Maria Popova
@popovaprof.bsky.social
Polisci prof at McGill 🇨🇦⚜️
Russo-Ukrainian war and its impact on Europe and democracies; Rule of law, (anti)corruption in Eastern Europe 🇺🇦 🇧🇬 🇪🇺; post-Communism; #UkraineIsEurope #DefendDemocracy #ElbowsUp
https://linktr.ee/popovaprof
Russo-Ukrainian war and its impact on Europe and democracies; Rule of law, (anti)corruption in Eastern Europe 🇺🇦 🇧🇬 🇪🇺; post-Communism; #UkraineIsEurope #DefendDemocracy #ElbowsUp
https://linktr.ee/popovaprof
Reposted by Maria Popova
The 57th Separate Brigade’s infantryman Vladyslav spent 8 months at his position, was wounded, and then evacuated by a robot after 4 attempts.
Missions like this one save lives🧵
Join the Allies of Steel fundraiser for lifesaving robots: u24.gov.ua/allies-of-st...
Missions like this one save lives🧵
Join the Allies of Steel fundraiser for lifesaving robots: u24.gov.ua/allies-of-st...
February 19, 2026 at 4:11 PM
The 57th Separate Brigade’s infantryman Vladyslav spent 8 months at his position, was wounded, and then evacuated by a robot after 4 attempts.
Missions like this one save lives🧵
Join the Allies of Steel fundraiser for lifesaving robots: u24.gov.ua/allies-of-st...
Missions like this one save lives🧵
Join the Allies of Steel fundraiser for lifesaving robots: u24.gov.ua/allies-of-st...
This is the way. Each Russian demand list must be mirrored. The battlefield is stalled and no one is winning. Thus, there's no reason to preemptively concede a single russian demand. The deference to russia's supposed might, which has long characterized European/US policy needs to end. Russia...
EU demands Russia withdraw troops from Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and Transnistria, pull nukes from Belarus, pay reparations, and hold free elections — all as conditions for a Ukraine deal.
"We pay back to Russian maximalist demands on Ukraine."
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/19/e...
"We pay back to Russian maximalist demands on Ukraine."
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/19/e...
EU wants Russia to hold free elections and withdraw troops from Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and Transnistria— as part of a Ukraine peace deal, leaked paper shows
The document, circulated by EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas among member states, also calls for nuclear weapons removal from Belarus, reparations, and free elections inside Russia.
euromaidanpress.com
February 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM
This is the way. Each Russian demand list must be mirrored. The battlefield is stalled and no one is winning. Thus, there's no reason to preemptively concede a single russian demand. The deference to russia's supposed might, which has long characterized European/US policy needs to end. Russia...
"Pu thinks he's winning" strikes me as a psyop to make him look delusional (and thus dangerous in terms of nuclear escalation). Of course he's going to feign confidence in victory. What choice does he have? He can't show weakness and can't admit his vanity imperialist project is failing.
February 19, 2026 at 4:24 AM
"Pu thinks he's winning" strikes me as a psyop to make him look delusional (and thus dangerous in terms of nuclear escalation). Of course he's going to feign confidence in victory. What choice does he have? He can't show weakness and can't admit his vanity imperialist project is failing.
Reposted by Maria Popova
Trying to get signatures to separate Alberta from Canada
In Arizona
Couldn't be more "American Psyop" if you tried lol
In Arizona
Couldn't be more "American Psyop" if you tried lol
February 19, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Trying to get signatures to separate Alberta from Canada
In Arizona
Couldn't be more "American Psyop" if you tried lol
In Arizona
Couldn't be more "American Psyop" if you tried lol
Your regular reminder that anyone who pushes "let's give Donbas to Russia to end the war" as a solution is either ignorant or pro-Russian. Donbas is not a "disputed" nor a special region and therefore its occupation by Ru doesn't solve anything at all. Ru wants all of Ukraine.
February 19, 2026 at 3:48 AM
Your regular reminder that anyone who pushes "let's give Donbas to Russia to end the war" as a solution is either ignorant or pro-Russian. Donbas is not a "disputed" nor a special region and therefore its occupation by Ru doesn't solve anything at all. Ru wants all of Ukraine.
