‘Crimea will stay with Russia’
Says U.S. President
(Politico Europe)
“In 2014, before he ran for the U.S. presidency, he praised Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first invasion of Ukraine as ‘so smart.’ In an interview with Fox News, the president said Putin has “done an amazing job of taking the mantle.”
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“You look at what he’s doing. And so smart. When you see the riots in a country because they’re hurting the Russians, okay, ‘We’ll go and take it over.’ And he really goes step by step by step, and you have to give him a lot of credit.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-crimea-stay-with-russia-ukraine-war/
“U.S. president sees eye-to-eye with Russia on Crimea’s status, Kremlin says.” - The Moscow Times
“Full transcript of the U.S. President’s interview.” - Time Magazine - 25. April 2025
Arvamus: Kuidas korraldada Eestis sÔjaaja evakuatsiooni
“Opinion: How to organize wartime evacuations in Estonia.”
Ilmar Raag, Postimees
“Kuid kujutame ette kombinatsiooni, kus toimuks paar autodesse peidetud pommi plahvatust ja samal ajal paneksid ajalehed oma esikaanele suurelt kĂŒsimuse: «Kas see on sĂ”da?» Isegi kui Venemaal sel hetkel tegelikult mingit kindlat rĂŒnnakuplaani ei oleks, kĂ€ivitab see esimese isetekkelise evakuatsioonilaine, kus vĂ€lja sĂ”idavad eelkĂ”ige need, kellel on selleks vĂ”imalused. Me vĂ”iksime siis arvestada kuni 5 protsendiga elanikkonnast, kes igaks juhuks lĂ€heb liikvele. See tĂ€hendab kokku ligi 50 000 inimest Eestist.”
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“KĂ”ige ohtlikuma stsenaariumi korral kasutab vastane Ă€ra pĂ”geneda soovivate inimeste paanika, et ĂŒle koormata pÀÀsteameti ja avaliku korra hoidmise ressursse. See tĂ€hendab, et vastane vĂ”ib suhteliselt lihtsalt pĂ€ris sissetungile eelnevatel pĂ€evadel korraldada veel plahvatusi, identifitseerimata droonirĂŒnnakuid jm. Ukraina analoogi pĂ”hjal oleks meil sĂ”ja esimesel pĂ€eval liikvel umbes 200 000 inimest, kellest umbes pooled ĂŒritavad jĂ”uda mingisugusele laevale. Samal ajal tegutseb Tallinnas ja Harjumaal vĂ€hemalt mingi hulk vastase diversante, kelle ĂŒlesandeks on kaose hulka suurendada, sest see takistab Eesti kaitsevĂ€el operatsioonide lĂ€biviimist.”
https://arvamus.postimees.ee/8235626/ilmar-raag-kuidas-korraldada-eestis-sojaaja-evakuatsiooni
“Leedu Valmistub: Vilnius tutvustas evakuatsiooniplaani sĂ”ja puhuks.” - Postimees
“Lithuania’s Capital City Unveils War Evacuation Plan Amid Fears of Russian Aggression.” - The Moscow Times
Eesti sĂ”dur Ukrainas: ‘nĂ€en, mida Vene droonipiloodid Eestis teeks’
(Postimees)
“… Ta kardab, et Vene droonipiloodid tapaksid sĂ”ja korral Eesti sĂ”dureid nagu lambaid. Eesti sĂ”durid ei oska isegi liikuda, kui droonid hakkavad lendama, ĂŒtleb eestlasest noor droonipiloot Ukraina armees. Ta on tagasihoidlik noor mees, tuntust ei ihka ning palub sellepĂ€rast end nimetada kutsungiga Picasso. Ta joonistab hĂ€sti, sellepĂ€rast andsid ukrainlased talle selle nime.”
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“Vene droonipiloodid on vĂ€ga head, neid ei tohi mingil juhul alahinnata,’ hoiatab Picasso. ‘Kui nad Eesti vastu tulevad, siis kardan kĂŒll, et meil on ikka vĂ€ga p…s asi. Nad tapavad meid nagu lambaid,’ ĂŒtleb ta otsekoheselt. Picasso meelest on parem öelda vĂ€lja karm tĂ”de kui elada illusioonides.”
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“Eestis vĂ”ib olla mĂ”ni arvab, et meid aitavad metsad droonide vastu. Ma nĂ€en, kuidas venelased vĂ”tavad suurtĂŒkitulega metsad maha. Lammutavad metsad nii Ă€ra, et droonidega on kĂ”ik vĂ€ga hĂ€sti nĂ€ha,’ rÀÀgib Picasso.”
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“Mais algab Eestis kaitsevĂ€e iga-aastane suurĂ”ppus Kevadtorm. See oleks ĂŒsna mĂ”ttetu Ă”ppus, kui droonid poleks seal 24 tundi Ă”hus, lausub Picasso. Ja droone peab olema palju. Nii et keegi ei saaks vabalt liikuda. ‘See on minu vĂ€ga tugev soovitus,’ ĂŒtleb Picasso.”
