Beleidsadviseur-Policy advisor/coordinator @FODSZ. Worked at @EUD_Brussels @DoofVlaanderen @vlaparl @Europarl_EN. Tweets in eigen naam. Views are my own.
België
Joined June 2012
- Tweets60.2K
- Following127
- Followers8.4K
- Likes54.8K
Helga Stevens retweeted
The plot thickens. My original assessment might have been correct after all. I find this nauseating.
The Telegraph is now reporting that Elon Musk personally approached Trump with a proposal to restrict Ukraine's Starshield connectivity. One source claims that Trump agreed, after which the Pentagon implemented the restrictions.
This follows Reuters reporting yesterday that the order originated inside the White House. Both Trump and Musk have denied responsibility.
The consequences for Ukraine have been significant. Ukrainian forces reported disruptions to drone operations, including interceptor drones used to defend against Russian Shahed attacks. Although some connectivity has been restored, the 160 km/h speed restriction remains in place, seriously affecting Ukraine's ability to intercept faster Russian drones.
If The Telegraph's reporting is accurate, then Musk, whose company supplies critical military communications infrastructure to Ukraine and the U.S. Department of Defense, proposed restricting that capability, and the president agreed. All this took place while Trump was pressuring Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, even though Ukrainian officials have stated that Starshield is not used for those attacks.
This warrants a congressional investigation into who initiated the decision, why it was made, whether the operational consequences were assessed, and what role Musk played in the process.
It also reinforces my broader concern about the reliability of American military technology and the degree to which our allies can depend on it. If access to critical military systems can be curtailed without warning for political purposes, the implications extend well beyond Ukraine. This has serious ramifications for the entire defense sector.
And if Musk was indeed instrumental in initiating these restrictions, his role as a major American defense contractor deserves particularly close scrutiny. If substantiated, this would demonstrate that he cannot be trusted with such responsibilities. Furthermore, his actions may have contributed to civilian deaths by undermining Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian attacks, and the continuing restrictions place more innocent lives at risk.
If these reports are accurate, Trump and Musk knowingly advanced Putin's military interests at Ukraine's expense. That may not meet the legal definition of treason, but for all intents and purposes, it is a betrayal at the most fundamental level. They are both traitors.
Exclusive: Musk approached Trump to slow down Starlink in Ukraine telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2…
Helga Stevens retweeted
BREAKING: In an amazing moment, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just met with all of Europe's leaders. Look at the reception he receives. Donald Trump would never.
Helga Stevens retweeted
Ukrainians are not superheroes.
They are people who want to live, love, and see another tomorrow.
Two of Ukraine’s leading artists, @JamalaBird and ONUKA, have come together to release “Lyudyna” (“Human”) — a song about finding the strength to keep going, even when you have none left.
Helga Stevens retweeted
Met President Zelenskyy today. Sweden’s message to all our friends around the world is to put more pressure on Russia, and more support for Ukraine.
Not the other way around.
ALT Copyright: European Union
Helga Stevens retweeted
Ukraine has officially received production licenses from France for AASM guided bombs, SCALP cruise missiles, and Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles.
Ukraine aims to start domestic production of the systems as soon as possible.
Helga Stevens retweeted
🔥🧵 ANOTHER REFINERY DOWN
Rosneft's Ryazan refinery supplies Moscow.
17 Mt/year capacity.
Unit AT-6 stopped.
Trump will be pleased.🧵
Helga Stevens retweeted
🇵🇱🇪🇺🇺🇦 Polish PM Donald Tusk:
There has never been such a unified position among practically all EU countries.
Even those who are less pro-Ukrainian, who sometimes show signs of weakness toward Putin, had no doubts that the next several months will be crucial, perhaps not only for the history and future of Ukraine, but for the whole of Europe.
Everyone was aware that, with this shift in President Trump's position on Ukraine and Russia, Europe should support Ukraine even more.
Not everyone does this because they love Ukraine. This is not about symbolic solidarity.
Many countries realize that if Ukraine falls, we will all have very, very serious problems.
Helga Stevens retweeted
🪖‼️‼️🇺🇦🇷🇺ÚLTIMA HORA🇷🇺🇺🇦‼️‼️🪖
⚡️El Estado Mayor de Ucrania 🇺🇦 acaba de anunciar que el ejército ucraniano 🇺🇦 ha logrado atacar el edificio de producción y el almacén de Roboavia 🇷🇺 en Rostov, en el sur de Rusia 🇷🇺.
Esta empresa se dedica al diseño, desarrollo y fabricación de sistemas no tripulados y municiones merodeadoras (drones kamikaze), como el dron Klin 🇷🇺 que se puede apreciar en la segunda imagen, para el ejército ruso 🇷🇺.
Roboavia 🇷🇺 está sancionada por Estados Unidos 🇺🇸.
También se confirmó que un ataque ucraniano 🇺🇦 logró dañar el 12 de octubre de 2026 una instalación que estaba siendo utilizada como un almacén para una unidad de apoyo logístico de la brigada de misiles rusas 🇷🇺 en la región de Bryansk, Rusia 🇷🇺.
Helga Stevens retweeted
😡🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 Alors que la Russie a mené cette nuit l’une des attaques les plus importantes contre l’infrastructure énergétique ukrainienne…
…Trump annule la loi ‘Graham’ sur les sanctions secondaires contre la Russie.
Les USA ne sont pas un allié.
Trump est un traitre.
Helga Stevens retweeted
Ukraine is asking the EU for 70 billion euros to continue fighting in 2027.
That is 0.4% of the EU GDP or 155 euros per European.
Not having a battle-hardened victorious Russian army on Europe's border is worth roughly 2000% of the EU GDP.
Our leaders must find the money.
