Joseph (Sjef) Peeraer

Entrepreneur turned tech investor. Cofounder of Positron Ventures, an early-stage deeptech VC.

[Kate from Kharkiv @BohuslavskaKate]

Hard to believe, but in March 2022 Pete Hegseth criticized the Biden administration for not "equipping and supplying Ukraine with what it needs" fast enough to "bog down and push back" Putin, who "wants the Soviet Union back, Ukraine back, and Kyiv back."

[Philip Obaji Jr. @PhilipObaji]

I came to Amsterdam with a goal: to tell Europe about Russian operations in Africa; how they are aimed at creating a migration crisis in Europe and undermine democracy in the EU. I came to ask for partnership with Africa to combat this. I am here for seriousness not complacency.

[Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand]

This is probably the most important article of the month: an op-ed by Oman's Foreign Minister, who mediated the talks between the U.S. and Iran, in which he writes that the U.S. "has lost control of its foreign policy" to Israel.

He repeats that a deal was possible as an outcome of the talks (something confirmed by the UK's National Security Advisor, who also attended: https://t.co/XkfSpkMjCf) and that the military strike by the U.S. and Israel was "a shock."

Interestingly, given he is one of Iran's neighbors and given that Oman has been struck multiple times by Iran since the war began (https://t.co/IXNdwD6f3j), he writes that "Iran’s retaliation against what it claims are American targets on the territory of its neighbours was an inevitable result" of the U.S.-Israeli attack. He describes it as "probably the only rational option available to the Iranian leadership."

He says the war "endangers" the region's entire "economic model in which global sport, tourism, aviation and technology were to play an important role." He adds that "if this had not been anticipated by the architects of this war, that was surely a grave miscalculation."

But, he adds, the "greatest miscalculation" of all for the U.S. "was allowing itself to be drawn into this war in the first place."

In his view this was the doing of "Israel’s leadership" who "persuaded America that Iran had been so weakened by sanctions, internal divisions and the American-Israeli bombings of its nuclear sites last June, that an unconditional surrender would swiftly follow the initial assault and the assassination of the supreme leader."

Obviously, this proved completely wrong, and the U.S. is now in a quagmire. He says that, given this, "America’s friends have a responsibility to tell the truth," which is that "there are two parties to this war who have nothing to gain from it," namely "Iran and America."

He says that all of the U.S. interests in the region (end to nuclear proliferation, secure energy supply chains, investment opportunities) are "best achieved with Iran at peace."

As he writes, "this is an uncomfortable truth to tell, because it involves indicating the extent to which America has lost control of its own foreign policy. But it must be told."

He then proposes a couple of paths to get back to the negotiating table, although he recognizes how difficult it would be for Iran "to return to dialogue with an administration that twice switched abruptly from talks to bombing and assassination."

That's perhaps the most profound damage Trump did during this entire episode: the complete discrediting of diplomacy. If Iran was taught anything, it is: don't negotiate with the U.S., it's a trap that will literally kill you.

The great irony of the man who sold himself as a dealmaker is that he taught the world one thing: don't make deals with my country.

Link to the article: https://t.co/FZxtqV3RC4

[Anton Gerashchenko @Gerashchenko_en]

"Narva People’s Republic"?

Russia launches an information campaign against Estonia.

Narva, Estonia, is separated from the Russian city of Ivangorod by just a bridge across the river. Since late February, social media and messaging platforms have reportedly seen the emergence of accounts and channels promoting the idea of separating Narva and the Ida-Viru region.

The content is presented in various formats - from memes and jokes to maps and symbols of a so-called "Narva People’s Republic." Under slogans such as "We are waiting for Russia," "Russians, we are not alone!", and "Russian land stretches from Narva to Püssi" (another town in northeastern Estonia), individuals in balaclavas are calling for armed struggle.

This is being done to create the appearance of mass support. In reality, most of these accounts are anonymous, with audiences of only around 50-70 followers. Nevertheless, such information drops create the impression that separatist ideas have real backing.

Similar tactics were used by Russia ahead of its armed aggression against Ukraine in 2014. At that time, ideas about creating "people’s republics" were actively circulated on social media. The outcome of that is well known.

The main goal of such actions is not immediate territorial separation, but the undermining of internal stability. This can increase distrust within society, provoke tensions, and create fertile ground for further manipulation.

In addition, this serves as a signal to external audiences. The portrayal of a "troubled region" can be used as a tool of pressure and as justification for potential future actions.

There are also indications that the timing of this campaign is not accidental, as global attention is currently focused on Iran. For now, the activity remains online. But when your neighbor is Russia, vigilance is always necessary.