As a Trump doormat for the last few years, Graham has been so thoroughly and consistently humiliated that he's helplessly lashing out at others.
The Senator from South Carolina had a mental breakdown. Graham’s outburst was directed in particular at Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen. “He called her ‘little lady,’” a source who was in the room told Berlingske. However, the prime minister did not appear affected by what everyone
Trumps mand i München gik helt amok på Mette Frederiksen: »Lille dame …«
Trumps tætte allierede Lindsay Graham gik helt amok i München. Under et møde med Mette Frederiksen gabte han højlydt og kaldte hende for »lille dame«, erfarer Berlingske. Men statsministeren holdt mas...
www.berlingske.dk
February 18, 2026 at 3:29 PM
As a Trump doormat for the last few years, Graham has been so thoroughly and consistently humiliated that he's helplessly lashing out at others.
No surprise there. Ru wants Ukraine to surrender but can’t compel them. Ukraine isn’t losing on the battlefield and they don’t want to submit to Ru occupation. The US is not an honest broker but trying to help Ru achieve its goals diplomatically. US has stopped aid to Ukr so it has little leverage.
February 18, 2026 at 2:18 PM
No surprise there. Ru wants Ukraine to surrender but can’t compel them. Ukraine isn’t losing on the battlefield and they don’t want to submit to Ru occupation. The US is not an honest broker but trying to help Ru achieve its goals diplomatically. US has stopped aid to Ukr so it has little leverage.
Putin, of course, has no understanding or belief that public opinion matters. I wonder if Trump does. Ukrainian politicians know viscerally and confidently that they can't go against majority public opinion.
EXCLUSIVE: Zelensky says Ukrainian public won't let him hand Russia territory
Zelensky says Ukrainian public won't let him hand Russia territory
"Emotionally, people will never forgive this," Zelensky told Axios.
trib.al
February 18, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Putin, of course, has no understanding or belief that public opinion matters. I wonder if Trump does. Ukrainian politicians know viscerally and confidently that they can't go against majority public opinion.
To expand the mountaineering analogy: Pu can't get to the top and claim victory (can't conquer Ukraine), can't keep trying forever (maintain the war), but he can't climb down fast either (end the war) because the mountaineering federation (regime) and the public will see him as a failure and end him
“Russia’s economy hasn’t collapsed. It has entered the “death zone”—surviving by consuming its own future. Growth at 1%. Budget deficit rising. Military sector expands while civilian industry shrinks. Interest payments > education + healthcare. No climber survives this altitude forever.”
Russia’s economy has entered the death zone
Alexandra Prokopenko wonders how much longer it can go on metabolising its own muscle tissue
www.economist.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:17 PM
To expand the mountaineering analogy: Pu can't get to the top and claim victory (can't conquer Ukraine), can't keep trying forever (maintain the war), but he can't climb down fast either (end the war) because the mountaineering federation (regime) and the public will see him as a failure and end him
Excellent. This is the proper way to report the situation.
From Swedish Military Intelligence:
"Despite several diplomatic initiatives...no signs have been observed that Russian leadership would relinquish its objectives of controlling large parts Ukrainian territory, exerting far-reaching influence over the country's governance...and foreign policy."
"Despite several diplomatic initiatives...no signs have been observed that Russian leadership would relinquish its objectives of controlling large parts Ukrainian territory, exerting far-reaching influence over the country's governance...and foreign policy."
February 17, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Excellent. This is the proper way to report the situation.
Reposted by Maria Popova
Don’t. Print. Lies. In. The. Newspapers.
"russia wants peace on their own terms" is the equivalent of "the Taliban want to educate women differently". We'd all mock and reject the second framing. Stop whitewashing russia and its intentions.
February 17, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Don’t. Print. Lies. In. The. Newspapers.
"russia wants peace on their own terms" is the equivalent of "the Taliban want to educate women differently". We'd all mock and reject the second framing. Stop whitewashing russia and its intentions.
February 17, 2026 at 2:48 PM
"russia wants peace on their own terms" is the equivalent of "the Taliban want to educate women differently". We'd all mock and reject the second framing. Stop whitewashing russia and its intentions.
The proper way to describe this reality is: "they still want to conquer and destroy Ukraine". The word peace doesn't belong in the sentence. Why do people keep sugarcoating Ru's imperialist intentions?
