A visit to Riga isn't complete unless you've heard a Latvian choir. Thanks to Balsis, capping an excellent #RigaConference2026.

Opinion: Europe could put Russia’s frozen billions to work for Ukraine without confiscating a cent, argues Jamison Firestone. So why hasn’t it?

Belgium’s ‘Golden Goose’ Is Keeping Billions From Ukraine - The Moscow Times

Opinion | One of the most pressing questions surrounding the West’s financial support for Ukraine is whether the $300 billion in Russian state assets frozen by Western governments can be seized or oth...

themoscowtimes.com

🗓️ JOIN US: 21/09/26 - @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social/ @euinuk.bsky.social fringe event at @libdems.org.uk party conference on 'Strengthening a rules-based world order: Beyond power politics' With @cerianbond.bsky.social, @monicaharding.bsky.social, @alpinkerton.bsky.social and Jukka Salovaara

"To work, #Schengen needs to be three things: definitive, defensible and credible. None is possible without mutual trust between EU member-states. And none were on display in #Ceuta," @caminomortera.bsky.social tells @cerianbond.bsky.social in the latest #CERpodcast. Listen here: buff.ly/zODFrdk

Delighted to be back in Latvia for the 2026 Riga Conference, where I'm on a panel tomorrow on 'Ukraine's role as a pillar of European security'. Once you get away from this part of Europe, I'm not sure how much people further west understand that if that pillar falls, Europe falls. rigaconference.lv

The Rīga Conference

rigaconference.lv

Imagine telling a man wanted by the ICC over alleged war crimes that meeting him will be one of the greatest memories of your life. ㅤ Witkoff told Putin he would be “right at the top” of his retirement stories. ㅤ Ukraine was invaded. Putin gets admiration. Kyiv gets pressure.

For @cerianbond.bsky.social, the deputy director of @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social, the war bought a change in the German collective consciousness: “There was a realisation in Germany that Putin’s ambitions were not limited to Crimea and bits of Donbas. buff.ly/IHZ3EVX

Germany once cosied up to Putin. Now they are Russia’s public enemy number one

Berlin accused Moscow of being behind a recent drone attack at an airport in Leipzig. Experts tell Suha Kidwai that the Kremlin’s hybrid attacks are a deliberate ploy to destabilise the biggest…

independent.co.uk

🗓️ JOIN US: 21/09/26 - @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social/ @euinuk.bsky.social fringe event at @libdems.org.uk party conference on 'Strengthening a rules-based world order: Beyond power politics' With @cerianbond.bsky.social, @monicaharding.bsky.social, @alpinkerton.bsky.social and Jukka Salovaara

Yes and yet Ukraine’s allies won’t openly acknowledge that this is the case.

Ian Bond@cerianbond.bsky.social · 2w ago

This is - in more military language - what Putin set out in his July 2021 article 'On the historical unity of Russians & Ukrainians'. Putin's aims for Ukraine were & are genocidal. No-one in Europe should kid themselves that this is a war for territory, still less 'to prevent NATO expansion'.

And the title of Putin's article was a rhetorical trick to begin with - when he writes "On the historical unity," he implies that this unity actually existed historically, but that is simply his first lie.

This is - in more military language - what Putin set out in his July 2021 article 'On the historical unity of Russians & Ukrainians'. Putin's aims for Ukraine were & are genocidal. No-one in Europe should kid themselves that this is a war for territory, still less 'to prevent NATO expansion'.

UNITED24 Media@united24media.com · 2w ago

"Wherever Russian troops arrive, Ukrainians cease to exist." At an official event in Moscow, Russian Lieutenant Colonel Alexey Selivanov openly admitted their true goal is the total erasure of Ukrainian identity.

“The EU is an extremely generous construct. It gives member-states a true voice in world affairs. Some may have it naturally and may have it bilaterally,” Ambassador Serrano of @EUdelegationUK told @cerianbond.bsky.social in the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social podcast. Listen here: buff.ly/21EcBY3

🗓️ JOIN US: 21/09/26 - @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social/ @euinuk.bsky.social fringe event at @libdems.org.uk party conference on 'Strengthening a rules-based world order: Beyond power politics' With @cerianbond.bsky.social, @monicaharding.bsky.social & @alpinkerton.bsky.social

[Podcast] #GlobalEurope - Unpacking Europe: Pedro Serrano reflects on two decades of #EU diplomacy, by @cerianbond.bsky.social & Pedro Serrano | @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social www.pubaffairsbruxelles.eu/podcast/unpa...

Unpacking Europe: Pedro Serrano reflects on two decades of EU diplomacy - PubAffairs Bruxelles

As Pedro Serrano prepares to leave his post as EU ambassador to the UK, Ian Bond speaks to him about his 23 years in EU diplomacy and his time in London.

pubaffairsbruxelles.eu

"Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations" (Thoreau). Putin's genocidal war against Ukraine is waged also against its culture, history & language, with the destruction of millions of books.

Katya King@katyavdgk.bsky.social · 4w ago

Ukrainian publishers call for support after Russian attacks destroy 10m books www.theguardian.com/books/2026/a...

