Ukrainians caused the largest short-term disruption of oil exports in modern Russian history (Ukraine Battlefield update, day 1491)
Russia’s revenues from oil and natural gas sales fell by 47 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.
Defence
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How Europe might help re-opening Strait of Hormuz, after the ‘hot war’
Sole military options are proving inadequate to re-open the Strait. Strategic thinking on diplomatic solutions are needed. The EU’s experience and leadership could be key.
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Drone crashes across Baltic states show gaps in defence against a new kind of war
Several stray drones from Ukraine, affected by electronic warfare, have crashed in Baltic states as local air defence systems struggled to detect them. Meanwhile, Ukraine is leading the way with new interceptor systems.
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Trump’s military options to secure Hormuz and end the war, explained
As Qatar’s gas stops flowing to Europe and Iran chokes the Strait of Hormuz, energy prices are surging and tensions have spiked. US threats raise the stakes — but reopening this vital artery is far from simple, with risky military options, asymmetric warfare, and the looming threat of mined waters hanging over global trade. Here are some basic questions and answers.
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Kallas takes aim at Russia’s ‘unethical’ army recruiting in Africa during Ghana trip
A report by the All Eyes on Wagner investigative group listed 1,417 fighters from 35 African countries who had joined the Russian army between 2023 and mid-2025, 316 of whom have been killed. Ghana’s West African neighbour Cameroon has suffered the highest losses: 94 of its 335 recruits have been killed during Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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EU offers cash and defence deal as it inks migrant returns pact with Nigeria
The EU and Nigeria have made progress on the ‘strategic partnership’ first announced in 2023, unveiling a returns and readmission agreement for failed migrants on Monday.
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How to avoid EU arms spending spree being lost to corruption and bribery?
Europe is about to spend billions of euros on defence. But what happens if citizens later discover that part of that money was lost to corruption, problematic procurement chains, or poorly supervised contracts?
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Tusk comes up with a Plan B, after Polish president vetoes historic defence spending law
The Polish government is reaching for a workaround to access European loans for rearmament after president Karol Nawrocki vetoed a historic law enabling the EU’s SAFE programme. Meanwhile, an information campaign is spreading narratives of a ‘Narva separatist republic’ in Estonia, and a spy scandal is unraveling Slovenia’s election campaign.
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Listen: Why Europe won’t blindly follow Donald Trump’s call to secure the Strait of Hormuz?
Trump pressures allies as tensions rise over the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran restricts oil flows and prices surge. Europe resists Nato involvement, urging caution and clarity while weighing limited action. Will the EU support US calls or chart its own course amid escalating geopolitical stakes and fragile energy security?
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Ukraine Battlefield update (day 1,478): Why Ukraine is more optimistic than last year ahead of Russian spring offensive
Ukraine managed to cut off the Russians from the US Starlink satellite system and increased drone attacks against Russia’s rear positions.
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EU needs a ‘single market’ for defence, MEPs tell Commission
The EU’s defence industry needs to be fully integrated into the bloc’s single market, MEPs said in a new report approved on Wednesday.
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Arms flows rise to Cold War levels amid Ukraine and EU rearmament
Global arms flows are surging to Cold War levels, fuelled by European rearmament and the war in Ukraine. Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic are reshaping Europe’s defence landscape, while a Czechoslovak Group’s record-breaking IPO exposes links between business and politics. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia eyes Ukrainian weapons amid drone threats, highlighting a defence boom that is both highly profitable and increasingly entangled with geopolitics.
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Listen: Which European countries are sending forces to the Middle East?
Some EU member states have defence agreements with Gulf countries, requiring mutual assistance in case of attack. That’s why several EU countries have announced military deployments to the region, including France and the Netherlands. But what is the scale of European forces sent to the region?
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Europe must prepare for the age of nuclear weapons, expert warns
Michal Onderčo, a nuclear weapons expert from the University of Rotterdam who recently published the book Europe’s Nuclear Umbrella, warns that due to the threat from Russia and the US pivot away from Europe, the era in which European leaders did not have to worry about the issue of nuclear deterrence has ended.
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Iran war could mean shortages of Patriot defence missiles for Ukraine
Ukraine has backed US action against Iran, seeking favour with Donald Trump and strategic gains against Russia, despite risks of reduced US support and Patriot shortages. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron has expanded France’s nuclear umbrella to Europe, including Poland — while disputes intensify over Ukraine’s Druzhba pipeline shutdown.
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Hungary and Slovakia in standoff with Ukraine over broken Russian oil pipe
Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline has halted, sparking tensions between Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine, although Brussels says supplies remain stable. In contrast, Kyiv builds cyber ties with other EU countries while Baltic states bolster border defences.
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Listen: How Poland is preparing for a potential war?
Poland isn’t just preparing for war — it’s rewriting the rulebook on how to get ready. Meanwhile, the rest of the EU is slowly catching up on defence. What can we learn from Poland’s approach?
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How the EU is deregulating arms-control to be like any other industry
A new legislative package — the Defence Readiness Omnibus — threatens to overhaul how weapons are produced and sold, creating a dangerous precedent for global security. By doing so, the EU is effectively proposing to treat lethal technology no differently than bananas or chocolate.
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Poland’s Sikorski says the quiet bit out loud: Europe has become Ukraine’s lifeline, not US
Last year, Europe became Ukraine’s main supporter, providing over $200bn (€170bn) in military, financial, and humanitarian aid, while US assistance dropped sharply, shifting the war’s centre of gravity to the EU.
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Nuclear weapons talk to fresh arms deals: how Poland’s defence surge is reshaping Europe’s frontline
Poland considers developing its own nuclear capabilities amid rising Russian threats, while the EU approves €43.7bn from the SAFE programme for defence modernisation. Meanwhile, allies including Germany and France show growing interest in Polish weapons such as the Piorun system.