Board Director at EBRD

The UK’s meningitis outbreak and the grim legacy of Covid — The Big Read ft.trib.al/mrKIGym

Vase of Flowers Jan de Heem, 1670

Applause in the German Parliament, as @bundeskanzler rips into members of the Russian-backed AFD party. "the reality of life for the people of Ukraine is a different one, than the one you experience at your cocktail receptions at the Russian Embassy here in Berlin."

This afternoon at Buckingham Palace, The President of Ukraine visited The King. 🇺🇦 @ZelenskyyUa

De toekomst van Europa vraagt duidelijke keuzes. Vandaag nog in Brussel voor de Raad Algemene Zaken. Met EU-collega’s spreken we over de volgende EU-begroting, Europese concurrentiekracht, steun aan Oekraïne en EU-uitbreiding.

Open Letter to Viktor Orbán from former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko Viktor, look at this photo. We are standing side by side at a time when the future of our region seemed shared, clear, and bright. Back then, we both believed that freedom was not just a word, but the greatest gift worth fighting for. I remember you differently. I remember a leader who understood the price of dignity and knew what liberation from imperial oppression meant. Today, I look at your actions and ask myself: where did that Viktor go? How did it happen that a man who witnessed the birth of a free Hungary now plays along with forces that want to destroy the freedom of a neighbor? Ukraine today is bleeding for the very same values we once discussed across the negotiating table. We are defending not only our own land — we are defending the peace of your country as well, and of all Europe. Politics is not only about numbers, profit, or gas. Above all, it is about values. When you choose the side of the aggressor, you betray not only Ukraine — you betray the memory of your own people, who know what Soviet tanks on the streets of Budapest look like. Viktor, stop and remember who you once were. History is a harsh judge. It does not forgive those who remain silent or help evil in times of great trials. It is not too late to return to the light — to true European brotherhood, where honor matters more than questionable political deals. I urge you to look truth in the eye. Be the leader the world once respected — the one who knew that freedom is the only path.

How can on-farm renewable energy transform farming from an energy consumer to an energy producer? Join our @EBRD-@FAOInvest forward-looking discussion on agrivoltaics to find out! 📅 Date: 31 March 2026 ⌚ Time: 14:00–15:00 CET Register: fao.zoom.us/meeting/regist…

Russian fighters who have taken part in the aggression against Ukraine have no place in Europe. They pose a direct threat to Europe’s internal security. They have recent combat experience. Many were recruited from prison. Europe must urgently prevent their entry into the EU and Schengen. Ahead of #EUCO, eight European leaders call on the European Commission to address this issue at EU level.

💥@FT reveals details of the Kremlin’s interference in Hungary’s election campaign, confirming my earlier report that Sergei Kiriyenko was tasked with the job. The FT reviewed plans by the Social Design Agency, overseen by Kiriyenko during multiple foreign meddling campaigns.🧵👇

Vladimir Putin’s administration has endorsed a plan to bolster the prime minister’s party by flooding social media with messages designed in Russia and posted by influential Hungarians. ft.trib.al/fT6SXiG

‘In just a few months, several moves have pulled the EU in the wrong direction: towards entrenching carbon dependence.’

Russian hackers are targeting Signal- and WhatsApp-accounts of government officials, military staff and journalists, also in the Netherlands. We must not allow them to succeed. Dutch intelligence agencies AIVD and MIVD have issued a cyber advisory to help identify and respond.

One example: our support to the Ukrainian Women’s Fund. With our contribution, the Netherlands helps communities in Ukraine improve safety for women and girls and support full, equal and meaningful participation of Ukrainian women in peace and reconstruction. 2/2

