Ania Pietras

To Avoid Another Munich, Europe Must Act to Secure Ukraine! 1. The inevitability of Russia prevailing is a myth. 2. There is no credible plan for Ukrainian (or European) security after any ‘ceasefire’. 3. Failing to win endangers all European allies. 4. The route to Ukrainian victory still exists. 5. Those who want to act, can. The course of action we propose is, for a coalition of willing nations within NATO to commit to enhance military and financial support to Kyiv and to recommit to the aim of a sovereign Ukraine within its borders recognised by international law, focused around a clear strategy and theory of victory. This is necessary to avoid any immediate detrimental effects in Ukraine after the election, which would aid Russia, to live up to our alliance commitments and take responsibility for our own security. The Council on Geostrategy, in conjunction with over 100 signatories including senior parliamentarians, former Ambassadors and security experts, initiated a public appeal encouraging the UK and other European nations to step up and provide the support Ukraine needs to secure victory against russia. The full text is available by the link in the first comment below.

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❗️40,000 Ukrainian Children Illegally Deported to russian Re-Education Camps According to the Regional Center for Human Rights, russian-installed authorities deported 40,000 children from #occupied Ukrainian territories during the #summer of 2024. According to the statements of the representatives of the occupation administrations, children were taken to "re-education camps" as part of the "Useful Vacations" project. This is almost #twice as much as last year. The Regional Center for Human Rights has documented the relocation of Ukrainian children to various locations across russia, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, and Tula. Some facilities are located as far as 8,000 #kilometers (4,970 miles) from the Ukrainian border. 💡The Center’s analysts have identified 13 re-education camps in occupied Ukrainian territories, 18 in Belarus, and 67 in russia. The curriculum at these camps includes training in #shooting with automatic rifles, parachuting, #drone operation, and landmine placement. Activities at these camps reportedly involve intense #propaganda sessions designed to foster loyalty to russia, along with military training. The Human Rights Center reports that since the occupation of Crimea (2014), parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the russian federation has been actively developing a #network of "re-education camps", which today reaches #hundreds of institutions. ❗️Their goal is to eradicate national identity, forcibly assimilate Ukrainian children and turn them into a #resource for achieving their own geopolitical interests. Credits https://lnkd.in/dAPxhfQd 📹 10 years of the russian war. In just half a minute, the video shows how russia has stolen the best years of an entire generation of Ukrainian children..."

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"The West is a geographical satan. It's an Antichrist and it has to pay for everything… In this huge collision of the Atlantic civilization and Eurasian culture, #everything that stands between us— Poland, Ukraine, #Central Europe, maybe even #Germany —must cease to exist. It has to be absorbed," Aleksandr Dugin ❗️Aleksandr Dugin, aka "#Putin's brain", is an anti-American bigot who wrote a book titled: "The American Empire should be destroyed" and was behind the annexation of Crimea and the invasion of Ukraine. Here's a brief overview of Dugin's #philosophy of Russia, Ukraine and the #West in general.

