Flip van Haaren

Please tell me you have a plan, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu . We cant completely ignore these signs and hoping it will turn out alright.

Russia launched a mass overnight strike on Ukraine, targeting rail and energy. Kharkiv: 4 killed after a missile hit an apartment building. Ukrzaliznytsia rerouted trains in Rivne, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr. Kalibrs targeted Dniester HPP; ballistics mostly at Kyiv, but Kharkiv hit hardest.

Terrorist Hungary has kidnapped seven Ukrainians in a standard bank convoy transporting $85 million in gold and cash from Austria to Ukraine. The Hungarians are holding Ukraine and the money hostage.

Why the hell is Hungary still part of the EU or NATO?

🤣 Good times.

😂😆. Religion = Fake news. It should have no place in politics.

such as structure - in turbulent times - could even be a unique selling point.

That fish is too big already. A joint venture where IP is somehow shared and with one part in Europe another in US and perhaps one in Japan for example, that could work. Though will be quite challenging in legal terms as well as in convincing these companies while they're focused on speed.

When making such a hefty statement, might as well post the evidence we have so for to back this up a little bit @sethabramson.bsky.social? It would be pretty wild for Israel even to do this.

Je kunt geopolitiek negeren.., t negeert ons niet. Leiderschap is meer dan luisteren. tis ook uitleggen dat het volstorten niet alleen kostbaar is, maar ook uitnodiging kan zijn NL/EU te chanteren en zelfs verleidend werkt om andere energie-infra te saboteren. Rusland/China/VS zijn nog niet klaar

"Weirdly, Iranian embassy in Pretoria notified us, Ukrainian diplomats, about opening a book of condolences in memory of ayatollah Khamenei and the military leadership of Iran.

I decided to respond - and do it in a public way. The letter explains why." 👇 (Olexander Sherba)

Maybe we should reset this thread. I applaud both the initiative and healthy scepticism 😆.

This mirrors my thinking, which has been going back and forth between scenarios of catastrophic success, catastrophic failure and Trump's dumb luck since Saturday morning.

Thnks. but I fear Europe at large is more dependent on Gulf directly or indirectly?

Voor. Maar gaat TNO ook in op NIMBY in het kader van het opschalen van duurzame energiesystemen en de veranderende positie van China, welke zich voorbereidt op een oorlog met Taiwan en alvast bezig is met afknijpen van (on)verwerkte grondstoffen? Maw, is er een industriebeleid voor deze visie?

I agree our position isn't particularly strong but imo it doesn't have to be as weak as you are suggesting either. But the reality is more close to what you are saying indeed, I fear.

😅. Long term logic is quickly turning into crisis logic, often we are better at that.

To put it simple, do Europeans get anything in return for helping out? I don't see UAE or Bahrein or Saudi helping Ukraine. And US also not anymore. Will that change? Also Europe should make US send their promised Def shipment to Taiwan, to prevent even more war.

It also happens here. Stop comparing wars, its futile and makes us all dumber. Instead, focus on how we can do something about them.

I sure hope this costs Trump something and they have it in writing.. bsky.app/profile/ship...

As we are basically sidelined by our own neglect, I think more people should discuss a way to fix that and not discuss Trump endlessly.

Its a shame we cannot wield solid geopolitical power. Things might have been different. We can't talk China out of supporting Russia or Iran, and we can't inserts ourselves into the negotiations with a military force to back it up.

🫤🤦. All EU leaders still need their crash course on how to wield power in int. relations?

Only those not participating wanted a deal. Which should be a bigger story because 2026 is only getting started

I think its safe to say nobody in the negotiations wanted a deal

Indeed. And it will affect everyone and everything. Progressive Europe and likeminded nations have the most to lose in this world. Big trade deals by Von der Leyen are not going to cut it. EU or a coalition need a sweeping diplomatic and military power consolidation to survive 2026 and beyond.

Taiwan Arms Sale Approved by Congress Is Delayed as Trump Plans Visit to Beijing

You might have missed this with all the other news happening, but it is Trump giving the Chinese government a massive win and further degrading the value of the US as an ally. This should be a major story. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/u...

The Belgians are slowly derussifying:
"Without his shadow fleet Poetin can’t wage war against innocent Ukranians. So we take these vessels out. One by one. Till his war of agression stops.
Belgium maybe a small country. But we are founding father of NATO and the EU..." Theo Francken, MFA

Thnks. I am no expert but can't fathom having sectarian fights so close is good for business. And not so easily done cause of the diff iran being more monolithic. I think they hope for a 'Delcy Rodriguez' to talk business without having a plan B

So your original reply was sarcastic? Sorry I am confused haha

I find this a bit farfetched. And isn't there a much bigger chance for Iran not to become a failed state compared to for example Iraq?