Oliver Carroll

Me on Russia’s summer offensive. Don’t expect Russian breakthrough, or Ukrainian stabilisation of the frontlines — but some sub-optimal point in between. Neither victory nor defeat. And perhaps just enough to persuade Putin to continue his senseless war. https://t.co/TeeHakRR5c

Two kids fighting when one is the school bully who started it, and has the small kid in a headlock, threatening to put his hair on fire.

Tymofiy Mylovanov @Mylovanov

Trump: Ukraine and russia are “two kids fighting”. They have to fight a bit before they are ready to stop. I have always liked Elon. I’d rather he criticizes me than the bill. Elon said wonderful things: “Trump was right about everything”. We welcome foreign students 0/ https://t.co/QpPl0rZ7Fc

At lest four dead from the the massive combined Russian strikes overnight in Kyiv

RT @superumka: I’ve been hearing nonstop explosions in Kyiv for several hours. First it was drones, now Russia’s launching ballistic missil…

It’s been quite a while that Kyiv has been under such a coordinated attack. Drones, ballistics, cruise missiles: for the last two hours it has been explosion after explosion. Some parts of the city are in flames.

Time to unblock the @elonmusk account.

BREAKING NEWS. Trump has a delete button.

Kevin Rothrock @MrKevinRothrock

So… Trump has now deleted this Truth Social post.

NO CAPS. And “not a conversation that will lead to peace.” On Putin’s response to the Spiderweb operation, by the way, I’m told by a knowledgeable source the plan is understood to be “series of combined ballistic-drone-cruise missile attacks over the coming weeks.” https://t.co/1niKipddRI

Drapaty and Syrsky — two very different kinds of general — had not been getting on. While Illia’s right that this is a demotion, Drapaty gained a lot of credit for offering his resignation in the first place. He may well rise again — especially if he sorts the front out.

Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 @IAPonomarenko

So, to sum up: General Drapatyi submitted his resignation as Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces following a Russian strike on a training camp. After meeting with Zelensky, he posted a message saying he was “staying in the fight,” which many interpreted to mean Zelensky —

Now upgraded to an Oreshnik IRBM threat.

Oliver Carroll @olliecarroll

As reports of more explosions on Crimean bridge filter through, in what appears to be another and continuing audacious Ukrainian operation, Kyiv is now on ballistic missile air raid alert.

As reports of more explosions on Crimean bridge filter through, in what appears to be another and continuing audacious Ukrainian operation, Kyiv is now on ballistic missile air raid alert.

RT @RALee85: "American and European security officials said battle damage assessments were still coming in from the attacks, which took pla…

Revealing that the WSJ didn’t think there was much news value in speaking to Putin’s man in Istanbul. Or perhaps Matthew just wasn’t ready for Medinsky’s reconstruction of the battle of Borodino.

Margarita Simonyan @M_Simonyan

Intrepid WSJ reporter Matthew Luxmoore refused exclusive interview with Vladimir Medinsky after talks. RT's Konstantin Prydybaylo says Luxmoore was offered ride back to airport with head of Russian delegation, but wouldn't get in the car. Do they think we are going to poison https://t.co/a9LvlOJUuk

Britons would like to spend more on defence (49pc v 11pc). But would not like to pay for it with more taxes (57pc). Times like this you begin to feel sorry for politicians.

YouGov @YouGov

With the government releasing its strategic defence review, 49% of Britons say that defence spending should increase However, only 29% of Britons say they would support raising taxes to pay for increased defence spending, with the same number saying so of public spending cuts https://t.co/u1lSpGvZ7k

The limited results of today’s talks: — Agreement to exchange 6000x6000 bodies, with offer of limited local ceasefires to retrieve them from battlefield. — Largest exchange of POWs. 1000-1200. — Russian delegation head claims “all seriously ill or wounded” will be exchanged.

Oliver Carroll @olliecarroll

We are awaiting announcement re possible prisoner exchange. What is already clear: Russia finally gave Ukraine a memorandum of terms to end the war, Ukraine having already given Russia their’s. There will be another round of talks, for whatever that means, no fixed date. (3/3)

I forgot to say the Russians had specifically asked for the Americans not to be present at the talks. Perhaps they were worried Washington wouldn’t be too impressed by their diplomatic skills.

Oliver Carroll @olliecarroll

Ukrainian side passed on list of 100s of children deported to Russia. A source with knowledge of the exchanges says head of Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky responded thus: “Don’t put on a show for bleeding-heart European old ladies with no children of their own" (2/3)