanctions over Ukraine, The Guardian, 17 December 2021: Ukraine: Russia issues list of demands it says must be met to lower tensions in Europe, BBC, 17 December 2021: Russia lists demands for defusing Ukraine tensions, France24, 17 December 2021: EU threatens to hit Russia with sanctions, but will they work?, The Algemeiner, 17 December 2021: Russia Tells NATO to Leave East Europe, Stay Out of Ex-Soviet Union, DW, 17 December 2021: Russia issues list of demands to NATO, Foreign Policy, 17 December 2021: Why Ukraine’s Fight Against Corruption Scares Russia, Jerusalem Post, 17 December 2021: US Navy tests high-energy laser weapon in the Middle East, The Hill, 17 December 2021: White House says Putin hasn’t made up mind on invading Ukraine, The Washington Post, 17 December 2021: It’s an open secret there’s no NATO plan for Ukraine. Why not just tell Putin?, The National, 18 December 2021: UK ‘highly unlikely’ to send troops to fight Russia in Ukraine, The Times, 18 December 2021: Get your tanks off my lawn and don’t come back, Putin tells Nato :-D , The Economist, 18 December 2021: A forced brotherhood: Why Russia has never accepted Ukrainian independence, Al Arabiya, 18 December 2021: Russia sends nuclear-capable long-range bombers on patrol over Belarus, DW, 18 December 2021: NATO mulls deploying troops to Bulgaria, Romania — Der Spiegel, France24, 18 December 2021: Russia demands US, NATO curtail activity in East Europe to defuse Ukraine crisis, DW, 18 December 2021: Germany warns Russia of pipeline ‘consequences’, Al Arabiya, 19 December 2021: German Defense Minister in visit to Lithuania says Russia cannot ‘dictate’ to NATO, CNN, 19 December 2021: ‘A four-week window’: Biden is moving fast to deter Putin from invading Ukraine, The Washington Post, 19 December 2021: On Ukraine’s front, a real war overshadows worries about a possible future one with Russia, DW, 19 December 2021: German defense minister: Russia will not ‘dictate’ to NATO, Politico.eu, 19 December 2021: Europe remembers its forgotten war, The Times, 20 December 2021: Russia wants ‘urgent’ answer to demands over Nato withdrawal, The New York Times, 20 December 2021: U.S. and Britain Help Ukraine Prepare for Potential Russian Cyberassault, Times of Israel, 21 December 2021: UAE Targeted Khashoggi’s Wife With NSO Spyware Before His Murder, Analysis Finds, France24, 21 December 2021: Putin warns West of military measures over Ukraine threats, The Guardian, 21 December 2021: Russia: Putin warns of possible military response over ‘aggressive’ Nato (so, Russia’s grumpy dictator is still in “Bullsh!t Bingo” mode), Haaretz, 21 December 2021: ‘Cyber Mercenaries’: Israel’s Spyware Industry Is Getting Slammed Around the World, France24, 21 December 2021: Thirty years after Soviet collapse, Russia maintains grip on breakaway Georgian province, DW, 21 December 2021: Vladimir Putin threatens ‘military-technical’ reaction to NATO over Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 21 December 2021: Japan to pay $9.33 billion for US forces over five years to 2026, Arab News, 21 December 2021: Why Europe needs its own army (but there is also a positive aspect to all the negative aspects for which Putin’s Russia is synonymous: not even the kleptocracies of the EU eastward expansion want to become Soviet again, so that there is a rare consensus within the EU with regard to how to deal with Russia. even if the paths to get there are not yet congruent. It is astonishing or incomprehensible that an external threat is always required before we act together, instead of becoming proactive in order not to be brought into the situation in the first place), France24, 22 December 2021: Germany urges dialogue with Russia, says ‘greatly concerned’ by Putin military threat, DW, 22 December 2021: Russia plans talks with US, NATO in January, The National, 22 December 2021: US accuses Russia of further escalation on Ukrainian border, Haaretz, 22 December 2021: Israel, U.S. ‘Don’t See Eye to Eye’ on Iran, Official Says as Sullivan Meets Bennett (apparently, people in Israel are still under the illusion that the West will intervene to straighten out what the two simpletons Netanyahu and Trump have brought about to the region with the unilateral termination of the Iran deal. But that won’t happen. No government will sacrifice its own security interests for it. Not even the USA, which after decades in Afghanistan will certainly not start the much less predictable, even longer expedition to Iran, especially since it would not only be done with Iran, but also the dispatch of large contingents of troops to Iraq, to Syria, possibly even Lebanon. Since US interests are now clearly in the Indo-Pacific, you can count the likelihood of major military missions in the Middle East on your thumb, which points down. For Netanyahu disciples, therefore, there remain several insights that have been clear and open on the table for the rest of the world for months: a) Netanyahu betrayed them and Israel massively in order to pursue his narcissistic and short-sighted, as well as rarely stupid, ideas, which the entire region will suffer from for many years to come. b) In Israel, Netanyahu successfully tried to convince his disciples that under him the security of Israel would have been strengthened, although the exact opposite is the case. With sleepwalking certainty, he made sure that he himself became the greatest enemy of the fragile Israeli democracy and, at the same time, with the unilateral termination of the Iran deal, greatly facilitated and supported Iran’s successful preparations for the construction of an atomic bomb. It is clear in security circles that before the termination of the Iran deal, Iran was years away from successful tests. It has been months at most since the agreement was terminated. Simultaneously, the simpletons Netanyahu and Trump stand in front of the cameras and seriously claim that their “Maximum Bullsh!t Bingo” was successful. What they are hiding is that Iran was much more successful than the two together. After all, Iran has been familiar with US sanctions for decades. They certainly don’t scare the rulers in Tehran. Why should they? There are alternatives to the West, which has offended Iran for the umpteenth time. A potent partner is available in China and is already supporting the Iranian economy. c) Israel is militarily much weaker than it would like to persuade itself and others and has also been actively persuaded by Netanyahu. Only a few days ago the IDF admitted that a military option against Iran cannot be seriously considered because there is no realistic possibility for a successful operation. This would require additional, substantial gifts of arms from the USA, which the Biden administration then demonstratively pushed back so far that the successor administration will probably only decide on the actual extradition. In doing so, Biden sent several clear signals to Iran: “1. We are currently not considering a military option, 2. We will not allow anybody to drag us into a military operation and 3. We are in control of the situation. The Israeli government pisses us off. At that front we just won some time, so let’s see how we can successfully restart the Iran deal in order to save what can be saved and before it gets uncomfortable.”), Al Arabiya, 22 December 2021: US concerned over Turkey’s drone sales to conflict-hit Ethiopia, CNN, 22 December 2021: France’s $19 billion weapons deal is sweet revenge, The Guardian, 23 December 2021: Vladimir Putin: Russian president accuses west of ‘coming with its missiles to our doorstep’ (equal rights for all. After all, he stationed his nuclear-capable medium-range missiles years ago in Kaliningrad and aimed them at Berlin, London and Paris. Now it’s NATO’s turn to backlash. It is about time), Saudi Gazette, 23 December 2021: Putin says Russia doesn’t want war with Ukraine but urges West to meet his demands (in Putin’s parallel universe every day is apparently Spongebob’s “opposite day” :-D At no point did NATO promise to stop the eastward expansion. It cannot do that either, especially since countries that want to become NATO members can apply accordingly after meeting the entry requirements – they usually do so to protect themselves from Russian attacks. If Putin’s Russia did not behave like a drunken and aggressive bar thug, there would be far less reasons for Eastern European countries to seek NATO membership. Nobody can seriously object to countries like Ukraine, Moldova or Georgia wanting to free themselves from Russian annexations in order to become democratic and prosperous countries in contrast to Russia. That is also a reason why Putin is attacking the countries. When it becomes clear that they have much more successful social models than is the case in Russia, his political career will come to an end), France24, 23 December 2021: Russia-Ukraine: Putin blames West for tensions, demands security guarantees (while the West demands security guarantees for all of Ukraine from Russia and the withdrawl of its troops from eastern Ukraine and Crimea), BBC, 23 December 2021: Putin says ball in West’s court on Ukraine crisis, France24, 23 December 2021: Putin says Russia doesn’t want Ukraine war but needs ‘immediate’ guarantees, The Times, 23 December 2021: Russia clearly intends to attack neighbour, claims Lithuania, DW, 23 December 2021: Germany, France call for Ukraine truce to hold, Politico.eu, 23 December 2021: Putin demands Western security guarantees to end threat of Ukraine invasion, DW, 23 December 2021: Russia: Putin addresses Ukraine, NATO tensions, CNN, 23 December 2021: US intel and images show Saudi Arabia building ballistic missiles with China’s help, Politico.com, 23 December 2021: Russian buildup near Ukraine gains steam, new satellite images show, DW, 23 December 2021: West condemns Wagner Group Mali ‘deployment’, Foreign Policy, 23 December 2021: Putin Remains Defiant, Threatens Ukraine in Annual Presser, Arab News, 23 December 2021: Europe’s defense offers lessons for the Gulf (interesting read. With the actual political landscape given, there will be most likely two EU defense structures, one formed by the Western EU countries and one by the new East bloc, while the first will be a pretty close one and the second more lax, as ultra-nationalistic authoritarians doesn’t like cooperations at all, while crying like little babies if they don’t get their way), The Guardian, 24 December 2021: Ukraine: Russian consulate in Lviv hit by molotov cocktail (with the help of the phrase “Since 5:45 am we are now firing back”, Germany constructed the beginning of the Second World War. As a decent dictator, Putin seems to have chosen an example here), The Guardian, 24 December 2021: Poland: Deputy PM says Germany wants to turn EU into ‘fourth reich’ (stupid as bread but very proud of it. The Pole Kaczynski makes it clear again and again that Poland will remain an intellectually developing country. It is high time to help the country to finally leave the EU and NATO in order to join Putin’s empire, as is obviously the wish of the self-appointed country leadership), DW, 24 December 2021: Poland accuses Germany of trying to form ‘Fourth Reich’, CNN, 24 December 2021: Putin’s bid to rewrite history, The Hill, 25 December 2021: Ukraine president, US lawmakers huddle amid tensions with Russia, The Sunday Times, 26 December 2021: Thirty years on, collapse of the Soviet Union haunts Russians again (the implosion and selfdestruction of the Soviet Union was a great joy for the liberated peoples of the former Eastern Bloc and a very good reason for a boisterous celebration in the rest of the world. In addition to the founding of the European Union, that was the most beautiful event in the second half of the 19th century), Haaretz, 27 December 2021: Putin, Xi and Khamenei All Know: America’s ‘Rules-based Order’ Is Over, The Guardian, 27 December 2021: Ukraine crisis: How Putin feeds off anger over Nato’s eastward expansion, Foreign Policy, 27 December 2021: How Russia Decides When to Invade, The Washington Post, 27 December 2021: The spyware crisis is much bigger than NSO Group, The National, 28 December 2021: Russia welcomes UAE and others to UN’s top chamber, Al Arabiya, 29 December 2021: Russia, Belarus to hold joint war games early next year, The Times, 29 December 2021: Russia warns Sweden and Finland against joining Nato (laughable. As if Kremlin trolls would have a say in this), Foreign Policy, 29 December 2021: 10 Conflicts to Watch in 2022, The Atlantc, 29 December 2021: Russia’s Aggression Against Ukraine Is Backfiring, Politico.com, 30 December 2021: Biden-Putin call ushers in new phase of diplomacy, BBC, 30 December 2021: Ukraine tensions: Biden and Putin phone call seeks ‘diplomatic path’, The Guardian, 30 December 2021: Biden and Putin exchange warnings during phone call amid rising Ukraine tensions, France24, 30 December 2021: Biden, Putin see hope for ‘meaningful progress’ after call focused on Ukraine, DW, 30 December 2021: Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin hold ‘constructive’ phone call, Arab News, 31 December 2021: Biden and Putin trade warnings over Ukraine, but vow diplomacy (the sanctions would not be a “colossal mistake”, but would be the result of “colossal stupidity” in Putin’s attempt to further damage the sovereignty of Ukraine instead of withdrawing his terrorists from eastern Ukraine and evacuating Crimea immediately. Putin’s Russia is rapidly developing into Europe’s Iran), CNN, 31 December 2021: Biden pushes Putin for Ukraine de-escalation in second call this month, Al Arabiya, 31 December 2021: Biden warns of sanctions over Ukraine; Putin says will lead to rupture in ties, The Times, 31 December 2021: Vladimir Putin warns Joe Biden against sanctions over Ukraine crisis, The Guardian, 31 December 2021: Ukraine: Russian foreign minister warns west over ‘aggressive line’ in crisis, France24, 31 December 2021: Germany backs France for ‘more sovereign’ Europe as Paris set for turn at EU presidency, Haaretz, 31 December 2021: The Middle East Seeks Alternatives as the U.S. Leaves and Iran Returns, The Washington Post, 31 December 2021: China harvests data on Western targets from social media, documents show, The National, 1 January 2022: UAE and others take seats on UN Security Council, The Times, 1 January 2022: Finland’s leader Sanna Marin promises the truth about ‘cultural genocide’ of Sami people, Los Angeles Times, 1 January 2022: U.S. and Russia face deep differences ahead of Geneva talks, Al Arabiya, 2 January 2022: In New Year’s speech, Taiwan president warns China against ‘military adventurism’, The Guardian, 2 January 2022: Ukraine: Russia ‘very likely’ to invade without ‘enormous sanctions’, says US official, DW, 2 January 2022: Biden promises Ukraine ‘decisive’ response if Russia invades, The Hill, 2 January 2022: Biden tells Zelensky US, allies will ‘respond decisively’ if Russia invades, The Washington Post, 2 January 2022: Biden speaks with Ukrainian president and reaffirms U.S. commitment amid Russian standoff, France24, 3 January 2022: EU’s Borrell to visit Ukraine frontline amid Russia tensions, Jerusalem Post, 3 January 2022: Israel’s Mossad bombed German, Swiss firms to stop Pakistani nukes – report, The National, 3 January 2022: US, France, Russia, China and Britain unite in rare anti-nuclear message, Arab News, 3 January 2022: Russia, China, Britain, US and France say no one can win nuclear war, France24, 3 January 2022: US, France, Russia, China and Britain pledge to halt spread of nuclear weapons, Irish Times, 3 January 2022: The Irish Times view on tensions over Ukraine: the price of an invasion The Irish Times view on tensions over Ukraine: the price of an invasion, Politico.eu, 3 January 2022: On Russia, NATO cannot fold, The Guardian, 3 January 2022: Nuclear weapons: Five of world’s most powerful nations pledge to avoid war, France24, 3 January 2022: China says it will continue to ‘modernise’ its nuclear arsenal, The Atlantic, 3 January 2022: The U.S. Is Naive About Russia. Ukraine Can’t Afford to Be., Foreign Policy, 3 January 2022: Germany Nervously Tests the Indo-Pacific Waters, DW, 3 January 2022: Ukraine tensions: Normandy format talks set for Thursday, Foreign Policy, 4 January 2022: Ukraine Needs a Political Deal at Home to Defend Against Russia, Jerusalem Post, 3 January 2022: US, UK, Israel should help form an Arab NATO, DW, 4 January 2022: China: US and Russia should reduce nukes first, Politico.com, 4 January 2022: NATO calls extraordinary meeting to discuss Russia, The Guardian, 4 January 2022: European Union: Top diplomat visits Ukraine frontline in show of solidarity (anyone who has been dwarfing themselves on the subject of their own security for decades and thereby presents themselves as a sacrificial lamb will of course not be taken seriously in negotiations or only be noticed at all. The EU and the federal states, above all Germany, have brought this about themselves and they do not learn from it either, but continue to be only too happy to offer themselves as sacrificial cattle for the Russian slaughterhouse. They not only have to live with the expected results, but above all justify them to themselves and others. In view of the distance of light years between the full-bodied Sunday speeches (“We want to help shape and take on more responsibility!”) and the facts on the ground (almost exactly the opposite happens there), it is rather surprising that the EU and/or its federal states are still at all occasionally be involved in diplomatic and/or military missions. After all, nobody in the world needs such a bunch of nationalistic weaklings and talkers), The National, 4 January 2022: Borrell heads to Ukraine determined not to be spectator in power games, Al Arabiya, 4 January 2022: NATO foreign ministers to hold emergency talks on Ukraine, Foreign Policy, 4 January 2022: China’s Two-Ocean Strategy Puts India in a Pincer, The Hill, 4 January 2022: North Korea launched unidentified missiles into water, CNN, 5 January 2022: Australia and Japan to sign defense and security cooperation treaty, Al Arabiya, 5 January 2022: Top US, German diplomats reiterate warning to Russia over Ukraine, Politico.com, 6 January 2022: Biden talks tough on Putin, but European allies are less ready for a fight, The National, 6 January 2022: ‘Dozens’ of Kazakhstan protestors killed by police in Almaty (it is always the same, whether Belarus, Russia, Syria, China or now Kazakhstan: When autocrats/dictators lose control of the situation, they jabber something about alleged “foreign provocateurs are threatening our peace-loving autocracy/dictatorship” to justify to shoot at their own people. In this case, once again supported by Putin’s mercenaries, as he cannot afford that democracy-like state structures are established on Russia’s borders, because that would be his political end. His war crimes in Syria, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are always warnings to the Russian population: “If I did something like that abroad, what do you think I would do to you if you would oppose my dictatorship?” At least the deployment in Kazakhstan now offers him a face-saving opportunity to withdraw his troops from the Ukrainian border), The Washington Post, 6 January 2022: Russian troops intervene in protest-roiled Kazakhstan, where security forces have killed dozens of demonstrators, The Times, 6 January 2022: ‘Nato must find a path for Putin to retreat on Ukraine’, France24, 6 January 2022: US, Russian defense chiefs speak as Ukraine tensions simmer, CNN, 6 January 2022: Russian submarine collided with British warship part in rare event (who said, war games can’t be fun?), The New York Times, 6 January 2022: In Kazakhstan, Putin Seizes on Unrest to Try to Expand Influence, CNN, 6 January 2022: Biden nominates a new general to oversee military operations in Middle East, DW, 7 January 2022: Polish leader admits government bought spyware, The New York Times, 7 January 2022: Russian forces surround Ukraine on three sides. This map shows how Moscow’s positioning could widen the conflict., The Times, 7 January 2022: Russian troops pour into Kazakhstan in protest crackdown, DW, 7 January 2022: NATO won’t create ‘2nd-class’ allies, Arab News, 7 January 2022: By appeasing Iran, Biden is repeating a historic mistake (interesting read, but the battle was already lost, when Trump under pressure from Netanyahu left the Iran deal unilateral and, while doing so, gave Iran the ultimate green light to finally enrich uranium and build the bomb. Besides this grave and historic mistake, another mistake is often overlooked: As the article correctly describes, Trump put American interests first, completely neglecting the interests of the Arab Gulf States. It would have been of great importance to enable these states militarily to take measures against the Iranian nuclear program themselves. That didn’t happen. Because of it, the Arab Gulf States will with some certainty have to look for alternative suppliers for appropriate weapon systems (and have already found them in China, among others) and sooner or later begin building atomic bombs themselves in order to maintain the balance of power in the Arab (on the west side) / Persian (on the east side) Gulf. If you look at the overall chaos that Trump and Netanyahu have left behind, then there are only bad and very bad solutions for Biden and the USA. The cheapest of the bad solutions would be to stay out of the way militarily and leave it to the countries of the region to find a solution for themselves. Interestingly, the Arab Gulf States and Iran also considered this possibility and have therefore already held initial talks with each other. After all, neither side can be interested in a war that would set the entire Gulf ablaze, and it would at least avert the imminent threat of open war. What is still unsolved is how to get Iran to stop supporting various terrorist organizations and to operate only and exclusively on its own territory), The Times, 7 January 2022: US and Japan to develop hypersonic and space-based weapons, France24, 7 January 2022: Macron, EU’s von der Leyen call for end to Kazakhstan violence, Foreign Policy, 7 January 2022: 3 Big Things to Know About the Russian-Led Alliance Intervening in Kazakhstan, Politico.eu, 7 January 2022: Putin’s Kazakh gambit tightens his grip on ex-Soviet space, The Guardian, 7 January 2022: Nato Chief warns of real risk of Ukraine conflict as Russian buildup continues, Foreign Policy, 7 January 2022: Swedish Foreign Minister: Joining NATO Is Up to Us, Al Arabiya, 7 January 2022: NATO rules out any halt to expansion, despite Russia demand on Ukraine, Politico.eu, 7 January 2022: Stoltenberg: NATO will be ready if Russia talks fail, Arab News, 8 January 2022: UN calls on all involved in Kazakhstan unrest to choose peace over violence, The Times, 8 January 2022: New defence chief warns of Russian threat at sea, Business Insider, 8 January 2022: Blinken issues warning to Kazakhstan. ‘Once Russians are in your house, it’s sometimes very difficult to get them to leave’ (that’s obviously very true. Just ask Syria, Ukraine, Libya, Georgia, or Moldova, just to name a few), BBC, 8 January 2022: Kazakhstan unrest: Blinken questions Russian troop deployment, The New York Times, 8 January 2022: How the U.S. Intends to Punish Russia for a Ukraine Invasion, DW, 8 January 2022: US refuses to draw down troops in Eastern Europe, The New York Times, 8 January 2022: U.S. Details Costs of a Russian Invasion of Ukraine, The Washington Post, 8 January 2022: The future of Europe hinges on the coming talks between the West and Russia, The Washington Post, 8 January 2022: The West has enabled Putin long enough. It is time to stop., Haaretz, 9 January 2022: Israeli NSO Spyware Found on Activists’ Phones in Kazakhstan, The Times, 9 January 2022: US plans to cripple Russia’s banks if it invades Ukraine, The New York Times, 9 January 2022: Russia Warns That U.S. Doesn’t Understand Its Goals on Ukraine, The National, 9 January 2022: Europe fears economic consequences if Russia is heavily sanctioned, The New York Times, 9 January 2022: In Ukraine Conflict, Russia Relies on a Promise That Ultimately Wasn’t, The Hill, 9 January 2022: Five things to know as US, Russia seek Ukraine solution, NPR, 9 January 2022: Neither side is optimistic ahead of U.S.-Russia talks over Ukraine, The National, 10 January 2022: Guantanamo Bay military jail turns 20 with dozens of inmates stuck in legal limbo, The Times, 10 January 2022: Russia rejects US plea to withdraw border troops, Politico.eu, 10 January 2022: NATO chief lowers expectations on Russia talks, The Times, 10 January 2022: US dodges Russian demands for Nato curbs on eve of Ukraine talks, Politico.eu, 10 January 2022: Russia downplays Ukraine invasion, but US makes no concessions, The Times, 10 January 2022: Germany should arm Ukraine to atone for Nazi crimes, ambassador says (Kiev is neither completely wrong nor completely right, especially since there are a whole lot of shades of gray between black and white, which is why even experts can come to quite controversial or diametrically opposing assessments. It’s always a question of perspective. That Ukraine has now come to this assessment and reaches for every straw is understandable in view of the threat posed by Putin’s hordes. Whether or not the argument will work is of course an entirely different question. In the interests of common security in the EU, however, it is correct that the delivery of defensive weapons should have taken place a long time ago. Nord Stream 2 is one thing, territorial integrity something else and much higher in importance. One cannot gild the butt of the war criminal Putin on the one hand and leave his victims out in the cold. Where is the “values-led foreign policy approach” or does it take a vacation on certain issues?: Germany–Ukraine relations, Reichskommissariat Ukraine, Ukraine during World War II, War in Donbas, Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. At the same time, nobody should be fooled. The Scholz administratio (Putin’s 5th column shows in the first test that neither the EU nor the USA can rely on them, but instead waits subservient for the orders and instructions from the miniature dictator from Moscow. Anyone who acts so completely irresponsibly instead of taking a clear and unambiguous position in favor of Ukraine poses an intentional danger for the European project. If this comes from the leadership of Europe’s largest economy, then it even actually poses a serious security threat to Europe) will pursue the same appeasement strategy towards Putin’s dictatorship as Neville Chamberlain did towards Hitler (and at the same time inadvertently allowing states friendly to Ukraine to bring in weapons and materials to increase resistance to Russian aggressions). In addition, there is shockingly strong sympathy among the German public for Putin’s regime, stronger than for the democratic USA. It was the USA who brought Germany freedom, democracy and prosperity and Russia the exact opposite. After all, economic interests also play a major role. The “Eastern Committee of the German Economy” is a lobby association to which, among other things, the largest German stock corporations belong. From there, business contacts to Eastern Europe, among others, are strengthened and maintained. They are largely indifferent to the rule of law and territorial integrity. As long as they can conduct their business, the despot Putin can do what he wants from their point of view. If that means that entire states lose their freedom, so that the dwarf with the Napoleon complex from the Kremlin can advance his great power fantasies (even the Soviet Union 2.0 will never become a world power again), then that’s how it should be. The problem with this is not only that the association sees the world this way, but above all that it can enforce this world view due to economic power. This also applies to dealing with the procedures of the Communist Party dictatorship in China), CNN, 10 January 2022: US: No breakthrough in ‘frank and forthright’ talks with Russia over Ukraine crisis (absolutely right. Putin is not interested in negotiations, otherwise he would have turned up with negotiating options instead of the comic that he presented instead. Putin’s Russia, an economic dwarf, has exactly three significant export items on offer, namely oil, natural gas and war crimes. He does not want to deliver the first two to Ukraine; he has been supplying the latter since 2014. Now he wants to increase the “export quota” by sending more mercenaries to Ukraine. The fact that he is only negotiating with the USA is understandable and logical. Through permanent, military self-dwarfing, the EU has made itself an international laughing stock. So there is not a single comprehensible or reasonable reason why one should waste time negotiating with such a bunch of wimps about war and peace in Europe. You simply force a solution uplon them that they can’t defend themselves against because they don’t want it anyway. Instead, they wave the white flag before the actual battle), The National, 10 January 2022: US and Russia share ideas but little progress after key Ukraine talks, The Guardian, 10 January 2022: Ukraine: US-Russia talks ‘useful’ but no progress made (Kim Jong-un was able to enforce his wish to talk to Trump. Now Putin was able to get his way with Biden. Nothing came of this with the former and it is to be expected that the same will be the case for the latter), Al Arabiya, 10 January 2022: Two Ukraine soldiers killed as tensions with Russia soar, The Guardian, 10 January 2022: ‘It’s our house’ Mood in Kyiv calm despite threat of Russian attack, BBC, 10 January 2022: Russia downplays threat to Ukraine in Geneva talks, France24, 10 January 2022: No breakthrough in Russia-US talks on troop build-up near Ukraine, The New York Times, 10 January 2022: Russia has begun positioning helicopters, a possible sign that planning for an attack against Ukraine continues., NPR, 10 January 2022: Russia digs in on Ukraine never joining NATO, on a day of talks with the U.S., The Hill, 10 January 2022: US looks to ward off Ukraine conflict in talks with Russia, The New York Times, 10 January 2022: In Talks on Ukraine, U.S. and Russia Deadlock Over NATO Expansion, Politico.eu, 11 January 2022: Europe is missing in action on Ukraine — it doesn’t have to be, The Times, 11 January 2022: Moscow rejects US plea to withdraw border troops, The Algemeiner, 11 January 2022: Israeli Security Startup Pentera Raises $150 Million in Funding Round, Eyes IPO, CNN, 11 January 2022: US grounded planes after NORAD alerted a North Korean missile launch (after Putin started rattling the saber, the other criminals in the region naturally also want to draw attention to themselves), Reuters, 11 January 2022: Germany’s chancellor must show leadership on Russia – Ukraine envoy (in fact, Ukraine has had a so-called “accession perspective” for quite a while. So the key to joining NATO lies entirely with Ukraine itself, which must first meet the entry requirements. However, it is still very far from that, among other things because reforms are being unnecessarily delayed and sub-issues such as corruption have deteriorated instead of improving. The Ukrainian government cannot delegate the responsibility of “putting things in order”, but has to take it on itself if one day, from the accession perspective, an actual accession is to become. The hurdles for membership in the EU are even higher. The sooner the Ukrainian government starts working on it, the sooner accession can take place. To insist that Russia’s German gas customers should pay Ukraine 2 billion euros annually for doing nothing is either pure provocation or pure cheek. Definitely to be rejected in both cases. In addition, the ambassador should think about how Ukraine will raise the 9.5 billion euros (or half the amount for the EU companies involved) to compensate the Nord Stream 2 consortium in the event that the pipeline should not go into operation), DW, 11 January 2022: Are NATO-Russia talks a start or more stalling?, Politico.eu, 12 January 2022: NATO, Russia in a standoff after talks in Brussels, The Times, 12 January 2022: Neutrality won’t protect Ukraine from Putin, Politico.com, 12 January 2022: Putin is Threatening a War. Are Russians Willing to Fight It?, CNN, 12 January 2022: Putin’s next move could hinge on high-stakes NATO talks, The Guardian, 12 January 2022: ‘Europe is sidelined’: Russia meets US in Geneva and Nato in Brussels:, Politico.eu, 12 January 2022: ‘What normal person wants a war?’ Russians aren’t ready to fight for Ukraine — yet., The Guardian, 12 January 2022: Ukraine Nato chief warns of ‘real risk of conflict’ as talks with Russia end, DW, 12 January 2022: NATO open to more talks with Russia amid Ukraine tensions, The New York Times, 12 January 2022: NATO and Russia Talk Frankly, but Past One Another for Now, NPR, 12 January 2022: 4 things Russia wants right now, DW, 13 January 2022: Jens Stoltenberg: NATO will never compromise on core principles for European security, NPR, 13 January 2022: U.S. is ‘fully prepared’ if Russia invades Ukraine, secretary of state says, Jerusalem Post, 13 January 2022: Europe at greatest risk of war in 30 years, Poland warns, The Atlantic, 13 January 2022: China Is Watching Ukraine With a Lot of Interest, DW, 14 January 2022: Russia wants quick US response on Ukraine security proposals, Politico.com, 14 January 2022: U.S. intel suggests Russia is planning a false-flag operation, DW, 14 January 2022: Ukraine government websites hacked in ‘global attack’, France24, 14 January 2022: ‘Be afraid’: Cyberattack targets Ukraine as Russia moves more troops, Politico.eu, 14 January 2022: EU races to help Ukraine fight cyberattack, CNN, 14 January 2022: Russia plotting ‘false-flag’ operation to justify invasion, Politico.com, 14 January 2022: U.S. intel suggests Russia is planning a false-flag operation, BBC, 14 January 2022: US warns of Russian ‘false-flag’ Ukraine operation (it was a false-flag operation right from the start, by annexing Crimea and starting a war in the east of Ukraine under false Russian statements, assumptions, allegations, historical revisionism and attempts to reverse guilt. The current push is just a continuation of massive breaches of international law), The Guardian, 14 January 2022: Russia: US claims Moscow planning ‘false-flag’ operation to justify Ukraine invasion, Arab News, 14 January 2022: Is this the dawn of a new era for relations between Turkey and Armenia?, The National, 15 January 2022: EU unimpressed by Kremlin ‘intimidation’ over Ukraine, The Times, 15 January 2022: Russia plans ‘false-flag’ operation in Ukraine after presumed cyberattack, CNN, 15 January 2022: Putin presents a profound threat to peace in Europe as ‘drumbeat of war’ sounds on Russia-Ukraine border, France24, 15 January 2022: US says Russia is planning a ‘false-flag operation’ to justify invading Ukraine, NPR, 15 January 2022: North Korea is testing hypersonic weapons. Should the West be worried?, Politico.com, 16 January 2022: The Unorthodox Weapon We Need to Defend Democracy, CNN, 16 January 2022: Top Republican: US is in new cold war with Russia, Politico.com, 16 January 2022: Romney: Putin can’t be allowed to rebuild the Soviet Union, The New York Times, 16 January 2022: Ukraine Doesn’t Need the West to Defend It. We Need Help Preparing for War., The Hill, 16 January 2022: Russia cannot ‘tolerate’ NATO’s ‘gradual invasion’ of Ukraine, Putin spokesman says (these days one has to ask oneself more often what drugs the war criminals from Moscow are taking in order to come up with such obvious distortions of the truth and lies), The Washington Post, 16 January 2022: Even if Putin doesn’t seize all of Ukraine, he has a larger strategy. The U.S. needs one, too., Israel Hayom, 16 January 2022: Russia is running out of time to invade Ukraine, Jerusalem Post, 16 January 2022: Israel should not attack nuclear Iran alone, but should join a NATO 2.0 (or in other words: Israel wants to threaten Iran with attacks or total destruction at any givem point, but at the same time wants others to do the job and pay the price for it), Irish Times, 16 January 2022: The Irish Times view on European defence: impetus for ‘Strategic Compass’ sought (the EU has incredible potential, but at the same time is far from realizing it. In view of Putin’s continued aggression against Ukraine, but also against Poland, the Baltic States, Sweden and Finland, this becomes particularly clear again. In this case, this has to do with the military self-districting of the EU states, which are individually defenseless against Russia, but also with the fact that the EU, as a result of a lack of foresight, is ignorant of the importance of security policy (security policy takes effect when nothing else does. Fair-weather politicians consistently ignore this aspect until it is too late) and, guided by short-sighted, mostly rather dull nationalism, has decreed military impotence. All serious mistakes. For years this blog has also been pointing out the consequences, but a simple “you see, I’ve been telling you for years!” of course doesn’t do the trick right now. As in many other cases, it would have been nicer to have been taught something else instead of being confronted with what was already to be expected. In order to be better positioned in the future, one first has to look at the “misconstructions” of western political systems in order to be able to understand why the EU fails time and time again and is therefore completely ignored when it comes to existential security issues (even if one tries to cushion this with a cosmetic-diplomatic concealer so that the credibility of the EU is not damaged even further internationally than the state decision-makers are already doing). By far the biggest problem is that state leaders do not pursue medium and long-term strategies, but think in terms of election periods. That may be logical and correct in and of itself, but it always deals a blow to the EU’s viability, especially since the leaders are committed to their own state, but not to the same extent to the EU. Unlike politicians, constructs like the EU thrive on medium- and long-term development strategies, which are in general supported by the large party blocs in the center, even if there are different views on the details. If politician X in EU state Y now makes decision Z for tactical reasons, which may seem sensible for partisan reasons, he simultaneously undermines the medium and long-term prospects of the EU. It is particularly explosive when it comes to politicians and parties who have little or nothing to do with the rule of law and democracy, but instead have a lot of sympathy for senseless, small-minded nationalism (about the dull nationalism that has prevailed over the centuries repeatedly led to devastating wars in Europe, the EU and its predecessor organizations were once founded). At first glance, they are only dwarfing their own EU states, which at least has some ironic aspects. Instead of “restoring their great, heroic nations” to their supposed “old glory”, they achieve the exact opposite: they isolate their allotments, devalue them, diminish their future prospects and thus look more like break clowns than serious EU member states. Unfortunately, it does not stop there, but also has a negative impact on the EU. The weaker the individual EU states are or become, the weaker the EU itself becomes. However, the EU and its member states will only be fit for the future and able to survive if the EU is perceived as a strong, unified, united community, which is currently the case almost exclusively in economic terms. In many other areas, a lot of improvements have to be made in order to be able to keep up at all. The EU likes to see itself in the role of a “soft power”. In times like the present, this is a romantic-sentimental idea, albeit a partially understandable one, but it simply does not meet the actual challenges. No one needs a “soft power” when at the same time a “hard power” is holding a pistol to their head, while pulling the safety pin of a hand grenade. The EU must be both and be able to do both at the same time in order to be fit for the future and capable of surviving. Of course, this only works with extensive inner unity. If a “downsize” should first be necessary for the EU to become fully capable of acting again, then this should be pushed accordingly, in order to build an “EU 2.0” around the founding states, while at the same time “EU 1.0” is rolled back and terminated. After all, it makes no sense to work on a construct that is only supported by some of the members, while another part is only member to tap into funds and at the same time work massively against the success of the EU. The latter can also do this outside the EU, but would not be rewarded with massive financial aid from Brussels for their subversive and destructive activities), CNN, 16 January 2022: One of the US Navy’s most powerful weapons makes a rare appearance in Guam, The Times, 17 January 2022: Show of strength as US nuclear submarine arrives in Guam, Jerusalem Post, 17 January 2022: Israel could sign deal to buy three submarines from Germany, DW, 17 January 2022: Germany’s Baerbock visits Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia, The Economist, 17 January 2022: As war looms larger, what are Russia’s military options in Ukraine?, The National, 17 January 2022: UK pledges troops to provide training and extra weapons to Ukraine, Foreign Policy, 17 January 2022: Will Russia Attack Ukraine?, The National, 17 January 2022: Germany vows to do everything in its power to guarantee Ukraine’s safety, CNN, 17 January 2022: Putin is pushing the West’s red lines. And China is watching, The Times, 18 January 2022: West drops threat to expel Russian banks over Ukraine, Times of Israel, 18 January 2022: Polish chief auditor seeks to question leader over NSO-aided illegal surveillance, CNN, 18 January 2022: US weighs more military support for Ukraine to resist Russia if it invades, The Times, 18 January 2022: British anti-tank weapons sent to defend Ukraine, Politico.eu, 18 January 2022: Germany’s Baerbock faces down top Russian diplomat Lavrov in Moscow, CNN, 18 January 2022: Putin and Biden are caught in a high-stakes gamble over Ukraine, The Guardian, 18 January 2022: Ukraine crisis: Nato invites Russia for fresh talks on Europe, Al Arabiya, 18 January 2022: US warns Belarus over role in aiding potential Russia invasion of Ukraine, DW, 18 January 2022: Russia sanctions: How to punish Moscow over Ukraine threat?, The Washington Post, 18 January 2022: Russian troop movements have some U.S. officials fearing the worst, The New York Times, 18 January 2022: Putin to Ukraine: ‘Marry Me or I’ll Kill You’, Jerusalem Post, 19 January 2022: Iran sees ties with Russia as ‘new Middle East’, Politico.eu, 19 January 2022: Mystery drones over Sweden spark security scare, CNN, 19 January 2022: Biden predicts Russia ‘will move in’ to Ukraine, but says ‘minor incursion’ may prompt discussion over consequences, France24, 19 January 2022: Biden warns of ‘disaster for Russia’ if Putin invades Ukraine, Politico.com, 19 January 2022: Allies wait on U.S. approval to arm Ukraine as invasion worries mount, France24, 19 January 2022: Blinken pledges US military aid on visit to Kyiv amid fears of Russian invasion, CNN, 19 January 2022: Ukraine warns Russia has ‘almost completed’ build-up of forces near border, DW, 19 January 2022: Why Germany refuses weapons deliveries to Ukraine (Dear Ukrainians, I can only apologize for this irresponsible federal government. I didn’t voted for the Putin fan club SPD, but have to live with their unbelievable decisions as well. Fortunately, there are responsible governments that will provide you with the equipment you need to successfully resist Putin’s aggression), France24, 19 January 2022: ‘Ready to defend our values’: Tensions rise in Sweden’s Gotland amid Russian threat, Politico.eu, 19 January 2022: Blinken defends Ukraine’s ‘democratic and European path’, France24, 19 January 2022: France’s EU presidency: Macron calls for European ‘collective security’ pact, dialogue with Russia, The New York Times, 19 January 2022: Biden Says He Expects Putin Will Order Ukraine Invasion, The Washington Post, 