the EU is ready to take on Russia, just as soon as it finds the balls to stand up to Belgium

RIP, reparations loan. "European leaders failed to reach a deal to use frozen Russian assets to send billions of euros in financial aid to Ukraine after 14 hours of discussions. Leaders will now consider a solution based on joint borrowing to send €90 billion to Ukraine over two years."

EU’s deal on Ukraine comes despite turn away from using frozen Russian assets – POLITICO

Useful explainer of the legal rationale that underpinned the controversial civil court rulings in favor of singer Larisa Dolina, and the Supreme Court's ultimate decision to lay down the smack.

Meduza

2025’s biggest verdict How Russia’s Supreme Court redrew the legal lines in a hotly disputed Moscow apartment sale — Meduza

In late 2025, accelerating peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine dominated Russia’s news cycle, but a domestic scandal competed for at...

i assume a transcript would read like lyrics to Snake Jazz from that one Rick and Morty episode

if these frogs can ever grow to the size of real galaxies, they'll be completely invisible to meddling humans

(Bane voice) "You'll just have to imagine the fire."

Wow. Helluva story here from NYT.

The Putin Confidant Who Pushed Back Against the War

Dmitri N. Kozak had worked with President Vladimir V. Putin for three decades before quitting in September. His associates described his break with...

If the E.U. can’t come together to approve the reparations loan to Kyiv — and shoulder the legal risks that come with it — it will be that much harder to take the Europeans seriously on the Ukraine war. I know it’s being squeezed to say no by Washington and Moscow alike, but thems the breaks.

Interesting: a Ukrainian delegation headed by Umerov is also expected to arrive in Miami later this week for talks with Witkoff and Kushner, but no trilateral meeting is currently planned. Puts some pressure on the weekend meeting with the Russians. Do your thing, Florida sunshine! https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/trump-russia-ukraine-war-peace-talks-putin-envoy-miami

Alarming headline from The Guardian, though the actual story is pretty light on details about this intimidation. Apart from Euroclear execs hiring private security + promised legal/economic retaliation against Belgium, we're left only with some anon speculation about the GRU.

the Guardian

Belgian politicians and finance bosses targeted by Russian intelligence over seized assets

Exclusive: Key figures at frozen assets depository among targets of intimidation campaign, say European intelligence agencies