It’s not just Americans. Can’t we find a European source that describes this is in a complete and EU POV?

The EU has obviously an interest in getting the UK back in some shape. But I would say that nobody is in a hurry right now. The UK needs to sort itself out, decide what it wants and be consequent and solid about it. There are currently many discussions on the shape and reform of the EU and more people defend the idea of different levels of integration available. From a true federation with single currency in its core, to contries with free border, free movement, common market, but own currency and non-federated. That second tier could be ideal for countries like the UK and Ukraine, at least in the foreseable future.

The motivation might be different but the result is the same, facilitating the Russian regime financial moves.

The original article by Economist has a paywall, that’s why I posted that one instead, but here’s the link: https://www.economist.com/europe/2023/07/03/-vladimir-putins-useful-idiots

I have not idea if this is reliable, and I do despise Musk, but, considering that Portugal will soon start destroying mountains for lithium it would at least allow the country to benefit a bit from those lithium mines that by themselves won’t bring much.