EU prepares finalisation of Ukraine loan and new Russia sanctions, Cyprus says EU ambassadors approved on Wednesday the disbursement of a promised 90 billion euro ($106 billion) loan to ​Ukraine as well as a new package of sanctions against Russia, after Hungary ‌lifted its veto...

#EU prepares finalisation of #Ukraine loan and new #Russia sanctions, #Cyprus says www.reuters.com/world/europe... #Putinswar

EU to cut Venice Biennale funding over Russia’s participation, Kallas says The Italian art exhibition is set to host Russia for the first time since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

#EU to cut Venice Biennale funding over Russia’s participation, Kallas says
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c... #Russia #Putinswar #Ukraine

Ukraine, Belarus tensions rise as border militarization intensifies The Ukrainian president has denounced the Belarusian army's construction of artillery positions near the Ukrainian border. Belarus's leader Alexander Lukashenko warned he is prepared to 'use everythin...

#Ukraine, #Belarus tensions rise as border militarization intensifies
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati... #Russia #Putinswar

Jimmy Kimmel Refers to Kash Patel’s Job in the Past Tense

Only partisan hacks can try to "argue" that #KashPatel did something positive as the FBI director and and I am pretty sure even they pray for not having any big security crisis this guy would have to watch over.
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/a...

If you, inexplicably :-), missed the most recent episode of my 🎙️ #podcast, #TheGlobalAgora, here it is:
▶️ Small countries, big choices?: What #Cyprus and #Slovakia can learn from a changing world order, with @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social.
▶️ podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/and... #EU #Russia

Thanks lot to star speakers Bernadett Szél, Josie-Marie Perkuhn, Jyun-Yi Lee, Matej Šimalčík from the panel - Where is the Europe-Taiwan cooperation headed? - I moderated at the annual #CEEAsia Forum organized by @ceias-eu.bsky.social : Central European Institute of Asian Studies and SFPA.

Orbán’s EU fixer faces becoming Hungary’s ‘fall guy’ Ambassador Bálint Ódor’s knowledge of the EU’s inner workings helped the outgoing government forcefully make its points for years. But his time in Brussels looks like it’s coming …

Orbán's #EU fixer faces becoming Hungary's 'fall guy'
www.politico.eu/article/vikt... #Hungary #politics

Russia threatens Europe as Ukraine escalates strikes on Putin's oil industry The Kremlin issued a thinly veiled threat to European leaders last week over their support for Ukraine's drone program as escalating Ukrainian strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure cause unprecede...

#Russia threatens #Europe as #Ukraine escalates strikes on Putin’s oil industry
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain... #Putinswar

US oil refiners reap windfall from Iran war Soaring fuel prices and access to cheap North American crude oil put American refiners in pole position

US oil refiners reap windfall from #Iran war
www.ft.com/content/6d0f...

Trump, Putin, and Xi... Many thansk to @seva.bsky.social for a very interesting debate about the emergence of the personalist leaders and what it means for global politics.

Priateľstvo, ktoré zaväzuje. O Dni poľsko-francúzskeho priateľstva na prvé výročie Zmluvy z Nancy NICOLAS SURAN, PIOTR SEMEREK: Priateľstvá medzi národmi, podobne ako tie medzi ľuďmi, nie sú dané raz a navždy. Je potrebné sa o ne starať, obnovovať ich a stále nanovo definovať.

#Poland and #France celebrate the first Polish-French Friendship Day. French Ambassador Nicolas Suran to Slovakiaa and Polish chargé d'affaires Piotr Samerek to Slovakia write about it for @pravdask.bsky.social. nazory.pravda.sk/analyzy-a-po...

Small countries, big choices?: What Cyprus and Slovakia can learn from a changing world order Podcast Episode · The Global Agora · April 17 · 28m

Small countries, big choices?: What #Cyprus and #Slovakia can learn from a changing world order. My 🎙 #podcast, #TheGlobalAgora, w/ @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social.
▶️ podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/and...
▶️ Apple podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
▶️ Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/1MyH... #EU #Russia

At the annual #CEEAsia Forum in Bratislava. @ceias-eu.bsky.social and Slovak Foreign Policy Association connect #CEE with #Asia like nobody else. www.ceeasiaforum.ceias.eu

China puts Wang Yi's Seoul visit on hold over Taiwan labeling dispute - The Korea Times China has put Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s planned visit to Korea on hold, raising concerns over recent changes to Korea’s electronic arrival card sy...