19 January 2022: Biden predicts Putin will ‘move in’ to Ukraine but will regret it, DW, 19 January 2022: Why Germany refuses weapons deliveries to Ukraine, NPR, 19 January 2022: Thousands of Ukrainians are training to protect their cities in case Russia invades, DW, 19 January 2022: Macron proposes security pact to make Europe a ‘power of the future’, The Guardian, 20 January 2022: Ukraine: Joe Biden thinks Russia will attack – but will face a ‘stiff price’, France24, 20 January 2022: Blinken seeks united European front with key allies on Ukraine, Politico.eu, 20 January 2022: Despite Biden and Macron, Western allies remain united against Russia , BBC, 20 January 2022: Biden believes Putin will ‘move in’ on Ukraine, The Guardian, 20 January 2022: China: Beijing warns of ‘serious consequences’ after tracking US warship, France24, 20 January 2022: Is the Ukrainian military really a David against the Russian Goliath?, The Times, 20 January 2022: Russian troops move closer to Ukraine border, CNN, 20 January 2022: US Navy warship challenges Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea, Politico.eu, 20 January 2022: Germany’s pivot from America, The New York Times, 20 January 2022: On Ukraine, Biden Flusters European Allies by Stating the Obvious, CNN, 20 January 2022: Tensions are high on Ukraine’s border with Russia. Here’s what you need to know, The Washington Post, 20 January 2022: U.S., European officials hold crisis talks as Ukraine standoff intensifies, The National, 21 January 2022: Russia ‘must choose diplomacy or conflict’ Blinken tells Lavrov in ‘frank’ Ukraine talks, Politico.com, 21 January 2022: Baltic states step up in arming Ukraine against potential Russian incursion, The Guardian, 21 January 2022: Ukraine: Russia and US to meet in Geneva fears of war grow, The Hill, 21 January 2022: NATO members scramble to support Ukraine amid Russian threat, The National, 21 January 2022: UK tells allies to cut economic dependence on Russia and ‘step up’ in support of Ukraine, Politico.com, 21 January 2022: The Russia Sanctions That Could Actually Stop Putin, CNN, 21 January 2022: Photos from Ukraine’s front lines, where soldiers brace for possible attack (meanwhile there are unconfirmed press reports that even in Russia there are people who are not willing to die for Putin’s madness. It is still unclear how large the group of people is and whether they even exist. It can also be fake news, especially since it is known that opposition figures in Russia are locked up in gulags and tortured to death there), BBC, 22 January 2022: US ‘lethal aid’ sent to Ukraine amid Russia tensions, The Times, 22 January 2022: ‘Ukrainians are ready to tear apart Russians with their bare hands’, DW, 22 January 2022: NATO to hold naval drills in the Mediterranean, The Hill, 22 January 2022: British government: Kremlin looking to install pro-Russian leader in Ukraine, The Guardian, 22 January 2022: On the Ukraine frontline: ‘We are ready for whatever comes’, Foreign Policy, 22 January 2022: A Russia-Ukraine War Could Ripple Across Africa and Asia, NPR, 22 January 2022: Britain says Russia is planning to install a pro-Moscow leader in Ukraine, DW, 23 January 2022: UK warns of Russian ‘plot’ to replace Ukraine government, The New York Times, 23 January 2022: U.S. Orders Family Members of Embassy Staff to Leave Ukraine, CNN, 23 January 2022: Biden hears options for US troops near Ukraine, BBC, 23 January 2022: Russia-Ukraine tensions: UK warns of plot to install pro-Moscow ally, Khaleej Times, 23 January 2022: Ukraine to target Russian influence after UK warns of plot, The New York Times, 23 January 2022: Biden Weighs Deploying Thousands of Troops to Eastern Europe and Baltics, Wall Street Journal, 23 January 2022: Is Germany a Reliable American Ally? Nein, The Hill, 23 January 2022: US orders families of embassy staff in Ukraine to leave country, Politico.eu, 23 January 2022: Rioters fight Brussels police, smash headquarters of EU foreign service, CNN, 23 January 2022: US and Japan show off naval might; dozens of Chinese warplanes fly near Taiwan, BBC, 24 January 2022: Ukraine: US orders families of embassy staff to leave, DW, 23 January 2022: Taiwan detects 39 Chinese warplanes, scrambles jets, The National, 24 January 2022: Nato deploys added military assets to eastern Europe amid Russia tensions, Al Arabiya, 24 January 2022: NATO outlines ‘deterrence’ plan as tensions with Russia soar, Jerusalem Post, 24 January 2022: Two US carriers enter S. China Sea, to ‘counter malign influence’, Politico.eu, 24 January 2022: Germany vows financial aid for Ukraine after diplomatic row, CNN, 24 January 2022: US places up to 8,500 troops on alert for possible deployment to Eastern Europe amid Russia tensions, Haaretz, 24 January 2022: The Ukraine Crisis Could Redefine America’s Place on the World Stage Forever, CNN, 24 January 2022: Russian naval exercises off Ireland’s coast ‘not welcome,’ says Foreign Minister, The Guardian, 24 January 2022: A measure of autonomy in eastern Ukraine is the only way out of this crisis, Politico.eu, 24 January 2022: EU to weigh €1B aid package for Ukraine, DW, 24 January 2022: Ukraine-Russia crisis: EU foreign ministers meet to coordinate strategy with US, CNN, 24 January 2022: US preparing to bolster troops in Eastern Europe, sources say, DW, 24 January 2022: What would a Russian invasion of Ukraine trigger for the EU?, The Guardian, 24 January 2022: Ukraine: Nato reinforces eastern borders as tensions mount, The Hill, 24 January 2022: Biden touts ‘total unanimity’ with European leaders after call on Russia-Ukraine, DW, 24 January 2022: Germany seeks mediating role as Ukraine tensions rise, The Hill, 24 January 2022: Pentagon puts 8,500 troops on higher alert over Russia-Ukraine tensions, Miami Herald, 24 January 2022: Putin discusses ‘strategic partnership’ with Cuban leader amid fears of military threat, The Washington Post, 24 January 2022: U.S. puts 8,500 troops on heightened alert as Russia masses troops on Ukraine border, The New York Times, 24 January 2022: NATO is sending more jets and ships to Eastern Europe, signaling growing fears of a potential Russian threat., The Times, 25 January 2022: PM threatens Putin with ‘toughest sanctions ever’ (and how could it look like? “No more fish & chips for naughty, little Vladimir!” ?!?), Politico.eu, 25 January 2022: Good work, Volodya! Putin resurrects NATO, The Guardian, 25 January 2022: Has the west fallen for Putin’s tricks in Ukraine?, France24, 25 January 2022: Macron says Europe is preparing ‘common response’ in case of Russian aggression, CNN, 25 January 2022: The view in Moscow, France24, 25 January 2022: ‘The Russians are coming’: Sweden on edge as Russia flexes military muscle, The New YOrk Times, 25 January 2022: Where Is Germany in the Ukraine Standoff? Its Allies Wonder., BBC, 25 January 2022: Ukraine: How will we know if war has started?, France24, 25 January 2022: Russia launches new military drills near Ukraine, in annexed Crimea (at the end of the day, Putin can try whatever he wants, but he can completely forget about dreams of returning to the world stage as a world power. That won’t work anymore. Russia is a military power, but the democratic and, above all, economic substructure is completely missing to become a world power. The latter in particular is unavailable for the country. With two times as many inhabitants and a much larger factor in land area, the country generates just half of Germany’s GDP. So Russia’s Pinky and the Brain can fantasize as much as they want, but their world power fantasies always fail colossally – just like in the comics. For Europe, this means that, years after Putin has disappeared, the country may again become a reasonably reliable partner or remain what it already is, namely Europe’s Iran with its proxy and state terrorists stationed in large quantities in all Eastern European countries, but also in in the West), The Washington Post, 25 January 2022: As Ukraine crisis looms, Europe fears Kremlin will cut off its gas supply, Arab News, 25 January 2022: Europe should work with Gulf amid emerging security threats, The New York Times, 25 January 2022: Germany Wavers in the Ukraine Standoff, Worrying Its Allies, The Washington Post, 25 January 2022: U.S. steps up arms shipments to Ukraine, The Hill, 25 January 2022: US shipment of military equipment, munitions arrives in Ukraine, Los Angeles Times, 25 January 2022: U.S., NATO step up war footing in crisis over possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, Politico.eu, 25 January 2022: Croatia sows confusion with threat to pull NATO troops over Ukraine crisis, DW, 25 January 2022: Ukraine: Joe Biden says US could sanction Vladimir Putin, The Hill, 25 January 2022: Biden says no American forces moving into Ukraine, The National, 26 January 2022: Ukraine talks held in France as Moscow warns on demands, Al Arabiya, 26 January 2022: Germany offers Ukraine helmets, Kyiv’s Klitschko ‘speechless’, Politico.eu, 26 January 2022: Irish want Russia to cancel offshore war games in ‘Europe’s blind spot’, The National, 26 January 2022: Russian invasion of Ukraine could come by mid-February, US diplomat says, Politico.com, 26 January 2022: U.S. delivers written response to Russian demands amid Ukraine crisis, The Times, 26 January 2022: When Kiev wants guns, Berlin sends helmets, Wall Street Journal, 26 January 2022: Germany Slips Away From the Western Alliance, The Guardian, 26 January 2022: Germany: Offer of 5,000 helmets is ‘joke’, says Vitali Klitschko, Politico.eu, 26 January 2022: Putin’s meeting with Italian business leaders turns into political battlefield, The Times, 26 January 2022: Xi denies asking Putin to delay invasion until after Olympics, The Guardian, 26 January 2022: Ukraine: US responds to Russian demands as talks held in Paris, France24, 26 January 2022: US rejects Russian demand that Ukraine stay out of NATO, CNN, 26 January 2022: What is SWIFT and why it might be the weapon Russia fears most, France24, 26 January 2022: US, NATO respond to Russian demands, as Paris hosts talks on Ukraine crisis, DW, 26 January 2022: What is the ‘Normandy Format’ for resolving the crisis in Ukraine?, NPR, 26 January 2022: The U.S. says it will stand firm against major Russian demands as tension rises, The Washington Post, 26 January 2022: Encircling Ukraine, Russia showcases its new military prowess, The Guardian, 26 January 2022: Why are Germany and France at odds with the Anglosphere over how to handle Russia?, Politico.com, 27 January 2022: Nuclear fears mount as Ukraine crisis deepens, CNN, 27 January 2022: Russian buildup near Ukraine has increased ‘in the last 24 hours’, Pentagon says, Irish Times, 27 January 2022: Russian naval manoeuvres reveal Irish neutrality is untenable, The Guardian, 27 January 2022: Ukraine crisis: Russia remains open but ‘not optimistic’ over talks, Haaretz, 27 January 2022: Putin’s March of Folly in Ukraine, CNN, 27 January 2022: Russian gas shutdown would be ‘catastrophic’ for Europe, France24, 27 January 2022: Ukraine welcomes February talks but says Russia won’t stop efforts to destabilise, Foreign Policy, 27 January 2022: Is Defending Ukraine Vital to U.S. Security?, The New Yorker, 27 January 2022: What Makes Putin Fear Ukraine?, The National, 28 January 2022: Russia claims ‘rational elements’ of US peace proposals pave way for talks, The New York Times, 28 January 2022: The Battle for the World’s Most Powerful Cyberweapon, Times of Israel, 28 January 2022: Saudi crown prince called Netanyahu to renew kingdom’s NSO spyware license – report, Haaretz, 28 January 2022: NSO Played Key Role in Israel’s Gulf Diplomacy, NYT Finds, Confirming Haaretz Reports, Arab News, 28 January 2022: Now is not the time for NATO to give potential new members the cold shoulder, CNN, 28 January 2022: What would war look like?, Arab News, 28 January 2022: We must stop pretending the EU is a great power (absolutely right and spot on), France24, 28 January 2022: US calls Security Council meeting over Ukraine, steps up pipeline warnings alongside Germany, Politico.eu, 28 January 2022: Ex-German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder mocked for Ukraine comments (“Putin’s gas man” is a textbook example of a corrupt politician whose bank account is apparently far more important to him than the interests of his home country, without which he would never have become chancellor. In retrospect it would obviously have been better if this had not happened. However, it is hardly less disturbing that a large number of German politicians and business leaders are still listening to him), BBC, 28 January 2022: Ukraine crisis: Putin’s geopolitical jigsaw, Politico.eu, 28 January 2022: German industry bosses to meet with Putin this year (they beg for an audience with the war criminal), Arab News, 28 January 2022: UK and Australia double down on their relationship, Politico.com, 28 January 2022: Biden admin blocks military aid to Egypt over human rights concerns (interesting, right? While the Biden administration is freezing military aid to Egypt because of massive violations of human rights, Germany has arms deals worth billions with the regime and thinks that it’s a really good idea At the same time, the Scholz administration is undermining Ukraine’s right to self-defense against the war criminal and state terrorist Putin and his hordes by banning the sale of defensive weapons, and thinks that’s a really good idea, too. Apparently not only the Putin regime is at war with Western values), Times of Israel, 28 January 2022: Finland alleges diplomats’ phones hacked with Israeli spyware, Politico.eu, 28 January 2022: Ukrainian president downplays US assessment of imminent invasion, The Times, 28 January 2022: Germany: conflict leaves Europe’s ‘good cop’ at the crossroads (the German government is not a “good cop” but a bunch of Putin fans who, out of cowardice, refrain from selling defensive weapons to Ukraine), Irish Times, 28 January 2022: Russia says security impasse remains as Ukraine decries ‘panic’ over war fears, The Times, 28 January 2022: Gas supplies from the Gulf may come with a catch, Politico.eu, 28 January 2022: Lukashenko warns Belarus will go to war if Russia is attacked, The Times, 28 January 2022: How Russia’s military forged a path to the forefront of warfare, The Washington Post, 28 January 2022: Putin’s case for invading Ukraine rests on phony grievances and ancient myths, The Hill, 28 January 2022: UN Security Council meeting to address Russia, Ukraine crisis, The Guardian, 28 January 2022: Taiwan: China’s ambassador to US warns of possible military conflict, Politico.eu, 28 January 2022: ‘If a war starts, they will come here first’: Latvia mounts a wary border watch, The Hill, 28 January 2022: Belarusian president vows war if Russia, Belarus attacked, The Guardian, 28 January 2022: Ukraine: Putin accuses Nato of ignoring Russia’s concerns as crisis simmers (*hahaha* he and his state terrorists are threatening Ukraine for years, but it’s Russia that has security concerns), CNN, 28 January 2022: Ukraine’s president: Tone down the rhetoric, The Algemeiner, 28 January 2022: How the West’s Appeasement Mentality Brings Not Peace, But War, The Hill, 28 January 2022: Biden says he’ll send troops to Eastern Europe in ‘near term’, Foreign Policy, 28 January 2022: Russia Can Win in Ukraine Without Firing a Shot, The Economist, 29 January 2022: What are Vladimir Putin’s military intentions in Ukraine?, The National, 29 January 2022: France and Germany send envoys to help ease Ukraine-Russia border tensions, The Economist, 29 January 2022: Russia’s roulette: A war in Ukraine could have global consequences, Irish Times, 29 January 2022: Russia moves naval exercises outside Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone, CNN, 29 January 2022: How war in Ukraine could disrupt the world, DW, 29 January 2022: Pegasus scandal: In Hungary, journalists sue state over spyware, CNN, 29 January 2022: EU chief tells CNN ‘nothing off table’ in response to Russia, The Hill, 29 January 2022: US targets Russian disinformation in bid to defend Ukraine, DW, 29 January 2022: NATO’s on notice in Ukraine crisis: What’s next?, The New York Times, 29 January 2022: Putin Has Long Tried to Balance Europe. Now He’s Working to Reset It., The Hill, 29 January 2022: UK’s Johnson says he’s ordered armed forces to prepare for deployment next week amid Ukraine tensions, The National, 30 January 2022: Nato says military aid to Ukraine will not include combat troops, Times of Israel, 30 January 2022: NSO chief calls blacklisting by US ‘an outrage,’ rejects ‘hypocritical’ criticism (well, he got caught and is now trying to blame others. That won’t work), The Guardian, 30 January 2022: Ghosts of Germany’s past rise as Olaf Scholz seeks strategy for Ukraine, The National, 30 January 2022: US offers Russia ‘diplomatic way out’ of Ukraine invasion, The Guardian, 31 January 2022: Live: Ukraine crisis: UK considering further military deployments and ‘unprecedented’ sanctions, The National, 31 January 2022: Ukraine’s civilian militia trains to protect Kiev from Russia, The Washington Post, 31 January 2022: Germany isn’t turning its back on NATO. It only looks that way., The Guardian, 31 January 2022: Unlike Putin’s Russia, the west doesn’t know what it wants in eastern Europe, The National, 31 January 2022: Russia behind ‘largest mobilisation of troops in Europe in decades’, says US, France24, 31 January 2022: Ukraine’s ordinary citizens train to fight in case of Russian invasion, DW, 31 January 2022: Russia, US face off over Ukraine at UN Security Council, The Guardian, 1 February 2022: The Pegasus project: NSO offered US mobile security firm ‘bags of cash’, whistleblower claims, Wall Street Journal, 1 February 2022: U.S., Allies Wonder if They Can Count on Germany in Russia-Ukraine Crisis, The National, 1 February 2022: Boris Johnson visits Ukraine to ‘galvanise support’, The Times, 1 February 2022: Putin accuses US of warmongering as Johnson visits Ukraine, The Guardian, 1 February 2022: Britain’s failure to tackle Russian dirty money has enabled Putin’s aggression, BBC, 1 February 2022: Ukraine tensions: US trying to draw Russia into war says Putin (while in the real world Putin started his war against Ukraine already in 2014 and then there is this: Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, signed by Russia), The Guardian, 1 February 2022: Ukraine: Russian invasion would be a disaster, says Boris Johnson in Kyiv, Los Angeles Times, 1 February 2022: Ukraine’s president may be our only hope, The New York Times, 1 February 2022: Putin Signals Openness to Diplomacy While Blaming U.S. for Crisis, The National, 1 February 2022: Why Germany isn’t turning its back on Nato (the current federal government is hoping to bring about a solution by appeasement of Putin and by dancing their names. Spoiler: It won’t work. International trust in the Scholz administration’s loyalty to the alliance has already eroded so much that no one seriously expects any serious support from Berlin. At the same time, of course, this also sends signals beyond Europe to Israel and what one can expect of “the security of Israel is German reason of state”. Should Israel need urgent military support, Berlin will send the country 5,000 orange juice presses, which it considers “a strong signal of solidarity with Israel” and will communicate it this way. After all, vitamin C is essential for life. Of course, the presses are delivered in sustainably produced jute bags so that the oranges can be transported home from the plantations. The bags are of course delivered with batik works by a well-known name dancer and peace movement participant to brighten up the grumpy mood a little), Los Angeles Times, 1 February 2022: Ukraine calls on the West to take tougher ‘prevention’ measures against Russia, Politico.eu, 2 February 2022: Europe is ready to pay the cost of Russia sanctions, Arab News, 2 February 2022: Israel upholds use of surveillance technology on protesters, The National, 2 February 2022: British MP warns on ‘worrying escalation’ behind Houthi UAE attacks, Arab News, 2 February 2022: US sending nearly 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe in coming days, Politico.com, 2 February 2022: U.S. deploys troops to Eastern Europe; thousands more on standby, Al Arabiya, 2 February 2022: Biden orders thousands of US troops to Eastern Europe over Russia threats, CNN, 2 February 2022: Long on rhetoric, short on revelations. What Putin’s Ukraine comments told us, Politico.eu, 2 February 2022: Ukraine urges EU to publish draft Russia sanctions, CNN, 2 February 2022: Satellite images show Russian military buildup around Ukraine, BBC, 2 February 2022: US boosts troops in Europe amid Ukraine tensions, The Washington Post, 2 February 2022: Belarusian leader’s closer ties to Putin could sway Russia’s calculus on Ukraine, Politico.com, 2 February 2022: Why the Donbass is the Key to Putin’s Gambit in Ukraine, NPR, 2 February 2022: Biden shifts some 3,000 U.S. troops closer to Ukraine, Los Angeles Times, 2 February 2022: Biden to send thousands more troops to Eastern Europe amid Ukraine crisis, wired, 2 February 2022: North Korea Hacked Him. So He Took Down Its Internet (well, computer hacking works both ways :-D ), The Times, 2 February 2022: Lone US hacker P4x paralyses North Korea’s internet, The New York Times, 3 February 2022: Europe Thinks Putin Is Planning Something Even Worse Than War, The Washington Post, 3 February 2022: Russia tries to cast Western-backed Ukraine as aggressor, suggests disputed peace deal as path forward, The National, 3 February 2022: Diplomacy must be revived as international conflicts loom, Al Arabiya, 3 February 2022: US intelligence: Russia may stage video to create pretext for Ukraine war, Politico.com, 3 February 2022: Why Conservatives Should Be Eager to Deter Putin on Ukraine, The Atlantic, 3 February 2022: The Reason Putin Would Risk War, Politico.eu, 3 February 2022: NATO chief: Russian deployment in Belarus ‘biggest since Cold War’, The Times, 3 February 2022: 3,000 US troops won’t scare Putin, ex-Nato commander warns, Irish Times, 3 February 2022: Russian, US, French and UK warships spotted off south coast by Defence Forces, The Times, 3 February 2022: Putin and Xi form alliance to defeat sanctions over Ukraine, The Guardian, 3 February 2022: Ukraine: Russia plans ‘very graphic’ fake video as pretext for invasion, US claims, CNN, 3 February 2022: US accuses Russia of planning to use ‘graphic’ fake video to justify Ukraine invasion, DW, 3 February 2022: Ukraine: Fear of war on the border, BBC, 3 February 2022: US accuses Russia of plotting fake invasion pretext, Times of Israel, 3 February 2022: Second Israeli company exploited Apple flaw to hack into iPhones – report, DW, 4 February 2022: Germany’s former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to join Gazprom board (that makes it easier at least, because now we can tell Gazprom in German where they can stick their Nord Stream 2 pipes), Politico.eu, 4 February 2022: Former German Chancellor Schröder nominated for Gazprom board, Reuters, 4 February 2022: U.S. State Department phones hacked with Israeli company spyware – sources, Politico.eu, 4 February 2022: Russia, China call for halt to NATO enlargement (the demands are of course followed immediately by NATO, on the day on which Easter and Christmas are celebrated at the same time. If the world were a request concert, Russia and China would not be aggressor states and NATO wouldn’t be necessary. But since they are, NATO will need to continue to grow to protect its member states), Der Spiegel, 4 February 2022: “We Really Have Other Problems”: What Do Russians Near the Border Think of a Possible Ukraine Invasion?, The National, 4 February 2022: Amid crisis in Ukraine, Putin in Beijing praises China ties, Politico.eu, 4 February 2022: NATO’s Stoltenberg to become Norway’s next central bank chief, The Times, 4 February 2022: ‘Few are ready to die for Putin and the motherland’, The Guardian, 4 February 2022: ‘Cold war ideology’: Xi and Putin urge Nato to rule out expansion as Ukraine tensions rise, CNN, 4 February 2022: Putin and Xi call for halt to NATO expansion during show of unity at Beijing Olympics, BBC, 4 February 2022: China joins Russia in opposing Nato expansion, France24, 4 February 2022: ‘NATO will not get involved militarily in Ukraine’, says alliance’s deputy chief, The New Yorker, 4 February 2022: How a City Close to the Ukraine-Russia Border Has Been Shaped by War, The National, 5 February 2022: UK and France agree to fight against ‘malicious Russian activity’, Al Arabia, 5 February 2022: First US reinforcement troops arrive in Poland, more expected, Arab News, 5 February 2022: The anti-terror coalition is asleep at the wheel, Al Arabia, 5 February 2022: Pushed into the shadows, ISIS still has global reach, Times of Israel, 5 February 2022: As Mideast wars encroach on UAE with Iran-backed attacks, US starts to get drawn in, Haaretz, 5 February 2022: Netanyahu Used NSO’s Pegasus for Diplomacy. Now He Blames It for His Downfall, Politico.com, 5 February 2022: Russian bombers fly over Belarus amid Ukraine tensions, France24, 5 February 2022: First US troops intended to reinforce NATO allies in Eastern Europe arrive in Poland, Politico.eu, 5 February 2022: Ukraine links arms with Turkey, Poland and UK as NATO membership remains distant, Arab News, 5 February 2022: Biden looks for a European anchor in Berlin, DW, 5 February 2022: Kyiv wants de-escalation, but also more weapons, The Washington Post, 5 February 2022: Russia could invade Ukraine within days, U.S. assessments find, The New York Times, 5 February 2022: U.S. Warns of Grim Toll if Putin Pursues Full Invasion of Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 6 February 2022: Scholz says Germany open to boosting troops in Baltics, The National, 6 February 2022: Russia could invade Ukraine ‘as soon as tomorrow’, US national security adviser says, Al Arabiya, 6 February 2022: US says Russia preparing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Jerusalem Post, 6 February 2022: 50,000 casualties, 5 million refugees expected if Russia invades Ukraine, Haaretz, 6 February 2022: Israelis Didn’t Care About NSO and Pegasus – Until This Scandal, Politico.com, 6 February 2022: Sorry, Mr. Putin. Ukraine and Russia are Not the Same Country., France24, 6 February 2022: US officials warn Russia is preparing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, The New York Times, 6 February 2022: Germany’s “invisible” chancellor, Olaf Scholz, will meet President Biden amid criticism over Berlin’s Ukraine approach., DW, 6 February 2022: How Russia is helping the US reassert its dominance in European security, CNN, 6 February 2022: New satellite images show advanced Russian military deployments in Belarus, DW, 6 February 2022: Germany’s Olaf Scholz goes to Washington amid criticism, The New York Times, 6 February 2022: Ukraine Crisis Enters Critical Phase as Macron Seeks to Mediate, DW, 6 February 2022: Why the EU needs Russian energy giant Gazprom, NPR, 6 February 2022: Beijing and Moscow unite in efforts to redefine democracy itself, The Washington Post, 6 February 2022: Scholz says response to Russia will be ‘united and decisive’ if Ukraine is invaded, Politico.com, 7 February 2022: Biden vows to shut down Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades, as U.S. and Germany pledge unity, Politico.eu, 7 February 2022: Olaf Scholz’s hard lessons in German leadership, BBC, 7 February 2022: World leaders in talks amid Ukraine invasion fear, Politico.eu, 7 February 2022: UK to send 350 more troops to Polish border amid Russia tensions, CNN, 7 February 2022: US and Germany still split on Russian pipeline, Politico.eu, 7 February 2022: Germany to deploy 350 troops to Lithuania to try to reassure allies, The Times, 7 February 2022: Former general Leonid Ivashov attacks Putin for ‘provoking war’, CNN, 7 February 2022: Macron takes lead on Europe’s efforts to defuse crisis, Politico.eu, 7 February 2022: Putin welcomes Macron into his lair, The New York Times, 7 February 2022: Putin Warns the West and Ukraine, but Keeps His Intentions a Mystery, Politico.com, 7 February 2022: Biden vows to shut down Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades, as U.S. and Germany pledge unity (after the press conference one can only feel even more ashamed of German politics. The only thing that comes to mind is “Oh, if only he had stayed silent”. At least that wouldn’t have made it worse. It would have been better if he had kept the wishy-washy stuff that the Chancellor said to himself and had not attended the press conference at all. Doesn’t give clear answers, evades questions, says something that has nothing to do with the questions at all and thus continues to play into Putin’s hands. Any student would have gotten a straight F for such a performance), The Times, 7 February 2022: Britain will not flinch over Ukraine, says Johnson, DW, 7 February 2022: Biden promises no Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades Ukraine, The Washington Post, 7 February 2022: Biden vows to stop natural gas pipeline to Europe if Russia invades Ukraine, DW, 7 February 2022: Germany to send additional troops to Lithuania, The New York Times, 7 February 2022: A Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline project would not go forward if Moscow invades Ukraine, President Biden said., DW, 7 February 2022: Baerbock: Germany ‘ready to pay high economic price’ for Ukraine peace, Foreign Policy, 7 February 2022: The Gold Medal for Foreign Policy Goes to Germany, CNN, 7 February 2022: Nord Stream 2 pipeline proves to be a sticking point in Biden and new German chancellor’s show of unity, Haaretz, 8 February 2022: The Darling Export Turns on Its Master: What to Make of Israeli Ministers’ ‘Shock’ Over NSO, France24, 8 February 2022: US approves $100 million arms sale to Taiwan for missile upgrades, The National, 8 February 2022: How Russia’s turn to Belarus changed Nato’s four-decade mindset, The New York Times, 8 February 2022: Europe Is on the Brink of War, and Germany Has Gone Missing, The Washington Post, 8 February 2022: Russia sends warships toward Black Sea as Europe ramps up Ukraine crisis diplomacy, DW, 8 February 2022: Ukraine crisis: ‘Our goal is to avoid a war in Europe,’ says Germany’s Scholz, CNN, 9 February 2022: What is the Minsk agreement and is it a way out of Ukraine crisis?, The Times, 9 February 2022: Ukraine crisis: Poles stand alone in military support if Russia invades, poll finds (of course, after all, the majority of Ukrainian refugees will end up in Poland if Putin invades further parts of Ukraine), Jerusalem Post, 9 February 2022: CENTCOM nominee promotes Middle East integrated air and missile defense, The Times, 9 February 2022: Russian landing ships gather off the coast of Ukraine, The New York Times, 9 February 2022: Russia can seize control over Ukraine or keep strong economic ties to Europe. It will be hard to do both., The Guardian, 9 February 2022: Belarus: Military drills to begin as Russia ratchets up Ukraine tensions, The New York Times, 9 February 2022: Finns Don’t Wish ‘Finlandization’ on Ukraine (or Anyone), The Washington Post, 9 February 2022: Fears of Ukraine invasion rise as top Russian commanders fly to Belarus for massive military drill, Politico.eu, 10 February 2022: A post-Cold War perspective on the Ukraine crisis, DW, 10 February 2022: NATO presence needed from Baltic to Black Sea, Latvian PM says, The New York Times, 11 February 2022: U.S. Says Russia Could Invade Ukraine at Any Time, DW, 11 February 2022: Talks on eastern Ukraine to resume in March, sources say, The New York Times, 11 February 2022: We Underestimated Putin Once. We Can’t Make That Mistake Again., Haaretz, 11 February 2022: Pegasus Scandal: Experts Say ’90 Percent Chance’ Phones of Ex-finance Ministry Officials Hacked, DW, 11 February 2022: Biden urges Americans to leave Ukraine, The Washington Post, 11 February 2022: Ukraine crisis will test U.S. like no time since Cold War, Los Angeles Times, 11 February 2022: U.S. says Russia could launch invasion of Ukraine within days, The Times, 11 February 2022: Explosions in the distance rattle nerves of Baltic states, CNN, 11 February 2022: Ukrainians are wondering if their comedian-turned-president can handle the world stage, The New Yorker, 11 February 2022: Who Blinks First in Ukraine?, The Times, 11 February 2022: Veterans of Kyiv rue the day they gave up their nuclear arsenal, BBC, 12 February 2022: Ukraine crisis: ‘We don’t have the option to leave’, France24, 12 February 2022: Satellite images show Russia adding military pressure on Ukraine, BBC, 12 February 2022: A dozen nations tell citizens: leave Ukraine now, The Atlantic, 12 February 2022: Why the West’s Diplomacy With Russia Keeps Failing, CNN, 12 February 2022: Russia has surrounded Ukraine on three sides. Here’s where an invasion could be launched, The Washington Post, 12 February 2022: U.S. and NATO to bulk up in east with an eye on Ukraine crisis, The Times, 12 February 2022: Defence secretary warns of ‘whiff of Munich’ in Ukraine, The Washington Post, 12 February 2022: Russia’s military move into Belarus poses risks to more than Ukraine, The Guardian, 13 February 2022: Live Ukraine crisis: Kyiv tells airlines to skirt Black Sea amid Russian drills; UK defence secretary cuts short holiday, DW, 14 February 2022: Ukraine crisis: What can the US expect from Germany? (how Olaf Scholz managed to gamble away so much international trust in such a short time is remarkable. It’s just unbelievable how he could stumble like that, and this after being world champ in crisis management Angela Merkel’s student and vice chancellor for years. It will take years to put things right again, quite independently from if Ukraine is joining NATO, which itself knows that it is far from being ready to meet the admission requirements and that the significantly higher EU access requirements are even harder fulfill. Overall, however, as after Afghanistan, the considerable weaknesses of the EU security and defense policy are becoming all too clear. Nevertheless, there are still incorrigible people who believe that they would do better on their own than in a group – they just won’t, but on the contrary, contribute to further self-dwarfing and the loss of importance of Europe on the world stage – self-chosen fate. However, the $1 million question over the next few years will also be how to bring Ukraine closer to the EU so that it can be included in the “Common Security and Defense Policy”. That will also depend on how the EU manages to set up a joint, active EU army to complement NATO. This step, which has been overdue for 20 years and is becoming ever more urgent in view of the mounting challenges, can no longer be ignored even by the simple-minded peace movement and name dancers. Neither Germany’s ever-increasing responsibility in the military defense of European interests against ongoing and escalating Russian aggression. Not to mention the challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa. If Europe doesn’t want to be overwhelmed by crises all the time, it has no choice but to invest heavily in defense. Otherwise, Germany and Europe’s future prospects will crumble before our very eyes. There are, of course, those in Europe that would be only too happy to see this happen, but they also fell for Russian and Chinese state propaganda and see Putin and Xi Jinping as democrats suffering from military aggression from NATO. However, the simpletons cannot credibly explain why they didn’t finally move to Russia, China or Saudi Arabia, even though in their views everything is terrible in the democratic West. So Europe’s decision makers can completely ignore their voices and instead focus on securing the future of Europe), The National, 14 February 2022: Glimmer of hope in Ukraine talks as Scholz prepares for Moscow showdown, DW, 14 February 2022: Ukraine reaffirms desire to join NATO after envoy comments, The National, 14 February 2022: Ukraine to offer ‘many concessions’ to avert Russian invasion, Politico.eu, 14 February 2022: Scholz, Zelenskiy play down talk of NATO membership for Ukraine, DW, 14 February 2022: Germany’s Scholz holds crisis talks with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Arab News, 14 February 2022: German leader heads to Kyiv and Moscow to calm ‘critical’ Russia war threat, DW, 14 February 2022: Munich Security Report: A grim analysis of a wave of global crises, Politico.eu, 14 February 2022: On stage at the Kremlin: Putin and Lavrov’s de-escalation dance, The Times, 14 February 2022: Ukraine Crisis: How a Russian invasion could play out, The Guardian, 14 February 2022: Russia: Moscow sending thousands more troops to Ukraine border, France24, 14 February 2022: ‘Russia could take action in Ukraine as early as this week,’ Blinken says, BBC, 14 February 2022: Ukraine: How prepared is Russia for an attack?, France24, 14 February 2022: Russia using Nord Stream 2 as ‘geopolitical weapon’, Zelensky warns Germany’s Scholz, NPR, 14 February 2022: German chancellor warns of far-reaching sanctions if Russia moves on Ukraine, The Washington Post, 14 February 2022: Inside the White House response to a potential Ukraine invasion, Politico.eu, 15 February 2022: Russia-Ukraine tensions could trigger market crash, says EU regulator, Politico.com, 15 February 2022: ‘Kill Your Commanding Officer’: On the Front Lines of Putin’s Digital War With Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 15 February 2022: London marine insurers add Russian, Ukrainian waters to high risk list, Politico.eu, 15 February 2022: Brussels, EU governments on collision course over Pegasus spyware, Arab News, 15 February 2022: Eastern Mediterranean’s climate fight can decrease tensions, France24, 15 February 2022: ‘Lasting security’ in Europe can only be achieved with Russian help, Scholz says, The National, 15 February 2022: Russia and Germany keep Ukraine peace talks alive after partial troop withdrawal, Al Arabiya, 15 February 2022: US tells Russia it wants ‘verifiable, credible, meaningful de-escalation’, France24, 15 February 2022: Live: Biden says Russian attack in Ukraine ‘still very much a possibility’, BBC, 15 February 2022: Ukraine crisis: Russian attack still a possibility – Biden (so far there is little evidence that Putin would actually withdraw troops from the Ukrainian border. Rather, it appears that he is merely moving the troops around and where Russian troops are actually withdrawn, they are replaced by the troops of his henchman, the Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Irrespective of this, the Americans achieved a partial victory in the propaganda war here. The chances of success in a war are of course always influenced by the element of surprise, which the Russians have completely lost here, and which at the same time made it unmistakably clear to all the world that Putin is still the invader, assailant, attacker and aggressor against Ukraine. Unlike Europe and unlike 2014, this time the Americans did not let themselves be lulled or taken by surprise by the Russians, but instead literally put all the cards (satellite images, maps with troop deployments, etc.) on the table right from the start in order to make it clear from the beginning where Russian and Belarusian troops are located, in what strength and with what weapon systems. The Europeans, on the other hand, are sitting like rabbits in front of a snake, as they did in 2014, or have even fallen for Putin’s state propaganda in large numbers once again. Once again it becomes clear how little Europe is able to ensure its own security – self-chosen and self-inflicted. Without the US, Europe would once again be completely defenseless and helpless against Putin’s continued aggressions. For how much longer does Europe want to dwarf itself, expose itself to global ridicule and the unbelievable embarrassment that goes with it? How long will the decision-makers want to turn a blind eye to the absolute inability to implement a common security and defense policy without feeling the slightest shame before they finally act responsibly and take the necessary steps emphatically until an appropriate, common defense is in place?), Politico.eu, 15 February 2022: Left without a voice, anti-war Russians pen open letters to Putin, The Guardian, 15 February 2022: Live Ukraine crisis: Biden warns that Russia invasion ‘still very much a possibility’ – live, The Times, 15 February 2022: ‘No evidence’ of Russian troops withdrawing, Al Arabiya, 16 February 2022: Russia attack on Ukraine ‘still very much a possibility’: US President Biden, CNN, 16 February 2022: Biden to Russian citizens: “You are not our enemy”, Al Arabiya, 16 February 2022: NATO plans for new possible battlegroups in Europe amid Russia tensions: Stoltenberg, Irish Times, 16 February 2022: Biden to citizens of Russia -‘ You are not our enemy’, France24, 16 February 2022: Barkhane, Takuba, Sabre: French and European military missions in the Sahel, CNN, 16 February 2022: What’s happening in Ukraine right now? CNN reports, BBC, 16 February 2022: No sign of Russian de-escalation on ground – Nato, Al Arabiya, 16 February 2022: UK will double the number of troops in Estonia as part of NATO mission, CNN, 16 February 2022: Russian buildup continues, but insufficient for full-scale invasion, Ukrainian military intelligence says, Irish Times, 16 February 2022: Neutrality does not require relinquishing our capacity for self-defence, France24, 16 February 2022: NATO says Russia appears to be continuing military escalation in Ukraine, Politico.eu, 16 February 2022: In diplomacy, Europe’s most powerful ambassador means business, CNN, 16 February 2022: Why US may be forced back into Middle East, Politico.eu, 16 February 2022: Von der Leyen: On Ukraine, EU is hopeful but ‘prepared for the worst’, BBC, 16 February 2022: We don’t see any troop withdrawal – Ukraine president, Politico.eu, 16 February 2022: NATO boss Stoltenberg says Russian threat is ‘new normal’, The Guardian, 16 February 2022: Live Ukraine crisis: Nato considering new battlegroups in eastern Europe after ‘no sign’ of Russian de-escalation, Politico.eu, 16 February 2022: War warnings and calls for unity: Just another day in Ukraine, The Times, 16 February 2022: Russia moving troops into ‘attack areas’, says minister, Politico.eu, 16 February 2022: Putin’s paradox: ‘Ukrainian’ separatists are Russian citizens, Foreign Policy, 16 February 2022: America’s Eyes in the Skies Over Ukraine, CNN, 17 February 2022: Blinken: ‘I am here today not to start a war, but to prevent one’, DW, 17 February 2022: NATO fears Russia is seeking pretext to attack Ukraine, CNN, 17 February 2022: US cranks up the information warfare against Putin, Arab News, 17 February 2022: US says Russia is preparing pretext to invade Ukraine, Politico.eu, 17 February 2022: France announces Mali troop pullout and rethink of counterterrorism plan for Sahel, CNN, 17 February 2022: Western officials remain skeptical of Russia’s claims, Politico.eu, 17 February 2022: NATO has ‘seen’ Russian false-flag attempts in Ukraine, Stoltenberg says, Al Arabiya, 17 February 2022: Ukraine’s Zelenskiy says pro-Russian forces shell kindergarten in ‘big provocation’, BBC, 17 February 2022: Russia seeking excuse to invade Ukraine, US says, Politico.eu, 17 February 2022: EU unity is vexing Putin, Estonian prime minister says, BBC, 17 February 2022: Satellite images show Russian activity near Ukraine, The National, 18 February 2022: Munich Security Conference begins under shadow of possible war in Europe, New York Times, 18 February 2022: U.S. Says 190,000 Russian Troops Now in and Around Ukraine, The Washington Post, 18 February 2022: Biden gathers Western allies amid reports of evacuations from separatist area, Politico.eu, 18 February 2022: Ukraine warns West: Don’t fall into Putin’s NATO trap, CNN, 18 February 2022: Russian-US diplomacy stalls, with a shelled Ukrainian kindergarten a stark reminder of the lives at stake, Politico.eu, 18 February 2022: Ukraine and West see false flags flying as pro-Russian separatists urge civilian evacuation, Irish Times, 18 February 2022: Ukraine accuses Moscow-led militia of stoking tension with mass evacuation order, The Times, 18 February 2022: How the West can defeat the Xi-Putin axis, Foreign Policy, 18 February 2022: Biden: Putin Has Decided to Invade Ukraine, Politico.eu, 18 February 2022: West must brace for years of Putin pressure on Ukraine, Latvian PM says, The Times, 18 February 2022: Fears mount that Moscow is planning ‘false flag’ attack, Politico.eu, 18 February 2022: Alexander Lukashenko’s risky balancing act with Russia and Ukraine, The Times, 18 February 2022: Harris to rally US allies with pledge of ‘ironclad’ support, BBC, 18 February 2022: Russia accused of staging fake crisis in east Ukraine, CNN, 18 February 2022: CNN confronts ‘Europe’s last dictator’ over Russian military drills in Belarus, Foreign Policy, 18 February 2022: Russia Planning Post-Invasion Arrest and Assassination Campaign in Ukraine, U.S. Officials Say, Politico.eu, 18 February 2022: Ukraine and West see false flags flying as pro-Russian separatists urge civilian evacuation, Al Arabiya, 18 February 2022: Russia has posted up to 190,000 personnel ‘in and near Ukraine’: US diplomat, The New Yorker, 18 February 2022: The Ukraine Transparency Initiative, Foreign Policy, 18 February 2022: Washington Must Prepare for War With Both Russia and China, Politico.com, 18 February 2022: Biden says he believes Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, The New York Times, 18 February 2022: President Says Ukrainian Capital Will Be a Target, CNN, 19 February 2022: Putin oversees nuclear drills near NATO borders, Arab News, 19 February 2022: NATO moves Ukraine staff from Kyiv to Lviv and Brussels, France24, 19 February 2022: West should stop ‘appeasement’ policy towards Russia, says Ukraine’s Zelensky, CNN, 19 February 2022: Vladimir Putin has succeeded in uniting his opponents, France24, 19 February 2022: OSCE reports more than 1,500 ceasefire violations in a single day in Ukraine, The Times, 19 February 2022: We should treat Putin as the gangland bully that he is (that is of course correct. On the other hand, of course, this always raises the question: Which lunatic will succeed Putin and will he (one can probably rule out that a woman will ever become President of Russia) be better for the international security situation or will it get even worse?), The Guardian, 19 February 2022: Live Ukraine: Nato moves staff out of Kyiv; UK foreign secretary says invasion could happen as soon as next week, The Times, 19 February 2022: West has appeased Putin for 15 years, says Ukrainian president, Irish Times, 19 February 2022: EU is not at the table when it comes to dealing with the crisis in Ukraine, The Economist, 19 February 2022: Alexander Gabuev on why Vladimir Putin and his entourage want war, Politico.eu, 19 February 2022: Boris Johnson calls on NATO to go global, Al Arabiya, 19 February 2022: Ukraine leader wants new security guarantees to fix ‘almost broken’ global system, Politico.eu, 19 February 2022: Ukraine’s nuclear lesson: Don’t trust Russia’s security ‘guarantees’, DW, 19 February 2022: What’s behind Putin’s saber-rattling, The New Yorker, 18 February 2022: The Ukraine Transparency Initiative, The New York Times, 19 February 2022: Putin’s Baseless Claims of Genocide in Ukraine Hint at More Than War, NPR, 19 February 2022: A rebel in east Ukraine accused Kyiv of planning an attack. The U.S. says he’s lying, The New York Times, 19 February 2022: Shelling Escalates in Eastern Ukraine as Thousands Flee, Fearing Attack, The New Yorker, 19 February 2022: Does the U.S.