February 17, 2026 at 2:32 PM
The proper way to describe this reality is: "they still want to conquer and destroy Ukraine". The word peace doesn't belong in the sentence. Why do people keep sugarcoating Ru's imperialist intentions?
Reposted by Maria Popova
Hours before peace talks in Geneva, virtually all of democratic Ukraine is under threat of attack by fascist Russia’s drones and missiles, yet Trump doesn’t criticize Kremlin dictator Putin - it’s “Ukraine better come to the table.”
America has fallen so very far, so very fast.
America has fallen so very far, so very fast.
February 17, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Hours before peace talks in Geneva, virtually all of democratic Ukraine is under threat of attack by fascist Russia’s drones and missiles, yet Trump doesn’t criticize Kremlin dictator Putin - it’s “Ukraine better come to the table.”
America has fallen so very far, so very fast.
America has fallen so very far, so very fast.
Bulgaria's president Radev resigned to launch a new party and is hoping to win the April 2026 parliamentary elections. As president, he's been steadily pro-Ru ("let's stop giving aid to Ukraine to achieve peace") and anti-EU (tried to push through a referendum on the euro). Now he's trying...
February 16, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Bulgaria's president Radev resigned to launch a new party and is hoping to win the April 2026 parliamentary elections. As president, he's been steadily pro-Ru ("let's stop giving aid to Ukraine to achieve peace") and anti-EU (tried to push through a referendum on the euro). Now he's trying...
This. Read the whole thread.
People need to understand what happened strategically in 2025. The US switched sides, helped Putin a great deal, which also encouraged the Chinese to help Putin. And Ukraine fought on, inflicting massive casualties on Russia and taking the war to the Russian economy.
.
.
February 16, 2026 at 9:42 PM
This. Read the whole thread.
Reposted by Maria Popova
This class is super timely right now, with the World Cup happening, all of the corruption around FIFA, oil-rich states buying up football clubs, and gambling industry sponsors everywhere. Gianni said he wants to let Russia back into international competition, too.
NEW:
One of the most progressive institutions in the U.S., The New School, has begun destroying its humanities departments.
They have cancelled one of their most popular classes, "Global Soccer and World Politics."
We are going to teach it anyway.
karenattiah.substack.com/p/the-new-sc...
One of the most progressive institutions in the U.S., The New School, has begun destroying its humanities departments.
They have cancelled one of their most popular classes, "Global Soccer and World Politics."
We are going to teach it anyway.
karenattiah.substack.com/p/the-new-sc...
The New School Cancelled Their Class on Global Soccer and World Politics. We Are Going To Teach it Anyway.
When institutions abandon critical thinking, we build our own classrooms.
karenattiah.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 9:02 PM
This class is super timely right now, with the World Cup happening, all of the corruption around FIFA, oil-rich states buying up football clubs, and gambling industry sponsors everywhere. Gianni said he wants to let Russia back into international competition, too.
Mark Carney leans into Canada's long-standing convening power. Let's go!
EXCLUSIVE: Canadian PM Mark Carney is spearheading discussions between the EU and a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc after calling on middle powers to join forces.
The aim is to short-circuit Donald Trump’s tariffs.
🔗 politi.co/4ayYnTn
The aim is to short-circuit Donald Trump’s tariffs.
🔗 politi.co/4ayYnTn
February 16, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Mark Carney leans into Canada's long-standing convening power. Let's go!
Reposted by Maria Popova
This is a good piece. The only people I see who think this was a change in tone, though, are Americans, who (sorry) objectively don't count given the context and audience of Rubio's speech.
"Europeans who found comfort in the misdirection perpetrated in Munich that all is well in the transatlantic alliance may find themselves slowly losing not only their reassurance, but also their dignity."
www.policymagazine.ca/marco-rubios...
www.policymagazine.ca/marco-rubios...
Marco Rubio's Munich Speech Should Not Assuage Europe - Policy Magazine
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Valentine's Day speech at the Munich Security Conference should do nothing to mollify a Europe still aghast over Vice
www.policymagazine.ca
February 16, 2026 at 4:14 PM
This is a good piece. The only people I see who think this was a change in tone, though, are Americans, who (sorry) objectively don't count given the context and audience of Rubio's speech.