Best response to this nonsense is probably no response. Europe shd also accelerate efforts to reduce reliance on the increasingly erratic & unreliable US; & find legal ways to block US funding of far right parties & organisations in Europe, designed to undermine European values & create 'EuroMAGA'.

EUwatch 🇪🇺@euwatch.live · 4w ago

European allies push back against Pentagon’s “loyalty test” questionnaire

The @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social is looking for an EU institutions & EU politics fellow to join its research team in Brussels. Please see the #job description and details on how to apply below 👇 Deadline for applications 18/09/26 buff.ly/AbxXqg3

🗓️ JOIN US: 21/09/26 - @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social/ @euinuk.bsky.social fringe event at @libdems.org.uk party conference on 'Strengthening a rules-based world order: Beyond power politics' With @cerianbond.bsky.social, @monicaharding.bsky.social & @alpinkerton.bsky.social

And an essay by @cerianbond.bsky.social on how Britain can defend shared European security interests from outside the EU. buff.ly/nUHLHMz

Ten years after the Brexit referendum: Same threats, less say

Ian Bond on how Britain can defend shared European security interests from outside the EU.

cer.eu

How long before Trump reduces US defence support for Europe, on the basis Putin is "unthreatening & respectful"? Trump's treatment of South Korea shd be another warning to Europeans that as long as he is in the White House, the US will not be a reliable ally: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Trump reduces military exercises with South Korea, citing good ties with Kim Jong Un

The president cited the cost of the drills and said he did not want to send a signal that is "totally inappropriate and hostile" to North Korea. He also criticized South Korea for not helping him on I...

washingtonpost.com

Excellent piece by @nigelgould-davies.bsky.social - though I don't think the problem is limited to the RU opposition: a lot of European governments, including the UK's, are also reluctant to try to weaken Russia too much or think about how to create conditions to favour systemic change there.

The Moscow Times@themoscowtimes.com · last mo.

#OpEd Leading members of the Russian opposition often appear uncomfortable with what defeating Russia and supporting Ukraine would mean. Their Soviet predecessors were more clear-eyed about what it takes to weaken a dangerous regime, argues Nigel Gould-Davies.

Calling all euronerds! @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social is hiring in Brussels. A chance to join our great team, at one of the best small think-tanks in Europe, and to influence the future development of the EU.

Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · last mo.

The @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social is looking for an EU institutions & EU politics fellow to join its research team in Brussels. Please see the #job description and details on how to apply below 👇 Deadline for applications 18/09/26 buff.ly/AbxXqg3

Word is spreading that pockets of the European economy are blossoming. Croatia, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Greece are also growing at a brisk pace. Those countries are in the EU single market - casting doubt on a German narrative that EU regulation is to blame for its woes.

A decade after the #Brexit referendum, the essay collection from @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social brings together leading policy-makers, former politicians, senior officials & analysts to reflect on what the past decade has meant for the the future of UK-EU relations. buff.ly/jgBOT4e

Ten years after the Brexit referendum

A new CER essay collection reflects on what the past decade has meant for the UK, the EU, and the future of UK-EU relations.

buff.ly

Great thread on Soviet and Russian imperialism & Western failure to recognise it for what it is & oppose it accordingly.

Gavril Ducu 🇷🇴 🇩🇪 🇺🇸 🇳🇱 🇪🇺 🇺🇦@ducugavril.nafoforum.org · 2mo ago

I have been reading Amara Graps’ latest piece on the Soviet takeover of the Baltic states. It is an extraordinary piece of historical work, but it left me thinking about something that bothers me for a long time. nafoforum.org/magazi...

If Trump wanted to help Ukraine, he could right now. He could send weapons such as Patriot interceptors, he could sanction Russian companies and those who do business with them--immediately. There is nothing stopping him except for the fact that he doesnt want to. Why is that?

Totally agree - I have argued in favour of providing fighter cover, at least over western Ukraine, & helping Ukraine to increase its deep strike capability, for >2 years: www.cer.eu/publications... . Russia shouldn't be allowed to respond to UA successes by pounding UA civilians.

Does it matter if Ukraine loses?

Ukraine is retreating and Russia is advancing, militarily and politically. Western leaders seem to underestimate both the impact of Ukraine’s defeat and the West’s ability to prevent it.

cer.eu

Chatham House@chathamhouse.org · 2mo ago

Ukraine’s air defence faces a crisis with Russia’s missile and drone production outstripping Ukraine’s ability to shoot them down. Europe can help now by providing fighter cover, or delivering more offensive weapons.

“The objective is not to cut China off from technology forever,” @sandertordoir.bsky.social of @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social said in an interview. “The objective is to show that Germany has teeth, to remind Beijing that China also has critical dependencies on Europe.”

If the Ukrainian government and the Rada do everything needed to align with the EU acquis, the promised EU membership should not be delayed. New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight by @cerianbond.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/mTvZFnR

An extremely important statement of principle. Trump's willingness to abandon this in relation to Ukraine was a shocking departure from the longstanding US position on sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Sven-Erik Volberg@volberg.bsky.social · 2mo ago

OTD 86 years ago today, the U.S. issued the Welles Declaration—refusing to recognize the illegal Soviet occupation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania Srating that sovereignty cannot be extinguished by illegal military occupation 🧵 1/4