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How the Crimean Peninsula became a #native russian land May 18 is the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Crimean Tatars #genocide. The tragedy of deportation of the Crimean Tatars from Crimea in 1944. According to the official Soviet version, the “eviction” was implemented because of the “massive desertion” of 20,000 Crimean Tatars at the beginning of World War II, and also allegedly with their “total collaboration” during the Naz* occupation of the peninsula. However, the actual number of deserters among the Crimean Tatars was comparable to the number of defectors of other nationalities. In addition, collective punishment was #prohibited by the article 50 of the current at that time Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land of 1907. ❗️According to many historians, the Soviet Union was preparing for a war with #Turkey for the straits of the Bosporus and the Dardanelles and “cleansed” in 1943-1944 the #Caucasus and Crimea as rear areas from a possibly disloyal population. On May 11, 1944, Joseph Stalin signed a decree of the State Defense Committee No. 5859ss on the organization of deportation. The main phase of the #specialOperation began before the dawn on May 18 and ended in the evening of May 20. The remaining Crimean Tatars were evicted during the subsequent deportation of Armenian, Bulgarians, and Greeks on June 27-28, 1944. The few who returned home from special settlements were again expelled from the peninsula until the end of the 1960s. The deportation was carried out by the forces of the NKVD, the Soviet police at the time. The people were given on average up to 15 minutes to get ready. Officially, a family was allowed to take up to 500 kg of belongings and food, but in reality everything was limited to hand luggage (and sometimes without it). The evicted were transported by trucks to railway stations, where they were loaded in freight cars either immediately, or 1-2 days later. The trains were in transit for 2-3 weeks. The property of the Crimean Tatars that remained in Crimea was later recorded and mostly given to the settlers from Russia and Ukraine. According to various official estimates, 20-25% of all Crimean Tatars died in special settlements. According to unofficial data (self-census of the Crimean Tatar National Movement), this number reached 46%. Those who survived by 1945 were considered exiled forever and did not have the right to leave their place of residence under the threat of 20 years of hard labor. In 1967, the charge of mass collaboration of the Crimean Tatars with the Nazis was lifted, but they were not allowed to return to Crimea. Mass repatriation began only in 1989. In 1945, the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was reduced in status to Crimean Oblast. By 1948, about 90% of the Crimean Tatar toponyms were renamed. In 1954, the Crimean Oblast was transferred from jurisdiction of Russia to jurisdiction of Ukraine within the Soviet Union. Credits informnapalm.org

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Kudos to Finland's President Alexander Stubb for laying out publicly a clear path to lasting peace in Ukraine and beyond! His four conditions—returning territory, providing security guarantees, punishing Russian aggressors for their crimes against Ukrainians, and ensuring reparations—are essential not just for justice but for preventing future conflicts. We must stop Russia's aggression and hold those responsible accountable. Ignoring these crucial steps now means risking ongoing wars and global instability later. #GlobalSecurity #StopRussianAggression

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Stand Against the Whitewashing of ru*sia's Invasion 🎥 At the TIFF Q&A for "Russians at War," #Trofimova said: "I still don't know the reasons behind this war... If you do, and everything is so clear, I mean, I #congratulate you, but I don't really know." An audience member challenged her: "You don't think that ru*ssia is the main reason for this war? You really don't understand that?" #Trofimova replied: "I think there are a lot of other factors involved. Yeah, like they are definitely sending troops in to solve whatever grievances there are." ❗️This is not about misunderstanding art—this is disinformation at its most brazen. Just listen to how #CorneliaPrincipe jumped in to revise Trofimova's answer. The film "Russians at War," directed by ex-ru*sia Today director Anastasia Trofimova, was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 17, 2024, and is scheduled to be shown at the Zurich Film Festival next month. Ru*ssia has long used *soft propaganda* to sway global opinion. This film follows the familiar narrative: making you question whether "everything is not so straightforward," a tactic often employed by ru*ssian propaganda to plant seeds of doubt, especially in discerning audiences. By screening this film, there’s a risk of eroding the West’s moral clarity and resolve. 💡"Russians at War" dangerously distorts reality, portraying ru*ssian soldiers as mere victims of poor leadership, rather than the aggressors actively involved in the devastation of Ukraine and the destabilization of the rules-based international order. The misrepresentation of these soldiers—many of whom are professional contractors driven by #financial incentives—creates sympathy for those who are complicit in the illegal invasion of Ukraine. 🙏🏻Here’s what you can do: 1. **Like, comment, or share** this post to spread awareness. 2. **Tag #ZurichFilmFestival** in your #own post to raise visibility. 3. **Write a #letter** to the Zurich Film Festival organizers expressing your concerns. (Copy the letter here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dayctPHF)) 📩Zurich Film Festival Contact: https://lnkd.in/d9PjKyy2 Together, we can make a difference. With Ukrainian lives at stake, we cannot afford to let narratives that humanize Ru*sia's aggressors weaken the critical support Ukraine needs to defend its sovereignty and protect global security. Thanks for your commitment. Credits @mxmdnv #supportTruth 🇺🇦 #TIFF #ZFF #Ukraine

