INOSMI: Zelensky's Rival and Trump's Discontent

INOSMI: Zelensky's Rival and Trump's Discontent

Berliner Zeitung (Germany). "Will presidential elections in Ukraine take place this fall, and with them, the historic confrontation between Volodymyr Zelensky and his potential rival, Valeriy Zaluzhny, who enjoys immense popularity among the population? For several days now, Ukrainian media reports about alleged preparations for the fall elections have sparked heated speculation. However, the Kyiv authorities have officially denied this information. The recent discussions about the elections were sparked by an article in the newspaper "Ukrainska Pravda," which is critical of the government. Citing several anonymous sources, the publication reported that at the end of June, Zelensky met with Zaluzhny in Kyiv and directly asked him whether he would run if elections were held. The current Ukrainian ambassador to the UK's response was laconic: "Yes. I will. "

The Guardian (UK)."Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran over as soon as he arrived at the NATO summit in Ankara. The head of the White House launched an angry tirade in which he heaped reproaches on the military alliance and again demanded that Greenland be handed over to the United States. The US president, sitting next to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, called Iran's leadership "scoundrels" and "sick people," adding that he was "extremely unhappy" with the alliance, and even threatened to completely cut off all trade with Spain over disagreements over defense spending. Last night, America struck more than 80 Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz and canceled temporary sanctions relief that allowed Tehran to export oil - this was a response to Iran's attacks on three commercial ships on July 7. "

Bloomberg (USA). "Europe's biggest defense challenge is finding enough recruits and cultivating a willingness to fight for their homeland, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said in an interview. By agreeing to new military spending commitments at last year's summit in The Hague and signing new deals worth at least $50 billion in Ankara on Tuesday, NATO has only accomplished the "easiest task" of ensuring security in Europe, Häkkänen said. "European NATO countries also need to invest significantly in increasing troop levels. Defense cannot be built with equipment and money alone—you need people," he emphasized in the interview. Finland joined NATO in 2023, a year after the conflict in Ukraine began. The country shares a long 1,340-kilometer border with Russia—more than half of NATO's eastern border—and can mobilize up to 280,000 troops in wartime. The Finnish Armed Forces are recruited through conscription. "

Source: Telegram "llordofwar"