Ben Tonra | Lightnews

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 4h

I hate that this is necessary, but it is. So it’s good that things are moving.

www.politico.eu/article/euro...

Europe thinks the unthinkable: Retaliating against Russia

Countries are looking at joint offensive cyber operations and surprise military drills as Moscow steps up its campaign to destabilize NATO allies.

www.politico.eu

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 4h

Meh… they’re called that and they exist but reality is two teaching semesters and a summer research period

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 5h

Last lectures of this trimester @ucddublin.bsky.social @ucdpolitics.bsky.social

EUwatch 🇪🇺 @euwatch.live · 7h

European progressives must tackle housing crisis to beat far right, say researchers

Centre left can win broad support by addressing soaring house prices and rents, according to data analysis Centre-left parties can build a broad new coalition of support if they tackle Europe’s deepening housing crisis, researchers have said. Conversely, ignoring it risks pushing increasingly fed-up voters into the arms of the far right. Research by the Progressive Politics Research Network (PPRNet) suggests dramatic rises in the cost of housing over recent years have eroded support for centre-left parties – once the champions of affordable housing – and fuelled anti-establishment disaffection. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 18h

We need Siorcanna Liath 🇮🇪

MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 18h

🦈 NATO countries are moving towards a massive deployment of GreyShark underwater drones in response to Russian submarine activity in the Baltic and North Atlantic, - Militarnyi

European countries are already negotiating the purchase of new underwater vehicles.

MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 18h

🦈 NATO countries are moving towards a massive deployment of GreyShark underwater drones in response to Russian submarine activity in the Baltic and North Atlantic, - Militarnyi

European countries are already negotiating the purchase of new underwater vehicles.

European Parliament @europarl.europa.eu · 19h

Parliament has backed the first European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP).

This creates a “Made in Europe” defence market that pools resources, cuts dependence on unreliable suppliers & boosts our shared security.

🔗 Learn more: link.europa.eu/KfWM8f

Two airborne European fighter jets. The text reads: First-ever European defence industry programme.

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 19h

The EU is preparing a legal document to seal a reparations loan, jolting the long-stalled 140-billion-euro plan to back cash‑strapped Kyiv after rival peace plans put it in doubt.

The document is expected to be released within days, Bloomberg reported, citing its sources.

Europe preparing legal groundwork for reparations loan to Ukraine

"The next step is that the Commission is ready to present the legal text," said Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, in a speech to European lawmakers in Strasbourg on Nov. 26.

kyivindependent.com

Mike Walker @newnarrative.bsky.social · 19h

EU chief vows to back Ukraine ‘every step’ until peace

www.straitstimes.com/world/europe...

EU chief vows to back Ukraine ‘every step’ until peace

Dr von der Leyen called a revised US peace plan a “starting point” to end the war. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 20h

❗️The Russian army must be restricted to ensure a lasting peace in Ukraine, — EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas

"If Russia could conquer Ukraine militarily, it would have already done so. Putin cannot achieve his goals on the battlefield, so he will try to negotiate them…

Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 22h

VP of EU Commission Kaja Kallas: “We still need to get from a situation where Russia pretends to negotiate to a situation where they need to negotiate.”

MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 1d

🇪🇺🤝🇺🇦

Laura K Taylor @lauraktaylorphd.bsky.social · 1d

Mai’a Cross of Northeastern University opens the public policy event, in collaboration with @bentonra.bsky.social of @ucddublin.bsky.social

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d

PS when co-organising a seminar with a US university, it is a reality that European lunches don’t fit US timetables 🤣🤣🤣

@ucddublin.bsky.social looking at you @northeasternu.bsky.social

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d

Manu of the arguments used to justify Russian aggression against Ukraine are the same Putin has used against the EU’s Baltic members.

