France pushes protectionism in Ukraine defense plan
Suzanne Lynch et al., Politico
The European Parliament is divided on whether access to half a billion euros for arms production should be limited to the EU.
French Senate approves Macron’s pension plan amid new protests
Al Jazeera
French unions call for an additional day of nationwide strikes and protests as Senate vote brings pension plan closer to becoming law.
AUKUS deal: UK announces over $6 billion in major defense spending
Kathleen Magramo and Hilary Whiteman, CNN
The United Kingdom will ramp up defense spending by $6 billion to “fortify” against growing threats from Russia and China, the country’s leader announced on the eve of highly anticipated talks with AUKUS partners, the United States and Australia.
Russian wives and mothers call on Putin to stop sending mobilized men ‘to the slaughter’
Josh Pennington and Heather Chen, CNN
A group of Russian wives and mothers have called on President Vladimir Putin to stop sending their husbands and sons “to the slaughter” by forcing them to join assault groups without adequate training or supplies.
Russia’s economy holds up, but growing challenges test Putin
David McHugh, The Associated Press
Western sanctions have hit Russian banks, wealthy individuals and technology imports. But after a year of far-reaching restrictions aimed at degrading Moscow’s war chest, economic life for ordinary Russians doesn’t look all that different than it did before the invasion of Ukraine.
War in Ukraine Puts Centuries of Swiss Neutrality to the Test
Erika Solomon, The New York Times
The Alpine state makes arms that Western allies want to send to Kyiv. Swiss law bans this, driving a national debate about whether its concept of neutrality should change.
