Does the Logan Act cover sanctions as an "official dispute"? 🤔

It is a federal law (1 Stat. 613;, external18 U.S.C. §953, external) aimed at preventing private citizens from conducting foreign affairs without the permission or involvement of the US government.

It states:

"Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects."

=

Media will just keep banging on about Biden's age though.

Dmitry Medvedev responded to the Washington Declaration of the NATO Alliance, which supports Ukraine's path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership. Medvedev asserted that Russia must ensure that Ukraine's irreversible path to NATO ends with either the disappearance of Ukraine or NATO, or preferably both.

===

One more for the "why doesn't Ukraine want peace?" morons.

Thread by @KofmanMichael on Thread Reader App – Thread Reader App

Think Orban could let Russian soldiers march through Hungary into the rest of Europe and EU would still do nothing against Orban.

“For humanists and righteous people I repeat, this is war! And in war, all methods are good. If we do not bomb maternity hospitals, schools, and ordinary houses, we will not win this war. Only pressure from the Saloreich (Ukraine) population on Zelensky can force him to capitulate.

The reputation of Russia and its army is at stake. We must win, no matter the cost!

And remember, you cannot speak bad about your country during the war. Even if she's wrong!“

Trump is considering a reduction in intelligence sharing with members of NATO, which depends on the U.S. for the type of information that has helped Ukraine fend off Russia, according to foreign officials informed of the plans.

The officials said they learned about the proposal to curb intelligence-sharing during discussions with Trump advisers about broader plans to reduce U.S. involvement with NATO. The former president repeatedly questioned and sought to undercut the alliance during his first term in office.

The curtailment of intel could have dire security consequences, especially for Ukraine as it tries to repel the Russian invasion.

• Prime Minister Keir Starmer recommits to £3 billion a year of military support for Ukraine until 2030/31 and for as long as needed
• He will warn Allies that the frontline defence of the Euro-Atlantic region is the Ukrainian trenches 
• Comes after the UK pledges to accelerate lethal aid support to Kyiv 

The international community cannot waver in the face of relentless Russian aggression, the Prime Minister will tell NATO today as he doubles down on the UK’s £3 billion per year package of military funding for as long as needed. 

The confirmation of the UK’s multi-year £3 billion military funding package for Ukraine comes after President Putin unleashed a string of sickening attacks this week, including a devastating attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv. 

The Prime Minister will tell NATO leaders that President Putin’s depraved acts will only serve to steel the international community’s resolve to support Ukraine. 

As well as ensuring Ukraine has the financial support it needs to plan and fuel its defence against Russian forces, the UK will deliver a new package of artillery and 90 Brimstone missiles in the coming weeks. 

The commitment was made by the Defence Secretary after he travelled to Ukraine - at the request of the Prime Minister - on his first full day in the office. 

The UK has also confirmed today it will contribute £40 million to NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine. The UK is the third largest donor to the Package, ensuring Ukraine can access vital assistance in key areas including counter drone protection, demining of recaptured land and medical rehabilitation of its injured military personnel. 

In addition, the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine will place a new order, worth £300 million, for 120,000 rounds of 152mm soviet-era ammunition bolstering Ukraine’s defences against Russia.

Speaking to President Zelenskyy in their first official bilateral today, the Prime Minister underscored that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO. 

Tomorrow morning [Thursday, 11 July], the Prime Minister will tell NATO allies during a special session on Ukraine that the alliance must follow in the footsteps of its founders and stand up for the values the international community holds so dear. 

He will also warn that the frontline defence of the Euro-Atlantic region is the Ukrainian trenches. 

He will say: 

“NATO was founded by the generation who defeated fascism. They understood not just the value of our strength, but the strength of our values. 

“Those values are under attack once again. Putin needs to hear a clear message ringing out from this summit – a message of unity and determination, that we will support Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes to uphold our shared values and our shared security. “ 

The UK has delivered almost £12.5bn in military, humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine since Russia’s illegal and miscalculated full scale invasion in February 2022. 

This year alone, the UK has committed 200 new air defence missiles, more than £300 million worth of advanced drones and 50 new sanctions to suffocate profit streams fuelling Putin’s war machine. 

Since the launch of Putin’s assault, the Ministry of Defence estimates that more than 500,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured in pursuit of his pointless ambitions.

Awkward for the MAGA lot who see Hungary as a role-model but also hate China.

But Orban already sold his country out to China: Chinese police set to patrol alongside Hungarian officers