@vertaride.bsky.social
Supporting development and democracy initiatives. Analysis, contextualization and strategic support. Current area of focus Ukraine ++
Reposted
So we have the first Eurobond issuance built on unanimity (as it always requires) but then not with all member-states paying. Wild? Yes also novel - Lucas has got you.
Also this is the first time I see enhanced cooperation and multi speed Europe on a key file.
Hugely important precedent.
Also this is the first time I see enhanced cooperation and multi speed Europe on a key file.
Hugely important precedent.
So what the hell just happened? Two things: Ukraine will get 90 billion euros. And Orbán did not veto that even though he could have.
How so? Short thread:
How so? Short thread:
December 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
So we have the first Eurobond issuance built on unanimity (as it always requires) but then not with all member-states paying. Wild? Yes also novel - Lucas has got you.
Also this is the first time I see enhanced cooperation and multi speed Europe on a key file.
Hugely important precedent.
Also this is the first time I see enhanced cooperation and multi speed Europe on a key file.
Hugely important precedent.
@maxbergmann.bsky.social, provides a digestible backgrounder of what is at stake today, as EU leaders meet to decide on key trade initiative and UA budget shortfall support via RU asset backed reparation loan.
open.spotify.com/episode/19Ra...
open.spotify.com/episode/19Ra...
Europe’s Make-or-Break Summit
open.spotify.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:46 AM
@maxbergmann.bsky.social, provides a digestible backgrounder of what is at stake today, as EU leaders meet to decide on key trade initiative and UA budget shortfall support via RU asset backed reparation loan.
open.spotify.com/episode/19Ra...
open.spotify.com/episode/19Ra...
Reposted
Pleased to contribute to @global-affairs.bsky.social series reflecting on the US at 250.
I wrote about the US & Europe's unshared futures, & ask whether their future will be based on democracy, human rights & rule of law - or on the nativism the US seeks to export globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...
I wrote about the US & Europe's unshared futures, & ask whether their future will be based on democracy, human rights & rule of law - or on the nativism the US seeks to export globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...
The Unshared Futures of the United States and Europe
America and Europe have been bound together for more than 250 years. Whose ideology will define their future?
globalaffairs.org
December 17, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Pleased to contribute to @global-affairs.bsky.social series reflecting on the US at 250.
I wrote about the US & Europe's unshared futures, & ask whether their future will be based on democracy, human rights & rule of law - or on the nativism the US seeks to export globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...
I wrote about the US & Europe's unshared futures, & ask whether their future will be based on democracy, human rights & rule of law - or on the nativism the US seeks to export globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...
Reposted
An investment firm founded by Jared Kushner wanted to build a $500 million luxury hotel project on the site of a bombed-out Yugoslav military headquarters in Belgrade.
Plans to raze the ruins, however, came to a screeching halt earlier this week.
Plans to raze the ruins, however, came to a screeching halt earlier this week.
Trump hotel project canceled in Serbia after protests, investigation
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has raged against the protests and the prosecutors he blames for halting the project, saying the country was the big loser.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:00 AM
An investment firm founded by Jared Kushner wanted to build a $500 million luxury hotel project on the site of a bombed-out Yugoslav military headquarters in Belgrade.
Plans to raze the ruins, however, came to a screeching halt earlier this week.
Plans to raze the ruins, however, came to a screeching halt earlier this week.
Reposted
Putin said Russia will not back down from its mission to “liberate its historic lands” and predicted the European “swine” backing Kyiv would ultimately lose power, in a speech that showed no readiness to compromise on the goals for his invasion of Ukraine.
w/ @maxseddon.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com
w/ @maxseddon.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com
Vladimir Putin predicts European ‘swine’ backing Ukraine will lose power
Russian president vows to liberate ‘historic lands’ in hardline speech, showing no signs of compromise on invasion goals
www.ft.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Putin said Russia will not back down from its mission to “liberate its historic lands” and predicted the European “swine” backing Kyiv would ultimately lose power, in a speech that showed no readiness to compromise on the goals for his invasion of Ukraine.
w/ @maxseddon.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com
w/ @maxseddon.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com
Reposted
It is worth taking a short step back to last week and reflect on recent statements by Anne Appelbaum in this interview prior to her latest piece on corruption. An insightful and thoughtful critique of the current state of US engagement on the Russio-Ukraine war.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAn3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAn3...
