“I cannot stand by while a country is invaded, a democracy bombarded, and children killed with impunity. I believe that the only way to secure U.S. interests is to stand up for democracies and to stand against autocrats. Peace at any price is not peace at all ― it is appeasement. And history has taught us time and again that appeasement does not lead to safety, security or prosperity. It leads to more war and suffering.”

— Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, writing in the Detroit Free Press.

“Britain agreed the most significant reset of ties with the European Union since Brexit on Monday, removing some trade barriers and collaborating on defence to help grow its economy and boost security on the continent,” Reuters reports.

“Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who backed remaining in the EU, has bet that securing smoother access to Europe for UK visitors and trade will drown out the cries of ‘betrayal’ from Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage when he agrees to closer EU alignment at a summit in London.”

“But the deal contains political risk for Starmer as it touches on sensitive issues including fishing rights, and many of the agreements will require further negotiation.”

“Israel will take over the entire Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday, as the military announced it would carry out an ‘unprecedented attack’ on Hamas,” Bloomberg reports.

“Netanyahu said that, alongside the increased attacks, Israel would start allowing aid into Gaza again after stopping it in early March in a bid to make Hamas release hostages and surrender.”

“China’s defiant stance in negotiating a tariff truce with the U.S. has convinced some countries they need to take a tougher position in their own trade talks with the Trump administration,” Bloomberg reports.

“Vladimir Putin believes he has a strong hand ahead of a phone call Monday with Donald Trump as European leaders are trying to prevent the US president from rushing through a deal,” Bloomberg reports.

“Putin is confident that his forces can break through Ukraine’s defenses by the end of the year to take full control of four regions that he has claimed for Russia, according to a person familiar with the Russian president’s thinking who asked not to named discussing private conversations.”

New York Times: Trump and Putin set to discuss Ukraine war in high-stakes call.

Playbook: “So the million-ruble question remains: How will Trump react if there’s no real progress (again) today? There are concerns inside Europe he’ll either try to force through a disastrous deal from Ukraine’s perspective, or just abandon the whole peace idea — plus U.S. support on the battlefield — altogether.”