Putin unleashes a summer offensive to break Ukraine
His killing machine has been told to deliver a glorious victory at any cost
AFTER WEEKS of nebulous ceasefire talks at the urging of a semi-engaged President Donald Trump, the war between Russia and Ukraine is intensifying again in savage style and with escalating stakes. In the last two weeks there have been record-breaking Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and spectacular Ukrainian drone raids on Russia’s strategic bomber force, deep inside its borders. But all this is merely a prelude to the main event: a large-scale summer offensive by Russia that aims to break Ukrainian morale and deliver president Vladimir Putin a symbolic victory at almost any cost.
Explore more
The constitution that never was still haunts Europe 20 years on
The stumble of 2005 resulted in a better EU
Ukraine smashes Russia’s air force and a key bridge
The window for diplomacy is closing
Germany is building a big scary army
Its allies are ready. But are the Germans?
The hard-right’s champion blows up the Dutch government
Geert Wilders won an election but bails without getting much done
What Poland’s new president means for Europe
Karol Nawrocki is the liberals’ nightmare
Poland’s presidential election leaves the country exhausted
The liberal and conservative candidates offered very different visions