EU multimedia journalist| Expert on EU related politics and policies. Podcasts, articles, trains in realm of EU. https://xitter.gq/t.co/7lXxwTVM6a
Amsterdam, Nederland
Joined February 2009
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No not again please
Mr Trump wavering on the edge of a terrible strategic mistake. The MidTerms may deliver a Democratic Congress in January. The US blockade has not collapsed the economy. 20,000 air sorties have not opened the Gulf. Trump now planning a three day renewed air war in November. It will be an escalation disaster.
Simon Trommel retweeted
What an asshole! NATO was built for one purpose only—to defend free Europe against Russian invasion. And to downplay the sacrifices made by Europeans for American war elsewhere is hitting new moral lows, though for Trumpist officials the moral abyss is bottomless.
Russen geven houthis doelwitten in Saoedi Arabië
NEW: Russia is actively supporting Houthi operations to disrupt global energy markets by providing the Houthis with satellite imagery of Saudi oil and military infrastructure. Russian satellites have routinely been positioned above major Saudi energy and military sites in the days prior to and after Houthi attacks on those sites since July 2026. (1/2)
I think it’s his wish.
Things go from bad to worse. Trump 🇺🇸 seems to regret that 🇷🇺 didn’t conquer 🇺🇦 immediately, and blame the failure on some incompetent 🇷🇺 general. Who feeds him this strange stuff? Or does he just invent it because he wishes it was so?
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
Russian tanks did use highways to Kyiv in 2022 and took heavy losses. The main reason the 40-mile convoy failed was it lacked fuel and food. Ukraine blew bridges, flooded the Irpin, and ambushed columns.
nbcpalmsprings.com/2025/08/15/fac…
rusi.org/explore-our-re…
npr.org/2022/03/01/108…
mwi.westpoint.edu/urban-warfare-…
euronews.com/my-europe/2025…
#Italy ! Why ?
Italy is ensuring that Russian terrorists can now enter the entire EU even more quickly.
Italy shortens visa processing times for Russian citizens
As announced by the Italian visa center in Moscow, the Italian consulate will now issue tourist visas within 45 days—down from the previous 60 days. Just four months ago, in June, the processing time had been extended to 60 days due to high demand. Notably, Italy issues more visas to Russian citizens than any other EU country: last year, it granted 161,000—accounting for one-quarter of all Schengen visas issued.
Once a Russian national enters Italy with a valid Italian Schengen visa, they are free to travel to other Schengen countries, provided they remain within the visa's validity period and adhere to the 90-day rule (90 days within any 180-day period). There are no systematic border controls between Schengen countries.
Simon Trommel retweeted
Ten years ago today.
In just the last few days: Trump made a deal for the U.S. to buy Russian diesel, an economic lifeline for Putin; he and Elon Musk blamed each other for an order that slowed down Starlink satellite connectivity over Ukraine, hampering the country's defenses during a devastating Russian attack; and Trump waived sanctions on Russia that Congress, led by his late friend Lindsey Graham, had pushed for.
Now, Putin has proposed a summit with Trump and Xi to decide Ukraine’s fate for them, bulldoze a century of international cooperation, and frame Russia as an equal to the U.S. and China.
We’ll see if Putin’s puppet continues to dance on his strings.
Yes I would like to know as well.
On October 16, 2019, I told Donald Trump, “With you, Mr. President, all roads lead to Putin.”
On October 16, 2026, Trump signed an executive order waiving new sanctions on Russia passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress and signed into law just last month.
This decision insults America’s commitment to democracy and our brave men and women in uniform, as Russia helps Iran target American forces.
I join Republican senators in condemning this unconscionable capitulation to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine and butchers innocent civilians.
As I have asked for years: What does Putin have on Trump that he would sell out America’s values?
…
A historic video of America’s betrayal – November 22, 1994.
The U.S. President thanks Ukraine for giving up its nuclear weapons. In return, the U.S. promises to stand by Ukraine’s side to safeguard its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
But instead of defending Ukraine, Trump and his administration have sided with the aggressor against Ukraine.
Simon Trommel retweeted
Trump is lying again. Putin started the war and has repeatedly refused to negotiate to end it. The US spent nothing like $350 billion. Half the money is not missing. Washington and Moscow are both significantly more corrupt than Kyiv. Putin, not Zelensky, is a dictator who openly steals elections.
