Russia’s hybrid threats,
Support for Ukraine’s defence,
and the developments in Syria,
On these and other pressing issues, European unity is essential.
Today in Berlin, I’m meeting several European foreign ministers to discuss the collective challenges we face.
Lithuanian athlete Körnelija Düdaitė was disqualified at the World Fitness Championship in Hungary for wearing a T-shirt saying "Make Russia small again." The whole Lithuanian team resigned with her in protest.
The championship, held in Budapest, featured a Russian team. Russians were supposed to be represented as neutral athletes but the announcer referred to them as Russians, and they wore T-shirts with their country's name.
In protest, Körnelija wore a t-shirt with the slogan "Make Russia small again."
"This t-shirt shows which country I support... First and foremost, I am a citizen, and only then an athlete," Düdaitė expressed her position.
The organizers demanded that she remove the t-shirt and delete all photos with it, claiming it offended Russians. Düdaitė refused, after which she was disqualified.
"They said my participation insults the Russians," she wrote. "I hope Ukraine wins and really insults them."
Later, Düdaitė's decision was supported by the national federation – all Lithuanian athletes (28 in total) withdrew from the competition.
Huge respect and gratitude to Körnelija Düdaitė for your position! Thank you, Lithuanian team, for standing up for your beliefs!
https://t.co/ZBV83Foz8k
If you say, "Putin, stop," Putin won't stop.
If you say, "Putin, we'll stop arming and helping Ukraine, and we'll forbid it to strike; Ukraine is now unarmed and not a threat to Russia," Putin won't stop.
Ukraine has never been a threat. My country is a peaceful country that is forced to defend the lives of our people, fight for freedom and life.
We have not to ask Putin to stop, but force him to stop.
Ukraine cannot be a shield and defense of Europe without people, cities and energy system. Fighting to the last Ukrainian is not our plan and not our desire.
The world's security architecture is broken. But it was not just Putin who broke it. It was also broken by those who did not stand up to defend it. Those who showed weakness, who chose not to oppose Putin, not to hinder him.
We need strong leaders and strong decisions. Otherwise everything will descend into chaos.
Russia is trying to make Kherson uninhabitable and wages a brutal campaign against civilians— striking vehicles, buses, and even pedestrians with indiscriminate attacks. The occupiers unashamedly say that "this is good practice for young drone operators to upgrade their skills and prepare for real combat operations."
This cruel "human safari" has led to many Kherson residents being too afraid to leave their homes, even for basic necessities, fearing they could become the next target. Many have fled the city.
Russia considers Kherson a "Russian" city. And yet, it is under Russian attacks every single day.
December 2017, exactly 7 years ago, Putin flew to Syria and stated:
"If the terrorists raise their heads again, we will strike them [from the Russian bases in Syria] in a way that they have not yet seen."
Today, the Russian army is evacuating from Tartus and Khmeimim and fleeing Syria.
‼️ The Constitutional Court of Romania has annulled the results of the 1st round of the Presidential election.
The judges ruled on this in an emergency session after reviewing the declassified intelligence documents that suggested a foreign manipulation campaign took place in the first round.
Now a new election date will have to be set.
Source: https://t.co/akJxzyIslq