Minna Ålander 🌻
@alanderminna.bsky.social
Associate Fellow @chathamhouse.org | @cepa.org Fellow | Senior Fellow Frivärld | Defence Editor @eurcorrespond.bsky.social. Plot twist: not from Åland. 📸 Stas Kartashov
✍️ Northern Flank Notes: https://open.substack.com/pub/minnalander
✍️ Northern Flank Notes: https://open.substack.com/pub/minnalander
Pinned
Minna Ålander 🌻
@alanderminna.bsky.social
· Jul 10
Contours of European Strategic Autonomy
Europe is moving on without the US, and the US does not seem to like it after all.
open.substack.com
Today was the day when Europe announced that it is moving on:
The Franco-British agreement to establish a nuclear supervision group, and a permanent headquarters for the Ukraine coalition of the willing can become contours of a new European security architecture - this time without the US.
The Franco-British agreement to establish a nuclear supervision group, and a permanent headquarters for the Ukraine coalition of the willing can become contours of a new European security architecture - this time without the US.
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Much soul searching in Finland
Norway's duo outshot 34 other teams from 21 other nations.
Norway takes home top prize in multinational best sniper competition
Norway's duo outshot 34 other teams from 21 other nations.
www.defensenews.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Much soul searching in Finland
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Although the promise of Rafale jets for Ukraine has dominated coverage, Dassault is behind on deliveries to India and Indonesia and no jets will come from the French Air Force.
Ukraine’s arms deal with France faces major hurdles before it can be realized
Although the deal sends a powerful political signal, it will change very little on the ground for Ukraine in the short term.
www.chathamhouse.org
November 27, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Although the promise of Rafale jets for Ukraine has dominated coverage, Dassault is behind on deliveries to India and Indonesia and no jets will come from the French Air Force.
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Made an effort to establish a timeline of this latest iteration of essentially the same old attempt by the Trump administration to force a peace deal, doomed to fail like the previous three times.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The Rise and Fall of the Dim-Wit Plan
The latest iteration of a "secret US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine" would have been funny, if it wasn't so cruel to Ukraine.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Got to just love the name!
Made an effort to establish a timeline of this latest iteration of essentially the same old attempt by the Trump administration to force a peace deal, doomed to fail like the previous three times.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The Rise and Fall of the Dim-Wit Plan
The latest iteration of a "secret US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine" would have been funny, if it wasn't so cruel to Ukraine.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Got to just love the name!
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Minna takes apart the Dim-Wit Pact with usual astuteness 👏👇
"The mind-boggling aspect of all this is that the US government keeps throwing such diplomatically unserious drafts at Ukraine & Europe, who then duly have to engage with them in good faith and try to make something reasonable out of it."
"The mind-boggling aspect of all this is that the US government keeps throwing such diplomatically unserious drafts at Ukraine & Europe, who then duly have to engage with them in good faith and try to make something reasonable out of it."
November 26, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Minna takes apart the Dim-Wit Pact with usual astuteness 👏👇
"The mind-boggling aspect of all this is that the US government keeps throwing such diplomatically unserious drafts at Ukraine & Europe, who then duly have to engage with them in good faith and try to make something reasonable out of it."
"The mind-boggling aspect of all this is that the US government keeps throwing such diplomatically unserious drafts at Ukraine & Europe, who then duly have to engage with them in good faith and try to make something reasonable out of it."
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
The Dim-Wit Plan.
Made an effort to establish a timeline of this latest iteration of essentially the same old attempt by the Trump administration to force a peace deal, doomed to fail like the previous three times.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The Rise and Fall of the Dim-Wit Plan
The latest iteration of a "secret US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine" would have been funny, if it wasn't so cruel to Ukraine.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The Dim-Wit Plan.
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Ms Ålander (@alanderminna.bsky.social) sending another one over the bleachers.
Her best timeline (to date) of the 28 ➡️19➡️WTFK peace plan for UA.
Her best timeline (to date) of the 28 ➡️19➡️WTFK peace plan for UA.