Helga Stevens retweeted
Poland’s Foreign Minister Sikorski:
“The USA haven’t spent a single cent on Ukraine since January 2025, so more than 1.5 years. We in Europe are doing it.”
Helga Stevens retweeted
Mr. Trump! You say that Zelenskyy is not someone you can work well with. But Ukraine does not have, and never will have, a president you would want to work with.
Back in 1994, the Russians didn’t want to deal with Kravchuk either, so they supported Kuchma in the election. The Russians liked Kuchma. He spoke Russian, played the guitar on Russian television, and sang Russian songs.
But once he became president, he repelled a Russian attack on Tuzla Island in the Kerch Strait and even wrote a book titled Ukraine Is Not Russia.
The second time, the Russians supported another guy they really liked in an election. That guy was… Volodymyr Zelenskyy!!
You won’t believe this, Mr. Trump, but this “Banderite” and “fascist” was once a fairly pro-Russian candidate. He said that to end the war, “we just need to stop shooting.” He was so willing to make a deal with Putin that he proposed “meeting halfway” over occupied Ukrainian territories.
Imagine that! The very same Zelenskyy was once so loyal to Putin and Russia that my friends and I even joined a “No to Capitulation!” march to prevent agreements that would have gone against Ukraine’s national interests.
But time passed, and now you claim that this man doesn’t want peace!
The truth is that no Ukrainian president will ever be acceptable to you. Unlike Russia and the United States, we don’t have tsars. And anyone who holds the office of president must defend Ukrainian interests or cease to be president. Just like Yanukovych.
Zelenskyy doesn’t reject peace. He rejects capitulation. Peace is not on the table. WE ARE NOT BEING OFFERED PEACE! Zelenskyy knows his people and understands that even if he agreed to capitulate, the Ukrainian people would never allow it, and he would cease to be president.
So, like any politician who understands his voters, Zelenskyy is not prepared to sign his own political death sentence along with Ukraine’s capitulation.
I’ve been reading the garbage you’ve been spewing lately, Mr. Trump, and it fills my heart with joy and warmth to watch you panic. You’re losing the elections, and it looks like you’re desperately grasping at straws by kicking Ukraine. But it’s not going to work!
American voters are wiser than you, and they will send you to the trash heap of history, along with your clownish dances, your lies, and your antics of an aging, bargain-basement Don Juan.
I wish you spend your final years in poverty and in prison
With no respect whatsoever,
Captain Marchenko, Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Helga Stevens retweeted
If Putin stops fighting, the war ends. If Zelensky stops fighting then his country will be occupied, leaders murdered, language banned, businesses stolen, children kidnapped. That's what happens in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
Helga Stevens retweeted
For five months, a Russian lieutenant secretly helped Ukraine kill his own comrades by sending it the locations of his brigade, WSJ.
More than 300 Russian soldiers died, including a brigade commander. He took no money, then walked across a minefield to Ukraine. 1/
Helga Stevens retweeted
THUS SPEAKS A PRESIDENT
🇺🇦
“I made a mistake in believing Donald Trump’s promises. He assured the world that he would help Ukraine and put an end to this war if he returned to the White House. Yet, more than a year into his presidency, Ukraine is still fighting for its survival. Instead of standing firmly by the side of a country defending itself against an invasion, Trump has taken positions that raise serious questions about America’s commitment to Ukraine. His approach has left many Ukrainians wondering whether the promises made to us would ever be kept. Everyone understands that prices are rising because of the war in the Middle East—due to the conflict there and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Everyone understands this. If we wish to communicate honestly with people, if we want to be clear, if we want to speak openly with our citizens, then people deserve to hear the truth. There is no need to play games with people. But let me make one thing clear: Ukraine is a sovereign nation, not a piece of property belonging to the United States. Donald Trump cannot simply decide who governs our country or dictate our future. Behind this war lie millions of Ukrainians who have lost loved ones—children who have grown up to the sound of explosions, families forced to flee their homes, and soldiers who have sacrificed everything to defend our homeland. Their suffering cannot be erased by a political deal, and their sacrifices cannot be bartered away for someone else’s interests. We will continue to fight for our independence, our freedom, and the right of the Ukrainian people to determine their own destiny. I still believe there are Americans who understand our struggle and stand by our side.” Ukraine has endured too much to surrender its future now. We will not abandon our people, we will not forget our fallen heroes, and we will not allow external pressures to decide the fate of our nation. Putin and Russia will pay.
OUR FUTURE BELONGS TO THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE — NOT TO DONALD TRUMP, NOT TO PUTIN, AND NOT TO ANY FOREIGN POWER. Onward, Armed Forces; Glory to Ukraine! 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Helga Stevens retweeted
We don’t use Starlink for our responses inside Russia. We use Starlink to intercept jet-powered “shaheds” that attack our civilians and kill families.
Starlink wasn’t turned off – its speed was reduced. And when the speed was reduced, we were unable to intercept a certain number of jet-powered “shaheds.” We couldn’t use a tool that helps protect people. That’s very painful and frustrating.
We also use Starlink for mid-range strikes against enemy military targets in our temporarily occupied territories. We couldn’t do that when the restrictions were in place. And third, what matters most is people. Our warriors, who spend weeks and months on the front line, receive food and water delivered by drones using Starlink.
Has the speed been fully restored to what it was before? No. Is it being restored now? Yes.
From a conversation with media representatives in Brussels. (2/3)
Helga Stevens retweeted
No amount of support for Russia can end the war, because Russia is the criminal aggressor. A modicum of support for Ukraine could, however, end the war, by making it impossible for Russia to continue. This should not be a hard choice.
Helga Stevens retweeted
Develop your own nukes, arm yourself to the teeth, and dont give your arsenal up in exchange for any promises of security.