Ukraine and America’s Credibility Crisis — with Anne Applebaum
YouTube video by The Prof G Pod – Scott Galloway
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
It is worth taking a short step back to last week and reflect on recent statements by Anne Appelbaum in this interview prior to her latest piece on corruption. An insightful and thoughtful critique of the current state of US engagement on the Russio-Ukraine war.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAn3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAn3...
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Today on “The Intelligence”: parsing America’s bleak National Security Strategy, the sorry state of its working-from-home capitals and how Pepsi won over the Middle East
Ven and the art of hemispheric maintenance: America’s national-security posture
Also on the daily podcast: the sorry state of America’s working-from-home capitals and how Pepsi won over one world region
econ.st
December 11, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Today on “The Intelligence”: parsing America’s bleak National Security Strategy, the sorry state of its working-from-home capitals and how Pepsi won over the Middle East
Reposted
During his keynote at #MSCinBerlin, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a warning on the urgent need for NATO to prevent a broader conflict in Europe. His message was clear: Only a united Alliance can keep us safe.
December 11, 2025 at 4:37 PM
During his keynote at #MSCinBerlin, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a warning on the urgent need for NATO to prevent a broader conflict in Europe. His message was clear: Only a united Alliance can keep us safe.
Reposted
In this video, ISW analysts Kateryna Stepanenko and Christina Harward share how ISW's analysis exposed Russian narratives and influence campaigns designed to shape US and allied perceptions of the war in Ukraine: youtu.be/SVOtGKto19s
Your support fuels this essential work.
Your support fuels this essential work.
Exposing Cognitive Warfare: Inside ISW’s Analysis
Understanding modern conflict means understanding information warfare. ISW's Cognitive Warfare Task Force exposes the adversary narratives and influence operations that shape how the world understands conflict — from Ukraine to the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific.
In this video, ISW analysts Kater
youtu.be
December 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
In this video, ISW analysts Kateryna Stepanenko and Christina Harward share how ISW's analysis exposed Russian narratives and influence campaigns designed to shape US and allied perceptions of the war in Ukraine: youtu.be/SVOtGKto19s
Your support fuels this essential work.
Your support fuels this essential work.
Reposted
Et tu, Brute?
Das ist ein ungeheuerlicher Aussage, die Kanzler Merz heute in Mainz in Richtung USA getätigt hat, so begräbt man die EU: "Ihr braucht auf der Welt auch Partner. Und einer der Partner kann Europa sein und wenn ihr mit Europa nichts anfangen könnt, dann macht wenigsten Deutschland zu eurem Partner."
December 11, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Et tu, Brute?
Lawrence freedman adds substance, acknowledging views from Europe more broadly on the US 2025 NSS.
The enemy within open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The enemy within open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The enemy within
How Europe should respond to Trump's National Security Strategy
open.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Lawrence freedman adds substance, acknowledging views from Europe more broadly on the US 2025 NSS.
The enemy within open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The enemy within open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The fundamentals are not out of place by T. Graham. However, the underlying issue remains, 'a flawed process'! Inexperienced negotiators and a belief that every peace deal is a business transaction to the advantage of individual's rather than populations.
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/time...
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/time...
The Time to End the War in Ukraine Is Now
Trump can defy the skeptics and seal the deal.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:15 AM
The fundamentals are not out of place by T. Graham. However, the underlying issue remains, 'a flawed process'! Inexperienced negotiators and a belief that every peace deal is a business transaction to the advantage of individual's rather than populations.
