German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

Yes, there must be self-criticism and reflection. As I remember it, we have certainly not spared ourselves that.

But the mindless denigration of the Federal Republic, of the reunified democratic state, is a propaganda lie of extremism.

And our country deserves the pride of refusing to accept that — neither from foreign powers that want to divide and weaken us nor from extremists at home who ridicule our democracy. From neither.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

The discrediting of democratic procedures, the radicalization of the public sphere and the denigration of compromise — all of that must be a warning.

Whether the Berlin Republic becomes more similar to the Weimar Republic — that question has not yet been decided.

But it is in our hands. It is up to us to preserve what remains important.

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb says there is no evidence that Russia is preparing a direct military attack on NATO, arguing that some European leaders are wrongly conflating hypothetical military scenarios with the current threat assessment.

He says the more immediate danger is hybrid warfare, with Russia increasingly willing to take risks through sabotage, cyberattacks, information operations, attacks on infrastructure and other gray-zone activities across Europe.

Source: EL MUNDO

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by deliberately fabricated distorted images of our country — fabricated by Kremlin trolls, by German right-wing extremists or by left-authoritarian cranks, and flooded onto the internet by truly unscrupulous internet oligarchs.

Oligarchs whose private wealth and financial influence over politics, in truth, exceed all previously known limits.

Let us stand our ground against this flood of manipulation and lies. I am certain we can do it. Our democracy is not for sale. It will not surrender itself to its enemies.

We are stronger than this depravity. Our Germany is a good country. Let us make sure it stays that way.

The UAE is small on the map.

But across Africa’s wars, its money, ports and armed partners keep showing up.

Sudan is only the clearest example.

Trump:

The Polls have ALWAYS underestimated MAGA. They try to suppress the Vote, but I won all 7 Swing States, the Popular Vote, 86% of Counties, and 99% of Primaries this year.

I AM ON THE BALLOT!

The Omani co-pilot who allegedly attempted to hijack a Flydubai plane told investigators he planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport’s terminal.

He allegedly waited until the plane was over Jordan, near Israel, before attacking the Indian pilot, intending to make a normal landing approach and crash into the terminal at the last moment, when interception would no longer be possible.

Source: Amit Segal

Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned.

Zelensky:

German Unity Day proves that peoples always defeat dictators. Our cooperation now proves exactly the same thing.

Russia must not win. Shaheds, missiles and war must not win. Life must prevail.

Zelensky on Russia:

They struck our Nova Poshta and Ukrposhta warehouses. We gave them a worthy response against Wildberries.

Now they are striking bridges. Do they really think we are not going to respond?

Germany's Chancellor Merz in Kyiv:

Despite the threats from Moscow in recent days, I came anyway — together with my colleague from the German government and a large business delegation.

This demonstrates that we will not allow ourselves to be intimidated.

Zelensky on Russia:

How can you strike data centers and mobile communications?

How does Putin not think that mobile communications are used not only in Kyiv and Ukraine, but in Moscow as well?

I am honestly astonished by this beastly desire to escalate every single day. He is counting on constant escalation. He wants it very much.

Zelensky on Russia:

According to our information, Russia has a stockpile of around 700 ballistic missiles and several thousand other missiles.

They produce around 130–140 ballistic missiles per month. This has to be fought, and we are fighting it.

Zelensky:

Germany is not only helping Ukraine — we are helping each other. Ukraine and Germany are already jointly producing drones.

Ukraine will purchase more weapons and equipment in Germany. Work has begun on creating UAV units, and we are ready to help with training and share our experience.

Zelensky on Russia:

I think their mass attacks will increasingly shift from quantity to quality — reducing the proportion of conventional Shaheds and increasing the percentage of jet-powered ones as much as possible.

That is what we are seeing.

Zelensky:

Cutting off the bridges — is that terrorism? Yes. Is it an attempt to cut the left bank off from the right bank? Yes. What is the difference? It would obviously cause collapse.

They want our people to leave the big cities, first and foremost the capital, and to create chaos in the Odesa region.

They tried very hard in Kharkiv. Once again, I am very grateful to the people of Kharkiv. He could not break them, even when the enemy was very close. He simply could not. Honestly, Kharkiv defeated Putin. I am convinced of that.

For him, Kharkiv is symbolic — Ukraine’s first capital. The people of Kharkiv have been incredible. All of our people have. Now there is terror against Kyiv.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

The Russian economy cannot wage this war indefinitely. We know that the Russian economy has already reached its pain threshold: 7% inflation, a 14% central-bank rate, falling oil and gas revenues and an increasingly large state deficit.

Zelensky:

When somebody proposes an alternative to helping Ukraine, there is only one — not helping. What is the alternative? Not helping.

If the alternative is not helping Ukraine, that means Ukraine stands alone. For example, imagine that in 2022 we defended ourselves for as long as we could, but were left alone without any help — without help from Germany, Europe, Britain or the U.S. What would have happened? What are they proposing to people?

The alternative of not helping means that Ukraine would not have held out, would have fallen, and Russia would now be closer to your borders. The threat would simply be closer to you — on Poland’s borders or somewhere else.

And if, even now, with Ukraine in a strong position, drones are already reaching many European countries, Putin would simply become more confident if a strong Ukraine were no longer standing in the path of those drones, and more of them would reach you.

So when someone says there is an alternative to helping Ukraine, they simply do not want to take responsibility for the terrible result. That is why I would not look for any other option than helping Ukraine.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

Systematic fake information is being spread by Russian networks and their accomplices in Germany. And you can see that today I am more determined than ever, because this truly is the decisive hour. This is a crucial moment — nothing less.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright:

Diesel’s mostly been affected by the Russia-Ukraine war and also by China’s decision not to export diesel or gasoline into the marketplace.

And of course, we’re living with two refineries that were recently closed — large refineries in California that Governor Gavin Newsom forced the closure of.