The Briefing

What does Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day speech tell us about Russia’s war objectives? Plus: Beijing and Shanghai impose further lockdown measures, Brazil’s Lula launches his presidential campaign and, as it’s Europe Day, we find out about the man who imagined a united continent.

The latest from Ukraine: new evacuation efforts begin for the hundreds of civilians trapped inside Mariupol’s steelworks and Monocle’s Ed Stocker reports from Berlin, where he met refugee Masha Gontar. Plus: Japan’s plans to finally reopen to tourism.

How is Russian state-run media portraying prospective Nato members? Plus: why Chile’s leftist leader is in trouble, broadcaster Juliet Linley reviews the papers from Zürich and Japan’s pop charts.

Why is the Belarusian army conducting fresh military drills? Plus: France’s conservatives consider a pact with president Emmanuel Macron, Bloomberg’s Yuan Potts brings us the day’s business news and David Phelan on the latest gadgets.

Is the US Supreme Court preparing to overturn the nationwide right to abortion? Plus: divisions among EU member states on how soon they should end their dependence on Russian energy, the latest business news and plans for the first space hotel.

As US House speaker Nancy Pelosi becomes the highest-ranking US official to go to Kyiv to meet the Ukrainian president, we ask whether America’s efforts will be enough. Plus: Narendra Modi in Europe, the future of the French left and Fernando Augusto Pacheco’s tribute to Régine, the self-proclaimed inventor of the disco.

Will Nato be forced to play a more active role in Ukraine? Plus, Turkey and Saudi Arabia attempt to mend ties, the day’s business news and Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco and Lucinda Elliott bring us some fun news stories from Latin America.

What can the UN do to help Ukraine? Plus: Europe and the US move to a post-emergency phase of the pandemic, Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett tries to defuse a row over his lavish expenses and Monocle 24’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco plays us the best Slovenian pop music.

Will Moscow’s decision to cut gas supplies to major European nations force the West to wean itself off Russian energy? Plus: Germany finally authorises tank deliveries to Ukraine, Beijing expands coronavirus testing and novelist Dorothy Koomson surveys the Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist.

We ask: does the UN chief António Guterres need to do more to end the war in Ukraine? Plus, we report on Japan and South Korea’s attempt to mend their troubled relationship, Bloomberg’s Yuan Potts has the day’s business news and Monocle 24’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco reviews the international press. 

What does Emmanuel Macron’s presidential victory mean for France? Plus: what Ukraine needs to frustrate Russia’s aims, why Yemen’s commercial flights have been delayed and Monocle’s Petri Burtsoff on Finland’s space ambitions.

Will France stick with Emmanuel Macron or go with Marine Le Pen? Plus, the latest on Ukraine, Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis takes on Disney and Monocle’s Andrew Mueller offers a mirthful take on the news cycle.

Why has Russia’s army failed to achieve a major breakthrough in eastern Ukraine? Plus: the latest on Japan’s currency slump, Monocle’s Design Awards and Fernando Augusto Pacheco explores Portugal’s pop charts.

What is the Russian leadership hoping to achieve in Ukraine? Plus: Australia’s reaction to a pact between China and the Solomon Islands, how people in Martinique feel about the French presidential election and David Phelan’s roundup of the latest technology trends.

We give you the latest as Russian forces launch a huge offensive in eastern Ukraine. Plus, the effect of coronavirus lockdowns on China’s economy, business news and Monocle’s Guy De Launey with headlines from the Western Balkans.