@AFP correspondent covering Ukraine, Russia, France and international affairs. Back on Twitter. Just my own opinions
Paris
Joined March 2023
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Anna Smolchenko retweeted
WTF, Steve? Look up the definition of “humanitarian.” What an embarrassing and outrageous thing to say. You should go back to Ukraine and ask the families of the children Putin has kidnapped and murdered whether they agree your friend Putin is a “humanitarian.”
Anna Smolchenko retweeted
When Moscow invaded Ukraine, Pavel Talankin, a staff member at a secondary school in Russia, was ordered to film patriotic lessons, songs and morning drills. It was so depressing, he wanted to quit. @AFP's @AnnaSafp writes: shorturl.at/aDiAA
Anna Smolchenko retweeted
Не было ни одного дня, чтобы я не подумала о тебе.
Чтобы не захотелось рассказать, как прошёл день.
Спросить совета. Услышать твой смех.
Обнять.
И чтобы сразу стало тепло и спокойно. Как раньше. Как только с тобой.
Сегодня особенно хочется прочитать, что бы ты написал.
Ты всегда умел находить простые и правильные слова, в которых были и правда, и нежность, и сила.
И как же сейчас хочется вычеркнуть из текста эти бесконечные «бы».
Чтобы не «было бы», а есть.
Чтобы ты был. Чтобы можно было услышать, дотронуться, засмеяться вместе.
С днём рождения, лучший человек на свете.
Тот, кто знал цену свободе.
Тот, кто любил по-настоящему.
Тот, кто жил так, как хочется жить всем — светло и отважно.
Ты всегда со мной.
И будешь. Всегда.
Buchenwald concentration camp was liberated by American troops 80 years ago today. @AFP spoke to camp survivor Jacques Moalic, 102. After war he workd the news agency for 40 years
yahoo.com/news/buchenwald-ca…
Anna Smolchenko retweeted
One of most difficult days in the proud history of @RFERL. We’re forced to furlough a large percentage of staff. USAGM, despite assurances, continues to withhold our Congressionally appropriated operating funds. We’re alive, but serving audiences with reduced staffing & funds
Ukraine needs more than 'mere presence' from Europe, Kyiv aide @AFP. Kyiv expects a robust presence from Europe in Ukraine post-war and soldiers who are ready for various scenarios, including missile or drone attacks
uk.news.yahoo.com/ukraine-ne…
Putin has upper hand in Trump talks on elusive Ukraine peace @AFP spoke to some of best analysts on the subject and they say things are not looking good
yahoo.com/news/putin-upper-h…
"Donald Trump backed Vladimir Putin's idea of organizing hockey matches in the United States and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and KHL." Everything you needed to know about Putin-Trump phone talks
kremlin.ru/
Things are looking up for Telegram founder Pavel Durov @durov who has been allowed to temporarily leave France for Dubai. Our reporting for @AFP lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article…
Anna Smolchenko retweeted
My speech at the Security Conference at Chatham House
pravda.com.ua/eng/columns/20…
Bravo Senator @CoryBooker
We are Americans.
We are the most powerful nation on the planet.
What defines us is not our power to dominate the weak.
What demonstrates our character is not our capacity to traumatize the afflicted.
What speaks our truth is not how we taunt, deride or belittle the embattled, broken or battered.
We are:
The country of the Marshall Plan
The nation of The Berlin Airlift
The nation whose leader said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
We are at our best when we are resolute against evil -- not when we kowtow to those who perpetrate it.
We tell our truth when we defend the weak -- not when we do it only if we get protection money.
We are America when our leaders call the dictators dictators and those who fight to defend democracy against tyranny what they are: heroes.
Donald Trump and JD Vance didn't show strength today -- they showed weakness.
They belittled a giant and showed just how small they are.
They have the most vaunted titles in the world: President and Vice President of The United States of America. But the title doesn't make the man. And today both men brought shame to their titles.
A weary warrior was before them. A beleaguered man who has lost thousands of his friends and comrades to the unjust and illegal aggression of an authoritarian leader.
They showed no grace; no magnanimity of spirit; no diplomatic acumen. They were small bullies with big titles and they disrespected the history and legacy of the nation they lead.
Today, Donald Trump acted more like Russia's Putin than America's President.
I am beginning to think the Kremlin might indeed have some serious dirt on Trump. Otherwise how could one explain this insanity?
Anna Smolchenko retweeted
We are in “Ukraine being thrown under the bus” territory. I hope I'm wrong. I don't wish to be alarmist. But the readout from today's US/Russia talks in Riyadh and the trajectory they imply for Ukraine, and for Europe, is deeply, deeply worrying
Top @Navalny lawyer Olga Mikhailova tells @AFP she regrets not finding the right words to prevent the Russian opposition leader from returning to Russia in 2021 with @ArnaudRchrd france24.com/en/live-news/20…
French PM delivers his first policy speech to divided parliament but that's the only France story British papers are interested in today
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2…
Anna Smolchenko retweeted
Russia’s Patrushev casually says that Ukraine (and Moldova) may cease to exist this year, and adds that the Kremlin will only discuss Ukraine’s fate with Trump — without the Europeans or the Ukrainians. kp.ru/daily/27651/5036217/
Anna Smolchenko retweeted
The Russians are undergoing a cultural revolution of a kind. Remember how the Chinese cultural revolution made no sense to the outside world? With all the beating of intellectuals, "big character posters," the crazy Mao cult, occasional cannibalism etc. All of this was madness when you looked from the outside in. But it had its own internal logic.
Same thing here. This cultural revolution is underpinned by toxic chauvinism and xenophobia, cynicism, nihilism, overt violence, and a kind of masochism. The idea here is to re-imagine Russia as the "anti-West". And this begins with the murder of Santa.
New swap needed for Russian 'child political prisoners': freed artist Alexandra Skochilenko tells @AFP
Pictures by @SSakutin
uk.news.yahoo.com/swap-neede…