-Russia Crisis Over Ukraine Prove That the Cold War Never Ended?, The Atlantic, 19 February 2022: Putin Has Made America Great Again, Los Angeles Times, 19 February 2022: Artillery fusillades from Russian-backed separatists set Ukraine’s east on edge, CNN, 19 February 2022: Why Donbas is at the heart of the Ukraine crisis, The National, 20 February 2022: Munich Security Conference: Ukraine crisis presents healing moment for US-Europe relations, The Washington Post, 20 February 2022: Russian forces stay in Belarus, fueling Ukraine invasion fears, Politico.com, 20 February 2022: Finland’s president sees changes in Putin: ‘It was a different kind of behavior’, The National, 20 February 2022: Jordanian official says Royal Court among cyber attack targets this year, NPR, 20 February 2022: Putin and Macron discuss a cease-fire in Ukraine as shelling appears to escalate, Politico.com, 20 February 2022: Harris offers support for defiant Ukrainian president, Arab News, 20 February 2022: Russia extends troop drills; Ukraine appeals for cease-fire, Politico.eu, 20 February 2022: Kremlin lashes out at Ukraine and NATO after call with Macron, CNN, 20 February 2022: CNN reporter describes the challenges of covering the conflict in Ukraine, BBC, 20 February 2022: Russia plans biggest war in Europe since 1945 – PM, The New York Times, 20 February 2022: Bond Between China and Russia Alarms U.S. and Europe Amid Ukraine Crisis, The Guardian, 20 February 2022: Leave Putin in no doubt: Russia will be economically crippled – and he may be tried for war crimes, The New York Times, 20 February 2022: At the Munich Security Conference, Ukraine’s president accused his Western counterparts of appeasement., CNN, 20 February 2022: Roughly 75% of Russian conventional forces deployed against Ukraine, US official says, The New York Times, 20 February 2022: U.S. Learned of Kremlin Order to Proceed With Invasion, Officials Say, The Washington Post, 20 February 2022: Putin warned the West 15 years ago. Now, in Ukraine, he’s poised to wage war., BBC, 20 February 2022: Russia keeps troops in Belarus amid Ukraine fears, The New York Times, 20 February 2022: This Is the Russia-China Friendship that Nixon Feared, The Washington Post, 20 February 2022: Putin may go to war to capture Ukraine. With Belarus, he did it without firing a shot., CNN, 21 February 2022: US says it has credible information about Russian ‘kill list’ in potential Ukraine invasion, The Guardian, 21 February 2022: Live Ukraine crisis: Putin rails against Kyiv and Nato in televised address (this is no longer just historical revisionism, but outright lies. In fact, Kievan Rus’ was the nucleus of Ukraine and Muscovite Rus’, from which Russia arose, was only an insignificant part of Kievan Rus’. So if actual history were to be used for current action, Kiev would be in charge of Russia and certainly not the other way around. On the other hand, why should Kiev do something like that? Ukrainians want to be European, Western and democratic. Putin’s economically ruined and politically desolate club stands in complete contradiction to this. Apart from militarily, Putin’s Russia is once again broken and ungovernable by democratic standards, as it always has been. Why would Ukraine want to burden itself with such unnecessary baggage? There would be neither rational nor irrational reasons for this), CNN, 21 February 2022: Russian banks imported $5 billion in foreign cash in December, New York Magazine, 21 February 2022: Is Putin Choosing War in Ukraine?, The Times, 21 February 2022: Russia has ‘kill list’ of Ukrainians, The New Yorker, 21 February 2022: Inside the High-Stakes Fight to Control the Narrative on Ukraine, The Guardian, 21 February 2022: Ukraine: Belarus should face same sanctions as Russia in event of invasion – EU, The New York Times, 21 February 2022: This Is Putin’s War. But America and NATO Aren’t Innocent Bystanders., NPR, 21 February 2022: Why Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons — and what that means in a Russian invasion, Politico.eu, 21 February 2022: EU reaches deal on military training mission in Ukraine, The Guardian, 21 February 2022: Is it still possible to avoid a major war in Europe?, The Times, 21 February 2022: Ukraine crisis is a wake-up call for the West, The New York Times, 21 February 2022: Belarus says Russian troops might not leave unless NATO pulls back from Eastern Europe., Politico.eu, 21 February 2022: More EU airlines suspend Ukraine flights, Politico.com, 21 February 2022: As Putin sends troops into Donbas, White House avoids the ‘I’ word, Politico.eu, 21 February 2022: EU approves emergency €1.2B aid for Ukraine, Politico.com, 21 February 2022: U.S. sanctions Russia for declaring independence of eastern Ukraine territories, Politico.eu, 21 February 2022: Ukraine asks EU to send in cyber forces, CNN, 21 February 2022: Putin orders troops into pro-Russian regions of eastern Ukraine, NPR, 21 February 2022: Putin orders ‘peacekeeping’ troops to Ukraine after recognizing breakaway regions, Politico.eu, 21 February 2022: Europe faces sanctions nightmare of paying for Putin’s war, The Atlantic, 21 February 2022: Vladimir Putin’s Hall of Mirrors, Gulf News, 21 February 2022: Russia-Ukraine crisis updates: Putin signs decree to recognise breakaway Ukrainian regions, The National, 21 February 2022: Putin signs decree recognising breakaway regions as independent, Irish Times, 21 February 2022: Putin recognises two breakaway Ukraine regions as independent, France24, 21 February 2022: Live: Putin recognises self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine (even before Putin’s annexation of Crimea, which was in violation of international law, and his war on eastern Ukraine since 2014 (Helsinki Accords, Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances), there were raids by Russia, which, however, are hardly noticed in the West and have been “frozen conflicts” for years (Moldova and the Transnistria War and Republic of Georgia and the Russo-Georgian War), but ultimately always follow the same pattern: there are parts of a sovereign state is militarily occupied, so that this state can no longer act freely in international alliances or is not even included in them. Russia, which is far removed from democracy and freedom, is thus pursuing the goal of preventing other states in its immediate vicinity from becoming democratic, free and constitutional, because that would be an existential threat to the Putin system. This also applies to the expansion of Putin’s war in eastern Ukraine, operated by his pro-Russian terrorists stationed there, who are to be rewarded for their continued terrorism against the civilian population with the handover of the Ukrainian lands of Donetsk and Luhansk. In doing so, Putin destroyed the Minsk Agreement (Normandy Format). Of course, this is highly contrary to international law and is therefore null and void from the international perspective, especially since the parts of the country naturally continue to belong to the national territory of Ukraine. The West will now begin to implement the multi-stage sanctions against Russia that have been in preparation for weeks. So far it is only known that the sanctions are to be adapted to the respective escalation levels, but which they will actually be is still unclear. On the one hand, one almost has to be glad that something is being done at all, because economic interests often prevail among some actors in the West instead of doing the right thing, so that a joint, unified approach is anything but a matter of course. On the other hand, a determined, tough, clear and unequivocal action against Putin right from the start of his renewed escalations would have ensured that he would have completely refrained from expanding his war in eastern Ukraine), Politico.eu, 21 February 2022: ‘War, death and destruction’: U.N. Security Council members slam Russia’s Ukraine escalation, DW, 21 February 2022: ‘The Minsk process is dead’: DW’s Nick Connolly reports from Kyiv, The Washington Post, 21 February 2022: Putin orders troops into two separatist Ukraine regions, Los Angeles Times, 21 February 2022: Russia orders troops into eastern Ukraine as fear of war grows, The Washington Post, 21 February 2022: Why are Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine’s Donbas region a flash point for Putin?, The New York Times, 21 February 2022: Putin Orders Troops to Separatist Regions and Recognizes Their Independence, Politico.eu, 22 February 2022: UK sanctions five Russian banks and three oligarchs, CNN, 22 February 2022: Russia is already paying a hefty financial price for its aggression, France24, 22 February 2022: Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General: ‘This is a crisis created by Russia alone’, Politico.eu, 22 February 2022: Germany shelves Nord Stream 2 pipeline (now the same ones will be crawling out from under their rocks and out of their caves who were already of the opinion in 2014 that Russia would be able to cope even if the West stopped buying oil and gas at all, especially since one could finally sell to China. Sure, just like in 2014, you could also sell to China in 2022, but then as now at significantly reduced purchase prices than those paid by the West. Since the Russian state budget is dependent on the income, it will have the already known consequences: Real wages continue to fall, investments cannot or only partially take place, Russian in-house production, including in the food sector, is of ridiculous quality and the Russian economy is still decoupling further away from the world market than it has already done. As a small foretaste, the Russian stock exchanges reacted to the “positive prospects” with a price drop of 17%. As usual, Putin’s far-sightedness extends to the tip of his own nose), France24, 22 February 2022: Live: Ukraine minister urges EU to promise future membership, BBC, 22 February 2022: Putin’s angry speech rewriting Ukraine’s history, CNN, 22 February 2022: Putin’s speech was shocking to many, but not to people in Kyiv, The Guardian, 22 February 2022: As Putin’s tanks roll into Ukraine, he knows exactly who to feel sorry for: himself, BBC, 22 February 2022: Russia orders troops into eastern Ukraine, France24, 22 February 2022: Defying West, Putin orders troops to pro-Russian breakaway regions of east Ukraine, The Guardian, 22 February 2022: Live Ukraine crisis: ‘an invasion is under way’, US says of Russian troop deployment, BBC, 22 February 2022: West sanctions Russia after Ukraine escalation, Politico.com, 22 February 2022: Russia-Ukraine Conflict: White House official: ‘This is the beginning of an invasion’, The Guardian, 22 February 2022: ‘This is a bumpy long road’: The mood among Moscow residents, France24, 22 February 2022: France condemns Putin’s ‘paranoid’ speech on Ukraine, The Times, 22 February 2022: Johnson announces Russia sanctions as Germany halts Nord Stream 2, Irish Times, 22 February 2022: Ukraine-Russia: EU to ban lending to Russian central bank after Putin orders troops over border, The National, 22 February 2022: EU sanctions Russia in ‘answer to grave violations’ in Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 22 February 2022: Biden cuts Western financing for Russian sovereign debt in first tranche of sanctions, DW, 22 February 2022: Ukraine crisis: EU agrees to Russia sanctions package, The New York Times, 22 February 2022: U.S. and Allies Pause Pipeline and Cut Off Bank Financing, The Washington Post, 22 February 2022: U.S., allies announce sanctions after Russian troops enter eastern Ukraine, The New Yorker, 22 February 2022: Putin Launches His Invasion of Ukraine, The Atlantic, 22 February 2022: The Russian Incursion No One Is Talking About, NPR, 22 February 2022: Why Luhansk and Donetsk are key to understanding the latest escalation in Ukraine, Dutch News, 22 February 2022: Putin is showing ‘total paranoia’, Dutch PM says as Ukraine crisis escalates, France24, 22 February 2022: Moldova, then Georgia, now Ukraine: How Russia built ‘bridgeheads into post-Soviet space’, CNN, 22 February 2022: Russia is already paying a hefty financial price for its aggression, France24, 22 February 2022: Ukraine crisis: Ukraine declares state of emergency, calls on citizens in Russia to come home, CNN, 23 February 2022: China’s leaders may be watching Ukraine with an eye on Taiwan, France24, 23 February 2022: Ukraine crisis: A low-cost disinformation campaign aids Putin’s playbook, CNN, 23 February 2022: Trump sides with Putin as Biden tries to stop a war, Haaretz, 23 February 2022: Ukraine Crisis? Time to Call It the Putin Crisis, CNN, 23 February 2022: US warns full-scale invasion of Ukraine could be imminent, Gulf News, 23 February 2022: War fears mount as Ukraine declares state of emergency, summons citizens home from Russia, The National, 23 February 2022: Zelenskyy: Putin refused talks and has approved Russian offensive, Times of Israel, 23 February 2022: Trump hails Putin as ‘genius’ for Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine, The National, 23 February 2022: Ukraine imposes state of emergency amid Russia threat, Gulf News, 23 February 2022: Russia’s richest lose $32b as Ukraine crisis deepens, BBC, 23 February 2022: Ukraine tells citizens to leave Russia immediately, The National, 23 February 2022: Russia’s super-rich shed $32bn in net worth as Ukraine crisis escalates, BBC, 23 February 2022: Ukrainian rebels ask Russia for military aid, The Guardian, 23 February 2022: Live Ukraine crisis: self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk and Donetsk ask Russia for military aid, The Atlantic, 23 February 2022: How Much Will the West Sacrifice for Ukraine?, Irish Times, 23 February 2022: Ukraine declares state of emergency and urges citizens to leave Russia, Politico.eu, 23 February 2022: EU targets Putin’s inner circle with sanctions, Los Angeles Times, 23 February 2022: Russia attacks Ukraine, The Washington Post, 23 February 2022: Russia attacks Ukraine

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine @ Viewsridge/cc-by-sa-4.0
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine – 24 February 2022 to present
@ Viewsridge/cc-by-sa-4.0

As was to be expected after the Russian troop deployment around Ukraine, the insane war criminal and state terrorist Putin has now attacked and raided other parts of Ukraine in the most serious breaches of international law. Of course, this is also the result of complete failure and complete misjudgments on the part of Western governments (which apparently assumed that the 150,000 Russian soldiers were only stationed around Ukraine to organize a big picnic there. Nobody could expect that they are only there to invade Ukraine – at least not if you are a political decision-maker and that despite the fact that Putin has been at war with Ukraine since 2014), above all the Federal Government under Chancellor Scholz, to show Putin clear boundaries, to initiate military containment measures upfront and in addition to strengthen the Ukraine militarily upfront so that the country would be able to build up a credible deterrent in the first place. It’s too late for that now. In the matter, of course, the aggressor is Putin, but in order to be able to escalate to such an extent, various Western governments first encouraged and enabled him through hyperventilating activism on the one hand and completely doing nothing in creating existential foundations, like weaponery and trainings for the Ukrainian army on the other. Security and defense policy is not for beginners, Sunday speakers, name or dream dancers, peace activists or Putin apologists, but for real politicians who have both feet on the ground based on facts and therefor, unlike the aforementioned, don’t fall on their backs when there is some unpleasant headwind. For years it has been clear, even to the half-blind, where Putin’s journey is headed to. The fact that the EU states, among others, have turned a blind eye to this, instead of pursuing a credible security and defense policy by building up a powerful EU army to supplement NATO, can at best be judged as grossly negligent. In some cases, intent must be assumed. In 2022, anyone who utters sentences like “We couldn’t have imagined that Putin…” or “We were completely surprised that Putin…” has apparently been living under a rock for years and should immediately be stripped of any form of (government) responsibility, because such people pose significant security risks for the 460 million EU citizens who can see in the coming months what will happen to the suffering Ukrainians, also thanks to the failure of western governments and can also happen to them if the current course of the common security and defense policy is maintained. The severely disturbed Putin will not succeed in developing Russia into the Soviet Union 2.0 and certainly not into a superpower, because the country is not designed for that at all in its constitution, but he will probably stir things up for a while. As can be seen from Putin’s escalation of his war in Ukraine, any idiot can fire a gun. Above all, you become a superpower through economic power, a stable democracy, a large reach and strong friends. None of this applies to Putin’s Russia, and it will remain so. As the great US President Barack Obama rightly pointed out, Russia is a regional power (albeit one with a well-equipped military and nuclear weapons). The country is rich in natural resources, but has not made anything out of it, which is why the population has to continue to live in abject poverty. Wars are, of course, basically no fun events. The good mood is kept within narrow limits until the days after which it is finally over. At the same time, right now we are not in the situation or position to bury our heads in the sand or indulge in our own fears. The citizens of Ukraine count on our support and help against Putin’s war. We must neither deny nor deny them either. What knowledge gains remain after such a day?

  • The NATO Founding Act of 1997 has come to an end. This has historical significance and relevance for all that is to come.
  • Even in Europe, the territorial integrity of states under international law (Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations) is not worth the paper it is written on and the Russian approach will find imitators around the world.
  • Putin and his followers have now managed to isolate the country and make it a pariah. The West should support his efforts to the extent that all economic and political relations are completely broken off for the time being.
  • the consequence of this day for the EU can only mean what has been discussed in this blog for years, namely to significantly increase operational and combat readiness, as well as the military budgets to get back into the position permanently and at a high level level to be operational and ready to fight together. Today also shows once again that months of negotiations from a position of weakness, in which one can only write begging letters because one has lost the powerful fly swatter, do not lead to an acceptable result, but on the contrary have an inspiring effect on the other side. There are far too many madmen in positions of power for the EU to continue to have glaring weaknesses here. It must be ensured that, in case of doubt, foreign policy measures can also be enforced with the help of heavy metal, because only that is the language that the other side(s) understands.
  • Every government of an EU state must be obliged to think carefully and with foresight in terms of security and defense policy on a permanent and long-term basis and to act accordingly in order to prevent situations like the one we are currently experiencing from arising in the future or even worse, as they are at present , apparently to be surprised by a development that has been foreseeable for a long time. Anything else is completely irresponsible and unacceptable.
  • nationalistic pettiness coupled with pretended “historical responsibility” (even if one takes “historical responsibility” seriously, Ukraine would have clear priority over Russia in this regard) are ultimately just a fig leaf for “cowardice in the face of the enemy”. Gone are the days when you could afford it. Yesterday Russia invaded Moldova, Georgia, Crimea and eastern Ukraine, today Russia invades all of the rest of Ukraine, tomorrow the Baltics, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland. How long does the simple-minded German Michel think he can talk himself out of it before he too will admit that he is neither innocent of the development nor can he stay out of it? Something can be done about military weakness, but there is still no cure for ignorance, arrogance and stupidity.

On a personal note, I’m a “cold war kid” and was in my early to mid 20s when the Berlin wall fell and shortly afterwards the Soviet Union as well. Even as children we were taught not to believe anything that the Russian state propaganda was trumpeting, but to wait and see what at least two credible western sources believed to be correct has been verified. There was no internet for private use, so the filters worked quite well. That still has an effect today. Real trust in the Russian leadership and its subordinates and systemlings could not arise, also because of the general behavior in Russia. In this respect, the news of Putin’s expansion of the war against Ukraine did not surprise me at all, especially since it was simply to be expected. It seemed less credible to me that Putin would position 150,000 troops around Ukraine and then withdraw them again because he was so impressed by the numerous Western sitting circles because of him. In addition to the Ukrainians, I also feel bad for the under-30s in the West who have been exposed to unfiltered, (pro-)Russian propaganda on social networks for years and who have not been “immunized” against the propaganda and have not been prepared for the real dangers in dealing with Russia, because they are now completely helpless and torn without knowing how to deal with the situation, what the prospects are or what they can do positive in this situation for themselves and others. Of course, it is clear that it is not “the Russians” who are waging war, but Putin and his henchmen, who send Russian soldiers to their deaths without hesitation in order to enforce their own completely disturbed world view, at least regionally, and stuff their pockets with money, while the Russian population will become even poorer than it already is.

The Guardian, 24 February 2022: Live Ukraine crisis: Russia plans to ‘encircle and threaten Kyiv’, Blinken says, Al Arabiya, 24 February 2022: Ukraine FM says Russia carrying out ‘full-scale attack’, NPR, 24 February 2022: Explosions are heard in Ukraine after Putin announces a Russian invasion, The Guardian, 24 February 2022: Full report: Ukraine fights for its survival as Putin presses forward, Al Arabiya, 24 February 2022: Russia plans on ‘decapitating’ Ukraine’s government: US defense official, The New York Times, 24 February 2022: Live Updates: Russia Begins Invasion of Ukraine From Land and Sea, Al Arabiya, 24 February 2022: Explainer: What to know as Russia attacks Ukraine, The Guardian, 24 February 2022: ‘No to war’: Thousands join anti-war protests in Russia after Ukraine invasion, Arab News, 24 February 2022: IAEA says Ukraine nuclear power plants running safely, no ‘destruction’ at Chernobyl, Irish Times, 24 February 2022: Russia invades Ukraine: 57 reported dead, tens of thousands flee homes amid ‘dark hours’ for Europe, The Times, 24 February 2022: How will Nato respond to the war in Ukraine?, BBC, 24 February 2022: How hard will it be to defend Ukraine?, The Guardian, 24 February 2022: First day of invasion Airstrikes at dawn as Russia begins ‘war of aggression’, BBC, 24 February 2022: Ukraine warns of new iron curtain as Russia invades, Al Arabiya, 24 February 2022: Germany’s chancellor: Russia is trying to wipe Ukraine off the map, Irish Times, 24 February 2022: Ukraine latest: Biden says Russia will be ‘a pariah’ as US outlines further sanctions, BBC, 24 February 2022: Ukraine invasion: Russia’s attack in maps, The New Yorker, 24 February 2022: Putin’s Historic Miscalculation May Make Him a War Criminal (just have a look at Syria, to understand that Putin already is a war criminal), DW, 24 February 2022: Germany has to wake up to Russia, The Times, 24 February 2022: Ukraine invasion: latest pictures, Irish Times, 24 February 2022: Shock and shame in Berlin as Russians and Ukrainians face reality of war, The Guardian, 24 February 2022: Swift: What is the payments network and what would shutting Russia out of it achieve?, BBC, 24 February 2022: Ukraine deaths as battles rage after Russia invasion, Haaretz, 24 February 2022: ‘I Don’t Know Why He’s There’: Russian Mothers Say Soldiers Tricked Into Going to Ukraine, CNN, 24 February 2022: How to provide aid to those in Ukraine, Arab News, 24 February 2022: UN human rights chief calls on Moscow to halt its assault on Ukraine, Irish Times, 24 February 2022: Ukraine’s second city wakes to war, Daniel McLaughlin reports from Kharkiv, The Times, 24 February 2022: Hundreds arrested in anti-war protests across Russia, The Guardian, 24 February 2022: Putin: Decision to invade Ukraine raises questions over ‘sense of reality’, Al Arabiya, 24 February 2022: Some Kyiv residents try to flee, others stock up after Russia attacks, Irish Times, 24 February 2022: Attack on Ukraine will cost Russia dearly, Biden warns, CNN, 24 February 2022: Here’s what Biden has said about sending US troops to Ukraine, France24, 24 February 2022: Live: Kyiv in ‘defensive phase’ as Russian forces enter Ukraine’s capital, Irish Times, 24 February 2022: Lara Marlowe: Negotiations masked Putin’s plan to invade Ukraine, The Times, 24 February 2022: Johnson targets Russian banks and oligarchs with ‘severe’ sanctions, The Guardian, 24 February 2022: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will change the face of Europe for ever, Jerusalem Post, 24 February 2022: The Ukraine-Russia conflict echoes loudly in the Middle East, Al Arabiya, 24 February 2022: Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine could worsen amid armed conflict: Expert, Irish Times, 24 February 2022: The Irish Times view on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Europe enters a dark new era, BBC, 24 February 2022: ‘Turning point in history’ – World leaders react, The Times, 24 February 2022: A dark day for Europe, The Guardian, 24 February 2022: Eight sobering realities about Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, BBC, 24 February 2022: ‘Ecological disaster’ warning as Chernobyl seized, CNN, 25 February 2022: Russian forces seize control of Chernobyl nuclear plant and hold staff hostage: Ukrainian officials, Al Arabiya, 25 February 2022: EU targets Russian economy after ‘deluded autocrat’ invasion of Ukraine, The National, 25 February 2022: Fight or flight: Ukrainians forced to make hard choices as war unfolds, DW, 25 February 2022: Ukraine will survive — but the West should be ashamed, France24, 25 February 2022: EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell: ‘Nobody can trust Putin’ after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, The Times, 25 February 2022: Fog of war descends to obscure the fate of markets, France24, 25 February 2022: In pictures: Ukrainians face Russia’s military assault, Al Arabiya, 25 February 2022: Russia has ‘complete air superiority’ over Ukraine: Western intel official, Irish Times, 25 February 2022: ‘The situation now is threatening for Kyiv’, says mayor as Russian missiles pound the city, Politico.eu, 25 February 2022: China’s Xi asks Putin to negotiate with Ukraine, CNN, 25 February 2022: Six maps explaining the Ukraine-Russia conflict, France24, 25 February 2022: ‘Ukraine is not our enemy’: In Russia, hundreds arrested in anti-war protests, Gulf Times, 25 February 2022: Ukraine soldiers battle Russian troops in capital, Politico.eu, 25 February 2022: Ukraine slams West’s inaction as Russian forces bear down on Kyiv, The Atlantic, 25 February 2022: Bury the Old World Order, Irish Times, 25 February 2022: ‘We don’t want to leave’: Fear and defiance in Ukraine as country faces all-out war, Gulf News, 25 February 2022: World leaders fine-tune punitive measures against Russia, Haaretz, 25 February 2022: How Deep Has Chinese Intelligence Penetrated Israel?, The National, 25 February 2022: Beyond the Headlines: Kiev under siege, CNN, 25 February 2022: What does Putin want in Ukraine? The conflict explained, France24, 25 February 2022: Putin calls on Ukrainian army to ‘take power’ into own hands (if the situation weren’t so dangerous, one would actually have to laugh out loud: Russian state terrorist and war criminal Putin seriously accuses Ukraine of “mass murder of Russians,” which isn’t happening at all, while Putin himself wants to wipe out Ukraine and all Ukrainians with it. It is hard to gauge how far Putin has already departed from reality), Gulf Times, 25 February 2022: Thousands cross borders out of Ukraine, men told to stay and fight, Al Arabiya, 25 February 2022: Russia facing ‘greater resistance’ than expected from Ukraine: US defense official, Forward, 25 February 2022: Here’s how to help Ukraine’s Jewish community, Forward, 25 February 2022: Jewish history is repeating itself in Ukraine. This time, we must fight Putin back, Gulf News, 25 February 2022: Dramatic photos show Russia’s attack on Ukraine as it unfolds, Politico.com, 25 February 2022: NATO deploys troops to eastern flank as Russian attack escalates in Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 25 February 2022: NATO leaders agree to bolster eastern forces after invasion, The National, 25 February 2022: Nato deploying rapid reaction force for the first time to defend eastern borders, CNN, 25 February 2022: Ukraine and Russia’s militaries are David and Goliath. Here’s how they compare, Times of Israel, 25 February 2022: US says Russian forces lose momentum to stiff Ukraine resistance, Arab News, 25 February 2022: LIVE: Russian invasion of Ukraine enters second day, Al Arabiya, 25 February 2022: US sanctions Russia’s Putin, Lavrov and other top officials after Ukraine invasion, Politico.com, 25 February 2022: Russia-Ukraine conflict: What Does Putin Really Want?, Forward, 25 February 2022: Claiming “De-Nazification,” Putin’s actions recall other Nazi crimes, Jerusalem Post, 25 February 2022: After Ukraine, Russia warns Finland of ‘military reprecussions’ if it joins NATO, Al Arabiya, 25 February 2022: US troops in Latvia tells Putin ‘don’t mess with us,’ minister says, Politico.eu, 25 February 2022: EU to freeze Putin and Lavrov’s assets, Times of Israel, 25 February 2022: Russia ejected from rights body, loses sports hosting roles, ousted from Eurovision, BBC, 25 February 2022: Snake Island: Ukraine says soldiers killed after refusing to surrender (Snake Island, Attack on Snake Island, Hero of Ukraine), The Hill, 25 February 2022: Cell phone carriers waive charges, allow free long-distance calling to Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 25 February 2022: Council of Europe suspends Russia over Ukraine invasion, CNN, 25 February 2022: Soldiers’ defiant last words as Russian warship targets Snake Island, Politico.eu, 25 February 2022: ‘Go fuck yourself,’ Ukrainian soldiers on Snake Island tell Russian ship before being killed, Jerusalem Post, 25 February 2022: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the death of international law, The National, 25 February 2022: Russia-Ukraine war latest: Russia military ordered to advance, Al Arabiya, 25 February 2022: Ukrainian expats protest in Jordan capital against Russia’s invasion, The Guardian, 25 February 2022: Where has fighting been focused on day two of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?, The Times, 25 February 2022: Ukraine’s resilience raises the stakes for Russian troops, Los Angeles Times, 25 February 2022: Ukrainian brothers — former world boxing champs — ready to fight Russian troops, Times of Israel, 25 February 2022: For some Russian-speaking Israelis, Putin is a hero; others would ‘kill the bastard’, The Guardian, 25 February 2022: Explainer: Where has fighting been focused on day two of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?, The New York Times, 25 February 2022: Russia vetoes a U.N. Security Council resolution calling on it to withdraw from Ukraine., CNN, 25 February 2022: NATO Response Force activated for first time, The Times, 25 February 2022: Russian invasion of Ukraine: the latest pictures, The Guardian, 25 February 2022: Russia’s war in Ukraine: Complete guide in maps, video and pictures, CNN, 25 February 2022: Seven crucial questions about Putin’s war on Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 25 February 2022: Russia says it is surprised by Lebanon’s condemnation of invasion, The Guardian, 25 February 2022: Effort under way to challenge Russia’s right to seat on UN security council, CNN, 25 February 2022: Video shows explosion after fighter jet shot down, official says, The Guardian, 25 February 2022: We’re appalled by Putin now, but be clear: the west gave him the green light, The Times, 25 February 2022: Mikhail Khodorkovsky: ‘I thought Putin was a new type of leader but he’s a madman’, The Guardian, 25 February 2022: ‘It’s not rational’: Putin’s bizarre speech wrecks his once pragmatic image, NPR, 25 February 2022: Russia vetoes UN Security Council resolution that denounces its invasion of Ukraine, CNN, 25 February 2022: Europe finds itself in a bind over Ukraine response at the end of a truly dreadful week, The Guardian, 25 February 2022: The west has a duty to help defend Ukraine – and to help Russia by ensuring its defeat, Al Arabiya, 25 February 2022: EU approves Russian asset freeze that includes President Putin and Sergey Lavrov, BBC, 25 February 2022: Ukraine conflict: Champions League final moved from Russia & F1 GP cancelled, The Times, 25 February 2022: Ukraine arms civilians as Russians advance on Kyiv, The Guardian, 25 February 2022: It’s Putin’s tale of two cities – London for his oligarchs, Kyiv for his bombs, The Times, 25 February 2022: Ukraine arms civilians as Russians advance on Kyiv, Irish Times, 25 February 2022: German rude awakening on Russia infuriates Poland, Gulf News, 26 February 2022: Months of planning, warnings: How conflict has unfolded, CNN, 26 February 2022: Putin’s war was launched on a runway of lies, Gulf News, 26 February 2022: Russia attacks Ukraine: Ukrainians shelter in subway stations, basements, BBC, 26 February 2022: Ukraine maps: Tracking Russia’s invasion, Gulf News, 26 February 2022: Russia attacks Ukraine: Scenes from the frontlines, CNN, 26 February 2022: Annexations, a rump state or puppet rulers. Here’s what Putin may be planning for Ukraine, BBC, 26 February 2022: Ukraine’s Zelensky asks citizens to resist and Europe to do more, Gulf News, 26 February 2022: TV comedian president finds his role as wartime leader, The National, 26 February 2022: Russia launches missile and artillery barrage on Ukrainian cities, CNN, 26 February 2022: US to impose sanctions on Putin following Ukraine invasion, BBC, 26 February 2022: Kyiw warns of sabotage groups as curfew imposed, The National, 26 February 2022: Germany lifts block on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine, Times of Israel, 26 February 2022: Russia bans words ‘invasion’ and ‘assault’ in media, warns several outlets, The Washington Post, 26 February 2022: U.S. and allies vow to cut off some Russian banks from key network, Arab News, 26 February 2022: Ukraine’s leader vows to continue fighting Russian assault as he appeals for more outside help, The Washington Post, 26 February 2022: ‘Weapons to anyone’: Across Ukraine, militias form as Russian forces approach their cities, Jerusalem Post, 26 February 2022: Israel fails to sign onto US text condemning Russia at UNSC, The Washington Post, 26 February 2022: Campaigns to boycott Russia build momentum, Los Angeles Times, 26 February 2022: U.S., European allies bar Russian banks from critical SWIFT banking network, Times of Israel, 26 February 2022: As Ukraine puts up a fight, Germany and others begin stepping up military aid, The Washington Post, 26 February 2022: Ukrainians flee to E.U. nations, including some that previously spurned refugees, CNN, 26 February 2022: Battle rages for strategic bridge in southern Ukraine after days of fighting, Politico.eu, 26 February 2022: Protesters take to the streets across Europe to oppose invasion of Ukraine, Los Angeles Times, 26 February 2022: Three maps explaining the Russia-Ukraine conflict, CNN, 26 February 2022: Two vast explosions seen in Kyiv appear to be around Vasylkil, Haaretz, 26 February 2022: Vladimir Putin Is Not Adolf Hitler, but the Echoes Are More Than Troubling, Politico.com, 26 February 2022: Half of Russian troops amassed around Ukraine now invading, U.S. says, CNN, 26 February 2022: There have been “more than 250” missile launches by Russians at Ukraine as of this morning, US official says, The Washington Post, 26 February 2022: Mapping the Russian invasion of Ukraine, CNN, 26 February 2022: In pictures: Protests across the world show support for Ukraine, Politico.com, 26 February 2022: White House asks Congress for extra $6.4B to help Ukraine, Los Angeles Times, 26 February 2022: Ukrainian forces fight to hold on to Kyiv amid Russian onslaught, The New York Times, 26 February 2022: Live Updates: Russia Bombards Kyiv in Renewed Night Assault, DW, 26 February 2022: Ukraine: Kyiv fights back against Russian assault, The Hill, 26 February 2022: Biden says Putin is ‘producing the exact opposite effect that he intended’, CNN, 26 February 2022: Zelensky refuses US offer to evacuate, saying ‘I need ammunition, not a ride’, Politico.eu, 26 February 2022: Putin’s miscalculation, The Hill, 26 February 2022: US, allies to kick certain Russian banks out of SWIFT banking system, New York Magazine, 26 February 2022: The Seize of Moscow, France24, 26 February 2022: Cancellations, revocations and repudiations: Russia becomes persona non grata in sport, The New York Times, 26 February 2022: See where the fighting is taking place across Ukraine., DW, 26 February 2022: Ukraine: Anti-war protests take place around the world, The Hill, 26 February 2022: Live coverage: US officials say Russia frustrated with Ukraine’s resistance, DW, 26 February 2022: EU, US, UK to exclude some Russian banks from SWIFT, France24, 26 February 2022: War in Ukraine: Invasion takes Russians near the border by surprise, NPR, 26 February 2022: Select Russian banks are being booted off the SWIFT bank messaging system, The New Yorker, 26 February 2022: Putin’s Bloody Folly in Ukraine, France24, 26 February 2022: France, allies preparing ‘crushing’ sanctions on Russia, foreign ministry says, BBC, 26 February 2022: Ukraine: France seizes Russian ship over sanctions, The Hill, 26 February 2022: People around the world protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Politico.eu, 26 February 2022: Germany to send Ukraine weapons in historic shift on military aid, France24, 26 February 2022: As it happened: Kyiv under curfew as France, Germany pledge to arm Ukraine, Irish Times, 26 February 2022: Ukrainians and Russians gather in Dublin as bombs rain down on Kyiv, Al Arabiya, 26 February 2022: Finland, Sweden comments on NATO show how Putin miscalculated: President Biden, DW, 26 February 2022: Germany reverses ban on weapon sales to Ukraine — as it happened, NPR, 26 February 2022: A part of the NATO treaty could turn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine into a wider war, Al Arabiya, 26 February 2022: US will provide $350 million in new military aid to Ukraine: Blinken, BBC, 26 February 2022: Roman Abramovich gives Chelsea ‘stewardship’ to trustees of charitable arm, Al Arabiya, 26 February 2022: Russian army ordered to broaden Ukraine advance: Defense ministry, The Hill, 26 February 2022: Russian military threatens Ukraine nuclear power plant, Al Arabiya, 26 February 2022: Russia-bound cargo ship intercepted by French navy in English Channel, Reuters, 26 February 2022: Chechen leader, a close Putin ally, says his forces have deployed to Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 26 February 2022: Russia watchdog bans media from using ‘invasion, assault’ in Ukraine attack reports, France24, 26 February 2022: Poland, Sweden refuse to play Russia as Abramovich hands over Chelsea control, Al Arabiya, 26 February 2022: Chechnya forces deployed in Ukraine: Kadyrov, Irish Times, 26 February 2022: ‘Stop Putin, stop war’: Protests sweep Europe against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 26 February 2022: Russia vetoes UN Security action on Ukraine as China, India abstains, Politico.eu, 26 February 2022: What if Putin attacks NATO next?, The Washington Post, 26 February 2022: Germany abandons muted approach to aid for Ukraine, sending weapons and green-lighting sanctions, The Times, 26 February 2022: Volunteers hunt traitors and Kremlin spies as paranoia grips Kyiv, Politico.com, 26 February 2022: Half of Russian troops amassed around Ukraine now invading, U.S. says , The Times, 26 February 2022: Inside Putin’s mind: absolute power blinds the new tsar, Al Arabiya, 26 February 2022: Germany to supply Ukraine with anti-tank weapons, missiles: Chancellor Scholz, The Times, 26 February 2022: Taking on Putin with peashooters, Politico.eu, 26 February 2022: Putin’s European pals have to eat their words, The Times, 26 February 2022: Back to the new USSR, Putin’s empire of profit, Foreign Policy, 26 February 2022: China and Russia’s Friendship in Ukraine Is Without Benefits, Gulf News, 27 February 2022: Russia attacks Ukraine: People in Kyiv take cover as Russian troops approach, BBC, 27 February 2022: Ukraine conflict: Your guide to understanding day three, Foreign Policy, 27 February 2022: 3 Things the World Should Know About Putin, BBC, 27 February 2022: Putin puts nuclear deterrent on ‘special alert’, DW, 27 February 2022: Ukraine: Russian strikes hit energy installations — live updates, BBC, 27 February 2022: Ukraine invasion: Russian planes face near-total airspace ban to west, DW, 27 February 2022: Germany’s reversal on Ukraine weapons policy ‘response to Putin’s aggression’, France24, 27 February 2022: Live: Ukraine agrees to talks with Russia at Belarusian border, CNN, 27 February 2022: Molotov cocktails and personal arms. See how Ukrainians are fighting back, The Guardian, 27 February 2022: Kharkiv: Governor claims Russian troops repelled from city, BBC, 27 February 2022: Ukraine invasion: Kharkiv fighting ‘like Star Wars above your head’, France24, 27 February 2022: Nations ban Russian planes from their ‘democratic skies’, The Guardian, 27 February 2022: Full report: Vladimir Putin puts Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces on high alert, CNN, 27 February 2022: Putin orders deterrence forces — which includes nuclear arms — to be put on high alert (meanwhile, state terrorist and war criminal Putin is apparently so nervous about the prospect of a crushing defeat in his war on Ukraine that, after only four days of conventional war, his only option left is the nuclear card. Who would have thought that a bunch of Ukrainian militias could cause so much trouble for the self-proclaimed “superpower” Russia? Good thing and “move on”!), DW, 27 February 2022: German Chancellor holds speech on Russian invasion of Ukraine, The National, 27 February 2022: Japan sanctions Russia’s Putin over Ukraine invasion, The Guardian, 27 February 2022: Flight bans Germany, Italy and France join airspace block on Russian aircraft, France24, 27 February 2022: Putin orders nuclear forces on high alert (it is remarkable how many people are unsettled by Madman Putin because of the “alertness of the Russian nuclear forces”: 1. The nuclear forces are always on alert in order to be able to react immediately to first strikes with second strikes. 