Browsing: Europe

The story so far: In late August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned allies of a roughly €27-billion hole in his country’s defence budget for the year. On October 1, after weeks of technical talks with Kyiv, the European Commission declared that Ukraine’s financial and military needs for 2026 were now “fully covered.” Yet the manner…

From a war-crimes court to rogue tankers to Himalayan floods, the international order is fraying. The European Union is mostly reduced to watching from the sidelines.

Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia are the only EU countries that have not committed to joining a tribunal for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath named them on Friday, while outlining what still stands between European pledges and a working court: unresolved costs and security arrangements. 

A plane landed, and an alarming rumor took off. On August 25, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe flew to Moscow for an unannounced visit. One reported reason for the trip was to warn Russian leaders against attacking NATO allies. Russia has long carried out hybrid warfare across Europe in the form of sabotage,…