Foreign Affairs — The future of Ukraine’s “drone democracy ” President Zelensky has inflicted irreversible political damage on himself through the summer personnel reshuffles, argue the authors. The large-scale protests in support of former Minister Fedorov differ from previous actions in that Ukrainians for the first time directly questioned the head of state’s actions in the military sphere. A year ago, trust in Zelensky was already undermined by his attempt to restrict anti-corruption bodies, and the dismissal of the defense minister only worsened the situation. Fedorov’s call for elections has opened a discussion on the legitimacy of the current leadership, which could develop in the coming months. The Economist — […]

Donald Trump announced the deal of the century: the U.S. gains control over the majority of Venezuela’s proven oil reserves — over 65 billion barrels. Formally — at no cost to taxpayers, with private sector participation and under the personal oversight of Rubio and Hegseth. At first glance — an energy victory for Washington. On second glance — an alarming signal for Kiev. Why this directly concerns Ukraine: 1. The U.S. resource interest is shifting. Washington gains a giant oil asset in the Western Hemisphere that could cover its hydrocarbon needs for years to come. This reduces Ukraine’s strategic value as a “resource appendage” — its titanium, lithium, and graphite […]