I think it’s time for #USA to have a new president.
⚡️ “I think Ukraine needs a new president,” — Trump lashes out at Zelensky again
According to the US president, Zelensky could supposedly have ended the war “many, many times,” but chose not to.
Trump now claims that Ukraine needs a different leader — someone willing to negotiate.
But there's one person conspicuously missing from these accusations: Putin, the man responsible for starting the war. It was Russia that invaded Ukraine, and it is the Russian military that continues to strike Ukrainian cities.
Trump demands that Zelensky be willing to negotiate, yet somehow fails to explain what concessions the Kremlin should make.
Ukrainians need peace. But it is Ukrainians themselves who will decide who their president should be — not the man in the White House.
It’s a shame.
While Ukrainians are dying every day from russian missiles and drones, Trump and his family are discussing how to make money from doing business with russia.
According to Reuters, Trump’s team and Putin’s representatives are discussing the possibility of restoring russian gas exports to Europe through Nord Stream, with American investors profiting from the deal.
And guess who is involved? Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Apparently, bringing Russian gas back to Europe and creating lucrative business opportunities with Putin’s regime is now part of the so-called “peace process.”
Russia invaded Ukraine, murdered civilians, destroyed entire cities, and weaponized Europe’s dependence on russian energy. Europe spent years trying to break that dependence.
And now Trump’s family exploring ways to bring it back for profit.
Elections and war.
The Pentagon has told U.S. Central Command to finish preparations for the potential resumption of large-scale combat operations against Iran, according to Axios, citing U.S. officials. Per the report, such an operation, which would be a joint operation with Israel, could take place before both the Israeli elections and the U.S. midterm elections. This comes following the meeting of U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s National Security Team at Camp David last week.
More enforcement in sanctions regarding Russia. That is what #EU needs.
Simon Trommel retweeted
This is an extraordinary story of extortion and hypocrisy.
The U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle — a close Trump ally and former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. — admitted that the United States helped bring down governments that stood in its way.
During a private dinner in Athens, while discussing the collapse of Romania’s government, Guilfoyle said: “We can do this to any country we want. We can do it here too.”
The Greek energy minister pushed back, saying the United States cannot simply replace a government elected by the people.
Guilfoyle insisted that they have already done this in Romania.
On March 31, Guilfoyle met privately in Bucharest with senior Romanian Social Democratic officials. The discussion included the Vertical Gas Corridor and energy cooperation.
Weeks later, the Social Democrats joined the pro-russian AUR party in a no-confidence vote that brought down Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s government. Bolojan had resisted a proposed arrangement involving expensive U.S. gas imports.
So, according to Guilfoyle, Trump administration engineered the collapse of Romania’s government in a clear extortion attempt. And to do so, they have collaborated with a far left party - the communists as MAGA calls them.
Anyone who still has any illusion that MAGA is a “conservative movement” needs a serious reality check.
Simon Trommel retweeted
Binnenkort komen deze jongens en meisjes betogen tegen de Russische bommenregen op Oekraïne. Ja, toch? Helaas. Ik moet u teleurstellen. Ze komen betogen opdat Europa Oekraïne geen middelen meer geeft om zich daartegen te verdedigen. En alle bijkomende burgerslachtoffers die daarvoor zullen vallen in Kyiv, Charkiv en Odessa, vraagt u zich af? Ach... Daar malen deze jongens en meisjes niet om. Zij zijn immers lekker "voor vrede". Zo gaan ze nadien ook slapen. Zelfgenoegzaam. Vredevol. Terwijl Rusland nieuwe salvo's drones en raketten op de burgers van Oekraïne afvuurt, om van hun leven een levende hel te maken.
Nog 3 nachtjes slapen... komt allen naar De Dam, Amsterdam, aanstaande zondag 27 september om 13 uur!
Neem je buren, collega's, vrienden, (groot)ouders mee en: spread the word!
Zie onze eisen op: stopdeoorlogskoorts.nl
Simon Trommel retweeted
Peskov:
"Russia poses no threat to France or to any state in Europe. President Putin has repeatedly stated this. We have no disputes with any European states that could cause any serious disagreements.
Therefore, Russia presents no threat, Russia is not threatening anyone and is not blackmailing anyone."
Comment from me: I wonder if anyone still believes this bullsh*t after Peskov himself said Russia would not attack Ukraine just days before the full-scale invasion.