“Michal: riigikaitsesse suunatakse 5.4 % SKT-st.” - Postimees
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Cover art by Drew Sheneman
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Estonian Defense Forces to build new base in Narva
(ERR | Kyiv Post)
“Maj. Gen. Vahur Karus, chief of the EDF Headquarters, said that the Estonian Defense Forces are planning to establish a base in Narva. The base will host more than 200 Estonian soldiers as well as allied units. The commander of the defense forces has made this clear after discussions with various parliamentary parties, and the response has been surprisingly positive. People have asked why the EDF isn't already in Narva. …”
https://news.err.ee/1609672526/estonian-defense-forces-to-build-new-base-in-narva
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https://www.kyivpost.com/post/51341
“Narva elanikud kaitsevĂ€e baasist: sĂ”da ei tule, kĂŒll Putin lahendab selle.” - Postimees
“Maria Zahharova naeruvÀÀristas kaitsevĂ€e plaani rajada Narva linna sĂ”javĂ€ebaas.” - Postimees
Estonian universities have not yet taken active steps to attract U.S. researchers
(ERR)
“In light of developments in the United States, many European universities are now offering more job opportunities to attract top U.S. researchers. Estonian universities have not yet taken steps in that same direction, however, the issue of whether to do so will be high on the agenda at the meeting of the University Rectors' Council. … With the new U.S. presidential administration, under various pretexts, beginning to freeze public funding for some universities and demand an end to certain lines of research on issues including climate change, vaccines and minority and gender studies, a number of European countries have begun to try to attract U.S. researchers whose work is under attack.”
“War on Science: US researchers are looking to Europe for new opportunities.” - The Next Web
“Europe offers refuge to America’s researchers.” - Chemistry World
“U.S. universities could be coaxed to open campuses in Sweden.” - Radio Sweden
“Europe to burned American scientists: We’ll take you in.” - Politico
Uus mudel aitab Soome lahes mikroplasti teekonda kaardistada
(Novaator)
“Tallinna TehnikaĂŒlikooli teadlased lĂ”id keeruka arvutimudeli, mis jĂ€ljendab Soome lahes mikroplasti liikumist, aidates mĂ”ista, kas pisiosakesed jÀÀvad pinnale triivima, randuvad, vajuvad mere pĂ”hja vĂ”i kerkivad sealt uuesti pinnale. Töö aitab paremini prognoosida mikroplasti levikut ning seelĂ€bi ka merd kaitsta. Mikroplastiks loetakse tillukesi, vĂ€hem kui poolesentimeetrise lĂ€bimÔÔduga plastiosakesi. TĂ€napĂ€eval vĂ”ib kohata seda ĂŒle terve planeedi …”
https://novaator.err.ee/1609673708/uus-mudel-aitab-soome-lahes-mikroplasti-teekonda-kaardistada
Why foreign nationals join Estonia's Defense League
By Andrew Whyte, ERR
“"We have 1,100 supporting members, in total, some 300 of them are foreigners," said Maj. Tanel RĂŒtman, from the EDL's strategic communications department. He added that these foreign nationals are not e-residents. Once in the organization, RĂŒtman said their path and duties are mostly the same as Estonians. Supporting members can also take part in major exercises like Spring Storm (Kevadtorm) and Hedgehog (Siil), and may join the Independence Day parade. However, there are several differences. Weapons are only issued temporarily, and supporting members are not allocated wartime positions connected to the EDF and NATO forces during peacetime …”
Siil 2025 (Hedgehog 2025) military exercises will take place from May 5th to 23rd
“France and UK deploy troops to Estonia.” - RBC Ukraine
“Additional Allied Units To Estonia For Siil 2025.” - Joint Forces
“Estonia testing all 120 emergency sirens nationwide on 14. May.” - ERR
“Government of Estonia approved defence readiness exercise Okas.” - Kaitseministeerium
“U.S. Army, Estonian Land Forces host European Army leaders at security cooperation summit.” - DVID
“Estonia will withdraw from the Ottawa Convention for major flexibility to defend its territory.” - European Interest
Opinion: Most high-risk security threats Estonia faces are non-military
By Kristian PĂ€rt, ERR
“Russia's armed forces have the potential to pose a military threat to us in the future, but the Kremlin has been actively employing extensive non-military and hybrid methods against Estonia and our allies yesterday, is doing it today and will continue to do so tomorrow.”
Estonia graduates to a ‘full democracy’ in the Economist Democracy Index
By Sten Hankewitz, Estonian World
“Estonia has normally been ranked fairly well in the past, but, up until this year’s index, Estonia had been classified as a ‘flawed democracy’, meaning it’s a country where elections are fair and free and basic civil liberties are honoured but may have issues. These countries can have significant faults in other democratic aspects, including underdeveloped political culture, low levels of participation in politics and issues in the functioning of governance.”
