Thread by @WatchingEurasia

‘It was one in an avalanche of precedent-shattering moves, unfolding in ministries and boardrooms from Washington to London and Brussels to Berlin.’ Brilliant piece by @kbennhold, @MarkLandler, @MatinaStevis, & many, many more. 1/4 nytimes.com/2022/03/05/wor…

‘To trace the 10-day period before and after Russia’s invasion in the worlds of geopolitics, business, culture and sports, is to see how Mr. Putin’s brazen attack made the inconceivable suddenly inevitable.’ 2/4

‘Ten days on, Europeans are girding themselves for a prolonged siege in Ukraine, facing a future that is menacing and unmoored. On Saturday, Mr. Putin likened the West’s sanctions to a “declaration of war.”’ 3/4

‘Last Saturday, the European Union set up a nearly $500 million fund for members to send weapons. It was the first time the bloc jointly purchased lethal weapons to arm another country’s army under the E.U. banner — another Rubicon crossed.’ 4/4