Seb Starcevic

Mega scoop by @camgijs.bsky.social 🔥🔥🔥

Mark Rutte DOGEs NATO with dozens of job cuts Transatlantic military chief slashes roles and eliminates divisions as U.S. President Donald Trump’s reluctant commitment overshadows the alliance.

EXCLUSIVE: NATO chief Mark Rutte is axing dozens of job and two whole divisions in a major overhaul at the alliance’s Brussels HQ.

“He is basically DOGEing NATO,” an official told POLITICO, referring to Elon Musk’s efforts to trim the U.S. government.

Scoop here via @politico.eu👇 ow.ly/BUKB50WcfTo

Exclusive for @politico.eu from me and the unsurpassed @jacopobarigazzi.bsky.social

EU taps Ylva Johansson to be special envoy for Ukrainians Former home affairs commissioner lined up for new role overseeing Commission’s strategy for Ukrainian refugees.

SCOOP: Former Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson is tipped to become special envoy for Ukrainians in the EU.

As Russia’s invasion grinds on, the EU executive wants Ukrainian refugees to go home or stay and integrate fully — which this new top job will oversee 👇 www.politico.eu/article/ylva...

A press conference with Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas.

The EU just announced a barrage of new sanctions on Russia, including:

💵 Cutting off 22 Russian banks from SWIFT
⛽️ Banning the Nord Stream gas pipelines
🛢️ Lowering the oil price cap from $60 to $45 (with G7 approval)

“This war must end,” Ursula von der Leyen said 👉 www.politico.eu/article/ursu...

Russia’s blacklisted classical music stars make a comeback in Europe Vladimir Putin’s opera darlings are back in the spotlight — and Ukraine and the EU are not pleased.

They were once blacklisted for their ties to Putin.

But now some of Russia’s biggest classical music stars are returning to European stages.

Their encore is a soft power win for the Kremlin — and has triggered a fierce political reaction from the EU and Ukraine 👇 www.politico.eu/article/russ...

Russia’s opposition talking with Ukraine behind the scenes, top dissident says Many in Ukraine have criticized the idea that Kyiv and the Russian opposition are natural allies.

Despite their mutual hatred for Putin, Ukraine and Russia’s exiled opposition have mostly avoided joining forces amid deep distrust.

But a top Russian dissident told me and @elenagiordano.bsky.social in Brussels that talks have kicked off behind closed doors 👇 www.politico.eu/article/russ...

We run in very different circles! 😉 Anyway, this is a really pendantic hill — hope you enjoyed the story, pet peeves aside!

The habit comes from the fact that most people outside Brussels (definitely outside Europe) have little idea what a commissioner does or EU hierarchies; clarity sometimes requires descriptive, informal language, especially if the story isn’t just for the bubble. News writing ≠ academic writing!

Good to see you engaging with the substance!

EU sports chief hints Israel should get the boot from competitions over Gaza war “Through sport, we have to promote the values that we stand for, with any country,” Glenn Micallef says.

EXCL: Israel’s critics say it should be exiled from global sport over its war in Gaza, just as Russia was — and the EU’s top sports official signaled his agreement.

“Through sport, we have to promote the values that we stand for, with any country,” he told POLITICO. www.politico.eu/article/eu-s...

Russia and Ukraine agree on 1,000-prisoner exchange — but no ceasefire First direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in three years made little substantive progress toward peace.

Second day of talks: 1000 prisoners exchange agreed. No ceasefire. More threats from the Russians to fight forever. US delegation pushed out. My latest:
www.politico.eu/article/ista...

🏳️‍🌈🇪🇺 In today’s @politico.eu Brussels Playbook, we reported on how a petition to ban conversion practices Europe-wide went viral days before its deadline.

Hours later, it’s reached one million signatures — meaning the European Commission must now formally consider it 👇 www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...

So. Much. Voting. Presented by Philips By SARAH WHEATON PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Tweet @NicholasVinocur @swheaton | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser HOWDY. Sarah Wheaton here, bringing you this Frida…

Nice write-up in Brussels Playbook by @sebstarcevic.bsky.social how the bid wasn't doing great, but then Angèle and her large Instagram following got involved.

www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...

Greenland dangles rare earths partnership with EU as Trump looms “We want to expand our cooperation on our critical minerals and energy,” Vivian Motzfeldt says.

EXCLUSIVE: Greenland’s foreign minister has suggested the European Union could develop its coveted mineral resources amid threats by US President Donald Trump to seize the island.

Greenland dangles rare earths partnership with EU as Trump looms “We want to expand our cooperation on our critical minerals and energy,” Vivian Motzfeldt says.

Exclusive: Greenland’s foreign minister suggested partnering with the EU on minerals and energy. “We like them,” she said.

She also slammed the Trump administration for spying on the island.

“We’re supposed to be friends. We are allies. Allies don’t do such things.” www.politico.eu/article/gree...

EU slams Eurovision for banning flag from stage “Young Europeans should not need permission to wave their flag,” Glenn Micallef says.

