Valentina Pop
@valpop.bsky.social
FT Europe news editor. Brussels veteran. The name is real.
as.ft.com/r/fe2e8775-0... Albania’s flamingos meet the Trump family bulldozers
Albania’s flamingos meet the Trump family bulldozers
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump plan a luxury residential complex that locals say will threaten a natural reserve
as.ft.com
July 3, 2026 at 7:46 AM
as.ft.com/r/fe2e8775-0... Albania’s flamingos meet the Trump family bulldozers
as.ft.com/r/6ae1a0c9-e... Putin ties himself to ruling party as war fatigue bites
Putin ties himself to ruling party as war fatigue bites
United Russia is campaigning with the president for the first time in nearly 20 years
as.ft.com
June 30, 2026 at 8:29 AM
as.ft.com/r/6ae1a0c9-e... Putin ties himself to ruling party as war fatigue bites
as.ft.com/r/19c312b3-4... An astute observer of life behind the Iron Curtain, Drakulić made her name with work that joined political analysis to the intimate texture of daily existence. She wrote about ideology not as abstraction but as something felt in kitchens, wardrobes and courtrooms.
Slavenka Drakulić, Croatian writer, dies aged 76
Former Yugoslav essayist and novelist traced the costs of communism, war and nationalism in Europe
as.ft.com
June 23, 2026 at 3:33 PM
as.ft.com/r/19c312b3-4... An astute observer of life behind the Iron Curtain, Drakulić made her name with work that joined political analysis to the intimate texture of daily existence. She wrote about ideology not as abstraction but as something felt in kitchens, wardrobes and courtrooms.
as.ft.com/r/d229c732-3... Italy open to Germany joining fighter jet project, says Leonardo chief
Italy open to Germany joining fighter jet project, says Leonardo chief
Lorenzo Mariani says Berlin role in GCAP would slow progress but bring benefits after collapse of rival FCAS programme
as.ft.com
June 22, 2026 at 6:24 AM
as.ft.com/r/d229c732-3... Italy open to Germany joining fighter jet project, says Leonardo chief
as.ft.com/r/0c191ea1-3... Russian missiles used in deadly strike were built this year with western parts, says Ukraine @christopherjm.ft.com
Russian missiles used in deadly strike were built this year with western parts, says Ukraine
Images of debris from attack on Kyiv apartment block that killed at least 24 suggest Kh-101 missile was used
as.ft.com
May 15, 2026 at 3:52 PM
as.ft.com/r/0c191ea1-3... Russian missiles used in deadly strike were built this year with western parts, says Ukraine @christopherjm.ft.com
as.ft.com/r/d956aeee-7... Germany’s Friedrich Merz says he would not want his children to move to US
Germany’s Friedrich Merz says he would not want his children to move to US
Chancellor wary about the ‘social climate developing there’ as relations with Donald Trump hit new low
as.ft.com
May 15, 2026 at 3:51 PM
as.ft.com/r/d956aeee-7... Germany’s Friedrich Merz says he would not want his children to move to US
as.ft.com/r/2ace6bdb-2... EU ties €35bn fund release to Hungary’s break with Orbán era
EU ties €35bn fund release to Hungary’s break with Orbán era
[FREE TO READ] Brussels has linked unfreezing of funds to 27 conditions it expects Péter Magyar to deliver on
as.ft.com
April 13, 2026 at 9:58 AM
as.ft.com/r/2ace6bdb-2... EU ties €35bn fund release to Hungary’s break with Orbán era
as.ft.com/r/ef5f7b74-1... Nato chief riles Europe by backing Trump’s war in Iran @henryjfoy.ft.com
Nato chief riles Europe by backing Trump’s war in Iran
[FREE TO READ] European capitals irritated by Mark Rutte’s suggestion they will join US armada to Strait of Hormuz
as.ft.com
March 25, 2026 at 7:25 AM
as.ft.com/r/ef5f7b74-1... Nato chief riles Europe by backing Trump’s war in Iran @henryjfoy.ft.com
as.ft.com/r/1e8fdc2a-6... From Vienna’s rooftops, the Kremlin is listening in
From Vienna’s rooftops, the Kremlin is listening in
[FREE TO READ] Russia has increased satellite dish activity on buildings it owns in Austrian capital
as.ft.com
March 17, 2026 at 3:29 PM
as.ft.com/r/1e8fdc2a-6... From Vienna’s rooftops, the Kremlin is listening in
February 23, 2026 at 6:34 AM
as.ft.com/r/2cb61a10-f... US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
[FREE TO READ] State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
as.ft.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:52 AM
as.ft.com/r/2cb61a10-f... US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
as.ft.com/r/0ec4825e-a... Kyiv’s great freeze
Kyiv’s great freeze
[FREE TO READ] Russian strikes have plunged Ukrainians into their hardest winter yet, but they still want to fight on
as.ft.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:22 AM
as.ft.com/r/0ec4825e-a... Kyiv’s great freeze
as.ft.com/r/ba44ce43-3... Russian spy spacecraft have intercepted Europe’s key satellites, officials believe
Russian spy spacecraft have intercepted Europe’s key satellites, officials believe
[FREE TO READ] Unencrypted European communications are being targeted by Moscow
as.ft.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:12 AM
as.ft.com/r/ba44ce43-3... Russian spy spacecraft have intercepted Europe’s key satellites, officials believe
as.ft.com/r/4a16c2f2-5... Italian far-right activists push for ‘remigration’ law
Italian far-right activists push for ‘remigration’ law
[FREE TO READ] Extremist groups launch petition that would force parliament to debate law on mass deportations
as.ft.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:22 PM
as.ft.com/r/4a16c2f2-5... Italian far-right activists push for ‘remigration’ law
as.ft.com/r/18827118-9... Bike lanes vs narcos: French mayors step up fight against drug gangs
Bike lanes vs narcos: French mayors step up fight against drug gangs
[FREE TO READ] Growing problem sparks concern that far right could take advantage in local elections
as.ft.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:31 AM
as.ft.com/r/18827118-9... Bike lanes vs narcos: French mayors step up fight against drug gangs
as.ft.com/r/eb83af13-d... Russian oil income drops sharply as sanctions bite
Russian oil income drops sharply as sanctions bite
[FREE TO READ] Moscow’s energy revenues fell by a fifth in 2025 compared with previous year
as.ft.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:02 AM
as.ft.com/r/eb83af13-d... Russian oil income drops sharply as sanctions bite
The idea that hope is a kind of torment, that outright crisis is at least mentally clarifying, was most famously expressed by John Cleese and his 1986 road caper Clockwise: “It’s not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It’s the hope.”
