The former Defence Minister has accepted Minister Guido Crosetto’s proposal. In Ukraine, the former minister’s political career suffered a setback, but not his reputation as an innovator

As winter approaches, Putin’s army has new targets, one of which is Chisinau. Signs that the war is spreading and Europe’s perception of the situation

The German Chancellor is still keeping the long-range missiles promised during the election campaign on the back burner. Meanwhile, the UK and France are sharing data with Kyiv to produce the Storm Shadow-Scalp missiles in Ukraine: Berlin is providing funding and co-producing them, but continues to drag its feet over the delivery of the Taurus missiles

US disengagement, increased defence spending, support for Ukraine, the war in Tehran. NATO’s most senior Italian official explains the strategy for reinventing Western defence. “Italy? Doing well, but further efforts are needed.” Interview

Excise duty cuts to be refinanced, new aid for Ukraine to be sent (perhaps by September, though there are those within the majority who oppose this) and the promises made to Amatrice: the challenges facing the Prime Minister (and the government) as they return to work

Aljaksandr Lukashenka is courting Kyiv, but his alliances tell a different story. The Afghan delegation and the Burmese ‘president’ in Minsk, and the Belarusian Foreign Minister’s summer holidays in Pyongyang

London is ready to share classified missile technology with Ukraine, marking the start of a ‘virtuous circle’ which, however, also requires funding to support the development of Ukraine’s defence capabilities