Survive 2024 to win in 2025 – POLITICO

This year will be one of “recovery and preparation on both sides, like 1916 and 1941-42 in the last world wars,” said Marc Thys, who retired as Belgium’s deputy defense chief last year with the rank of lieutenant general.  Looking ahead To assess prospects for the year ahead, POLITICO asked analysts, serving officers and military …

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5 lies and 1 truth from Putin’s interview with Tucker Carlson – POLITICO

Putin, however, perceives that he himself is the single legitimate representative of Russia. His key officials share the same feeling: “There is no Russia today if there is no Putin,” said Vyacheslav Volodin, head of the lower house of Russia’s parliament. Why the Soviet Union collapsed What he said: “Russia even agreed voluntarily and proactively …

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Tucker Carlson confirms he’s interviewing Vladimir Putin – POLITICO

News of Carlson’s visit first broke at the weekend after the Mash Telegram channel, rumored to have links to Russian law enforcement, reported he’d been spotted in Moscow at the Bolshoi Theater after having flown in several days earlier. In a video published by the Russian outlet Izvestia a day later, Carlson said he had …

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‘Whatever America decides,’ Europe must back Ukraine – POLITICO

Macron’s comments come as European nations grapple with the looming consequences of Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House, with the NATO-skeptic ex-president on track to win the Republican nomination. In the U.S., further military aid for Ukraine is also stalled in Congress, with Republican lawmakers reluctant to continue funding Kyiv. Ukraine has been …

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Putin challenger says ‘miracles’ are helping him upstage Russian leader – POLITICO

Nadezhdin, a 60-year-old veteran politician with a background in physics, promises to end Putin’s “fatal mistake” in Ukraine, halt mobilization and free political prisoners, including Alexei Navalny. He also pledges to reverse anti-LGBTQ+ and military censorship laws. Nadezhdin has been criticized by some for being ambiguous on the status of Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, …

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Ukraine enlists feline friends in fight against Russia – POLITICO

Wars are fought by soldiers using bullets, shells and missiles, but also with ideas and propaganda — which explains why cats have become the latest battlefront in Ukraine. Ukraine’s social media are full of felines, showing how they help soldiers as emotional support animals, attract donations to the military with their fluffy cuteness, and also …

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Macron to ‘finalize security deal’ during Ukraine visit – POLITICO

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday he plans to sign a bilateral security agreement with Kyiv during a visit to Ukraine next month. Macron said France would “continue to help Ukraine to hold the front line and protect its skies,” and that the two countries “were finalizing a deal.” Speaking at a Paris press …

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Trump’s ghost stalks Davos – POLITICO

DAVOS, Switzerland — World leaders gathered together in the Swiss Alps this week are nervous that Donald Trump will be even more anti-global if he returns as United States president. And they have good reason to be wary. If polls prove correct, the front-runner for the Republican nomination is set to be crowned winner of the …

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