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A poll released on May 30 by the Levada Center, a Russian independent polling organization, found that 71% of respondents believed Russia is "going in the right direction," and another 87% said they supported Russian President Vladimir Putin. Polls conducted by Levada Center throughout the war have found a consistent and overwhelming majority of Russians support Putin and believe the country is on the right path. According to the latest poll, only 17% of respondents thought that Russia was going in the wrong direction, and another 13% said it was difficult to answer. The findings had a relatively consistent majority across age and other demographic groups, including those who said they "barely have enough food." Support for Putin has remained above 80% in the previous five polls that Levada Center conducted, dating back to December 2023. A majority of respondents also said they supported Russia's legislative branches, governors, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and the overall "Russian government." Putin was the most trusted politician, at 52% of respondents. Photo: Contributor/Getty Images Source: IG @kyivindependent_official https://lnkd.in/es_JZEX8

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In 1795, #Poland disappeared from the map of Europe for 123 years. Its territory was divided among Russia, Austria, and Prussia. The oppressed nation rose up several times to fight for freedom. However, it was not until November 11, 1918, that the establishment of the Polish state was declared, with borders taking historical conditions into account. On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany attacked #Poland. Places such as Wieluń and Westerplatte were among the first to experience the horrors of war. Poles never gave up. They fought in many battles across Europe, including Narvik, Norway, and Monte Cassino, Italy. They also took part in the French campaign, fighting on the Maginot Line, in Lorraine, Champagne, and around Paris, as well as in the Battle of Britain, where the famous Polish 303 Squadron distinguished itself. At the end of the war, Polish troops also took part in military operations in the Normandy landings in 1944 and the liberation of the Netherlands and Belgium. Today marks the 85th anniversary of World War II. How does #Poland look like today? Despite not receiving reparations from Germany for the destruction caused during the war, #Poland has become one of the fastest-growing economies, not only in Europe but also globally. It is also a member of the European Union and NATO, and with its homogeneous population, it is one of the safest countries in Europe. Personally, I don't think there are many countries in the world that could rise from the ashes and be reborn like a phoenix, as #Poland has. Poles have contributed to the economic growth of many countries, including the UK, the USA, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands, and we will continue to do so. Today, I pay tribute to all those who suffered the cruelty of war, as well as to my home country, #Poland. I have a message for my fellow Poles, both at home and abroad: stay strong and be proud. Be brave, bold, and daring. Be like #Poland. #Poland We are all proud of you. #Poland #Anniversary #SecondWorldWar #Freedom

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URGENT: British Citizen Unjustly Imprisoned in Serbia for Crimes He Did Not Commit I need your help to bring attention to a grave injustice. Sadik Duraku, a British citizen, and my father has been imprisoned in Serbia for war crimes from 1999, despite being here in the UK seeking safe asylum with his family from that very war. He has lived in the UK for the past 25 years from 1998 and could not have possible committed these crimes as we were not permitted to leave the UK during our asylum process. We need to put pressure on the government to intervene and ensure his safety while he is being held and to bring him home. Here are three things that would help: 1. Sign the petition to show your support for Sadik Duraku's release: https://chng.it/2d6X9TGDNp 2. Share the petition within your networks to increase awareness of this injustice 3. Contact your local MP to urge them to take action and support his release. Let's come together to bring Sadik Duraku home and ensure that justice is served.

