No map today, but instead a warning. Russia puts a missile through a bridge in southern Kyiv. (h/t @Zeldamices for geolocation at 50.395181, 30.584123). Ukraine looks on, wondering how this is possible after they had an 'understanding', whilst certain members of the Ukrainian military who know the score have another opportunity to say, "I told you so, and this is the result of you telling us no". They refuse to accept that the decision has already been made for them on the bridges, and choose to tie themselves in a knot of indecision over it. A fine recipe for disaster that we see time and time again from Ukraine, if ever there was one. For all Ukraine's politicians public insistence on concrete guarantees in peace talks, when it comes to action, they seem content to rely on back channel deals that mean nothing. They talk the talk, but when it matters, fail to walk the walk. Meanwhile, the leaders of Finland and Norway, in seeming concert with Kyiv, elected to speak on the phone directly to Putin. They approach him softly, as though the difficulty were a misunderstanding rather than a deliberate campaign of conquest and extermination. They should know better. You do not deter an aggressor by demonstrating your eagerness to accommodate him. You have just confirmed to him that aggression pays, that threats bring concessions, and that he has every reason to continue. The result is as predictable as ever, rather than helping Finland or Norway, it has ensured further aggression against them, and weakened their own position. Another disservice to the troops fighting and dying on the front.