As the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin once observed: “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” Right now feels very much like the latter as a Trump administration showing increasingly far-right characteristics sets about aggressively remodelling US international relations.
Europe had its turn in the crosshairs last week. First Donald Trump effectively cut Ukraine and Europe out of peace talks with Russia before the US vice-president, JD Vance, delivered an excruciating speech in Munich that left the entire transatlantic alliance in turmoil.
Diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour assesses how Europe’s divided leaders can respond to the stark new reality of US indifference to the continent’s security. From Kyiv, Shaun Walker asks what cards a sidelined Volodymyr Zelenskyy has left to play as Ukraine’s endgame with Russia approaches. And defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh outlines what a combined European peacekeeping force in Ukraine could look like – and at what cost.
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Five essential reads in this week’s edition
Spotlight | Germany goes to the polls
On the eve of a crucial election, Jedidajah Otte hears German voters’ views on the chaotic political situation in Europe’s largest economy
Science | Tales from the crib
Why can’t we recall our earliest memories as babies and toddlers? Donna Lu investigates
Feature | Britain’s radioactive chapati scandal
When details about a scientific study in the 1960s – in which Indian women in Britain were given radioactive food without their consent – became public, there was shock and anxiety. Samira Shackle investigates what exactly happened
Opinion | Arab nations face an impossible choice over Gaza
This mortifying dilemma goes to the very soul of the region – and its leaders have brought it on themselves, argues Nesrine Malik
Culture | De La Soul on grief, Gorillaz and never giving up
Two years after the death of Trugoy, the remaining duo are still feeling raw. They tell Stevie Chick about the daisy age they built together – and explain how their late bandmate inspires them
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What else we’ve been reading
I thought this myth-busting piece on fertility was really interesting. People love to make sweeping statements in this area, so it’s great to be able to tell the facts from the old wives’ tales! Jade Lovitt, Guardian Weekly business manager
Reform UK is riding high in the polls, and the once shambolic party is looking to professionalise the way it’s run while apparently trying to keep Nigel Farage, er, “fun”. Ben Quinn and Rowena Mason look at the people who surround the Reform leader – mainly very wealthy men – and examine the tensions in the ranks of a party that says it’s “under new management”. Anthony Naughton, Guardian Weekly assistant editor
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Other highlights from the Guardian website
• Audio | Should we ban cats? Science Weekly podcast
• Video | ‘Fix poverty, fix health’: a day in the life of a ‘failing’ NHS
• Gallery | Runaway snakes and scooting pups: surreal street photography
• Interactive | The rise of the far right, global trade and Ukraine’s future: why the German election matters
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