“The reporter should be released and he will be released,” Trump tells TIME in an interview on April 12. “I don’t know if he’s going to be released under Biden,” Trump said, but “I would get him released.”

time.com/6971439/donald…

Ukraine energy chief calls on EU to help protect gas storage from Russia ft.com/content/978543… via Financial Times

Turkey's trade with Russia is down sharply this year following more US pressure on banks dealing with Moscow's war machine. A sign Biden's Dec 2023 executive order is having a noticeable effect on payments to and from Russia

with Adam Samson Chris Cook
ft.com/content/67bab8…

The U.S. supplemental has passed and aid is on the way to Ukrainian frontlines. But months of delay for ammo and manpower have come at a cost. Problems cannot easily be undone, especially in Donetsk. A brief thread on what Russian decisions say about their summer plans. 🧵

'The Russian economy resembles a marathon runner battling the flu yet bolstered by steroids, propelling them forward [...] The runner faces slim odds of winning but persists, sustained by the performance-enhancing effects of the steroids,' writes Alexandra Prokopenko

carnegieendowment.org/politika/92326

Yet more grim news in Russia, where journalists Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin – onetime Reuters and AP stringers respectively – were arrested late last week.

They're being charged with working for Alexei Navalny's team.

Polina Ivanova reports:

ft.com/content/ab8204…

Brest is a rainy port home to the French submarine nuclear deterrent. It has also witnessed a remarkable number of weddings in recent years between Chinese students and the seamen who work at its naval bases.

“How should we evaluate such relationships?” on.ft.com/3JYLHbD

“Putin switched off the gas. He cannot repeat that with the sun.” on.ft.com/3UmjkJ6

The largest western banks in Russia paid the Kremlin more than €800mn in taxes last year, a fourfold increase on prewar levels, despite promises to minimise their exposure after the invasion of Ukraine, ⁦Euan Healy⁩ and ⁦Anastasia Stognei⁩ report on.ft.com/3UBv6k3

“If someone turns off your headlights while you’re driving at night, it gets dangerous. Things in the Baltic region near Russian borders are now getting too dangerous to ignore.”

⁦Richard Milne⁩ on yet another Russian security threat on.ft.com/44m38vN

Oh great, it’s radioactive ash time again

Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky says the battlefield situation has 'worsened,' and Russia is 'trying to seize the strategic initiative and break through the frontline.' It has 'a significant advantage in forces and means' and is 'actively…

Getting arrested for corruption when you run Russian MOD construction is like getting kicked out of Funkadelic for doing too many drugs.

So why did the FSB go after Timur Ivanov – and undermine his patron Sergei Shoigu?

with Polina Ivanova
on.ft.com/49ZaeYi

More horrible news. A stringer for Reuters in Moscow has been arrested (for some alleged other/prior work) according to the court.

Konstantin Gabov, a journalist and video producer, will now face trial and jail in Russia. Local staff always at highest risk

Riga derby in full swing

“Putin has prepared for this. But the scale of recent Russian losses for limited gains, and the embarrassment of not being able to stop Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory, means that he still lacks an obvious route to victory,” writes ⁦Lawrence Freedman⁩ on.ft.com/4dfXL5u

The Russian army is bigger than Ukraine’s, more powerful. It has also learned from mistakes in 2022, adapted, and is not to be underestimated, Ukrainian commanders admit. But some experts see Russia’s advantage narrowing.
Story w/ max seddon [email protected]
on.ft.com/4aXFbOc

“In February 2022, Russia had a far better equipped and trained army. I simply can’t see that it is better now.”

A look at Russia’s manpower and firepower advantages in Ukraine – which US aid may do a lot to counteract. with Christopher Miller [email protected]

on.ft.com/3Ufa0GS

Another must-read from Mikhail Zygar, the peerless chronicler of the Kremlin and Russia’s elite

Godzilla and Chibi Godzilla at the Tokyo Giants game yesterday.