2⃣0⃣ more days and #LennartMeriConference begins!

What's already on the agenda and who are the speakers? lmc.icds.ee

Let us not despair, but act!
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The Strategic Agenda which the European Council plans to unveil in June should revolve around the deeply entwined ambitions of beefing up the EU’s defence, economic security, and integration of (South-)East Europe. 1/4

👉 tinyurl.com/mr3zffx3

Gradual integration of candidates may help speed up their accession process in certain policy sectors & serve economic+geopolitical interests, but such advances must be anchored in the formal framework of membership negotiations and checked against comprehensive RoL & PA reforms

Happy to contribute some immediate reactions to the Novaya Gazeta Europe investigation on Chechnya:

Natolin’s #NordicBalticTeam is participating in a thought-provoking panel at the International Center for Defence and Security ICDS Tallinn on deterring Russia. Insightful discussion on resilience, responsibility, and resolve with Prof.
Steven Blockmans, Mr James Sherr, an…

Both Republicans and Democrats finally realized that the risk of Russia achieving a breakthrough in the coming fall and becoming a real danger to major cities like Zaporizhzhia & Kharkiv has materialized, said ICDS Tallinn director Indrek Kannik. ERR News
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'Above all, there needs to take place a shift in strategic thinking in Washington and European capitals – the fear of Russia actually losing this war needs to be conquered. This has not happened yet.'

War of attrition continues for both sides. ERR News
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'The Western audiences must understand that a Russian occupation is not a ‘normal’ occupation (not as if there is a normal occupation), not just some benign presence on the ground.' MARK VOYGER Tetiana Fedosiuk Diplomaatia buff.ly/4b3QxzL

While Ukraine’s strategic objectives have remained the same throughout the war, the ways and means to achieve them have shifted.

Leonid Polyakov writes about the change and what should be done in order for Ukraine to succeed. National Institute for Strategic Studies (NISS UA) icds.ee/en/russias-war…

Good article by the Financial Times. I need to add though that we are not afraid. We are determined, focused and prepared. Such maps would be more useful if all allied forces would be added. Article
“The Baltic balancing act over the threat from Russia” here ⬇️ on.ft.com/4aYA8ML

Good overview on Baltic security by Ben Hall and Richard Milne.

Contributions from our Tomas Jermalavičius and Helga Kalm.

'This time, we absolutely must deliver.'

MARK VOYGER, professor at American University Kyiv emphasized the importance of #US support to #Ukraine , #Europe and #NATO in his interview with Tetiana Fedosiuk for Diplomaatia.

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We hosted a very interesting report presentation yesterday at the 🇪🇪 Embassy in 🇫🇮 - by ICDS Tallinn researchers Tony Lawrence and Tomas Jermalavičius + Jan Hyllander from 🇸🇪 Defence University.

Link to report here ⬇️
icds.ee/en/the-newest-…

It is indeed hard to describe US approach to Israel and Ukraine as anything but double standards.
Apart from this moralizing notion, so often misused, the damage that the US is doing to its interests and power by failing Ukraine is growing by the day. Adversaries are watching.

Joined DW News last night to discuss the latest in the Voice of Europe case, disinformation, Russian active measures, and the broader foreign meddling in European politics:

Happy to return to POLITICOEurope with an opinion piece about the recent Voice of Europe case: disinformation is part of the broader Russian espionage and ‘active measures’. To fight against one you also need to counter the others.

Happy to contribute as always, thank you Judy Dempsey
Strengthening the role of NATO in supporting Ukraine’s war effort would be a step in the right direction - towards NATO membership of 🇺🇦

Director general of the ISS states it firmly and elegantly - 'Our objective is simple – Estonia is and must continue to be as challenging an operational terrain as possible for Russian and other hostile foreign intelligence services.' Read👇
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