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“Now, however, Estonia has graduated to being a “full democracy” according to the index, meaning it’s a country where civil liberties and fundamental political freedoms are not only respected but also reinforced by a political culture conducive to the thriving of democratic principles. …”
Soviet emblem to be removed from the façade of the Russian Cultural Centre
“Starting on 21. April 2025, the City of Tallinn will begin work to remove a Soviet decorative emblem from the façade of the Russian Cultural Centre (Mere puiestee #5). The removal is based on the city government’s coalition agreement and a structural safety assessment.”
https://www.tallinn.ee/en/news/soviet-emblem-be-removed-facade-russian-cultural-centre
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“Riigipea jĂ€ttis kirikute ja koguduste seaduse vĂ€lja kuulutamata.” - Postimees
“Neljandik Eesti inimestest vaesub, enim saavad pihta noored pered.” - Postimees
“Autonomous vehicle created in Estonia starts operating in West Palm Beach, Florida.” - The Baltic Times
“Estonia's southeastern border infrastructure work to make deadline for this year.” - ERR
“Estonia warns: Kremlin offering free trips in bid to influence youngsters.” - TVP
“New Estonian National Museum director Laura Kipper to focus on modernization.” - ERR
“Russia leaves 4,000 Russian pensioners in Estonia without their pensions.” - ERR
“Estonian parlt approves expansion of women's rights protection.” - Baltic Times
“115 cruise ships to visit Estonia in 2025.” - ERR
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Around the Baltic Sea
Meet the New Generation of Homegrown Generals at the Helm of the three Baltic States' Militaries
(The Baltic Sentinel)
“For the first time since the end of the Cold War, a trio of 'homegrown generals' — free of Soviet military heritage and veterans of NATO's Afghanistan mission — have become Chiefs of Defense in all three Baltic states. Based on the previous careers and education of the generals who have assumed the positions of Chiefs of Defense in the Baltic states since July 2024, it is fair to conclude that the Baltic armed forces are led by an exceptionally homogeneous group that "does not carry shadows of the Soviet past."
Finland loses faith in US defence support
(Yle)
“Only 16 % of people polled in Finland said they think that the United States would provide military support to defend European countries. That’s according to a Nato poll published on Thursday by a research consortium led by the University of Helsinki. … Finland has seen itself as having a special relationship with the US, said the head of the study, Hanna Wass, Associate Professor in Political Science at the University of Helsinki. Now, though, Trump's threats and the broader shift in the US role have undermined Finns’ trust that the US would help if needed, she told Yle.”
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“Nearly three-quarters of respondents believe that Finland would receive help from other Nato members. Just over 60 % would be willing to send Finnish soldiers to support another Nato ally, up slightly since last year.”
The Case for Nordic-Baltic Pragmatism
By Kristi Raik
(Internationale Politik Quarterly)
“When the U.S. president was re-elected in November 2024, the mood in the Nordic and Baltic states as well as in Poland was somewhat less anxious than in most of Europe. The countries believed themselves to be in a good position for pragmatic engagement with the administration, thanks to their high level of defense spending, traditionally strong bilateral relations with the United States, and their rather positive experience of the first presidency, when the US presence in NATO’s eastern flank countries increased. Five months later, the space for pragmatism has dramatically narrowed.”
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“The Nordic-Baltic states are sticking together in the turbulent geopolitical environment. Regional cooperation is closer than ever especially in the field of security and defense, which used to be a no-go area even in Nordic cooperation not so long ago. The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO removed old barriers. Together with Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom, the Northern Europeans form a considerable, though loose grouping with largely shared security interests. Germany’s ability to spend wisely the hundreds of billions of planned additional funding for defense will be of critical importance for further enhancing defense and deterrence in the Baltic Sea region and reducing dependence on the US.”
https://ip-quarterly.com/en/case-nordic-baltic-pragmatism
Opinion: Wake up, World War 3 is Here!
By Pekka Kallioniemi
(The Baltic Sentinel)
“In September 1939, Europe watched Hitler invade Poland. Britain and France declared war, but let’s be honest: they weren’t ready for one. They’d spent years pretending that if they just gave the Austrian painter turned dictator with the funny mustache what he wanted, he’d eventually be satisfied and go home. He didn’t. He wanted more.”
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“Now, it’s 2025, and Russia has been trying the same game. Different dictator, same delusion. Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, committed war crimes in full HD, and what did many European leaders do? They tweeted ‘strong concern,’ …”
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“The problem is this: Europe wants peace, but without paying for it.”
