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oanalungescu.bsky.social
Longest-serving & 1st woman #NATO Spokesperson (2010-2023), Distinguished Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, ex #BBC correspondent
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Another day, another email from Russia's fake news factory. If you want an insight into where Russia's strategic interests are at the moment, we've received a dozen emails like this about the President of Moldova since April 21st, and none before. Seems someone got their orders in April.

Germany’s 45th Armoured Brigade, the country’s 1st permanent deployment abroad since WWII, is part of NATO’s deterrence and defence on the eastern flank. This would have been unthinkable before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine & is a direct response to it.

The EU is stepping in to fund RFE/RL after the Trump administration pulled the plug. RFE/RL provides regular, detailed and accurate coverage of regions, including the Caucasus and the Balkans, that are sometimes overlooked

What did Nicușor Dan’s 9-year old daughter tell him when he said he would run for President of Romania? find out in this @politico.com portrait of the common sense candidate who bucked the trend of populism. @timross1.bsky.social @andreipopoviciu.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/nicu...

Russia continues to refuse to agree to a full ceasefire in Ukraine; Ukraine will not withdraw troops from the territories it controls, President Volodymyr Zelensky said; and more.

Nicușor Dan has been elected President. Romania has decided to continue its steady course as part of the Euro-Atlantic family, to go forward not backwards. Jubilant crowds in central Bucharest chant, “Russia, Russia, don’t forget, Romania is not yours!” 🇷🇴 🗳️

The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, is the 1st international leader to congratulate Nicușor Dan on his election as President of Romania. About 1 million Moldovans also hold Romanian passports & their votes played a key role in this stunning victory 🇷🇴 🇲🇩

BREAKING Two exit polls show a clear win for pro-Western Nicușor Dan over ultranationalist George Simion in Romania’s presidential elections.

NEW Secretary General Mark Rutte confirms that NATO leaders will issue a defense investment plan (not just a pledge) at next month’s summit in The Hague including both core defense capabilities & infrastructure/resilience.He didn’t confirm figures but they’re likely to be 3.5%+1.5%=5% of GDP by 2032

High stakes in Romania’s presidential election on Sunday. While independent Nicușor Dan wld hold the country’s pro-Western course, ultranationalist George Simion wld be a disruptive figure at the EU & NATO, especially on support for Ukraine. My take in @politico.eu www.politico.eu/article/geor...

Polish officials say a massive fire that destroyed a large shopping center in Warsaw last year was the result of arson ordered by Russian intelligence services.

Russia’s orthodox church is converting Americans to the Kremlin’s view of the world. Some converts have hundreds of thousands of followers online & push narratives that Russia is the world’s last bastion of “true”Christianity. Hear @lucyaash.bsky.social podcast from Texas 🇺🇸

Pope Leo XIV condemns Russia’s war on Ukraine as “a true invasion, imperialist in nature” & calls for greater moral clarity, stressing that “some leaders in our countries still avoid acknowledging the evil of what is happening there.” united24media.com/latest-news/...

🛢🇷🇺📉 The Russian oil price in rubles has hit a two-year low, 40% below the budgeted level. Due to the drop in oil prices, Russian Finance Ministry has more than tripled its expected budget deficit this year to 1.7% of GDP, - Reuters

Romania faces a stark choice between an ultranationalist & a pro-Western candidate in the 2nd round of the presidential elections. But how did George Simion become a right-wing “Messiah” among Romanians abroad? See this @politico.com overview including my take www.politico.eu/article/roma...

Romania presidential elections rerun: partial results from 70% of polling stations show ultra-nationalist Simion leading with 40%, with pro-Western Antonescu and Dan vying to join him in the 2nd round on 15 May. But votes are still being counted in big cities & Romanians abroad, so all to play for.

@RSF.org annual press freedom ranking is out today, Norway is nr 1. Estonia is nr 2 in press freedom in the world. JD Vance attacked Europe over freedom of expression, yet all of Europe is far ahead of the US, which came in at nr 57 between Sierra Leone and Gabon pressgazette.co.uk/news/rsf-mov...

