High Representative Kaja Kallas delivered a blunt message regarding frozen Russian assets, stating that the over €200 billion will not be returned unless Russia fully compensates Ukraine for damages. While Belgium, Berlin, and Rome are hesitant, the European Commission is exploring moving these assets into a special purpose vehicle to mitigate legal risks.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denounced Vladimir Putin as a "predator" during her visit to the Polish-Belarusian border and discussed "pretty precise plans" for potential military deployments to Ukraine. Her plane also experienced GPS interference during her tour of "frontline states".Internally, top EU officials have privately responded to protests from staff over the bloc's stalled Israel policy amid concerns about its military campaign in Gaza. However, many protesting staff members view the response as "empty rhetoric" and not a "complete shift in action".We also explore the frantic politicking in France where Prime Minister François Bayrou's minority government faces a likely no-confidence vote on September 8, marking a potential third prime ministerial loss for President Emmanuel Macron in just over a year. Marine Le Pen's National Rally party is set to play a decisive role in Bayrou's probable ouster.Across the Channel, the UK's Keir Starmer government is undergoing a "reset," marked by new appointments such as Darren Jones as "chief secretary to the prime minister" and a reshuffle in No.10. Starmer admitted to being "frustrated" about slow progress, framing this as "phase two" focused on "delivery, delivery, delivery". Critics, however, describe the reshuffle as "chaotic" and question the government's direction. Additionally, the refugee family reunion route is being temporarily suspended.Globally, the political landscape is shifting. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Tianjin, where he met with China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, signaling a potential pivot away from the US. This SCO gathering will precede China's Victory Day parade, which will also host Putin, North Korea's Kim Jong Un, and Iran's Masoud Pezeshkian, a grouping commentators have dubbed the "axis of upheaval". The European Commission is also moving forward with trade agreements with Mercosur and Mexico, despite significant political opposition from France, particularly concerning Mercosur.

Ver todos los episodios