Heather A. Conley retweeted
AEI’s @ConleyHeather1: This is also a strike against Russia and China, two countries that were strongly influencing Serbia. It’s certainly a win for the people of Serbia, but we’ll see how they govern from here. Big question marks to come.
Heather A. Conley retweeted
🚨BREAKING: This new chart from @TheStudyofWar overlays Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries with the price of diesel fuel. There is NO CORRELATION between strikes on Russian refineries and spikes in the price of diesel here in the U.S. They are not driving up prices here.
Heather A. Conley retweeted
This is truly a great man. He has invested more in Ukraine than 185 countries combined.
Meet Howard Buffett, Warren Buffett’s middle son. He is 71 years old. He dropped out of college three times. He drinks Dr Pepper and looks for a McDonald’s wherever he travels.
Since the beginning of the war, his foundation has become the largest private donor to Ukraine: $1.4 billion.
Over four years, he has personally visited Ukraine 27 times.
In April 2022, he saw burned-out agricultural machinery and called the president of John Deere:
“How many combines are available in Europe?”
“Fifteen. All of them were supposed to go to Russia.”
“I’ll take them all.”
Then came all the available New Holland equipment in Europe. Altogether, more than 100 tractors and combines were provided to Ukrainian farmers.
He even tested demining equipment himself - on his own farm in Illinois, detonating explosives beneath rollers. When a Ukrainian deputy minister expressed doubts, Buffett told him:
“Stop counting my tractors. If necessary, I’ll blow up a thousand of them.”
Andriy Stavnitser initially asked him for $1 million for Superhumans. Buffett asked how much was needed to build the entire center.
“$14 million.”
“Okay. And what do you expect in return?”
“Nothing. Build it.”
Today, his support for Superhumans has reached $77 million, and the center has treated more than 1,700 patients.
But his largest area of spending is neither agricultural machinery nor prosthetics.
It is food: 642 million meals.
And that is only part of it:
* 344,000 windows replaced after Russian attacks;
* 9 bridges, 4 power plants, 2,500 generators, and 18 DNA laboratories;
* Much of Bucha rebuilt with his funding.
“I already have more friends in Ukraine than I do at home,” he says.
He celebrates birthdays in Ukraine, comes for Christmas, and even has a Ukrainian godson.
Friends, this is truly a great man - someone who understands that he cannot take all his money with him when he leaves this world.
I simply want to thank him and wish him well.
Whatever else one may say, this is real help from a person who had no personal obligation to Ukraine.
He simply chose to help.
Source: translated from the original text by Oleh Bairak.
Heather A. Conley retweeted
China just started regular cargo ships across the Arctic - the “Ice Silk Road.” It cuts shipping time in half & reduces reliance on risky chokepoints in Hormuz & Red Sea.
A new trade route the U.S. doesn’t control. We should all pay attention.
ft.com/content/4456f475-f2c8…
Heather A. Conley retweeted
This was the intel shared with the Poles, Scandinavians and Balts a few months back -- and met with a fair degree of skepticism, as I was told. It was then leaked in the Polish media and caused quite a stir in Polish defense circles.
The more probable threat scenarios laid out here -- cyberattacks, sabotage operations and drone swarms -- aren't just hypothetical; they're happening now. (See the latest drone incident in Leipzig.)
Note this, however: "The likelihood of the most extreme scenario—a limited land incursion—is low, but gets higher as time goes on, according to the reports."
A "limited land incursion" is an invasion of NATO territory. That would either put Russia in a state of open war with the alliance or simply end the alliance in the event that Article V went unhonored (what the Russians would most want to happen). This applies with or without U.S. participation. I'd imagine Ukraine would also participate in a second front under such circumstances, not only in common cause but to relieve pressure along the contact line at home.
The skepticism was rooted in the belief among Eastern Flank partners (and, as always, there were disagreements among them) that Russia couldn't afford to test Article V's integrity given its struggles on a non-NATO battlefield. Perhaps views among those partners have shifted in light of reported U.S. shortages of critical munitions. That reporting and the timing of this leak don't seem coincidental.
Exclusive: Russian President Vladimir Putin could try to test NATO’s resolve with a limited assault on an allied country in the next few years, according to new U.S. intelligence reports on.wsj.com/45brda4
Heather A. Conley retweeted
Historic day in Boden on Sweden’s National Day. The Battlegroup from Norrbotten Regiment is placed under SACEUR’s command and becomes the core of NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Finland. As Framework Nation, Sweden takes responsibility for Allied security in the High North. (1/2)
Heather A. Conley retweeted
Une chaîne humaine dessine sur la plage d'Omaha Beach : "France will never forget".
#DDay
Heather A. Conley retweeted
Today is the 82nd anniversary of D-Day – the Allied landings in Normandy, which significantly hastened the countdown to the Nazis' collapse in World War II. It is one of the most important moments of unity among the defenders of life in human history, and it was less than a year until the peoples’ aspiration for freedom and the hope of peace prevailed in May 1945. It happened then. We are working to make it happen again today.
And although yesterday in Petersburg another cynical order to continue killing was issued for the army trying to destroy our freedom, history has seen this before. The Nazis also had their own hopes after D-Day. But freedom still wins. And even in the darkest circumstances, people find ways to come together to protect life.
I thank all those who are now helping to protect the values that prevailed in World War II. I thank everyone who is defending life. Glory to Ukraine!