2. If you use your nuclear arsenal first, you only die second, so you gain nothing. 3. What some people seem to overlook is that the West is also very well equipped with nuclear weapons. So Putin’s “threat” with the nuclear card is the announcement of a passive suicide. Too cowardly to hold the gun to his own forehead, he tries to provoke a situation where the West does it for him), The National, 27 February 2022: US says Putin nuclear high alert order part of pattern of manufacturing threats, CNN, 27 February 2022: Ukrainian foreign minister: Putin’s nuclear readiness move attempts to put pressure on Ukraine, Arab News, 27 February 2022: EU to ban Russian state media RT and Sputnik says von der Leyen, The Guardian, 27 February 2022: Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskiy appeals for foreign volunteers to join fight against Russia, The National, 27 February 2022: EU funds purchase of weapons for Ukraine, steps up Russia sanctions, targets Belarus, Arab News, 27 February 2022: Thousands protest against Russia across European cities, Haaretz, 27 February 2022: The Israeli Kettle and the Russian Pot, The Washington Post, 27 February 2022: A Ukrainian ‘IT army’ is fighting Russian propaganda, The New York Times, 27 February 2022: Ukraine Invasion Tests Ties Between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, Irish Times, 27 February 2022: Russian military admits that some of its troops have been killed and wounded in Ukraine, Los Angeles Times, 27 February 2022: Russians hold anti-war rallies amid ominous threats by Putin, The Atlantic, 27 February 2022: Who is Vladimir Putin’s Revisionist History For?, Irish Times, 27 February 2022: Ireland to fund provision of non-lethal equipment to Ukrainian military, The Guardian, 27 February 2022: Live Russia-Ukraine: US condemns Putin’s nuclear deterrence order; EU to buy arms for Ukraine, The Sunday Times, 27 February 2022: Germany hikes defence spending as allies expel Russia from Swift banking system (the announcement of expenditures of 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr had hardly been made before the unbelievably mendacious (pro-)Russian propaganda of the SED successor party Die Linke and other actors from the “Putin’s useful idiots” faction began, fabricated and swaggered about “arming the Bundeswehr”. This is, of course, completely factual nonsense. Instead of “armament”, it is of course actually about the (basic) equipment of the Bundeswehr. As for all armies in the world, there are also TARGET specifications for the Bundeswehr, its branches and organizational areas, i.e. specifications for the minimum equipment of the Bundeswehr. The actual status is so far behind these targets that the 100 billion euros will only be enough to approximate the targets. Even this large amount will not be enough for an ACTUAL = TARGET status, because there has been a lack of funding everywhere for years, which has finally led to the current situation, namely that the Bundeswehr isn’t even able to protect Germany against an Russian attack, let alone to full fulfill their tasks within the NATO. Here are just four examples: 1. We send Bundeswehr soldiers to support NATO partners in the eastward expansion of the EU, but we cannot even provide them with adequate winter clothing because the Bundeswehr does not have sufficient funds for the personal equipment of all soldiers – not even for flak jackets or the like. The irradiated Putin understanders call the purchase of personal equipment for soldiers so that they can do their duty “armament” and are surprised that fewer and fewer people are falling for their Russian propaganda babble. Correctly it should of course be called “minimum inventory”. 2. The branches of the armed forces should have a minimum stock of ammunition which should not be undershot. In the meantime, however, the actual stock has bled dry to such an extent that even target practice for training purposes can no longer be carried out reliably. Additional purchases worth 20 billion euros have to be made just to replenish the minimum stock, i.e. to reach the lower limit of what should be in the depots anyway and to which Germany has committed itself to NATO. And again: The irradiated Putin understanders call the replenishment of the minimum ammunition stock “armament”, although it should correctly be called “minimum stock replenishment”. 3. Tank battalions should be equipped with x tanks. In practice, this means that if a battalion is supposed to have 40 tanks TARGET stock, the ACTUAL stock is 20 and half of them are not ready for use due to a lack of spare parts. The missing tanks should now be procured and the maintenance backlog quickly reduced. And again: The irradiated Putin understanders call the desired replacement purchases to achieve the TARGET condition and the production of operational readiness “armament”, although it should correctly be called “minimum stock replenishment”. 4. The Luftwaffe Tornados should have been replaced with newer models years ago. Meanwhile, the maintenance effort for the machines is greater and more expensive than training and deployment times. This is not only absurd but absolutely counterproductive. Since the European follow-up project is still a long way off, it makes sense to obtain at least half of the new fleet from the USA in order to have replacement machines available relatively quickly. And again: The irradiated Putin understanders call the intended replacement purchases to achieve the TARGET state and to create operational readiness “armament”. Max Liebermann was right: “I can’t eat as much as I want to throw up”. These are just four of hundreds of examples of the Bundeswehr’s economy of shortages, which of course also includes the modernization of the armed forces, which has so far been completely absent, or the adaptation of the procurement system or the (further) development of our own capabilities in research & development, etc. etc. pp . So we all urgently need to pay attention to the language we use to describe the absolutely and urgently necessary expenditure for the Bundeswehr. Half-truths, lies and propaganda have found their way into public debate for far too long. This has to stop. What needs to be developed much more strongly for this is the general public’s self-understanding of the security of Germany and the EU and the crystal-clear realization that democracy, security, peace, freedom and the rule of law do not come for free or without the Bundeswehr. The Bundeswehr is the guarantor that we have been able to live in democracy, security, peace, freedom and the rule of law over the past decades. It is therefore high time to acknowledge and promote this accordingly by enabling the highly motivated soldiers of the Bundeswehr to carry out their tasks with very good equipment that is always ready for use), France24, 27 February 2022: Russia’s faithful conflicted over Ukraine war, The Guardian, 27 February 2022: Media: EU to ban Russian state-backed channels RT and Sputnik, CNN, 27 February 2022: Norway says its sovereign fund will divest from Russia, The National, 28 February 2022: Turkey blocks warships from Bosphorus and Dardanelle straits, Gulf News, 28 February 2022: Russia attacks Ukraine: ICC to investigate alleged war crimes, The New York Times, 28 February 2022: Ukraine Presents a Moral Crisis, Not Just a Military One, The National, 28 February 2022: Russia-Ukraine war latest: US states move to punish Russia for war, France24, 28 February 2022: ‘Putin is weak when we are together,’ says ex-Ukrainian president Poroshenko, Gulf News, 28 February 2022: A look at West’s toughest sanctions yet on Russia, The New York Times, 28 February 2022: Switzerland, setting aside a tradition of neutrality, said it would freeze Russian assets., The National, 28 February 2022: Levee en masse: The old law of war guiding Ukraine’s citizen soldiers, Arab News, 28 February 2022: World must prove that might does not make right, The New York Times, 28 February 2022: Sanctions Leave Russian Economy Reeling, Times of Israel, 28 February 2022: War crimes likely being committed in Ukraine, The Hague says, opening probe, The National, 28 February 2022: Russia’s military vulnerability exposed by Ukraine hardware, The New York Times, 28 February 2022: Live Updates: Ukrainians Flee as Russia Bombards Civilians, Al Arabiya, 28 February 2022: Ukraine offers amnesty and money to Russian soldiers who lay down their weapons, The National, 28 February 2022: ‘Syria Was Putin’s Laboratory. Now He’s Taking His Methods to Ukraine’, France24, 28 February 2022: Belarus approves hosting nuclear weapons, Russian forces permanently, Foreign Policy, 28 February 2022: Putin’s War Is Europe’s 9/11, Al Arabiya, 28 February 2022: Russian rocket strikes kill 11 in Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, says regional official, Los Angeles Times, 28 February 2022: Putin’s fears of a unified, stronger Europe are fast becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, Jerusalem Post, 28 February 2022: World will not stay the same after Ukraine-Russia war – EU’s Josep Borrell, Miami Herald, 28 February 2022: Dan Le Batard: With war raging in their home country, Klitschko brothers fight for their beloved Ukraine, Los Angeles Times, 28 February 2022: Russians line up at banks as ruble plunges, interest rates jump and sanctions bite, Haaretz, 28 February 2022: Two Jewish-Russian Oligarchs Call to End ‘Bloodshed’ in Ukraine, The Hill, 28 February 2022: Live coverage: Russian military convoy stretching 40 miles outside Kyiv, Arab News, 28 February 2022: Turkey blocks warships from Bosphorus, Dardanelles, France24, 28 February 2022: ‘Take oligarchs’ Riviera villas’: Ukraine war hijacks French presidential campaign, Miami Herald, 28 February 2022: Does Miami have a Little Russia or a Little Ukraine? This is where the war hits home, BBC, 28 February 2022: Day 5: Tracking Russia’s invasion in maps, CNN, 28 February 2022: Russia is waking up to sanctions. The West must not stop here, The Atlantic, 28 February 2022: What Volodymyr Zelensky’s Courage Says About the West, The Hill, 28 February 2022: US sees Putin nuke threat as posturing, CNN, 28 February 2022: Two Russian oligarchs call for an end to Putin’s war, Los Angeles Times, 28 February 2022: Zelensky is beating Putin — at least in the public relations battle, France24, 28 February 2022: From the Maidan protests to Russia’s invasion: Eight years of conflict in Ukraine, BBC, 28 February 2022: Fresh fighting forces Kyiv residents back into shelters, CNN, 28 February 2022: Ukrainian intel suggests Belarus is prepared to join Russian invasion and US suspends operations at embassy, The Atlantic, 28 February 2022: Putin Accidentally Revitalized the West’s Liberal Order, The Washington Post, 28 February 2022: In just 72 hours, Europe overhauled its entire post-Cold War relationship with Russia, CNN, 28 February 2022: The first five days of Russia’s Ukraine invasion have not gone well. Here’s why, The Hill, 28 February 2022: Ukrainian forces need more weapons, ambassador warns senators, The New Yorker, 28 February 2022: In Ukraine, Daily Life in the Face of War, CNN, 28 February 2022: White House closely monitoring Russian convoy now reported to be more than 40 miles long, The Guardian, 28 February 2022: Ukraine conflict leads EU to rid itself of Russian sacred cows, New York Magazine, 28 February 2022: Russia’s War of Self-Destruction, CNN, 28 February 2022: Vladimir Putin is facing stiffer opposition than expected — both inside and outside Ukraine, The Washington Post, 28 February 2022: U.S., European allies freeze ‘Putin’s war chest’ as Russia careens toward economic crisis, The Guardian, 28 February 2022: War crimes: ICC prosecutor to launch investigation into Ukraine crisis, CNN, 28 February 2022: Russia faces financial meltdown as sanctions slam its economy, DW, 28 February 2022: Could Turkey close the Bosporus to the Russian navy?, Los Angeles Times, 28 February 2022: Ukraine seeks to join EU as round of talks with Russia ends (of course, it is understandable that Ukraine is looking for a shortcut, but it will not work that way. There are very good reasons for the EU admissions procedure which should not be circumvented, otherwise the entire procedure will collapse in on itself, to the great detriment of the EU. Since it is reasonably clear that Ukraine will not be accepted into NATO for the foreseeable future, one should instead look for a way to integrate Ukraine into the “Common Security and Defense Policy” of the EU without the country need to be a EU member state), Times of Israel, 28 February 2022: Ukraine’s leader signs application to join EU as round of talks with Russia ends, NPR, 28 February 2022: Ukraine wants to join the EU. Here’s how that would work, Arab News, 28 February 2022: Ukraine seeks to join EU as round of talks with Russia ends, The New York Times, 28 February 2022: President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the E.U. to admit Ukraine to the bloc immediately., Politico.com, 28 February 2022: Russia-Ukraine conflict: European plan to donate fighter jets to Ukraine collapses, The Algemeiner, 28 February 2022: EU Eyes Ukrainian Membership, Could Be Bargaining Chip in Russia Talks, France24, 28 February 2022: Live: Presidents of 8 EU states call for immediate talks on Ukrainian membership, Jerusalem Post, 1 March 2022: EU member state heads back fast-track for Ukraine joining bloc, BBC, 1 March 2022: Ukraine conflict: What is a vacuum or thermobaric bomb?, France24, 1 March 2022: Live: Kyiv residents take shelter amidst reports of Russian air strike, The Washington Post, 1 March 2022: What to know about Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s TV president turned wartime leader, CNN, 1 March 2022: Russia bombs residential area of Kharkiv and intensifies Kyiv assault as talks with Ukraine end, Gulf News, 1 March 2022: Russia attacks Ukraine: Putin underestimated West’s response to attack, says Biden, The National, 1 March 2022: Russian rouble’s freefall comes to a halt after central bank intervention, Der Spiegel, 1 March 2022: European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager: “This Is a Cold War for the 21st Century”, Gulf News, 1 March 2022: Zelenskiy tells EU: ‘Prove that you are with us’, NPR, 1 March 2022: Russia bombards a Kyiv TV tower and the Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial site, The National, 1 March 2022: No Nato allies considering no-fly zone over Ukraine, says Boris Johnson, Jerusalem Post, 1 March 2022: Ukraine-Belarus border: Russia preparing 300 tanks to enter Ukraine, The Hill, 1 March 2022: Worries grow over Putin’s stability, mindset, NPR, 1 March 2022: Putin’s claim of fighting against Ukraine ‘neo-Nazis’ distorts history, scholars say, The New York Times, 1 March 2022: I’m a Cold War Historian. We’re in a Frightening New Era., Al Arabiya, 1 March 2022: Russia should be removed from UN Human Rights Council: US Secretary, Politico.com, 1 March 2022: Putin’s ‘Denazification’ Claim Shows He Has No Case Against Ukraine, The New York Times, 1 March 2022: Russia appears to be targeting civilian areas with increasingly powerful weapons. See which cities have been attacked today., France24, 1 March 2022: Ukraine war brings Sweden, Finland even closer to NATO, BBC, 1 March 2022: No-fly zone: What it means and why the West won’t act, The Hill, 1 March 2022: Belarus president stands in front of battle map indicating Moldova invasion plans, France24, 1 March 2022: War in Ukraine: Increased NATO presence in Romania is ‘legitimate’, FM says, Al Arabiya, 1 March 2022: Erdogan to EU over bloc membership: Show same ‘sensitivity’ for Ukraine to Turkey, Politico.eu, 1 March 2022: EU countries won’t send Ukraine fighter jets after all, CNN, 1 March 2022: Why did it take the West so long to wake up to Putin’s outrages?, France24, 1 March 2022: ‘We need to impose sanctions on Belarus too,’ says Latvian FM Edgars Rinkevics, The New York Times, 1 March 2022: As Large Convoy Nears Capital, Violence Looks Set to Escalate, Los Angeles Times, 1 March 2022: Huge Russian convoy advances on Kyiv as missile hits heart of Kharkiv, France24, 1 March 2022: UN member states condemn Russia’s war in Ukraine during General Assembly meeting, CNN, 1 March 2022: The West’s $1 trillion bid to collapse Russia’s economy, Politico.eu, 1 March 2022: Get ready for a long war, France24, 1 March 2022: Ukraine: ‘Nobody is adding to the escalation except Putin,’ says Georgia’s Zurabishvili, The Guardian, 1 March 2022: Live Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv TV tower hit, killing five, as Moscow threatens ‘high-precision strikes’, CNN, 1 March 2022: Opposition to Putin’s war is alive on Moscow’s streets. But no trace of it is covered on Russian TV, France24, 1 March 2022: Ukraine conflict: Is Putin’s nuclear escalation hot air or a genuine threat?, The Washington Post, 2 March 2022: Biden: Russian forces targeting civilian areas, The New York Times, 2 March 2022: Key Southern City Falls; Bombing of Civilian Targets Intensifies, The Hill, 2 March 2022: Russian economy taking ‘serious blows,’ Kremlin says, The New York Times, 2 March 2022: Eastern European countries fear catastrophe as Vladimir Putin seeks to reclaim Russia’s lost sphere of influence., The Washington Post, 2 March 2022: U.S. to expand financial attack, aiming to seize billions held by Putin allies, The New York Times, 2 March 2022: Much of the world has denounced Russia’s aggression. In Asia, reactions are more mixed., The National, 2 March 2022: Middle East no longer region most affected by terrorism, global report finds, Gulf News, 2 March 2022: Russia attacks Ukraine: Russia, Ukraine ceasefire talks Thursday on Belarus-Poland border, The National, 2 March 2022: Russia-Ukraine war latest: UN votes to condemn Moscow’s aggression, Arab News, 2 March 2022: From Syria to Ukraine, a saga of serial abandonment of Western allies, Al Arabiya, 2 March 2022: UN General Assembly in historic vote denounces Russia over Ukraine invasion, Jerusalem Post, 2 March 2022: Russian seizure of Chernobyl 1st military clash in nuke disaster area – IAEA chief, CNN, 2 March 2022: The shifting map of Ukraine makes Russia’s intentions clearer, The Atlantic, 2 March 2022: Why the Cultural Boycott of Russia Matters, The Times, 2 March 2022: ‘The Nazi who should be de-Nazified is one man — and his name is Putin’, NPR, 2 March 2022: Photos: Russian missile strikes intensify the destruction in Ukraine, France24, 2 March 2022: As it happened: UN General Assembly overwhelmingly reprimands Russia for Ukraine invasion, DW, 2 March 2022: Ukraine: ICC to investigate suspected war crimes — live updates, CNN, 2 March 2022: Europe is making once-unimaginable decisions to counter Putin’s aggression, The Guardian, 2 March 2022: Live Russia-Ukraine war: 38 countries including UK, refer atrocities to ICC, DW, 2 March 2022: UN: Large majority backs condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, The Times, 2 March 2022: Dnipro ‘will be a Stalingrad for the Russian attackers’, BBC, 2 March 2022: Russia faces war crimes probe for Ukraine invasion, DW, 2 March 2022: Ukraine: Zelenskyy says Russia wants to ‘erase our country’, Irish Times, 2 March 2022: More than 2,000 Ukrainian civilians killed since Russian invasion began – state emergency service, France24, 2 March 2022: ‘The invasion of Ukraine is suicide for Putin,’ says Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, DW, 2 March 2022: Sanctions on Russia: Death by a thousand cuts (if Putin continues his wars as before, he will lead Russia to total ruin just as his Soviet predecessors successfully did with the Soviet Union. That would be extremely desirable for the democracy, security, freedom and stability of the world. In addition, it will also become very uncomfortable for Putin domestically if, as at the end of the Soviet era, a veritable famine spreads. These are excellent prospects in the medium and long term), The Guardian, 2 March 2022: UN: Emergency session votes to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calls for withdrawal, The Times, 2 March 2022: Putin is set on genocide, claims UN envoy, DW, 2 March 2022: Ukraine conflict: Japan stiffens resolve on Russia, but it comes with a price, Philip Stephens, 2 March 2022: Putin’s bloody war on Ukraine should remake the West’s mindset, The New york Times, 3 March 2022: Russia Gains Ground in Southern Ukraine, The Washington Post, 3 March 2022: After call with Putin, Macron is convinced ‘worst is yet to come’ and Russia wants all of Ukraine, French official says, France24, 3 March 2022: Has war in Ukraine revived NATO?, The New york Times, 3 March 2022: A call between the French and Russian presidents left France persuaded that Russia wants “control of all of Ukraine.”, BBC, 3 March 2022: Ukraine: Amateurs dig in to fight Russian troops from Kyiv forests, France24, 3 March 2022: War in Ukraine: ‘If civilians are directly targeted, that is a crime,’ says ICC prosecutor, CNN, 3 March 2022: CNN reporter identifies strange moment in new Putin speech, DW, 3 March 2022: Germany to ship anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine — reports (shortly before the impact, the pilots who were shot at will think “Wait a minute, I know them!” .. sort of “friendly fire”), The Guardian, 3 March 2022: Europe: We must be more independent and shore up its defence, says Macron, CNN, 3 March 2022: Biden’s Middle East allies change tune on Ukraine war as conflict escalates, The Guardian, 3 March 2022: Putin’s war is a watershed moment for the EU – the days of ‘never again’ are back, BBC, 3 March 2022: Ukraine: How might the war end? Five scenarios, The Guardian, 3 March 2022: War brought Vladimir Putin to power in 1999. Now, it must bring him down, CNN, 3 March 2022: Russians struggle to understand Ukraine war: ‘We didn’t choose this’, The Guardian, 3 March 2022: Russia’s war in Ukraine: Complete guide in maps, video and pictures, DW, 3 March 2022: War in Ukraine: Will it bring Sweden and Finland closer to joining NATO?, NPR, 3 March 2022: Russians seize nuclear plant after attack, Ukrainian officials say, The Times, 3 March 2022: Putin ‘hid invasion plan from cabinet, who are now too scared to resign’, The Guardian, 3 March 2022: Live Russia-Ukraine war: Zelenskiy asks Putin for direct talks after Macron tells Russian president he is making a ‘major mistake’, Irish Times, 3 March 2022: War in Ukraine: 10 terms and concepts explained, CNN, 3 March 2022: Russian oil isn’t sanctioned, but nobody wants to touch it anyway, Foreign Policy, 3 March 2022: NATO Must Prepare to Defend Its Weakest Point—the Suwalki Corridor, The Times, 3 March 2022: Russian invasion of Ukraine: latest maps, pictures and video, DW, 3 March 2022: Sweden beefs up its defenses, Irish Times, 3 March 2022: One of the greatest ever mobilisations of Nato forces now under way in Europe, Politico.eu, 3 March 2022: Economic pain keeps on coming for Russia as invasion rages, Foreign Policy, 3 March 2022: Why Putin Keeps Talking About Kosovo, Politico.eu, 3 March 2022: French volunteers rally to Zelenskyy’s call to join war in Ukraine, Los Angeles Times, 3 March 2022: Russian forces strike, seize a nuclear plant as they pound southern Ukraine, Haaretz, 3 March 2022: Panic in First Captured Ukrainian City: ‘Russians Are Entering Houses, There’s Looting’, Times of Israel, 3 March 2022: Ukraine, Russia agree on humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians, The Washington Post, 4 March 2022: Russia seizes nuclear plant in Ukraine, The Hill, 4 March 2022: How the US is helping Ukraine fight Russia, The Washington Post, 4 March 2022: Europe awakens to the Russian threat, CNN, 4 March 2022: One million refugees flee Ukraine as Russia escalates bombardment of key cities, The Hill, 4 March 2022: The Hill’s Morning Report – Russia’s war against Ukraine grinds on, Politico.com, 4 March 2022: The Ukraine ‘rat line’: How the U.S. and British are funneling weapons to kill Russians, CNN, 4 March 2022: Russia squeezes southern Ukraine amid warning ‘worst is yet to come’, Politico.com, 4 March 2022: Yes, Russia Might Invade a NATO Country. Here’s How the Alliance Should Prepare., Palestine Chronicle, 4 March 2022: Navigating our Humanity: Ilan Pappé on the Four Lessons from Ukraine, Gulf Times, 4 March 2022: Russia attacks Ukraine: Blinken meets NATO allies in Brussels as Russian troops continue their offensive in Ukraine, The Guardian, 4 March 2022: Live Russia-Ukraine war: ‘World narrowly averted nuclear catastrophe’ over Zaporizhzhia fire, says US envoy to UN, The National, 4 March 2022: Foreign fighters answer Zelenskyy’s call to defend Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 4 March 2022: NATO rejects calls for no-fly zone over Ukraine, Arab News, 4 March 2022: NATO rejects Ukraine no-fly zone, says ‘not part of this war’, Al Arabiya, 4 March 2022: US taking ‘all measures’ to stop Russia benefiting from IMF assets: Treasury official, Haaretz, 4 March 2022: ‘I Fled the Nazis, Now I’m Fleeing the Russians’: Jewish Refugees From Ukraine Find Shelter in Moldova, NPR, 4 March 2022: Not every war gets the same coverage as Russia’s invasion — and that has consequences, The New York Times, 4 March 2022: The fire at the nuclear complex was only about 1,500 feet from a reactor, maps show., NPR, 4 March 2022: The battle for Ukraine could test the limits of closer ties between China and Russia, The Hill, 4 March 2022: Putin can be prosecuted for crimes of aggression — but likely not any time soon, The New Yorker, 4 March 2022: The War That Russians Do Not See, Politico.eu, 4 March 2022: The EU’s plan to cure its Russian gas addiction, New York Magazine, 4 March 2022: Putin’s War Looks Increasingly Insane, Politico.eu, 4 March 2022: Russian shelling of nuclear plant raises radioactive threat in Ukraine, Miami Herald, 4 March 2022: Russia told Germany to hand over a U.S. citizen. After invasion, he was sent home to Miami, Politico.eu, 4 March 2022: The fighting is in Ukraine, but risk of World War III is real, CNN, 4 March 2022: Putin, the emperor with no clothes, Los Angeles Times, 4 March 2022: Russians seize nuclear power plant amid heavy bombardment of Ukraine, CNN, 4 March 2022: ‘It is not just Ukraine we are protecting’, Politico.eu, 4 March 2022: The EU should borrow together once again — this time for common defense, The National, 4 March 2022: Russia is worried not only about Ukraine in Nato, but also about Nato in Ukraine, DW, 4 March 2022: Ukraine: EU foreign ministers slam Russian attacks on civilians, BBC, 4 March 2022: Ukraine war: ‘My city’s being shelled, but mum won’t believe me’, DW, 4 March 2022: Ukraine President Zelenskyy urges victory of ‘freedom over slavery’ — live updates, France24, 4 March 2022: Shoigu and Gerasimov: Masters of Putin’s wars, BBC, 5 March 2022: Putin says sanctions over Ukraine are like a declaration of war (grteat, that the sanctions are obviously working pretty well. The more, the better), Palestine Chronicle, 5 March 2022: WATCH: Irish PM Richard Barret Calls out International Double Standards on Crimes against Humanity, Haaretz, 5 March 2022: Finland Mulls Buying Israeli Anti-aircraft System, Citing Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Jerusalem Post, 5 March 2022: Palestinians decry world’s ‘double standards’ on Russia-Ukraine war, Politico.eu, 5 March 2022: White House weighs 3-way deal to get fighter jets to Ukraine, The Economist, 5 March 2022: Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is wrecking two countries, CNN, 5 March 2022: US working with Poland on the possibility of providing fighter jets to Ukraine, DW, 5 March 2022: How vital is nuclear energy for Ukraine?, The New Yorker, 5 March 2022: Volodymyr Zelensky Leads the Defense of Ukraine with His Voice, The Atlantic, 5 March 2022: The Russian Elite Can’t Stand the Sanctions, CNN, 5 March 2022: What is NATO and why hasn’t it imposed a no-fly zone in Ukraine?, Politico.eu, 5 March 2022: Russia obstructs Iran nuclear deal as the Kremlin frets over its oil income, CNN, 5 March 2022: Suddenly the US and Germany have a chance to be effective partners, BBC, 6 March 2022: War in Ukraine: Russian invasion fuels Finnish support for Nato, Al Arabiya, 6 March 2022: Approximately 20,000 foreign volunteers in Ukraine fighting against Russians: FM, DW, 6 March 2022: How useful are Turkish-made drones fighting in Ukraine?, DW, 7 March 2022: Ukraine rejects humanitarian corridors that lead to Russia — live updates (now the illegal forced Russification and forced assimilation (very similar to that with the Uyghurs in China) is taking place, as was the case after the theft of Crimea and the start of the war in eastern Ukraine in 2014. In this way, these people are not only torn from their homeland, but also robbed of their Ukrainian identity in order to wipe out Ukraine and the Ukrainians in this way as well. If you look at the Russian demographics, from their point of view this is even necessary for survival, because nobody wants to become Russian voluntarily, not even the Russians themselves, because, among other things, reproduction has declined to such an extent that there are hardly any real Russians left. At least that gives hope for the future, because then the loyalties are of course clear – fortunately they don’t lie with Russia), France24, 7 March 2022: Live: Macron condemns Putin’s ‘moral cynicism’ over humanitarian corridors, CNN, 7 March 2022: Ukraine slams Moscow’s offer to evacuate civilians to Russia and Belarus as ‘immoral’, DW, 7 March 2022: DW correspondent perspectives: Reporting on the war in Ukraine, Palestine Chronicle, 7 March 2022: Sanctioning Israel: Canada Must Demonstrate Equal Regard for Ukraine and Palestine, CNN, 7 March 2022: Ukraine slams Moscow’s offer to evacuate civilians to Russia and Belarus as ‘immoral’ (apparently, the wars in Chechnya and Syria with the most severe destruction and war crimes, including in Grozny and Aleppo, are now the role models for Putin’s war against Ukraine), New York Magazine, 7 March 2022: The West’s Sanctions on Russia Are Working Too Well, The National, 7 March 2022: Russia-Ukraine war latest: Europe steps back from US effort to ban Russian oil and gas, Haaretz, 7 March 2022: Ukraine War: Time Is No Longer on Putin’s Side, Jerusalem Post, 7 March 2022: Kremlin announces humanitarian corridors from Ukraine to Russia, Belarus, Politico.eu, 7 March 2022: Putin is likely to hit NATO in the Baltic if he wins in Ukraine, EU vice president warns, Arab News, 7 March 2022: As Kyiv burns, a new world order emerges (The calculation has a crucial error: Iran would like to be, but is not nearly as dangerous as Russia. For the West, Iran is a manageable threat and is treated as such. For the West, energy security is of paramount importance. It is therefore irrelevant who is helping to solve this problem, although positive effects are even attributed to Iran here, because if the country floods the oil market, this means rapidly falling world market prices, pressure on the Gulf States to reduce prices so that they are competitive and the export stop for Russia to Europe and America. Another miscalculation would be to assume that the West would go to war for the Gulf States and Israel against Iran), The Times, 7 March 2022: Xi is the only leader who can stop this war, The Washington Post, 7 March 2022: The world of inconsistencies between Ukraine, the Middle East, and beyond, Politico.eu, 7 March 2022: Big countries play down calls to waive defense from EU deficit rules, The Times, 7 March 2022: Australia builds base for nuclear subs to tackle China threat, The National, 8 March 2022: UN rights chief decries Russian protest arrests, Politico.eu, 8 March 2022: Russian military’s corruption quagmire, Al Arabiya, 8 March 2022: In nod to Russia, Ukraine says no longer insisting on NATO membership, The National, 8 March 2022: Will Macron push through rebirth of European defence?, Politico.eu, 8 March 2022: Commission plans to get EU off Russian gas before 2030, Al Arabiya, 8 March 2022: Germany calls on OPEC to increase oil output, BBC, 8 March 2022: Ukraine: Are arms shipments from the West making a difference?, Politico.eu, 8 March 2022: Baltics look to Britain to firm up NATO support, Irish Times, 8 March 2022: Fintan O’Toole: West needs to think carefully about endgame in Ukraine, Politico.eu, 8 March 2022: ‘We told you so!’ How the West didn’t listen to the countries that know Russia best, The Atlantic, 8 March 2022: Of Course Putin Is Being Canceled, Al Arabiya, 9 March 2022: US sends Patriot missile defense systems to Poland: Pentagon, DW, 9 March 2022: Ukraine war: How a ‘fact-checking’ website is spreading Russian propaganda, Politico.com, 9 March 2022: Stoltenberg: ‘New normal’ forces NATO rethink, DW, 9 March 2022: Scholz: Sending Polish jets to Ukraine via US base in Germany ‘certainly’ not an option, CNN, 9 March 2022: How Putin ‘destroyed’ the ruble and brought Russia to the brink of default, The Guardian, 9 March 2022: History is brutally back, and Ukraine will test Europe’s appetite for the consequences (leaving aside the question to what extent “complicity through active passivity or complete omissions” is not already a fact, it is obvious that NATO and the EU are in a lost position as long as they play by rules while Putin knows none. He is completely indifferent to the dead, even in his own ranks. The already devastating destruction and enormous human casualties are not enough for him at all. His anger and ruthlessness are heightened by Russian casualties, his army’s ineptness, and the increasing desertions of his soldiers. Even if it goes against all Western understanding and all Western logic, NATO and the EU will not be able to avoid the question of when they have to intervene to stop Putin’s genocide against Ukraine and the Ukrainians for much longer. This war, too, is documented far too well and in real time for one to be able to excuse oneself later with pretended, alleged unawareness of the situation on the ground), CNN, 9 March 2022: ‘He’s in a corner’: Expert breaks down Putin’s nuclear threats, DW, 9 March 2022: EU parliament demands end to ‘golden passports’ for Russians, The Hill, 10 March 2022: Fears grow over Russian chemical threat to Ukraine, NPR, 10 March 2022: Photos: As millions flee, Russia defends attack on Ukrainian maternity hospital, Haaretz, 10 March 2022: Not Only Ukraine: Putin’s Allies Are Plotting Another War in Europe, The Atlantic, 10 March 2022: For the West, the Worst Is Yet to Come, Politico.eu, 10 March 2022: Putin’s war seduces Europe’s farmers away from Green Deal, France24, 10 March 2022: Macron welcomes EU leaders for Ukraine crisis talks at Versailles, The Guardian, 10 March 2022: The west v Russia: why the global south isn’t taking sides, Israel Hayom, 10 March 2022: Putin’s cardinal mistakes, The New Yorker, 10 March 2022: The Growing Fear of a Wider War Between Russia and the West, Jerusalem Post, 11 March 2022: China’s computers hacked by US to attack Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, The Hill, 11 March 2022: NATO: Russia is launching many air operations from Belarus, Jerusalem Post, 11 March 2022: Russia-Ukraine war: US, G7, EU to strip Russia of ‘most favored nation’ status – source, NPR, 11 March 2022: Why Belarus is so involved in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Jerusalem Post, 11 March 2022: EU unveils fourth set of sanctions against Russia, The Hill, 11 March 2022: The best possible US endgame in Ukraine is not what you may think, Haaretz, 11 March 2022: The Great Jewish Oligarchs’ Escape: ‘The Ground Is Trembling. They Will Stream Into Israel’, Jerusalem Post, 11 March 2022: UNSC to discuss US, Ukraine ‘biowarfare labs’ at Russia’s request, Times of Israel, 11 March 2022: Senate passes $1.5 trillion spending bill including Iron Dome aid, Ukraine help, The New York Times, 11 March 2022: Putin Wants a Clash of Civilizations. Is ‘The West’ Falling for It?, Jerusalem Post, 11 March 2022: Russia to allow thousands of Middle East volunteers to fight Ukraine, Haaretz, 11 March 2022: Putin Wanted Another Crimea. He May Get Another Chechnya, Times of Israel, 11 March 2022: What does Putin think he’s doing? An expert’s primer on why he invaded, what’s next, The New York Times, 11 March 2022: Live Ukraine Updates: Biden Moves to Suspend Normal Trade With Russia, Politico.eu, 11 March 2022: At summit, leaders see EU redrawn by Russia’s war (it’s slowly becoming inexplicable what’s going on there. Putin’s war in the Ukraine is in full swing and the heads of state are already at loggerheads again instead of finally getting the EU army up and financing it jointly so that it will be powerful enough), Jerusalem Post, 11 March 2022: Belarus may be preparing to invade Ukraine, Haaretz, 11 March 2022: Russia-Ukraine Updates: Ukrainian Official Says Israel’s Mediation Is Useless, ‘Bennett Wants Us to Surrender’, The New York Times, 11 March 2022: Europe’s Trains Take Fighters to Ukraine, and Bring Back Refugees, The Washington Post, 11 March 2022: Biden, European allies move to strip Russia of trade status, Los Angeles Times, 11 March 2022: Biden, Europe revoke Russia’s trade status, ratcheting up economic pain for Putin, The Hill, 11 March 2022: Misinformation colors how Russians are seeing the Ukrainian war, The Atlantic, 11 March 2022: The West Isn’t Doing Enough to Save My Homeland, Politico.eu, 11 March 2022: EU leaders fail to set a date to end energy dependence on Russia, DW, 11 March 2022: Debate about Polish fighter jets for Ukraine was divisive — and distracting, CNN, 11 March 2022: Biden warns Russia will pay a ‘severe price’ if it uses chemical weapons in Ukraine, Politico.com, 11 March 2022: Ukraine is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, The Guardian, 11 March 2022: G7 nations strip Russia of ‘most favoured nation’ status, CNN, 11 March 2022: Europe sets 2027 deadline to end reliance on Russian oil and gas, DW, 11 March 2022: Joining the war: Foreign nationals flock to Ukraine, Politico.eu, 11 March 2022: Removing Russia’s trade privileges — what you need to know, CNN, 11 March 2022: Russia’s richest businessman tells Putin: Don’t take us back to 1917, DW, 11 March 2022: EU leaders pledge increased military aid for Ukraine — live updates, The Guardian, 11 March 2022: Russians using Serbian loophole to avoid EU flights ban, Irish Times, 11 March 2022: We should not be neutral when it comes to naked military aggression, The Times, 12 March 2022: Could Putin and Russia really lose the war with Ukraine?, BBC, 12 March 2022: Ukrainians resort to desperate measures for food and water, Arab News, 12 March 2022: The world is entering uncharted territory, DW, 12 March 2022: Turkish, Armenian foreign ministers meet in bid to normalize ties, Foreign Policy, 12 March 2022: U.S. Commission Urges Biden to Designate Ukraine, Georgia as Major Non-NATO Allies, The New York Times, 12 March 2022: A Trans-Atlantic Energy Pact Would Counter Russia’s Might, Arab News, 12 March 2022: Gulf to play key role as EU plans to cut Russian gas imports, says envoy, Politico.eu, 12 March 2022: EU’s Borrell makes premature pledge of €500M more military aid to Ukraine, The Economist, 13 March 2022: A big defence budget shows Germany has woken up, The National, 13 March 2022: Nato warned ‘very little time’ left before Russia attacks Poland as 35 killed in strikes, Arab News, 13 March 2022: Russia strikes military base near Polish border, 35 dead, Ukraine says, Al Arabiya, 13 March 2022: Russia bombs Ukraine military base where foreign instructors worked, 35 dead, The National, 13 March 2022: Ukraine is upending the world order – but not how Russia thought it would, Al Arabiya, 13 March 2022: US: Russian use of chemical weapons in Ukraine would cross ‘shocking additional line’, Haaretz, 13 March 2022: Ukraine War: Putin Is Dangerous, but China Is the West’s Real Enemy, The New York Times, 13 March 2022: Ukraine Live Updates: Russian Airstrikes Kill at Least 35 at Base Near Polish Border, The Washington Post, 13 March 2022: Dozens dead in attack near Poland, Los Angeles Times, 13 March 2022: Russia strikes Ukrainian military training base near Poland, killing at least 35, The Times, 13 March 2022: Russian airstrikes hit Ukraine military base near Polish border, Politico.eu, 13 March 2022: Death toll rises to 35 in Russian missile strike on base in western Ukraine, close to Poland’s border, NPR, 13 March 2022: Russia invades Ukraine live updates: A Russian attack on a base near the Polish border leaves 35 dead, The Times, 13 March 2022: Andrey Kurkov: Ukrainians will never be Russians, Politico.eu, 13 March 2022: ‘Rest now, while we can.’ At Estonian NATO base, troops prepare for Putin’s next move, Irish Times, 13 March 2022: Russian attack on Ukrainian base near Polish border leaves 35 dead – regional governor, BBC, 13 March 2022: Ukraine war: ‘Sky turned red’ as missiles hit Lviv military base, The Times, 13 March 2022: Russia ‘using banned white phosphorus bombs’ in attack on Ukrainian city, The Guardian, 13 March 2022: Live Russia-Ukraine war: dozens reportedly dead after military base hit; US journalist killed by Russian forces, BBC, 13 March 2022: Russia widens assault to hit military base near Poland, The Guardian, 13 March 2022: Putin and Trump have convinced me: I was wrong about the 21st century, DW, 13 March 2022: Putin will take his quest as far as Russians allow (meanwhile, Putin and his fascist gang are not only indiscriminately killing Ukrainian women and children, they are also bombing churches and monasteries, thereby once again underpinning the image of Russia and the Russians: a gang of uneducated, uncultured, dishonorable criminals), France24, 13 March 2022: Live: Russian missiles strike Ukrainian military base near Lviv at Polish border, The Guardian, 13 March 2022: Toxic Putin is going for bust. The west must stop him before this contagion spreads, Foreign Policy, 13 March 2022: Odesa’s Defense Stiffened by Belarusian Volunteers, The Washington Post, 13 March 2022: Russia asks China for weapons, U.S. officials say, Financial Times, 13 March 2022: US officials say Russia has asked China for military help in Ukraine, Foreign Policy, 13 March 2022: The Intellectual Catastrophe of Vladimir Putin, Politico.eu, 14 March 2022: Will Taiwan be the next Ukraine? (if Taiwan should become the next Ukraine, China is already f*cked!), The Atlantic, 14 March 2022: Putin Needs an Off-Ramp, The National, 14 March 2022: EU imposes fourth set of sanctions against Russia, Politico.eu, 14 March 2022: China insists it’s ‘not a party’ to Russia’s war with Ukraine, The Hill, 14 March 2022: International Criminal Court to issue ruling on allegations of genocide against Russia, Politico.eu, 14 March 2022: Germany to buy fighter jets from US amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, The Hill, 14 March 2022: UN allocates $40 million for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, CNN, 14 March 2022: Russia could default on its debt within days, Arab News, 14 March 2022: How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine breathed new life into NATO, BBC, 14 March 2022: Ukraine war: Drone shots show Mariupol devastated by fighting, Irish Times, 14 March 2022: Aircraft lessors face billions in write-offs as planes re-registered in Russia, Politico.eu, 14 March 2022: Ukraine presses the EU to get real about trading with the enemy, France24, 14 March 2022: US expresses ‘deep concerns’ on Russia-China ‘alignment’, CNN, 14 March 2022: China has expressed some openness to providing military and financial aid to Russia, US cable suggests, DW, 14 March 2022: Ukraine war: Why the West cannot afford to ignore Afghanistan, BBC, 14 March 2022: Ukraine war: Editor interrupts Russian TV news show, France24, 14 March 2022: As it happened: Over 2.8 million have fled Ukraine, EU agrees on fourth set of Russian sanctions, DW, 14 March 2022: Germany to buy US F-35 stealth fighters, Reuters, 15 March 2022: Russia quits Council of Europe rights watchdog, The Washington Post, 15 March 2022: Russia has lost Ukrainians forever, The National, 15 March 2022: What is a Nato no-fly zone and could it be implemented over Ukraine?, Al Arabiya, 15 March 2022: Russian invasion poses ‘clear, growing threat’ to food security in Ukraine: FAO, Arab News, 15 March 2022: European leaders visit Kyiv, Zelenskiy hints at compromise outside NATO, The Hill, 15 March 2022: Lawmakers raise pressure on White House to back Poland plan, Los Angeles Times, 15 March 2022: European leaders travel to Ukraine as attacks kill civilians near central Kyiv, The Hill, 15 March 2022: Biden to visit Brussels for NATO, EU meetings on Russia, DW, 15 March 2022: What would Russian WMDs mean for NATO’s ‘red lines’?, The Atlantic, 15 March 2022: Putin’s Nuclear Threats Are a Wake-Up Call for the World, France24, 15 March 2022: Nobel laureate Stiglitz calls on Europe to do without Russian gas, DW, 15 March 2022: Taiwan’s military tests new capabilities to deter China threat, France24, 15 March 2022: Russia says quitting Council of Europe, Politico.com, 15 March 2022: Biden to travel to Brussels for ‘extraordinary NATO summit’ this month, The Times, 15 March 2022: Russia seeking to impose ‘Stalinite police states’ in Ukraine, BBC, 15 March 2022: Russia sanctions Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and others, The Times, 15 March 2022: British ships and troops join allies for Arctic drills, Politico.eu, 15 March 2022: The case for a no-fly zone in western Ukraine, The Times, 15 March 2022: Brain drain: educated Russians flee Putin’s regime while they can, Irish Times, 15 March 2022: Ukraine: 20,000 flee Mariupol as Biden to travel to Brussels for Nato summit, The Times, 15 March 2022: The strongmen are stumbling into oblivion, Al Arabiya, 16 March 2022: Russia quits Council of Europe rights watchdog, Miami Herald, 16 March 2022: Zelenskyy pleads for help in impassioned speech to Congress, Los Angeles Times, 16 March 2022: Zelensky prods Biden to pledge more Ukraine aid in emotional, end-run speech to Congress, The New Yorker, 16 March 2022: What Young Ukrainians Have Lost Overnight, The Hill, 16 March 2022: Zelensky challenges conscience of Congress, New York Magazine, 16 March 2022: Zelenskyy Invokes Pearl Harbor and 9/11 in Impassioned Speech to Congress, The Hill, 16 March 2022: Five takeaways from Zelensky’s virtual address to Congress, The Times, 16 March 2022: Germany accused of trying to water down Russia sanctions, The Atlantic, 16 March 2022: Vladimir Putin Has Fallen Into the Dictator Trap, The Times, 16 March 2022: US gives another $800m in arms after Zelensky appeal, Politico.eu, 16 March 2022: Europe has met its pain threshold on Russia sanctions. It wasn’t that high, NPR, 16 March 2022: Fears are growing that Russia will default on its debt. Here’s what you need to know, Politico.eu, 16 March 2022: Next sanctions round will test EU unity on how hard to hit Russia, The Times, 16 March 2022: Why €100 billion just isn’t enough for Germany’s armed forces, Politico.com, 16 March 2022: Biden announces fresh aid to Ukraine but stops short of Zelenskyy’s demands, DW, 17 March 2022: Ukrainian president tells Bundestag ‘help came too late’, The Washington Post, 17 March 2022: Russia’s military is incompetent. That makes it more dangerous., Jerusalem Post, 17 March 2022: Syria to supply Russia with 40,000 mercenaries – Ukrainian Defense Min., Politico.eu, 17 March 2022: Inside the mind of Putin’s attack dog: Diary of a warlord, DW, 17 March 2022: NGOs and tech firms join forces to help Ukraine, Politico.eu, 17 March 2022: War in Ukraine is ‘electroshock’ for NATO, says Emmanuel Macron, Haaretz, 17 March 2022: To Understand Putin, You First Need to Get Inside Aleksandr Dugin’s Head, Der Spiegel, 17 March 2022: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: “Putin Lives in Historic Analogies and Metaphors”, Politico.eu, 17 March 2022: Ukraine’s businesses want EU cash and Turkish battleships to keep economy alive, DW, 17 March 2022: Ukraine war: Russia blocks ships carrying grain exports, Haaretz, 18 March 2022: Why the Russia-Ukraine War Is a Global Turning Point, The New York Times, 18 March 2022: A Realist Take on How the Russia-Ukraine War Could End, The National, 18 March 2022: UK’s ex-leader David Cameron driving supplies to Ukrainian refugees in Poland, The Washington Post, 18 March 2022: U.S., European officials struggle to interpret Zelensky’s comments on a potential deal, Politico.eu, 18 March 2022: From ‘Londongrad’ to Kremlin foe: City of London sours on Moscow business, The New York Times, 18 March 2022: Biden Warns China of ‘Consequences’ if It Aids Russian War, The New Yorker, 18 March 2022: Ukraine’s Radio Station of National Resistance, The Washington Post, 18 March 2022: Mixed signals on peace talks unsettle West, Los Angeles Times, 18 March 2022: Not everyone wants to make Putin an economic pariah over the Ukraine war, The Washington Post, 19 March 2022: Nearly 10 million have fled their homes, but defiant defense stalls Russians, Los Angeles Times, 18 March 2022: Explainer: Why Putin uses WWII to justify war with Ukraine, The Hill, 18 March 2022: Support in both parties grows for providing air power to Ukraine, The Atlantic, 18 March 2022: Only NATO Can Save Putin, Al Arabiya, 18 March 2022: Russia blasted by West at UN for spreading bioweapons ‘nonsense’ over Ukraine, NPR, 18 March 2022: 109 empty strollers sit in a Lviv square, representing children killed in the war, France24, 18 March 2022: War in Ukraine: The bombing continues, Biden warns China against helping Russia, DW, 18 March 2022: NATO conducts large military drills in Norway, Al Arabiya, 18 March 2022: Hezbollah denies sending fighters to Ukraine in support of Russian invasion (that’s better for them. If they should mess with the West, that would be their complete end, for then they will be hunted down until there are none of them left – especially in their homes), CNN, 18 March 2022: Russia has attacked Lviv. Here’s why the western city is so important to Ukraine’s defense, DW, 18 March 2022: Swiss commodities traders help fill Putin’s war coffers, France24, 18 March 2022: ‘Democracy is standing up against autocracy’ in Ukraine, EU’s von der Leyen says, DW, 18 March 2022: Ukraine: Biden urges Xi not to back Russian aggression, CNN, 18 March 2022: Biden uses call with Xi to lay out consequences for China if it supports Russia attack on Ukraine, The New York Times, 18 March 2022: China’s Information Dark Age Could Be Russia’s Future, The Times, 18 March 2022: Liz Truss interview: ‘The West focused on cheap goods at the expense of freedom and security’, The Guardian, 18 March 2022: Live: Fighting in centre of Mariupol; Biden outlines ‘consequences’ if China aids Russia, Politico.eu, 18 March 2022: EU toughens language on Russia in its defense plan, DW, 18 March 2022: Ukraine: Hundreds still trapped under Mariupol theater, Zelenskyy says — live updates, The Times, 18 March 2022: Vitali Klitschko: The Russians are not stupid people, but they have the wrong government, Politico.eu, 18 March 2022: EU has ‘very reliable evidence’ China is considering military support for Russia, DW, 18 March 2022: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock presents Germany’s national security strategy, The Hill, 19 March 2022: Ukraine mobilizes volunteer ‘IT Army,’ crypto community in war with Russia, NPR, 19 March 2022: Zelenskyy’s plea to Congress recalls Churchill and others who fought for democracy, France24, 19 March 2022: No longer neutral? War in Ukraine tests Finland’s stance on Russia, Haaretz, 19 March 2022: Ukraine Is Making Nationalism Great Again, The Hill, 19 March 2022: Pentagon chief says Russia has ‘struggled with logistics,’ made ‘missteps’ in Ukraine invasion, Al Arabiya, 19 March 2022: Africa mostly quiet amid widespread condemnation of Russia, Times of Israel, 19 March 2022: Canada trolls Russia with mock edits to its proposed UN resolution on Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 19 March 2022: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy urges Switzerland to crack down on Russian oligarchs, Arab News, 19 March 2022: Russia claims hypersonic missile strike as Ukraine urges peace deal, The National, 19 March 2022: Russia uses ‘Kinzhal’ hypersonic missile for first time in Ukraine war, BBC, 19 March 2022: Russia claims first use of hypersonic Kinzhal missile in Ukraine, The New York Times, 19 March 2022: Putin Made a Profound Miscalculation on Ukraine, The Guardian, 19 March 2022: Those on the right who loudly praised Putin have now fallen strangely silent, Irish Times, 19 March 2022: Fintan O’Toole: Putin miscalculated the loyalty of his cheerleaders in the West, The New Yorker, 19 March 2022: The Complexities of the Ukraine Dilemma, Haaretz, 20 March 2022: Iron Dome and Beyond: Israel Can, and Must, Save Lives in Ukraine, Politico.eu, 20 March 2022: ‘I don’t feel safe going back.’ Russia’s future has gone into exile, The Washington Post, 20 March 2022: AP Exclusive: US admiral says China fully militarized isles, Jerusalem Post, 20 March 2022: Russian threat can’t deter Sweden from joining NATO, politician says, Haaretz, 20 March 2022: War in Ukraine: ‘Putin Is Failing on All Fronts,’ NATO Deputy Chief Tells Haaretz, Foreign Policy, 20 March 2022: Is an EU Army Coming?, Al Arabiya, 20 March 2022: Hacktivist group Anonymous launches series of cyberattacks against Russia, CNN, 20 March 2022: Biden’s European trip will be heavy on displays of Western unity but could be light on actions to stop Putin’s Ukraine war, Arab News, 20 March 2022: The changing security scenario in Europe, The Guardian, 20 March 2022: What are hypersonic missiles and why is Russia using them?, DW, 21 March 2022: Saudi Arabia and China: New best friends?, Times of Israel, 21 March 2022: Israeli lawmakers tear into Zelensky for Holocaust comparisons in Knesset speech (of course, major historical events are never repeated 1:1 and President Zelensky exaggerated a bit in his speech here, but who can blame him in the current situation? Probably nobody. At the same time, he is not wrong either, because the Russian war criminal Putin does not recognize the statehood of Ukraine and therefore not the Ukrainians themselves. Apparently he wants to erase Ukraine bit by bit from the map, and with it its history and culture. Unlike Hitler who was mainly fixated on Jews during the Holocaust, Putin is apparently taking the path of “creeping genocide” against all Ukrainians, regardless of religious affiliation. Ukrainians are wiped out through killings, but above all through expulsions and forced Russifications. It’s less gory, takes longer, generates less international backlash, but overall is at least as “effective” as the Holocaust was. In a way, it is a “mixture” of the Holocaust and the actions of the Chinese against the Uyghurs, regardless of religious affiliations or affiliations to population groups), DW, 21 March 2022: Ukraine: EU’s Borrell slams Russian ‘war crime’ in Mariupol, The Guardian, 21 March 2022: China has fully militarized three islands in South China Sea, US admiral says, BBC, 21 March 2022: Ukraine conflict: Russia trying to starve Mariupol into surrender – MP, The Times, 21 March 2022: Ukrainian cities being ‘wiped off the face of the Earth’, DW, 21 March 2022: EU approves security policy for rapid reaction force, The Guardian, 21 March 2022: Lukashenko is dragging Belarus closer to a war that most of its citizens don’t want, The National, 21 March 2022: EU to establish crisis reaction force with up to 5,000 troops, The Times, 21 March 2022: West ‘naive’ to think China will abandon Russia over Ukraine, Arab News, 21 March 2022: Building a more strategic EU-Saudi Arabia partnership, The National, 21 March 2022: Russia’s diplomatic isolation set to deepen in fresh UN vote on Ukraine, The Hill, 21 March 2022: Biden, European leaders discuss Russian attacks on civilians, Los Angeles Times, 21 March 2022: Global outrage grows over Putin’s merciless attacks in Ukraine, NPR, 21 March 2022: The U.S. warns companies to stay on guard for possible Russian cyberattacks, The Washington Post, 22 March 2022: Biden warns Russia could resort to chemical weapons; Zelensky says some cities bombed beyond recognition, Politico.eu, 22 March 2022: Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy tops POLITICO 28 poll as most powerful person in Europe, Jerusalem Post, 22 March 2022: Ukraine’s Zelensky will take part virtually in NATO summit, Haaretz, 22 March 2022: Explained: Why Israel’s Iron Dome Won’t Help Ukraine Against Russia, Politico.eu, 22 March 2022: ‘The only thing Putin understands is strength’: US aircraft carrier flexes muscle in the Med, NPR, 22 March 2022: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to address Japanese parliament, Irish Times, 22 March 2022: The Ukraine war is not about democracy versus autocracy, CNN, 22 March 2022: Putin spokesman refuses to rule out use of nuclear weapons if Russia faced an ‘existential threat’, Arab News, 22 March 2022: Germany requires philosophical debate amid promise to rearm, Jerusalem Post, 22 March 2022: Russia withdrew from WWII peace treaty talks with Japan, The Guardian, 22 March 2022: Why is Mariupol so important to Russian forces?, CNN, 22 March 2022: Belarusian military could ‘soon’ join war in Ukraine, US and NATO officials say, Washington Post, 22 March 2022: Americans may be greatly und restimating the impact of 10 years of Putin’s propaganda, The New York Times, 22 March 2022: Xi, Putin and Trump: The Strongmen Follies, The Guardian, 22 March 2022: Olena Zelenska thanks other first ladies for supporting Ukraine, The Times, 22 March 2022: Putin and Biden learnt lessons from Syria’s gassing of civilians, BBC, 22 March 2022: US slams Russian refusal to rule out nuclear arms, The Hill, 22 March 2022: Five ways US sanctions are hurting Russia, DW, 22 March 2022: Ukraine says Kherson faces ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ — live updates, CNN, 22 March 2022: Consequences of Putin’s “aggression against Ukraine span well beyond Europe,” EU Commission President says, DW, 22 March 2022: Can Ukraine negotiate with ‘a war criminal’?, The New York Times, 22 March 2022: The Grand Theory Driving Putin to War, DW, 22 March 2022: Zelenskyy offers ‘compromise for everyone’, Haaretz, 23 March 2022: Ukraine Fears ‘Europe’s Last Dictator’ ‘Will Join the Russian Invasion, Politico.eu, 23 March 2022: Rubles for gas: Putin trolls the West over its energy addiction, The Guardian, 23 March 2022: ‘We’re going back to a USSR’: long queues return for Russian shoppers as sanctions bite, Arab News, 23 March 2022: As Ukraine war ends first month, Putin hits back at sanctions with oil payment changes, Politico.eu, 23 March 2022: Lessons for NATO from the war in Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 23 March 2022: NATO Arctic drill takes on new significance after Russia invasion of Ukraine, Jerusalem Post, 23 March 2022: Russian losses in Ukraine exceed Soviet losses in Afghanistan, Daily Mail, 23 March 2022: Russian military secrets could be laid bare after Ukraine captures electronic warfare systems (Krasukha), Politico.eu, 23 March 2022: NATO set to boost forces on its eastern flank, chief says, The Times, 23 March 2022: The experts were wrong: Russia hasn’t won, and it’s not going to, The Guardian, 23 March 2022: Nearly a month in, the Russia-Ukraine war is defying all expectations, BBC, 23 March 2022: Nato to boost forces in eastern Europe as Ukraine war rages, France24, 23 March 2022: Threat looms of Russian attack on undersea cables to shut down West’s internet, Politico.eu, 23 March 2022: Live blog: European Council summit, DW, 24 March 2022: Putin’s war in Ukraine may still fail, The Guardian, 24 March 2022: Live: Nato has never been more united, says Biden; Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners, The Atlantic, 24 March 2022: Biden Can’t Paper Over the West’s Disunity, Haaretz, 24 March 2022: Biden’s NATO Trip: Uniting Against Putin, Sending a Message to China, Arab News, 24 March 2022: West unites to back Ukraine and seek ‘ruinous cost’ for Putin, The Guardian, 24 March 2022: Ukraine sinks Russian ship as Moscow accused of forcible deportations from Mariupol, Politico.eu, 24 March 2022: NATO leaders warn China: Don’t act as Russia’s enabler, Al Arabiya, 24 March 2022: Putin made ‘big mistake’ invading Ukraine: NATO chief, Politico.eu, 24 March 2022: Germany’s Scholz rejects Putin’s rubles-for-gas demand, Haaretz, 24 March 2022: Putin’s Oligarchs’ Rush for Israeli Luxury Rentals, Preferably in Cash, DW, 24 March 2022: Ukraine war ushers in Europe’s ‘new normal’, Politico.eu, 24 March 2022: Oil has an autocracy problem, Irish Times, 24 March 2022: Europe facing ‘long haul’ over Russian invasion, says Taoiseach, Politico.com, 24 March 2022: Biden’s game plan in Brussels: Punch Putin and hug the West, BBC, 24 March 2022: Russia’s cost of living soars by more than 14% (that should at least be doubled to 30% and more, just to remind the Russians on a daily basis how great and awesome their leadership is), Irish Times, 24 March 2022: Democratic systems pitted against authoritarian rule as western leaders gather, The Times, 24 March 2022: Kim Jong-un’s new missile ‘puts US mainland in reach’, DW, 24 March 2022: Ukraine: Biden says NATO ‘never been more united’ — live updates, Politico.eu, 24 March 2022: NATO chief Stoltenberg to stay for one more year, The Guardian, 24 March 2022: Putin may ramp up his war in Ukraine – here’s how Nato should respond, DW, 24 March 2022: Ukraine: NATO bolsters collective defenses, France24, 24 March 2022: ‘Putin banked on NATO being split, he’s getting the opposite,’ Biden says, The Washington Post, 24 March 2022: The worse things go for Putin in Ukraine, the more China will back him, DW, 24 March 2022: G-7 leaders warn Russia against using chemical weapons in Ukraine, CNN, 25 March 2022: What we know about North Korea’s new ICBM, The Times, 25 March 2022: Nato will act if Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine, says Joe Biden, CNN, 25 March 2022: US and EU announce task force on reducing dependence on Russian oil and gas, France24, 25 March 2022: Live: Russia signals scaled-back war aims, France summons envoy over dead body tweet, CNN, 25 March 2022: Here’s why Biden is going to Poland, Irish Times, 25 March 2022: EU moves to cut Russian energy dependence and curb cost crisis, France24, 25 March 2022: France opens inquiry into Interpol chief for alleged torture, acts of barbarism, CNN, 25 March 2022: Where have chemical weapons been used, and are they really a red line for the West?, The Times, 25 March 2022: Putin’s crimes will stain Russia for decades, France24, 25 March 2022: Russian invasion of Ukraine: Kremlin’s propaganda machine running at full throttle, Arab News, 25 March 2022: Time for NATO to rediscover its core purpose, The New Yorker, 25 March 2022: The Biden Official Who Pierced Putin’s “Sanction-Proof” Economy, Arab News, 25 March 2022: The EU awakes from its long strategic slumber, New York Magazine, 25 March 2022: A Mayor at War: Vitali Klitschko on keeping himself and Kyiv alive., The Guardian, 25 March 2022: ‘Decide who you are with’, Ukrainian leader tells Viktor Orbán (he’s of course with Putin, as he is already for years deep in his pocket), Arab News, 25 March 2022: Europe takes the first steps toward defending itself, The Guardian, 25 March 2022: US plan to provide 15bn cubic meters of natural gas to EU alarms climate groups (umm .. Putin is a war criminal and dictator, but not a “climate group”), The National, 25 March 2022: France’s Macron: no reason to accept Russia demands for gas payments in roubles, The Guardian, 25 March 2022: Putin’s bombs and missiles rain down, but he will never destroy Ukraine’s culture, Haaretz, 25 March 2022: Russia’s New Disinformation Tactic: Fighting ‘Fake News’ With Fake News, Politico.eu, 25 March 2022: Ukraine war turns Poland into America’s ‘indispensable’ ally (finally, Germany is no longer the front state like during the cold war. Great news!), The Guardian, 25 March 2022: Ukraine will not surrender one inch of land to Russia – the west must understand this, Politico.eu, 25 March 2022: EU leaders approve updated military plan, Arab News, 25 March 2022: France, Turkey, Greece working on ‘humanitarian operation’ for Mariupol evacuations: Macron, Politico.eu, 25 March 2022: Russian brigade commander killed by his own forces (“know your real enemy”), DW, 25 March 2022: NATO, G7, EU leaders display unity, avoid confrontation with Russia, The Guardian, 25 March 2022: Live: Hope for Mariupol evacuation as France negotiates plan; Moscow says first phase of invasion complete, Politico.eu, 25 March 2022: Leaders rebuff Zelenskyy’s latest pitch to join EU, DW, 25 March 2022: Biden arrives in Poland to see Ukraine refugee response, BBC, 25 March 2022: Next stop Kyiv – the battle on the capital’s outskirts, DW, 25 March 2022: Will Germany reduce its security role in Southeast Asia?, The Times, 25 March 2022: Putin sent nuclear submarines into the north Atlantic, DW, 25 March 2022: Solomon Islands defends new security pact with China, France24, 25 March 2022: Russian journalists quit over Putin ‘propaganda’, BBC, 25 March 2022: World freedoms at stake, President Biden tells US troops, DW, 25 March 2022: What do we know about North Korea’s ‘monster missile’?, Politico.eu, 25 March 2022: EU chiefs channel energy at cutting off Russian gas, Haaretz, 26 March 2022: To Start a World War, It’s Enough for Leaders to Believe It’s Inevitable, The Guardian, 26 March 2022: A security agreement between China and Solomon Islands could impact stability in the whole Pacific, DW, 26 March 2022: Ukraine: Biden calls for Putin’s removal during Warsaw speech, Al Arabiya, 26 March 2022: Putin ‘cannot remain in power,’ says Biden, Los Angeles Times, 26 March 2022: In fiery speech, Biden calls out Putin on Ukraine: ‘This man cannot remain in power’, The Hill, 26 March 2022: Biden declares Putin ‘cannot remain in power’ in fiery Warsaw remarks, CNN, 26 March 2022: Biden says Putin ‘cannot remain in power’, NPR, 26 March 2022: Biden says of Putin: ‘For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power’, Los Angeles Times, 26 March 2022: Russia spread anti-vax lies in Ukraine. Will it cause a COVID crisis for Europe?, The Guardian, 26 March 2022: Live: Russia-Ukraine war: Biden says Putin ‘cannot remain in power’; US offers further military support, Palestine Chronicle, 26 March 2022: Ukraine is not Palestine, Russia is not Israel, Politico.com, 26 March 2022: Biden, off the cuff, says Putin ‘cannot remain in power’, The Times, 26 March 2022: Farce as White House clarifies Biden assertion that Putin must be toppled, The New York Times, 26 March 2022: Biden’s Barbed Remark About Putin: A Slip or a Veiled Threat?, BBC, 26 March 2022: Vladimir Putin ‘cannot stay in power’, Biden says, The Guardian, 26 March 2022: Wanted: Russian revolution to topple tyrant. Internal applicants welcome, CNN, 26 March 2022: Zelensky’s Ukraine is real. Putin’s doesn’t exist, BBC, 26 March 2022: Ukraine war: Ros Atkins on… Putin’s false ‘Nazi’ claims, France24, 26 March 2022: Fight against Russia’s Ukraine war is a ‘new battle for freedom’, Biden says, DW, 26 March 2022: US calls for stiffer UN sanctions against North Korea, Arab News, 26 March 2022: Ukraine represents a watershed moment for global corporations, Jerusalem Post, 27 March 2022: Putin launched a regime change war, and some think he’s the victim, Times of Israel, 27 March 2022: Germany mulls purchasing Israel’s Arrow 3 anti-missile shield, Globes, 27 March 2022: German delegation in Israel to discuss Arrow procurement, Jerusalem Post, 27 March 2022: Germany eyes Arrow 3 missile defense system from Israel, BBC, 27 March 2022: Ukraine war is our war, say Brit ex-squaddies heading to Lviv, DW, 28 March 2022: Germany considering new missile defense system, Politico.eu, 28 March 2022: Germany to prosecute use of ‘Z’ symbol to support Russia’s war, The Times, 28 March 2022: The West must back Ukraine for a long war, Politico.eu, 28 March 2022: Germany debates buying Israeli missile defense system, Irish Times, 28 March 2022: Germany poised to acquire missile defence system, Politico.eu, 28 March 2022: Putin’s useful German idiots (unfortunately, this has been true for a few years now. Who, in his right mind, would ever trust East Block governments? No one, e.g. not even Russians trust Russians. How one can then come up with the idea in the West that everything is actually completely different eludes clear common sense), The Hill, 28 March 2022: The US-Europe transatlantic partnership is showing its resilience, Politico.eu, 28 March 2022: Scholz signals EU would help defend Sweden if Russia attacks, The Atlantic, 28 March 2022: The World Is Splitting in Two, Los Angeles Times, 28 March 2022: A Russian empire ‘from Dublin to Vladivostok’? The roots of Putin’s ultranationalism, The National, 28 March 2022: Europe recommends ending golden passports and visas for Russians, The Washington Post, 29 March 2022: Germany, urged to ‘stop Putin’s war machine,’ resists Russian energy embargo, Politico.eu, 28 March 2022: Excuses, excuses? Why some companies won’t stop trading in Russia, DW, 28 March 2022: Is NATO finally in Finland’s future?, Politico.eu, 28 March 2022: EU ‘ready’ to set up fast-track trade routes for Ukraine, The New York Times, 28 March 2022: Putin and the Myths of Western Decadence, Poltico.com, 29 March 2022: More U.S. troops may be needed in Europe, top general predicts, The Hill, 29 March 2022: Top commander in Europe: US not ‘currently training’ Ukrainian forces in Poland, The Atlantic, 29 March 2022: The White House Is Getting Defense Wrong, Politico.eu, 29 March 2022: Eastern EU countries in cry for help over refugee health costs, The New York Times, 29 March 2022: Germany’s New Muscular Foreign Policy ‘Lies in the Hands of Strong Women’, The Times, 29 March 2022: Defence will make good Europeans of us all, Politico.eu, 29 March 2022: Annalena Baerbock: Germany knew about Russian energy risks — and did nothing, DW, 29 March 2022: Will Germany spend big on an Israeli missile defense shield?, France24, 29 March 2022: UN helicopter crashes in DR Congo, killing eight peacekeepers aboard, BBC, 29 March 2022: Ukraine war: Dozens of Russian diplomats expelled by four EU nations, Politico.eu, 29 March 2022: Visegrad defense meeting called off over Russia split, The Times, 29 March 2022: Putin’s war is going nowhere, but neither is he, Irish Times, 29 March 2022: Four senior Russian diplomats expelled from State following ‘security advice’, Politico.eu, 29 March 2022: US Treasury: More Western sanctions to target Russian economy, supply chains, The National, 29 March 2022: Germany sees Russian fossil fuel purge as ‘de facto embargo’, Politico.eu, 30 March 2022: Poland to EU: Follow our lead on scrapping Russian energy (instead of telling the usual BS, they should actually do it at first, as Polands dependency on Russia is as high as Germanys. Never trust the PiS government. Only smokes and mirrors, but no substance at all), The Times, 30 March 2022: Russia ‘using banned landmines’ in northeastern Ukraine, Politico.com, 30 March 2022: U.S. to send Ukraine additional $500M, Biden tells Zelenskyy, France24, 30 March 2022: Several EU countries expel Russian diplomats over alleged spying, BBC, 30 March 2022: US military in Europe must ‘change’ after Russia’s Ukraine invasion, DW, 30 March 2022: China and Russia meet to discuss Ukraine, Afghanistan, Jerusalem Post, 30 March 2022: South Ossetia to hold referendum to join Russia in future, The National, 30 March 2022: US completing destruction of its chemical weapons, watchdog says, The Hill, 30 March 2022: Putin’s nuclear risk: The stability that characterized the Cold War stand-off may no longer exist, DW, 30 March 2022: War in Ukraine: Germany faces consequences of ‘new reality’, Arab News, 31 March 2022: The West must get used to a more assertive Middle East (or to make a long story shourt: The MENA region governments aren’t reliable partners, but still demand that the West should solve their problems wherever they occur. That’s a whole new finding .. not), The Atlantic, 31 March 2022: There Is No Liberal World Order, Time, 31 March 2022: ‘Putin’s Appetite Will Only Grow.’ Estonia’s Prime Minister Says We’re Not Doing Enough to Stop Russia, Investigate Europe, 31 March 2022: Arming the EU — The long road towards a united defence, Investigate Europe, 31 March 2022: The Eurodrone: An industrial project fuelled by politics, The Times, 31 March 2022: Diminished Putin has already lost, says UK defence chief, Jerusalem Post, 31 March 2022: ‘Murderous European dictator is back’ – Holocaust survivor, The National, 1 April 2022: UN nuclear experts begin mission to Chernobyl next week, DW, 1 April 2022: Sergey Lavrov visits India with US relations at a crossroads, NPR, 1 April 2022: Russia threatens to fine Wikipedia if it doesn’t remove some details about the war, Politico.eu, 1 April 2022: Eastern Europeans push for new penalties as EU sanctions fail to end Putin’s war (in the short term, this certainly makes sense from a Polish and Baltic point of view, but what will come of it in the medium and long term? After all, Russia will not disappear overnight, but will remain a neighboring country. The country is already Europe’s Iran. If they want to turn it into Europe’s North Korea, it will have negative consequences for decades. Are the Baltics and Poland willing to pay the price for this, or will it be just another welcome reason to demand even more development aid from Brussels? Germany will only be able to gradually phase out Russian energy supplies in exchange for substitute suppliers, because otherwise the economy would collapse. Poland would like to see that, but in the end they would also have to do without German development aid via Brussels, which makes up a not inconsiderable part of their national budget), The New York Times, 1 April 2022: Why Putin Went Straight for the Nuclear Threat, DW, 1 April 2022: EU-China summit focuses on war in Ukraine amid tense relations, Politico.eu, 1 April 2022: ‘We will help you rebuild your cities,’ European Parliament president tells Ukrainians, DW, 1 April 2022: Ukraine: EU parliament president visits Kyiv, Jerusalem Post, 2 April 2022: Iran and China seek closer cooperation, The Algemeiner, 2 April 2022: Germany Looks to Buy Israeli or US Missile Defense System, The Guardian, 2 April 2022: Friendly fire blunders, confusion, low morale: why Russia’s army has stalled, CNN, 2 April 2022: Ukrainian presidential adviser warns days ahead “will not be easy”, The Guardian, 2 April 2022: Live: Russia-Ukraine war: Ukrainian troops retake entire Kyiv region as evidence emerges of execution of civilians, Politico.eu, 2 April 2022: US will reportedly help Ukraine by sending Soviet-made tanks (great. Friendly fire at its best), The New York Times, 2 April 2022: Putin Is Losing in Ukraine. But He’s Winning in Russia., Irish Times, 2 April 2022: The uncertain future and complex history of Ireland’s military neutrality, DW, 2 April 2022: Experts warn Black Sea mines pose serious maritime threat, Jerusalem Post, 2 April 2022: China carried out massive cyberattack operation on Ukraine, The New York Times, 3 April 2022: Ukraine Is the First Real World War, Jerusalem Post, 3 April 2022: Poland ‘open’ to nukes stationed in country amid Russia-Ukraine war, Politico.eu, 3 April 2022: EU warns of tougher sanctions after reports of civilian executions in Russia-held Ukrainian towns, Arab News, 3 April 2022: Ukraine crisis contributes to strategic shift in Middle East, Politico.com, 3 April 2022: Ukraine drain: U.S. aims to hold West together as war slogs on, The Sunday Times, 3 April 2022: Taiwan’s survival ‘crucial for the existence of global democracy’, Politico.eu, 3 April 2022: EU warns of tougher sanctions after reports of civilian executions in Russia-held Ukrainian towns (instead of insisting on the complete exit from Russian natural gas, which is currently not possible at all, it would make sense to first reduce imports of Russian oil and coal to zero in order to then gradually follow suit on the subject of natural gas. As long as there are not enough replacement supplies, there is no point in thinking about “quick exits”.), The New York Times, 3 April 2022: Putin Had No Clue How Many of Us Would Be Watching, The Guardian, 3 April 2022: Will western leaders cut and run as the costs of the Ukraine war mount?, Politico.eu, 4 April 2022: Zelenskyy calls out Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy for blocking Ukraine’s NATO bid (even if it may seem cynical, Ukraine’s NATO accession would still be out of the question based on objective criteria, even more than 10 years after the Bucharest decisions. With all due respect for Ukraine’s desire for admission, this was and is not the fault of Merkel or Sarkozy, but the responsibility of the Ukrainian governments – NATO, 3 April 2008:Bucharest Summit Declaration , The Guardian, 2 December 2008: Nato allies divided over Ukraine and Georgia), DW, 4 April 2022: Do civilian killings in Ukraine constitute war crimes?, Arab News, 4 April 2022: US must make up its mind on who its real partners are, Der Spiegel, 4 April 2022: War Crimes in Ukraine: Peace in Europe Must Now Be Defended Against Putin’s Russia, The Guardian, 4 April 2022: Orbán’s victory in Hungary adds to the darkness engulfing Europe, France24, 4 April 2022: France to expel 35 Russian diplomats after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, The Guardian, 4 April 2022: Viktor Orbán adds Zelenskiy to his list of ‘overpowered’ opponents, CNN, 4 April 2022: Pro-Putin leaders win two elections in Europe, reminding the Kremlin it has friends in high places, Politico.eu, 4 April 2022: Orbán win sets stage for more EU battles on democracy and Russia (the EU has every opportunity to effectively contain Orban, above all to block all budget funds. Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine shows where it leads when you approach Eastern Bloc tyrants with appeasement. Does it have to come to that with Orban?), The Guardian, 4 April 2022: Victory of Putin ally Orbán in Hungary may trigger freeze on EU funding, Politico.eu, 4 April 2022: Hungarian election wasn’t a fair fight, observers say, The Times, 4 April 2022: Putin ‘wanted conquest — now it’s annihilation’, Politico.eu, 4 April 2022: Germany, France to expel Russian envoys after reports of atrocities in Ukraine, NPR, 4 April 2022: Australia steps up missile upgrade due to growing threats from China and Russia, DW, 4 April 2022: Orban needs to change course in Hungary, The Atlantic, 4 April 2022: The West’s World War II Moment, Jerusalem Post, 4 April 2022: Russia to resume flights with Israel and 51 other ‘friendly’ countries, The National, 5 April 2022: Germany and France expel Russian diplomats with suspected spy-agency links, The Washington Post, 5 April 2022: Zelensky to address U.N. Security Council; E.U. eyes ban on Russian coal, The National, 5 April 2022: UK, US and Australia to develop hypersonic weapons in challenge to Russia, Politico.eu, 5 April 2022: Von der Leyen, Borrell to meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Jerusalem Post, 5 April 2022: Zelensky: Ukraine will be like Israel, not demilitarized like Switzerland after war, The Hill, 5 April 2022: Zelensky to call for more help from West in address to UN Security Council, Jerusalem Post, 5 April 2022: Germany gets approval for Israel’s Arrow 3 missile defense system, The National, 5 April 2022: US weighs building permanent bases in Eastern Europe, France24, 5 April 2022: EU allies expel almost 200 Russian diplomats amid outrage over Bucha killings, Al Arabiya, 5 April 2022: US to ban ‘all new investment’ in Russia on Wednesday: Source, France24, 5 April 2022: Baltic states end Russian gas imports – but can the rest of Europe follow suit?, The New York Times, 5 April 2022: Why Germany Can’t Just Pull the Plug on Russian Energy, France24, 5 April 2022: US, UK, Australia to cooperate on hypersonic weapons, DW, 5 April 2022: ICC holds first-ever trial on Darfur war crimes, Politico.eu, 5 April 2022: NATO ministers to plot more Ukraine support as Russia regroups, The Guardian, 5 April 2022: Victim’s iPhone hacked by Pegasus spyware weeks after Apple sued NSO, DW, 5 April 2022: Germany closes Russian darknet market Hydra, Politico.eu, 5 April 2022: US, UK, Australia team up on hypersonic weapons with eye on Russia and China, BBC, 5 April 2022: Hypersonic missiles: UK, US, and Australia to boost defence co-operation, DW, 5 April 2022: Germany and partners pledge €695 million to Moldova to assist with Ukraine refugees, Politico.eu, 5 April 2022: Poland vetoes EU tax reform again, dismisses ulterior motives (another country for the list of “tax havens”), The Guardian, 5 April 2022: Russian mercenaries and Mali army accused of killing 300 civilians , DW, 5 April 2022: EU to propose ban on Russian coal, Politico.eu, 5 April 2022: Black Sea balancing act: Turkey’s Erdogan treads a fine line on Russia, The Times, 5 April 2022: Hypersonic missiles: deadly weapons that fly at five times the speed of sound, Politico.eu, 5 April 2022: EU avoids imposing sanctions on Russian oil, despite war crimes in Ukraine, The Hill, 6 April 2022: What comes after Putin?, DW, 5 April 2022: Why Southeast Asia continues to buy Russian weapons, Al Arabiya, 6 April 2022: New US sanctions target Russia’s largest bank, Putin’s kids, Times of Israel, 6 April 2022: Turning to Israel, Germany to get weaponized drones for the first time, The National, 6 April 2022: Russia’s isolation deepens as UN suspension vote looms, Al Arabiya, 6 April 2022: Russia’s war could last for years as Putin still wants ‘whole of Ukraine’: NATO chief, Arab News, 6 April 2022: West will pay a price despite avoiding the worst of Ukraine crisis, The Algemeiner, 6 April 2022: Germany Acquires 140 Israeli-Made Armed Drones, The New York Times, 6 April 2022: NATO Nations See Differing Paths as Ukraine War Enters Uncertain Stage, DW, 6 April 2022: In the shadow of the atomic bomb: Life during the Cold War, The Washington Post, 6 April 2022: By denying a Ukrainian culture, Putin flattens his own, The Times, 6 April 2022: Putin’s big lie makes most Russians complicit, Politico.eu, 6 April 2022: Bucha killings not ‘far short of genocide,’ Boris Johnson says, The Times, 6 April 2022: Wagner Group massacred 300 civilians in Mali, witnesses claim, The Washington Post, 6 April 2022: Is coup against Putin possible? Russia’s history offers clues., The Times, 6 April 2022: Ukraine can ‘break’ Russians if West supplies enough weapons, Politico.eu, 6 April 2022: NATO must prepare for ‘long haul’ in Ukraine, Stoltenberg says, DW, 6 April 2022: Russia must not win the war, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tells Bundestag (the SPD is still stuck in the loop of glasnost, perestroika and “Gas-Gerd” Schröder and cannot free itself from it, so it remains trapped between forget-me-nots and garden gnomes in its bowling club and allotment club idyll. For decades, German politics can no longer be thought of as a solitaire and it is becoming less and less so from year to year, which is why the SPD is less and less eligible for government responsibility. Their regular voters are obviously seeing this more and more clearly. German politics must always be thought of in connection with European politics and acted accordingly, which is currently particularly evident in the case of “security and defense policy”. In order for this to succeed, there must be constant, largely ideology-free planning and action for 10, 20 or 20 years in advance, so that every government that comes into office can work with it. So “long lines” have to be planned and prepared, regardless of legislative periods or party-political small small. The SPD does not succeed (anymore). Neither did other parties, however, which is shown not least by the complete lack of a plan in dealing with Corona, digitization, Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine or civil defense. The country is being driven to attrition without doing even a modicum of future planning and resource allocation – that goes well beyond the meaning of the word “irresponsible.” What is tragic in itself and for the SPD has consequences for the whole country and causes serious international damage. The members of the Bundestag must decide when the times for a vote of no confidence and new elections are given. In any case, it won’t go well like this for much longer. With its indifferent approach to containing and, in particular, preventing and blocking measures against Putin’s war of aggression and annihilation against Ukraine, the SPD even promotes Putin’s will to escalate. At the same time, of course, it sends out a devastating signal in terms of self-defense ability and willingness to defend), The Hill, 6 April 2022: Demand for cyber threat intel growing, White House official says, The Times, 6 April 2022: Nato needs more eastern bases, says US general, Politico.eu, 6 April 2022: Russian war crimes in Ukraine: So much for ‘never again’, DW, 6 April 2022: German term ‘Putinversteher’ goes international (the SPD is increasingly becoming a security risk for Germany and the EU. At least Orban is blunt and straightforward, while the SPD is characterized by full-bodied announcements by Chancellor Scholz and subsequent