✍️ DC Correspondent covering Eastern Europe | @AmericanU 🎓 | @ForeignPressUSA Board | Posts=personalhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mm5cdms4zc26NEW!! Ukraine says its troops have liberated the town of Stepnohirsk in the southern Zaporizhzhia region Your daily reminder 👇18 May 2026 16:30 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm5cdms4zc26https://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mm27brv6ak2iNEW!!! Russia Sanctions ON. 🛑 The Trump admin let the waiver expire that allowed temporary purchases of Russian oil. Sanctions are now officially back on. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-seaborne-oil-waiver-iran-energy-war/33758687.html17 May 2026 10:57 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm27brv6ak2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mlvz3iqzmk2mNEW!!! 'We Are At War': Sam Brownback Warns Of A Rising Authoritarian Alliance - including Russia, China, Iran - Against Faith and Freedom READ 👇 https://www.rferl.org/a/sam-brownback-religious-freedom-russia-iran-china/33757881.html15 May 2026 18:55 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvz3iqzmk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mltr45zyxc2tNEW!! U.S. Pledges Fresh $1.8 Billion For UN Aid Operations, Including Ukraine https://www.rferl.org/a/us-un-aid-global-ukraine/33757137.html14 May 2026 21:27 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltr45zyxc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mlstrmy5fc2qNEW!! Momentum Builds In Washington For Ukraine Support As Congress Forces House Vote https://www.rferl.org/a/us-military-aid-ukraine-congress-bipartisan/33756628.html14 May 2026 12:42 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlstrmy5fc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mlrazan5d22vTHIS!!! U.S. House to force vote on Ukraine Support Act after rare bipartisan rebellion Bipartisan coalition secures 218th signature for discharge petition, bypassing leadership to deliver vital military aid and fresh sanctions on Russia Joint Statement 👇13 May 2026 21:34 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlrazan5d22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mlqswwlom22wPHOTO: Rubio boarded M1 with POTUS on the South Lawn yesterday en route to JBA for a trip to Beijing -- despite being sanctioned by China during his time as a Senator China changed the characters they use for Rubio earlier in the Trump admin to dodge their own ban.13 May 2026 17:22 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlqswwlom22whttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mll6t3by7s2tNEW!! EU's Kallas criticises Putin's 'very cynical' ceasefire calls, rejects suggestion of Schröder as mediator on Ukraine “If we give the right to Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf, that would not be very wise"11 May 2026 11:39 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mll6t3by7s2thttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3ml7e7lcmms22BREAKING!! White House Counterterrorism Strategy has just dropped and it labels Europe 'incubator' of terror, urges NATO burden-shifting https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-USCT-Strategy-1.pdf06 May 2026 18:43 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7e7lcmms22https://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3ml6hqk3vvs2d“… Putin, his entire time as leader of Russia, has tried to separate the U.S. from NATO. He has to be overjoyed at what he sees today,” — General Breedlove tells me READ 👇 https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-iran-hormuz-crisis-article-4-breedlove-interview/33750664.html06 May 2026 10:14 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml6hqk3vvs2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3ml4v6le7wc2uNEW!! U.S. approves $373m sale of extended-range precision bombs to Ukraine State Department clears 1,500 JDAM kits to bolster Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities against Russian forces05 May 2026 19:09 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4v6le7wc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mkvm2vs75k2qNEW!! NATO jets scrambled as Russian drone breaches Romanian airspace Emergency alerts issued in Tulcea County as overnight strikes on Ukrainian Danube ports spill over into alliance territory, according to Romania's Ministry of National Defense 👇02 May 2026 21:37 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkvm2vs75k2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mktg5b5e2s2jNEW!! @meeks.house.gov, the top House Democrat on foreign policy, warns that pulling 5,000 personnel from Germany undermines military operations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East 👇02 May 2026 00:46 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mktg5b5e2s2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mkomvqmkbs2hNEW!! Senators Booker, Blunt Rochester, Merkley, and Markey back resolution on return of abducted Ukrainian children Four more Democrats back Republican Grassley-led measure requiring return of Ukrainian children before any peace agreement to end war with Russia is finalized30 Apr 2026 03:04 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkomvqmkbs2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mko3qrm47k2nNEW!! Sen. Tillis says Putin Wants To 'Eradicate U.S. Influence' In Europe, Middle East “No question that the blood of American service members is on the hands of Vladimir Putin," — Senator Tillis tells me READ full interview 👉🏻 https://www.rferl.org/a/us-senator-thom-tillis-russia-iran-axis-war/33745497.html29 Apr 2026 21:57 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mko3qrm47k2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mko3hilcvc2xBREAKING!!! Trump signals potential withdrawal of US troops from Germany U.S. reviews long-standing