Ukraine now ranking higher than some members of the G20 and NATO!

Reinier Van Lanschot@reiniervanlanschot.volteuropa.org · last wk.

As much as I support Ukraine winning this war, I also support everyone in Ukraine fighting corruption. ✊🇺🇦

Both the EU and Ukraine are stronger together 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 EU membership for Ukraine is not an act of charity or just a reward for its fight for freedom and democratisch . It is also a strategic and geopolitical partnership

If you live in Europe and can see what our national leaders are choosing to ignore: The US 🇺🇸 is leaving and that we need to unite to prevent Russian 🇷🇺 aggression rather than get distracted by Trump's games... 👉 Then join your country's chapter of Volt 💜

Reinier Van Lanschot@reiniervanlanschot.volteuropa.org · 4w ago

Talking about increased spending and planned budgets will not keep us safe.  While the NATO summit is going to be dominated by endless discussions about the exact percentages of spending required- the truth is we need to act and create European capabilities.

Read our latest article on why we don't want to replace NATO, but... NATO does need a European Defence Union in order to survive 👇

NATO 3.0 can only be built with a European Defence Union

This is why at the Ankara summit, NATO will discuss how to turn increased spending into concrete capabilities. Meanwhile the US is withdrawing key capabilities: 5,000 troops will be removed from Germa...

volteuropa.org

👏🇫🇷👏🇪🇺

Sven-Erik Volberg@volberg.bsky.social · last mo.

Marcone: The French Navy intercepted the tanker deliver on Tuesday as it transited off the coast of Sicily in violation of maritime law. This latest action against the shadow fleet, conducted just days after a similar operation by the United Kingdom, illustrates the resolve of the Europeans.

Russian drones are hitting EU countries, this could be any European city! We need #EUdefence now!

UPDATE Trump just U-turned on the Polish troop deployment, pledging an additional 5,000 troops. Knowing Trump, this will be followed by another U-turn next week. Regardless: we shouldn’t depend on Trump or any American president for our security- so let's take decisions into our own hands

Reinier Van Lanschot@reiniervanlanschot.volteuropa.org · 3mo ago

I DON’T EVEN BLAME TRUMP! He’s only doing what a wannabe dictator would do, by destabilising his allies and helping Putin!

Trump changes his mind about deploying troops to 🇵🇱 a week after cancelling them. Want to stop your national security being decided by whether Trump likes the person you voted for? Want to break free from dependence on US security? 👉 Join Volt volteuropa.org/get-involved

Join with the 40 MEPs calling for a European Defence Union. Replace the 5000 🇺🇸 troops Trump just withdrew, with 5000 European troops! Join Volt 💜 volteuropa.org/get-involved

Reinier Van Lanschot@reiniervanlanschot.volteuropa.org · 3mo ago

I DON’T EVEN BLAME TRUMP! He’s only doing what a wannabe dictator would do, by destabilising his allies and helping Putin!

Instead of waiting for war to unite us, we must unite to prevent war. Russia will not cease its imperialism unless it is stopped in Ukraine and will attack Europe if we are weak. Read the full article here volteuropa.org/news/europe-...

Trump withdraws 5000 US troops from Europe...

Today is Europe Day 🇪🇺 Volt MEPs have joined 40 others in calling for a European Defence Union: willing nations coordinating defence and protecting each other. Like Schengen and the Euro, Europe moves forward when we choose cooperation over vetoes. If you believe in that future too, join Volt 💜

“If you think Europe can ever defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming.”   That’s what Mark Rutte told us during a visit to the European Parliament.    When I heard it, I immediately thought: we need to prove him wrong.   This is not a dream, it's a necessity.

Europarlement tegen EU-landen: schiet eens op met Europese defensie

De vier grootste fracties in het Europees Parlement zijn klaar met het getreuzel van de lidstaten rond gezamenlijke defensieplannen. Ze willen dat er haast wordt gemaakt, want er is nog te veel plan e...

trouw.nl

Reinier is one of our MEPs and we're very excited about this. Let's build a #EuropeanArmy

Reinier Van Lanschot@reiniervanlanschot.volteuropa.org · 3mo ago

So glad to be a part of this. A defence union will be one of those ideas that seem so natural and obvious when we finally build it. Let’s not wait for war to unite us, let’s unite to prevent war

Any Russian presence at the Venice Biennale is an insult to every Ukrainian artist who can no longer create because of Russia’s war

#EuropeanArmy

A few snapshots from the DefCom team’s trip to Brussels and the European Parliament a few days ago. We had the great opportunity to meet with the @volteuropa.org delegation, exchange ideas, and start planning the next steps for the future.