blocking of their own announcements. It is true that the SPD continues to sag and that Annalena Baerbock from the Greens in particular is gaining support because, unlike many SPD cadres, she is obviously interested in the security of Ukraine, the EU and NATO, but is repeatedly thwarted. It is neither understandable nor communicable why apparently parts of the SPD are still on the side of the serial war criminal Putin. Donald Trump and his admiration and love for Putin was already a catastrophe for the western alliance, but it was relatively easy to slow it down due to his clumsiness. In contrast, the excessive mendacity of the SPD in dealing with the Ukraine and Russia simply leaves speechless), The Times, 6 April 2022: EU to snatch Kremlin’s oil and gas profits to rebuild Ukraine, Irish Times, 6 April 2022: ‘They need money’: Irish politicians call for support for Moldova’s refugee crisis, DW, 6 April 2022: Taiwan: US approves potential sale of air defense system worth €87 million, The Guardian, 6 April 2022: Russian teacher ‘shocked’ as she faces jail over anti-war speech pupils taped, DW, 6 April 2022: How can the EU survive without Russian coal?, France24, 6 April 2022: ‘Putin will be gone soon’: Exiled Russian dissident Ilya Ponomarev, DW, 7 April 2022: Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to peace talks two years after Nagorno-Karabakh fighting, The National, 7 April 2022: Nato offers hope of more military aid after Ukraine plea for ‘weapons, weapons, weapons’, DW, 7 April 2022: NATO chief pledges more assistance for Ukraine and neighbors, France24, 7 April 2022: UN demands access to site of alleged Mali massacre by local, Russian forces, The New York Times, 7 April 2022: How Germany Became Putin’s Enabler, Politico.eu, 7 April 2022: Scholz holds up German tank deliveries to Ukraine, The Atlantic, 7 April 2022: Obama: I Underestimated the Threat of Disinformation, DW, 7 April 2022: If Europe is done with Russian energy, where will Moscow sell its oil and gas?, Reuters, 7 April 2022: EU’s full ban on Russian coal to be pushed back to mid-August – sources, Politico.eu, 7 April 2022: The power of a story: Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Ronald Reagan remake, The New Yorker, 7 April 2022: The “Shadow” of International Law, The Times, 8 April 2022: Ukraine needs weapons now in battle for Donbas, Nato told, DW, 8 April 2022: Germany checks one NATO box, leaves another open, Jerusalem Post, 8 April 2022: Microsoft disrupts Russian cyberattack on US, Ukraine, EU targets, The Washington Post, 8 April 2022: After 77 years in timeout, Germany is crucial to the fascist resistance, CNN, 8 April 2022: Europe turns its back on Russian coal. Is oil next?, The National, 8 April 2022: Boris Johnson says former Warsaw Pact countries key to meeting Ukraine weapons needs, The New York Times, 8 April 2022: U.K. Takes a Hawkish Lead on Russia, but Will Europe Follow?, Politico.eu, 8 April 2022: In Sweden and Finland, even the skeptics are coming round to NATO bids, Palestine Chronicle, 8 April 2022: From Korea to Libya: On the Future of Ukraine and NATO’s Neverending Wars, The Atlantic, 8 April 2022: Why Europe Needs Ukraine, The Times, 8 April 2022: We need US nuclear arms to deter Kim, South Korea pleads, The Guardian, 8 April 2022: Putin still has friends in the west – and they’re gaining ground, DW, 8 April 2022: Stars join ‘Stand Up for Ukraine’ campaign, The New York Times, 9 April 2022: NATO has shifted to providing Ukraine with longer-range weapons to counter an expected Russian offensive., Arab News, 9 April 2022: North Africa’s strategic importance to the West, Irish Times, 9 April 2022: The Avoidable War by Kevin Rudd: Are the US and China on a collision course?, Politico.eu, 9 April 2022: EU’s diplomatic delegation to Ukraine moves back to Kyiv, The Times, 9 April 2022: Mariupol: Documenting a medieval siege in the 21st century, DW, 9 April 2022: Germany: Bundeswehr arms deliveries to Ukraine ‘reached a limit’, Los Angeles Times, 9 April 2022: Will Hungary’s Orban be the wedge Putin drives between Western allies?, CNN, 9 April 2022: Finland and Sweden could soon join NATO, prompted by Russian war in Ukraine (great news and about time), The New York Times, 10 April 2022: How Do We Deal With a Superpower Led by a War Criminal?, Times of Israel, 10 April 2022: Orban’s victory strengthens his ability to defy the EU, including on Israel, The New York Times, 10 April 2022: Israel’s Ukraine policy has raised questions about Russian-Israeli oligarchs., Politico.eu, 10 April 2022: Russian oil and gas embargo could stop war within weeks, says former Putin adviser, The National, 10 April 2022: Russia-Ukraine live: Russians stole lethal substances from Chernobyl, claims Ukraine, The New York Times, 10 April 2022: Ukraine Live Updates: Civilians Rush to Flee as Russian Troops Mass in the East, Politico.eu, 10 April 2022: Stoltenberg: NATO planning large, permanent military presence on eastern border, The Hill, 10 April 2022: Hungary’s descent into autocracy is an alarm for global democracy, NPR, 10 April 2022: From Nuremberg to Darfur, history has seen some war criminals brought to trial, The Hill, 10 April 2022: Zelensky on NATO: ‘no longer interested in their diplomacy’, DW, 10 April 2022: Ukraine: Pro-Russia demonstrations spark outrage in Germany (where and if possible, directly withdraw residence permits, expel them and prohibit re-entry. Where this is not possible, impose maximum fines and/or imprisonment for glorifying Putin’s war crimes. We have enough domestic enemies of democracy and the constitution in Germany, so that Putin’s idiots shouldn’t be given any space or even encourage them), Irish Times, 10 April 2022: War crimes in Ukraine: Justice unlikely unless Russia is defeated, DW, 10 April 2022: Russian ex-foreign minister: Genuine diplomacy is not working in Ukraine, The National, 11 April 2022: Russia-Ukraine live: Poland vulnerable to Russian attack as it supplies arms to Ukraine, Jerusalem Post, 11 April 2022: Russia-Ukraine war: ‘Germany made an obligation to support Ukraine with weapons’ – Habeck, The National, 11 April 2022: France expels six suspected Russian spies, Arab News, 11 April 2022: EU outlier Orban faces isolation due to support for Putin, The New York Times, 11 April 2022: Putin’s War in Ukraine Is a Watershed. Time for America to Get Real., The Atlantic, 11 April 2022: The Other Threat to Democracy in Europe, DW, 11 April 2022: Mali: EU to reduce security training operations, Politico.eu, 11 April 2022: Slovakia in talks over possible transfer of MiG jets to Ukraine, BBC, 11 April 2022: Ukraine War: Russia warns Sweden and Finland against Nato membership (just another emergency reminder for Finland und Sweden to join NATO as soon as possible), The Guardian, 11 April 2022: Nato’s ‘achilles heel’: alliance conducts war games in nervous Lithuania, France24, 11 April 2022: EU halting military training in Mali but staying in Sahel, Irish Times, 11 April 2022: Ukraine war spurs enlargement discussions for both Nato and the EU, Politico.eu, 11 April 2022: NATO doesn’t need to refight the Cold War, The Guardian, 11 April 2022: Heed the events in France – populism is gaining ground and only a revolution can stop it, Irish Times, 11 April 2022: Pandora Papers: New release reveals more than 800 Russians behind secret companies, The Times, 12 April 2022: Germany’s coalition split over sending weapons to Ukraine, The Hill, 12 April 2022: Zelensky: ‘New mass graves are found’ almost daily in Ukraine, The New York Times, 12 April 2022: Ukraine War Pushes Germans to Change. They Are Wavering., The Hill, 12 April 2022: Biden says Putin committing ‘genocide’, Politico.eu, 12 April 2022: Ukraine rejects visit by German President Steinmeier (that was anything but intelligent. Federal President Steinmeier is the first man in the state and the most important diplomat in the country. If you insult him, you insult Germany as a whole. The Scholz administration apparently intends to support Ukraine with only minimal measures, instead of what is necessary to do, while keeping Germany secure at the same time. The affront to Steinmeier will now ensure that the Scholz administration’s support for Ukraine will slow down rather than accelerate. That’s what you do in Germany by chasing decisions through the bureaucracy jungle until they are completely bogged down, because at some point no one knows who is actually supposed to do what or who is responsible and what it was originally about. Ukraine provided the appropriate justification for this today. The only winner in this situation is Putin and if the Russian war criminal should win against Ukraine, Germany’s political (in)actions will fall on the country’s toes very badly. The international reputation is already badly damaged, domestically anyway, and it will take years to put things right again. A “political turning point” cannot be achieved through a dynamic Bundestag speech, but only through dynamic and timely implementation. The governing coalition is still light years away from this, although the only party that shows any stature here is the Greens, of all people. The implementation of the “turning point” is not only vital for Ukraine, but also for the governing coalition itself. Mistakes have been made in assessing Putin’s Russia. It can happen. Where wood is chopped, splinters will fall. To ponder this and any consequences for those involved can be done later. Instead of sulking, it is now much more important to do the right thing immediately and that means maximum immediate material aid, better yesterday than tomorrow, for Ukraine), The National, 12 April 2022: Ukraine snubs German president over Russia ties, The Guardian, 12 April 2022: Frank-Walter Steinmeier: Ukraine snubs German president over past ‘close ties to Russia’, DW, 12 April 2022: German President Steinmeier’s visit to Kyiv ‘not wanted’, France24, 12 April 2022: ‘Not wanted in Kyiv’: Pressure mounts on Germany after Ukraine snub, Al Arabiya, 12 April 2022: Pentagon asks top 8 US weapons makers to meet on Ukraine: Sources, Irish Times, 12 April 2022: Fintan O’Toole: Threat to democracy alive and well in West, CNN, 12 April 2022: Putin’s bullying backfires as Finland and Sweden edge closer to joining NATO (Russia has never had a say in the admission of new NATO members and it will remain so. It does, however, have a humorous component, because without the constant threats to Finland and Sweden from Russia, the countries would not even aspire to NATO membership. So Putin shot himself in both feet again. In addition, Putin had Iskander missiles stationed in Kaliningrad years ago), Arab News, 13 April 2022: Scholz ‘irritated’ by Kyiv’s snub to German president (with that, Ukraine shot itself in the foot. As might be expected, it will slow down the aid process instead of speeding it up, as apparently mistakenly assumed in Kyiv), DW, 13 April 2022: Ukraine’s snub to the German president is wrong, Politico.eu, 13 April 2022: Zelenskyy’s Steinmeier snub triggers backlash in Germany, The National, 13 April 2022: Poland fears Russia will test Nato resolve with ‘accidental’ missile strike, Al Arabiya, 13 April 2022: Russia’s war on Ukraine is ‘terrorism,’ Moscow ‘worse than Nazis’: Baltic leaders, The Washington Post, 13 April 2022: Finland and Sweden belong in NATO, Politico.eu, 13 April 2022: How Germany Inc. played Russian roulette — and lost, The Times, 13 April 2022: Finland and Sweden eager for Nato membership, DW, 13 April 2022: Finland, Sweden expect rapid domestic debate on NATO membership, BBC, 13 April 2022: Ukraine War: Finland to decide on Nato membership in weeks says PM Marin, DW, 13 April 2022: Concerns over China-Solomon Islands security deal, The New York Times, 13 April 2022: Le Pen Backs NATO-Russia Reconciliation and Reduced French Role in Alliance, The New York Times, 13 April 2022: Free Advice for Putin: ‘Make Peace, You Fool’, Irish Times, 14 April 2022: Moscow accuses Ukraine of striking villages on Russian territory (if so, that would be great news. The closer Ukraine can bring Putin’s war of aggression and annihilation against Ukraine to Russia, the less effective Putin’s propaganda lies will be), DW, 14 April 2022: Will Finland and Sweden join NATO?, The National, 14 April 2022: Russia-Ukraine live: Russia says missile cruiser sinks after claimed Ukrainian missile hit (Awesome! You just have to love the Ukrainian defenders), Arab News, 14 April 2022: Russia warns of nuclear deployment if Sweden and Finland join NATO, The Guardian, 14 April 2022: German chancellor ‘stalling on heavy weaponry to Ukraine’, CNN, 14 April 2022: Medvedev warns Russia would bolster military over potential Swedish and Finnish NATO membership, The Times, 14 April 2022: Nuclear-free Baltic deal is off if Finland joins Nato, says Russia, The National, 15 April 2022: Ukraine war leads to Poland doubling size of army, Arab News, 15 April 2022: Why NATO should welcome Sweden and Finland, Al Arabiya, 15 April 2022: China conducts military drills around Taiwan in response to US, CNN, 15 April 2022: China is sending its most advanced fighter jet to patrol disputed seas, Politico.eu, 15 April 2022: Ukrainians protest Pope’s Good Friday reconciliation gesture (a clear distinction must be made here. While Ukraine has decided for itself that ALL Russians are its enemies, Ukrainians and Russians have been living and working together in good and friendly ways for decades in the West. It makes absolutely no sense to try to drive a wedge between the two migration groups. On the contrary: For the host countries it is even important in the sense of social and societal peace that this does not happen. In this respect, one can take note of Ukraine’s objections here, but nothing more. There are certainly those Russians or those of Russian descent living in the West, who have fallen completely for the propaganda lies of the Putin regime. As a rule, these people have integrated little or not at all in their host countries and are otherwise of little or no use as well. In Germany, less than 10% of Russian speakers have this problem. So there is no reason to impute this to all Russians), DW, 16 April 2022: Why climate action holds the key to German security, The Economist, 16 April 2022: Finland is hurtling towards NATO membership, Reuters, 16 April 2022: Text at pope’s Good Friday service scrapped after Ukrainian protest, DW, 16 April 2022: Germany holds Easter peace marches in shadow of Ukraine war (a bunch of out-of-time weirdos. The mere cheekiness of recommending that the Ukrainians lay down their arms so that the war would supposedly end faster, but in fact of course to be slaughtered by the mercenaries of the Russian serial war criminal Putin, completely discredits the bunch), Irish Times, 16 April 2022: Pat Leahy: Election of Le Pen would destroy EU, DW, 16 April 2022: Ukraine: UN Security Council lacks teeth, The Economist, 16 April 2022: What is at stake in Ukraine, The Hill, 16 April 2022: Russia pushes Finland, Sweden into NATO’s arms, DW, 16 April 2022: Who’s next? Lithuanians prepare for potential Russian aggression, Irish Times, 16 April 2022: David McWilliams: Germany has sealed Ukraine’s fate. Putin’s gamble has paid off, DW, 16 April 2022: Ukrainians queue up for Russian warship stamp, The Times, 17 April 2022: New Kim missile ‘poses nuclear threat to Seoul’, DW, 17 April 2022: Ukraine war: Will the wheat crisis bring more food independence?, The Times, 18 April 2022: German state leader Manuela Schwesig ‘colluded with Russians on gas pipeline’, Manager Magazin, 18 April 2022: Why so much of the world won’t stand up to Russia, Haaretz, 18 April 2022: ‘Great Alarm’: First Detected Use of Mysterious Israeli Spyware on EU National, Times of Israel, 18 April 2022: UAE used Israeli-made spyware to hack UK PM Johnson’s official residence — report, Haaretz, 18 April 2022: U.K.’s PM Johnson’s Office Among Dozens of EU Targets of NSO Spyware, Report Says, The Guardian, 18 April 2022: No 10 suspected of being target of NSO spyware attack, Boris Johnson ‘told’, CNN, 18 April 2022: Remote island ramps up defenses as tensions rise between Japan and China, Al Arabiya, 18 April: Putin honors troops posted in Bucha for ‘heroism, courage’ as Kyiv decries atrocities (the Russian serial war criminal Putin honors the serial war criminals he deployed in Ukraine for serial war crimes committed there with an award for serial war criminals), The Hill, 18 April: Putin honors brigade accused of Bucha war crimes, Forbes, 18 April: Putin Honors Army Unit Accused Of Bucha Killings, Politico.eu, 18 April 2022: Pegasus spyware targets top Catalan politicians and activists, The National, 19 April 2022: What is the Stormer missile system the UK is planning to send to Ukraine?, The New York Times, 19 April 2022: China and Russia Are Giving Authoritarianism a Bad Name, The Hill, 19 April 2022: Hillicon Valley — NATO cyber summit kicks off, France24, 19 April 2022: Ukrainian defenders in Mariupol defy surrender-or-die demand, Politico.eu, 19 April 2022: The plan to rebuild a green Ukraine, DW, 19 April 2022: Why are tensions rising on the Korean Peninsula?, The National, 19 April 2022: Wagner Group wipeout sees 3,000 mercenaries killed in Ukraine, The New York Times, 19 April 2022: The U.S. Races to Arm Ukraine With Heavier, More Advanced Weaponry, The Atlantic, 19 April 2022: How Diverse Democracies Can Protect Their Citizens, NPR, 19 April 2022: Who is the real Elvira Nabiullina?, Der Spiegel, 19 April 2022: The Scholz Problem: Discontent Grows in Berlin over Chancellor’s Ukraine Response (the “German solo effort” has been going on for quite a while. While other NATO partners are providing what they can, the Scholz government is refusing help where it can and could. Germany is once again on the wrong side of history. The consequences are thousands of dead Ukrainians and a triumphant serial war criminal Putin. This will not be forgotten either nationally or internationally: While the Scholz government is “thinking about making heavy equipment available to Ukraine,” other NATO partners are making the heavy weapons provided to them by Germany available to Ukraine as a matter of course. It doesn’t get any more absurd than that. On the other hand, this of course answers questions: by refraining from action, those who have relied on military support from an SPD-led Germany in times of dire need are made aware that they are abandoned as soon as the SPD darling Putin is at stake . The SPD had eight weeks to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine. Not one was actually delivered in that period. The analysis is as simple as it is devastating: the SPD would rather sacrifice Ukraine, Ukrainians, Eastern Europe, democracy and freedom than defend Ukraine and Europe against the war criminal Putin), The Guardian, 19 April 2022: Catalan president calls for investigation as spyware targets pro-independence leaders, The National, 20 April 2022: Russian oligarch under western sanctions denounces Kremlin’s ‘massacre’, The Hill, 20 April 2022: Alternative battery technologies lessen US dependence on critical minerals, Al Arabiya, 20 April 2022: ‘Present to NATO’: What do we know about Russia’s new nuclear-capable missile?, The Guardian, 20 April 2022: Solomon Islands-China pact is worst policy failure in Pacific since 1945, Labor says, The Times, 20 April 2022: Russia upgrades northern fleet as Finland debates joining Nato (to put even more military pressure on Finland, just to make sure that the country will finally ask for NATO admission is a great act of support. Thanks for that one, Vladimir), The National, 20 April 2022: US reported to be preparing another $800m military aid package to Ukraine, France24, 20 April 2022: War in Ukraine threatens geopolitical balance in the Arctic, The Times, 20 April 2022: Germany refuses request to send weapons to Ukraine, Jerusalem Post, 20 April 2022: Germany needs to do more for Ukraine to implement ‘never again’ (unfortunately, that’s the way it is, and as a German, one can only be ashamed of the federal government’s “too late and too little”. Some members of the government are apparently in shock because of Putin’s war of annihilation against Ukraine, so that they are unable to act. Apparently, this also affects Chancellor Scholz himself. It also seems to be overlooked that the expansion of the invasion after 2014 threatens freedom and democracy (beginnings) in Eastern Europe as a whole. Ultimately, Putin’s clearly defined goal is to re-establish the Soviet Union), France24, 20 April 2022: EU foreign policy chief Borrell says bloc ‘will continue’ providing military support to Ukraine, The Hill, 20 April 2022: Federal agencies, international partners issue warning on Russian cyber threats, BBC, 20 April 2022: Germany rules out immediate end to Russian oil imports, DW, 20 April 2022: Will the West ever deal with Putin again?, Politico.eu, 20 April 2022: Catalonia calls for EU ‘protection’ from Pegasus cyber snooping, France24, 20 April 2022: Taciturn Scholz under fire for hesitant Ukraine stance, DW, 20 April 2022: German Foreign Minister Baerbock begins Baltic tour with promise of stronger support, The Times, 21 April 2022: Putin warns West with long-range Satan 2 missile, Foreign Policy, 21 April 2022: Germany’s Security Revolution Is Already Stalling, The Times, 21 April 2022: US aircraft carriers at risk from Chinese hypersonic missile, CNN, 21 April 2022: Putin rattles his ‘Satan II’ nuclear saber to hide Russian failures in Ukraine war: analysts, The Atlantic, 21 April 2022: How ‘Big Disinformation’ Can Overcome It’s Skeptics, DW, 21 April 2022: Why is the Donbas so important for Russia?, The Times, 21 April 2022: Australia fears China will build up military presence in Solomon Islands, Foreign Policy, 21 April 2022: Hungary Is an Outlier in Eastern Europe’s Liberal Future, DW, 21 April 2022: Germany plans workaround for arms deliveries to Ukraine, The Atlantic, 21 April 2022: Let Ukraine In, Arab News, 21 April 2022: Putin claims Mariupol win but won’t storm Ukrainian holdout, The New Yorker, 21 April 2022: The Long Holy War Behind Putin’s Political War in Ukraine, DW, 21 April 2022: Solomon Islands: Will the security pact with China hurt regional security?, Al Arabiya, 21 April 2022: Pentagon developed custom-made ‘Ghost drone’ for Ukraine to use against Russia, The New York Times, 21 April 2022: The U.S. will outfit five artillery battalions for Ukraine and provide new drones that explode on impact., Arab News, 22 April 2022: The far right takes Europe down a perilous path, DW, 22 April 2022: Why isn’t Germany supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons?, The Times, 22 April 2022: Britain plans to send tanks to Poland in deal to help Ukraine, The Washington Post, 22 April 2022: Trump says he threatened not to defend NATO against Russia, DW, 22 April 2022: Why isn’t ?Germany supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons?, The Guardian, 22 April 2022: Ukraine war puts new focus on Finland’s network of bunkers, DW, 22 April 2022: Germany’s Baerbock calls for stronger NATO strategy in Baltics, The Times, 22 April 2022: Putin’s ability to shock is his best weapon, Politico.eu, 22 April 2022: Olaf Scholz cites risk of nuclear war in refusal to send tanks to Ukraine (in real life, Scholz and the SPD’s Putin fan club apparently don’t want to spoil things entirely with the tsar. Finally, the Kremlin hands out lucrative consultancy contracts), DW, 22 April 2022: Niger backs deployment of more European special forces, Politico.eu, 22 April 2022: Trolling Russia, Ukraine registers Moskva shipwreck as ‘underwater cultural heritage’ (*hahahaha*), DW, 22 April 2022: Germany’s Social Democrats, Russia, and the failures of the past, France24, 22 April 2022: France says mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group staged ‘French atrocity’ in Mali, Politico.eu, 22 April 2022: Macron: Keep talking to Putin to avoid ‘new world war’, DW, 22 April 2022: UK and India ink Indo-Pacific defense agreement, The Economist, 23 April 2022: Poland’s prime minister says the West’s appeasement of Vladimir Putin must stop, The National, 23 April 2022: What is the Phoenix Ghost killer drone the US is giving Ukraine?, The New York Times, 23 April 2022: The Former Chancellor Who Became Putin’s Man in Germany, Jerusalem Post, 23 April 2022: Russia using weapons supplied by France, Germany against Ukraine, Arab News, 23 April 2022: A difficult decade ahead for the UN, The New York Times, 23 April 2022: Rattled by Ukraine War, Moldova Strives to Dodge Russia’s Long Shadow, The Hill, 23 April 2022: Biden vows to take in Ukrainians — but not as official refugees, The Guardian, 23 April 2022: Putin has ignited a new anti-colonial struggle. This time, Moscow is the target, The New Yorker, 23 April 2022: A New Nuclear Reality, The Guardian, 23 April 2022: Back in the USSR: Lenin statues and Soviet flags reappear in Russian-controlled cities, The Hill, 23 April 2022: US races clock to ship weapons to Ukraine, DW, 23 April 2022: ‘Not our fight’: Why the Middle East doesn’t fully support Ukraine (Europeans support Europeans against the war criminal Putin. There is something the Middle East can learn for itself, namely to live together in (relative) peace instead of killing each other in the various crises and wars in the region for decades, sometimes for centuries), The Guardian, 23 April 2022: In Mariupol, Putin now rules a wasteland pitted with mass graves, Arab News, 24 April 2022: Questions remain over Ukraine’s EU accession, The New York Times, 24 April 2022: With Us or With Them? In a New Cold War, How About Neither., Los Angeles Times, 24 April 2022: As Finland considers NATO membership, citizens mobilize for an invasion by Russia, Politico.com, 24 April 2022: U.S., Ukrainian officials weigh ‘high possibility’ of Putin invading Moldova, The Sunday Times, 24 April 2022: Retired US general calls for Nato troops in Ukraine, The National, 25 April 2022: German coalition divide over heavy weapons supplies to Ukraine deepens (actually, one would have to laugh at the naive ignorance and stupidity of “Olaf und den Ampelmännchen” (chancellor Scholz’s coalition) if the consequences weren’t so dramatic: 1. so far, one has obviously learned far too little from the completely failed appeasement policy towards Putin, and it even gives the impression that one wants to return to it in order to satisfy the love for Putin and the passionate anti-Americanism of the left wing of the SPD, 2. turning a blind eye to facts and figures out of sheer cowardice is exactly what spurs on bar thugs like serial war criminal Putin even further. They start small (Georgia and Moldova) and, after realizing that the West only wets itself anyway and at most gives Sunday speeches, then really get going. Assuming that Putin would cease warfare after he might take Ukraine is as likely as Easter and Christmas on the same day. In fact, in that case he would move on to Georgia and Moldova, target Finland and the Baltics, and finally attack at least Poland. This is also why it is of the utmost importance that he is not allowed to win in the Ukraine and that this must therefore be prevented by all means, regardless of whether German Putinversteher, who are now apparently completely disconnected from reality, “do not want to inflict humiliation on the poor, little serial war criminal Putin “, 3. Putin wants to achieve Russian imperialism with the complete destruction of Western values and ways of life. According to his ideas, all European states should be militarily subdued, democracy, freedom and the rule of law should be abolished, NATO should be abolished and, of course, the American security umbrella for Western and Central Europe should be cleared. The German government is making his efforts easier for him by shining through active passivity, instead of doing what would be right better yesterday than tomorrow, by helping Ukraine to create the best defensive possible, while at the same time draining Putin’s coffers and putting up an effective European security architecture (if the Visegrad states still don’t want to participate, they can stay out and take care of their own security – which of course won’t succeed, although Hungary’s Orban apparently can’t wait to finally become part of the Soviet Union again) as quickly as possible. This is grossly negligent and thus violates the oath of office taken to avert damage to Germany. In fact, the federal government has already caused massive damage to Germany in the few months it has been in office, 4. in Putin’s troubled world, all states south and west of Russia’s true borders are already warring parties. Berlin’s attempt to use the excuse “Moscow could see us as a war party” to avoid having to deliver has thus become obsolete. Putin has viewed Germany as a war party for weeks. There are no longer any credible excuses for Berlin to continue refusing to work. Organizing any nonsense or making untenable statements to distract from the topic no longer work as smokescreens either, 5. What has apparently also remained completely unconsidered is that President Biden in the USA could certainly be replaced in the next election by #45 and, even after the start of Putin’s war of annihilation against Ukraine, he positioned himself very clearly in favor of Putin and against NATO. The significant security risks for Germany and the EU would then come from two sides (not even considering China)), Jerusalem Post, 25 April 2022: Chinese navy launches hypersonic anti-ship missiles in public display, The New York Times, 25 April 2022: Explosions hit Transnistria, a Russian-allied region of Moldova, amid fears of a new front in the war., Jerusalem Post, 25 April 2022: Explosions heard near gov’t building in pro-Russia Transnistria (for sure a Russian false flag attack, in order to “justify” the expected Russian escalation against Moldova), Politico.eu, 25 April 2022: Commission wants EU agency to protect evidence of war crimes in Ukraine, The New York Times, 25 April 2022: Putin Is Pushing Finland and Sweden Into NATO’s Arms, Politico.eu, 25 April 2022: Putin wants to de-Nazify Ukraine — that’s ludicrous, say the country’s Jews, Irish Times, 25 April 2022: US officials pledge more military aid on visit to Kyiv, The Times, 25 April 2022: China wants us to bow, says defiant Australia, CNN, 25 April 2022: As US retreats, Saudi Arabia and Iran are trying to mend fences, BBC, 25 April 2022: Ukraine war: US wants to see a weakened Russia, CNN, 25 April 2022: Foreign investors are ditching China. Russia’s war is the latest trigger, Times of Israel, 26 April 2022: Seeking revamp, UN moves to hold Security Council veto-users accountable, Haaretz, 26 April 2022: History and Energy: Understanding Germany’s Shameful Russia Policy, Arab News, 26 April 2022: Chernobyl radiation ‘abnormal’ since Russian takeover: IAEA chief, Politico.eu, 26 April 2022: It’s time to be bolder to help Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 26 April 2022: Germany to supply Ukraine with heavy weaponry for first time, Politico.eu, 26 April 2022: Germany says Russia oil embargo would be ‘manageable’, The Times, 26 April 2022: Nervous Germany agrees to send anti-aircraft guns, The Washington Post, 26 April 2022: U.S. monitors blasts reported in Moldova breakaway region bordering Ukraine, DW, 26 April 2022: Germany will deliver anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine, Politico.eu, 26 April 2022: US rallies global allies to help Ukraine repel Russia, The Hill, 26 April 2022: Defense & National Security — Austin huddles with counterparts on Ukraine, DW, 26 April 2022: US plans regular Ramstein Air Base meetings on Ukraine, Politico.eu, 26 April 2022: Germany approves tank sales to Ukraine, bowing to pressure, CNN, 26 April 2022: Germany agrees to send heavy weapons to Ukraine after major policy U-turn, DW, 26 April 2022: Is Switzerland right to prevent the delivery of ammunition to Ukraine?, France24, 26 April 2022: Russia’s Gazprom to halt gas supplies to Poland, Bulgaria, The Guardian, 26 April 2022: Moldova: Fears grow over breakaway region being drawn into Ukraine war, DW, 26 April 2022: Germany will deliver anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine, France24, 26 April 2022: ‘Very dangerous’: Chernobyl marks anniversary amid war, DW, 26 April 2022: Is Switzerland right to prevent the delivery of ammunition to Ukraine?, CNN, 26 April 2022: Exclusive: Top US general tells CNN ‘global international security order’ is at stake following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, France24, 26 April 2022: Moldova urges calm, boosts security after Transnistria blasts, DW, 26 April 2022: US plans regular Ramstein Air Base meetings on Ukraine, The National, 27 April 2022: Liz Truss seeks a ‘global Nato’ approach to allies, Haaretz, 27 April 2022: Why Every Democracy Should Fear Israeli Spyware, The Times, 27 April 2022: Russia’s casual savagery is seared into its soul, The National, 27 April 2022: What is Transnistria and how could it be the next Ukraine war flashpoint?, DW, 27 April 2022: Europe prepared for Russia’s gas ‘blackmail,’ EU chief says — live updates, Al Arabiya, 27 April 2022: Iran, China agree to expand military cooperation: Iranian military chief, The Times, 27 April 2022: Push to send arms before Russians encircle Donbas, The Hill, 27 April 2022: Five things to know about Transnistria, a potential hot spot in Russian conflict, NPR, 27 April 2022: U.S. war aims shift in Ukraine — and bring additional risks, The Times, 27 April 2022: Japan wants to double defence budget in face of Chinese threat, Politico.eu, 27 April 2022: It’ll take more than tanks to ease Germany’s guilt, Irish Times, 27 April 2022: Russia’s attempt to strong-arm EU on gas could backfire, The Times, 27 April 2022: Solomon Islands’ ghosts of war start to haunt the West, BBC, 27 April 2022: Transnistria and Ukraine conflict: Is war spreading?, The New York Times, 27 April 2022: Fears Are Mounting That Ukraine War Will Spill Across Borders, CNN, 27 April 2022: How Transnistria, a Russian-backed region in Moldova, is getting pulled into the war in Ukraine, Politico.eu, 28 April 2022: Putin outgunned and outnumbered by NATO, UK minister says, France24, 28 April 2022: Finland and Sweden could join NATO quickly, Stoltenberg says, Politico.com, 28 April 2022: White House sends Congress $33B request for Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 28 April 2022: US considering listing Russia as state sponsor of terrorism over Ukraine war: Blinken, Politico.eu, 28 April 2022: Latvia’s foreign minister wants planes for Ukraine — and sees ‘momentum’, BBC, 28 April 2022: Ukraine conflict could last years, Nato warns, The Guardian, 28 April 2022: Moldova facing ‘dangerous moment’ amid fears it could be drawn into Ukraine war, Politico.eu, 28 April 2022: Germany signals more Ukraine support, wavers on defense spending, BBC, 28 April 2022: Biden proposes $33bn to help Ukraine in war, Politico.eu, 28 April 2022: Ukraine files first war crimes charges against Russia over Bucha killings, The Atlantic, 28 April 2022: Photos: Two Months of War in Ukraine, Irish Times, 28 April 2022: US accuses Russia of planning ‘sham referenda’ to justify war in Ukraine, NPR, 28 April 2022: Biden asks Congress for $33 billion in aid for Ukraine as war drags on, Politico.eu, 28 April 2022: In case you missed it, the war in Ukraine just got hotter, The Hill, 28 April 2022: Global food insecurity: Why Putin’s battle for Ukrainian farmland is so dangerous, The Washington Post, 28 April 2022: Kremlin slams West for backing Ukraine’s right to strike Russia (of course they do, as they know far too well that the winey Russian war criminals and losers won’t see daylight again if Ukraine would retaliate), NPR, 28 April 2022: Canada’s House backs a motion recognizing Russia’s actions in Ukraine as genocide, The Hill, 28 April 2022: Biden seeks over $30B in Ukraine assistance from Congress, The Washington Post, 28 April 2022: Biden seeks a dramatic increase in aid for Ukraine, DW, 28 April 2022: Ukraine: German lawmakers overwhelmingly approve heavy weapons deliveries, The New York Times, 28 April 2022: Live Updates: Biden Asks Congress for $33 Billion to Help Ukraine War Effort, The New Yorker, 28 April 2022: The War in Ukraine Is a Colonial War, DW, 28 April 2022: Japan edges from pacifism to more robust defense stance, The Guardian, 29 April 2022: Editorial: The Guardian view on Putin’s nuclear threats: Russia is losing in Ukraine, Arab News, 29 April 2022: UN remains relevant despite Ukraine difficulties, DW, 29 April 2022: Erdogan’s Saudi Arabia trip could be a game changer for Middle East, CNN, 29 April 2022: A new realization dawns for Washington, Europe, Kyiv and Moscow, Al Arabiya, 29 April 2022: Russia FM Lavrov reacts to sanctions: West has always been ‘Russia phobic’ (the exact opposite is the case. Russian war criminals find it very difficult to deal with the fact that their country is an economic dwarf, politically insignificant, unable to compete with the West and its very successful social model. The resulting insignificance for Russia is therefore compensated with military means in order to at least persuade itself that things would be different. Normally the West feels sorry for such underdeveloped countries and their people, so development aid is given. After the gratifying collapse of the Soviet Union, this also happened at first. However, ever since Putin developed Russia into a fascist state very similar to Nazi Germany, the West has naturally distanced itself from Russia. After Putin launched the war of aggression and annihilation against the whole of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine naturally received maximum support from the West. Putin’s party clown Lavrov is once again confusing cause and effect and at the same time trying to reverse guilt. But he won’t succeed in doing that for a single moment because of the overwhelming evidence), DW, 29 April 2022: US training Ukrainian troops in Germany, Arab News, 29 April 2022: How the African Union has failed the continent, CNN, 29 April 2022: NATO scrambles fighter jets to intercept Russian planes, Foreign Policy, 29 April 2022: Biden’s Dangerous New Ukraine Endgame: No Endgame, DW, 30 April 2022: Serbia showcases artillery bought from Russia and China, France24, 30 April 2022: North Korea’s Kim Jong Un warns of ‘preemptive’ use of nuclear force, The Times, 30 April 2022: Inside Transnistria: is this next on Putin’s hit list?, BBC, 30 April 2022: Ukraine – the narrative the West doesn’t hear, The Times, 30 April 2022: Has Russia already started World War Three?, Al Arabiya, 30 April 2022: Russian spy plane violates Swedish air space, Arab News, 30 April 2022: ‘Russia does not consider itself to be at war with NATO, but NATO does,’ Lavrov tells Al-Arabiya (Putin’s propaganda party clown is at it again *hahaha*), The Hill, 30 April 2022: Ukraine war speeds up US cyber agenda, The Atlantic, 30 April 2022: Putin Isn’t The Only Autocrat Misusing History, Jerusalem Post, 30 April 2022: China-Russia relationship increasingly worrying Americans – PEW poll, Politico.eu, 1 May 2022: Scholz hits out at critics who oppose sending arms to Ukraine, The Times, 1 May 2022: Olaf Scholz defends Germany’s Ukraine policy: I’m suspicious of hasty action, France24, 1 May 2022: EU to propose phasing out Russian oil in new sanctions wave, The Guardian, 1 May 2022: ‘I don’t feel safe here’: Transnistria fears could spark Moldova exodus, The Times, 1 May 2022: Russia ‘is already paving the way for a takeover of Moldova’, CNN, 1 May 2022: Marching under a radioactive cloud, The Times, 1 May 2022: ‘Putin fixer’s troll factory’ turns fire on social media and pop stars, Haaretz, 1 May 2022: Lavrov Compares Ukraine’s Zelenskyy to Hitler, Who Also ‘Had Jewish Blood’, Jerusalem Post, 1 April 2022: Lavrov claims Zelensky has Jewish blood ‘just like Hitler’, France24, 2 May 2022: Finnish group scraps nuclear plant deal with Russia’s Rosatom, Times of Israel, 2 May 2022: Spain: Israeli spyware used to infect phones of PM, defense minister, Politico.eu, 2 May 2022: Amid broken ties and families, Crimean views toward Russia start to shift, France24, 2 May 2022: Spanish PM’s mobile phone infected by Pegasus malware, DW, 2 May 2022: Could North Korea ‘pre-emptively’ use nuclear weapons?, Politico.eu, 2 May 2022: Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez had phone hacked with Pegasus spyware, The Hill, 2 May 2022: EU anti-fake news agency now targeting Chinese propaganda, DW, 2 May 2022: Spain says PM Sanchez’ phone hacked with Pegasus, Politico.eu, 2 May 2022: Hack of Spanish PM’s phone deepens Europe’s spyware crisis, The Guardian, 2 April 2022: What would victory actually mean now for Ukraine – and for Europe?, DW, 2 May 2022: Will the war in Ukraine spell the end of neutrality for certain states?, The Times, 2 May 2022: Spanish PM, Pedro Sánchez, victim of Pegasus hacking, DW, 2 May 2022: Is Putin’s threat of ‘lightning-fast’ response escalation or empty rhetoric?, The Times, 2 May 2022: Russian ‘nuclear tsunami’ will wipe out Britain, Kremlin-backed media threatens, The Guardian, 2 April 2022: Spain Prime minister’s phone ‘targeted with Pegasus spyware’, Jerusalem Post, 3 May 2022: Europe should establish coordinated body on Abraham Accords – MK (when a picture perfectly sums up why it isn’t going to happen, then the picture on top of this article: as long as there is a possibility that one or both self-declared enemies of the EU, Netanyahu and/or Trump, could return to office, the EU would be right out stupid to commit itself to a course that could benefit one or both of them, while the EU itself will gain very little from it, as supporting the accords is of symbolic nature only without practical use), DW, 2 May 2022: Germany ready to support EU ban on Russian oil, The Times, 2 May 2022: Ignore Putin’s threats and expand Nato now, Politico.eu, 3 May 2022: Finland and Sweden ‘can count’ on Germany for protection and NATO membership support, NPR, 3 May 2022: The complex effort to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for war crimes, Politico.eu, 3 May 2022: Hungary ‘outraged’ by Kyiv’s claim it was warned by Russia of Ukraine invasion (what is interesting, of course, is that Orban has been so deeply in Putin’s pocket for years that it is much more likely that the information from Kyiv is more accurate than that from Budapest. When looking at the vehement reaction from Budapest, Kyiv obviously has a point here. In the end it will be seen who was right), CNN, 3 May 2022: Finnish group ditches Russian-built nuclear plant plan, The Times, 3 May 2022: To beat Vladimir Putin the West must help Belarus too, Politico.eu, 3 May 2022: EU smells trouble, and Trump, in US abortion fight, DW, 3 May 2022: Russian war censorship denounced on World Press Freedom Day, CNN, 3 May 2022: Biden nominates new top US general in Europe, DW, 3 May 2022: Scholz: Finland, Sweden can count on German support if they seek NATO access, The Guardian, 3 May 2022: Spain: Over 200 mobile numbers ‘possible targets of Pegasus spyware’, Politico.eu, 3 May 2022: Draghi: EU needs ‘pragmatic federalism,’ more integration, CNN, 3 May 2022: Why May 9 is a big day for Russia, and what a declaration of war would mean, DW, 4 May 2022: North Korea fires ballistic missile amid rising concerns over tests, Foreign Policy, 4 May 2022: Belarus Is the Other Loser in Putin’s War, DW, 4 May 2022: EU’s Charles Michel vows to increase Moldova support, The National, 4 May 2022: Biden to speak with G7 about further Russia sanctions, DW, 4 May 2022: Hungary risks further isolation by refusing to support EU oil embargo, France24, 4 May 2022: North Korea fires ballistic missile in latest test, South Korea says, Politico.eu, 4 May 2022: On sanctions, von der Leyen speaks as Putin’s prosecutor and EU’s wartime leader, DW, 4 May 2022: Ukrainian troops get training in Germany, Politico.eu, 4 May 2022: Welcome to Russia’s ‘holy war’, NPR, 4 May 2022: The EU just proposed a ban on oil from Russia, its main energy supplier, Al Arabiya, 4 May 2022: Sweden says it received US security assurances if it hands in NATO application, DW, 5 May 2022: Western companies leave Russia — taking Russian jobs with them, The Guardian, 