Heather A. Conley retweeted
NEW: The UK is quietly taking a leading role on Greenland, trying to persuade Trump he doesn’t need to take it over by demonstrating Europe is serious about Arctic security
In last 48 hours Starmer has spoken to Trump twice about the High North, as well as Frederiksen, Rutte, Macron, Merz
The UK this week deployed 1,500 Royal Marines commandos to northern Norway. It led discussion on the topic at NATO’s North Atlantic Council. Healey sent message to Danish counterpart. All suggests a larger British role than publicly advertised
Starmer has been telling Trump that Europe will do more in the Arctic and urging European counterparts to step up their security presence and cooperation with the US there
That’s in Europe’s interests amid rising concerns about suspected Russian sabotage activity on undersea cables around Finland
But the British aim is also to persuade Trump that Europe can help with shared interests on Greenland too, rather than let it divide NATO
One diplomat described it as an effort to take the heat out of the situation, with hopes that the calmer Rubio viewpoint prevails
It’s the same UK strategy as on Ukraine negotiations and with aiding the US seizure of the tanker in the North Atlantic: demonstrating European diplomatic, military and security utility to the US
It notably contrasts with the French approach, which publicly warned this week that Europe is facing threats of US coercion
With @EllenAMilligan >>> bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Heather A. Conley retweeted
New: The U.S. has unsealed a California grand jury indictment exposing how Russian GRU hackers targeted critical infrastructure in the U.S. They hit a regional airport in Missouri, drinking water and water storage facilities in Texas, Pennsylvania and Indiana, and a meat packing facility in California. One cyber attack caused 200,000 gallons of water to overflow in Texas. Another caused 2,000 pounds of meat to spoil. courthousenews.com/wp-conten…
Heather A. Conley retweeted
Norway's foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide: A "cheap ceasefire" in Ukraine risks a long-term “expensive peace.”
If we allow a new "Iron Curtain" to descend on Europe, it won't affect Ukraine only – it will affect Europe. 1/
Heather A. Conley retweeted
Thank you President @ZelenskyyUa for your trust and focus on future, while leading our country in defence. Honored to continue working together with You and our international friends to plan rebuilding, forge partnerships and attract investments - all needed to win the peace✊🇺🇦
Starting today, Oksana Markarova will continue supporting our state as my Advisor on Rebuilding and Investments. We will certainly defend our independence and Ukraine’s right to be a sovereign European state. We are ensuring Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and, for almost four years now, to resist full-scale Russian aggression on a daily basis. Despite all challenges, we continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons, air defense systems, and sufficient resources for internal resilience.
But beyond the fundamental goal of defending our independence and the daily work to ensure Ukraine’s survival, we have a long-term objective: to give Ukraine the capacity to rebuild after the fighting and restore normal economic development. This is a task for the Government of Ukraine, all our institutions, and Ukrainian business, and I believe that everyone who can help Ukraine in this effort should do so.
I am glad that Oksana remains part of our state’s team, and her responsibilities will now include advising on issues that strengthen Ukraine, namely: improving the business climate, enhancing our state’s financial resilience, attracting investment, and planning reconstruction together with our strategic partners. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine!
Heather A. Conley retweeted
Welcome to the High North 🌒
Allies are training across Norway and Sweden in a US-led exercise. Nearly 400 🇺🇸 US, 🇩🇰 Danish, 🇳🇴 Norwegian & 🇸🇪 Swedish soldiers are showing they can rapidly deploy to arctic and subarctic environments
ALT Female Soldier stood on mission.
Great and deeply researched piece from @AntonLaGuardia last month on the importance of Alaska and the North Pacific Arctic where we are seeing concerted Chinese and Russian activities.
And not a moment too soon ... news.usni.org/2024/10/03/Chi…
The security message is also for Moscow and Beijing.
EXCLU: Denmark plans to spend $8.5 billion on new ships and aircraft, including 16 new F-35s, Danish officials said Friday, an investment designed to stave off President Trump’s threat to take over Greenland. wsj.com/world/europe/denmark…
What a great week for strengthening Arctic security! 11 US Arctic security cutters and now today's announcement today from Copenhagen: $4 billion on new ships, maritime patrol aircraft, drones and an early warning radar. Needed capabilities.
Heather A. Conley retweeted
Glad to see Howard G. Buffett recognized for his tireless dedication and The Howard G. Buffett Foundation’s impactful support for Ukraine at the @cepa Leadership Awards Dinner in Washington, DC. Congratulations! 🇺🇦🤝🇺🇸
Exciting news that, at long last, there is a rapid path forward to substantially increase America's icebreaker fleet in close cooperation with our great ally Finland. And not a moment to lose in light of aging US icebreakers. Allied Arctic security is American security.
Looking forward to visiting the White House today
with PM Orpo. I will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on icebreaker cooperation together with @POTUS.
The MOU lays the foundation for commercial agreements between the United States Coast Guard and Finnish companies. 1/2
This is the third time this month. Russia is testing American sovereignty of "Russian America." These repeated incidents also underscore the importance of the Arctic to US homeland defense. If we tell ourselves this doesn't matter, we will be ill-prepared for the future.
While this is true, it is the price of security dependency and continued access to the US market. Europe should be wary of the Trump flattery trap – POLITICO politico.eu/article/europe-d…