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/time...
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/time...
Downplaying recent statements by Trump and the US administration under the 2025 NSS, is unproductive and a dangerous status quo.
www.politico.eu/article/eu-p...
www.politico.eu/article/eu-p...
Show some ‘respect,’ EU chief warns Trump after blistering attack on Europe
The U.S. president thinks the continent is run by weaklings, but millions of Europeans beg to differ, top officials say.
www.politico.eu
December 10, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Downplaying recent statements by Trump and the US administration under the 2025 NSS, is unproductive and a dangerous status quo.
www.politico.eu/article/eu-p...
www.politico.eu/article/eu-p...
Reposted
Quite breathtaking story - military grade drones at Dublin airport which flew on the path Zelensky's plane took. The drones reached the flight path of his plane exactly the time it should have been there, but just missed it because Zelensky arrived ahead of schedule:
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin
Gardaí are investigating whether the drones took off from land in Dublin or from an undetected ship.
www.thejournal.ie
December 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Quite breathtaking story - military grade drones at Dublin airport which flew on the path Zelensky's plane took. The drones reached the flight path of his plane exactly the time it should have been there, but just missed it because Zelensky arrived ahead of schedule:
Reposted
The Trump administration said Friday that Europe is facing the “stark prospect of civilizational erasure” and pledged that the U.S. will support like-minded “patriotic” parties across the continent to prevent a future in which “certain NATO members will become majority non-European.”
Trump Administration Says Europe Faces ‘Civilizational Erasure’
America’s goal should be “to help Europe correct its current trajectory,” the administration said in its new National Security Strategy.
nyti.ms
December 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The Trump administration said Friday that Europe is facing the “stark prospect of civilizational erasure” and pledged that the U.S. will support like-minded “patriotic” parties across the continent to prevent a future in which “certain NATO members will become majority non-European.”
Reposted
🎙️Europe scrambles to avoid being sidelined on Ukraine | Independent Thinking podcast
@bronwenmaddox.bsky.social, Gregoire Roos, Natalie Sabanadze & @jaroslavabarbieri.bsky.social discuss Europe's options, as Russia & US seek to strike their own deal on Ukraine
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/12/inde...
@bronwenmaddox.bsky.social, Gregoire Roos, Natalie Sabanadze & @jaroslavabarbieri.bsky.social discuss Europe's options, as Russia & US seek to strike their own deal on Ukraine
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/12/inde...
December 5, 2025 at 2:02 PM
🎙️Europe scrambles to avoid being sidelined on Ukraine | Independent Thinking podcast
@bronwenmaddox.bsky.social, Gregoire Roos, Natalie Sabanadze & @jaroslavabarbieri.bsky.social discuss Europe's options, as Russia & US seek to strike their own deal on Ukraine
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/12/inde...
@bronwenmaddox.bsky.social, Gregoire Roos, Natalie Sabanadze & @jaroslavabarbieri.bsky.social discuss Europe's options, as Russia & US seek to strike their own deal on Ukraine
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/12/inde...
There is a sense of awkwardness surrounding this strategy, that errs towards the reading of a disjointed chat GPT product, infused by prompts that semi-coherently pool the US administration's stance on an array of subjects from 2025....
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov
December 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
There is a sense of awkwardness surrounding this strategy, that errs towards the reading of a disjointed chat GPT product, infused by prompts that semi-coherently pool the US administration's stance on an array of subjects from 2025....
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
Reposted
An investigation of Ukraine's seven key 2025 strategic endeavours and how successful #Ukraine has been in their execution.
mickryan.substack.com/p/ukraines-2...
mickryan.substack.com/p/ukraines-2...
Ukraine's 2025 Strategic Endeavours
A comprehensive assessment of the seven key strategic endeavours that made up Ukraine's national war fighting effort in 2025, and whether the combination of these has changed Putin's calculus.
mickryan.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:52 AM
An investigation of Ukraine's seven key 2025 strategic endeavours and how successful #Ukraine has been in their execution.
mickryan.substack.com/p/ukraines-2...
mickryan.substack.com/p/ukraines-2...
Reposted
'The ousting of Yermak, though undoubtedly an extremely difficult decision for the President, could – if handled correctly – ultimately strengthen Zelenskyy’s position and Ukraine’s wartime resilience.'
writes Orysia Lutsevych in her latest expert comment 👇
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/12/zele...
writes Orysia Lutsevych in her latest expert comment 👇
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/12/zele...
Zelenskyy’s right-hand man has gone. Here’s what should happen next
Andriy Yermak resigned amid a corruption scandal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must now re-balance power and strengthen democracy by empowering the government, parliament and local authorit...
www.chathamhouse.org
December 2, 2025 at 10:33 AM
'The ousting of Yermak, though undoubtedly an extremely difficult decision for the President, could – if handled correctly – ultimately strengthen Zelenskyy’s position and Ukraine’s wartime resilience.'
writes Orysia Lutsevych in her latest expert comment 👇
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/12/zele...
writes Orysia Lutsevych in her latest expert comment 👇
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/12/zele...
Reposted
“It has happened many times where we had co-ordinated our position with the US and then Witkoff goes to Moscow and, after seeing Putin, Trump puts out a statement that takes us back to square one,” said a senior Ukrainian official.
www.ft.com/content/c75d...
www.ft.com/content/c75d...
Kremlin touts gains in Pokrovsk ahead of meeting with US envoy
Russian president hosts Witkoff and Kushner for peace talks as military claims battlefield advances in Ukraine
www.ft.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:57 AM
“It has happened many times where we had co-ordinated our position with the US and then Witkoff goes to Moscow and, after seeing Putin, Trump puts out a statement that takes us back to square one,” said a senior Ukrainian official.
www.ft.com/content/c75d...
www.ft.com/content/c75d...
Reposted
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine met with President Emmanuel Macron of France on Monday, seeking support from European allies while the Trump administration pushes to end the war with Russia. Here's what to know.
Zelensky Turns to Europe After Talks With U.S. Officials
Ukraine’s president met with President Emmanuel Macron of France on Monday as Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy, travels to Russia.
nyti.ms
December 1, 2025 at 1:10 PM
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine met with President Emmanuel Macron of France on Monday, seeking support from European allies while the Trump administration pushes to end the war with Russia. Here's what to know.
apnews.com/article/russ... and security are the main sticking points as Russia and Ukraine mull Trump's peace proposal
Land and security are the main sticking points as Russia and Ukraine mull Trump's peace proposal
Ukrainian officials met with U.S. President Donald Trump's representatives Sunday, and Washington officials are expected in Moscow for more peace talks this week.
apnews.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:05 PM
apnews.com/article/russ... and security are the main sticking points as Russia and Ukraine mull Trump's peace proposal
Reflecting upon the loss of individual agency and ongoing uncertainty around future and current perspectives of temporary status persons (whether in the US or Europe), has again been lost amidst a tragic incident.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/p...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/p...
The Fallout From the National Guard Shooting
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reflecting upon the loss of individual agency and ongoing uncertainty around future and current perspectives of temporary status persons (whether in the US or Europe), has again been lost amidst a tragic incident.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/p...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/p...
Reposted
False sense of security: European complacency on rare earths is the wrong answer to the US-China trade truce url:https://encompass-europe.com/comment/false-sense-of-security-european-complacency-on-rare-earths-is-the-wrong-answer-to-the-us-china-trade-truce @joristeer.bsky.social @euiss.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 2:21 PM
False sense of security: European complacency on rare earths is the wrong answer to the US-China trade truce url:https://encompass-europe.com/comment/false-sense-of-security-european-complacency-on-rare-earths-is-the-wrong-answer-to-the-us-china-trade-truce @joristeer.bsky.social @euiss.bsky.social