President Joe Biden told Vladimir Putin that the West would respond decisively to any invasion of Ukraine, adding such a step would produce widespread suffering and isolate Moscow https://t.co/wkekTxCLhD pic.twitter.com/Uw592FCbLP
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 13, 2022
President Biden spoke for an hour Saturday with President Vladimir Putin of Russia in a bid to defuse the crisis over Ukraine. Biden made it clear that while the U.S. was prepared for diplomacy, it was also ready for other scenarios, the White House said. https://t.co/jRqFYQ48CT
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 12, 2022
President Biden and Ukrainian President Zelensky will speak this morning at 10:45 eastern, a WH official confirms to CNN. Biden and Zelensky last spoke last month and had some disagreements over the "risk levels" of a Russian attack, a Ukrainian official told CNN at the time.
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 13, 2022
Jake Sullivan on CNN: "The way [Russia has] built up their forces, the way they have maneuvered things in place, makes it a distinct possibility there will be major military action [in Ukraine] very soon." pic.twitter.com/cLgeHWMyMU
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 13, 2022
BREAKING: President Biden again called on President Putin to pull back Russian troops massed near Ukraine’s borders and warned the U.S. and its allies would “respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if Russia invades, the White House said. https://t.co/yE2f0YjYlN
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 12, 2022
We’re seeing satellite evidence of Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs) being established, and here we have what appears to be a jump-off point on the eastern border of Ukraine.
— Angry Staffer 🌻 (@Angry_Staffer) February 13, 2022
If Russia isn’t going to invade, they’re spending tons of money to make it look like they are. https://t.co/PAnlb7OaYl
Take a note of the white-red-white flags of Belarusian opposition in the crowd. Since 2020, Ukraine has become a home for thousands of Belarusians fleeing the repressive Lukashenko regime. In Kyiv, they were able to finally breath freely. Russian aggression now threatens them too https://t.co/HTbE84w8z4
— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) February 13, 2022
By releasing declassified intelligence about Russian moves against Ukraine, the Biden administration hopes to disrupt Moscow's plans and make it harder for President Vladimir Putin to justify an invasion. https://t.co/gBjHUKyEsT
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 12, 2022
More of the opposite: accusations of western war-mongering with no mention of Ukrainians’ desire for independence and self defense
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) February 13, 2022
Nearly 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of how Joe Biden is handling his presidency, with most of that group saying there's literally nothing Biden has done since taking office that they approve of, a CNN poll shows. https://t.co/arebu1pLhN
— CNN (@CNN) February 10, 2022
holy fucking shit, if you're rooting for chaos in Ukraine because you think it makes Joe Biden look bad, kindly resign from Congress and slither the fuck back under your flat rock
— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) February 11, 2022
Some people have asked "Why haven't Russian business elites restrained Putin?" My question would be "Why should they? Western business capitols like London & New York have shown they are always eager to launder Russian money & profit from looting no matter what."
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) February 13, 2022
“Good” morning from @anneapplebaum pic.twitter.com/UHtZ6ZA2v5
— Anastasiia Lapatina (@lapatina_) February 13, 2022
Macron is handling the Russia situation in a far more sophisticated way than most of his peers.
— Brendan May (@bmay) February 13, 2022
Doing actual diplomacy.
You can’t field clowns in these sorts of situations, no matter who’s right or wrong.
If things de-escalate, it’ll be in large part down to @EmmanuelMacron
***
Britain knows Russian money is key to Ukraine response
This thread is worth your time, especially in not shying away from the hard choice between the lure of oligarch money and the signal continuing to accept, wash, and bathe in it sends. https://t.co/s5SMF5C7x5
— Dmitry Grozoubinski (@DmitryOpines) February 13, 2022
It’s alright. He’s finished it already. pic.twitter.com/xRSaEJ0ENk
— Coly O'Hare (@colydawg) February 12, 2022
— Councillor Robin Stephens 🔶 (@RobinAStephens) February 12, 2022
Ben Wallace is the only member of Cabinet worthy of admiration. He's been brilliant over the last few weeks. And he's damn right here. https://t.co/JSgl1ynCwO
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) February 13, 2022
🤷♂️ 'Britain has placed 1,000 troops on standby to deploy to eastern Europe if there is a refugee crisis prompted by any Russian invasion of Ukraine', 'Britain agreed to send 100 engineers to Poland to help secure its eastern border in December'https://t.co/Crsf0gZN9p
— Эрнест Жанаев (@ErnestZhanaev) February 13, 2022
There are 'very few moments in Truss’s five-month stint at the Foreign Office that have not been caught for posterity by publicly funded official photographers'. @trussliz squandering money and posing. #LizTruss #GeographyWithLiz #CopyCat #MargaretThatcherhttps://t.co/PM4cUMlMWz
— Dame TweetiePie 🇸🇪🇬🇧🇫🇮 Peaceful Warrior. (@HelenaU) February 13, 2022
First we had the tank picture, now this. Liz Truss must surely be the least imaginative woman in the world. pic.twitter.com/XG3ZIHvWKt
— Ruth Whalley (@Leftdoubleclick) February 10, 2022
Whilst it’s deeply irritating that our foreign secretary is behaving like a budget Instagram influencer, I can’t help but smile at the bleakness of her rivals’ contributions…https://t.co/x2WLy1EVnX pic.twitter.com/Op1gUDI01J
— James Robinson (@jamesmrobinson) February 13, 2022
Meanwhile, the other shitshow continues…
The ERG see it as getting one up on the Germans and the French. The DUP see it as a way of portraying themselves as stopping the Protocol pre election, even though they played a big hand in creating it. Neither group concerned about any damage caused by triggering Article 16.
