Defense

The Hungarian premier visited Kyiv on the second day of Budapest’s turn at the helm of the Council of the EU.

Germany is skeptical of common borrowing for defense; Poland wants it.

It’s the first visit by the Hungarian PM to the war-struck country since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Ukraine needs U.S. permission to use ATACMS to hit Russian bases where bomb-dropping aircraft are based.

Launching a weather satellite with SpaceX and not Ariane 6 is a “surprising” decision, said Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency.

Ukrainian military intelligence has been using the satellite to target Russian troops, weapons and logistics.

The U.S. has been pushing Israel to agree to a three-part cease-fire deal, backed by several countries including France, the U.K., Egypt, Qatar and by the European Commission.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah prompted the US to launch diplomatic efforts to prevent a full-scale war in the region.

“It was a bit awkward,” Tusk said.

New fight brews between French president and surging far right ahead of snap election.

Military and foreign policy have long been seen as the “reserved domain” of the president — but the far right is challenging that assumption.

National Rally had claimed it should nominate the French commissioner if it wins the parliamentary election — but the president wants Breton back in Brussels.

Ties with high-risk Chinese universities come at an awkward time for the bloc.

“We need good working hands for that,” said Aleksandr Bastrykin, head of the Russian Investigative Committee.

Far right is warning it will use budget as lever to influence French president’s authority over defense policy.

Kremlin chief and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed strategic partnership treaty, deepening military cooperation earlier in June.

Outgoing Dutch PM will take over from Jens Stoltenberg on Oct. 1.

European Court of Human Rights ruled Russia is guilty of suppressing human rights in occupied Crimea

ICC targets former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov over their roles in war on Ukraine.

“They can always threaten to ship you off to the front lines,” said an investigative reporter.

Brussels holds its breath as Budapest takes over rotating Council presidency.

The country’s Council stint will be marked by political change in Brussels following the EU election.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has railed against Western aid to Ukraine while spending big on defense at home.

In its new electoral program the party refuses “transfers of competence” to the EU in terms of defense and foreign policy.