Thread by @jseldin

Hindsight on #Russia-#Ukraine: "We did an enormous amount of diplomacy in advance, trying to give #Putin an off-ramp so he would not have to make this absurd & tragic decision" to go to war in #Ukraine, @DeputySecState Wendy Sherman tells #EUDFF22

Unity in face of #Russia's war in #Ukraine - "I've rarely seen the kind of unity that I've experienced...this sentiment is very much there" @SanninoEU tells #EUDFF22

But "the work that is needed is more intense"

#Russia's Vladimir Putin - "Understand that Putin really in his own words has really said he wants to be 'Peter the Great' of the 21st & 22nd centuries" per @DeputySecState

#HIMARS #MLRS - "That very critical HIMARS, MLRS system is now in #Ukraine & will give Ukraine the ability to defend itself in more substantial & robust ways" per @DeputySecState

"We will work w/Ukraine, we will work w/#Europe, we will work w/allies around the world to support Ukraine & allow Ukraine to define its own future" per @DeputySecState, pressed on whether US supports #Kyiv's military objectives

#Ukraine joining the #EuropeanUnion - "I think, politically, it is one of the strongest things that we could do" per @eu_eeas' @SanninoEU

Should #Kyiv cede territory to #Russia?

"There is no expectation in the European Union abt this" per @SanninoEU "The decision of what #Ukraine wants to do will stay w/Ukraine & European Union will continue supporting Ukraine in their choices, in the way they want to move ahead"

Concerns abt #Russia using nukes - "I hope President Putin understands that we have thought these things through, that we would have an appropriate and forceful response, that in fact escalation is not in his interest" per @DeputySecState

#Putin "already facing a contraction of his economy by 10-15%. His ppl are suffering" per @DeputySecState

"Putin is being sidelined...country's are looking to hedge who have relied on Russia for the military weapons understanding that Russia won't have them to give anymore"

"President #Putin shud think more than twice" abt using nukes, per @DeputySecState "The world is watching & is ready to act in ways that will not get him what he wants, will get him absolutely the opposite of what he wants..."

Already "That's happened here" per @DeputySecState

#Putin "wanted a weakened @NATO. He has a stronger NATO. He wanted a weakened European Union. He has a stronger European Union..."

"I hope he makes the wise decision" per @DeputySecState concludes about possible use of nukes by #Russia, #Putin

#Russia's war in #Ukraine " It is not in his interest" US @DeputySecState says re #Putin

"He is not achieving his aims" she says "There are many off-ramps he could take here..."