My dispatch from Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk oblast is the Guardian's Sunday Read. I met Valentyn Velykyi, the last person to leave the shattered village of Maliyivka, occupied yesterday. "That idiot Putin wants to take it all," he told me. Pix: Alessio Mamo theguardian.com/news/ng-intera…

Last night, a russian “Geran” drone flew over Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. A NATO country. In 2025. And no, it wasn’t lost - it was bold. It was a test. A message. A warning. If you’re still calling this “Ukraine’s war” You haven’t been paying attention.

"A statement purporting to be from a hacking group called Silent Crow said it had carried out the operation with [the Belarusian] Cyber Partisans, and linked it to the war in Ukraine. 'Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus!' said the statement." theguardian.com/business/2025/…

The Russian press used to praise Donald Trump. But today one Russian paper claims it “couldn’t give a damn” that he's disappointed with Vladimir Putin & warns him “false pride never ends well.” Plus, what a Russian clinical psychologist says about Donald Trump. #ReadingRussia.

Every day for over 8 months, Georgians have been gathering in 8+ cities to protest an illegitimate, pro-Russian government. This is day 245 on Rustaveli Avenue, in our capital. 🇬🇪

#Trump #Putin #whatever paulhansbury.com/post/is-trump-…

A Russian paper concludes: “The CIS ceases to be a zone of exclusively Russian influence.” What today’s Russian papers tell us about Moscow's ties with post-Soviet states. Plus, “Collision unavoidable. The Trump & Putin locomotives are careering towards each other” #ReadingRussia

Today’s Russian papers dismiss Donald Trump’s announcement on moving nuclear submarines closer to Russia as “PR & political games”, “a temper tantrum,” “theatrical & Trumpian.” One paper: “The US President both threatens Russia & tries to do a deal with it.” #ReadingRussia

always an honor to be in conversation with Asia Bazdyrieva & the team of "Constructing Hope: Ukraine" join us online this Wednesday for Chicago Architecture Center architecture.org/events-program…

"Until the end!" Day 250 of daily, nationwide protests in Georgia. 🇬🇪✊

Two different Russias in today’s Russian papers. One view: “Today most [Russians] feel better off than three years ago.” Another headline: “Russian industry sinks into pessimism.” #ReadingRussia

#JobAlert Senior HR Officer & Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Officer Oxford School of Global & Area Studies An exciting opportunity for anyone experienced in managing HR processes looking for a career move into a senior role. Apply by Tue 12 August, 12 noon: area-studies.ox.ac.uk/vacancies #HR #EDI

Russian papers welcome Alaska for Putin-Trump summit: “No British spies here, Ukrainian agents or European ‘well-wishers’ to disrupt dialogue.” “The 2 leaders are isolating Europe & Ukraine.” One paper: Moscow only intends to “stop the conflict on Russia’s terms.” #ReadingRussia

PM Keir Starmer greets Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at No 10 Follow live: bbc.in/47tzubC

On #Trump and #Zelenskyy's meeting paulhansbury.com/post/mr-zelens…

After the meeting of Trump, Zelensky & European leaders one Russian paper says “Zelensky & Europeans poured sugar into the gas tank of the Alaska negotiations. They sweet-talked Trump.” Another paper: “Details of Ukraine settlement are more & more confusing.” #ReadingRussia

🎥 Watch now: A panel of writers, artists & scholars explore Odesa’s identities — from its multicultural past to resisting Russia’s war & propaganda. With Evans, Dovgopolova, Sydorushkina, Kozlenko & Blacker. 📺 youtube.com/watch?v=Nb17Lb…

Good piece by Kenneth Roth on why Putin invaded #Ukraine. It had nothing to do with "Nato" or "neo-Nazis". Rather, it was about crushing a pro-European democracy on Russia's doorstep, and "quashing" the alternative that provided for millions of Russians theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

If Iran bombed an American facility in the Middle East, there would be a response from Trump. Hoping there will be a response to this attack on us as well.

"If the Alaska summit achieves nothing else, it should make the end of US global dominance and the end of the post-1945 Western alliance harder to ignore. Europe needs to take action to secure itself, including Ukraine." A piece by me for UK in a Changing Europe ukandeu.ac.uk/what-the-trump…