**You need to watch Zelenskyy's interview with Steven Bartlett.** Sitting in front of the camera is an utterly exhausted, at times visibly broken man who has spent almost five years personally managing a war, making critical decisions day and night. From the very first minutes, you can see just how drained he is. When asked the routine question, "How are you?" he replies that he barely sleeps because he spends his nights in military group chats, moving the last remaining air defense systems from one region to another. Two stories are particularly heartbreaking. The first is about a missile that struck a children's playground within seconds, while parents watched from their apartment windows as their children were torn apart. The second is about presenting posthumous military awards to the families of fallen soldiers: "You present an award to a father, feel his strong hand, and then he quietly asks, 'Can we hug?' At that moment, I simply cease to exist inside. These people are gone. They will never be the same again." When the host tries to take him back into his past, showing old photographs from Kryvyi Rih, his student comedy performances, his voice acting as Paddington Bear, and scenes from *Servant of the People*, Zelenskyy looks at them with detachment, almost as though he is watching someone else's life. He also recalls February 2022 without any attempt to portray himself as a hero. He says that for the first 20 days, he simply ran from office to office on adrenaline, calling everyone he could and trying to organize deliveries of water and food to Kyiv. Fear and the full realization of what had happened only caught up with him three weeks later, when Bucha was liberated and mass graves containing hundreds of murdered civilians were discovered. Using Bucha as an example, he explains why advice from outsiders to simply negotiate a quick deal causes him such deep frustration: "Imagine that in the United States or Britain, a mass grave is discovered containing 500 tortured people with their hands tied. How could you simply forgive everything after that?" The rest of the conversation revolves around the deadlock in which Ukrainians, and indeed everyone involved, now find themselves. Zelenskyy explains the causes of the war in simple terms: Moscow is trying to forcibly rebuild the Soviet empire because Ukraine's integration into Europe would finally bury that project. But when the conversation turns to the present, there is unmistakable bitterness in his words. Almost one-fifth of Ukraine's territory is occupied. The east is under relentless bombardment. Cities are left without electricity. People are dying every single day. Meanwhile, every discussion about a ceasefire runs into the same demand: Kyiv must withdraw even farther from its fortified positions, without any guarantees that Russia will not launch another offensive a year later. Toward the end, the conversation turns to Trump and Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities. Trump publicly reprimands Zelenskyy over attacks on Russian refineries because he fears rising diesel prices for American farmers ahead of the elections. And this is where you can see just how deeply that approach affects Zelenskyy. His country is burning. Moscow has rejected his proposal for a mutual halt to attacks on energy infrastructure. Patriot missiles paid for by Europe are being redirected by the Americans to the Middle East. And somehow, Zelenskyy is the one being blamed for fuel prices in the United States. The entire interview leaves you with a profoundly bleak feeling. Here is a man trapped between the daily deaths of people in his own country and the pragmatic bargaining of allies who have their own elections, their own interests, and their own political calculations. And yet, he can no longer step away from this responsibility. **Watch it.**

A clear message from our Chair: "Just because something is the law, does not mean it is right. Laws can be wrong. Section 28 was the law, and it was wrong. And you know what the Labour government did? It changed the law. It can be done. It must be done."

Incredible joint union solidarity event this morning. All 11 unions standing together with the trans and non-binary community.

Esta ciudad de Ucrania celebró el Orgullo bajo tierra, huyendo de los bombadeos Rusos. Se trata de Járkov, una población que mantiene encarnizados combates para impedir el avance del ejercito invasor de Putin y mantienen viva la ciudad. Hilo.

This is good from @MichaelDnes1 on the tragedy of Old Oak Common, which @Ben_A_Hopkinson has highlighted endlessly for @CPSThinkTank - this is about to be the best-connected slice of land in Western Europe, but we're only building on the pink bits limbostructure.substack.com/…

Unpopular fact: Labour are solving Britain’s immigration issues. Before you try to argue against that, go and look at the data. Since Labour came into power: Net immigration: ↓ 74% Small boat arrivals: ↓ 44% Asylum seekers in hotels: ↓ 46% And continuing this trend. Perhaps we don’t need a load of self-serving grifters being voted in next time around after all?

Today Oxford Street Development Corporation becomes the planning authority for the MDC area - an important moment in the progress towards a better Oxford Street and revitalised West End. @MayorofLondon @LDN_economy @newwestend

So after this response - from the Tory councillor who is the lead for Westminster Council’s new licensing policy - made me wonder whether the stories were true or overblown so I read the policy and answered the consultation and it is BAD.

Power to you @MonicaLennon7 👏🏻

I enjoyed every second of this interview. Which makes one of us…

This is the house that @Nigel_Farage is so angry that a photo was published of. That he himself posed in front of for photos

📍14th İzmir Pride March: “We will win our freedom for our labor, our bodies, and our lives” Despite the İzmir Governor’s ban, LGBTI+ people gathered for the 14th İzmir Pride March and marched under the slogan “We Are Starting Again.” Police attacked the march and detained 36 people. kaosgl1.org/en/single-news/1…

Terrifying, not charming

What a rotten deal we made with Iran. We get nothing (except laughter at our stupidity). They get everything, including delay and big cash!

RT @MayorofLondon: Complaining about nightlife when you *checks notes* choose to live in Soho is like living in South Kensington and compla…

Politics isn’t working for places like ours. I will change that. #AndyBurnham #ForUs

Hat off to you @AndyBurnhamGM

London stopped building. Here's why. 🧵 Build costs doubled. House prices didn't. In 2015, it cost £1,800 per sqm to build a home in London. Today it's £3,250. That's an 80% increase in ten years.

New MSPs arrive at Holyrood for induction today

Taking our seats for the 1st time @Catherinewest1 & @wesstreeting