The inability to rein in Hungary is damaging enough on its own. But actively pressing Ukraine to comply is simply disgraceful, even (especially) if you offer to pay for the compliance. We shouldn't be twisting the arms of Ukrainians while they’re fighting on Europe’s behalf.

Let's drop the naivité and accept that this war will end on the battlefield after Ukraine achieves the necessary military strength, not in a conference room after a round of talks and a carafe of wine.

The unbombed farmers of Eastern Europe want protection from Ukraine while all the time Ukraine is protecting them from Russia. This makes no sense. In my oped for @politico I argue that the best way to resolve this is by accepting Ukraine as a full EU member. Now. Link below 🔗👇

EU enlargement requires real commitment from Brussels, otherwise candidates will simply drift away. We saw this in Georgia, and after today's announcements I am increasingly worried that we are seeing the same in Ukraine. More thoughts below 🔗👇

Was this the worst NATO Summit ever? “Well, at least it wasn’t a disaster,” a friend said when we discussed the matter. And I had to agree — it could have been much worse. For example, we might not have NATO anymore. But we still do. So, technically, yay. Read more in my newsletter below ⬇️

Ukraine is deterring Putin. Like all bullies, he will now be looking to escalate elsewhere, where he sees no deterrence. Are we really deterring him enough to stop him opening a new front?

The obliteration of Russian strategic bombers left us stunned — and rightly so. Strategists on all sides will now be forced to rethink what Ukraine is truly capable of achieving.

Maybe the negotiations aren’t even meant to work. Maybe the plan was always for Trump and Putin to meet to redraw Europe’s borders. But that isn’t a deal, that’s more like a pact. The same “peace plan” was tried in 1938 and it didn’t work out well.

Eleven weeks ago a “coalition of the willing” gathered together to discuss what they were willing to do. Since then they haven’t appeared to be willing to do anything at all. 🔗👇

This time the ESCALATION podcast features Ben Hodges, former commander of US Army Europe and outspoken supporter of Ukraine. Find out the truth about the strategic military options available to Europe to help Ukraine win on the battlefield. 🔗👇

"Taiwan is the West Berlin of this century" Find out more in the latest episode of my podcast ESCALATION, this time with @_JakubJanda, Czech expert on the Indo-Pacific region. Full episode linked below.