Hodges: The Kerch Bridge is a high-payoff target, not just logistically but psychologically. Destroying Putin's bridge would demolish morale and erode the false narrative of inevitable Russian victory
The Ukrainians will pick the right time. It will require a lot of explosive 1/
Hodges: Russia can't rebuild the Kerch Bridge quickly — especially if an entire span drops. There's a reason no bridge existed there before. Massive engineering undertaking.
The Ukrainians have already been degrading its defenses and weakening the structure systematically. 2/
Hodges: Ukraine's long-range precision strikes on Russia's oil and gas — this is the path to victory. When Russia can no longer export, that cuts off the only income sustaining the war.
It also proves to Russians that the Putin regime cannot protect them from Ukraine. 3/
Hodges: Crimea dominates the Black Sea, it's why Catherine the Great took it in the 18th century. If Russia holds it, they block access to the Azov Sea and disrupt everything out of Odessa.
It's in the interest of all of us that Ukraine regains control of Crimea. 1/
Hodges: Crimea is doable. The geography that makes it important also makes it vulnerable. Ukraine now has the range — drones, missiles, weapons platforms — to touch every target.
No airfields, no logistics bases, no radar safe. There is no place to hide on that peninsula. 2/
Hodges: Isolation of Crimea is picking up speed. The Kerch Bridge is so weakened Russia cut heavy traffic over it. Northern bridge systems are hit every day. Convoys reroute — more vulnerable.
That's why you see pictures of Russian convoys on fire on social media almost daily 3/
Kuleba: In Brussels, European leaders were stunned by Ukraine's strikes on Moscow. To say they were impressed is to say nothing.
But I was told some leaders are frightened by Ukraine's strength, they see strategically what kind of powerful player is emerging on their doorstep 1/
Kuleba: The effect is triple. They're glad Ukraine hits back hard. But they see a new Ukraine forming — one that will join the EU and will be a force.
And they're terrified about what happens with Russia next. Europeans fear uncontrolled developments there. It paralyzes them. 2/
Kuleba: They realize they're absolutely helpless. They don't influence Ukraine's approach toward Moscow.
And Ukraine today has real levers to launch an uncontrolled spiral accelerating the death of the Russian empire. This scenario genuinely unsettles the Europeans. 3/
Kuleba: Hungary's Magyar blocked five EU negotiation clusters with Ukraine. But he is not Orbán.
He faces huge domestic pressure from Fidesz supporters accusing him of selling out Hungarian interests. He boasted publicly because he needs to contain that pressure at home. 1/
Kuleba: Magyar wasn't alone. Behind him, other EU members gladly hid — including some who welcomed Zelenskyy in Brussels with smiles.
Two reasons: Ukraine is too large and will have too much influence. And the EU itself is not ready for such a major enlargement. 2/
Kuleba: The key news to watch for is not individual cluster openings. It's when the EU changes how it functions — reforms its own rules and adapts itself for Ukraine's accession.
That will be the decisive moment. Everything else is important but not the real obstacle. 3/
Fedorov, Ukraine’s Defense Minister: Western allies pledged $4 billion in new military aid to Ukraine at the Ramstein-format meeting in Belgium.
The packages cover air defense missiles, drones, and artillery, as Russia keeps striking Ukrainian cities, Kyiv Independent. 1/
Nearly $1 billion of that sum will flow through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, to buy interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden cover most of it. Nine countries confirmed their part in PURL. 2/
German Defense Minister Pistorius allocated $200 million for air defense ammunition and another $200 million for PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems.
Both move through Jumpstart, a fast-track procurement framework that shortens the wait for delivery. 3/