Board Director at EBRD

@DutchMFA @Financien @EBRD since June 2024

[Board Director at EBRD @renevanhell]

Literature has a multifaceted impact on society, has the ability to provoke introspection, challenge societal norms, and foster empathy. It’s fitting that @EBRD has a Literature Prize: we promote innovation, democracy and like to see people’s lives improved This year’s finalists:

[Auschwitz Memorial @AuschwitzMuseum]

18 October 1940 | Dutch Jewish girl, Greetje Leger, was born in Amsterdam.

She was deported to #Auschwitz from #Westerbork in February 1944. She was murdered in a gas chamber after arrival selection.

[The EBRD @EBRD]

What does a day in the life of the EBRD President look like? What is her early morning routine, how does she stay calm under pressure, and what keeps her up at night?

We spent a day behind the scenes with @OdileRenaud to see what it takes to lead the @EBRD.

[Sjoerd Sjoerdsma @ministerBHOS]

Met with @EBRD President @odilerenaud to discuss support for Ukraine and strong democratic institutions. The Netherlands is contributing €79m to the Crisis Response Special Fund in 2026, helping rebuild Ukraine and create opportunities for Dutch businesses.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Overnight, the Russians used 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones and loitering munitions against our energy and critical infrastructure in Kyiv, the Kyiv region, and Kharkiv. A targeted Russian ballistic missile strike specifically against energy infrastructure – the very infrastructure covered by the ceasefire announced by the American President. The strike was entirely deliberate and demonstrative in its scale – Russia has never before shown such ostentatious disrespect toward the United States. Russia does not consider the American President’s statements strong. Unfortunately, at least 600,000 people are now without power. Outages could become even more widespread. Unfortunately, there is significant damage to facilities and equipment – at 26 facilities of our power system and four facilities in the oil and gas sector. I am grateful to the repair crews, all Ukrainian energy workers, and the personnel of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine for all their efforts to address the aftermath of this Russian strike. Tragically, there have been fatalities and injuries.

We ask America and EVERYONE in the world who does not turn a blind eye to reality to respond – and to respond forcefully. Russia has squandered the opportunity for de-escalation and has clearly chosen to continue its insane war of annihilation. We ask President Trump to impose STRONG sanctions on Russia, especially since the Lindsey Graham bill, which was recently passed and signed into law, authorizes and regulates such measures. The American President has all the effective and necessary tools to bring peace closer through strength, justice, and pressure on the aggressor. We ask for additional packages of Patriot missile interceptors for Ukraine. It is entirely fair for us to tell the United States, Europe, and all our partners that no country in the world should be left alone to face such a deranged and pro-war actor as Russia. I am grateful to everyone who helps Ukraine! Peace can only come through strength, and we ask America to remember this principle of Reagan’s. Glory to Ukraine!

[Thomas L. Friedman @tomfriedman]

Two Arab Fighters for Democracy Have Lessons for America
https://t.co/5Q3yvI1Ds7

[The Nobel Prize @NobelPrize]

BREAKING NEWS
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2026 #NobelPeacePrize to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law.

#NobelPrize

[Ed Miliband @Ed_Miliband]

The UK stands with the International Criminal Court and we stand united with our partners in strongly disagreeing with sanctions imposed on the Court.

The ICC must be permitted to continue its critical work holding perpetrators of the most horrific international crimes to account.

[Board Director at EBRD @renevanhell]

The Putin Tax totals at least GBP 2 - 2.5 bn annually in Britain

[Financial Times @FT]

Russian hostile activity costs UK up to £2.5bn a year, report warns https://t.co/uWI2qMFQyB

[GeenStijl @geenstijl]

Joodse kookboekenschrijver Jigal Krant 'tot bloedens toe belaagd, geschopt en geslagen' door 'Hamas-mob' in Utrecht https://t.co/yfq5sHI566

[Garry Kasparov @Kasparov63]

I didn't see the depths to which how much of Western far-leftism is simply anti-Americanism until I saw them defending Putin's fascist Russia with the same vigor as they defended the Communist Soviet Union.

[Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius @DefensieMin]

De lafhartige Russische terreur gaat onverminderd door. Een massale luchtaanval met wrange cijfers: 19 doden, waaronder 4 kinderen.

Wij blijven de Oekraïense luchtverdediging steunen. Onder meer met munitie voor Oekraïense F-16’s. 🇳🇱🇺🇦

https://t.co/Huuk8MsYQF

[Maia Sandu @sandumaiamd]

Night after night, Russia terrorises Ukraine, killing civilians and keeping millions awake in fear. My heart goes out to all Ukrainians living through this.

I urge all partners to step up now: more air defence for Ukraine, more pressure on Moscow.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Overall, 25 people were killed in this massive Russian strike on Ukraine. One hundred people were injured. It was a combined attack, involving many ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as “shaheds.” This is the kind of “gift” Putin gave himself for his birthday.