5 May 2022: ‘Nato is a state of mind’: How Putin’s war revived the alliance, DW, 5 May 2022: Moldova: ‘I’m worried about the children’, Arab News, 5 May 2022: Why Europe is engaging emerging powers in Africa and Asia-Pacific, DW, 5 May 2022: Russia’s war in Ukraine has ‘backfired,’ David Petraeus tells DW, The Atlantic, 5 May 2022: How a Few Tiny Islands Are Helping China Project Power, DW, 5 May 2022: Scandinavian allies support Finnish, Swedish NATO bids, CNN, 5 May 2022: Russians steal vast amounts of Ukrainian grain and equipment, threatening this year’s harvest (in addition to the less desired and above all very negative aspects of grain shortages and the resulting significant price increases, a very positive aspect from Putin’s point of view is of course that he will now be able to play te the “great savior” in Africa with the help of grain stolen from Ukraine, where up to now Ukrainian grain has covered up to 50% of the total requirements, by using grain as a weapon in order to tie African countries more closely to himself. Ultimately, of course, the Africans don’t care where the grain comes from, the main thing is that it is delivered and at a reasonably bearable price. The fact that the price only goes through the roof because Putin is waging his war of annihilation against Ukraine plays a rather subordinate role in view of empty stomachs), The Times, 5 May 2022: How Russian aggression has shifted the balance of power in Europe, The National, 6 May 2022: View from the Chatham House top table: wheels are coming off rules-based order, DW, 6 May 2022: Victory Day in Europe: Ukraine war puts spotlight on Russia, France24, 6 May 2022: Ukraine: Whats does it take to prosecute war crimes?, Irish Times, 6 May 2022: The Irish Times view on Europe-Russia relations: the continent’s fateful barriers, The Times, 6 May 2022: Russia won’t stop until it reaches Poland, says Tolstoy’s great-great-grandson, Politico.eu, 6 May 2022: Ukraine urges allies to step up arms deliveries (the Ukrainian government should think about how to formulate the desire for support, because if the way supporters are treated remain like now, Western publics will sooner rather than later turn against Ukraine, and that will also have a negative impact on the scope of the support measures), DW, 6 May 2022: Ukraine: EU struggles to find unity on Russian oil embargo, Irish Times, 6 May 2022: Europe and Russia, 2022: A fast-changing continent in five graphics, Politico.eu, 6 May 2022: Sweden, Finland collect NATO assurances as application decision looms, Der Spiegel, 6 May 2022: Vladimir Potemkin: Putin’s Disaster and What Could Happen Next, The Hill, 6 May 2022: Biden says US will send more aid to Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 6 May 2022: Taiwan jets scramble as China air force enters air defense zone, DW, 7 May 2022: Russia’s war in Ukraine: Germany faces a reckoning (hardly to assume that the Ukraine will soon disappear from the western agenda. The representatives of Ukraine will take care of that. The more important question is how the Russia networkers can be prevented from doing business with the regime for an as yet unclear period of time, in order to ensure that the country is placed in an economic situation that precludes further foreign policy adventures for a longer period of time. Opinions can obviously differ about the rejection of Ukraine’s membership to the NATO in 2008. In view of the situation at the time, I still think the decision was okay, but there are different points of view. Since then, the starting position has changed several times. Recently even so dramatic that a complete reassessment is required. While Ukraine’s NATO membership was refrained from in 2008 to prevent Putin from invading Ukraine, this argument has been obsolete since February 2022 at the latest (actually since the Russian invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine from 2014), so that only some formal aspects against Ukraine’s admission to NATO are left. The priority is that the party to be admitted is not at war. This is another reason why it is important that Ukraine wins the war against the aggressor Russia. Admission to the EU should be easier, but not much easier. Taking Cyprus as an example, the entire country, including the territory occupied by Turkey in the north, was admitted to the EU. The same could be done with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, in a way that does not damage or devalue the “normal admission procedure” to the EU. Of course, it is also clear that the admission processes will not be a question of months but of years), DW, 7 May 2022: Germany expects pro-Russia activities on May 9, Arab News, 8 May 2022: The West’s double standard is not an accusation; it is a reality, Al Arabiya, 9 May 2022: US has completed training hundreds of Ukrainian forces on new weapons: Pentagon, The New York Times, 9 May 2022: Biden Could Make the World Safer, but He’s Too Afraid of the Politics, The New Yorker, 9 May 2022: The Turkish Drone That Changed the Nature of Warfare, The Atlantic, 9 May 2022: ‘We’re Not Going to Make That Mistake Again’, The Hill, 9 May 2022: Leaks raise concern Ukraine will spill into US-Russia proxy war, DW, 9 May 2022: Moldova’s struggle with ‘frozen conflict’ and Russian uncertainty, BBC, 9 May 2022: Ukraine bid to join EU will take decades says Macron, DW, 9 May 2022: EU leaders tell Ukraine: ‘Future of Europe is also your future’, France24, 9 May 2022: Macron says would take ‘decades’ for Ukraine to join EU, The National, 10 May 2022: Sweden ‘must join Nato or risk stabbing Finland in the back’, CNN, 10 May 2022: US intelligence officials warn China is ‘working hard’ to be able to take over Taiwan militarily, France24, 10 May 2022: Doubts emerge over Macron’s proposal for new EU ‘community’ of aspiring states, CNN, 10 May 2022: Finland is on the verge of asking to join NATO. Here’s why that’s bad news for Putin, Politico.eu, 10 May 2022: Atomic energy chief: Ukraine’s nuclear safety situation ‘far from being resolved’, DW, 10 May 2022: What weapons Germany is sending to Ukraine, The Guardian, 10 May 2022: Russia-Ukraine war: Putin could use nuclear weapon if he felt war being lost – US intelligence chief, DW, 10 May 2022: Germany: Ukraine war and COVID pandemic fuel cybercrime, Politico.eu, 10 May 2022: Germany tells Ukraine ‘no shortcut’ to EU membership as Baerbock meets Zelenskyy, DW, 10 May 2022: Bulgaria finds middle ground on weapons deliveries to Ukraine, Politico.eu, 10 May 2022: EU plans to help Ukraine’s food exports dodge Black Sea blockade, The Hill, 10 May 2022: China ‘learning lessons’ from Russia war in Ukraine, intelligence officials say, DW, 10 May 2022: Leonid Kravchuk: The man who buried the Soviet Union, France24, 11 May 2022: Finland joining NATO ‘would not be against anyone’: president, The National, 11 May 2022: We will fight them in the playgrounds: Can Germany abandon pacifism?, BBC, 11 May 2022: Ukraine war: Snake Island and battle for control in Black Sea, The Times, 11 May 2022: Collaborator government asks for occupied Kherson to join Russia, DW, 11 May 2022: How great power competition is complicating global cooperation, Irish Times, 11 May 2022: Finland expected to indicate intention to join Nato, Politico.eu, 11 May 2022: Ukraine needs €500B to €600B for reconstruction: Commission’s Dombrovskis, DW, 11 May 2022: ‘You cannot seriously sit down with Putin anymore,’ MSC chair tells DW, The Algemeiner 11 May 2022: The Gaps Between Western and Non-Western US Allies on the Ukraine War, DW, 11 May 2022: Ukrainian troops arrive in Germany for howitzer training, DW, 12 May 2022: Finland must join NATO ‘without delay,’ say Finnish leaders, Reuters, 12 May 2022: In Berlin, Ukraine’s Kuleba welcomes positive changes in Germany’s position, France24, 12 May 2022: Russian blockade of Ukraine’s ports puts global food supply at risk, DW, 12 May 2022: NATO: New challenges for the alliance as Finland and Sweden inch closer to membership?, France24, 12 May 2022: Live: EU to help break blockade on Ukraine’s Odesa to free up grain exports, The Hill, 12 May 2022: US, allies look to fast-track Finland and Sweden joining NATO, The National, 12 May 2022: Finland prepares its bunkers designed for nuclear attack, Jerusalem Post, 12 May 2022: Kosovo applies to join Council of Europe, sparking outrage from Serbia, The Guardian, 12 May 2022: Analysis Why are Sweden and Finland not yet in Nato and does the alliance want them?, BBC, 12 May 2022: Ukraine invasion changed our minds on Nato – Finland, France24, 12 May 2022: Finland’s leaders back joining NATO in policy shift triggered by Ukraine war, BBC, 12 May 2022: Finland Nato: Russia threatens to retaliate over membership move, The Guardian, 12 May 2022: Full report: Finland must apply to join Nato without delay, say president and PM, Politico.eu, 12 May 2022: Putin’s war backfires as Finland aims to join NATO, Irish Times, 12 May 2022: ‘You caused this’: Finnish president not concerned by Russian opposition to Nato membership, CNN, 12 May 2022: Finland’s leaders announce support for NATO membership, moving nation closer to joining alliance, Politico.eu, 12 May 2022: If Finland and Sweden join NATO, it’s on Russia, The Times, 12 May 2022: Finland announces intention to join Nato, Politico.eu, 12 May 2022: Finnish leaders announce backing for NATO membership, Haaretz, 12 May 2022: A Bad Week for Putin, a Good Week for a Resurgent NATO, Irish Times, 12 May 2022: Finland’s leaders want to join Nato ‘without delay’, Politico.eu, 12 May 2022: Russia threatens ‘military-technical’ retaliation over Finland’s NATO bid, DW, 13 May 2022: Sweden: NATO membership reduces conflict risk — policy review, Politico.eu, 13 May 2022: In Orbán’s obstruction, some EU capitals see useful delay of oil embargo, The Times, 13 May 2022: Eastern Europe puts boots on the ground to stamp out Putin’s bounceback, Politico.eu, 13 May 2022: EU lands new law to fight off hackers in critical sectors, DW, 13 May 2022: G7: Germany seeks ‘powerful sign of unity’ for Ukraine, The Guardian, 13 May 2022: Nato: Erdogan: Turkey ‘not positive’ about Sweden and Finland joining Nato (as if it is actually about Finland and Sweden. Ridiculous. The sultan will no doubt continue to play his usual annoying extortion games in order to strengthen his buddy Putin and to be able to buy more Russian missile systems at a bargain price. Apparently he also wants to blackmail the US into supplying weapon systems and in particular F-35 fighter jets, which currently aren’t delivered because of the given security risk posed by Erdogan’s Turkey. In addition, the sultan is currently driving Turkey economically against the wall at great speed. The country has already reached unbelievable rates of inflation and unemployment. In addition to Erdogan’s isolation of Turkey in NATO, from the EU, the USA and parts of the Gulf States, this should not increase his chances in the upcoming elections in Turkey. All in all, the usual and typical BS bingo from Ankara that has absolutely nothing to do with Finland and/or Sweden), Politico.eu, 13 May 2022: Western allies diverge over Ukraine war aims, France24, 13 May 2022: Georgia’s breakaway region to hold referendum on joining Russia in July: leader, DW, 13 May 2022: Russia’s nuclear threat ‘an attempt to intimidate NATO’: former NATO chief Rasmussen, The Guardian, 13 May 2022: Georgia: Breakaway region to hold referendum on joining Russia, Politico.eu, 13 May 2022: Turkey not ‘positive’ about Finland, Sweden bids to join NATO, Erdogan says, NPR, 13 May 2022: Turkey’s president opposes letting Finland, Sweden join NATO, The Hill, 13 May 2022: Biden speaks to leaders of Finland, Sweden about NATO membership, The Times, 13 May 2022: Chinese spy ship comes close to Australian base used by Aukus submarines, The New York Times, 13 May 2022: Courage Seemed to Be Dead. Then Came Zelensky., Arab News, 13 May 2022: Swedish policy review says joining NATO would reduce conflict risk, DW, 14 May 2022: Finland’s ruling party backs NATO bid, France24, 14 May 2022: Live: Turkey says it is ready to discuss NATO membership with Finland, Sweden, DW, 14 May 2022: Did US intelligence-sharing with Ukraine cross a line?, BBC, 14 May 2022: Putin warns Finland joining Nato would be ‘mistake’ (the mistakes here have been made by the Kremlin in every respect. Even in Ukraine, Putin was completely wrong with his assessments. This now also applies to the membership in NATO applied for by Finland and Sweden. For years, Putin has threatened the two countries militarily and, in fact, assumed that they would not fight back. Instead, he finally broke the camel’s back and pushed Finland and Sweden to join NATO), The Times, 14 May 2022: Putin kept David Cameron waiting, then told him: It’s easy to start a war, CNN, 14 May 2022: What you need to know about Finland, Sweden and NATO, The Hill, 14 May 2022: Finland, Sweden’s NATO moves prompt fears of Russian cyberattacks, Politico.eu, 14 May 2022: Putin to Finns: NATO instead of neutrality would be ‘wrong’, Arab News, 14 May 2022: Biden signals stronger Ankara ties with push to ‘green light’ missile sales, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2022: Ukraine appears to drive Russians from Kharkiv; Finland, Sweden draw closer to NATO, Politico.eu, 14 May 2022: Finland ‘prepared’ for threats but open to talks with Russia, France24, 15 May 2022: Finland announces ‘historic’ NATO bid, Sweden expected to follow suit, CNN, 15 May 2022: China tensions loom as Japan’s Okinawa marks 50 years since US handover, France24, 15 May 2022: Live: Blinken ‘confident’ Finland and Sweden will join NATO despite Turkey’s concerns, BBC, 15 May 2022: Ukraine war: Sweden and Finland confirm Nato plans in historic shift, CNN, 15 May 2022: Finland will seek to join NATO, leaders say, ditching decades of neutrality despite Russia’s threats of retaliation, Al Arabiya, 15 May 2022: Explainer: ‘Neutral’ Europe recedes as NATO set to expand, Politico.eu, 15 May 2022: Dramatic U-turns by Social Democrats in Sweden, Finland paved way to NATO, Al Arabiya, 15 May 2022: NATO expects Turkey not to hold up Finland, Sweden membership bids, Arab News, 15 May 2022: Macron’s confederation for democracy, DW, 16 May 2022: Sweden will apply for NATO membership, Finnish parliament vote pending, The Hill, 16 May 2022: Air Force says it successfully tested hypersonic weapon, Al Arabiya, 16 May 2022: Turkey’s Erdogan says will not approve Sweden and Finland joining NATO, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022: A Ukrainian City Under a Violent New Regime, Politico.eu, 16 May 2022: A green salvo to counter Putin’s war in Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 16 May 2022: France says will defend Sweden, Finland against any attack amid Russian threats, Miami Herald, 16 May 2022: In a first, U.S. government green-lights American investment in private business in Cuba, Politico.eu, 16 May 2022: Putin says Russia has ‘no problems’ with Finland, Sweden in NATO, Arab News, 16 May 2022: Putin says new military infrastructure in Finland, Sweden would demand reaction, Politico.eu, 16 May 2022: Europe’s leaders fall out of key on Ukraine, BBC, 16 May 2022: Turkey says it will veto Nordic states’ Nato bids, The New York Times, 16 May 2022: After 32 years, McDonald’s plans to sell its Russia business. (now, that’s a very precise and at the same time painful kick in the butt of the Putin regime. McDonald’s activities in Russia once embodied a spirit of optimism, peace and East-West rapprochement. The departure shows quite unmistakably how Putin’s Russia is actually doing today: once again on a steep downward course. No Western company’s departure could better symbolize the hopelessness and lack of future prospects of the Russian population), Politico.eu, 16 May 2022: McDonald’s to exit Russia completely, The Guardian, 16 May 2022: McDonald’s to sell its business in Russia after 30 years, BBC, 17 May 2022: McDonald’s to leave Russia for good after 30 years, CNN, 17 May 2022: McDonald’s is leaving Russia altogether, The National, 17 May 2022: Turkey’s Erdogan ‘cannot say yes’ to Nato bid from Sweden and Finland, Daily Mail, 17 May 2022: Is Germany’s leader so soft on Russia because he’s an ex-Marxist who savaged Nato and bowed to Moscow, asks leading historian DR HUBERTUS KNABE, The Atlantic, 17 May 2022: The Biggest Threat to Putin’s Control of Crimea, DW, 17 May 2022: Finland’s Parliament approves NATO membership application, Politico.com, 17 May 2022: How to Reinvigorate NATO and Deter Putin’s Aggression, France24, 17 May 2022: Can Turkey block Sweden and Finland’s entry into NATO?, Politico.eu, 17 May 2022: Finland and Sweden sign off on NATO bids — now the waiting game begins, The New Yorker, 17 May 2022: A “New Era” of NATO Expansion Deepens the Divide Between Russia and the West, Politico.eu, 18 May 2022: Turkey holds firm against NATO bids by Finland and Sweden, The New York Times, 18 May 2022: Strongmen in Turkey and Hungary Stall Unity in NATO and the E.U., Politico.eu, 18 May 2022: In talk of boosting EU defense, Brussels means business, CNN, 18 May 2022: Why is Turkey causing problems for Finland and Sweden’s plans to join NATO?, Politico.eu, 18 May 2022: Russia takes first steps to withdraw from WTO, WHO (once again on the express way to it’s final downfall. Congrats!), The Times, 18 May 2022: Nato hails applications from Finland and Sweden to join security alliance, Politico.eu, 18 May 2022: EU to pitch in €9B for Ukraine as it weighs financing options for reconstruction, The Times, 19 May 2022: Black Sea blockade in Russia-Ukraine war threatens world food supply (Putin is killing Africans and Asians en mass), The National, 19 May 2022: Coming in from the cold: What Sweden and Finland bring to Nato, Politico.eu, 19 May 2022: Europe’s energy security asymmetry, DW, 19 May 2022: Romania’s Constanta port becomes hub for Ukraine’s grain, Politico.eu, 20 May 2022: Sweden blasts Turkish ‘disinformation’ as Erdogan delays NATO accession, The National, 20 May 2022: Biden lauds US and South Korea alliance as ‘linchpin of peace’, Politico.eu, 20 May 2022: G7 raises close to $20B for Ukraine, CNN, 20 May 2022: Biden arrives in South Korea with worries growing over possible North Korean missile test, Politico.eu, 20 May 2022: Pegasus’ complex structure hinders EU spyware probe, NPR, 20 May 2022: Two versions of history collide as Finland and Sweden seek to join NATO, Politico.eu, 20 May 2022: Turkey’s unstated goals in blocking Sweden and Finland, CNN, 20 May 2022: US likely to keep 100,000 troops in Europe for foreseeable future in face of Russian threat, US officials say, Politico.eu, 20 May 2022: Western allies ramp up rhetoric against Russia, want to see ‘defeat’ of Moscow, CNN, 20 May 2022: Russia is about to cut off Finland’s natural gas, Arab News, 20 May 2022: Why there’s more than economics to the G7’s role, The Hill, 21 May 2022: US frustrated over ‘problematic’ NATO ally Turkey, Jerusalem Post, 21 May 2022: Europe has gone from being critical of Israel to admiring it (in fact, there are always the same European backbenchers who make statements about EU-Israel relations in the manner described in the article. All other assumptions are more likely to stem from the fact that someone is hoping for a job. In any case, it has little to do with the actual circumstances, in terms of Putin’s war against Ukraine, the Iran deal that Trump canceled under pressure from Netanyahu or Palestine/the Palastinians. At the same time, of course, it can only be a good thing if the numerous Sunday speeches are actually perceived as described in the article. What is true is that the vast majority of European governments have reacted positively to Netanyahu being history because he is seen as an untrustworthy and unreliable interlocutor and certainly not a partner. There are also some reservations about the Benett administration because of Netanyahu’s long reign and the few positive aspects it has brought to EU-Israel relations. Apparently triggered by the introduction of various European states to the EU (Serbia, North Macedonia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, etc. – all countries have one thing in common: they are all European states), people in Israel seem to get the impression that they could make another attempt at becoming an EU member. Since the reasons why accession failed earlier are still valid, so hopes shouldn’t be hanged too high), Arab News, 21 May 2022: Joe Biden signs $40 billion for Ukraine assistance during Asia trip, The Hill, 21 May 2022: Biden signs $40B Ukraine aid package into law, Politico.eu, 21 May 2022: Putin’s Russia vision shows need to equip Moldova, UK’s Truss says, The Times, 21 May 2022: Why Kremlin propagandists now tell Russians they’re at war with the whole West, DW, 21 May 2022: Erdogan sets conditions for Sweden, Finland NATO bids, The Guardian, 21 May 2022: Joe Biden: US and South Korea presidents mull expanding joint military exercises, DW, 21 May 2022: US, South Korea seek to bolster military ties amid regional tensions, The New York Times, 21 May 2022: We Must Prepare for Putin’s Worst Weapons, Politico.eu, 22 May 2022: Ukraine must ‘decide its own future,’ Poland’s Duda tells MPs in Kyiv, CNN, 22 May 2022: Japan turns away from post-WWII pacifism as China threat grows, France24, 22 May 2022: Turkey’s Erdogan sets conditions for Finland, Sweden’s NATO bids, DW, 22 May 2022: Russia’s laser weapon in Ukraine: Does it exist?, The Atlantic, 23 May 2022: The War Won’t End Until Putin Loses, The National, 23 May 2022: US would send military if China enters Taiwan, says Joe Biden, France24, 23 May 2022: Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow? Tensions mount between US and China over Taiwan, The Times, 24 May 2022: Joe Biden: US will defend Taiwan if China invades, DW, 24 May 2022: ‘Quad’ talks in Japan open with eyes on China and Ukraine, NPR, 24 May 2022: Ukraine’s stand is a model for fighting a Chinese attack, Taiwan’s top diplomat says, DW, 24 May 2022: Russia dominates Davos WEF even as Russians go missing, Jerusalem Post, 24 May 2022: Russia taunts US on global food security crisis (“Russian harvest” means that they have stolen several thousand tons of Ukrainian wheat to use it as a weapon in Asia and Africa. If Putin isn’t reaching his goals in these regions he will starve millions of Africans and Asians to death), The Times, 24 May 2022: Xi reaps whirlwind of bromance with Putin, The New York Times, 24 May 2022: ‘Do I Trust Him? Yeah, I Trust Him.’ Putin Has Played the West., Politico.eu, 24 May 2022: NATO bid reignites Sweden’s dispute with Turkey over Kurds, The Times, 24 May 2022: The Quad flexes its muscles against Chinese militarisation, DW, 25 May 2022: Turkey threatens to stall Sweden, Finland in NATO talks (why not simply pausing Turkey’s NATO membership, to give Erdogan some time to think about the question if he really want Turkey to become a playball for Russia and Iran?), Jerusalem Post, 25 May 2022: Russia and Iran discuss swapping supplies for oil and gas, goods logistics, The Guardian, 25 May 2022: ‘Zero asylum seekers’: Denmark forces refugees to return to Syria, DW, 25 May 2022: Baltic Sea countries rally together against Russia, Politico.eu, 26 May 2022: Why Macron is failing on strategic autonomy, The National, 26 May 2022: Nato commander nominee: Finland and Sweden accession shifts ‘geometry’ against Russia, The New York Times, 26 May 2022: U.S. Aims to Constrain China by Shaping Environment Around It, Blinken Says, DW, 26 May 2022: Enough talking — it’s time to act, Al Arabiya, 26 May 2022: Greece tells UN that Turkey is challenging its sovereignty, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2022: Fears of a Chinese invasion have Taiwanese civilians taking up target practice, Politico.com, 26 May 2022: Blinken calls China ‘most serious long-term’ threat to world order, The Guardian, 26 May 2022: Abortion: The network of organisations seeking to influence policy across Europe, France24, 26 May 2022: Should the war in Ukraine spur a nuclear security rethink?, CNN, 26 May 2022: China plays for influence in South Pacific with security proposal and diplomatic tour, France24, 26 May 2022: Macron urges Turkey to respect ‘sovereign choice’ of Finland, Sweden on NATO, DW, 26 May 2022: Blinken warns China threat greater than Russia long term, Arab News, 27 May 2022: NATO will grow, and the sooner the better, The Guardian, 27 May 2022: What hope is there for diplomacy in ending the Russia-Ukraine war?, DW, 27 May 2022: 25th anniversary of the NATO-Russia Founding Act, Politico.eu, 27 May 2022: Zelenskyy invited to EU leaders’ summit amid sanctions spat, DW, 27 May 2022: Scholz: Putin’s war not just against Ukraine, but European values too, The Hill, 28 May 2022: Without summits, a West Asia ‘Quad’ makes progress, Politico.eu, 28 May 2022: How to end Russia’s Black Sea blockade, The Guardian, 28 May 2022: ‘Get ready for Nuremberg 2.0’: Kremlin mulls show trials based on second world war tribunals, Al Arabiya, 28 May 2022: Spain adding missiles, troops to NATO Latvia mission: Report, Haaretz, 29 May 2022: In the Battle Against Tsar Putin, Don’t Trust Sultan Erdogan, Financial Times, 29 May 2022: Baltics attack Franco-German talks with Putin over Black Sea blockade, The Times, 30 May 2022: Germany ‘breaks its promise’ to give Kyiv more heavy weapons (the worst case has now occurred. What has been discussed in this blog for years has now happened and in this situation of all things we have a Putin-affine, latently anti-American, little EU-affine, inward-looking SPD-led government (with the exception of the Green’s). It couldn’t have been much worse. If we get through this unscathed, then that has a lot to do with luck, because due to weaknesses inherent in the SPD, “Olaf and the traffic light men” are obviously not in a position to react appropriately to the multiple crises – apart from the fact that they doesn’t want to at all, but instead prefer to continue playing “nationalist allotment garden club” and thus sacrifices thousands of Ukrainians on the one hand, just to give their favorite dictator and war criminal Vladimir Putin an advantage on the other. For Germany’s reputation, this is already an outright catastrophe, for the EU and NATO it is an ordeal, also brought about with German help. Apart from a vote of no confidence and new elections, there will soon be no other options for action to at least not further escalate the considerable damage that has already occurred), France24, 30 May 2022: Biden rules out sending rocket systems ‘that can strike into Russia’ to Ukraine, DW, 30 May 2022: War in Ukraine: What is Germany’s strategy?, France24, 30 May 2022: Russian speakers reject the ‘language of the enemy’ by learning Ukrainian, The Times, 30 May 2022: China flexes naval muscle with huge new aircraft carrier, DW, 30 May 2022: Fears of conflicts drive bunker building boom in US, Arab News, 30 May 2022: Study shows Arabs more likely to blame NATO than Russia for Ukraine war, CNN, 30 May 2022: China, Pacific islands unable to agree on security pact, Arab News, 30 May 2022: Our YouGov Ukraine poll exposes deep Arab mistrust of the West, The Times, 30 May 2022: US must make clear it would fight for Taiwan, Arab News, 30 May 2022: Despite direct economic consequences, study finds majority of Arabs do not care about Ukraine-Russia war, The New York Times, 31 May 2022: Putin’s Shadow Soldiers: How the Wagner Group Is Expanding in Africa, Politico.eu, 31 May 2022: The Turkish gambit and the future of NATO, CNN, 31 May 2022: Russia and China are ahead of US in hypersonic missile technology. Here’s why, The Times, 31 May 2022: Let Germany lead the rebuilding of Ukraine (yes, that should indeed be imposed on Germany, simply because deliveries of heavy weapons are constantly being announced but are not happening, even though the industry could have been delivering for eight weeks. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have already died as a result. Subsequent generations in Germany will have to listen to this and have no choice but to agree to the allegations. In the meantime, one can no longer even hope that it won’t become more dramatic, because it is not only foreseeable but already clearly recognizable that things will get worse. All this apparently just so that the SPD can help its favorite dictator and serial war criminal, Tsar Vladimir, to secure the throne at any price and even overtake the AfD on the right and the SED successor club, Die Linke, on the left. Completely irresponsible and absolutely unworthy of a German federal government), The New York Times, 31 May 2022: President Biden: What America Will and Will Not Do in Ukraine, Politico.eu, 31 May 2022: The in crowd? Denmark votes on joining EU defense cooperation, DW, 31 May 2022: EU leaders hail ‘solidarity’ in compromise on Russia oil ban after summit (in fact, the EU has once again allowed itself to be blackmailed by Orban instead of showing him clear boundaries by agreeing on a “27-1” resolution. After all, Orban’s Hungary is only a member of the EU on paper, but it has actually been in Putin’s pocket for years), Politico.eu, 31 May 2022: Germany announces new deal with Greece to send tanks to Ukraine, CNN, 1 June 2022: China has the power to take Taiwan, but it would cost an extremely bloody price, DW, 1 June 2022: Germany’s Olaf Scholz defends record on arms to Ukraine, Foreign Policy, 1 June 2022: The United States Can’t Afford to Stay Entangled With China, Politico.eu, 1 June 2022: Germany loses EU sway as Eastern Europe turns away over Russia (as was to be expected. The new governing coalition, particularly the SOPD, is not up to the task), The Atlantic, 1 June 2022: Western Support for Ukraine Has Peaked, Jerusalem Post, 1 June 2022: Turkey is blackmailing NATO to justify its invasion of Syria, Politico.eu, 1 June 2022: Denmark votes to scrap EU defense opt-out, France24, 1 June 2022: Denmark votes to join EU common defense after 30 years of opting out, Politico.eu, 1 June 2022: The Czech and Hungarian fondness for emergency powers, The National, 1 June 2022: Blinken warns Turkey against launching offensive against Kurdish forces in Syria, Arab News, 1 June 2022: Russia and Iran: What next for the world’s most-sanctioned states?, The New York Times, 1 June 2022: Putin’s Threats Highlight the Dangers of a New, Riskier Nuclear Era, Politico.eu, 1 June 2022: Olaf Scholz’s Kaiser complex leaves Ukraine in the lurch, DW, 1 June 2022: Denmark votes to join the EU’s common defense policy, The Algemeiner, 1 June 2022: Iran’s Cyberwar Grows More Aggressive, Thanks to Russia and Hezbollah, Politico.com, 2 June 2022: European Parliament bars Russia-backed lobbyists, Haaretz, 2 June 2022: First, It Was the Palestinians. Now, It’s LGBTQ People, France24, 3 June 2022: Bomb kills two UN peacekeepers in central Mali, The National, 3 June 2022: Germany votes for $100bn military spending splurge, Arab News, 3 June 2022: Israel prefers diplomacy on Iran but could act alone, Bennett tells IAEA chief(they will have to anyway. Hard to assume that someone else will be found to run the Iran war adventure. This is far too dangerous for the Gulf States, because it can quickly become a wildfire for the whole region – a long lasting one), Al Arabiya, 3 June 2022: Putin’s invasion of Ukraine forces Biden to rewrite US security plan, Politico.com, 3 June 2022: Williams recommended to be next Army Europe commander, France24, 3 June 2022: UN Secretary-General’s report: An exclusive look into Mali’s security situation, DW, 4 June 2022: NATO chief talks Sweden, Finland membership with Erdogan, Politico.com, 4 June 2022: NATO chief to meet with Finnish, Swedish, Turkish officials in Brussels, BBC, 4 June 2022: Ukraine war: Chernobyl scarred by Russian troops’ damage and looting, Irish Times, 4 June 2022: Ukraine has become a sacred cause, beyond the bounds of compromise, DW, 4 June 2022: Russia plans to restart German telescope without permission, BBC, 4 June 2022: Ukraine anger as Macron says ‘Don’t humiliate Russia’ (Macron is right, of course, because no one wants to experience what the world would face in the form of nuclear warheads if Russia were to lose too clearly. As expected, people will see things differently in Kyiv, but this is no longer just about Ukraine’s security and revenge, but about the livability of Europe as a whole), Politico.com, 4 June 2022: Macron: Putin shouldn’t be humiliated over ‘historic’ mistake, The Times, 5 June 2022: Is Putin winning the economic war over Ukraine?, CNN, 5 June 2022: Chinese fighter jet ‘chaffs’ Australian plane near South China Sea, Canberra alleges, BBC, 5 June 2022: China fighter jet intercepts Australian plane – Canberra, The Times, 5 June 2022: Memories of war sway Europe’s view of Ukraine, Arab News, 5 June 2022: The war in Ukraine is reshaping Europe, Politico.eu, 5 June 2022: US warship calms Sweden’s NATO nerves, Arab News, 5 June 2022: Will Turkey weigh on NATO’s new defense architecture?, Foreign Policy, 6 June 2022: Former NATO Chief: We ‘Overestimated’ Russia’s Military, Jerusalem Post, 6 June 2022: Israeli-Russian trade still prospering despite Ukraine War, Politico.eu, 6 June 2022: Europe’s state of mass surveillance, CNN, 6 June 2022: Why the sparsely-populated South Pacific islands have become the next US-China contest, The Economist, 7 June 2022: NATO should avoid learning the wrong lessons from Russia’s blunder in Ukraine, says Michael Kofman, Arab News, 7 June 2022: Ankara calls on Greece to demilitarize Aegean islands, Foreign Policy, 7 June 2022: NATO Is Out of Shape and Out of Date, DW, 7 June 2022: Germany’s Scholz vows to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank, Arab News, 7 June 2022: PM says Greece has experienced unprecedented barrage of Turkish violations of airspace, The Algemeiner, 8 June 2022: Double Standards Haunt US and Europe in NATO Dispute with Turkey, CNN, 8 June 2022: Chinese hackers breach ‘major’ telecoms firms, US says, Jerusalem Post, 8 June 2022: Israel makes dramatic upgrades to military plans to attack Iran (good luck with this one. Israel was never closer to start a war with Iran than it is today. Netanyahu must be totally enthusiastic as his biggest dream is coming closer and closer. It remains to be seen whether Israel can actually assert itself successfully against the territorial state of Iran and how many self-inflicted deaths there will be as a result of a war in Israel that violates international law right from the start), The National, 8 June 2022: Irish multinational Kingspan invests €200m in Ukraine campus, DW, 9 June 2022: Biden seeks to counter China at Americas summit, DW, 9 June 2022: Scholar: Marshall Plan ’a clear path forward’, Al Arabiya, 10 June 2022: US, Chinese defense ministers meet face-to-face, seeking to avoid misunderstandings, CNN, 10 June 2022: Why Chinese warplanes are ‘playing chicken’ with US allies — and why they’re doing it now, Politico.eu, 10 June 2022: Europe’s need to catch up with software-led New Defense, Al Arabiya, 10 June 2022: China will ‘not hesitate to start a war’ over Taiwan: Defense spokesman, CNN, 10 June 2022: Restoration of empire is the endgame for Russia’s Vladimir Putin, DW, 11 June 2022: AUKUS: Canberra to compensate France over canceled sub deal, France24, 11 June 2022: Australia announces compensation deal with France for scrapped submarine contract, The Times, 11 June 2022: Henry Kissinger at 99: how to avoid another world war, Arab News, 11 June 2022: New Philippine administration to oppose Chinese presence in disputed waters, Al Arabiya, 11 June 2022: Saudi Arabia, France defense forces hold joint military drill: Report, The Times, 11 June 2022: ‘Putin the Great’ and his budget empire can only deliver a fake victory, DW, 11 June 2022: US slams China’s ‘destabilizing’ military activity near Taiwan, France24, 11 June 2022: Hit by US sanctions, Iran and Venezuela sign 20-year cooperation deal, DW, 12 June 2022: NATO chief: Turkish concerns over Nordic expansion ‘legitimate’, The Algemeiner, 12 June 2022: NATO Chief Stoltenberg Says Turkey’s Security Concerns are Legitimate, France24, 12 June 2022: China says it ‘will fight to the very end’ to stop Taiwanese independence, DW, 13 June 2022: Wikipedia challenges Russian order to remove Ukraine war information, The Guardian, 13 June 2022: The super-rich: More than 15,000 millionaires expected to leave Russia in 2022, Al Arabiya, 13 June 2022: US national security advisor meets top China official to ‘manage competition’, DW, 13 June 2022: SIPRI report on nuclear weapons: Disarmament is a thing of the past, CNN, 13 June 2022: World’s nuclear arsenals on the rise as concerns grow over China and North Korea, France24, 13 June 2022: Top US, Chinese national security figures hold ‘candid’ talks, DW, 14 June 2022: Anti-war stance in Russia leads to denunciations and arrests, The Guardian, 14 June 2022: Nato: Turkey threatens year’s delay to Swedish and Finnish entry to body, Haaretz, 14 June 2022: Infamous Israeli Spyware Maker NSO in Talks to Be Sold to U.S. Defense Firm, Arab News, 15 June 2022: Unintended regional consequences of the Ukraine war, Politico.eu, 15 June 2022: Greece, Turkey vie for US goods — at the other’s expense, DW, 15 June 2022: Gazprom to further cut gas supplies to Germany via Nord Stream (any reasonably intelligent person would have used the gas supplies against Russia to gain an advantage for Europe. Of course, the Putin groupies of the Scholz administration see it completely differently. They preferred to wait until Putin finally uses the gas supplies against Europe and can fill his war chest at the same time. Worked great. For that alone, entire advisory staffs should be dismissed in the Chancellery and Ministry of Economics. Incompetence²), France24, 15 June 2022: US President Biden announces $1 billion arms package to support Ukraine, Arab News, 15 June 2022: NATO chief urges ‘more heavy weapons’ for Ukraine, Foreign Policy, 15 June 2022: There’s a Method to Macron’s Madness, DW, 15 June 2022: NATO defense ministers to discuss Russian security threat, Irish Times, 15 June 2022: Five blunt truths about the war in Ukraine, The Times, 15 June 2022: Inside ‘the attic’, the cloak-and-dagger unit getting western military aid into Ukraine, CNN, 16 June 2022: Leaders of Europe’s biggest countries on Kyiv mission to smooth tensions (Ukraine is running out of ammunition and weapons in the foreseeable future, making it almost impossible to defend against Russia. So instead of delivering arms and ammunition immediately, they are going to Kyiv to make promises for the future, which Ukraine will not have without the aforesaid arms and ammunition. Hypocrisy and loyalty to Putin at the highest level), The New York Times, 16 June 2022: As European Leaders Visit Kyiv, Putin Cuts Their Gas Supply, The Guardian, 16 June 2022: NSO: Key Democrat warns of major security risk if US firm acquires hacking code, Foreign Policy, 16 June 2022: Germany’s New Resolve on Russia Is Already Flagging (sad but true), Financial Times, 16 June 2022: Germans told to conserve energy as Russia cuts gas flows to Europe, The Guardian, 17 June 2022: Russia: Putin calls Ukraine war sanctions ‘insane’ in combative speech (it’s insane to invade and destroy another country and then think you can get away with it), CNN, 17 June 2022: Putin lambasts the West and declares the end of ‘the era of the unipolar world’, France24, 17 June 2022: Putin accuses West of ‘arrogance’, dismisses ‘stupid’ sanctions ‘blitzkrieg’, Arab News, 17 June 2022: Putin asserts strong, sovereign Russia against sanctions ‘blitzkrieg’ (he actually seems to believe in the BS he is spouting), The National, 17 June 2022: UAE discusses military co-operation with French army, Foreign Policy, 17 June 2022: U.S. Restraint Has Created an Unstable and Dangerous World, Politico.eu, 17 June 2022: Only a superhero can stop Putin now. Is anyone up to the challenge?, The Guardian, 17 June 2022: ‘Unacceptable’: Russian warship accused of violating Danish waters, CNN, 17 June 2022: German Chancellor Scholz says it is “absolutely necessary” to continue speaking to Putin, DW, 17 June 2022: War in Ukraine boosts US-German relations, The New York Times, 18 June 2022: The Human Cost of War: A Special Report, The Atlantic, 18 June 2022: Where Russia’s Declinist Rage Isn’t Enough, The Times, 18 June 2022: History tells us why Macron simply can’t humiliate Putin, The Hill, 19 June 2022: NATO chief says Ukraine war could last for years, Al Arabiya, 19 June 2022: New UK Army chief instructs troops to prepare to face Russia on battlefield in Europe, The National, 19 June 2022: New UK army chief: troops must be ready to fight in Europe again, Al Arabiya, 19 June 2022: NATO chief says war in Ukraine could last ‘for years’, CNN, 19 June 2022: Western support for Kyiv must not cease, say NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, DW, 19 June 2022: Germany: Far-right AfD conference halted amid Ukraine war infighting, BBC, 19 June 2022: New UK Army chief issues Russia rallying cry, The Times, 20 June 2022: Lithuania cuts off rail route to Kaliningrad (great and hopefully more of it by all EU members), BBC, 20 June 2022: Africa is a hostage of Russia’s war on Ukraine, Zelensky says, France24, 20 June 2022: Russian journalist sells his Nobel prize at auction for Ukraine aid, The Guardian, 21 June 2022: Lithuania: Moscow threatens ‘consequences’ as Baltic state blocks rail goods, Politico.eu, 21 June 2022: EU is sabotaging itself with Russian oil sanctions, Khodorkovsky warns, BBC, 21 June 2022: Kaliningrad: Russia warns Lithuania of consequences over rail transit blockade, Politico.eu, 21 June 2022: Scholz adviser turns heads with appeal to consider future Russian relationship, CNN, 21 June 2022: Why Kaliningrad, Russia’s toehold in Europe, could be the next flashpoint in its war against Ukraine, France24, 22 June 2022: First foreign cargo ship leaves Russian-occupied port of Mariupol, Jerusalem Post, 22 June 2022: Russia’s Lavrov set to make important Iran trip, Politico.com, 22 June 2022: Mission Not Yet Accomplished: Biden heads to Europe hoping to keep Ukraine coalition intact, France24, 22 June 2022: With an eye on re-election, Turkey’s Erdogan risks the ire of Western partners, Politico.eu, 22 June 2022: NATO chief wants Sweden, Finland in alliance ‘soon’ — but can’t guarantee it, CNN, 22 June 2022: Japan tracks eight Russian and Chinese warships near its territory, Financial Times, 23 June 2022: Germany moves closer to gas rationing over Russian disruption, Irish Times, 23 June 2022: Ireland considering closer Nato co-operation in hybrid and cyber spheres, CNN, 24 June 2022: Japan says Chinese coast guard ships in longest violation of its territorial waters in a decade, Al Arabiya, 24 June 2022: No more EU sanctions on Russia needed, negotiations better option: Hungary (says Orban, Putin’s Trojan horse in the EU and for years deep in Putin’s pockets), Politico.eu, 24 June 2022: NATO needs ‘visible’ counter to Russia threat via Belarus, Lithuania warns, Foreign Policy, 24 June 2022: Japan Is Getting Real on Security After Ukraine, The New York Times, 25 June 2022: A New Task for Biden: Readying Allies for a Long Conflict in Ukraine, France24, 25 June 2022: Moscow to send Belarus nuclear-capable missiles within months, DW, 25 June 2022: Russia to send nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus, The Times, 25 June 2022: Nato has no choice but to support Ukraine. Our future security depends upon it, Arab News, 25 June 2022: NATO’s chance to chart a new path for its future, The New York Times, 25 June 2022: Commando Network Coordinates Flow of Weapons in Ukraine, Officials Say, The Guardian, 25 June 2022: ‘The Russians could come any time’: Fear at Suwalki Gap on EU’s eastern border, The Times, 25 June 2022: We need Europe to show Putin its power – that’s all he understands, Al Arabiya, 26 June 2022: Biden: G7 and NATO must ‘stay together’ against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, CNN, 26 June 2022: Never mind China’s new aircraft carrier, these are the ships the US should worry about, Jerusalem Post, 26 June 2022: The four horsemen of the apocalypse, Al Arabiya, 26 June 2022: As summit host, Spain urges NATO to watch Putin moves in southern