Irena Taranyuk

BBC WS journalist, interested in all things Ukrainian (+ Russia, Poland, Europe), avid tango dancer.

[Mark Lowen @marklowen]

After a week of horror in #Belfast at the stabbing attack turned to violent riots, Northern Ireland’s other voice is being raised. Anti-racism protest underway in the city centre

[Lesia Vasylenko @lesiavasylenko]

#Ukraine sky by night. #russia launched yet another massive combined attack with drones and ballistic missiles. Not a single military target hit. The aim: destroy what is left of energy infrastructure. Result: people freezing in #Kyiv with no heat or power and -20C (-4F) outside

[Marko Mihkelson 🇪🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 @markomihkelson]

Great example of Ukrainian resilience.
https://t.co/iUS9yFMku9

[Daniel Szeligowski @dszeligowski]

The Russian Orthodox Church is (and has always been) an indispensable part of the Russian war machine

[Daniel Szeligowski @dszeligowski]

🌲 New Year's Eve reading: Defining Ukraine's Victory

How should Ukraine's success be defined amid ongoing peace talks and Russia's unwillingness to bring the war to an end?

https://t.co/sO662GMmcj

[Timothy Snyder @TimothyDSnyder]

This has never been done before by anyone.

[Liza Fokht @lizafokht]

If Witkoff and Kushner left Moscow with an understanding that Putin’s main focus is not on lucrative deals with the US, or pleasing Trump, or ending the war asap, the trip was not in vain. So far US policy has demonstrated they simply don’t understand that.

[Radu Hossu 🇹🇩🇺🇦 @RaduHossu]

The agreement on rare minerals between Ukraine and the USA has been signed. It is an agreement of net benefit to Ukraine compared to all previous iterations:

- Ukraine will have full ownership of the resources;

- The agreement only covers future exploration, exploitation and refining projects, not existing ones already in Ukraine's operation;

- Ukraine will decide what these will be;

- A fund (called the Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund for Reconstruction of Ukraine) will be set up in which Ukraine and the US have 50-50 participation without US veto power from the initial agreement projects;

- All Ukrainian companies that are responsible for energy resources remain 100% Ukrainian state-owned (Ukrnafta or Energoatom);

- It was agreed that Ukraine owes no financial debt for wartime economic aid to the US;

- The agreement is within the limits of Ukrainian law and in no way infringes on Ukraine's economic sovereignty, indeed Bessent stated that the US strongly supports Ukraine's accession to the European Union;

- It was agreed that the US will provide not only technological transfer for the development of the new projects, but also financial support on the basis of 50% of their value, but (ATTENTION!!!) also their protection, through anti-aircraft defense systems;

- Ukraine will also invest 50% from the state budget;

- ALL funds will be in the first years invested only in the reconstruction of Ukraine (over a period of 10 years);

----
I was skeptical that this would happen, but an extremely professional and incredibly well-sourced and connected lady told me two months ago thus: "Radu, trust me when I tell you, it will be good for Ukraine". It was hard for me to believe her. Madam, thank you for giving me hope.

Officially, if this agreement will be implemented, which I expect it will, it turns Ukraine into a strategic partner of the US. I can't help but think in these moments as I read this extraordinary news of that meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump in St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis, wherever you are, thank you.

[Olga Rudenko @olya_rudenko]

Can’t begin to explain how surreal it is to be sitting on the floor in the ~safest place of my apartment hearing an extremely loud Russian missile+drone attack — after having spent entire day discussing and editing coverage of the U.S. effectively demanding Ukraine’s surrender.

[Ostap Yarysh @OstapYarysh]

Jul 28, 2018, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: "Today, the Trump administration is releasing what we’re calling the Crimea Declaration. ... I want to assure this committee that the U.S. does not and will not recognize the Kremlin’s purported annexation of Crimea."

[NEXTA @nexta_tv]

⚡💪 A powerful speech from Poland’s Foreign Minister — who reminded Russians whose Vladivostok it really is

“You will never rule here again. Not in Kyiv, not in Riga, not in Tallinn, not in Chisinau,” said Radosław Sikorski, urging Russians to drop their sick fantasies about conquering Warsaw.

“Better ask yourselves if you can even hold on to Haishenwai,” he added — using the Chinese name for Vladivostok on purpose.

[Mark Lowen @marklowen]

Well this week has been quite an experience, detained by Turkish police while covering the anti-government protests and deported. Here’s my full story. Do take a read if you can - and thank you to everyone for kind messages and support: https://t.co/xFI2Cpdy4k

[Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum]

Please share this fact sheet about Ukraine with anyone who needs it

[Steve Rosenberg @BBCSteveR]

I asked Alexander Lukashenko: “How can you call this a democratic election when your main rivals are in prison or in exile?” Our report from Minsk. Producer @LizaShuvalova Camera @AntonChicherov

[Maria Avdeeva @maria_avdv]

Massive missile attack on Ukrainian cities right now. While Ukrainian strikes aim to cripple Russia’s war machine, the Kremlin keeps terrorizing civilians, emboldened by the lack of a decisive global response.

[Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum]

Forget the division of Left and Right. We are entering the age of the New Obscurantism: politics fused with magical solutions, superstition, an aura of spirituality and the cultivation of fear
https://t.co/nhIaZi9YwR

[Irena Taranyuk @irenatar]

Executing POWs is a war crime #RussiaUkraineWar As evidence mounts this violation of the rules of war and Geneva convention has become widespread and systemic, these stories rarely get the coverage they merit.

[Institute for the Study of War @TheStudyofWar]

Russian forces continue to execute Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) amid a surge of recent Russian war crimes.

The Russian State Duma is preparing the legal mechanisms to remove the Taliban from the Russian government’s official list of banned terrorist organizations.

[Steve Rosenberg @BBCSteveR]

I miss Valentina & her kiosk. I miss her positivity & warm-heartedness. Valentina has been undergoing cancer treatment. To cheer her up I turned the Valentina’s Kiosk theme into a song & the legendary @BBCSingers have recorded it for her. Here is Valentina’s Song. @BBCRadio3

[Timothy Garton Ash @fromTGA]

Putin’s answer to @Bundeskanzler’s telephone call…

[Garry Kasparov @Kasparov63]

The most important event in the world is happening every day in Ukraine. Dictatorships are uniting to destroy a democracy. It will define this generation, and it will also define the next if the free world doesn’t fight for Ukraine as much as Ukraine is fighting for them.