Iver Ørstavik
@iverorstavik.bsky.social
Senior Adviser at Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, Bergen, Norway. Philosopher by education. Opinions sometimes my own, never someone else's.
Pinned
EUROPE AFTER AMERICA
The US is cutting off all aid and intelligence assistance Ukraine in order to pressure Ukrainians and other Europeans in general to accept an agreement on Russian and American terms. 1
The US is cutting off all aid and intelligence assistance Ukraine in order to pressure Ukrainians and other Europeans in general to accept an agreement on Russian and American terms. 1
"Treason for money" pretty much sums up the awful mess presented by the Trump administration as a "Peace plan for Ukraine".
This is not a peace plan. It is a proposal that weakens Ukraine and divides America from Europe, preparing the way for a larger war in the future. In the meantime, it benefits unnamed Russian and American investors, at the expense of everyone else.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump Has a Recipe for War and Corruption, Not Peace
Who would benefit from the White House’s 28-point proposal for Ukraine?
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:14 PM
"Treason for money" pretty much sums up the awful mess presented by the Trump administration as a "Peace plan for Ukraine".
Reposted by Iver Ørstavik
If #Europe wants #Putin to agree to a ceasefire, the easiest way is:
- Give a lot of #Taurus
- 20x investment into #Ukraine #Drone production
- Set up Air defense for Western #Ukraine
- Stop oil and gas traffic in baltic
- Tariffs on all remaining LNG, Oil imports
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
- Give a lot of #Taurus
- 20x investment into #Ukraine #Drone production
- Set up Air defense for Western #Ukraine
- Stop oil and gas traffic in baltic
- Tariffs on all remaining LNG, Oil imports
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
Setback for Europe after Trump insists Ukraine has ‘immediate’ peace talks with Russia
Zelenskyy had no choice but to accept Putin’s invitation to talks, diplomats say
www.theguardian.com
May 13, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Reposted by Iver Ørstavik
Trump, on the leader of Russia:
"Putin is tired of this whole thing and he’s not — he’s not looking good. And he wants to look good”
It's hard to imagine a more fundamental misunderstanding.
No, Putin is not "tired of the whole thing" - the war is the only thing keeping his economy going
"Putin is tired of this whole thing and he’s not — he’s not looking good. And he wants to look good”
It's hard to imagine a more fundamental misunderstanding.
No, Putin is not "tired of the whole thing" - the war is the only thing keeping his economy going
May 18, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Trump, on the leader of Russia:
"Putin is tired of this whole thing and he’s not — he’s not looking good. And he wants to look good”
It's hard to imagine a more fundamental misunderstanding.
No, Putin is not "tired of the whole thing" - the war is the only thing keeping his economy going
"Putin is tired of this whole thing and he’s not — he’s not looking good. And he wants to look good”
It's hard to imagine a more fundamental misunderstanding.
No, Putin is not "tired of the whole thing" - the war is the only thing keeping his economy going
Of course. We may still be able to make Trump think it is in his own interest to protect NATO allies in Europe. But we cannot make him commit. We must expect that he or someone like him will be the President of the USA until some very significant institutional reform is completed. So NATO is dead.
@laurenscerulus.bsky.social : Fears in Europe about a "kill switch" at Donald Trump's fingertips are real. "If that political dimension turns hostile, how credible is it that companies with the best intentions can challenge their president," Cristina Caffarra told us today.
May 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Of course. We may still be able to make Trump think it is in his own interest to protect NATO allies in Europe. But we cannot make him commit. We must expect that he or someone like him will be the President of the USA until some very significant institutional reform is completed. So NATO is dead.
Would it be possible for the EFTA countries to sue the EU Commission and/or Council for failure to secure that Hungary abides by the EEA?
@politico.eu: "The bill says threats to national sovereignty include influencing public opinion, promoting democratic debate, or challenging state-defined values like Christian culture and traditional family roles."
Orbán’s Fidesz party proposes Russia-style crackdown on Hungary’s civil society
The new bill fits into a pattern of democratic backsliding for the Central European country.
www.politico.eu
May 14, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Would it be possible for the EFTA countries to sue the EU Commission and/or Council for failure to secure that Hungary abides by the EEA?
Reposted by Iver Ørstavik
@politico.eu: "The bill says threats to national sovereignty include influencing public opinion, promoting democratic debate, or challenging state-defined values like Christian culture and traditional family roles."
Orbán’s Fidesz party proposes Russia-style crackdown on Hungary’s civil society
The new bill fits into a pattern of democratic backsliding for the Central European country.
www.politico.eu
May 14, 2025 at 10:19 AM
@politico.eu: "The bill says threats to national sovereignty include influencing public opinion, promoting democratic debate, or challenging state-defined values like Christian culture and traditional family roles."
The nasty Trumpist bait and switch.
"Even as the Musk-Trump people continue to say that we must sacrifice our rights for national security, they are also starting to say that they find it worthwhile to violate national security in order to have the tools that allow them to violate our rights."
snyder.substack.com/p/signalgate...
snyder.substack.com/p/signalgate...