Made an effort to establish a timeline of this latest iteration of essentially the same old attempt by the Trump administration to force a peace deal, doomed to fail like the previous three times.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The Rise and Fall of the Dim-Wit Plan
The latest iteration of a "secret US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine" would have been funny, if it wasn't so cruel to Ukraine.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Ms Ålander (@alanderminna.bsky.social) sending another one over the bleachers.
Her best timeline (to date) of the 28 ➡️19➡️WTFK peace plan for UA.
Her best timeline (to date) of the 28 ➡️19➡️WTFK peace plan for UA.
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Just because Trump and his negotiators can tie a tie (yes, I am making a rash assumption), it doesn't mean that they have a clue how to negotiate an international peace treaty. Yes, Moe, Curly, and Larry are alive and well and living in the White House.
Anecdotally, while I was looking for a source to refer to for this article with the search words ”Russia rejects US peace plan”, I found media articles on that topic from November 2024, February, May, June, September, and October 2025.
Made an effort to establish a timeline of this latest iteration of essentially the same old attempt by the Trump administration to force a peace deal, doomed to fail like the previous three times.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
November 26, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Just because Trump and his negotiators can tie a tie (yes, I am making a rash assumption), it doesn't mean that they have a clue how to negotiate an international peace treaty. Yes, Moe, Curly, and Larry are alive and well and living in the White House.
Anecdotally, while I was looking for a source to refer to for this article with the search words ”Russia rejects US peace plan”, I found media articles on that topic from November 2024, February, May, June, September, and October 2025.
Made an effort to establish a timeline of this latest iteration of essentially the same old attempt by the Trump administration to force a peace deal, doomed to fail like the previous three times.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The Rise and Fall of the Dim-Wit Plan
The latest iteration of a "secret US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine" would have been funny, if it wasn't so cruel to Ukraine.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Anecdotally, while I was looking for a source to refer to for this article with the search words ”Russia rejects US peace plan”, I found media articles on that topic from November 2024, February, May, June, September, and October 2025.
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
From the article: "Now it is time for Europe to take a more proactive stance, stop wasting time jumping through the same hoops with Trump, and start focusing on squeezing Russia until it has to start negotiating seriously."
Made an effort to establish a timeline of this latest iteration of essentially the same old attempt by the Trump administration to force a peace deal, doomed to fail like the previous three times.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The Rise and Fall of the Dim-Wit Plan
The latest iteration of a "secret US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine" would have been funny, if it wasn't so cruel to Ukraine.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
From the article: "Now it is time for Europe to take a more proactive stance, stop wasting time jumping through the same hoops with Trump, and start focusing on squeezing Russia until it has to start negotiating seriously."
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Again, from the article: "Russia is set to reject the new 19-point cease-fire deal drafted by the US and Ukraine but may use disinformation tactics to keep President Trump engaged in continued talks — suggesting the war will last at least through Christmas, sources told The Post on Tuesday."
It says something about what’s going on in the US that the New York Post, of all media, has the best analysis of the latest peace deal shenanigans
Ukraine peace plan expected to be rejected by Russia — likely extending war until after Christmas at minimum: sources
Russia is expected to reject the new 19-point cease-fire deal drafted by the US and Ukraine, suggesting the war will last at least through Christmas, sources told The Post.
nypost.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Again, from the article: "Russia is set to reject the new 19-point cease-fire deal drafted by the US and Ukraine but may use disinformation tactics to keep President Trump engaged in continued talks — suggesting the war will last at least through Christmas, sources told The Post on Tuesday."
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
The undisputed winners of the “peace deal” collapse? Russians who do not live in Moscow and St. Petersburg and are not elite, since in one of the 28 points was basically the Kremlin saying they were ok if Ukraine would launch missiles towards Russian regions.
November 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
The undisputed winners of the “peace deal” collapse? Russians who do not live in Moscow and St. Petersburg and are not elite, since in one of the 28 points was basically the Kremlin saying they were ok if Ukraine would launch missiles towards Russian regions.