military presence as President hints at ‘short-term’ decision on force levels29 Apr 2026 21:51 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mko3hilcvc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mknaqsiues27NEW!!! Hybrid War At NATO's Door: @repwesleybellmo.bsky.social On The Baltics, Russia, And US Resolve "We know what Putin's aims are, and we must defend against them by every means available to us," Congressman Bell tells me READ the interview 👇 https://www.rferl.org/a/baltics-us-security-nato-russia-threats-wesley-bell/33745055.html29 Apr 2026 13:53 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mknaqsiues27https://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mkjkcegqe22xPutin just received 'direct message' from Iran's Supreme Leader in meeting with Araghchi If you're still surprised by depth of this partnership, you haven't been paying attention READ my int with Behnam Ben Taleblu on why it is more dangerous than ever https://www.rferl.org/a/behnam-ben-taleblu-russia-iran-partnership-ukraine-war/33742291.html28 Apr 2026 02:34 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkjkcegqe22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mkbd5k4tes23NEW!! Russian, Chinese Lifelines Keeping Tehran's Military Reconstruction Alive, Experts Warn 👇 https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-china-war-cooperation-support/33741900.html24 Apr 2026 20:04 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkbd5k4tes23https://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mk7nwretv22sNEW!! With 20,000 Teddy Bears In Washington, Ukrainian Activists Say 'Bring Kids Back' From Russia 👇24 Apr 2026 04:12 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk7nwretv22shttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mk3kyixit224NEW!! U.S. Lawmakers, Experts Sound Alarm On Deadly Iran-Russia Axis 👇 https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-russia-ukraine-partnership/33737935.html22 Apr 2026 13:09 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3kyixit224https://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mk25leqk622uWATCH!! “Ukrainians are winning,” says @whitehouse.senate.gov “Ukraine makes me proud to be a human being.” 👇 https://x.com/ralakbar/status/2046727221025317008?s=4621 Apr 2026 23:36 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk25leqk622uhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mk254lpblk2wNEW!! Rep Wilson on how Georgian Dream’s Pivot to Moscow and Beijing Threatens Western Security From the Black Sea to the Persian Gulf, the GD’s deepening ties with authoritarian regimes are creating a dangerous conduit for illicit trade and military hardware, he argues 👇 https://x.com/ralakbar/status/2046728561969500284?s=4621 Apr 2026 23:28 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk254lpblk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mjyrhit7s22cNEW!! Georgia’s ‘chilling’ crackdown on dissent must end, says Council of Europe rights chief Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty calls for repeal of ‘foreign influence’ laws and demands accountability for police violence against protesters 👇 https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/georgia-commissioner-o-flaherty-calls-for-law-enforcement-accountability-repeal-of-restrictive-foreign-influence-laws-and-sustained-support-for-the-human-rights-of-internally-displaced-persons21 Apr 2026 10:26 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjyrhit7s22chttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mjws2amj3c2dNEW!!! Key U.S. senators urge tech giants to tackle Russian playbook in Armenia elections Bipartisan letter to Meta and Alphabet warns of coordinated disinformation campaign ahead of 2026 vote and crucial peace talks 👇20 Apr 2026 15:32 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjws2amj3c2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mjwbvxgskk2eFor Rep Joe Wilson, the path forward for Georgia is a return to the democratic fold. “Everything is leading to a movement worldwide for fair and free elections... and now we need them in the Republic of Georgia” 👇 https://www.rferl.org/a/us-lawmakers-georgia-russia-china-influence-joe-wilson-free-elections/33735176.html20 Apr 2026 10:43 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjwbvxgskk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mjqirk4tuc2mNEW!! U.S. Quietly Renews Russian Oil Waiver Amid Market Turmoil, Policy Confusion https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-oil-sanctions-waiver-treasury-iran/33735009.html18 Apr 2026 03:30 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjqirk4tuc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mjmelj2qg22mAmerican chips still powering Russian drones despite export controls, Ukraine warns Fresh Shahed UAV strikes last month contained components made as recently as 2025, with parts linked to AMD, Texas Instruments, etc READ my interview with 🇺🇦 sanctions czar Vlasiuk 👉 https://www.rferl.org/a/waivers-russia-oil-us-sanctions-ukraine/33733519.html16 Apr 2026 12:04 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjmelj2qg22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mjgi4433zc2oNEW!! Putin’s phantom peace masks global sabotage campaign, warns Estonian intelligence Kremlin fakes peace while waging global influence ops, rearming fast and building a “parallel world” to pose as peacemaker READ 👇 https://raport.valisluureamet.ee/2026/assets/VLA_ENG-raport_2026_WEB.pdf14 Apr 2026 03:51 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjgi4433zc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/ralexdc.bsky.social/post/3mjd3exltxk2xBREAKING!! Magyar says Orbán called to congratulate him on election victory12 Apr 2026 19:25 +0000at://did:plc:57zh4uov2snf2nes3ftu2buv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjd3exltxk2x