Commentary
An ugly Ukraine deal was predictable — but this will merely pause Russia’s revanchism
We started checking Russian shadow vessel insurance. Now what?
Making excuses for Putin
The strike on Sumy wasn’t an error, aberration or mishap. It fits into Russia’s long-established tactics — and Washington knows that.
Le Pen is down but not out
The French firebrand’s chances of completely reversing her conviction may be small, but her political fate has not yet been fully decided.
Voters are the only ones who could stop Trump’s tariff game
Overall prices and mortgage rates will inevitably rise because of the president’s tariff imposition. And when they do, maybe then his MAGA base will start to erode.
The US brain drain has begun
The White House appears hell-bent on destroying not just economic and political paradigms, but a higher education system that really did make America great.
How Trump cost America the world
Friend and foe alike will start piecing together a different global trade order that the U.S. might like a lot less than the one it trashed.
India could help save an aging Europe
As the continent tilts to the right and its politicians find it hard to explain an influx of refugees from war-torn countries, India is actively trying to present itself as a reasonable partner.
For Europe’s populists, Trump is a mixed blessing
U.S. president’s continuous economic brinkmanship and bullying is presenting sharp dilemmas across the pond.
Trump would only help a neighbor for profit
The U.S. president doesn’t see the benefit in helping allies — and it’s visible in the deal he’s trying to foist on Ukraine.
What Signalgate really tells us
Apparently, the U.S. military is for hire, even if there has been no request for its services. And if you want us — you have to pay.
We need to pay closer attention to Svalbard
NATO members and other allies would do well to start thinking about how they’d respond if Russia took action against one of its most remote geographies.
UK chancellor will double down despite growing opposition
It’s a fiscal gamble, but for now, Reeves will continue to argue there’s no other way than to take the bet she’s making.
Erdoğan seizes geopolitical moment to snuff out democratic opposition
The Turkish president has chosen to bury the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the secular founder of the Republic of Turkey.
Trump fails to get Putin to stop the shooting
Russia insists on terms to end the war that spell the end of democratic Ukraine, and has followed up the Trump call with an assault on Kyiv.
The depopulation of Ukraine
The war is exacerbating a demographics decline that had already started well before Putin ordered his troops across the border
Now it’s Putin who has to tread carefully with Trump
In a remarkable volte-face, the U.S. is making clear it now regards Russia as the “impediment” to peace if it rejects a ceasefire.
Trump says Ukraine doesn’t hold any cards — he’s the one snatching them
The U.S. president has single-handedly pushed Kyiv into its most perilous time since Russia’s all-out invasion began.
The threats hanging over Bayrou’s government
If the prime minister can survive the year, he can likely hang on until the end of Macron’s term. However, there are a few unresolved issues that could topple him before then.
We need to keep a closer eye on saboteurs in our midst
We’ve seen an uptick in geopolitically motivated harm within our borders, and it’s in all our interest to help stop it.
Can Ukraine-US relations be repaired?
After the surreal Oval Office brawl, strenuous efforts are under way to try to repair some of the damage.
Unlike Trump, Europe can’t afford to take Putin at his word
Vastly differing views of the Russian leader’s geopolitical ambitions are fueling the transatlantic divide.
Can Germany’s humbled political establishment regroup?
Merz has four to five years not just to breathe new life into his party, but to ensure the country’s traditional political constellation isn’t broken for good.
Elections now would be perilous for Ukraine
Holding elections while fighting an existential war would needlessly imperil Ukrainian cohesion — and the Kremlin would have a field day.
Does Merz have what it takes?
The country’s new government will need to quickly demonstrate its resilience and that it can take on the task of showing that Europe counts.
We need a new transatlantic bargain
If Washington is to continue to see enduring value in this historic alliance, it needs a true and more equal partnership.
France could now prove the weak link in the Franco-German engine
The relationship between the two countries may be more difficult to rebuild than the warm words between Merz and Macron suggest.