John Richard Cookson

Dispatches editor and AC Intel anchor @AtlanticCouncil | “I'm an optimist who worries a lot.” - Madeleine Albright

[Atlantic Council @AtlanticCouncil]

WATCH | Is Russia’s war in Ukraine finally turning decisively in favor of the Ukrainians?

From Kyiv, @ACEurasia’s @JohnEdHerbst unpacks new developments in the conflict.

[John Richard Cookson @JRCookson]

Pete Yorn and the 25th anniversary of Musicforthemorningafter.

[Andrew D'Anieri @andrew_danieri]

.@AtlanticCouncil's @AmbDanFried in @politico today 👇

Trump loves winners and Putin increasingly looks like a loser.

[Atlantic Council @AtlanticCouncil]

Amid Russia’s recent attacks, realities on the ground reveal “a Ukraine growing in strength and confidence and a Russia increasingly on the back foot,” write @ACEurasia’s @JohnEdHerbst and @shelbyjmag.

Read more ⤵️
https://t.co/HGnNygI6BV

[Daniel Fried @AmbDanFried]

.@JohnEdHerbst & @shelbyjmag report how Ukrainians are fighting and determined as Russia attacks civilians.

https://t.co/2Hw0kLoTPL

[John Richard Cookson @JRCookson]

Worth reading the full thread: 🇺🇦

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Open Letter
To the President of the Russian Federation
From the President of Ukraine

When you came to power in Russia more than 26 years ago, many people in Ukraine viewed you positively. That is how it was. But that is now in the past.
Now, the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians view it positively that our long-range drones paid a visit to the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg, covering a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers. As you know very well, that distance is not the limit of our capabilities.

[Rana Foroohar @RanaForoohar]

I'm so excited to launch "Sea Change: America's New Great Game in the Arctic," to be published by @crownpublishing on October 6th. If you've ever wondered what it might be like to cruise the High North on an icebreaker, or what the new world order will look like, read this book!"

[Urban Ahlin, Ambassador of Sweden to USA @SwedeninUSA]

“Sweden and Finland have actually contributed [to NATO] because they brought their own defense industry, their own advanced technologies.

So they've been a great partner. They've been an extraordinary partner.”

- 🇺🇸 @SecRubio during yesterday’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing

#AlliedSecurityProvider

[The Wall Street Journal @WSJ]

From @WSJopinion: The American work ethic has gone out of style. One in 3 working-age American men aren’t so much as looking for a job, writes @jasonrileywsj.
https://t.co/LhtjjdyGWI

[Atlantic Council @AtlanticCouncil]

📅 June 17 | 🕞 3:30 p.m. ET

Join @ACScowcroft's Transatlantic Security Initiative for an #ACFrontPage with @SenatorShaheen and @SenThomTillis to discuss the upcoming @NATO Summit in #Ankara.

Register today ➡️ https://t.co/HbBnE1Pv89

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Our long-range sanctions carried out by the warriors of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine have yielded good results. Important facilities on Russian territory were hit last night.

Among them was the Petersburg Oil Terminal. The distance from Ukraine’s state border to this facility of Russia’s oil industry, which serves the war, is about 1,100 kilometers. Purely military targets at the Kronstadt base were also hit.

Another target was an enterprise in the Tambov region involved in the production of Russian weapons. The distance from the frontline is almost 600 kilometers.

I thank our warriors for their precision. Ukraine’s plan for long-range sanctions is being implemented exactly as needed to bring peace closer. Glory to Ukraine!

[John Richard Cookson @JRCookson]

“The students who cannot read a 20-page article today are the voters who will not be able to read a bill, or the jurors who cannot follow a closing argument, tomorrow.” https://t.co/Msri1YbnDi

[John Richard Cookson @JRCookson]

🏒💪Z

[Columbus Blue Jackets @BlueJacketsNHL]

THE BEST DMAN IN THE NHL! 💥

Zach Werenski's taking home the Norris Trophy!

[Atlantic Council @AtlanticCouncil]

How should the US position itself in the world following the Iran war?

Should the US “pivot” away from the Middle East toward the Indo-Pacific?

Three of our leading experts @MatthewKroenig, @Mister_G_2, and Beth Sanner share their insights:
https://t.co/Zx18oREBhS

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Today has been a difficult day in Ukraine after a massive Russian strike. There were many ballistic missiles and drones. Now air-raid alerts are active across various regions too. And once again, we are facing aerial threats. Just today, Russian strikes have taken 22 lives in Kyiv and Dnipro, including children. We are doing everything to protect our people, our cities, and our communities. And we are grateful to those who are helping us. Ukraine is grateful to Italy. We deeply value that you care, that you want peace for us, and see the defense of Kyiv’s independence and freedom as your cause. Together, we will certainly achieve this.

I congratulate Italy, President Mattarella @Quirinale, President of the Council of Ministers @GiorgiaMeloni, and all Italian people on the 80th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic. Freedom is an achievement that must be defended every day.

Thank you, Italy! Buona Festa della Repubblica!

[Atlantic Council @AtlanticCouncil]

🗓️ June 9-10 | 📍 Washington DC

We are one week away from the @AtlanticCouncil Global Energy Forum!

Join us in Washington as we celebrate the Forum’s 10th anniversary and chart the course for continued innovation, collaboration, and leadership in the global energy transition.

Check out the full agenda ➡️ https://t.co/eI51vjHBmt

[Atlantic Council @AtlanticCouncil]

.@UnderSecE’s @jacobhelberg tells @FredKempe there are three big conditions to winning the AI race:

🔴 We need the world’s most advanced innovation
🔴 We need to have the world’s most market share
🔴 We need to secure our supply chains

[Eamon Javers @EamonJavers]

I spoke to President Trump on the phone last hour about the end of negotiations with the Iranians. He told me: “I don’t care if they’re over, honestly. I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less. If they’re over, they’re over. If they’re not, you know, I think they took too much time. Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring.”

https://t.co/Erp6SKZ2Tx

[The Wall Street Journal @WSJ]

The actor gives a distinguished, surprising performance as the jealous general in Simon Godwin’s superb production at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington. https://t.co/SoMHBb0O7X

[Victoria J. Taylor @VictoriaT_]

Here's a short wrap-up video of the 2026 Iraq Dialogue. Lots of amazing insights from our distinguished panelists and a great opportunity to network with old and new friends. We can't wait to do it again next year.