Chrystia Freeland: For 4 years we’ve focused on Ukraine as the virtuous victim.
This will be the year we pivot to seeing Ukrainians as a strong ally: Europe’s military shield and arsenal who know modern war and how to build its weapons. 1/
Freeland on Ukraine-Russia talks: The ball is in Putin’s court.
The Ukrainians, the Americans, and the Europeans are all pretty much on the same page. That’s a remarkable outcome, given how rocky the path has been. 2/
Freeland: Ukraine is a huge economic opportunity. Companies are already investing, especially in defense tech.
One investor called defense tech “Ukraine’s oil”: what oil has been to the Gulf States, defense technology will be to Ukraine — now, and even more after the war. 3/
Louis Mosley, Palantir's UK head: Zelenskyy made us a very compelling offer.
He painted this picture of a Ukraine that would be like the Israel of Europe, surrounded by a country that desired to wipe it off the map. This was going to be a generational struggle. 1/
Louis Mosley: Ukraine wanted our software and the opportunity to make a difference and do the right thing.
Alex [Karp] said yes, and it began as an entirely philanthropic endeavor. That vision that Zelenskyy had started to come true. 2/
Louis Mosley: As we're moving into this era of more and more autonomy on the battlefield, that requires AI at the edge on drones.
The AI needs to be trained on real data, this library, this data room. Ukraine's is completely unique in the world. 3X
Ukrainian pilot "Yellow Tail": We climb up to 4km near the front line to drop bombs, then rapidly go down with high velocity. Every pilot has 2-10 missiles shot at him.
Russians shoot with Su-35 or S-400. After the flight you think it was very hard, but thank god it's okay. 1/
Yellow Tail: For MiG-29, it's a big challenge to shoot down Shahed drones. For plane which flies 10km away it's like a little point.
Russians launch Shaheds at altitude of 1000-3000m. They mix with the decoy Shaheds. 2/
Yellow Tail: The most challenging is when you have 1,000 Shaheds against you, but you have no more than 50 aircrafts, less air defense systems.
That's why we need more air defense. Thank you American and European government who gave us this air defense system and aircraft. 3X
Russia forces primary school children in occupied Crimea to weave camouflage nets and make candles for the Russian army.
It was shown on Russian state TV. In Kurmansky district, kids are made to do this during school breaks and even class time — Suspilne. 1/
Children explain on camera that the nets will be sent to the front to hide Russian military equipment.
Some pupils are filmed in cadet-style military uniforms while doing this work. 2/
This is a direct violation of international humanitarian law, which bans an occupying power from militarizing education or using schools for military propaganda. 3X
After every Russian strike, they go back and save the power system again.
At -15°C, they drive to destroyed power plants and boiler houses to restore heat and electricity to homes, hospitals, and schools. 1/
They deserve enormous respect. They do things that seemed impossible not long ago.
Russia destroys power generation dozens of times — and every time they bring it back from the dead. Again and again. 2/
This has never happened anywhere in the world.
There are no manuals, no instructions, no training programs for conditions like this. For the first time in history, a power system this complex faces attacks at this scale. 3/
Sen. Tillis: Putin is a murderer. He's a liar. You can't trust him. We have to have eyes from NATO allies to make sure we have a lasting and fair peace.
Everything Putin says has to be run through a truth filter, with consequences for violating peace. 1/
Tillis: There can be no resolution in Ukraine without Ukraine at the table, without Ukraine's criteria for their freedom and territorial integrity.
The U.S. may play a facilitating role, but NATO and Europe should have a say. This is European security. 2/
Tillis: We have to deescalate Greenland situation. This should be an important lesson for those who care about NATO.
Let's make sure that we don't drift again or put ourselves in the same vulnerable position we find ourselves today. 3X