Zelensky adjusts course; Federal Government prepares for climate-focused testimony - Altered Travel Plan for Zelenskyy, Federal Government Granted Climate Accreditation
Morning, Folks!
Vladimir Putin has pulled out of the Istanbul summit, and Donald Trump won't be dropping by to broker the meeting between Zelensky and Putin. Instead, Marco Rubio is our US Secretary of State heading to the talks. What does this mean for negotiations?
What's on the table in Istanbul?
Zelensky is jetting off to Turkey, but his flight is bound for Ankara, not Istanbul. It remains unclear if he'll continue to Istanbul now that Putin has cancelled. On the Russian side, Vladimir Medinski will take Putin's place. Medinski, a 54-year-old former Minister of Culture, is known for being a key ideologue of the Putin system, a historical revisionist, and a political propaganda expert. With this fellow in the room, history of the Ukraine war will likely be spun in a different light.
Zelensky remains optimistic, stating that the negotiations can only result in a win for Ukraine. What that actually means is up for debate. "Bild" reporter Paul Ronzheimer suggests in the "5-Minute Talk" that Ukraine must cave on territorial demands, hoping that the front lines remain as they are now. Whether there's more to it, remains to be seen.
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Medinski was also involved in the peace negotiations in 2022. Those talks ended - also in Turkey - without agreeing on anything.
Grading the Government on Climate Protection
Time for the federal government's report card on climate protection today from the Expert Council on Climate Questions. Independent scientists have analyzed the emission calculations from the Federal Environment Agency to assess whether the legal limit values are being met. Historically, these reports haven't been kind to the government. In 2024, experts warned that Germany would fail to meet its 2030 climate targets. The country needs to reduce its CO2 emissions by 65 percent compared to 1990, mainly owing to obstacles in the transport sector.
The blame can't be entirely expected to fall on the government, with the SPD party specifically taking most of the heat. Formerly recognized as their self-proclaimed climate chancellor, Olaf Scholz, failed in the last three years.
The question remains: Can Friedrich Merz do better? He didn't utter a peep about ecological crises, nor explain his plans for continuing the energy transition or making the economy more climate-friendly in his first government declaration yesterday. Criticism is already rolling in from the Greens.
Sow the Seeds of a NATO Scandal?
Investigations in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Spain are targeting NATO employees. Some are suspected of passing confidential information to arms companies. These employees work for NSPA, the agency in charge of NATO weapons systems and ammunition purchases, involving billions of dollars. The Belgian prosecutor's office alleges that the employees belong to a criminal organization, engaged in active and passive corruption, and money laundering.
Today's Agenda
- Donald Trump is jetting off to Doha and Abu Dhabi. Just another business trip - expect lots of deals and loads of cash. Middle East politics don't seem to be on the agenda this time.
- The U.S. Supreme Court will tackle Trump's citizenship decree today. Trump wants to prevent those with migration backgrounds from obtaining automatic U.S. citizenship. Over 20 U.S. states are suing, arguing the plan is unconstitutional.
- The trial against a German police officer begins today. The officer is accused of shooting an unarmed refugee in the back.
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will unveil a report today on opportunities and risks for children in the digital age. Despite the complex sounding topic, these studies are essential in understanding our society's challenges and developing solutions. A recent German study shed some light on how young people are faring - not so great, unfortunately.
In other news, the stern award was presented in Hamburg yesterday. Every year, this event honors outstanding journalistic achievements. Maybe you've read some of the incredible investigative research that won those awards?
Have a fantastic Thursday!
Christine Leitner (News Editor)
- Istanbul
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Climate
- Vladimir Putin
- Donald Trump
- Ukraine
- NATO
- Turkey
- The European Union, committed to a comprehensive and comprehensive policy on the environment, is closely monitoring the Istanbul talks between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, as climate-change and environmental-science policies are expected to be key topics of discussion.
- In a separate development, the federal government in Germany is under scrutiny for its climate protection policies as independent scientists, in their report card, have expressed concerns about the country's ability to meet its 2030 climate targets, particularly due to obstacles in the transport sector.
- While world leaders are engaging in diplomatic efforts, science and politics continue to play a critical role in shaping policy and legislation to combat climate-change. This is evident in the ongoing investigations targeting NATO employees, who are suspected of passing confidential information to arms companies, potentially impacting war-and-conflicts and general-news.
- Meanwhile, other important issues such as the trial against a German police officer accused of shooting an unarmed refugee in the back, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's report on opportunities and risks for children in the digital age, are also making headlines today.
