Ivan Botoucharov MCIM (Иван Ботушаров)

Chief of Staff to @ReinholdLopatka (@EPPGroup), Head of the Austrian EPP Delegation 🇦🇹🇪🇺 Working on @EP_ForeignAff , @EP_HumanRights & @EP_Development

[Ivan Botoucharov MCIM (Иван Ботушаров) @TheEuropeist]

Congratulations to @vonderleyen on her candidacy for @EU_Commission President - supported by the delegates at today’s @EPP Congress.

Looking forward to the campaign and debates for the future of #Europe over the next weeks 🇪🇺

[Olena Rohoza @OlenaRohoza]

Garry Kasparov: The Army That Enters Ukraine Will Not Return to Russia

Putin will use any ceasefire in Ukraine to prepare for an invasion of NATO countries.

Russia is preparing for war. The goal of such an attack, according to Kasparov, would be to demonstrate that NATO no longer exists as an effective alliance. The statement was made by one of the leaders of the Russian opposition, Garry Kasparov, during an interview on the YouTube channel Forum of Free Russia.

> “I don't know how much it would affect the overall geopolitical situation, but for Putin it could become the achievement he currently lacks,” the politician said. “NATO is gone. It doesn't work. We crossed the border, and they're over there doing something.”

> “The Americans are not really in the game here, so I would consider this scenario very likely. And this isn't just my opinion. It's what everyone is talking about—if not publicly, then at least behind the scenes at conferences. It has long ceased to be a theoretical threat. It is now a threat that must be taken into account in practical terms.”

Russia is actively expanding its military infrastructure along NATO's borders. This is evidenced by satellite imagery showing the construction of new military bases, weapons depots, and the deployment of large quantities of military equipment. After the war in Ukraine, Russia reportedly plans to station 115,000 troops near NATO borders.

Analysts identify several regions where these forces could be concentrated. According to expert assessments, the number of Russian ground troops near Finland's border could increase to 80,000 personnel. Within a matter of weeks, Russia could transfer hundreds of thousands more troops from other parts of the country to its western frontiers.

Another major concern is military reform. Instead of relying on small combat groups, Russia is creating large divisions of up to 10,000 troops and is actively studying lessons from the war in Ukraine, including the mass use of drones.

> “We've been saying this many times, and you don't have to be a great researcher to understand one simple fact: the army that leaves Ukraine will not return to Russia,” Kasparov said. “That means any ceasefire in Ukraine, if one becomes possible, does not mean Russia will transition to a peaceful footing.”

> “Maybe I've missed something. Maybe I need new glasses or even a microscope to find any sign that Putin's Russia is preparing for peaceful life. Everything happening—in finance, the economy, propaganda, and education—is geared toward war, and specifically a long-term war. And that war is not against Ukraine. It is a war against the free world.”

[UK Mission to the EU 🇬🇧🇪🇺 @UKMisBrussels]

UK PM @Keir_Starmer and @eucopresident have just announced that the second UK-EU summit will be held on 22 July.

[BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking]

Russia was behind arson attacks targeting UK PM Keir Starmer, BBC reveals
https://t.co/xTQuLCVNDa

[Ivan Botoucharov MCIM (Иван Ботушаров) @TheEuropeist]

Strasbourg, a stunning city with great symbolism for European unity♥️

[EPP Group @EPPGroup]

„Today, the Swiss people have voted against the "No to a Switzerland of 10 million" initiative.

The outcome of this democratic vote must be respected. The European Union and Switzerland remain close partners, linked by deep economic ties, shared interests and strong people-to-people contacts.

I welcome the continued commitment to maintaining and developing this close relationship. I am confident that both sides will continue to engage constructively and pragmatically in order to preserve and further develop this important partnership”, says @ReinholdLopatka.

[Other Europe 🇪🇺 @other_europe]

🇪🇺 Montenegro 2028 🇲🇪

As the Western Balkans edge closer to integration, we’ve launched a premium, high-res minimalist poster tracking Podgorica’s targeted accession milestone!

👇 Get your copy here: https://t.co/0lHs3GdWMa

[António Costa @eucopresident]

Today, the European Union took a major step forward.

All member states agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova.

At the first intergovernmental conference on Monday, we will open the cluster on fundamentals; the backbone of the accession process.

