On the Front in Ukraine: Going Into Battle in a Leopard 2 Tank
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #VladimirPutin #Russia

The Ukrainian counteroffensive has begun, and Western war equipment is playing a vital role․ A tank unit in Zaporizhzhia is in the thick of the fight․

German Reactions to Chaos in Russia: 'We Have To Look Each Other Deep in the Eyes in NATO'
#International #World #Russia #VladimirPutin #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #GermanForeignPolicy

Before Saturday's uprising in Russia unraveled, Western intelligence thought the Wagner Group might be able to reach Moscow - and believed that Putin had left the city․ Hours later, Western politicians were wondering how to exploit the weakness shown by the Russian leader․

Jewgenij Prigoschin: Ein Deal, der Wladimir Putins Schwäche offenbart (Kopie)
#International #World #Russia #VladimirPutin #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine

Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin quickly brought his uprising to an end on Sunday․ But not before inflicting a deep humiliation on Russian President Vladimir Putin․ There will almost certainly be consequences․

Prigozhin's Insurgency: The War Putin Wanted Now Threatens His Rule
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #VladimirPutin #Ukraine

Dictatorships seem stable up until the moment they no longer are․ After the failed uprising of the Wagner troops, Vladimir Putin's system is looking wobbly․ Suddenly, a Russia without him is conceivable․

Another Stumble: German Intelligence Criticized for Slow Handling of Russian Coup Attempt
#International #Europe #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #BND #GermanForeignPolicy

Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND, is under fire for learning too late about the recent Wagner Group coup attempt in Russia․ It's possible the agency's head could soon be out as a result of the late response, which many see as one too many․

Putin's Vassal: Belarus in the Inner-Russian Power Struggle
#International #Europe #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Russia #Belarus #Ukraine

Alexander Lukashenko managed to shine as a mediator in Putin's conflict with the Wagner Group․ That triumph, though, should not obscure the fact that the Belarusian ruler is nothing more than a vassal of Moscow․

A Strategic Baltic Archipelago: What Happens If Russia Attacks Finland's Åland Islands?
#International #Europe #Finland #Russia #EuropeanUnion

Finland's Åland islands have been demilitarized for over a century as part of a peace treaty with Russia․ Since Moscow invaded Ukraine, though, the agreement has come under intense scrutiny․ Protests are held almost daily in front of the Russian Consulate in the capital city of the autonomous territory․

Western Support for Kyiv: It's Now or Never For Ukraine
#International #World #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine #Ukraine #Russia #VladimirPutin #NATO #JoeBiden

The Ukrainian counteroffensive has bogged down and soldiers have been able to do little to counter Russia's firepower․ At next week's NATO summit, the West must decide how much a victory over Putin is worth and finally get serious about delivering urgently needed weapons systems․

Interview with Mikhail Khodorkovsky: "There Is No Other Option But To Take Up Arms"
#International #World #Russia #VladimirPutin #HumanRightsinRussia

The democratic opposition must take up arms to depose Vladimir Putin, says former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky․ In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, he argues that an autocrat with little regard for human life cannot be defeated through peaceful means․

Germany - Pro-Russian AfD Worker: Moscow's Man in the Bundestag
#International #Germany #Russia #GermanRussianRelations #AlternativeforGermany #RightWingPopulism #Ukraine #RussiasWarAgainstUkraine

A pro-Russian activist with close ties to Moscow works for an AfD member of the federal parliament, giving him access to the seat of German democracy․ Security authorities are alarmed by the man, who holds both German and Russian citizenship․ Nevertheless, it seems there is little they can do․