Writing on NATO, Ukraine, the OSCE, and the Balkans from Capitol Hill. Senior Policy Advisor @HelsinkiComm. Dachshund dad. All views expressed are my own.
The World Cup begins tomorrow, and many will watch the matches. Soccer reminds us of something we must not forget: life is not a race to show off on our own, but a path we learn to walk together. Anyone who does not know how to pass the ball, even if they have talent, has not yet understood the game. Anyone who does not know how to live with and for others has not yet understood life. #ApostolicJourney
Russia is losing on the battlefield and in the Black Sea. Its economy is in tatters. All it can do is bomb Ukrainian cities and civilians. This is why we must pass Russian sanctions and military aid to Ukraine. The House will vote on this in two weeks.
It was a pleasure meeting with CRTA in Belgrade on behalf of the @HelsinkiComm and hearing their important work supporting democratic accountability and electoral integrity in Serbia.
Free and fair elections, independent media regulation, and public trust in voter rolls are foundational to democratic resilience. Progress on implementing OSCE/ODIHR recommendations prior to elections, particularly reforms related to REM and the voter list are critical for strengthening democratic institutions and public confidence.
Thank you for the thoughtful discussion.
@CRTArs
Two years ago, I stepped off a train in Przemyśl with Secretary Blinken after 10 days in Kyiv and the surrounding area.
At the time, Congress had recently passed a Ukraine supplemental and the United States was still firmly on the right side of history.
A lot has changed in two years.
But one thing is clearer than ever: Ukraine is not a burden on the free world. It is one of its strongest defenders. It has stood in the breach against the idea that borders can be changed by force.
Today I’m thinking about the people I met there, and the extraordinary resilience of a country that has sacrificed so much to remain free.
#StandWithUkraine
The greatest threat to the transatlantic community are not its external enemies, but the ongoing disintegration of our alliance. We must all do what it takes to reverse this disastrous trend.
A severe situation is unfolding in Tuapse, Russia, following a second large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on oil infrastructure.
Footage indicates suppression efforts at the Tuapse Oil Refinery have failed, with widespread fires and repeated explosions reported.
Burning crude is spreading into nearby residential areas, and local water supplies are believed to be contaminated.
The GRU case out of Lithuania is a reminder that Russia’s war against Europe does not stop at Ukraine’s borders. Sabotage, assassination plots, and intimidation inside allied states are part of the same campaign.
https://t.co/N8dxDCwsxt
At our @HelsinkiComm hearing, @SenWhitehouse says he is “sick” that some media in the US have bought into the narrative that Russia is winning. “When you lose 35 thousand soldiers to the meat grinder every month, you are not winning”. Says Ukraine is winning; Russia is losing
A decade after starting on the Hill, I’m back in Congress as a Senior Policy Advisor at the @HelsinkiComm , covering OSCE-wide political-military affairs and the Balkans portfolio. Sitting in today’s hearing on Iran’s support for Russia, it’s hitting me. Honored to be here, and looking forward to sharing more of my foreign policy perspective in this role.
Major Alex Klinner has been named by his family as the 2nd of 6 US service members killed in Thursday’s refueling operation to support the US war against Iran. He leaves behind a wife and three children. (Photos from GoFundMe set up to support the family https://t.co/slqBezpmqX)
We just rescued Lily Ann, a senior dachshund, and found out she needs emergency dental surgery. We weren’t prepared for the cost, but we’re doing everything we can. If you’re able to chip in or share, we’d be grateful.
https://t.co/oKF0KCUW5f
#dachshund#dogsoftwitter#rescuedog