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Good read from Minna 👇
We're enabling an idiotic senile psychopath, who not only gets stuck in dementia loops sending us down the same dead-end roads every couple of months and never learning - but who surrounds himself with active Kremlin assets.
People are dying while we play his pointless games
We're enabling an idiotic senile psychopath, who not only gets stuck in dementia loops sending us down the same dead-end roads every couple of months and never learning - but who surrounds himself with active Kremlin assets.
People are dying while we play his pointless games
November 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Good read from Minna 👇
We're enabling an idiotic senile psychopath, who not only gets stuck in dementia loops sending us down the same dead-end roads every couple of months and never learning - but who surrounds himself with active Kremlin assets.
People are dying while we play his pointless games
We're enabling an idiotic senile psychopath, who not only gets stuck in dementia loops sending us down the same dead-end roads every couple of months and never learning - but who surrounds himself with active Kremlin assets.
People are dying while we play his pointless games
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Good read and excellent use of the “Dim-Wit Plan” , as coined by @chriso-wiki.bsky.social
Made an effort to establish a timeline of this latest iteration of essentially the same old attempt by the Trump administration to force a peace deal, doomed to fail like the previous three times.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The Rise and Fall of the Dim-Wit Plan
The latest iteration of a "secret US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine" would have been funny, if it wasn't so cruel to Ukraine.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Good read and excellent use of the “Dim-Wit Plan” , as coined by @chriso-wiki.bsky.social
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
By @alanderminna.bsky.social: "Now it is time for Europe to take a more proactive stance, stop wasting time jumping through the same hoops with Trump, and start focusing on squeezing Russia until it has to start negotiating seriously."
minnalander.substack.com/p/the-rise-a...
minnalander.substack.com/p/the-rise-a...
The Rise and Fall of the Dim-Wit Plan
The latest iteration of a "secret US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine" would have been funny, if it wasn't so cruel to Ukraine.
minnalander.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
By @alanderminna.bsky.social: "Now it is time for Europe to take a more proactive stance, stop wasting time jumping through the same hoops with Trump, and start focusing on squeezing Russia until it has to start negotiating seriously."
minnalander.substack.com/p/the-rise-a...
minnalander.substack.com/p/the-rise-a...
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
altså nå har jeg fulgt med på denne fine gjengen i 13 dager og lurer på om jeg kan betale litt skatt til finland som takk for økt livskvalitet?
One of the reasons why Finland is the happiest country in the world is that the public broadcaster Yle sends a live feed of the first 8 weeks of a pack of puppies every fall. It’s already the fifth edition of ”Finland’s most therapeutic live feed”.
This is what I call value for my tax money
This is what I call value for my tax money
Pentulive 24/7 | Pentulive
Pentuliven pikkuiset kehittyvät vauhdikkaasti ja jokainen pentu on saanut nimensä! Kahdeksan viikkoa kestävässä suorassa lähetyksessä seurataan englanninspringerspanieli Murua ja tämän pentuetta.
areena.yle.fi
November 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
altså nå har jeg fulgt med på denne fine gjengen i 13 dager og lurer på om jeg kan betale litt skatt til finland som takk for økt livskvalitet?
Made an effort to establish a timeline of this latest iteration of essentially the same old attempt by the Trump administration to force a peace deal, doomed to fail like the previous three times.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The Rise and Fall of the Dim-Wit Plan
The latest iteration of a "secret US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine" would have been funny, if it wasn't so cruel to Ukraine.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Made an effort to establish a timeline of this latest iteration of essentially the same old attempt by the Trump administration to force a peace deal, doomed to fail like the previous three times.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
The number of plot twists would have been amusing, if it wasn’t so cruel to Ukraine.