as.ft.com/r/1dceb5c4-7...
as.ft.com/r/1dceb5c4-7...
Why Taco is a problem for Europe
[FREE TO READ] The continent needs a sense of crisis in order to change, and Donald Trump keeps it just short of that
as.ft.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:01 AM
The idea that hope is a kind of torment, that outright crisis is at least mentally clarifying, was most famously expressed by John Cleese and his 1986 road caper Clockwise: “It’s not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It’s the hope.”
as.ft.com/r/1dceb5c4-7...
as.ft.com/r/1dceb5c4-7...
as.ft.com/r/d7abf46b-d... The Russian refinery Berlin cannot afford to lose @chassnews.bsky.social
The Russian refinery Berlin cannot afford to lose
[FREE TO READ] Looming US sanctions risk cutting fuel supplies to German capital, prompting government to review Rosneft expropriation
as.ft.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:13 AM
as.ft.com/r/d7abf46b-d... The Russian refinery Berlin cannot afford to lose @chassnews.bsky.social
as.ft.com/r/4c493b50-c... ‘It’s about trust’: Donald Trump’s fresh tariff threats push Europe to harden its stance
‘It’s about trust’: Donald Trump’s fresh tariff threats push Europe to harden its stance
[FREE TO READ] Aggressive US rhetoric over Greenland demands a change in strategy by the EU and UK, officials say
as.ft.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:26 PM
as.ft.com/r/4c493b50-c... ‘It’s about trust’: Donald Trump’s fresh tariff threats push Europe to harden its stance
as.ft.com/r/3217586f-2... Germany set to approve €50bn in military purchases @laurapitel.bsky.social
Germany set to approve €50bn in military purchases
[FREE TO READ] Bundestag asked to sign off on multibillion contracts, including a €21bn order for soldiers’ protective equipment
as.ft.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:12 AM
as.ft.com/r/3217586f-2... Germany set to approve €50bn in military purchases @laurapitel.bsky.social
as.ft.com/r/625541e6-3... Giorgia Meloni’s European moment comes with a price
Giorgia Meloni’s European moment comes with a price
[FREE TO READ] Italy’s enigmatic leader holds a casting vote this week on two crucial issues for the EU
as.ft.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:24 AM
as.ft.com/r/625541e6-3... Giorgia Meloni’s European moment comes with a price
on.ft.com/4ozfoC3 Dutch voters eye return to centre after far-right experiment fails
Dutch voters eye return to centre after far-right experiment fails
[FREE TO READ] Greens-Labour and Christian Democrats vow to form coalition without Geert Wilders’ party after elections on Wednesday
on.ft.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:01 AM
on.ft.com/4ozfoC3 Dutch voters eye return to centre after far-right experiment fails
on.ft.com/4oPyJzl Trump-Putin summit in Budapest unsettles Europe
Trump-Putin summit in Budapest unsettles Europe
[FREE TO READ] Volodymyr Zelenskyy objects to Hungary’s pro-Russian leader hosting meeting aimed at ending Moscow’s invasion
on.ft.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:05 AM
on.ft.com/4oPyJzl Trump-Putin summit in Budapest unsettles Europe
on.ft.com/42PX0wu Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept Putin’s terms or be ‘destroyed’ by Russia
Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept Putin’s terms or be ‘destroyed’ by Russia
[FREE TO READ] US president tossed aside maps of Ukraine frontline in volatile White House meeting
on.ft.com
October 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
on.ft.com/42PX0wu Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept Putin’s terms or be ‘destroyed’ by Russia
on.ft.com/4qdu37G EU offers to buy US weapons for Ukraine using Russia’s frozen assets
EU offers to buy US weapons for Ukraine using Russia’s frozen assets
[FREE TO READ] Proposal aims to keep Donald Trump on Kyiv’s side amid signs of US-Russia détente
on.ft.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
on.ft.com/4qdu37G EU offers to buy US weapons for Ukraine using Russia’s frozen assets