German Foreign Minister Wadephul will travel to the U.S. on May 27 to meet with Rubio.

Top U.S. National Security Council officials for the Middle East, Israel, and Iran were among dozens dismissed in a major overhaul by Donald Trump.

NSC Middle East director Eric Trager and Israel-Iran director Merav Ceren were among those ousted.

Source: Jewish Insider

Israel Rejects 60-day Ceasefire Plan

• Israel turned down a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan tied to Trump’s personal guarantee.
• The proposal involved a 60-day ceasefire and phased hostage release.
• Hamas countered with a 70-day ceasefire plan, demanding humanitarian aid.
• U.S. continues to press Israel for a resolution as humanitarian conditions worsen.

Source: Haaretz

At a time when the Ukrainian Armed Forces face a critical ammunition shortage, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) has introduced reforms to merge the State Logistics Operator (DOT) with the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA).

Announced on May 1, 2025, this restructuring aims to streamline procurement—handling everything from buying toilet paper locally to purchasing missiles from Western manufacturers under one unified system.

The MoD presents this as a significant step forward in defense procurement reform, despite ongoing challenges.

Macron says he believes Trump "realizes" that Putin "lied to him".

Macron wants to set a "deadline" for Russia to agree to a ceasefire, accompanied by threats of "massive sanctions".

Macron denies any "domestic scene" with his wife, "we were joking".

Ukrainian officials believe that Trump would be willing to sell Ukraine more Patriot systems rather than send them as aid.

"They think like business people. If I give you something, you have to give me something in return."

Source: WaPo

Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero to FT:

"The Mediterranean has always been populated by Russian and US submarines, it's up to us Europeans now to take responsibility for our underwater defence."

Germany's Merz:

The current level of Israeli attacks on Gaza can no longer be justified by fighting Hamas.

I will speak to Netanyahu this week and ask him not to exaggerate the attacks on Gaza.

Germany plans to send to Ukraine its older PAC-2 Patriot missiles, which, unlike the newer PAC-3 missiles, are not as effective at intercepting ballistic missiles.

Ukrainian intelligence believe that even the PAC-3 missiles cannot intercept Russia's Oreshnik missile.

Source: WaPo

BREAKING: German Chancellor Merz says Berlin no longer limits the long-range weapons supplied to Ukraine.

BREAKING: Britain, France, Germany and the United States have lifted restrictions on the range of military supplies to Ukraine, German Chancellor Merz adds.

Long-range strikes with Western weapons into Russian territory is now allowed.

Germany's Merz:

I no longer understand the Israeli army's objective in Gaza.

Ukraine is now highly likely to receive German Taurus missiles.

Merz also emphasized the need to supply Ukraine with long-range weapons.

Germany is expected to provide 100–150 Taurus cruise missiles, the counterpart to the UK-French Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG.

NEW: Ukrainian President Zelensky expected to visit Berlin on Wednesday.

India views China as its "primary adversary" and Pakistan more an "ancillary security problem to be managed".

Source: United States Defence Intelligence Agency’s Worldwide Threat Assessment 2025