Remeslo is now reportedly undergoing compulsory psychiatric treatment, as in Soviet times. But smart Western leaders might think this was a good time to turn up the heat under Putin, rather than making life easier for him. The system is showing signs of strain; so increase the pressure on it. 2/2

Interesting news from Russia. Like Prigozhin, Remeslo seems to have had a revelation. He hasn't turned into a pro-Western liberal (as his comments on how much better Russia would be doing in Ukraine if Putin listened to criticism shows). But he can see the damage from Putin's current policies. 1/2

Worth knowing. as.ft.com/r/dea6ec9d-3...

Nobody would bemore delighted to see more EU-UK rapprochement than me, but I am simply exhausted by the way in which such a major decision is entirely framed in terms of what is politically expedient in Westminster. How about pursuing goals because you think they are right?

This exactly supports @martinsandbu.ft.com's latest point on energy subsidies:

*** How (not) to help with high energy prices - www.ft.com/content/b94e... via @FT @martinsandbu.ft.com

Spain's renewables build-out has structurally decoupled its electricity prices from gas markets. Gas now sets the price in only 15% of hours, compared to 90% in Italy. Countries that invested early in clean power are far less exposed to fossil fuel price shocks. Those that didn't now pay the price.

1/ Denmark was reportedly preparing for full-scale war with the US over Greenland in January, with military support from France, Germany, and Nordic nations. Elite troops and F-35 jets with live ammunition were sent, and runways were to be blown up to prevent an invasion. ⬇️

Line of the year in the new edition of The Economist: "Although President Donald Trump says he has “destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military Capability”, the 0% that remains is playing havoc with the global economy..."

Doing better or shooting our feet? 🇪🇺 Of course, we choose prosperous and fair Europe!!

You'll never guess how Kemi 'Defending British values from domination by prayer' Badenoch voted on buffer zones outside of abortion clinics:

In the week since this @martinsandbu.ft.com piece, lobbying by challenged incumbents has (mostly) stalled. Two industry associations can't speak for "industry" when claiming that "competitiveness" requires turning back the clock to their glory days #EUSky 🔌💡 giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Electric vehicles helped to avoid the consumption of 2.3 million barrels of oil per day last year • Iran war-fuelled rise in oil prices is reigniting interest in EVs • Drop in oil consumption could reach 5.3 million barrels/day by 2030, roughly Canada's output www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

We’re begging China now. That’s where we’re at. bsky.app/profile/atru...

"De ukrainska styrkorna gör framryckningar i flera riktningar vid fronten. Nu tycks Ryssland tvingas kalla in fler reservister och ställa om till att försvara sina positioner. – Så här mycket terräng har inte Ukraina tagit på tre år, säger militärexperten Johan Huovinen."

This is a big deal. It won’t make the politics easier, but will empower the coalitions that have been gated from information about land so far. Information is power.

So bad in so many ways. Good article @robinwigglesworth.ft.com.

If you read one thing about Iran & geopolitics & economic fallout & climate, make it this @martinsandbu.ft.com column

1/US unprepared for key Iranian strategy -- target key hubs of the global economy. Put pressure on allies and markets to turn interdependence into a weapon. Rather than an alternative to war, economic nodes are being used as a key tactic to degrade political support. www.euronews.com/business/202...

2/ Maybe the lead is that the war goals DO NOT involve destroying Iran's nuclear weapons program. This is, uh...surprising...since Trump says over and over this is a key goal. But then of course we already know air strikes can't wipe out their nuclear material.

"This is natural: creative destruction has few champions. But it is not wise. Europe is clearly capable of speeding up its transition to energy independence via renewables." Excellent piece by @martinsandbu.ft.com www.ft.com/content/a6be...

An utterly brilliant article on a revolting spectacle. Do Read. @questingvole.bsky.social spectator.com/article/trum...

Send your questions! www.ft.com/content/950d...

Quite. @martinsandbu.ft.com "The war on Iran has again exposed the EU’s impotence, not just over world affairs but over its own economic prospects...they risk entrenching rather than reducing the bloc’s vulnerability." giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Yet another must-read memo from purgatory by @martinsandbu.ft.com Europe’s impotence extends to energy giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Great column from @martinsandbu.ft.com on the EU's miguided turn away from an ambitious energy transition. Its main effect has been to make us weaker, more vulnerable, and ultimately less competitive. www.ft.com/content/a6be...

