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OPINION: Come September, will Trump really get tougher? Or will Putin be ready to agree to a ceasefire that leads to a peace settlement? There are few grounds to think so. ow.ly/xSsK50Wtryr

When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced her no-confidence vote earlier this month, the Kremlin’s online spin doctors went into overdrive. 🔗 politico.eu/article/ursula…

Ozzy Osbourne’s fame meant he had encounters with many world leaders; in 1984 he released a T-shirt emblazoned with “Ozzy for President.” Here are some of his thoughts on politics through the years. politico.eu/article/ozzy-o…

🚨 BREAKING: Ukrainians protested across the country tonight after lawmakers voted to scuttle the independence of two national anti-corruption bodies.​ Full story: politico.eu/article/ukrain…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated EU calls for Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, as health workers warned Palestinians were facing “forced starvation.” politico.eu/article/war-in…

Greece has presented other EU governments with what it called its strictest plan to deter migrants and is pushing for “return hubs” outside the continent. politico.eu/article/greece…

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati and former Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn will face trial on charges of corruption, a Ministry of Justice official confirmed. politico.eu/article/france…

The European Commission announced it will launch a full-scale antitrust probe into Universal Music Group (UMG)'s proposed acquisition of Downtown Music over concerns that it will restrict competition in the music industry. politico.eu/article/commis…

Trump withdraws US from ‘woke’ UNESCO for second time ow.ly/YbxI106gxGN

The UK government’s anti-corruption champion, Margaret Hodge, will visit the British Virgin Islands this summer after it missed a key deadline to implement a transparency register. politico.eu/article/britis…

🚨 BREAKING: Ukraine’s parliament voted decisively today in favor of a bill that critics say fatally undermines Kyiv’s commitment to tackling corruption — and threatens to scupper its EU membership bid. Full story: politico.eu/article/ukrain…

Hospitals, local councils and operators of critical U.K. infrastructure are among the organizations who will be banned from paying ransoms to hackers under new plans unveiled by the British government. politico.eu/article/britai…

FIFA's president plays the American game ow.ly/2ywv106gwJr

While the EU’s latest U.S. retaliatory tariff proposal hits aircraft, vehicles and medical appliances hardest, health care, transport and agri-food lobbyists have secured a few wins. politico.eu/article/eu-dro…

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot today urged Israel to allow journalists access to the Gaza Strip, where there is a “catastrophic” humanitarian situation. politico.eu/article/france…

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned Israel it faces fresh action from London after the UK signed up to a 28-nation statement condemning the humanitarian situation in Gaza. ow.ly/ymtu50Wt6at

Britain’s politicians are desperate for some rest after a hectic year. History suggests they might not be able to switch off for long. politico.eu/article/united…

Russian-sponsored propaganda engines went into overdrive in the weeks leading up to the European Parliament’s no-confidence vote against Ursula von der Leyen, a confidential study seen by POLITICO shows. politico.eu/article/ursula…

The EU is taking France to court for telling people how to recycle. Here's what you need to know. politico.eu/article/commis…

The EU must remain ready to negotiate with Russia-aligned Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar to prevent Vladimir Putin from further weaponizing migration, the bloc's migration chief Magnus Brunner told POLITICO. politico.eu/article/eu-lib…