As innovative as Volt is, we didn't actually come up with the name "United States of Europe." For years, leaders have pointed out the urgency of a federal Europe, including Churchill in 1946. 🇪🇺 80 years later, it's more urgent than ever. Sign the petition 👉 loom.ly/LK4Ndcc

Three Ukrainian drones crashed on Finnish soil within days. Russia's GPS jamming diverted them off course, then spread disinformation blaming Finland. This is hybrid warfare: deliberate, calculated, and it doesn't stop at borders. Europe must respond as one. 🇪🇺

My mood today! Welcome back in the EU, Hungary! 🇭🇺 For years, Orbán held Hungary hostage and Europe to ransom. That’s over now. For Hungarians, rebuilding starts: free courts, free press, a government that actually believes in the country it runs. For Europe, one fewer veto.

Well we've seen how well Trump treats his allies 🤔

Thorsten Benner@tbenner.bsky.social · 4mo ago

“We’ve just gifted you an energy and inflation crisis. And we won’t hesitate to gift you more”. That great promise will sway 🇭🇺voters in the millions.

“We’ve just gifted you an energy and inflation crisis. And we won’t hesitate to gift you more”. That great promise will sway 🇭🇺voters in the millions.

Europe must draw the right lessons from the war in Iran. We were not consulted before the war began, and we were not at the table when the ceasefire was negotiated. That has to change. The EU has not positioned itself clearly enough!

📬 Read the 1st edition of DefCom's newsletter! - DefCom Dispatch 01 🎯 With this newsletter project, we aim to increase DefCom transparency and visibility, concretely improving accessibility and becoming more approachable.

Why every European should want a Ukrainian victory:

Reinier Van Lanschot@reiniervanlanschot.volteuropa.org · 4mo ago

If we put aside human rights, peace in Europe, the destruction of international law, and the probable mass killings of Ukrainians- wouldn’t a quick peace in Ukraine be beneficial for Europe?

📬 Open position: Co-Chair of DefCom (m/d) 📍 Remote within Europe 📝 Voluntary position, 4-8 hours per week ⏰ Application deadline: 20 April 2026 (applications viewed on a rolling basis) We are looking for a male or diverse Co-Chair to join the DefCom leadership.

1. Replace 🇺🇸 NATO officers with 🇪🇺 officers 2. Build a core European Defence Union with a small group of willing countries (🇭🇺 can't veto) 3. Establish a 'United States of Europe' with an EU Defence Minister and an EU Security Council

Volt Europa@volteuropa.org · 4mo ago

NATO is a defensive alliance created to keep its members safe from foreign attacks. Trump is throwing a tantrum at European NATO allies for not helping him wage an illegal war against another country that did not attack NATO. Re-read our statement on the EU army: volteuropa.org/news/buildin...

NATO is a defensive alliance created to keep its members safe from foreign attacks. Trump is throwing a tantrum at European NATO allies for not helping him wage an illegal war against another country that did not attack NATO. Re-read our statement on the EU army: volteuropa.org/news/buildin...

Great speech from last year by Volt MEP @reiniervanlanschot.volteuropa.org

Reinier Van Lanschot@reiniervanlanschot.volteuropa.org · 4mo ago

Europe must be able to defend itself. With or without the US in NATO. That’s why I’m reposting my speech from last year talking about what we, Europeans, can actually do about it 🇪🇺 @volteuropa.org #eu #volt

Why should we bail Trump out of a war he started, that raises profits for Putin? List of things Trump does against us: * Raises tarrifs * Threatens to invade 🇬🇱 * Has security strategy that wants to destroy 🇪🇺 Sick of 🍊 ? Then join Volt DefCom 💜 volteuropa.org/defcom

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 4mo ago

Trump: "I'm so disappointed in NATO, because this was a test for NATO. We're gonna remember. Remember this in a number of months from now. Remember my statements."