War in Ukraine

Ukraine war: Pope Francis should learn from his WWII predecessor’s mistakes in appeasing fascism

— Pope Francis faces criticism for comments seen as meek collaboration with Russia in the Ukraine conflict. This is reminiscent of Pope Pius XII’s prioritisation of the Church’s interests during World War II.

2024 US Presidential Election

State of the Union: Biden hits back at critics as he warns of threats to democracy at home and overseas

— President Biden delivered an energetic State of the Union, signalling his reelection bid. Addressing domestic and international challenges, he urged support for Ukraine, criticised Donald Trump’s Russia stance, and emphasised democratic values.

War in Ukraine

Macron won’t rule out using Western ground troops in Ukraine – but is NATO prepared for war with Russia?

— French President Macron doesn’t exclude the possibility of deploying Western troops to Ukraine following a meeting with European leaders. However, the question remains: could the deployment of ground troops to Ukraine provoke a broader and more dangerous conflict with Russia?

Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has never understood why Ukrainians want to control their own destiny

— Ukraine’s journey from a distant democracy to the eastern edge of Western Europe, symbolised by the Euromaidan protests, underscores its distinct political culture and fervent embrace of democratic values, contrasting sharply with Russia’s authoritarianism.

2024 US Presidential Election

Donald Trump is already flustering foreign leaders who are trying to prepare for a possible presidency

— Donald Trump’s influence on the 2024 US presidential race is unprecedented, shaping both domestic and foreign agendas, prompting policy changes, and causing global uncertainty, even without an official candidacy.

Russia

Vladimir Putin’s history war where truth is the first casualty

— The Kremlin sanctions UK historians for alleged misrepresentation of Russian history, as Putin promotes a distorted narrative rooted in a 12th-century text to suppress dissenting views on Ukraine’s historical ties.

Russia

Alexei Navalny: Reported death of Putin’s most prominent opponent spells the end of politics in Russia

— The reported death of Alexei Navalny in prison signifies the end of internal challenges to the Kremlin. Navalny’s demise marks the conclusion of Russia’s political landscape, dominated by Putin’s authoritarianism and limited dissenting voices.

Vladimir Putin

Tucker Carlson’s Putin interview gave Russian leader a platform to boost his own cause – and that of Donald Trump

— Tucker Carlson, ex-Fox News host, has interviewed Vladimir Putin on Ukraine, US politics, and NATO. As a vocal critic of Biden, Carlson’s interview raises questions about humanising Putin.

War in Ukraine

Ukraine war: Corruption scandals and high-level rifts could become an existential threat as Kyiv asks for more military aid

— Ukraine faces a dual challenge: while President Zelensky’s anti-corruption efforts show progress, a scandal involving missing military supplies highlights pervasive corruption, jeopardizing both internal stability and Western support.

COMMENT

NATO’s biggest exercise since Cold War could poke Russian bear

— The start of 2024 witnesses escalating global threats: the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Iran-Pakistan exchanges, China’s tensions with Taiwan, North Korea’s strategic shift, and a concerning prospect of Russia using nuclear weapons to deter NATO.

COMMENT

Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar… whatever happened to the ‘never again’ pledge?

— Global tensions are escalating, marked by ongoing regional disputes in Ukraine-Russia, Israel-Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and Ethiopia. The international community’s intermittent focus on these crises raises concerns about the efficacy of global peacemaking efforts.

War in Ukraine

Israel-Gaza conflict: An opportunity for Putin while the world is distracted

— Conflict in the Middle East may distract the West, which could be to Russia’s advantage in the Ukraine war.

Slovakia Elections

Slovakia may be about to elect a government which plans to halt aid to Kyiv

— Slovakia has steadfastly supported Ukraine in the war, but there are signs this may change after the election.

War in Ukraine

Ukraine War: Mixed signals among Kyiv’s allies hint at growing conflict fatigue

— As the war nears 600 days, there are signs that support for Ukraine could be beginning to waver in some parts.

War in Ukraine

From SpaceX to geopolitics: Did Elon Musk sabotage Ukraine?

— The revelation that Elon Musk halted Starlink services near Crimea during a Ukrainian drone operation, stemming from a biography of the multi-billionaire, showcases the profound impact tech leaders can have in geopolitical affairs.

Russia

Ukraine war: Two good reasons the world should worry about Russia’s arms purchases from North Korea

— Despite the UN sanctions against North Korea, Russia is apparently trading weapons and technology which could help Pyongyang’s missile programme.