[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project @OCCRP]

An impoverished Bulgarian “proxy", a convicted German far-right firearms trafficker, and a digital trail leading to the FSB. Read the full OCCRP investigation for an insight into how global disinformation works:
https://t.co/eiZO4hWmEW

[Nikki Haley HQ @NikkiHaleyHQ]

🚨NEW: Nikki Haley blasts Vladimir Putin

“Today, Putin rejected another plan. He doesn’t want peace. He wants Ukraine. It’s long past time for secondary sanctions against Russia.”

[Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla]

Yay!! I couldn’t be there but Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring just won gold at the APA podcast awards!!

Whole thing was crowdfunded by @allthecitizens to highlight 5-year legal case to get an investigation into Russian interference in UK politics. Power to the people!

[Garry Kasparov @Kasparov63]

Yes, I'm angry. We should all be angry. Ukrainians deserve no less for our collective inaction.

[Michael McFaul @McFaul]

In a normal U.S. administration, Steve Witkoff “would be fired immediately” for working on behalf of an American adversary, @anneapplebaum writes. But now the revelation that the aide helped Russia negotiate a favorable peace deal will go unpunished: https://t.co/f2BqMUCVgK

[Christo Grozev @christogrozev]

I happened to see an early version of the "peace plan" , about 6 months ago. It was a purely Russian concept and was nearly identical to what we see today (certainly the 50/50 Russian assets + EU investment in Ukraine reconstruction was there).
However two items are glaringly missing.
First, a proposal that US (investors) bail post-war Russia out of a pending cash- and investment-strapped recession, "like in the 90s". This was meant as an inducement for Trump (whether as a legitimate US sweetener or as one for friends and family, that wasn't explicit)
The second "offering" was a new Russia-US alliance against China. A lot of "Christian alliance" demagoguery was included under that item.
I am absolutely certain that this is a Russian, not a jointly developed, proposal. I also cannot imagine the Russians didn't include the 1st of the two extra items. I can see however how that wouldn't be part of the publicly leaked plan.
On item 2, can't be sure if Russia dared to include the anti China offer. Again, if it did, it wouldn't be public.
So all in all, it might be a 30-point plan after all.

[THE NERVE @thenerve_news]

NEW: Former Brexit MEP/Reform politician Nathan Gill is sentenced to ten and a half years at the Old Bailey on 8 counts of bribery by a Russian agent.
The "ultimate source" of the funds came from "a close friend of Vladimir Putin," said Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb.

[Kaja Kallas @kajakallas]

Moldova’s vote is a clear yes to a European future.

Despite Russia’s massive efforts to spread disinformation and buy votes, no force can stop a people committed to freedom.

We stand with Moldova on their path to the EU.

[Alexander Kokcharov @alex_kokcharov]

Hello @IgnatiusPost and @washingtonpost: there is nothing “dirty” about self-defence. Ukraine is defending itself against a far more militarily powerful aggressor. Striking military aircraft routinely used by Russia to bomb Ukrainian cities is a rational act of defence.

Criticise the aggressor, not the victim.

[Maria Drutska 🇺🇦 @maria_drutska]

“Ukraine itself gave Putin the ‘reason’ to go bomb the hell out of them last night. When I saw it (Operation ‘Spiderweb’), I said: here we go..,” – Trump.

NO❗️
Russia has been bombing us every damn day with drones, missiles, guided bombs. Yesterday, the explosions were so close I genuinely thought they’d find me under the windows of the 10th floor in my underwear, because half my bedroom might be gone.

NO❗️
It wasn’t our operation that triggered this.
The only “reason” Russia needs to strike Ukraine is that we exist.

And in their worldview, that alone is already unacceptable.

[Henri Bontenbal @HenriBontenbal]

In Spanje komt de discussie weer los over het openhouden van de bestaande kerncentrales. Spanje heeft er nog 5 draaien en de socialistische regering wil ze sluiten.

Het sluiten van goed draaiende kerncentrales is absurd, dom en onethisch.
https://t.co/FzM2yyPedD

[Francis Fukuyama @FukuyamaFrancis]

I want to double and triple underline this point: The United States is Appeasing Evil
https://t.co/WR9Dq2f6uO

[Klaas Meijer @klaasm67]

In 1653, the Dutch settlement Nieuw Amsterdam (New York) became a city. It was taken from us, but we would like to have it back. We have a lot to offer.�

[The Citizens @allthecitizens]

The wait is over.

Episodes 1 and 2 are out!
https://t.co/5n9tvT9qk8

[Aric Toler @AricToler]

New details are coming to light on three Bulgarian spies arrested in the UK working for Russia. Jan Marsalek (yes, the Wirecard guy) directed them to spy on @christogrozev, and even considered murdering him or kidnapping him and whisking him away to Moscow
https://t.co/LZk1nMDcRw

[Boyan Slat @BoyanSlat]

Falling obesity rates (thanks to weight loss drugs) after decades of failure are nothing short of a miracle and serve as a great case study of how progress can be made.

It’s high time we stop using “technofix” as a pejorative and start embracing it as a compliment.