I did highlight that somewhere. As both a stalling tactic and one to diminish and dissuade their military aims it's certainly a necessity in my view. If we do what some want and don't arm Ukraine at all, it won't be long before there simply is no Ukraine in practical terms. There is then no rowing that back. Emboldening Putin to that level would be disastrous and we know it wouldn't end there.

There certainly needs to be a road to peace, but ultimately Russia hold the biggest role in that happening. So far their outlook via the foreign minister has essentially been a demand to stop arming Ukraine, let them get on with it and that as result there will eventually be no war (when they have achieved their aims). That's clearly an absurd stance, and I don't think we're going to hear anything different until their progress becomes so glacial that they have little option but to cut their loses while attempting to carve out something that can be called a victory at home.

EU energy commissioner says the bloc can replace 2/3 of Russian natural gas supplies by the end of the year: 1/3 from alternative suppliers but 1/3 "has to be replaced by renewables.

That doesn't sound realistic to me.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Embarrassing that energy independence is taking this long anyway. We are in part paying the price of archaic ways and the politics behind on it. Being held to ransom over something so fundamental is a situation that countries should endevour to move beyond. The time scale is far from ideal, but that's what happens when politicians are reactive rather than provocative.

Desperately sad.

Red and Blue Army!

Russia Doubles Down, Says Israel 'Supports neo-Nazi Regime in Ukraine' - [Link]

How to win friends and influence people

Apart from W12 you mean?