#China puts Wang Yi’s Seoul visit on hold over #Taiwan labeling dispute
www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffai... #SouthKorea

Poll: Trump's approval rating hits second-term low as Americans sour on the economy and Iran war Two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation, according to an NBC News Decision Desk Poll, with some cracks emerging in his GOP support.

Poll: Trump's approval rating hits second-term low as Americans sour on the economy and Iran war
www.nbcnews.com/politics/don... #Trump #Trumpswar #politics

Ukraine’s drone pilots hit Russian targets from 500km away New internet-based guidance system allows operation of unmanned aerial vehicles far from battlefield

Ukraine’s drone pilots hit Russian targets from 500km away
www.ft.com/content/9287... #Ukraine #Russia #Putinswar #drones

Bulgarian Russia-Sympathizer Radev Secures Decisive Election Win Former President Rumen Radev, who opposes sanctions against Russia and military aid for Ukraine, claimed an overwhelming victory in Bulgaria’s election and pledged to turn the page on years of politic...

Bulgarian Russia-Sympathizer #Radev Secures Decisive Election Win
www.bloomberg.com/news/article... #Bulgaria #politics

I am quote curious to see if there will be some level of Fico-Radev, I wouldn't call it cooperation, but maybe some level of consultation re Ukraine, Russia topics, or it will be just some Fico-Radev rhetorical overlap.

Agree. But is wouldn't rule out Radev's radicalization towards the EU. Happen also to Fico.

Fico uses Brussels as a boogie man, says Slovakia belongs to the EU and pushes pro-Russian narratives. All simultaneously.

Japan seals largest-ever defense contract with frigate sale to Australia Tokyo will supply Australia with the first three of a planned fleet of 11 new warships in a deal that highlights the progress of Japan's defense industry over the past decade.

#Japan seals largest-ever #defense contract with frigate sale to #Australia
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04...

Similar to Fico.

#Baltics block Slovakia's #Fico from using airspace to get to #Russia for May 9 news.err.ee/1610000443/b... #Slovakia #Ukraine #Putinswar

Behind Trump’s Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples With His Own Fears The president’s impulsive style has never been tested in a sustained military conflict, and he’s been ruminating on Jimmy Carter’s failure in Iran.

Behind Trump’s Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples With His Own Fears
www.wsj.com/politics/nat... #Trump

Is #Ukraine winning the drone race?, by @ldfreedman.bsky.social.
substack.com/app-link/pos... #drones #Putinswar #Russia

What Cyprus and Slovakia can learn from a changing world order Andrej Matisak published a post on Ko-fi

Small countries, big choices?: What #Cyprus and #Slovakia can learn from a changing world order. My🎙 #podcast, #TheGlobalAgora, with @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social.
▶️ ko-fi.com/post/What-Cy...
✅️ If you enjoy what I do, please buy me ☕️ coffee. Thank you! #EU #Russia

Bulgaria heads to the polls in eighth general election in five years Voters in Bulgaria headed to the polls Sunday for an eighth general election in five years, with ex-president Rumen Radev tipped to win on anti-corruption pledges. The election comes after unrest topp...

#Bulgaria heads to the polls in eighth general election in five years
www.france24.com/en/europe/20... #politics

‘I was fighting two wars’: Ukraine’s soldiers confront their addiction struggles Troops frequently use substances to help cope with untreated PTSD and anxiety, producing a negative spiral

‘I was fighting two wars’: Ukraine’s soldiers confront their addiction struggles
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a... #Ukraine #Putinswar #Russia

Four scenarios for geopolitics after the Iran war Policymakers should consider four potential outcomes for the Iran war and how they would impact US-China competition.

Four scenarios for geopolitics after the #Iran war
www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/f... via @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social #Trump #Trumpwar

Traders placed over $1bn in perfectly timed bets on the Iran war. What is going on? Suspicious wagers on the US-Israel war in Iran are creating huge windfalls and raising concerns among lawmakers

Traders placed over $1bn in perfectly timed bets on the Iran war. What is going on?
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...