Ukrainian warriors shot down 44 missiles – both cruise and ballistic. Not all of those launched by Russia, and ballistic missiles are especially difficult to deal with. We suppressed 117 “shaheds” – most of those launched, but unfortunately, not all of them either.

Additional packages of air defense missiles are needed, as are additional measures to support Ukraine. And there will be appropriate packages. The threat is there every day, and every day, our air defense batteries need to have missiles ready. We strongly count on prompt deliveries from our partners.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

We’ve got updated intel on Russia’s preparations for a massive strike. I ask you, please, to take care of yourselves and respond to missile threat alerts. Ukrainian services and our Air Force are ready to respond – as much as our defenses allow. And a lot depends on our partners – every country in the world that has the defensive capabilities we need and can provide them to us. It’s very important that there be the political will to do this – particularly in the United States and in Europe.

[Rob Jetten @MinPres]

Vandaag is het drie jaar geleden dat bijna 1200 onschuldige mensen om het leven kwamen door een afschuwelijke terreurdaad van Hamas. Meer dan 250 anderen werden gegijzeld. Allemaal gewone Israëliërs, die op een festival, in hun eigen huis, op straat of waar dan ook werden overvallen door onvoorstelbaar geweld.  

De regio destabiliseerde in een spiraal van conflict en ellende. Tienduizenden onschuldige Palestijnen zijn sinds de Hamas-aanval gedood door het Israëlische leger. Tot de dag van vandaag zijn de gevolgen van al het geweld diep voelbaar.

Het zijn schrikbarende, uitzichtloze cijfers. Want er is geen enkel doel dat dit geweld rechtvaardigt, maar vooral geen enkel leed dat hiermee wordt verlicht. Dat weten alle rouwende families, zowel Israëlische als Palestijnse. Zij leven in angst en onveiligheid. Ik wens hen vrede toe. In hun land en in hun hart.

[Eitan Fischberger @EFischberger]

Breaking: Poland’s Embassy in Washington has issued a blistering rebuke of Tucker Carlson, accusing him of insulting the hundreds of thousands of American soldiers killed or wounded fighting Nazi Germany.

“You have now become an apologist for Adolf Hitler,” the letter says.

[Rob Jetten @MinPres]

De Russische agressie richting Oekraïne escaleert steeds verder. Dat zagen we dit weekend opnieuw met onder meer luchtaanvallen op Kyiv. Rusland bestookt bewust burgerdoelen en energie-infrastructuur en wil Oekraïense steden onleefbaar maken en de economie breken deze winter. Dat mogen we niet laten gebeuren.

President @ZelenskyyUa en ik spraken elkaar over de laatste ontwikkelingen in de oorlog. Een verdere versterking van de Oekraïense luchtverdediging is letterlijk van levensbelang. Zo heeft Oekraïne meer onderhoud, onderdelen en munitie nodig voor hun F-16-vloot. Ik heb toegezegd dat Nederland Oekraïne hiermee gaat helpen.

Nederland blijft samen met onze internationale partners de steun voor Oekraïne onverminderd doorzetten. Ook houden we provocaties vanuit Rusland richting andere landen nauwlettend in de gaten.

[Embassy of the Netherlands in Ukraine @NLinUkraine]

Embassy of 🇳🇱 in 🇺🇦 joins the following statement:

Heads of Mission in Kyiv take note with concern of the Russian MFA's threat against diplomats and foreign citizens in Ukraine.

Russia is bound by the Vienna Convention and international humanitarian law.

We stay in Kyiv 🇺🇦

[Emmanuel Macron @EmmanuelMacron]

Je viens d'échanger avec le Président @ZelenskyyUa pour lui redire la solidarité et le plein soutien de la France pour se défendre face à la guerre d’agression de la Russie.

Alors que la Russie est dans l’impasse sur le front, elle refuse obstinément tous les appels au cessez-le-feu et fait le choix irresponsable d'intensifier ses frappes contre les infrastructures et les objectifs civils, en violation des principes les plus fondamentaux du droit international humanitaire.

La France et l’Europe continueront de prendre leurs responsabilités pour soutenir l'Ukraine et rechercher tous les espaces pour épargner les civils, obtenir une réduction des hostilités et faire progresser l'idée d'une paix juste et durable, dans le respect des droits de l'Ukraine et pour renforcer la sécurité sur notre continent.

Avec le Président Zelensky, nous avons fait un point global sur le soutien concret que nous pouvons apporter pour aider l’Ukraine à intercepter les drones et faire échec à l'agression de la Russie.

Nous ne cèderons ni aux intimidations, ni à l'escalade de la Russie qui ne doit pas se méprendre : le temps joue contre elle.

[Katarina Mathernova 🇪🇺 @kmathernova]

Russia has a message for foreign diplomats in Kyiv: leave, or risk your lives.

Our answer: We are staying.

The EU Delegation is staying.

Threatening us will not stop Europe’s support for Ukraine. It only reminds us why that support matters!

🇪🇺🤝🇺🇦
@EUDelegationUA