New from @liliebayer.bsky.social and me: NATO chief Mark Rutte has proposed that alliance members agree a new defence spending goal of 3.5% of GDP and a further 1.5% on other defence-related items to meet Donald Trump’s demand for a 5% target. www.reuters.com/world/nato-c...

“Weakness is an invitation to aggression.” My interview w/NZZ on why all European countries - including neutral ones like Switzerland - must continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s illegal aggression & strengthen our own defences in a dangerous world.

Ukraine and the US have signed an agreement to create a Reconstruction Investment Fund. The fund will be based on 50/50 partnership, ensuring full Ukrainian control over resources. The agreement avoids any debt obligations, protects national ownership, and aligns with Ukraine’s EU integration goals

“It was madness.” Romania returns to the polls this weekend after last year’s presidential elections were cancelled amid allegations of Russian interference & suspicious social media campaigns. The BBC spoke to some of the TikTok influencers involved 🤳🏿 www.bbc.com/articles/cqx...

The US & Ukraine are expected to sign a minerals deal on Wednesday after a breakthrough in months-long negotiations. As per @financialtimes.com Kyiv has secured the concession that only future aid will count as 🇺🇸 contributions to the deal.

⚡ Independent outlet Mediazona and BBC Russian have confirmed 104,763 Russian troops killed in Ukraine using verified public sources.

Viktoriia Roshchyna's, a Ukrainian journalist, was killed in a Russian prison. Forensic experts found Roschyna’s neck bruised, burn marks on her feet, a broken rib & signs of electric shock. Her brain, eyes, and parts of trachea had been removed. www.washingtonpost.com/world/intera...

Marking the 70th anniversary of Germany’s accession to NATO, President Steinmeier is expected to say that Germany plays a key role in NATO and a badly equipped 🇩🇪 is today a greater danger for Europe than a strongly equipped 🇩🇪

European peace plan for Ukraine key points via @reuters.com: territorial issues to be discussed only after full & unconditional ceasefire, ceasefire monitoring led by the US, robust security guarantees including by 🇺🇸, no restrictions on friendly forces presence. www.reuters.com/world/ukrain...

Ukraine gets IT equipment for military from Luxembourg and Iceland worth $2.3 mn The shipment included over 3,000 access points, 500 routers, 460 solar chargers, and hundreds of phones for military communications upgrades. euromaidanpress.com/2025/04/22/u...

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is visiting Odesa, in a sign of continued strong support to Ukraine.

🇺🇦🇺🇸 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Donald #Trump to visit his war-ravaged country and witness the destruction wrought by #Russia, after Sunday’s ballistic missile attack that killed at least 34 people in Sumy. www.politico.eu/article/volo... #usa #ukraine

"China Halts Critical Exports as Trade War Intensifies - Beijing has suspended exports of certain rare earth minerals and magnets that are crucial for the world’s car, semiconductor and aerospace industries." @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/b...

The US is moving its troops out of the logistics hub for Ukraine at Jasionska, Poland, for cost-cutting reasons. European NATO allies will take over & 🇵🇱 hosts many other 🇺🇸 troops - but the timing of the decision sends the wrong message to Russia. on.ft.com/3R8qBeo

A key message from #Poland which all European leaders should stress to President Trump: recognising Russian expansion in Ukraine would be a historical mistake & would cross a dangerous red line. on.ft.com/4cvjTcg

⚡️ US to know whether Russia 'serious about peace' with Ukraine in coming weeks, Rubio says. The U.S. will know within weeks whether Russia is serious about a peace deal with Ukraine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on April 4, Reuters reported.

At a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, US allies doubt Russia's intentions to end the war in Ukraine and demand more action in response. #EuropeNews

Many thanks to Foreign Minister @radek-sikorski.bsky.social for awarding me the Bene Merito honorary badge for my work as NATO Spokesperson. At this historic crossroads, Poland leads by example by significantly increasing defence, supporting Ukraine & keeping our transatlantic alliance strong. 🙏 🇵🇱