We take on Italy's election of a new president and what that tells us about permanent crisis, the EU and the curtailing of democracy; we ask how serious the risk of war in Ukraine actually is; and review a film we haven't seen.

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3 Articles:

• As war looms larger, what are Russia’s military options in Ukraine?, The Economist
• How the EU destroyed Italian democracy, Thomas Fazi & Paolo Cornetti, Unherd
• Boringly postmodern and an ideological fantasy, Slavoj Zizek, The Spectator

Others:

• Chartbook #70 Draghi for President?, Adam Tooze, Substack
• How serious is Vladimir Putin about launching a major Ukraine offensive?, Max Seddon, FT