Mercedes Sapuppo

Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians cast shadow over peace talks Russia's Palm Sunday ballistic missile strike on Sumy was the latest in a series of attacks on Ukrainian cities that have killed dozens of civilians and cast a long shadow over Donald Trump's efforts ...

Russia’s horrific Palm Sunday double strike on Sumy that killed 35 Ukrainians & wounded over 100 was meant to maximize civilians casualties & terror, disregarding efforts toward a ceasefire.

My piece on this Russian crime for @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social:

www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...

Silencing Voice of America will only strengthen autocrats around the world United States President Donald Trump's decision to shut down US-funded media outlets including Voice of America will boost authoritarian regimes around the world, writes Mercedes Sapuppo.

The admin’s decision to shutter media incl. VOA greatly erodes press freedom & information access, undermining democracy & freedom in the US & across the globe - a disastrous gift to repressive, autocratic regimes.

My @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social piece -

www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...

How Europe Should Respond to Trump's Russia Reset Trump has inverted the U.S. approach to Russia and Europe. European leaders must aid Ukraine and take ownership of their own security.

Trump’s Russia reset is real—here’s what Europe should do.

@atlanticcouncil.bsky.social's James Batchik and I write for
@justsecurity.org that while the transatlantic relationship isn't over, it is on pause. The fact is, US policy toward Ukraine is now more aligned with Russia than Europe.

Statement from @razomforukraine.org on Trump ending military aid to Ukraine.

"President Trump is hanging Ukrainians out to dry and giving Russia the green light to keep marching west."

This will not get us closer to peace. It will get Putin closer to victory.

Georgia’s pro-Kremlin authorities intensify crackdown on opposition Georgia's pro-Kremlin authorities presented new legislation in February that critics say will increase pressure on the country’s civil society and independent media while also placing additional restr...

For @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social I examine how Georgian Dream’s new legislation aimed to stifle - & eventually shutter - media, civil society, & the opposition in 🇬🇪 takes a page out of the Kremlin’s violent autocratic playbook & deepens ties with Moscow.

www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...

By bowing down to Putin's demands on Ukraine, Donald Trump is not projecting strength, he's projecting weakness. He is not bringing peace, he rewards and emboldens Putin to be more aggressive. Sacrificing Ukraine won't make America great again. It will make the world less safe

European Parliament and United States condemn ‘sham’ Belarus vote The European Parliament has condemned this weekend’s presidential election in Belarus as a “sham” designed to keep the country’s long-serving dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka in power, writes Mercedes S...

Sunday’s “sham” election in #Belarus will be a reminder of Lukashenka’s repressive authoritarianism, targeting of basic freedoms, & complicity in 🇷🇺’s war in 🇺🇦.

I examine the consequences of 5 more years of dictatorship for @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social:

www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...

Screening of "Intercepted" The Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center in collaboration with Grasshopper Film hosts a screening for the film “Intercepted” which contrasts images of the damage caused by the Russian military in Ukraine...

Looking forward to contribute to screening of the film "Intercepted" which contrasts images of the damage caused by the Russian military in Ukraine with intercepted phone calls between Russian soldiers & their families. Hosted by @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social. www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/screen...

In Kherson 🇺🇦, the Russian military is systematically targeting civilians with drones in a horrific “human safari.”

For @justsecurity.org I explore the cruelty of this tactic of terror & its psychological impact in the context of 🇷🇺’s wider strategy along the front. @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social

A Winning Strategy to End Russia's War Against Ukraine | U-M LSA Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia (WCEE) Policy Recommendations from the University of Michigan Symposium on the Future of Ukraine.

I’ve spent 2 days at the Weiser Center for Europe & Eurasia, University of Michigan, w US & European experts (including fm Ukraine), putting together recommendations for the Trump administration on a winning strategy to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. The result: ii.umich.edu/wcee/news-ev... 1/9

🇬🇪🇺🇸 Chairman Wilson and Ranking Member Cohen: “We stand with the Georgian people and call on both the current and incoming administrations to commit to supporting Georgians in their fight to restore democracy and freedom to their country.”

Read their full statement here: www.csce.gov/press-releas...

Hunted, Tortured, Killed. The Grim Fate of Journalists Under Russian Occupation From Crimea to Donetsk, Russian forces hunt journalists. Viktoriia Roshchyna’s death highlights the brutal silencing of free press under Russian occupation.

Hunted, Tortured, Killed. The Grim Fate of Journalists Under Russian Occupation

“There are no more Ukrainian media outlets in the territories captured by Russia,” says Nastya Stanko
But there are independent journalists who report anonymously—and they are hunted.

united24media.com/anti-fake/hu...

1000 days of avoidable tragedy. 1000 days of lost time. 1000 days of sacrifice and heroism of Ukraine's best and bravest. 1000 days of defiance against 1000 days of terror. 1000 days too many. And if we stick with our current failed strategy, the next 1000 days might be worse.

Freezing the front lines in Ukraine would condemn millions to Russian occupation Donald Trump's election win is fueling speculation of a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, but any attempt to freeze the front lines would condemn millions of Ukrainians to the horrors of ...

“Western leaders need to recognize that trading land for peace in Ukraine would mean abandoning millions of Ukrainian civilians to the chilling realities of life under Russian occupation,” writes @mercedessapuppo.bsky.social in #UkraineAlert. www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrain...

Biden Allows Ukraine to Strike Russia With Long-Range U.S. Missiles With two months left in office, the president for the first time authorized the Ukrainian military to use the system known as ATACMS to help defend its forces in the Kursk region of Russia.

Breaking News: President Biden authorized the first use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine for strikes inside Russia, U.S. officials said. His decision is a major change in U.S. policy.

Words mean nothing when missiles and drones are russia’s real language.