Signalgate: violating national security
in order to violate rights
snyder.substack.com
March 27, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The nasty Trumpist bait and switch.
Reposted by Iver Ørstavik
"If you give in to extortionists, they’ll extort you and others for more ... Which brings me to @columbiauniversity.bsky.social’s president and trustees, who today surrendered the university’s #academicfreedom to the Trump regime"
robertreich.substack.com/p/the-shame-...
robertreich.substack.com/p/the-shame-...
March 23, 2025 at 10:06 AM
"If you give in to extortionists, they’ll extort you and others for more ... Which brings me to @columbiauniversity.bsky.social’s president and trustees, who today surrendered the university’s #academicfreedom to the Trump regime"
robertreich.substack.com/p/the-shame-...
robertreich.substack.com/p/the-shame-...
@hasyv.bsky.social Hei Håvard, har du slettet FB-kontoen?
March 20, 2025 at 10:13 AM
@hasyv.bsky.social Hei Håvard, har du slettet FB-kontoen?
Dead kangaroo walking! The "Constitutional Tribunal" made to serve the former Polish gov under PiS is slaughtered by CJEU.
🇪🇺⚖️🇵🇱 The, probably, final chapter of the Polish rule of law saga at CJEU unfolds - the 🇱🇺 AG Spielmann opinion in the case C-448/23 Commission v. Poland concerning the Constitutional Tribunal is here. It has been some time since the Commission opened the investigation into the Tribunal in 2021... 1/
March 11, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Dead kangaroo walking! The "Constitutional Tribunal" made to serve the former Polish gov under PiS is slaughtered by CJEU.
I disagree with @frankfukuyama.bsky.social Fascism is essentially syncretic. Opportunistic use of lies is the core of Fascism. A dangerous mistake suggesting that it can be fought by identifying inconsistency, falsehood, immorality. But it feeds itself on it.
www.persuasion.community/p/making-the...
www.persuasion.community/p/making-the...
Making the World Safe for Criminals
The United States is undergoing repatrimonialization as we speak.
www.persuasion.community
March 8, 2025 at 4:21 PM
I disagree with @frankfukuyama.bsky.social Fascism is essentially syncretic. Opportunistic use of lies is the core of Fascism. A dangerous mistake suggesting that it can be fought by identifying inconsistency, falsehood, immorality. But it feeds itself on it.
www.persuasion.community/p/making-the...
www.persuasion.community/p/making-the...
Beelzebub.
uk.news.yahoo.com/trump-ukrain...
uk.news.yahoo.com/trump-ukrain...
Trump 'planning to revoke legal status of 240,000 Ukrainian refugees' - key developments
The planned rollback of protections for Ukrainians was reportedly underway before Trump publicly feuded with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week.
uk.news.yahoo.com
March 6, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Beelzebub.
uk.news.yahoo.com/trump-ukrain...
uk.news.yahoo.com/trump-ukrain...
EUROPE AFTER AMERICA
The US is cutting off all aid and intelligence assistance Ukraine in order to pressure Ukrainians and other Europeans in general to accept an agreement on Russian and American terms. 1
The US is cutting off all aid and intelligence assistance Ukraine in order to pressure Ukrainians and other Europeans in general to accept an agreement on Russian and American terms. 1
March 5, 2025 at 9:52 PM
EUROPE AFTER AMERICA
The US is cutting off all aid and intelligence assistance Ukraine in order to pressure Ukrainians and other Europeans in general to accept an agreement on Russian and American terms. 1
The US is cutting off all aid and intelligence assistance Ukraine in order to pressure Ukrainians and other Europeans in general to accept an agreement on Russian and American terms. 1
Reposted by Iver Ørstavik
MASSIVE FISCAL PACKAGE OUT OF BERLIN: 12-20%+ of GDP.
- 500 billion fund for public investment
- All defence spending above 1% of GDP not counted for debt brake.
- Federal states can borrow 0.35% p.y. for investment.
Germany is back - economically and militarily.
1/x
- 500 billion fund for public investment
- All defence spending above 1% of GDP not counted for debt brake.
- Federal states can borrow 0.35% p.y. for investment.
Germany is back - economically and militarily.
1/x
March 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
MASSIVE FISCAL PACKAGE OUT OF BERLIN: 12-20%+ of GDP.
- 500 billion fund for public investment
- All defence spending above 1% of GDP not counted for debt brake.
- Federal states can borrow 0.35% p.y. for investment.
Germany is back - economically and militarily.
1/x
- 500 billion fund for public investment
- All defence spending above 1% of GDP not counted for debt brake.
- Federal states can borrow 0.35% p.y. for investment.
Germany is back - economically and militarily.
1/x
Reposted by Iver Ørstavik
Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock has just given a really remarkable, nearly 12-minute speech on yesterday's events at the White House in support of #Ukraine. I have translated a large part of the speech for you.
PART 1 OF 7
PART 1 OF 7
March 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock has just given a really remarkable, nearly 12-minute speech on yesterday's events at the White House in support of #Ukraine. I have translated a large part of the speech for you.
