We arrived in Bilopillia and immediately watched the skies for drones.
Artillery punctured the silence.
Then we got her out.
Our report with the White Angels on evacuations from Sumy’s border region, as 🇷🇺 forces continue their push south from Kursk.
#Ukraine #WarReporting #Sumy #Bilopillia #journalism
German defence minister Boris Pistorius assured me that there IS political will to act in the event of conflict - but nothing more substantial. “NATO is committed.”
Exercises emphasise rapid reaction. They can only react as fast as leaders allow them.
Incidentally we’re at @NATO military exercises in Germany today for Steadfast Dart - the largest of the year. 11 countries. 10k+ troops (no US btw…) - and the emphasis is on rapid response, tripwire forces and swift reinforcement. Very clearly trying to show defence is robust
Per @POLITICOEurope: #European Commission Executive Vice President Raffaele Fitto is today set to unveil the EU’s plan to help areas that border #Russia, #Belarus and #Ukraine and are suffering economically because of the war.
People there told us in December everything feels “normal.” These are not large communities for the most part.
It’s not clear why lack of investment will help Europe defend its borders - and Europe/NATO talk very specifically about the triggers for any conflict at the border
2/2 The other thing is that these borders aren’t defended especially well. In Lithuania traffic crawls between it and Belarus, while trains still come from Kaliningrad carrying Russians to St Petersburg.
https://t.co/JnWooelLLN
1/2 Not everywhere seems to be suffering - in Terespol on Poland’s border with Belarus, the main concern seemed to be EU sanctions on Russia
https://t.co/AkiXJ24rSD
Appeal was successful - judge said ban “interfered with freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.” Police HAVE NOT made arrests - even though ban remains in place pending government challenge to ruling
Greenland FM Vivian Motzfeldt: Greenland’s future is for Greenlanders to decide. In talks with NATO, Greenland/Denmark stressed sovereignty & territorial integrity. Rutte conveyed the message to Trump but no deal can be made about Greenland without Naalakkersuisut.
https://t.co/mhPLxiy75b
PM Frederiksen: ”Just arrived in Nuuk. Happy to be back in Greenland. Looking forward to continue the close collaboration - also in the preparations of the joint diplomatic efforts. Thank you for the warm welcome, Jens Frederik.” 🇬🇱
Almost a year to the day since I was last here, I’m back in beautiful #Greenland.
#Trump may have climbed down on threats for now but there’s still uncertainty in the air here about the future.
From a Ukrainian friend:
"This could lay the foundation for building a completely new life for a million men and women and a new economy itself."
#ukraine