🇪🇺 🚫 You won’t see the EU’s flag on stage at this weekend’s Eurovision grand final.

It’s been banned along with other flags — earning a sharp rebuke from the EU.

“If national flags belong on stage, the European flag does too,” the bloc’s culture chief told POLITICO. www.politico.eu/article/eu-e...

EU to roll back Ukraine trade perks to protect its farmers Brussels looks to reintroduce pre-war tariffs on some agricultural imports from Ukraine, documents seen by POLITICO show.

NEW: The European Commission is preparing to reintroduce pre-war tariff quotas for some Ukrainian farm products sold into the EU market as of June 6, after the bloc’s wartime tariff waivers expire.

That's according to documents seen by POLITICO.

www.politico.eu/article/brus...

Top human rights group challenges FIFA over Trump and 2026 World Cup Human Rights Watch says football’s governing body should be prepared to “reconsider” choice of U.S. as tournament co-host.

🚨 New scoop: According to a leaked letter sent to Gianni Infantino, a top human rights organization said it has “grave concerns” about the Trump administration’s border policies affecting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

How George Simion became a right-wing ‘messiah’ for Romanians abroad TikTok and ultranationalism propels hard-right chief to cult status among Romania’s diaspora.

🇷🇴 Romania’s diaspora voted en masse for a far-right, pro-Trump candidate at Sunday’s much-watched presidential election.

To Romanians abroad, he is “a sort of savior,” a political scientist explained.

“He films himself every-f**king-where,” a Romanian expat told me. www.politico.eu/article/roma...

EU backs Olympic bid for 2036, while London wants the Games in 2040 Europe’s sports chief calls for the Olympics to return to the EU — but that aspiration could clash with a bid from London.

Madrid 2036? London 2040? A TBD German games?🏅🇪🇺 @ec.europa.eu Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef tells @politico.eu that he wants the Olympics back in Europe ASAP

www.politico.eu/article/eu-o...

EU backs Olympic bid for 2036, while London wants the Games in 2040 Europe’s sports chief calls for the Olympics to return to the EU — but that aspiration could clash with a bid from London.

🇪🇺🏅When will Europe host another Olympics?

The EU’s sports chief told @politico.eu he wants the Olympic flame back in Europe as soon as possible 👇 www.politico.eu/article/eu-o...

How a billionaire Russian ‘sugar daddy’ took over an iconic Olympic sport Sanctioned tycoon Alisher Usmanov parries Western efforts to oust him from shadow leadership role in world fencing.

A Russian billionaire with ties to President Vladimir Putin wields immense influence over one of the world’s most prestigious sports — despite EU and US sanctions against him.

🤺🇷🇺 POLITICO Europe’s feature about how a sanctioned Russian billionaire took over the world of Olympic fencing — and the doomed Nordic-led rebellion to oust him — is now available to read online: www.politico.eu/article/russ...

Plan for Russia to rejoin Olympics sparks disgust in Ukraine Russian “athletes and officials are part of the state propaganda machine,” Kyiv warns new International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry.

Exclusive: Ukraine hit out at the new IOC president’s remarks opening the door to Russia returning to the Olympics by 2026.

“We will call on the international community to reject any attempts to normalize the presence of Russian and Belarusian citizens in sports.” www.politico.eu/article/russ...

Greenland forms new unity government on eve of JD Vance visit Four of the five parties elected to Greenland’s parliament two weeks ago have agreed to band together in a broad coalition.

Greenland will form a new coalition government that comprises all but one party elected to its legislature, a show of political unity in the face of ongoing takeover threats from United States President Donald Trump.

A samurai helmet, shamrock socks and one epic meltdown: Trump’s Oval Office meetings, ranked How to survive a White House summit with the combative U.S. president.

If you’re a foreign leader visiting the White House, chances are you’ll be thrust into a public Oval Office meeting with US President Donald Trump. Get it right, and you could score a major win for your country. Get it wrong, and you might face a global dressing-down.

Greenland to Trump: No, we didn't invite you A delegation that includes second lady Usha Vance is slated to arrive on the island on Thursday.

🇬🇱 Trump says “officials” in Greenland invited an American delegation, including Second Lady Usha Vance, to visit the island this Thursday.

But a Greenlandic MP told POLITICO that’s “not true” — and said a protest is planned for Vance’s arrival 👇 www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was beaten by settlers in the West Bank and taken away by Israeli soldiers, his co-director said.

The IDF told POLITICO they detained three Palestinians after a “violent confrontation” in which “several terrorists” threw rocks at Israelis 👇

Oscar winner beaten and detained in Israeli-occupied West Bank Hamdan Ballal was detained by Israeli soldiers and “has since disappeared,” a former colleague said.

One of the makers of an Oscar-winning documentary about Palestinian communities in the West Bank was assaulted in the occupied territory, with his whereabouts unknown after he was detained by the Israeli military, his co-director said.