Maria Popova
@popovaprof
Political science professor at McGill 🇨🇦⚜️Hiram Mills Chair; Co-Director, Jean Monnet Centre Montreal; Russo-Ukrainian war; Rule of law, (anti)corruption; European politics 🇺🇦 🇧🇬 🇪🇺. Opinions mine.
And this from a long-time Pentagon official is short but spot on and poetic.
Colby's thrashing continues in full swing. This from a Danish MEP is precious, especially the ending. 😘🤣
Elbridge Colby's silly thread scolding the middle powers for trying to divest from the US while also telling them the US isn't worried because it's too strong and everyone needs its weapons has produced wide ranging push back. How embarrassing for Colby.
This is a famous quote from a 1999 Clinton-Yeltsin phone call. Imo, the most notable line is that Yeltsin fully recognizes that Europe doesn’t want to be “given” to Ru but doesn’t care. Russian imperialism waxes and wanes depending on state capacity but the desire to dominate is always there!
From Ukraine's ambassador to South Africa. I'll add that many in the West thought the same thing. Some still want it, hiding under the pretext of finding a quick compromise.
New instalment: small bookstore in Piedmont, Italy. Well-done! The one book on russia, afaik doesn’t romanticize russian victimhood and there are 2(!) books on Ukraine to offset— Snyder and Conquest. Impressive showing!
If I could own a collection of paintings on one theme, it’ll be window sea views. I took this picture in a Sofia gallery last year. “Window” (1942) by Ivan Nenov
Literally. I was friends with him on Facebook for years and he was convicted of spying for russia. His task was watching and reporting on Western academic networks.
OMG. To claim that russians are uniquely/deeply fearful of invasion due to their history is to whitewash russian aggression. When will people realize this? Every old European city has been torched/invaded multiple times. Europe managed to build peace. Ru is attacking its neighbour AS WE SPEAK!
I’m going to start rating random bookstores/libraries I visit on how Russia-heavy their collections are. 2 pts for each book romanticizing/glorifying russia; 1 point if Russia is a secondary focus. Points offset by books about the countries russia colonized/dominated. 3pts for this shelf.
Not sure what the Cold War has to do with the topic. Politicians *across* the spectrum got charged, included many close to Basescu. Also the data doesn't bear out the authoritarianism claim-- Romania achieved one of its peaks on democracy indices precisely during the height of DNA activity.
Some advice for those who secretly continue to admire russia's power, despite all the counter evidence: If you feel the urge to write a paean to russia disguised as concern trolling about the tragedy of Ukraine's impending defeat, resist it. You'll be deservedly mocked for it. Some examples:
Zelensky making it clear that if the prisoner exchange doesn't take place, it'll show russia and the US both went back on their word. Ukraine's position is honest and strong.
Oh my, I stand corrected— there is a study that now puts the US under Ru. Sigh.
Yes, the US has for sure lost a ton of soft power! Just look at actual numbers in Canada— a huge shift. I just think Russia is still more disliked globally.
Read every word. Russia is a weakening but still intransigent aggressor. Ukraine has military momentum and moral legitimacy.
This is a must read about Ukraine's ascendance as a security provider and military power. The explainer should help people understand why Ru's theory of victory is becoming more tenuous by the day. www.persuasion.community/p/ukraine-is...
Here's the concrete evidence that they are losing territory. Mind you, the advances in the previous months were microscopic, given the size of Ukraine, and couldn't be called "slowly winning" either. The entire "Ru is slowly winning" frame is pure delusion of russian grandeur.
Btw, this is an important point by Kasparov. If Pu gets deposed soon it will be because he's losing the war not because he started an unjust war, because he's a dictator, or because too many died (russians or Ukrainians).
You're forgiven if you think these are pictures of the same successful Ukrainian drone strike, but in fact these are two different russian oil refineries (Tuapse and Perm), ~2500km apart, burning down today.
Radev entered politics in 2016 with Ru intelligence help. This is how Gemini summarizes the background. @ruslantrad.bsky.social