Today, I met with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten @MinPres, during his first visit to Ukraine. We are grateful to the Netherlands for its significant contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and for the Dutch Government’s coalition agreement on support for Ukraine in 2027–2029, which provides for €3 billion annually. Our cooperation also includes joint defense production and strengthening the component base for Ukraine’s defense industry with the participation of Dutch technology companies. The Netherlands has consistently supported Ukraine’s energy sector. Since the beginning of the year, Dutch contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund have reached €133 million. I briefed the Prime Minister on the Regional Energy Resilience Plans aimed at strategically rebuilding our energy system and preparing for future heating seasons. We are also interested in engaging the Netherlands’ expertise in water management and attracting equipment from Dutch companies. We also discussed strengthening Europe’s energy independence and stability amid Russian aggression and developments in the Middle East. The Netherlands reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s EU integration path. We are preparing for the Second Ukraine–Netherlands Intergovernmental Conference, which will take place in Breda at the end of March, as well as a business forum to develop new B2B partnerships. I also spoke about Ukraine’s joint work with the World Bank on the ten-year “Economy of the Future” plan and invited the Netherlands to deepen cooperation in energy, defense production, and agriculture. I am especially grateful for the Netherlands’ leadership in advancing justice for Ukraine and protecting the rights of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. Within the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, the Netherlands has allocated €2 million to support family reunification and provide psychological assistance to children affected by Russia’s deportations.

Вдячний Премʼєр-міністру Нідерландів за такий символічний візит – майже одразу в Україну після початку роботи на чолі нового уряду. Я поінформував пана Премʼєр-міністра про ситуацію на полі бою, про російські атаки, які жодного дня не припиняються. Ми потребуємо стабільної, стійкої підтримки щодня, поки триває війна. Нідерланди демонструють саме такий приклад підтримки, який працює найбільш ефективно. Це прогнозований щорічний обсяг – 3 мільярди євро щороку. Також Нідерланди інвестують у програму PURL, яка є критичною для нас і дозволяє купувати ракети для ППО. Важливо, що разом з Нідерландами виробляємо зброю і обовʼязково будемо цю нашу спільну роботу продовжувати та збільшувати. Зокрема, це передбачено й спільною заявою, яку ми сьогодні ухвалили. І предметно це обговорили на зустрічі: інвестиції, ліцензії, можливі обсяги виробництва. Нідерланди підтримують нас від перших днів цієї війни та в багатьох вимірах. Це й оборонна підтримка, і допомога нашій енергетиці, і підтримка санкцій проти Росії, також політична підтримка для України. Дякую за це.

After meeting with President Zelensky, I had a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister @Svyrydenko_Y. We discussed the restoration of the energy infrastructure after this winter and how Dutch companies can contribute to this. We also discussed the progress of reforms in Ukraine in the context of its path to EU accession and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The Netherlands stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.

Eervol en indrukwekkend om met president @ZelenskyyUa een krans te leggen bij de Muur van Herinnering. Hier hangen ontelbaar veel foto’s van Oekraïeners die hun leven hebben gegeven voor hun land. We eren en herdenken hen voor het offer dat ze hebben gebracht. Voor de vrijheid en veiligheid van Oekraïne, en van Europa.

I am grateful to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands for such a symbolic visit – coming to Ukraine almost immediately after beginning his work at the head of the new Government. I informed Rob Jetten @MinPres about the situation on the battlefield and about the Russian attacks that do not stop for a single day. We need stable, steady support every day while the war continues. The Netherlands demonstrates exactly the kind of support that works most effectively – a predictable annual volume of €3 billion each year. The Netherlands is also investing in the PURL initiative, which is critical for us and allows us to purchase air defense missiles. It is important that we are producing weapons together with the Netherlands – and we will certainly continue and expand this joint work. This is also provided for in the joint statement we adopted today. We discussed this in detail during the meeting – investments, licenses, and possible production volumes. The Netherlands has supported us since the first days of this war, and in many aspects – defense support, assistance to our energy sector, support for sanctions against Russia, as well as political support for Ukraine. Thank you for this.

Last night, Russia carried out more attacks on energy infrastructure & railways in Ukraine. Incomprehensible that Russia is competing under its own flag at the Paralympic Games today while it continues these attacks. Russia will not break Ukraine. We keep supporting Ukraine.

Weer Russische aanvallen op meerdere Oekraïense steden. In Charkiv zijn dodelijke slachtoffers te betreuren, waaronder ook kinderen. Terwijl de aandacht nu naar het Midden-Oosten gaat, gaat de oorlog in Oekraïne gewoon door. Hun strijd voor vrijheid gaat door. Poetin stopt niet.