Ukraine is defending Europe

Europe must defend Ukraine

Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social · 1d

On RTE’s 6-1 News I noted that core issues such as territorial integrity and the post-war security architecture remain unresolved

Officials in the Baltic states repeatedly stressed to me that the outcome in Ukraine is not localised. It will shape Europe’s strategic landscape for many years to come

🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 1d

❗️“Someone is leaking information, someone is eavesdropping” — Kremlin representative Ushakov literally confirmed the “leaks” of the conversation with Witkoff and Dmitriev

Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social · 1d

On RTE’s 6-1 News I noted that core issues such as territorial integrity and the post-war security architecture remain unresolved

Officials in the Baltic states repeatedly stressed to me that the outcome in Ukraine is not localised. It will shape Europe’s strategic landscape for many years to come

Chatham House @chathamhouse.org · 1d

For the sake of European security, Europe's leaders should agree to release Russia’s frozen assets for the support of Ukraine — and clearly state their willingness to defend Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

Trump’s 28 point ‘peace plan’ marks Europe’s last chance to stand up for Ukraine

European national leaders have been too slow and cautious in their support for Kyiv. Can they rise to meet this defining moment?

www.chathamhouse.org

Andrius Kubilius @andriuskubilius.ec.europa.eu · 1d

To those who say defence investment isn’t what our workers need:
Do you want to be occupied without resistance? Is it the future you want for workers?

To those who do not want to support Ukraine:
Are you for a Europe where the big have the right to occupy the smaller?

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d

To what end?

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d

Pompous… but literate.

Anton Gerashchenko @antongerashchenko.bsky.social · 1d

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda:

Ukrainian independence, sovereignty…
must not be violated by any future peace agreements

Ukraine,a country viciously&unjustly attacked by Russia,must not be punished as a result.There’s a fundamental difference between an aggressor&the one who defends itself!

Simon Rosenberg @simonwdc.bsky.social · 1d

Three things about the Witkoff tapes:

1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.

2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.

3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 1d

EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg

Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump

US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.

bloom.bg

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 1d

EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg

Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump

US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.

bloom.bg

Prof David Farrell, UCD @davidfarrell-ucd.bsky.social · 1d

The Irish government needs to take this issue far, far more seriously than it has to-date. By all means hold on to the neutrality agenda if that is the view of government, but not spending adequately on defence is a serious abdication of responsibility.

Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 1d

Ouch

FT Edit @ftedit.ft.com · 1d

Despite these high stakes, Ireland has no dedicated intelligence agency, just four working navy vessels and the smallest defence budget in the EU. In fact, the only thing the Irish navy can do when it spots a suspicious ship lurking is say “hello”.

Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 1d

Ouch

FT Edit @ftedit.ft.com · 1d

Despite these high stakes, Ireland has no dedicated intelligence agency, just four working navy vessels and the smallest defence budget in the EU. In fact, the only thing the Irish navy can do when it spots a suspicious ship lurking is say “hello”.

A line graph titled “Ireland’s military spending is the lowest in the EU.”
It charts defence spending as a percentage of GDP from 2008 to 2024. Ireland sits at the bottom, below Malta and Portugal, while countries like Latvia and Sweden are near the top. The EU average hovers around 1.3%.

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d

Delighted to welcome @northeasternu.bsky.social to @ucddublin.bsky.social today for our workshop on transnational collaboration on human rights, nature restoration, quiet skies and peace.

Tomorrow’s public session at MOLI

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d

Ireland - “an international liability”

Reference to Ireland’s Blanche Dubois defence policy - relying on the kindness of neighbours.

on.ft.com/49F90VY

How Ireland became the weak spot in Europe’s defences

With few ships and limited intelligence-sharing, some say the country cannot hope to protect itself or its infrastructure

on.ft.com

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 2d

“Without sovereignty - military, health, financial and digital - we can no longer guarantee the rule of law.”

This is likely to increasingly become a topic.

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d

100 Irish websites for all your Christmas presents: Shopping guide for the festive season

www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2...

100 Irish websites for all your Christmas presents: Shopping guide for the festive season

A curated, all-Irish roundup of the best places to shop for gifts — online and on time

www.irishtimes.com

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