Dirk Smits
@dirksmits.bsky.social
🇳🇱 living in Utrecht | Interested in Politics | Science | Sports (Football, F1) | Urban Planning
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Why, what happened? Spend all your money on murdering your neighbors, didn’t you, bastards?
December 26, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Why, what happened? Spend all your money on murdering your neighbors, didn’t you, bastards?
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Voor de oorlog had Oleksandr Jakovenko een transportbedrijf in Oekraïne. Na de Russische invasie stortte hij zich op de dronemarkt. Zijn bedrijf maakt er nu 80.000 per maand. Hij verwacht dat binnenkort AI-gestuurde drones zónder autorisatie op het slagveld worden ingezet. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
‘Zoals elke soldaat met een geweer leert omgaan, moet hij leren hoe je een drone bestuurt’
Oleksandr Jakovenko | dronefabrikant: Voor de oorlog in Oekraïne runde Jakovenko een transportbedrijf in Odesa, na de Russissche invasie vormde hij dat om in een wapenconcern. Nu rollen er 80.000 dron...
www.nrc.nl
December 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Voor de oorlog had Oleksandr Jakovenko een transportbedrijf in Oekraïne. Na de Russische invasie stortte hij zich op de dronemarkt. Zijn bedrijf maakt er nu 80.000 per maand. Hij verwacht dat binnenkort AI-gestuurde drones zónder autorisatie op het slagveld worden ingezet. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Reposted by Dirk Smits
The EU doesn't get it. Despite the best efforts of academics, advisors and other experts to inform them.
Maintaining and increasing pressure = Russia has opportunity to adapt, sustaining its war effort.
Apply a massive economic & financial shock = denies Russia opportunity to adapt = war ends.
Maintaining and increasing pressure = Russia has opportunity to adapt, sustaining its war effort.
Apply a massive economic & financial shock = denies Russia opportunity to adapt = war ends.
The EU remains determined to maintain and increase pressure on #Russia to stop its brutal war of aggression and engage in meaningful negotiations towards peace. EUCO calls on the Council to continue working on a new sanctions package, with the aim of adopting it as soon as possible.
December 19, 2025 at 10:20 AM
The EU doesn't get it. Despite the best efforts of academics, advisors and other experts to inform them.
Maintaining and increasing pressure = Russia has opportunity to adapt, sustaining its war effort.
Apply a massive economic & financial shock = denies Russia opportunity to adapt = war ends.
Maintaining and increasing pressure = Russia has opportunity to adapt, sustaining its war effort.
Apply a massive economic & financial shock = denies Russia opportunity to adapt = war ends.
Reposted by Dirk Smits
The strategic myopia of many in Europe will lead us to European War Three.
By failing to fund the mass production of warheads and long-range delivery platforms to destroy Russia's energy and other infrastructure, we are opening the window to EU/NATO-Russia war and deaths of millions in Europe.
By failing to fund the mass production of warheads and long-range delivery platforms to destroy Russia's energy and other infrastructure, we are opening the window to EU/NATO-Russia war and deaths of millions in Europe.
Summit shows Europe still doesn’t want to pay to save Ukraine
Some northern countries have been sending cash to Kyiv for years, but many Europeans don’t see why they should.
www.politico.eu
December 19, 2025 at 10:53 AM
The strategic myopia of many in Europe will lead us to European War Three.
By failing to fund the mass production of warheads and long-range delivery platforms to destroy Russia's energy and other infrastructure, we are opening the window to EU/NATO-Russia war and deaths of millions in Europe.
By failing to fund the mass production of warheads and long-range delivery platforms to destroy Russia's energy and other infrastructure, we are opening the window to EU/NATO-Russia war and deaths of millions in Europe.
Reposted by Dirk Smits
"EU Council president Antonio Costa says loan will cover Ukraine's military and economic needs for next two years" (Independent)
So, the objective is to continue the war through the 2030s?
When the EU/UK/Canada/Japan could deliver a massive shock to Russia's economy and end this war within weeks.
So, the objective is to continue the war through the 2030s?
When the EU/UK/Canada/Japan could deliver a massive shock to Russia's economy and end this war within weeks.
Ukraine war live: Putin labels EU ‘burglars’ in rambling speech over frozen assets
‘It’s daylight robbery,’ the Russian leader hit out
www.independent.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 10:57 AM
"EU Council president Antonio Costa says loan will cover Ukraine's military and economic needs for next two years" (Independent)
So, the objective is to continue the war through the 2030s?
When the EU/UK/Canada/Japan could deliver a massive shock to Russia's economy and end this war within weeks.
So, the objective is to continue the war through the 2030s?
When the EU/UK/Canada/Japan could deliver a massive shock to Russia's economy and end this war within weeks.
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Ru is NOT winning. It’s gradually losing its grip. It’s time for the West to back Ukraine to win.
« Novorossiysk was treated not merely as a fallback, but as a sanctuary — a place where submarines and surface vessels could operate, rearm, and launch strikes..
open.substack.com/pub/shankarn...
« Novorossiysk was treated not merely as a fallback, but as a sanctuary — a place where submarines and surface vessels could operate, rearm, and launch strikes..
open.substack.com/pub/shankarn...
Novorossiysk Was Russia’s Last Sanctuary. It Just Fell.
The Black Sea Has No Safe Harbor Left for Russia
open.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Ru is NOT winning. It’s gradually losing its grip. It’s time for the West to back Ukraine to win.
« Novorossiysk was treated not merely as a fallback, but as a sanctuary — a place where submarines and surface vessels could operate, rearm, and launch strikes..
open.substack.com/pub/shankarn...
« Novorossiysk was treated not merely as a fallback, but as a sanctuary — a place where submarines and surface vessels could operate, rearm, and launch strikes..
open.substack.com/pub/shankarn...
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Of course they did.
December 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Of course they did.
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Trump offered to keep Ukr out of NATO and Pu rejects the offer saying Ru will take its "historic lands," diplomatically or militarily. Imperialist conquest, not pre-emptive war over NATO security concerns. It's disqualifying for any political scientist to continue insisting Mearsheimer got it right.
Putin plans on continuing the war.Russia doesn't want peace:
The goals of the special military operation will be completed.We would prefer to do it.But if the opposing country&their foreign patrons refuse to have a constructive discussion,Russia will achieve liberating its historic lands militarily
The goals of the special military operation will be completed.We would prefer to do it.But if the opposing country&their foreign patrons refuse to have a constructive discussion,Russia will achieve liberating its historic lands militarily
December 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Trump offered to keep Ukr out of NATO and Pu rejects the offer saying Ru will take its "historic lands," diplomatically or militarily. Imperialist conquest, not pre-emptive war over NATO security concerns. It's disqualifying for any political scientist to continue insisting Mearsheimer got it right.
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Iedere euro voor Oekraïne is een investering in onze eigen veiligheid.
Hoe sterker Rusland staat in Oekraïne, des te groter de dreiging voor de rest van Europa.
Oekraïne vecht tegen een nietsontziende agressor en houdt Russisch imperialisme tegen. Ze verdienen onze steun! 🇳🇱🇺🇦
Hoe sterker Rusland staat in Oekraïne, des te groter de dreiging voor de rest van Europa.
Oekraïne vecht tegen een nietsontziende agressor en houdt Russisch imperialisme tegen. Ze verdienen onze steun! 🇳🇱🇺🇦
December 17, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Iedere euro voor Oekraïne is een investering in onze eigen veiligheid.
Hoe sterker Rusland staat in Oekraïne, des te groter de dreiging voor de rest van Europa.
Oekraïne vecht tegen een nietsontziende agressor en houdt Russisch imperialisme tegen. Ze verdienen onze steun! 🇳🇱🇺🇦
Hoe sterker Rusland staat in Oekraïne, des te groter de dreiging voor de rest van Europa.
Oekraïne vecht tegen een nietsontziende agressor en houdt Russisch imperialisme tegen. Ze verdienen onze steun! 🇳🇱🇺🇦
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Wake me up when we’re done negotiating with ourselves and Russia actually joins the table.
December 15, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Wake me up when we’re done negotiating with ourselves and Russia actually joins the table.
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Ukraine wants to stop the fighting today, without any preconditions.
Russia keeps attacking and terrorizing the Ukrainian people. It’s very clear who the aggressor is.
The only way to get Putin to compromise is by increasing pressure on Russia and more support to Ukraine. ⤵️
Russia keeps attacking and terrorizing the Ukrainian people. It’s very clear who the aggressor is.
The only way to get Putin to compromise is by increasing pressure on Russia and more support to Ukraine. ⤵️
December 13, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Ukraine wants to stop the fighting today, without any preconditions.
Russia keeps attacking and terrorizing the Ukrainian people. It’s very clear who the aggressor is.
The only way to get Putin to compromise is by increasing pressure on Russia and more support to Ukraine. ⤵️
Russia keeps attacking and terrorizing the Ukrainian people. It’s very clear who the aggressor is.
The only way to get Putin to compromise is by increasing pressure on Russia and more support to Ukraine. ⤵️
Reposted by Dirk Smits
In these hard days, President Zelensky is holding the line where it matters most — defending Ukraine from utmost pressure disguised as "peace."
Durable peace in Europe won't come from appeasing the aggressor. The free world should support him. Forcing a democracy to surrender will fuel more wars.
Durable peace in Europe won't come from appeasing the aggressor. The free world should support him. Forcing a democracy to surrender will fuel more wars.
December 12, 2025 at 10:11 AM
In these hard days, President Zelensky is holding the line where it matters most — defending Ukraine from utmost pressure disguised as "peace."
Durable peace in Europe won't come from appeasing the aggressor. The free world should support him. Forcing a democracy to surrender will fuel more wars.
Durable peace in Europe won't come from appeasing the aggressor. The free world should support him. Forcing a democracy to surrender will fuel more wars.
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Russia invaded Ukraine and seized European assets located in Russia, yet Russia and its supporters argue that Europe has no right to transfer Russia’s frozen assets to Ukraine. Pathetic!
December 12, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Russia invaded Ukraine and seized European assets located in Russia, yet Russia and its supporters argue that Europe has no right to transfer Russia’s frozen assets to Ukraine. Pathetic!
Reposted by Dirk Smits
The US Senator from Connecticut, Chris Murphy, dropping some hard facts regarding the developments unfolding around Ukraine and how Trump and his cronies are nefariously involved in it.
December 10, 2025 at 7:38 AM
The US Senator from Connecticut, Chris Murphy, dropping some hard facts regarding the developments unfolding around Ukraine and how Trump and his cronies are nefariously involved in it.
Reposted by Dirk Smits
The US is not just Europe’s unwilling ally, but an adversary steeped in far-right ideology | Cas Mudde
The US is not just Europe’s unwilling ally, but an adversary steeped in far-right ideology | Cas Mudde
Don’t say you weren’t warned: Trump’s new national security strategy seeks to destroy liberal democracy as we know it, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:48 AM
The US is not just Europe’s unwilling ally, but an adversary steeped in far-right ideology | Cas Mudde
Reposted by Dirk Smits
"Trump's 'peace plan' for #Ukraine has nothing to do with peace. It's a business plan to make the people around Donald Trump rich."
US senator @chrismurphyct.bsky.social
US senator @chrismurphyct.bsky.social
I need you to listen to and share this story - of how Trump is preparing to abandon Ukraine in exchange for Russian money for his billionaire friends.
It could be the greatest corruption of American foreign policy in our history. Russia gets Ukraine. Trump's friends get rich.
It could be the greatest corruption of American foreign policy in our history. Russia gets Ukraine. Trump's friends get rich.
December 10, 2025 at 7:58 AM
"Trump's 'peace plan' for #Ukraine has nothing to do with peace. It's a business plan to make the people around Donald Trump rich."
US senator @chrismurphyct.bsky.social
US senator @chrismurphyct.bsky.social
Reposted by Dirk Smits
I need you to listen to and share this story - of how Trump is preparing to abandon Ukraine in exchange for Russian money for his billionaire friends.
It could be the greatest corruption of American foreign policy in our history. Russia gets Ukraine. Trump's friends get rich.
It could be the greatest corruption of American foreign policy in our history. Russia gets Ukraine. Trump's friends get rich.
December 9, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I need you to listen to and share this story - of how Trump is preparing to abandon Ukraine in exchange for Russian money for his billionaire friends.
It could be the greatest corruption of American foreign policy in our history. Russia gets Ukraine. Trump's friends get rich.
It could be the greatest corruption of American foreign policy in our history. Russia gets Ukraine. Trump's friends get rich.
Reposted by Dirk Smits
@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu Any deal should be conditional on India dropping all trade with Russia.
India and EU will push for trade deal as deadline approaches, Indian minister says reut.rs/4oLcyK3
India and EU will push for trade deal as deadline approaches, Indian minister says
India and the European Union will work to seal a long-pending trade deal at the earliest opportunity, New Delhi said on Wednesday, after concluding another round of talks amid signs that a year-end deadline may slip.
reut.rs
December 9, 2025 at 7:52 PM
@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu Any deal should be conditional on India dropping all trade with Russia.
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Europe expected a reduced role in U.S. strategy, but the shift has gone further than many leaders imagined. What does it mean for their security future?
America First, Europe Fourth
Patterns and strategy in current U.S. foreign policy are hard to discern given President Donald Trump’s personalistic, mercurial, and transactional style.
warontherocks.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Europe expected a reduced role in U.S. strategy, but the shift has gone further than many leaders imagined. What does it mean for their security future?
Reposted by Dirk Smits
This is what you get when you show weakness in front of authoritarian leaders like Trump, and genocidal dictators like Putin.
They'll laugh about the weakness.
Our leaders are a bunch of scared, fluffy bunnies, waiting for the fox..
They'll laugh about the weakness.
Our leaders are a bunch of scared, fluffy bunnies, waiting for the fox..
How Donald Trump became president of Europe
The U.S. president describes himself as the European Union’s de facto leader. Is he wrong?
www.politico.eu
December 3, 2025 at 6:48 PM
This is what you get when you show weakness in front of authoritarian leaders like Trump, and genocidal dictators like Putin.
They'll laugh about the weakness.
Our leaders are a bunch of scared, fluffy bunnies, waiting for the fox..
They'll laugh about the weakness.
Our leaders are a bunch of scared, fluffy bunnies, waiting for the fox..
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Een nieuwe mijlpaal: Oekraïne en Nederland gaan samen drones produceren in beide landen.
Met mijn Oekraïense collega Denys Shmyhal teken ik een overeenkomst voor co-productie (‘Build With Ukraine’).
Dit versterkt onze gezamenlijke veiligheid, weerbaarheid én innovatie. 🇳🇱🇺🇦
Met mijn Oekraïense collega Denys Shmyhal teken ik een overeenkomst voor co-productie (‘Build With Ukraine’).
Dit versterkt onze gezamenlijke veiligheid, weerbaarheid én innovatie. 🇳🇱🇺🇦
December 1, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Een nieuwe mijlpaal: Oekraïne en Nederland gaan samen drones produceren in beide landen.
Met mijn Oekraïense collega Denys Shmyhal teken ik een overeenkomst voor co-productie (‘Build With Ukraine’).
Dit versterkt onze gezamenlijke veiligheid, weerbaarheid én innovatie. 🇳🇱🇺🇦
Met mijn Oekraïense collega Denys Shmyhal teken ik een overeenkomst voor co-productie (‘Build With Ukraine’).
Dit versterkt onze gezamenlijke veiligheid, weerbaarheid én innovatie. 🇳🇱🇺🇦
Reposted by Dirk Smits
Genocide just as Lemkin defined it.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/27/r...
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/27/r...
Putin signs decree formalizing Russification of occupied Ukraine through 2036 - Euromaidan Press
Putin signs decree formalizing Russification of occupied Ukraine through 2036, setting 95% "Russian identity" targets for four oblasts.
euromaidanpress.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Genocide just as Lemkin defined it.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/27/r...
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/27/r...
Reposted by Dirk Smits
This week has offered many stark insights:
1. The US is by far the most corrupt Western country.
2. Trump's administration works for its own enrichment with Russia, sacrificing Ukraine (WSJ below).
3. The US must play no role on Ukraine-Russia issues. /1
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
1. The US is by far the most corrupt Western country.
2. Trump's administration works for its own enrichment with Russia, sacrificing Ukraine (WSJ below).
3. The US must play no role on Ukraine-Russia issues. /1
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine
The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace through business. To Europe’s dismay, the president and his envoy are on board.
www.wsj.com
November 30, 2025 at 1:58 AM
This week has offered many stark insights:
1. The US is by far the most corrupt Western country.
2. Trump's administration works for its own enrichment with Russia, sacrificing Ukraine (WSJ below).
3. The US must play no role on Ukraine-Russia issues. /1
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
1. The US is by far the most corrupt Western country.
2. Trump's administration works for its own enrichment with Russia, sacrificing Ukraine (WSJ below).
3. The US must play no role on Ukraine-Russia issues. /1
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Reposted by Dirk Smits
The week Europe realised it stands alone against Russian expansionism
The week Europe realised it stands alone against Russian expansionism
Washington’s Putin-appeasing plan for peace in Ukraine has failed, but many heard death knell sounded for European reliance on US protection
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:11 AM
The week Europe realised it stands alone against Russian expansionism
Reposted by Dirk Smits
It was not a plan but a capitulation document. It did not come together. It was a Russian document presented by some Americans as American. Be clear in your headlines. Help
people see the simple awfulness of things.
people see the simple awfulness of things.
President Trump's proposal to end the war in Ukraine heavily favored Russia in its initial form and included demand that Kyiv has consistently rejected. Here's how the plan came together.
Listen to "The Daily."
Listen to "The Daily."
The Ukrainian Peace Plan Written by … Russia?
President Trump’s proposal to end the war in Ukraine heavily favored Moscow in its initial form and included demands that Kyiv has consistently rejected.
nyti.ms
November 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
It was not a plan but a capitulation document. It did not come together. It was a Russian document presented by some Americans as American. Be clear in your headlines. Help
people see the simple awfulness of things.
people see the simple awfulness of things.