— Gerry McK (@GMcK2012) February 13, 2022
A number of observers to matters Northern Ireland suggest to me that the kind of political reset obviously needed will be necessary after May's assembly elections, so why change now. Makes some sense, but means nervy times continue. https://t.co/tKeQpv3QKX
— David Henig 🇺🇦 (@DavidHenigUK) February 11, 2022
Give me strength…. this is not a concession, this is what was agreed in the legally binding International Agreement that the British PM/Frost negotiated, you voted for, as did the British Parliament who then ratified it… you're not too old to remember this surely
— Marcella (@cellah26bsky) February 12, 2022
Worryingly, Hannan is also trying to cast the triggering of Article 16 as a test of the government's preeminence over "the blob". This is exactly the kind of narrative story-telling that hits home with the Tory faithful.
— Roland Smith (@rolandmcs) February 13, 2022
Watch them work themselves up into a frenzy over it. pic.twitter.com/syzTWMlA4m
NI Protocol: Who needs Article 16 when crisis prevails? via @RTENews https://t.co/txK31A8O0P
— Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) February 5, 2022
A forlorn Ian Paisley revealed his fears in the HoC that the Tories are an English nationalist party which doesn't give a jot for unionists here. The political penny is finally dropping for the DUP. This is Conservative con-artistry for slow learners.https://t.co/Gw1OCPL4Bh
— Suzanne Breen (@SuzyJourno) February 13, 2022
Ian Paisley ‘took most freebies of all Northern Ireland MPs’ https://t.co/1ws2v8biut pic.twitter.com/PFATeuYZ4D
— Sunday Life (@TheSundayLife) February 13, 2022
Theresa May’s Brexit deal looks better with each passing day @indypremium https://t.co/K4V1fTtVW2
— John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) February 12, 2022
Sunday Borisograph tomorrow —- and the whole rationale behind Brexit becomes clear —- don’t get ill, don’t lose you job, don’t get old —- you’re on your own from here on in, old love. pic.twitter.com/XbvpkcIyHE
— Tim Walker (@ThatTimWalker) February 12, 2022
These remarks will sound alarm bells in Scotland.
— Ian Blackford 🇺🇦🏴 (@Ianblackford_MP) February 13, 2022
The UK is in the grip of a Tory cost of living crisis, and Brexit has cut billions from our economy.
The very last thing we need is a return to Thatcherism, cuts to public services and financial support.https://t.co/SiIR9EQukz
Levelling up in his head means turning us into one massive gas field north of Birmingham to ensure the Home Counties can afford their energy bills 😂
— Scouse Pedro (@Redpedro38) February 13, 2022
This is delusional. Brexit has cost the UK £billions in lost trade, investment and growth.
— Ian Blackford 🇺🇦🏴 (@Ianblackford_MP) February 12, 2022
It's compounded the Tory cost of living crisis by increasing costs, destroying jobs and squeezing incomes – and it's stripped people's rights away. There are no wins – let alone big ones. pic.twitter.com/tzMEPQ7FT3
My fella is taking part in a social experiment… He is wearing a "I'm Backing Boris" T-shirt for 2 weeks to see how people react.
— Marie-Ann Detests Tories 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 (@MarieAnnUK) February 13, 2022
So far he’s been spat on, punched and had a bottle thrown at him.
I’m curious to see what happens when he goes outside.
The Overnight Note 