Reposted by Maria Popova
“This subtle sleight-of-hand is offensive and threatening to Eastern Europeans […] Rubio’s language about Eastern Europe implies that today, the U.S. wants to reconcile with Russia. Most ominously, it seems to implicitly recognize Russia’s claim to domination over its Eastern European neighbours.”
"Europeans who found comfort in the misdirection perpetrated in Munich that all is well in the transatlantic alliance may find themselves slowly losing not only their reassurance, but also their dignity."
www.policymagazine.ca/marco-rubios...
www.policymagazine.ca/marco-rubios...
Marco Rubio's Munich Speech Should Not Assuage Europe - Policy Magazine
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Valentine's Day speech at the Munich Security Conference should do nothing to mollify a Europe still aghast over Vice
www.policymagazine.ca
February 16, 2026 at 4:06 PM
“This subtle sleight-of-hand is offensive and threatening to Eastern Europeans […] Rubio’s language about Eastern Europe implies that today, the U.S. wants to reconcile with Russia. Most ominously, it seems to implicitly recognize Russia’s claim to domination over its Eastern European neighbours.”
"Europeans who found comfort in the misdirection perpetrated in Munich that all is well in the transatlantic alliance may find themselves slowly losing not only their reassurance, but also their dignity."
www.policymagazine.ca/marco-rubios...
www.policymagazine.ca/marco-rubios...
Marco Rubio's Munich Speech Should Not Assuage Europe - Policy Magazine
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Valentine's Day speech at the Munich Security Conference should do nothing to mollify a Europe still aghast over Vice
www.policymagazine.ca
February 16, 2026 at 4:35 AM
"Europeans who found comfort in the misdirection perpetrated in Munich that all is well in the transatlantic alliance may find themselves slowly losing not only their reassurance, but also their dignity."
www.policymagazine.ca/marco-rubios...
www.policymagazine.ca/marco-rubios...
Reposted by Maria Popova
😳 Russians have begun to blur their own cemeteries on maps.
Yandex has hidden images of the New Cemetery in Severomorsk, the city where the headquarters of the Russian Northern Fleet is located.
Yandex has hidden images of the New Cemetery in Severomorsk, the city where the headquarters of the Russian Northern Fleet is located.
February 15, 2026 at 10:01 PM
😳 Russians have begun to blur their own cemeteries on maps.
Yandex has hidden images of the New Cemetery in Severomorsk, the city where the headquarters of the Russian Northern Fleet is located.
Yandex has hidden images of the New Cemetery in Severomorsk, the city where the headquarters of the Russian Northern Fleet is located.
Yeah, those who want Ru to win in Ukraine or at least don’t want to do anything to contain its expansionism in Europe always use this sophism.
February 15, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Yeah, those who want Ru to win in Ukraine or at least don’t want to do anything to contain its expansionism in Europe always use this sophism.
Reposted by Maria Popova
Sounds like John Mearsheimer, regurgitating Putin's talking points & pretending that 30 years of 🇪🇺 integration never happened.
in his rendering of the past 30yrs, the worst thing that happened to Europe isn't the resurgence of Ru imperialism but Europe's common market and supranational integration. He may have been a tad softer, but I see no substantive difference from JD Vance's 2025 speech. www.state.gov/releases/off...
Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference - United States Department of State
SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you very much. We gather here today as members of a historic alliance, an alliance that saved and changed the world. When this conference began in 1963, it was in a nation – ...
www.state.gov
February 15, 2026 at 4:29 AM
Sounds like John Mearsheimer, regurgitating Putin's talking points & pretending that 30 years of 🇪🇺 integration never happened.
The Rubio speech is incoherent and hypocritical. He denounces Soviet communism, the threat and division it sowed in Europe, yet has absolutely nothing to say about Ru's current attempt to restore restore the Soviet empire by re-invading and re-subordinating swaths of Europe. What's worse,...
February 15, 2026 at 2:27 AM
The Rubio speech is incoherent and hypocritical. He denounces Soviet communism, the threat and division it sowed in Europe, yet has absolutely nothing to say about Ru's current attempt to restore restore the Soviet empire by re-invading and re-subordinating swaths of Europe. What's worse,...