It covers the core values and principles on which the EU is built, from the rule of law to strong democratic institutions.

This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges.

And a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable.

Enlargement is a strategic choice.

By bringing our nations closer together, we strengthen peace, security and prosperity across our continent.

In a world marked by growing uncertainty, a larger European Union is in our common interest.

Enlargement remains one of the EU’s greatest success stories and our best investment in our shared future.

[Alex Taylor @AlexTaylorNews]

Massive victory for the pro-EU party in Armenia's elections, with more than double the votes (54%) than the pro-Russia Alliance (23%) - and this despite Moscow's huge disinformation and interference

Yet another country that clearly sees its destiny in the EU 💪🇦🇲🇪🇺

[Elisa Mosini 🇪🇺🇮🇹 @MosiniElisa]

Pope Leo XIV in Madrid: “I encourage you to nurture the process of European Union, which is not merely a counterweight to other powers, but a gift to humanity.”

Wonderful.
A powerful reminder of how beautiful and hopeful the European project truly is.

🇪🇺🇪🇸

[Ivan Botoucharov MCIM (Иван Ботушаров) @TheEuropeist]

A master diplomat with a fire backhand tennis 🎾 🇺🇦☀️

[Qwant @Qwant_FR]

🇪🇺 Qwant is now the default search engine of the European Parliament 🇪🇺

We have been informed that our search engine, Qwant, will be configured as the default search engine on the European Parliament's internal computers, including searches performed from the address bar of Firefox and Edge browsers, starting today, Thursday June 4, 2026.

We welcome this news as confirmation of the relevance of an industrial project we have been committed to for several years: building, in Europe, a search alternative aligned with the rights, interests and values of European users.

This choice is an important recognition and a simple, clear message sent to businesses and institutions alike: Switch to Europe. Digital sovereignty is no longer a vague concept, it is a concrete criterion in the technological choices of individuals and organizations of all sizes.

This is also an additional responsibility for Qwant and its teams - to prove that a European, sovereign, credible and trustworthy path is possible.

Switch to Europe. Now.

[Eddy Wax ✍️ @EddyWax]

Why is Tanzania getting €156 million from the EU, when its own parliament is outraged about the human rights violations happening under the government there? MEPs have had enough and are asking teh Commission - again – to rethink. Our story. https://t.co/gmVpDKQibF

[Ivan Botoucharov MCIM (Иван Ботушаров) @TheEuropeist]

Happy National Day, Italy! 😊☀️

[European Commission @EU_Commission]

Corruption undermines our democracies and the security of our societies.

Our new and more harmonised anti-corruption rules are now in effect across the EU and will help better prevent, detect and sanction corruption.

🔗https://t.co/paHLzEX8jC

[Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex]

Deep inner suffering inevitably arises when the human person is reduced to performance, consumption, or a statistical datum. Many young people today live under the yoke of expectations to perform, immersed in an exasperated competitiveness that generates anxiety, fear of not measuring up, and disorientation.

[Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex]

However, when we discover that our life has value, that we are loved, awaited, and called to carry out a task in the world, then hope is born. This spiritual force sustains life, even in the most difficult moments.

[Donald Tusk @donaldtusk]

Poland, Baltic states, now Romania. More and more Russian provocations. Yesterday the former president @MedvedevRussiaE said that the peaceful sleep of the EU citizens is over. Everyone in NATO should finally start taking these facts and words seriously.

[Mariska den Eelden 🇪🇺🇳🇱 @eeldenden]

Dutch land forces have fully integrated into the German Army and are about to be deployed to the Baltics. Military integration is the way for Europe as a whole; embedded within a more federal Union 🇪🇺

[NATO @NATO]

NATO and Serbia completed their first joint military exercise 🤝

A milestone in NATO-Serbia cooperation, the exercise brought together troops from 🇷🇸🇮🇹🇷🇴🇹🇷🇫🇷🇩🇪🇲🇪🇬🇧🇺🇸 to train for peace support operations ↓ https://t.co/8wIyVvKWjE

[Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex]

#AI can be a valuable tool and, at the same time, it calls for a measured and vigilant approach. The speed and simplicity with which practical assistance can be accessed undoubtedly makes life easier. Yet they can also encourage excessive reliance and the search for ready-made answers, and weaken personal creativity and judgment. #MagnificaHumanitas