Loose change
Ukraine, Russia, the US, Canada, Bangladesh, and Libya.
The five things you need to know today:
UKRAINE. RUSSIA. Talks resume amid leadership speculation.
UNITED STATES. To distract from Epstein, Trump stirs new controversy.
CANADA. Carney juggles the president with the premiers.
BANGLADESH. A deadly accident could have political consequences.
LIBYA. Haftar weaponises migration for legitimacy.
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UKRAINE. RUSSIA. New tricks
Talks resume amid leadership speculation.
Volodymyr Zelensky said talks with Russia would take place Wednesday. The Kremlin confirmed but said the two sides were still "diametrically opposed". Journalist Seymour Hersh said Zelensky could soon be replaced by Valery Zaluzhny.
INTELLIGENCE. There have been many false claims Zaluzhny would replace Zelensky, so much so that the popular general was exiled last July to serve as ambassador to London, but they deserve attention this time, coming so soon after Donald Trump's half-turn on military aid and the reshuffling of Ukraine's prime minister and minister for defence. The resumption of talks, after a seven-week gap, also suggests something's shifted, even if the battle lines haven’t.
FOR BUSINESS. Zelensky said the agenda would include preparations for a leaders' meeting. As Vladimir Putin has previously said he won't meet with Zelensky on account of the latter's "legitimacy" this may also suggest change is afoot. The Kremlin also this week floated the potential for Putin to meet with Trump on the margins of Beijing's WWII parade in September. This would coincide with the end of Trump's 50-day deadline before secondary tariffs kick in.
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UNITED STATES. Trial by combat
To distract from Epstein, Trump stirs new controversy.
The Trump administration released files on Martin Luther King's assassination Monday, days after accusing the Obama administration with "treasonous conspiracy". A judge accused of blocking DOGE was assigned to a Jeffrey Epstein case.
INTELLIGENCE. Judge Paul Engelmayer, whom Republicans called to be impeached
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