flank of Africa , Arab News, 26 June 2022: Erdogan signals no progress on Sweden’s NATO bid, CNN, 26 June 2022: Russia to supply nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus, Politico.eu, 27 June 2022: To speak or not to speak — is that the question for NATO?, France24, 27 June 2022: NATO plans huge upgrade of rapid reaction force in ‘era of strategic competition’, The Times, 27 June 2022: Meet the Kurdish exile in Sweden holding the key to Nato’s future (what does the Turkish sultan actually think he can achieve? Of course, he wants to give his simple-minded voters the impression that he has any power in foreign policy. Should he actually prevent the admission of Finland and Sweden, then he can completely forget about EU membership and also within NATO he will lose far more than he could ever gain), BBC, 27 June 2022: Nato plans huge upgrade in rapid reaction force, The Guardian, 27 June 2022: Nato Alliance to put 300,000 troops on high alert in response to Russia threat, Politico.eu, 27 June 2022: NATO will increase high-readiness force to ‘well over’ 300,000 troops, The National, 28 June 2022: Five challenges facing Nato at Madrid summit, Jerusalem Post, 28 June 2022: Turkey uses Iran to back new Syrian invasion, blackmailing NATO at same time, The National, 28 June 2022: Turkey agrees to support Finland and Sweden Nato membership, The New York Times, 28 June 2022: Ukraine Live Updates: Turkey Agrees to Allow Sweden and Finland to Join NATO, France24, 28 June 2022: Live: NATO to invite Finland and Sweden to join after Turkey lifts objections, The Guardian, 28 June 2022: Nato: Turkey lifts objections to Finland and Sweden’s attempt to join, CNN, 28 June 2022: Inside Biden’s successful six-month bid to expand NATO, Politico.eu, 28 June 2022: NATO pledges 300K troops, then leaves everyone guessing, The Times, 28 June 2022: Turkey lifts block on Nato membership for Sweden and Finland, The Guardian, 28 June 2022: Live Russia-Ukraine war: Biden and Johnson congratulate Finland, Sweden and Turkey on Nato agreement, Politico.eu, 28 June 2022: Turkey lifts block on Finnish and Swedish NATO bids, BBC, 28 June 2022: Turkey supports Finland and Sweden Nato bid, The Times, 28 June 2022: Will the Suwalki Gap be Putin’s next target?, Politico.eu, 28 June 2022: In Madrid, NATO must focus on the long term, France24, 29 June 2022: NATO formally invites Sweden, Finland to join the alliance, The National, 29 June 2022: Nato warns allies could be attacked after Russia ‘shattered peace’, France24, 29 June 2022: Live: ‘No problem’ for Russia if Finland, Sweden join NATO, says Putin, BBC, 29 June 2022: Ukraine war: US to ramp up military presence across Europe, Politico.eu, 29 June 2022: NATO leaders brand Russia a ‘direct threat’ in new strategy blueprint, The National, 29 June 2022: Nato summit: US to set up permanent army HQ in Poland in face of Russia threat, Politico.eu, 29 June 2022: Sweden ready for Russian retaliation over NATO decision, PM says, CNN, 29 June 2022: How Erdogan’s Turkey became NATO’s wild card, France24, 29 June 2022: Russia is now ‘main threat’: NATO can adjust its plans and policies accordingly, Al Arabiya, 29 June 2022: US says it supports sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, Politico.com, 29 June 2022: Biden sends more ships, fighter jets and troops to Europe, CNN, 29 June 2022: NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join alliance, Irish Times, 29 June 2022: Referendum would have to be held before Ireland joined Nato, Taoiseach says, The Times, 29 June 2022: Troop surge to defend Nato’s east from Putin, Arab News, 29 June 2022: NATO launches biggest military buildup since end of Cold War, CNN, 29 June 2022: Sweden and Finland are on the cusp of joining NATO. Here’s why that matters, and what comes next, Al Arabiya, 30 June 2022: Biden says US ‘should sell’ F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, DW, 30 June 2022: Putin accuses NATO of ‘imperial ambitions’ over Finland, Sweden membership offer (*hahaha*), The New York Times, 30 June 2022: NATO Summit Ends, Leaving Leaders to Sell Their Pledges Back Home, The Hill, 30 June 2022: Five takeaways from Biden’s trip to attend G-7, NATO meetings, DW, 30 June 2022: Ukraine: Russia pulls back forces from Snake Island — live updates, Haaretz, 30 June 2022: Two-faced Turkey Demands a Terrible Price for NATO Expansion, Foreign Policy, 1 July 2022: The Art of the Arms Race, The Times, 1 July 2022: Britain to boost defence budget and raise the bar for Nato allies, Foreign Policy, 1 July 2022: NATO Steps Up to China Challenge, Al Arabiya, 1 July 2022: Over 30 governments gather to discuss Hezbollah’s ‘ongoing global terrorist’ plots, Arab News, 1 July 2022: New members will strengthen NATO’s raison d’etre, France24, 1 July 2022: Australia’s Albanese hails ‘new start’ with France after submarine row, The National, 3 July 2022: North Korea warns of nuclear war risk as Japan, US and South Korea increase military ties, Politico.eu, 3 July 2022: Czech Republic to protect Slovakia’s airspace from September, Politico.eu, 4 July 2022: NATO anoints new top general amid historic revamp, Politico.eu, 4 July 2022: Europe’s task now: Embrace diversity and work together against Russia, Al Arabiya, 5 July 2022: Spain government divisive over increasing military spend promised to NATO, France24, 5 July 2022: NATO allies sign accession protocols for Sweden, Finland, Al Arabiya, 5 July 2022: NATO says no plans for bases in Sweden or Finland, Politico.eu, 5 July 2022: It’s time for a sweeping transformation of the alliance, Foreign Policy, 5 July 2022: The West Needs a Cure for Cold War Fever, Al Arabiya, 6 July 2022: Sweden’s PM condemns MPs posing with PKK flag amid Turkey NATO row (just another group of Putin’s useful idiots), Politico.eu, 6 July 2022: Ukraine can’t have NATO-style security guarantees from the West, Germany says, DW, 6 July 2022: Taiwanese line up to learn self-defense after Russia’s Ukraine invasion, Politico.eu, 6 July 2022: UK’s defense peacock parade, The Hill, 6 July 2022: US, UK law enforcement chiefs unite to warn of Chinese spying threat, BBC, 6 July 2022: China: MI5 and FBI heads warn of ‘immense’ threat, DW, 6 July 2022: FBI, MI5 warn Western business leaders about Chinese espionage, The Times, 6 July 2022: MI5 warns Chinese spying investigations are up sevenfold, Irish Times, 6 July 2022: US and UK intelligence chiefs call for vigilance on China’s industrial spies, The Times, 7 July 2022: End of the bromance: why Xi is wary of going to Moscow, DW, 7 July 2022: Ukraine war shrinks anti-nukes peace protests in Germany, Politico.eu, 7 July 2022: Canada will return key Nord Stream pipeline component (it is not clear if this will actually have an effect and gas will be delivered. If Putin doesn’t want it, then he doesn’t want it. On the other hand, of course, everything must be done to ensure that there are no gas bottlenecks, because the economy must of course continue to run at full steam. At the end of the day, bills have to be paid (including the expenses for Ukraine) and that is only possible if there are sales and profits that can be used to pay taxes), Al Arabiya, 7 July 2022: MI5, FBI chiefs warn over China in rare joint address, The Times, 7 July 2022: Bomb Russia’s bridge to Crimea, Ukraine urged, France24, 8 July 2022: Russia ‘isolated’ at G20 as Lavrov storms out of talks (the envoy of the Russian serial war criminal Putin, Mr. Lavrov, has obviously become afraid of the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Russian pussy), Al Arabiya, 8 July 2022: Russia vetoes 12-month extension of UN aid into Syria from Turkey (Putin obviously doesn’t care who he kills, the main thing is that there are many – Georgians, Moldovans, Syrians, Ukrainians, etc. through war or additionally through starvation, as in Syria, large parts of Africa and Asia, among other things through theft and embezzlement of Ukrainian agricultural products. In the end, the only thing that obviously counts is that the total number of people killed by him and his state terrorists represents a new “all-time record”.), Arab News, 8 July 2022: NATO’s missed chance to forge new Middle East ties, DW, 8 July 2022: Germany approves Finland and Sweden NATO membership bid, Der Spiegel, 9 July 2020: Johnson’s Resignation and the Consequences for Europe: We Can’t Do Without Britain, The Hill, 9 July 2022: Blinken asks China to stand up against Russia’s war in Ukraine, France24, 9 July 2022: China accused of ‘intimidation’ to stop dissident from running for US congress, DW, 9 July 2022: US, China top diplomats hold first talks since October, The New York Times, 10 July 2022: Defense Firm Said U.S. Spies Backed Its Bid for Pegasus Spyware Maker, DW, 10 July 2022: Germany’s NATO contribution: What challenges await the Bundeswehr?, Jerusalem Post, 11 July 2022: Iran preparing to supply Russia with drones – White House, The National, 11 July 2022: Iran preparing to send hundreds of drones to Russia, US says, The Washington Post, 11 July 2022: ISIS planned chemical attacks in Europe, new details on weapons program reveal, The New York Times, 11 July 2022: Russia is seeking hundreds of surveillance drones from Iran, including those capable of firing missiles, a top Biden aide said., Arab News, 11 July 2022: White House: Iran set to deliver armed drones to Russia, The Times, 11 July 2022: EU plans spy-proof bunker for secret talks, Haaretz, 12 July 2022: Putin to Meet Erdogan, Raisi in Tehran Next Week, Kremlin Says, The New York Times, 12 July 2022: Live Updates: Russia Reaches Out to Iran for Help in Countering West, Al Arabiya, 12 July 2022: Presidents of Russia, Iran, Turkey to meet in Tehran next week: Kremlin, Politico.eu, 12 July 2022: EU countries plan Bond-style bunker to stop foreign spies, The Times, 12 July 2022: Iran ‘offers to arm Russia with drones’, The Hill, 12 July 2022: Experts say US must not let EU lead on cybersecurity, Arab News, 12 July 2022: NATO focus remains on threats from Russia, China: US arms control official, The National, 12 July 2022: Abe’s Indo-Pacific vision is here to stay, but is it good for peace?, DW, 12 July 2022: Germany bolsters defenses against Russian cyber threats, Al Arabiya, 13 July 2022: Russia’s deepening ties with Iran represents a ‘profound threat’: NSA Sullivan, The National, 14 July 2022: Nato needs ‘mindset shift’ to combat Russia in Ukraine war, France24, 14 July 2022: Macron wants a ‘rethink’ of French military strategy in Africa amid Mali withdrawal, The Times, 14 July 2022: RAF may jettison fitness tests for drone operators, The New York Times, 15 July 2022: Gaps in Arms Supplies to Ukraine Point to Countries’ Divergent Strategies, Foreign Policy, 15 July 2022: Russia’s Dreams of a Red Sea Naval Base Are Scuttled—for Now, CNN, 16 July 2022: US Navy challenges Chinese claims in South China Sea for second time in a week, NPR, 16 July 2022: The White House says Russian officials visited Iran to view drones for use in Ukraine, CNN, 16 July 2022: Russians have visited Iran at least twice in last month to examine weapons-capable drones, The Times, 18 July 2022: Putin flies to Iran to cement new anti-West alliance, The Hill, 18 July 2022: Erdogan: Turkey can ‘freeze’ Finland, Sweden NATO bids if demands not met, The National, 18 July 2022: Russia’s Gazprom declares force majeure on gas supply to some customers in Europe, DW, 18 July 2022: Growing Iran-Russia ties in focus as Putin heads to Tehran, The Times, 18 July 2022: Pegasus spyware used against Thai pro-democracy activists, Arab News, 18 July 2022: Turkey warns it can ‘freeze’ Sweden, Finland’s NATO process, DW, 18 July 2022: Turkey threatens to ‘freeze’ Finland, Sweden NATO bids, The New York Times, 19 July 2022: Putin Visits Tehran, as Isolation From West Brings Russia and Iran Closer, The Economist, 19 July 2022: What to read to understand modern warfare, The Hill, 19 July 2022: Time to act now on AI Bill of Rights, Al Arabiya, 19 July 2022: Explainer: What Putin wants from Iran and why Tehran might be cautious, The National, 19 July 2022: Putin visits Iran for trilateral summit under shadow of Ukraine war, Arab News, 19 July 2022: Putin, Raisi and Erdogan have less in common than it appears, BBC, 19 July 2022: Ukraine war: Putin visits Iran in rare international trip, The Times, 19 July 2022: Putin flies to Iran to cement new anti-West alliance, Politico.eu, 19 July 2022: European Commission sets out joint weapon-purchase plan, CNN, 19 July 2022: Putin arrives in Iran for first trip outside former Soviet Union since his invasion of Ukraine, Irish Times, 19 July 2022: Russian public buys into Putin’s propaganda and supports his war, The Times, 19 July 2022: China tests new rocket launcher near disputed border with India, Irish Times, 19 July 2022: If we are not prepared to defend ourselves we should outsource our security, DW, 20 July 2022: Trump 2024 comeback would ‘solve all of Russia’s problems’, Al Arabiya, 20 July 2022: Putin’s Iran trip shows how isolated Russia has become: White House, DW, 20 July 2022: Russia-Iran-Turkey talks strong on symbolism, short on substance, Haaretz, 20 July 2022: How Putin Lost the Drone War – and How Iran Can Help Him in Ukraine, CNN, 20 July 2022: Iran and Russia’s friendship is more complicated than it seems, Politico.eu, 20 July 2022: Seize Macron’s idea of a ‘European Political Community’, BBC, 20 July 2022: US seizes stolen funds from suspected North Korean hackers, Haaretz, 21 July 2022: Putin Goes to Tehran and Finds Barely a Consolation Prize, Politico.eu, 21 July 2022: Iran: Time for a plan B, Arab News, 21 July 2022: French commander accuses Wagner of ‘preying’ on Mali, The Times, 21 July 2022: Royal Navy to use drones to hunt Russian submarines, France24, 22 July 2022: Macron hosts Egypt’s al-Sisi in Paris for talks on security and defence, Haaretz, 22 July 2022: Tehran’s Unity Summit Won’t Make Biden Sweat, DW, 23 July 2022: Poland to buy South Korean tanks and combat planes, Politico.com, 23 July 2022: Fear and loathing in Aspen, Foreign Policy, 23 July 2022: NATO Is a Luxury Good the United States Doesn’t Need, DW, 23 July 2022: Cuba announces same-sex marriage referendum, The New York Times, 23 July 2022: Turkey’s Leader Remains a Headache for Biden Despite Aiding in Ukraine Deal, DW, 23 July 2022: Mystery plane crash: Were Serbian weapons headed for Ukraine?, CNN, 24 July 2022: Russian Navy’s massive submarine could set the stage for ‘a new Cold War’ in the oceans, Politico.com, 24 July 2022: Ukraine’s neighbor worried about Russian invasion, DW, 25 July 2022: ‘Killer robots’: Will they be banned?, Jerusalem Post, 25 July 2022: Russia is planning to use Africa to its benefit, Arab News, 25 July 2022: What lies behind Iran’s drones deal with Russia?, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022: A Russian Defeat in Ukraine Could Save Taiwan, CNN, 25 July 2022: China’s response to Pelosi’s potential Taiwan visit could be ‘unprecedented’ but military conflict unlikely, experts say (when 80-something grandmother Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, the Chinese should really pee their pants. The lady is very resolute), Jerusalem Post, 25 July 2022: Israeli company Candiru allegedly behind cyberattacks against journalists, The Hill, 26 July 2022: GOP civil war on Ukraine builds between MAGA, Reagan Republicans, Al Arabiya, 26 July 2022: Explainer: Why is US House Speaker’s Pelosi visit to Taiwan causing tension?, France24, 26 July 2022: Several peacekeepers and civilians killed as anti-UN protests spread in DR Congo, The National, 26 July 2022: China comments about any Nancy Pelosi Taiwan trip ‘unnecessary’, US says, Foreign Policy, 26 July 2022: What Does Nancy Pelosi Think She’s Doing in Taiwan?, CNN, 26 July 2022: Biden administration working behind the scenes to convince Pelosi of the risks of traveling to Taiwan, Al Arabiya, 26 July 2022: White House berates China’s ‘bellicosity’ after threats against Pelosi, The Times, 26 July 2022: Beijing hails visit by President Widodo of Indonesia as diplomatic win over US, Arab News, 26 July 2022: Predatory birds of a feather plotting mayhem together, Haaretz, 26 July 2022: European Lawmaker Targeted With Israeli-made Predator Spyware, Al Arabiya, 27 July 2022: US says it has not seen any signs of Russia buying drones from Iran, Reuters, 27 July 2022: Philippines scraps Russian helicopter deal – AP, The Atlantic, 27 July 2022: Nancy Pelosi Shows Beijing Must Change Course, CNN, 27 July 2022: China commentator warns of ‘shocking military response’ if Pelosi visits Taiwan (the Chinese really wet their pants. Cool), The Guardian, 27 July 2022: ‘A dangerous moment’: China warns of consequences if Pelosi visits Taiwan, The Hill, 27 July 2022: Pelosi inviting members of Congress for Taiwan trip, The Times, 27 July 2022: China warns of ‘forceful responses’ as Pelosi prepares to visit Taiwan, Al Arabiya, 27 July 2022: US official warns Asian aggressors will face Western might, The Times, 27 July 2022: Talk to our enemies or run risk of nuclear war, security tsar warns, CNN, 27 July 2022: Pentagon working to develop security plan for Pelosi ahead of possible trip to Taiwan, Politico.eu, 27 July 2022: Germany authorizes production of 100 howitzers for Ukraine, Al Arabiya, 27 July 2022: US official warns Asian aggressors will face Western might, France24, 28 July 2022: A ‘new Cold War’ as Russia, France, US compete for influence in Africa, The National, 28 July 2022: Kim Jong-un vows North Korea is ready to use nuclear weapons, France24, 28 July 2022: Macron calls Russia ‘one of the last imperial colonial powers’ on Africa visit, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2022: Pelosi’s Taiwan visit tests U.S.-China ties as Biden looks to ease tensions with Xi, NPR, 28 July 2022: Biden and China’s Xi discuss tensions over Taiwan, CNN, 28 July 2022: Taiwan holds massive Han Kuang military drills as tensions with China build, The National, 28 July 2022: Xi warns Biden not to ‘play with fire’ over Taiwan, Politico.eu, 28 July 2022: Germany promised swift tank swaps to aid Ukraine. It hasn’t happened., The Guardian, 28 July 2022: China: Xi Jinping tells Joe Biden not to ‘play with fire’ over Taiwan in two-hour call, CNN, 28 July 2022: Biden speaks with China’s Xi as tension grows over Taiwan, DW, 28 July 2022: Biden, Xi hold talks as concerns over Pelosi visiting Taiwan grow, Al Arabiya, 28 July 2022: Biden, China’s Xi discuss face-to-face meeting as tensions rise over Taiwan, Politico.eu, 28 July 2022: Europe can stop Taiwan from becoming the next Ukraine, Reuters, 29 July 2022: Turkey says Germany has lost impartiality in mediating between Ankara and Athens, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2022: The war in Ukraine as seen from China? The perspective is vastly different from the West’s, Politico.eu, 29 July 2022: Orbán: Hungary to strike new gas deal with Russia this summer (nothing says louder “we don’t belong to the EU”, than doing deals with Russia’s dictator, except saying it, as Orban recently did), Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2022: Why Nancy Pelosi’s possible Taiwan visit could be a problem — for Taiwan, France24, 29 July 2022: German, Turkish diplomats spar in Istanbul, Politico.com, 29 July 2022: Pelosi to leave for Asia amid Chinese threats over Taiwan stop, France24, 29 July 2022: China accuses US of double standards over relations with Taiwan and Ukraine (ridiculous. Taiwan is a sovereign state and of course has the right to self-defense against the aggressor China, just as every sovereign country in the world has, including Ukraine against the aggressor Russia), CNN, 29 July 2022: Pelosi departing for Asia on Friday, but Taiwan stop still uncertain, Al Arabiya, 29 July 2022: Pentagon shoots down concerns over depleting stockpiles due to Russia-Ukraine war, DW, 30 July 2022: Turkish opposition praises Baerbock for critique of Erdogan policies (if Turkey does not want to become a plaything for Russian or Iranian interests, then it needs NATO just as NATO needs Turkey. Of course, that doesn’t mean that Turkey gets a free pass to harass the NATO country Greece almost every day. This has to be communicated very clearly and if talks behind closed doors don’t bring the desired results, then it has to be discussed publicly), NPR, 30 July 2022: China announces military exercises as Pelosi’s possible trip to Taiwan looms, The Times, 30 July 2022: At his most dangerous and with a political solution now impossible, we’re entering final stage Putin, CNN, 30 July 2022: China to hold live-fire exercises in waters near Fujian, opposite Taiwan, DW, 30 July 2022: Dnieper battle recalls a turning point in World War II, New York Post, 30 July 2022: Chinese propagandist deletes tweet warning Nancy Pelosi’s plane could get shot down (funny. Now at least the whole world knows how much power Nancy Pelosi actually has. She hasn’t set a toe on Taiwanese sovereign territory yet, but Xi Jinping’s Minions have been peeing their pants for the past two weeks straight. This isn’t just “pussy power,” it’s pure and plain power. Awesome), CNN, 30 July 2022: What does Taiwan think about the possibility of a visit by Nancy Pelosi?, NPR, 30 July 2022: China announces military exercises as Pelosi’s possible trip to Taiwan looms, CNN, 30 July 2022: China to hold live-fire exercises in waters near Fujian, opposite Taiwan, The Guardian, 30 July 2022: China: Beijing conducts military exercises off Taiwan after warning Pelosi to scrap visit, DW, 30 July 2022: Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan trip would be ‘high risk, low reward’, The National, 31 July 2022: Nancy Pelosi confirms Asia trip, but no mention of Taiwan, France24, 31 July 2022: Pelosi confirms Asia tour but silent on possibility of Taiwan trip, Politico.com, 31 July 2022: Pelosi confirms trip to Asia but doesn’t mention Taiwan, CNN, 31 July 2022: Pelosi stops in Hawaii and reveals her Asia plans. But no mention of Taiwan, The New York Times, 31 July 2022: Pelosi Heads for Singapore, but Is Silent on Taiwan, Arab News, 31 July 2022: Pelosi confirms trip to Asia, but no mention of Taiwan, Al Arabiya, 31 July 2022: On navy day, Putin says US is Russia’s main rival (ridiculous. Russia is an economic dwarf with nuclear weapons and certainly not a serious opponent of the USA), The Hill, 31 July 2022: Putin pledges to expand Russia’s naval power, citing US as top threat, The National, 1 August 2022: Nancy Pelosi seems set to visit Taiwan despite Beijing threats (after all the fuss the Chinese have created, she has little choice but to actually fly to Taiwan, even if she wouldn’t want to, just to send a clear signal “You will certainly never tell us who we are visiting and when. If we want to visit the sovereign and democratic Republic of Taiwan, then that’s exactly what we will do. Unlike in the communist dictatorship of China, the Taiwanese are free and, without coercion, opted for their sovereignty on their terms and rules. We support that, of course, as we support all democratic endeavors.”), CNN, 1 August 2022: Pelosi expected to visit Taiwan, Taiwanese and US officials say, France24, 1 August 2022: US House Speaker Pelosi begins Asia tour amid tensions over Taiwan, CNN, 1 August 2022: White House warns China against escalations over Pelosi’s potential trip to Taiwan, BBC, 1 August 2022: China could make show of force if Pelosi visits Taiwan – US, CNN, 1 August 2022: What you need to know about Pelosi’s expected visit to Taiwan, The New York Times, 1 August 2022: Why Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan Is Utterly Reckless, Foreign Policy, 1 August 2022: Pelosi’s Visit Risks Turning Taiwan Into a Political Football, Aides Worry, CNN, 1 August 2022: Expect a ‘colorful response’ from China over Pelosi Taiwan visit, says former Australia PM, The New York Times, 1 August 2022: U.S. Warns China Not to Turn Pelosi’s Expected Trip to Taiwan Into a ‘Crisis’, The Washington Post, 1 August 2022: White House warns China not to overreact to potential Pelosi visit to Taiwan, BBC, 1 August 2022: Nuclear annihilation just one miscalculation away, UN chief warns, The National, 1 August 2022: UN chief Antonio Guterres warns of ‘nuclear annihilation’, The New York Times, 1 August 2022: ‘One miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation’: The U.N. chief issues a grim warning, citing war., ekathimerini.com, 2 August 2022: Baerbock’s visit to Greece and Turkey: Anything but harmonious, The New York Times, 2 August 2022: Pelosi’s Taiwan Visit Begins in the Shadow of China’s Warnings, The Washington Post, 2 August 2022: Pelosi meets Taiwanese president as China ramps up pressure on the island, Los Angeles Times, 2 August 2022: Why did Pelosi pick this moment to travel to Taiwan?, CNN, 2 August 2022: Pelosi expected to visit Taiwan, Taiwanese and US officials say, The New York Times, 2 August 2022: As Pelosi Departs Taiwan, China Gears Up for Military Drills (2022 visit by Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan), Financial Times, 2 August 2022: How decades of clashes with China led to Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan trip (of course, she has every right in the world to visit Taiwan whenever she wants. The so-called “One China” policy was obviously not thought through enough and now the necessary corrections are being made), CNBC, 2 August 2022: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi meets Taiwan’s president despite China’s warnings, USA Today, 2 August 2022: Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, angering China, which warns she’s ‘playing with fire’, New York Magazine, 2 August 2022: Nancy Pelosi Is Creating a Global Military Crisis for No Reason at All, Politico.eu, 2 August 2022: China vows to encircle Taiwan with military drills in response to Pelosi’s visit, The Atlantic, 2 August 2022: A Third Nuclear Age Is Upon Us, DW, 2 August 2022: How South Korea is ramping up its weapons exports, BBC, 3 August 2022: Ukraine war: IAEA says Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant out of control, The Hill, 3 August 2022: McConnell to senators looking for excuse to oppose Finland, Sweden NATO bids: ‘Good luck’, Politico.eu, 3 August 2022: Germany’s Scholz shoots down Russia’s excuse for slashing gas flows, The Hill, 3 August 2022: Capitol Police arrest men accused of armed carjackings, The Guardian, 3 August 2022: Taiwan: China to begin series of unprecedented live-fire drills off coast, CNN, 3 August 2022: China hits Taiwan with trade restrictions after Pelosi visit, The Hill, 3 August 2022: Zelensky says he wants to talk about Russian invasion with China’s Xi directly, NPR, 3 August 2022: Pelosi’s Taiwan trip leaves Asian countries nervously awaiting China’s response, The Guardian, 3 August 2022: In Taiwan, as in Ukraine, the west is flirting with disaster, DW, 3 August 2022: Taiwan on edge following Pelosi’s visit, The Hill, 3 August 2022: Senate votes 95-1 to add Sweden, Finland to NATO, Al Arabiya, 3 August 2022: Pelosi knocks China one last time before leaving Taiwan, DW, 3 August 2022: Ukrainians prepare for another potential nuclear disaster near Chernobyl, The New York Times, 3 August 2022: Welcomed by Taiwan, Pelosi Leaves Rising Tensions With China in Her Wake, The Guardian, 3 August 2022: Pelosi’s Taiwan trip could have significant consequences for global economy, DW, 3 August 2022: Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan, Armenia trade blame over renewed clashes, The New York Times, 4 August 2022: With 5 Missiles, China Sends Stark Signal to Japan and U.S. on Taiwan, NPR, 4 August 2022: China fires waves of missiles over the Taiwan Strait, raising tensions in the region, The National, 4 August 2022: China ‘has chosen to overreact’ to Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, White House says, The Washington Post, 4 August 2022: Inside the Air Force’s use of AR to train U.S. pilots to fight China, Russia, Foreign Policy, 4 August 2022: Will a New War Crash Europe’s Azerbaijani Gas Dreams?, CNN, 4 August 2022: Pelosi visited Korean Demilitarized Zone with congressional delegation, The New Yorker, 4 August 2022: The Provocative Politics of Nancy Pelosi’s Trip to Taiwan, DW, 4 August 2022: How does the US support Taiwan militarily?, The Guardian, 4 August 2022: Live: US watching Chinese military drills ‘very closely’ as ballistic missiles fired into Taiwan strait, DW, 4 August 2022: Pelosi meets leaders in South Korea, visits DMZ after contentious Taiwan trip, CNN, 4 August 2022: ‘It’s clearly intimidation’: See what China did after Pelosi left Taiwan, Politico.com, 4 August 2022: U.S. firms eye Taiwan exit on Chinese invasion risk, The New York Times, 4 August 2022: China Sends Ships and Planes Toward Taiwan, Defying Rising Criticism, DW, 4 August 2022: China begins live-fire drills around Taiwan, CNN, 4 August 2022: US postponed missile test due to heightened tensions with China over Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, France24, 4 August 2022: China conducts precision missile strikes near Taiwan after Pelosi visit, BBC, 4 August 2022: China fires missiles near Taiwan after Pelosi visit, CNN, 4 August 2022: Blinken says he hopes ‘Beijing will not manufacture a crisis’ after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, The Times, 4 August 2022: China unleashes missiles in show of fury at Taiwan, Politico.com, 4 August 2022: U.S. orders aircraft carrier to remain in the region amid China-Taiwan tensions, Politico.eu, 5 August 2022: With Russia distracted, clashes rock Nagorno-Karabakh, DW, 5 August 2022: UN: North Korea paving the way for more nuclear tests, Politico.com, 5 August 2022: The Bizarre Soviet Movie That Predicted Putinism, The Guardian, 5 August 2022: Live: China halts cooperation with US over climate and military issues after sending missiles over Taiwan island (Maoism didn’t work. Neither will Xiism. The self-isolation initiated by Xi Jinping from the only world power in the world (and thus ultimately also from its allies) harms China itself more than the USA. A while ago, this blog also pointed out the danger of a block formation or “bipolar world” (USA on the one hand, China on the other). The warning is now increasingly becoming a reality. One can and must assume that the Chinese leadership is only using Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan as an excuse to further accelerate this development originating in China. It was of course to be expected that the conflict with China would escalate sooner or later. After all, Xi Jinping has been brawling for years. So far, the EU and the federal states in particular have once again reacted far too little to the challenges. They will now have to make up for it in a hurry. This includes above all the relocation of productions of all kinds to Europe in order to be able to guarantee the security of supply with primary products), NPR, 5 August 2022: China’s military drills around Taiwan show how it is closing the gap with the U.S., The Times, 5 August 2022: China shuns co-operation with US over Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, The Hill, 5 August 2022: China halts climate, military cooperation with US over Pelosi visit, NPR, 5 August 2022: China halts climate and military dialogue with the U.S. over Pelosi’s Taiwan visit, CNN, 5 August 2022: China suspends cooperation with US on range of issues, sanctions Pelosi over Taiwan trip, Politico.eu, 5 August 2022: China sanctions Nancy Pelosi over ‘provocative’ Taiwan trip, France24, 5 August 2022: China to sanction Pelosi, US calls Chinese military escalation unjustified, CNN, 5 August 2022: China fires missiles towards Taiwan strait in drill after Pelosi visit, The Hill, 5 August 2022: Chinese ambassador called to White House amid tensions over Pelosi Taiwan visit, CNN, 5 August 2022: China sends warships and jets close to Taiwan and sparks alert in Japan as tensions rise, The New York Times, 5 August 2022: U.S. Seeks to Reassure Asian Allies as China’s Military Grows Bolder, CNN, 5 August 2022: Some nationalists felt China did too little to counter Pelosi. Beijing wants to change their minds, DW, 5 August 2022: China’s Taiwan aggression triggers fears of wider security crisis in Asia, BBC, 5 August 2022: Taiwan tensions: China halts co-operation with US on key issues, The National, 5 August 2022: US summons Chinese ambassador to protest against Taiwan drills, DW, 5 August 2022: In Japan, Pelosi says US won’t let China ‘isolate’ Taiwan, Al Arabiya, 5 August 2022: China halts high-level military dialogue with US, suspends other cooperation, France24, 5 August 2022: Japan’s prime minister calls for ‘immediate cancellation’ of Chinese military drills, DW, 5 August 2022: China imposes sanctions on Nancy Pelosi after Taiwan visit, The Hill, 6 August 2022: US strategic advantage depends upon addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities of weapon systems, France24, 6 August 2022: On Hiroshima attack anniversary, survivors share history’s lessons, The New York Times, 6 August 2022: Chinese Military Drills Aim to Awe, Both Abroad and at Home, The National, 6 August 2022: Blinken says China’s decision to cut US contacts is ‘irresponsible’, Al Arabiya, 6 August 2022: Taiwan says Chinese aircraft, ships carry out attack simulation exercises, Arab News, 6 August 2022: Taiwan accuses Beijing of simulating invasion as US-China relations nosedive, The New York Times, 6 August 2022: In Turbulent Times, Xi Builds a Security Fortress for China, and Himself, Irish Times, 6 August 2022: Taiwan says China making simulated attack on main island, The Guardian, 6 August 2022: Live China-Taiwan: Taiwanese jets scrambled as 20 Chinese aircraft cross median line, BBC, 7 August 2022: Ukraine war: Four more grain ships leave Ukraine as hopes grow for export stability, Politico.eu, 7 August 2022: More Ukrainian grain shipments under way , CNN, 7 August 2022: US will defend Philippines if attacked in South China Sea: Blinken, France24, 7 August 2022: China, Taiwan play high-seas ‘cat and mouse’ as drills wrap up, The New York Times, 7 August 2022: After China’s Military Spectacle, Options Narrow for Winning Over Taiwan, France24, 7 August 2022: China’s ‘military threat’ to Taiwan ‘is much more credible than it was 20 years ago’, CNN, 7 August 2022: China launches long-range airstrike drills around Taiwan on fourth day of military exercises, Arab News, 7 August 2022: China to conduct ‘regular’ military drills east of Taiwan Strait median line: state media, The Guardian, 7 August 2022: Live China-Taiwan: Taiwan says China used 66 planes and 14 warships in Sunday’s drills, France24, 8 August 2022: Russia suspends US inspections of its nuclear arsenal, The Atlantic, 8 August 2022: What America’s Great Unwinding Would Mean for the World, CNN, 8 August 2022: US Navy recovers jet blown off aircraft carrier from bottom of ocean, Politico.com, 8 August 2022: Pentagon still assesses China will not invade Taiwan in next 2 years, France24, 8 August 2022: China announces more military drills around Taiwan, The Guardian, 8 August 2022: Taiwan crisis: China resumes military drills off Taiwan after shelving US talks, Al Arabiya, 8 August 2022: One year after Afghanistan, spy agencies pivot toward China, Arab News, 8 August 2022: US funnels another $4.5bn to Ukraine through World Bank, Politico.eu, 8 August 2022: Turkey: Difficult to live with, nearly impossible to live without, Al Arabiya, 8 August 2022: US announces $1 bln in military aid for Ukraine, one of largest weapons packages yet, Politico.com, 8 August 2022: U.S. authorizes largest-yet military package to Ukraine, DW, 8 August 2022: CPEC: Why is India wary of others joining the China-Pakistan project?, The New York Times, 9 August 2022: President Biden signed a treaty that gave U.S. approval of Sweden and Finland’s bids to join NATO., Haaretz, 9 August 2022: Israeli Spyware Maker NSO Has 22 Customers in 12 EU Countries. And It’s Not Alone, France24, 9 August 2022: Biden signs ratification of Finland, Sweden NATO bids, Politico.com, 9 August 2022: Biden signs NATO membership protocols for Finland and Sweden, The National, 9 August 2022: Joe Biden approves US backing for Sweden and Finland joining Nato, BBC, 9 August 2022: China-Taiwan: What we learned from Beijing’s drills around the island, DW, 9 August 2022: Can Nepal maintain neutrality amid China-US tensions?, France24, 9 August 2022: Taiwan conducts live-fire drills in wake of Chinese pressure, DW, 9 August 2022: How are Taiwanese dealing with China’s military threat?, Irish Times, 9 August 2022: The cost imposition on Taiwan over the Nancy Pelosi visit has only begun, Politico.eu, 9 August 2022: Taiwan says China’s using military exercises to ‘prepare for invasion’, Arab News, 10 August 2022: Attrition in Ukraine a threat to EU’s unity, DW, 11 August 2022: New START: Russia puts nuclear weapons treaty on hold, France24, 11 August 2022: Taiwan holds live-fire drills as China ends largest-ever military exercises, The National, 11 August 2022: Sweden ready to extradite first Turkish citizen since Nato application, Jerusalem Post, 11 August 2022: Iran begins training Russians to use its drones – US, Politico.eu, 11 August 2022: Western fund hits €1.5B in pledges to boost Ukrainian defense, The Times, 11 August 2022: Taiwan tensions: US would suffer ‘devastating losses’ in war with China, Politico.eu, 11 August 2022: Hoping for a political settlement in Ukraine? Stop., The Washington Post, 12 August 2022: Russia becomes China’s ‘junior partner’, Jerusalem Post, 12 August 2022: Ukraine war distracts US from China, legitimizes nuclear bombs, CNN, 12 August 2022: Beijing is mad about Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. But now some Chinese are thanking her, DW, 12 August 2022: Turkey and Russia: A partnership essential to both, France24, 12 August 2022: US, Indonesia and Australia hold live-fire drill amid China tensions, Al Arabiya, 12 August 2022: US scolds China for overreacting to Pelosi visit, vows ‘ambitious roadmap’ for Taiwan, DW, 12 August 2022: US to conduct ‘freedom of navigation’ transit in Taiwan Strait, The Guardian, 12 August 2022: Taiwan: US and Chinese officials discuss Biden-Xi meeting amid friction, Foreign Policy, 12 August 2022: Russia’s Brutal Honesty Has Destroyed the West’s Appeasers, Haaretz, 13 August 2022: Iran Plans to Order More Russian Satellites After Successful Launch, The Washington Post, 13 August 2022: U.S. allies most vulnerable to Russia press for more troops, weapons, DW, 13 August 2022: How is China trying to redefine power balance in Taiwan Strait?, Foreign Policy, 13 August 2022: What Does China Want?, DW, 13 August 2022: Sri Lanka permits China’s space-tracking vessel to land at Chinese-run port, The National, 14 August 2022: US politicians visit Taiwan after Nancy Pelosi trip drew China’s ire, Al Arabiya, 14 August 2022: One dead, 45 injured after fireworks explode in Armenian mall: Reports, Arab News, 14 August 2022: Putin wants Turkish cooperation in as many areas as possible, DW, 14 August 2022: Strong explosion rocks market in Armenia’s capital, The Guardian, 14 August 2022: As Putin’s war spreads panic across Europe, Ukrainians must fear a stab in the back, The New York Times, 14 August 2022: Five U.S. Lawmakers Arrive in Taiwan Amid Tensions With China, The Guardian, 14 August 2022: Taiwan: US congressional delegation visits on heels of Pelosi trip, CNN, 14 August 2022: A second US congressional delegation visits Taiwan, The Guardian, 14 August 2022: Authors on the Salman Rushdie attack: ‘A society cannot survive without free speech’, DW, 15 August 2022: US lawmakers meet Taiwan president amid China anger, Al Arabiya, 15 August 2022: Putin boasts of Russian arms prowess, says ready to share it with allies, NPR, 15 August 2022: China conducts fresh military drills around Taiwan as US congressional delegation visits, The National, 15 August 2022: China announces new military drills amid US delegation’s visit to Taiwan, nature food, 15 August 2022: Global food insecurity and famine from reduced crop, marine fishery and livestock production due to climate disruption from nuclear war soot injection, The National, 15 August 2022: US-Russia nuclear war would wipe out 75% of humanity due to global famine, study says, Politico.eu, 15 August 2022: Germany to miss 2 percent NATO defense spending target: think tank, Al Arabiya, 15 August 2022: Ignoring Ukraine setbacks, Putin touts ‘superior’ Russian weapons exports, DW, 15 August 2022: South Korea offers North aid in exchange for denuclearization, Haaretz, 16 August 2022: Israeli Firm Cellebrite Sold Phone-hacking Tools to Uganda’s Brutal Dictatorship, DW, 16 August 2022: Scholz confident Sweden’s NATO membership ‘will now progress very quickly’, CNN, 16 August 2022: US Air Force tests nuclear-capable long-range missile, The Guardian, 16 August 2022: The Guardian view: Salman Rushdie: democracy relies on the right to dissent, DW, 16 August 2022: Taiwan: China announces fresh military drills as tensions simmer, Al Arabiya, 16 August 2022: ‘Rottenyahu’: Terrorist propaganda magazines using ‘humor’ in harmful messaging (‘Rottenyahu’ to describe Netanyahu seems legit, but might be a bit to nice), Arab News, 16 August 2022: German troops back to Bosnia as fear of instability grows, DW, 17 August 2022: South Korea wants to talk as North Korea test fires cruise missiles, Politico.eu, 17 August 2022: NATO urges restraint in Kosovo and Serbia but stands ready to intervene if needed, DW, 17 August 2022: Stoltenberg: NATO ready to intervene if Kosovo tensions escalate, Al Arabiya, 17 August 2022: Taiwan envoy to US says China bullying spurs foreign interest in visits to island, DW, 17 August 2022: Taiwan considers evacuating cultural artifacts amid China tensions, France24, 18 August 2022: EU-mediated talks fail to quell Kosovo-Serbia standoff, The Washington Post, 19 August 2022: , 19 August 2022: Russia’s spies misread Ukraine and misled Kremlin as war loomed, NPR, 19 August 2022: Why a Chinese ship’s arrival in Sri Lanka has caused alarm in India and the West, Miami Herald, 19 August 2022: Russia holds war games in Venezuela, sending alarming signals throughout Latin America, CNN, 19 August 2022: North Korea rejects South’s aid offer, calls President Yoon ‘really simple’, BBC, 19 August 2022: ‘Absurd’: N Korea slams South’s offer of aid for denuclearisation, DW, 19 August 2022: Will US and South Korea military drills increase tension in Asia?, CNN, 19 August 2022: ‘New normal’ across the Taiwan Strait as China threat looms ever closer, Politico.eu, 19 August 2022: US to give 8 combat, transport helicopters to Czech Republic, DW, 19 August 2022: North Korea slams South’s aid-for-disarmament offer, The Hill, 21 August 2022: Biden discusses Ukraine nuclear plant fears with European leaders, Politico.eu, 21 August 2022: Suspected Kremlin spies arrested in Albania after assault at military base, France24, 22 August 2022: South Korea, US begin military drills amid tensions with North Korea, DW, 22 August 2022: Why is North Korea aiming to strengthen ties with Russia?, Al Arabiya, 22 August 2022: US cautiously eyeing F-16 deal for Turkey despite more Russian S-400s for Ankara, France24, 23 August 2022: With International Army Games, Russia tries to show it’s not ‘a pariah state’ (Russia can try whatever it wants. Putin himself gave Russia the status of a pariah state for the next few years, probably even decades. Russian state terrorism in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Syria further cement this status), Arab News, 23 August 2022: US to announce $3 billion in new military aid for Ukraine, Times of Israel, 23 August 2022: Iran to launch country-wide military drill showcasing its drone power, DW, 23 August 2022: Russia-Ukraine updates: Germany to send €500 million in new weapons, Al Arabiya, 23 August 2022: Iran to launch mass military drone drills.

The linked articles and contributions reflect the views, opinions and analyzes of the respective editorial offices, authors and journalists that we do not adopt.

Read more on Common Security and Defence Policy, European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), European Defence Fund, VOLT Europa, United Europe, Global Peace Index and Pulse of Europe.


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