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“Meanwhile, on the continent’s eastern flank, Poland, Finland and the Baltic states are already living in the post-illusion world. They’ve doubled down on defense spending, built tight regional cooperation, and pushed NATO to adapt. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania know better than anyone what’s at stake, and they’re treating it accordingly.”
https://balticsentinel.eu/8232588/pekka-kallioniemi-wake-up-world-war-3-is-here
Travel to the U.S. from many European countries has declined sharply
(Yle)
“Goldman Sachs estimates that the fall in tourism and associated boycotts of American products could cause a 90 billion dollar loss to American GDP.”
https://yle.fi/a/74-20157571
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| Travel to the US from many European countries has declined sharply. Image: Eetu-Mikko Pietarinen / Yle |
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“Europe’s Undersea Opportunity.” - Lawfare
The left is rising – is hope emerging in Finland?” - The Guardian
“Euroopa sĂ”jalise logistika plaanid Ă€hvardavad lennata vastu taevast.” - Postimees
“RAF jets intercept Russian aircraft near Nato airspace.” - BBC
“The US cavalry isn’t coming: How Europe moves its armies without American assistance.” - Politico Europe
“Europe looks to an old ally for defense: Britain.” - Christian Science Monitor
“Nearly 44,000 companies in Finland shut down operations in 2024.” - Yle
“Criminal gangs in Sweden are determining where children attend school in order to maintain control over local drug networks.” - Helsinki Times
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Putin’s Forever War
The Harsh Realities of Russian-Occupied Ukraine
By Kseniya Kirillova, CEPA
“The Russian opposition politician Maksim Kats highlighted comments by the reliably pro-Kremlin Army General and State Duma deputy Andrey Gurulev, who had admitted that there is an extremely low standard of living in Russia’s notoriously impoverished regions, including the Far East. The situation is even worse in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, Kats said. Even in Mariupol, which is used by the Kremlin as a postcard for Russia’s supposed rebuilding of Donbas, entire blocks still lie in ruins, and the few houses constructed by the occupiers are poor quality with “cracks covering the walls only a year after the buildings were finished.”
https://cepa.org/article/the-harsh-realities-of-russian-occupied-ukraine/
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov: Russia is ‘ready to reach a deal’ on Ukraine
(France24 | CBS News)
“… pointing to the U.S. President as the ‘only leader’ capable of understanding Russia's demands. ‘We are ready to reach a deal, but there are still some specific points... which need to be fine-tuned, and we are busy with this,’ Lavrov said.”
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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sergey-lavrov-russia-urkaine-ceasefire-deal/
The U.S. President’s Plan to Sell Out Ukraine to Russia
By Tom Nichols, The Atlantic
“The proposal that the President, the Vice President, and Secretary of State are pushing is not a framework for peace, but a rich and bloody reward to Moscow for three years of aggression and war crimes.”
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“If Kyiv agrees to Trump’s proposal, whatever is left of the Ukrainian state will soon be an easy target for the Kremlin. Once the Russian economy recovers and Russia’s forces catch their breath, Putin will finish the job of conquering Ukraine with even greater vengeance and violence. Time and space are on Moscow’s side, and Trump intends to give Putin plenty of both.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/04/trump-ukraine-russia-deal/682564/
“U.S. president’s ‘final offer’ for peace requires Ukraine to accept Russian occupation.” - Axios
“Putin reportedly proposes freezing Ukraine war along current frontlines.” - Novaya Gazeta
Is the U.S. President About to Abandon Ukraine?
By: Jacob Heilbrunn, National Interest
“The U.S. president’s proposal gives Russia pretty much what it’s been asking for—no Ukrainian membership in NATO, full sanctions relief, legal recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and control over the land it’s currently occupying in eastern Ukraine. The problem for Putin, if it’s a problem, is that he has little incentive to agree to any deal. For now, Russian forces continue to advance in Ukraine and the spat between Kyiv and Washington plays to Moscow’s advantage. Vice President J.D. Vance says that the administration is prepared to “walk away.” Why agree to a deal when Trump may simply abandon Ukraine?”
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/jacob-heilbrunn/is-trump-about-to-abandon-ukraine
Slavery in Russia
By Paul Goble, - Window on Eurasia
“… is far more widespread than Moscow admits or acknowledges. No one knows precisely how many people are working as slaves in the Russian Federation. International human rights activists offer numbers ranging from 7,000 to two million. Moscow says there have been only 53 cases of slavery over the last 15 years; but in fact, it has brought to justice 17 times that number but hid this crime behind other charges.”
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2025/04/slavery-in-russia-far-more-widespread.html
“How a riot in Krasnodar highlights the Russian army’s desertion problem.” - Meduza
“State of Emergency Declared as Huge Explosion Rocks Russia’s Vladimir Region.” - Moscow Times
“Four Russian Assault Groups Ran Into A Wall Of Drones. 50 died.” - Forbes
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