PART 1 OF 7
PART 1 OF 7
The world is capsizing. This absolutely gut-wrenching bullying of President Zelenskyy by President Trump and Vice-President Vance is the utterly shameful end of the road for the USA. Where do we go from this? The only answer is Europe. Everything Europe can do. Now.
www.bbc.com/news/live/c6...
www.bbc.com/news/live/c6...
Trump tells Zelensky 'make a deal or we're out' in angry White House meeting - follow live
A joint news conference is cancelled after the US president calls his Ukrainian counterpart
www.bbc.com
February 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The world is capsizing. This absolutely gut-wrenching bullying of President Zelenskyy by President Trump and Vice-President Vance is the utterly shameful end of the road for the USA. Where do we go from this? The only answer is Europe. Everything Europe can do. Now.
www.bbc.com/news/live/c6...
www.bbc.com/news/live/c6...
@sophieintveld.bsky.social has been the most prescient and tireless defender of democracy and rule of law in Europe for more than two decades. Listen to her.
The European Union has to finally and unreservedly stand by Ukraine, give Ukraine everything it needs right now, no more buts and ifs, no more dragging of feet. This is the Whatever-it-takes moment of the century 🇪🇺🇺🇦
February 28, 2025 at 6:46 PM
@sophieintveld.bsky.social has been the most prescient and tireless defender of democracy and rule of law in Europe for more than two decades. Listen to her.
Reposted by Iver Ørstavik
So far, 14 EU Member States have joined the lawsuit—Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal—along with Norway and the European Parliament.
The deadline is in 4 hours.
The deadline is in 4 hours.
February 27, 2025 at 7:23 PM
So far, 14 EU Member States have joined the lawsuit—Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal—along with Norway and the European Parliament.
The deadline is in 4 hours.
The deadline is in 4 hours.
There are things we can do:
February 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
There are things we can do:
I have now settled there analogies debate. What we see is Versailles, München, and Molotov-Ribbentrop rolled into one as gunboat diplomacy by proxy.
February 19, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I have now settled there analogies debate. What we see is Versailles, München, and Molotov-Ribbentrop rolled into one as gunboat diplomacy by proxy.
THE ROAD AHEAD
The dismantling of democratic rule of law twe see in the US now has already been carried out in Hungary, and was well on its way in Poland. Hungary is sinking ever deeper and deeper into swamp. Poland is struggling to get out, but it is very complicated to repair the damage done. 1
The dismantling of democratic rule of law twe see in the US now has already been carried out in Hungary, and was well on its way in Poland. Hungary is sinking ever deeper and deeper into swamp. Poland is struggling to get out, but it is very complicated to repair the damage done. 1
February 6, 2025 at 12:52 PM
THE ROAD AHEAD
The dismantling of democratic rule of law twe see in the US now has already been carried out in Hungary, and was well on its way in Poland. Hungary is sinking ever deeper and deeper into swamp. Poland is struggling to get out, but it is very complicated to repair the damage done. 1
The dismantling of democratic rule of law twe see in the US now has already been carried out in Hungary, and was well on its way in Poland. Hungary is sinking ever deeper and deeper into swamp. Poland is struggling to get out, but it is very complicated to repair the damage done. 1
Greenland!
Greenland plans to ban foreign funding of political parties before upcoming elections in light of Trump threats
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
Greenland plans to ban foreign political funding over Trump-led election fears
Bill to rule out interference from abroad expected to pass this week as country prepares for polls before 6 April
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Greenland!
Reposted by Iver Ørstavik
"Musk is a private citizen taking control of established government offices. That is not efficiency; that is a coup."
nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com/intelligence...
Elon Musk May Have Your Social Security Number
The billionaire and his DOGE agents were reportedly granted full access to the Treasury’s federal payments system, and nobody knows to what end.
nymag.com
February 3, 2025 at 9:24 AM
"Musk is a private citizen taking control of established government offices. That is not efficiency; that is a coup."
nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com/intelligence...
ON THE EDGE
The ongoing moves suggest destruction of US constitutional democracy is the main plan.
Without executive officials loyal to the Constitution and the courts, there is nothing the latter can do.
Words a heartbeat or the ever lower hurdle of the 25th Amendment away from the President:
The ongoing moves suggest destruction of US constitutional democracy is the main plan.
Without executive officials loyal to the Constitution and the courts, there is nothing the latter can do.
Words a heartbeat or the ever lower hurdle of the 25th Amendment away from the President:
January 30, 2025 at 1:27 PM
ON THE EDGE
The ongoing moves suggest destruction of US constitutional democracy is the main plan.
Without executive officials loyal to the Constitution and the courts, there is nothing the latter can do.
Words a heartbeat or the ever lower hurdle of the 25th Amendment away from the President:
The ongoing moves suggest destruction of US constitutional democracy is the main plan.
Without executive officials loyal to the Constitution and the courts, there is nothing the latter can do.
Words a heartbeat or the ever lower hurdle of the 25th Amendment away from the President: