“Een democratie gaat zelden van de ene op de andere dag ten onder. Ze wordt geleidelijk uitgehold door overgave: rationalisaties en compromissen van machthebbers die zichzelf wijsmaken dat een klein beetje toegeven veiligheid biedt…”

www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

“De humanisering van de chatbot zal leiden tot de dehumanisering van de mens, aangezien de chatbot nooit in staat zal zijn om de mens te begrijpen en doorgronden, om als een Ander tegenover hem te staan.” Prachtig essay van Tom Grosfeld in @groene.nl www.groene.nl/artikel/bete...

Kharkiv right now. Moscovia bombs sleeping families. 4 victims including kids.

Don’t tell me about peace that Putin wants. Do not dare.

Provocerende persiflage aan de Stadhouderslaan, tegenover het accreditatiecentrum v/d Navo-top

Zelenskyy at Albania summit: “This week we had a real chance, but Putin was scared to come to Turkey. Russia sent empty heads to talks, ruining diplomacy. If they’re just acting, the world must respond decisively,” per Nexta.

Ondertussen worden aan deze ietwat kinderachtig ogende onderhandelingstafel in Tirana toch veel volwassenere gesprekken gevoerd dan daar in Istanbul. Viel te verwachten…

Wie wil weten waar de wereld naartoe gaat, moet romans lezen www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

Het ‘we zijn helemaal klaar met de VS, en dat hadden we allang moeten zijn’-sentiment groeit sneller dan ooit op ons continent, en dat is geheel terecht. Maar laten we ervoor waken dat we nu niet, binnen de mist van de razendsnelle ontwikkelingen, de nuance verliezen en vallen voor complottheorieën.

Worth stating simply what’s happening. An American government is launching a full-scope political & economic assault on an ally repelling an ongoing invasion to compel them to terminate martial law, topple their president, hand over minerals to America & accept a ceasefire w/out security guarantees.

Just a quick reminder: “The Russian president can’t win his war against Ukraine unless he persuades its allies to betray it”, as historian @anneapplebaum.bsky.social writes in The Atlantic.

www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

“The only war that Putin is winning is inside of Trump’s head.”

Here I react to the shameful behavior of American leaders and media toward the Ukrainian president. No doubt there were more, but I saw five failures on our side: of hospitality, decency, democracy, strategy, and independence. Please watch and share.
snyder.substack.com/p/five-failu...

“Through the Cold War period, Americans were haunted by the fear that a person with clandestine loyalties to a hostile foreign power might somehow rise to high office.
(…)
But what if the loyalties were not clandestine, not secret?”

"NATO is not the thing that Russia is afraid of. Russia is afraid of democracy expanding to Russia. Why are we in NATO? Its because we are afraid of Russia. And the only thing that really works – the only security guarantee that works – is NATO's umbrella," Kaja Kallas said in an interview with AFP

WHAT WAR IS - a poem by Ostap Slyvynsky (via @timothysnyder.bsky.social )

open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...

Amsterdam Dam Square yesterday.

Excellent piece by former PM of Finland.

Now is the time for Europe to show strength, not division, argues Sanna Marin
www.economist.com/by-invitatio...

With #MSC2025 underway, Europe has a chance to influence Ukraine’s future. Putin is now Washington’s "special negotiation partner"—but he’s not offering real compromise. @camillegrand.bsky.social on why Europeans must step up before others decide for them 👇

"My husband, who is also my constant companion, is at the frontlines fighting against the Russians." Veronika Puhach

This #ValentinesDay, CEPA highlights stories of love & resilience as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues.