Viljar Rääsk
@viljarraask.bsky.social
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
this is the simple answer to people who keep saying NATO expansion matters. Sure, it matters because it presented an obstacle to Russian imperial ambitions. Putin didn't invade because he hated NATO expansion, he hated NATO expansion because he wanted to invade
December 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
this is the simple answer to people who keep saying NATO expansion matters. Sure, it matters because it presented an obstacle to Russian imperial ambitions. Putin didn't invade because he hated NATO expansion, he hated NATO expansion because he wanted to invade
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
1/7
Excerpts from Korshak's substack, part 1👇
The main target of Russia's air campaign is energy infrastructure, with main objective to force Ukraine to surrender. The idea is to break Ukraine's will to fight.
These strikes are war crimes. And it's not achieving it's objectives.
Excerpts from Korshak's substack, part 1👇
The main target of Russia's air campaign is energy infrastructure, with main objective to force Ukraine to surrender. The idea is to break Ukraine's will to fight.
These strikes are war crimes. And it's not achieving it's objectives.
December 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
1/7
Excerpts from Korshak's substack, part 1👇
The main target of Russia's air campaign is energy infrastructure, with main objective to force Ukraine to surrender. The idea is to break Ukraine's will to fight.
These strikes are war crimes. And it's not achieving it's objectives.
Excerpts from Korshak's substack, part 1👇
The main target of Russia's air campaign is energy infrastructure, with main objective to force Ukraine to surrender. The idea is to break Ukraine's will to fight.
These strikes are war crimes. And it's not achieving it's objectives.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
How Trumpian.
In 2025, the US launched strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, al-Shabab in Somalia, ISIS in Syria, alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, plus Iran’s nuclear program. Now some into Nigeria.
All killed people and damaged things, but none appear to have achieved anything lasting.
All killed people and damaged things, but none appear to have achieved anything lasting.
Opinion | The logic isn't apparent in Trump's strikes in Nigeria
Nicholas Grossman: Add Nigeria to the list of countries Trump has bombed this year
www.ms.now
December 27, 2025 at 2:43 PM
How Trumpian.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Ukraine (under pressure) gave up its nuclear deterrent for worthless security guarantees. Now russia has successfully used nuclear blackmail to attack Ukraine with minimal consequences. That's not de-escalation, it's an incentive structure for non-nuclear states to get their own nukes.
🇯🇵🚀 Japan needs to possess nuclear weapons, a security official in the administration of Prime Minister told journalists.
"In the end, we can only rely on ourselves. It's not a matter of the near future."
Kyodo writes that the statement could provoke criticism outside the country as well.
"In the end, we can only rely on ourselves. It's not a matter of the near future."
Kyodo writes that the statement could provoke criticism outside the country as well.
December 18, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Ukraine (under pressure) gave up its nuclear deterrent for worthless security guarantees. Now russia has successfully used nuclear blackmail to attack Ukraine with minimal consequences. That's not de-escalation, it's an incentive structure for non-nuclear states to get their own nukes.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
It turns out the question is not, in fact, “unresolved”.
December 19, 2025 at 12:11 AM
It turns out the question is not, in fact, “unresolved”.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Remember kids, Responsible Statecraft is to believe what Russia says and ignore what Russia does. When what Russia does contradicts what Russia says, move to the next thing that Russia says. Rinse, repeat.
Wouldn’t I sleep better if I could share this conviction with this level of confidence.
unherd.com/newsroom/mar...
unherd.com/newsroom/mar...
December 14, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Remember kids, Responsible Statecraft is to believe what Russia says and ignore what Russia does. When what Russia does contradicts what Russia says, move to the next thing that Russia says. Rinse, repeat.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Very good Substack from Minna👇
December 6, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Very good Substack from Minna👇
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
❗"Bessedini viimase kolme ja poole aasta ligi 10 000-st sotsiaalmeedia postitusest umbes 8000 on ühemõtteliselt räige Kremli propaganda. Bessedin levitas üheksat Kremli propaganda jutupunkti – süsteemselt ja ulatuslikult."
👏
Marta Vunš, Greete Palgi, Eero Epner, Holger Roonemaa, Erik Moora
👏
Marta Vunš, Greete Palgi, Eero Epner, Holger Roonemaa, Erik Moora
December 3, 2025 at 7:55 AM
❗"Bessedini viimase kolme ja poole aasta ligi 10 000-st sotsiaalmeedia postitusest umbes 8000 on ühemõtteliselt räige Kremli propaganda. Bessedin levitas üheksat Kremli propaganda jutupunkti – süsteemselt ja ulatuslikult."
👏
Marta Vunš, Greete Palgi, Eero Epner, Holger Roonemaa, Erik Moora
👏
Marta Vunš, Greete Palgi, Eero Epner, Holger Roonemaa, Erik Moora
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Ilhan Omar rose from a single parent immigrant family where her dad drove a taxi to her current position. Trump is the kid of a racist wealthy slum landlord who headed multiple failed businesses. One of these people is the example of failed ambition and it's not her.
What a racist piece of shit.
What a racist piece of shit.
Trump on Somalis: "We're gonna go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage."
December 2, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Ilhan Omar rose from a single parent immigrant family where her dad drove a taxi to her current position. Trump is the kid of a racist wealthy slum landlord who headed multiple failed businesses. One of these people is the example of failed ambition and it's not her.
What a racist piece of shit.
What a racist piece of shit.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
The White House’s new anti-media website includes denunciations of:
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
November 30, 2025 at 3:15 AM
The White House’s new anti-media website includes denunciations of:
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
-ABC, which bribed the president
-CBS, which bribed the president and moved away from fact-based journalism trying to appeal to him and his fans
-WaPo, which spiked a Harris endorsement and tilts coverage in Trump’s favor
Fools.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Trump is the most openly corrupt president in American history, and that makes it extra difficult to interpret what's happening when he makes seemingly unexplainable decisions. It's a big problem if the European press won't discuss this issue.
Wow. BBC journalists are now not even allowed to report the censored line from my Reith Lecture, that Trump is “the most openly corrupt president in American history.”
You can hear how carefully they’re forced to tiptoe around it. So chilling...
You can hear how carefully they’re forced to tiptoe around it. So chilling...
November 27, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Trump is the most openly corrupt president in American history, and that makes it extra difficult to interpret what's happening when he makes seemingly unexplainable decisions. It's a big problem if the European press won't discuss this issue.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
The logic is upside-down: Russia's production continues whether the war ends or not. A ceasefire doesn't slow Russian factories—it just gives Moscow a massive stockpile pointed at its neighbors.
November 27, 2025 at 10:58 AM
The logic is upside-down: Russia's production continues whether the war ends or not. A ceasefire doesn't slow Russian factories—it just gives Moscow a massive stockpile pointed at its neighbors.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
🇺🇸⚡️ In both recordings of the conversations published by Bloomberg, only one interlocutor remains unchanged - Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov, - Ukraine context
Which suggests that it was his phone that was "wiretapped", the "leak" could have taken place purposefully and precisely from the Russian side.
Which suggests that it was his phone that was "wiretapped", the "leak" could have taken place purposefully and precisely from the Russian side.
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 PM
🇺🇸⚡️ In both recordings of the conversations published by Bloomberg, only one interlocutor remains unchanged - Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov, - Ukraine context
Which suggests that it was his phone that was "wiretapped", the "leak" could have taken place purposefully and precisely from the Russian side.
Which suggests that it was his phone that was "wiretapped", the "leak" could have taken place purposefully and precisely from the Russian side.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
This is incredibly dark and almost nobody with real power is speaking up
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
This is incredibly dark and almost nobody with real power is speaking up
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Good 🧵 about Steve Witkoff, the narrative of him being a “useful idiot” is a dangerous trap to walk in.
Witkoff has spent three decades swimming in russian money, russian mob circles, and russian real-estate pipeline. russia knows how to grow an asset
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19933...
Witkoff has spent three decades swimming in russian money, russian mob circles, and russian real-estate pipeline. russia knows how to grow an asset
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19933...
November 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Good 🧵 about Steve Witkoff, the narrative of him being a “useful idiot” is a dangerous trap to walk in.
Witkoff has spent three decades swimming in russian money, russian mob circles, and russian real-estate pipeline. russia knows how to grow an asset
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19933...
Witkoff has spent three decades swimming in russian money, russian mob circles, and russian real-estate pipeline. russia knows how to grow an asset
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19933...
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
1/2
A really good critique of Europe's behavior towards Ukraine, and towards it's own security. 👇
Another strong quote from the text:
"Nothing about Europe’s position today was inevitable. It is the product of decisions not taken, responsibilities avoided, and illusions clung to for too long. ...
A really good critique of Europe's behavior towards Ukraine, and towards it's own security. 👇
Another strong quote from the text:
"Nothing about Europe’s position today was inevitable. It is the product of decisions not taken, responsibilities avoided, and illusions clung to for too long. ...
"Too many European governments still behave as if losing Ukraine would be unfortunate but manageable. This is fantasy. The destruction of Ukraine would reshape Europe’s security architecture for decades, and not in Europe’s favour."
Strong message by @drjademcglynn.bsky.social.
Strong message by @drjademcglynn.bsky.social.
Circus
Amidst the absolute chaos of a Witkoff-stamped Russian psyop-as-peace plan, discussion is filled with anger at Washington and at Moscow.
smalldeedsbigwar.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:27 PM
1/2
A really good critique of Europe's behavior towards Ukraine, and towards it's own security. 👇
Another strong quote from the text:
"Nothing about Europe’s position today was inevitable. It is the product of decisions not taken, responsibilities avoided, and illusions clung to for too long. ...
A really good critique of Europe's behavior towards Ukraine, and towards it's own security. 👇
Another strong quote from the text:
"Nothing about Europe’s position today was inevitable. It is the product of decisions not taken, responsibilities avoided, and illusions clung to for too long. ...
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
🇮🇳📉 India's Russian oil imports are set to hit their lowest in at least three years in December, down from multi-month highs in November, - Reuters
The EU has set a January 21 deadline after which it will decline fuel from refineries that handled Russian crude within 60 days of the bill of lading.
The EU has set a January 21 deadline after which it will decline fuel from refineries that handled Russian crude within 60 days of the bill of lading.
November 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
🇮🇳📉 India's Russian oil imports are set to hit their lowest in at least three years in December, down from multi-month highs in November, - Reuters
The EU has set a January 21 deadline after which it will decline fuel from refineries that handled Russian crude within 60 days of the bill of lading.
The EU has set a January 21 deadline after which it will decline fuel from refineries that handled Russian crude within 60 days of the bill of lading.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Russia's 28-point "peace plan" was a trap and it worked.
Even if talks stall, Moscow has made its proposal the baseline for negotiations.
The best possible outcome for Kyiv may be a return to the status quo. But it can get much worse for Ukraine and Europe.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/25/f...
Even if talks stall, Moscow has made its proposal the baseline for negotiations.
The best possible outcome for Kyiv may be a return to the status quo. But it can get much worse for Ukraine and Europe.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/25/f...
For Russia, Trump’s peace process is already a victory — deal or no deal
By setting the baseline conditions for negotiation and getting the White House to push them, Russia has gained a strong position while weakening Ukraine and Europe.
euromaidanpress.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Russia's 28-point "peace plan" was a trap and it worked.
Even if talks stall, Moscow has made its proposal the baseline for negotiations.
The best possible outcome for Kyiv may be a return to the status quo. But it can get much worse for Ukraine and Europe.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/25/f...
Even if talks stall, Moscow has made its proposal the baseline for negotiations.
The best possible outcome for Kyiv may be a return to the status quo. But it can get much worse for Ukraine and Europe.
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/25/f...
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
🚨🚨"It 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." Excellent piece by @anneapplebaum.bsky.social:
November 25, 2025 at 6:00 AM
🚨🚨"It 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." Excellent piece by @anneapplebaum.bsky.social:
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Whitaker says the "rules based order works" by allowing authoritarian states to conquer their neighbors. The rules based order begs to differ.
NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker admits "there's some truth" to the criticism that Putin hasn't made a single concession during negotiations
November 25, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Whitaker says the "rules based order works" by allowing authoritarian states to conquer their neighbors. The rules based order begs to differ.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Lots of people are calling out the fact that X is filled with fake MAGA influencers from far away countries, but I wanted to point out that this, not "ideological censorship," is why companies have trust & safety teams that work on stopping inauthentic behavior.
X’s New Feature Reveals Why Trust & Safety Work Was Never About The ‘Censorship Industrial Complex’
For the last few years, Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and their allies have spent considerable energy attacking both academic researchers studying disinformation and the trust & safety teams…
For the last few years, Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and their allies have spent considerable energy attacking both academic researchers studying disinformation and the trust & safety teams…
X’s New Feature Reveals Why Trust & Safety Work Was Never About The ‘Censorship Industrial Complex’
For the last few years, Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, and their allies have spent considerable energy attacking both academic researchers studying disinformation and the trust & safety teams at social media platforms working to identify and remove coordinated inauthentic behavior—particularly foreign influence operations. They've insisted that any attempt to study and limit such operations is actually just "censorship" with various forms of cover, whether academic or operational.
www.techdirt.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Lots of people are calling out the fact that X is filled with fake MAGA influencers from far away countries, but I wanted to point out that this, not "ideological censorship," is why companies have trust & safety teams that work on stopping inauthentic behavior.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
NEW STUDY: vigorous exercise is NOT, as previously presumed, twice as a good as moderate exercise at keeping you alive and free of heart disease but is in fact…4-9 times better.
I texted these findings to my CrossFit coach who texted back two words:
more burpees
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I texted these findings to my CrossFit coach who texted back two words:
more burpees
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Wearable device-based health equivalence of different physical activity intensities against mortality, cardiometabolic disease, and cancer - Nature Communications
Benefits on health have been found to vary across different levels of physical activity (PA) for chronic conditions including cancer. Here the authors report that each minute of vigorous intensity PA ...
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
NEW STUDY: vigorous exercise is NOT, as previously presumed, twice as a good as moderate exercise at keeping you alive and free of heart disease but is in fact…4-9 times better.
I texted these findings to my CrossFit coach who texted back two words:
more burpees
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I texted these findings to my CrossFit coach who texted back two words:
more burpees
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
"I told him [President Trump] that we are fully in line with Ukraine, that the sovereignty of this country must not be jeopardized."
Chancellor Merz, in an interview with DW, said that Russia's war against Ukraine is a "deep threat for the entire political order of the European continent."
Chancellor Merz, in an interview with DW, said that Russia's war against Ukraine is a "deep threat for the entire political order of the European continent."
November 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
"I told him [President Trump] that we are fully in line with Ukraine, that the sovereignty of this country must not be jeopardized."
Chancellor Merz, in an interview with DW, said that Russia's war against Ukraine is a "deep threat for the entire political order of the European continent."
Chancellor Merz, in an interview with DW, said that Russia's war against Ukraine is a "deep threat for the entire political order of the European continent."
Reposted by Viljar Rääsk
Exactly what the Kremlin wanted.
1. Make Trump look like their slave.
2. Avoid a peace agreement.
1. Make Trump look like their slave.
2. Avoid a peace agreement.
⚡️ Kremlin rejects European counter-proposal to US peace plan for Ukraine.
Kyiv's European partners reportedly pitched the plan as a counter-proposal to a 28-point document backed by the Trump administration.
Kyiv's European partners reportedly pitched the plan as a counter-proposal to a 28-point document backed by the Trump administration.
Kremlin rejects European counter-proposal to US peace plan for Ukraine
Kyiv's European partners reportedly pitched the plan as a counter-proposal to a 28-point document backed by the Trump administration, which was criticized for heavily favoring Russia.
kyivindependent.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Exactly what the Kremlin wanted.
1. Make Trump look like their slave.
2. Avoid a peace agreement.
1. Make Trump look like their slave.
2. Avoid a peace agreement.