World of the largest caliber: Ukrainian "tigers" on French Mirages; Washington attacks The Hague and Barcelona prays to refrigerators

Peskov sighs, turns off the TV, and enters Putin's office:

— Vladimir Vladimirovich, I have two pieces of news from Paris. France has indeed pushed us to the red line...

— Oh! And what is the second piece of news?

— Well... they successfully flew over it. Right before our eyes. And under the Ukrainian flag.

While Russian propaganda claims from every iron that "the West is tired of Ukraine," in Paris, Ukrainian military personnel are placed at the head of the most prestigious military parade in Europe. Europe has clearly demonstrated: it is starting to take responsibility for its security into its own hands. And Ukraine in this new architecture is in first place.

Triumph in Paris: Ukraine and the "Coalition of the Willing" at the Historic Parade on the Champs-Élysées (Le Monde, RFI, AFP)

On July 14, 2026, France celebrated Bastille Day with a massive military parade that marked a "strategic awakening of Europe." Ukraine and the "Coalition of the Willing" were the main guests of honor. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a standing ovation from over 50,000 spectators. The highlight of the ground parade was a march by 25 Ukrainian soldiers who have been holding the frontline for over four years. In the sky, French Mirage 2000 fighters flew with Ukrainian co-pilots at the controls, carrying mockups of real weapons (including Scalp missiles) to demonstrate total combat readiness.

 "Ukrainians fight like tigers": The Last Prophecy of Senator Lindsey Graham (BBC Ukrainian & Reuters)

Three days before his sudden passing, US Senator Lindsey Graham gave his final interview, leaving a political testament of unwavering support for Ukraine. He praised Ukrainian resilience, backed strikes inside Russia to pressure Putin, and pushed for Ukraine's swift NATO accession. Crucially, he championed a bill imposing a 25% tariff on countries buying Russian oil (like China and India) to choke Moscow's war chest—a legacy bill that his Senate colleagues now vow to pass in his honor.

"Dismantling Brick by Brick": US Declares Diplomatic War on The Hague (The Guardian)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched a fierce campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of threatening US sovereignty. While Washington previously cheered ICC warrants for Putin, the US is now threatening sanctions against the court to shield its own personnel and allies. This aggressive stance hypocritically undermines global justice and perfectly aligns with the Kremlin's long-term goal of destroying international law.

London's Trap for the GRU: UK Equates Russian Military Intelligence to Terrorists

The UK has officially banned Russia’s GRU and Iran’s IRGC under the National Security Act, effectively classifying them alongside groups like Al-Qaeda. Any local cooperation, funding, or support for these entities now carries a potential life sentence. While Tehran reacted with diplomatic rage, this law shuts down Russia’s proxy network of cheap saboteurs hired via Telegram.

The Iranian Tightrope: How Tehran Trapped Itself with "Hurrah-Patriots" (WSJ)

While Iranian diplomats secretly beg international mediators to ease sanctions and secure a deal in the Strait of Hormuz, they are paralyzed by their own domestic propaganda. Years of fueling rabid anti-Western nationalism have empowered hardline MPs and media figures who now condemn any diplomatic compromise as treason.

Sauve Qui Peut: How Barcelona Fights Extreme Heat with "Climate Refuges" (NZZ)

As Southern Europe sizzles, Barcelona has turned public and private spaces into "climate refuges" (klimarefugien). The city negotiated access to cool stone crypts in medieval churches, secured agreements with supermarkets allowing citizens to rest in air-conditioned aisles without buying anything, and repurposed libraries into hydration hubs.

Read more in the Ukrainian edition....