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."
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.
i assume a transcript would read like lyrics to Snake Jazz from that one Rick and Morty episode image
if these frogs can ever grow to the size of real galaxies, they'll be completely invisible to meddling humans image
(Bane voice) "You'll just have to imagine the fire." image
Wow. Helluva story here from NYT. image
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. image