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Vladimir Putin, especially these days, is widely reviled. To some he’s a war criminal, to others he’s a dictator, and to many he’s simply a very bad man. But it wasn’t always this way. The New York Times trawled through video footage from 20 years of international summits, speeches and news conferences and discovered a man who once basked in high regard: the one who went fishing and dancing with George W. Bush, who fell into warm embraces with Tony Blair and whose jokes had NATO’s leaders rolling on the floor with laughter. As the Opinion Video above starkly reveals, Western leaders once considered Vladimir Putin not just an ally, but also, apparently, a friend. Even if they were simply giving him the benefit of the doubt for political purposes, they were taking a naïve gamble of historic proportions: Be nice to Putin, and maybe he would be nice back. It’s true that this brand of personal diplomacy scored some significant security victories. Arms control treaties were signed, and Putin allowed U.S. jets to strike the Taliban from bases in Russia’s satellite states. But as Russian tanks rolled into Georgia in August 2008, Bush learned that his eight-year friendship with the Russian leader had earned him zero leverage over Putin’s territorial ambitions. While it’s debatable whether Western governments could have foreseen the bloody horizon of Putin’s vision, let’s now be clear about one thing: Personal diplomacy doesn’t work when you need it most. The New York Times 25.05.2022 Source: YouTube @nytimes https://lnkd.in/ex_76xBC #StandWithUkraine

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russian propaganda has, at times, pushed outrageous and false claims, including the baseless accusation that Ukrainians #eat children. This narrative was part of a larger disinformation campaign aimed at dehumanizing Ukrainians and justifying russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Such propaganda often portrays Ukrainians as violent, barbaric, or engaged in grotesque acts. 💡These fabrications #serve to instill fear and rally domestic support for the war by creating a distorted image of the "enemy." This absurd claim fits into a broader strategy where russian state media and officials create extreme, sensational lies to influence #their population and international viewers. Other examples include false stories about Ukrainian locusts or biolaboratories, designed to fuel paranoia and h@tred​ 💡These kinds of narratives are not new; they play on age-old propaganda #tactics, dehumanizing the opposition to #sway public opinion. 🎥Doesn’t this sound familiar to you? #supportUkraine🇺🇦

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I interpret words from the film of the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW): "russia will not stop if it gets good results in Ukraine". The Ukraine-russia war is only one part of the Russia-West conflict. Putin's Russia began its confrontation with NATO many years ago. In this film, head of the Centre for Eastern Studies' russian department Marek Menkiszak explains how we can defeat the Kremlin. What Russian sanctions are needed? Are the sanctions on Russia working as planned? Is a russia-NATO agreement possible? Are russia and the West really at war? What would a Western strategy look like? The full document is available on our website: https://lnkd.in/dVMbqpsa

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Military target? Well... People going to a DIY store to purchase materials go repair from the bombs on a publisher / book printing company in Kharkiv are surprised by two glidebombs on Epicenter DIY store. Kharkiv centre of the city isn't safe anymore. Another Mariupol? Bakhmut? Avdiivka? War is terrible but is bound by rules. This however is terrorism. Terrorism is without rules and without ANY consideration to human suffering. Whatever story the Kremlin tells, these kind of attacks proof terrorism. NATO partners please allow Ukraine to make use of donsted weapons systems to create a safe zone around the borders. It's not possible to defend with one's hands tied to your back. #stopthewar

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Trump’s peace deal is not a deal at all, but rather a buying time mechanism for Russia to regain strength, weaken Ukraine and strike again this time to completely take over all Ukraine and continue to attack NATO countries. Trump wants to reward the agressor and punish the victim. Afterall this will be a great «  thank you gift » to Putin for helping him in elections by spreading the propaganda in US. Those of you who will be voting for Trump, will be voting for violence, dictatorship, enslaving people of Ukraine, and allowing the dictators of the world to do what they want. This will be the end of democracy as we know it and the beginning of authoritarian regime. The WWIII in this case is imminent as Trump will pull out of NATO - giving Putin green light to « do what he wants to do » invade NATO and Xi Junping will invade Taiwan. This is the ultimate goal of our enemies - devide and conquer! If you vote Trump - you are killing America giving our enemies the weapon they need to take us out! #voteblue #Kamalawillwin #ukrainewillwin #stoprussia #russiakills #russiaisterroriststate #trumpiswwiii