It says something about what’s going on in the US that the New York Post, of all media, has the best analysis of the latest peace deal shenanigans
Ukraine peace plan expected to be rejected by Russia — likely extending war until after Christmas at minimum: sources
Russia is expected to reject the new 19-point cease-fire deal drafted by the US and Ukraine, suggesting the war will last at least through Christmas, sources told The Post.
nypost.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:48 PM
It says something about what’s going on in the US that the New York Post, of all media, has the best analysis of the latest peace deal shenanigans
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
⌛️Deadline approaching in 5 days!
Whether you've already applied, are applying now or in a caffeine-powered final push on Sunday at 23:59, we can’t wait to read your file. ☕📄
🔶 #EconJobMarket 👉 econjobmarket.org/positions/12...
@julianhi.nz
Whether you've already applied, are applying now or in a caffeine-powered final push on Sunday at 23:59, we can’t wait to read your file. ☕📄
🔶 #EconJobMarket 👉 econjobmarket.org/positions/12...
@julianhi.nz
November 25, 2025 at 5:17 PM
⌛️Deadline approaching in 5 days!
Whether you've already applied, are applying now or in a caffeine-powered final push on Sunday at 23:59, we can’t wait to read your file. ☕📄
🔶 #EconJobMarket 👉 econjobmarket.org/positions/12...
@julianhi.nz
Whether you've already applied, are applying now or in a caffeine-powered final push on Sunday at 23:59, we can’t wait to read your file. ☕📄
🔶 #EconJobMarket 👉 econjobmarket.org/positions/12...
@julianhi.nz
Better late than never
After the meeting of the Coaltion of the Willing, Emmanuel Macron announces the creation of a working group to "precisely" finalise the security guarantees for Ukraine.
It will be led by France and the UK and include Turkey and, "for the first time," the United States.
It will be led by France and the UK and include Turkey and, "for the first time," the United States.
November 25, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Better late than never
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
What Trump has made me realise is how much the post-Cold War relationship hinged on shared values rather than shared interests. Trump is illustrating how, whether on Ukraine and Gaza, our interests diverge and, absent those values, there's not much holding us together.
November 25, 2025 at 9:14 AM
What Trump has made me realise is how much the post-Cold War relationship hinged on shared values rather than shared interests. Trump is illustrating how, whether on Ukraine and Gaza, our interests diverge and, absent those values, there's not much holding us together.
If I haven’t lost count entirely, this was the fourth time Europe was fooled.
So yes it’s about time to finally figure out our own strategy instead of putting all energy into humouring Trump.
So yes it’s about time to finally figure out our own strategy instead of putting all energy into humouring Trump.
Yes, but it is also a fact now that there is a pattern to it.
As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you, fool my twice, shame on me. The Europeans should no longer dellude themselves that a Trump/Vance US can be a reliable ally.
As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you, fool my twice, shame on me. The Europeans should no longer dellude themselves that a Trump/Vance US can be a reliable ally.
The Trump cycle on Russia-Ukraine. Some pro-Russian plan emerges. Instant commentariat renew their "Trump as Russian plant" stories. Plan is amended under EU (and US) pressure. Putin rejects it. Instant commentariat is puzzled. Rinse and repeat. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
If I haven’t lost count entirely, this was the fourth time Europe was fooled.
So yes it’s about time to finally figure out our own strategy instead of putting all energy into humouring Trump.
So yes it’s about time to finally figure out our own strategy instead of putting all energy into humouring Trump.
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Weird thing for the Secretary of the Army to do.
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is in Abu Dhabi to meet with Russian officials, who will presumably tell him that Europe's revised 28-point plan is a nonstarter and it's the original Dmitriev–Witkoff document to get things moving or nothing. www.cbsnews.com/news/army-se...
Army Secretary Driscoll meeting with Russians in UAE as Trump administration presses for Ukraine peace deal
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is in Abu Dhabi to meet with Russian officials, two U.S. officials and two diplomatic sources who were not authorized to speak publicly told CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Weird thing for the Secretary of the Army to do.
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Reposted by Minna Ålander 🌻
Babes, ballistics missiles keep me up at night, don’t worry
November 25, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Babes, ballistics missiles keep me up at night, don’t worry