De Europæiske ledere svigter i omstillingen til vedvarende energi. Det er et problem for klimaet, erhvervslivet og vores sikkerhed. Læs @martinsandbu.ft.com analyse i @financialtimes.com #klimahandling #dkpol #dkgreen #klimakrise

This is a real video from the official White House account on a war that is currently killing people. I don’t know how the US is going to come back from this. The post was “JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. 🇺🇸 🔥”

An economic question we don't ask enough about AI. as.ft.com/r/ec467fc3-b...

"We called London a war zone and moved to Dubai by mistake"

“So big is the European economy that even significantly larger Ukraine support would be a rounding error in a macroeconomic perspective.” one of many insights from @martinsandbu.ft.com’s contribution on the economics of the war waged against #Ukraine and the #EU replacing #US support

A new piece by @martinsandbu.ft.com "Put all this together, and it’s not much of an exaggeration to say that Europe and #Ukraine are, economically, the much stronger side in this war. It is time to realise this, and press the victory home." 100% a great subtitle too: "it’s the economy, stupid"

The FT's @martinsandbu.ft.com with the money shot: 2nd reason btw: "for all the White House bluster about Kyiv having to come to the table and accept a deal, the US has very little leverage left" having already withdrawn all its financial support when Trump regime MkII began. Genius negotiator

This case will be studied in universities, especially in the US. Yesterday, the US submitted an amendment to the UN General Assembly resolution on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. According to the media, they tried to remove the clause on Ukraine's territorial integrity from the text

London hellhole update

This is really excellent to see! @martinsandbu.ft.com from the @financialtimes.com recently cited a #CHIPDIPLO report by Joris Teer, Riccardo Bosticco and Antonio Calcara for a feature on Europe's tech supply chains. Read www.ft.com/content/b92f...

Good to see our CHIPDIPLO-paper discussed in @financialtimes.com by @martinsandbu.ft.com Our 50 workshop experts coalesced around one European semiconductor vision: “European indispensability; Allied autonomy” Read report📕🚨: csds.vub.be/publication/... And FT article: www.ft.com/content/b92f...

Absolutely @martinsandbu.ft.com For some reason the Europeans act like there’s a lot of time to start to do what’s necessary. I hope there is, but foolish to bet on it www.ft.com/content/b92f...

It is time for Europe to weaponise its chokepoints— Power in the sense of having instruments of coercion is not the same as power in the sense of successfully securing one’s interests. The latter… www.ft.com/content/b92f... @martinsandbu.ft.com @financialtimes.com

This idea is gathering some support - see @martinsandbu.ft.com in the FT today www.ft.com/content/b92f...

Europe is better armed for geopolitical conflict than its leaders might think. Excellent piece by @martinsandbu.ft.com www.ft.com/content/b92f...

super krachtige ideeën over EU’s gebruik van macht in internationale relaties // very potential ideas about the use of power in international relations by the #EU - by @martinsandbu.ft.com giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

"Europe is better armed for geopolitical conflict than its leaders might think". @martinsandbu.ft.com makes two key points: 1) defense, or resilience, today is not enough; 2) for offence, you need political will to leverage (latent) power. Resilience and response. www.ft.com/content/b92f...

It is time for Europe to weaponise its chokepoints China and others have long been adept at using supply chains to their advantage — the EU should do the same: By: @martinsandbu.ft.com

Thanks to @martinsandbu.ft.com for drawing attention to it www.ft.com/content/b92f...

Soft power is hard thing to acquire, yet oh so easy to squander. These are the new friends of the mightiest power on the planet.

Wow.

To reiterate this point: during the Q&A Farage dismissed very arrogantly a perfectly fair question from the brilliant Anna Gross of the FT and then took the piss out of the paper. If you want to persuade people that you don’t have predilections towards bullying it was not ideal. It was grim.

2/ "Disse regimene - Washington, Moskva og Beijing - ser bedre enn vi europeere selv at vi har noe som både er sterkt og attraktivt. Vi europeere, og EU spesielt, bør være stolte over å bli utpekt til hovedfiende for både Maga og tek-oligarkene." @martinsandbu.ft.com @aftenposten.no

Takk, jeg prøver jo å være konsekvent i min kritikk av et vedvarende problem.