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May 18 is the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Crimean Tatars #genocide. The tragedy of deportation of the Crimean Tatars from Crimea in 1944. Now Crimeans face new security challenges, the Russian occupation authorities resort to reprisals against the indigenous population. In the 21st century, we may be on the verge of new tragedies, to foresee and avoid which is possible only through joint efforts of the entire world community. Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union were mistrustful of the indigenous population of Crimean Tatars. The Russian policy was one of forced displacements, colonization and Russification to enshrine dominance. ❗️The population in Crimea 18th century: 95% Crimean Tatars 0% russians 21th century: 10% Crimean Tatars 70>% russians

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Yesterday I saw this music video. And there is something true in the words written in the description. It says: You know how they say that a boring person is the one who, when asked “How are you?”, starts telling you how they actually are. And so the interesting person would just say “I’m fine”, which allegedly would be a lie. But what if it’s not. What if that “I’m fine” from someone who is clearly not fine means something deep and true for them. It doesn’t mean things are easy. It doesn’t mean they stopped caring. And it doesn’t even mean things are how they are supposed to be. It means something more profound and important. It is a statement. A personal decision to be fine, despite the really crappy circumstances. To stand up, roll up their sleeves and do the work that needs to be done. Of course they get tired, of course they need help, and of course they require both rest and healing. But they cannot just lie down and wait for those things. And so they also need to be fine. That’s why they are choosing to be fine. And they are choosing to be fine right now. Now is all that there is: tomorrow is just an idea. And if today is their last day, yeah, they want to be able to say I’m fine, and actually mean it. I’m fine is not to cover over for the things that are obviously not fine. It is to piece together happiness in spite of them — right now.

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13 years ago, a guy living in Ukraine without running water in his house created a small project. Today, it's a 10 billion dollar company called Gitlab. This is the story: The year is 2011. Dmitriy Zaporozhets is a software engineer living in Ukraine. His house doesn’t have running water. But instead of going to the public well, he is busy coding. His idea? An open-source platform where coders can collaborate on software development. Thus, Gitlab is born. Creating the platform is easy. Making money from it is hard. Because the platform is open source, it is available for free for everyone. Why would people pay for it? So Dmitriy and his co-founder Sid Sijbrandij start trying every possible way to make money. First, they put a donation button on Gitlab website. Doesn’t work. Next idea: help companies install and upgrade Gitlab. Doesn’t work. Gitlab’s documentation is so good that companies don’t need their help. Next idea: Companies will pay Gitlab to develop custom features. Doesn’t work. 3 years have gone by. Its 2014 now, and they still don’t have a business model. That’s when they get accepted into YCombinator. Here, it finally clicks for Gitlab. They figure out a genius business model: Buyer Based Open Core model. Gitlab’s core product would always be free. Gitlab’s premium version had premium features, like security enhancements, premium support, integration with third party tools, international deployments. New features were carefully decided. More useful for solo coders? The new feature will go to free version. More useful for companies? The new feature will go to premium version. Gitlab promised not to move free features to premium. Ever. Decision making process for new features was open and transparent. This built trust in the user community. So Gitlab kept growing its community with the free version. And kept growing its revenue with the premium version. Today, it's a $10 billion company. Follow Shreyans Singh for more business stories like this.

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We can no longer adhere to political correctness when describing the daily actions of the Russian regime in Ukraine. It is time to candidly state that Russia is perpetrating mass violence against the Ukrainian population, constituting genocide. #leadership #management #leadershipdevelopment #employeeengagement #leaders #people #leadershipfirst #leadershipfirstquotes #executivesandmanagement #inspiration #giffordthomas #entrepeneurship #europe #europeanunion

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