Meanwhile Western officials basically says the concept for a European-led "reassurance" force in Ukraine (smth under 30k troops, *not* deployed in the east, *not* peacekeeping or peace enforcing) would require US "backstop" - i.e. the threat of punitive airstrikes - to deliver real deterrence.
Hmmm

Finally finished my old colleague and friend Tom Parfitt's High Caucasus. I knew he could write, but this is ridiculously magnificent. Buy it.

Good morning