Sign in

Anders Åslund

@andersaslund.bsky.social
35K followers 2.2K following 3K posts

Economist & author, specializing in the economics of Eastern Europe, especially Russia & Ukraine.

PostsRepliesMedia
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
"Ukraine's Drone Forces Hit 300 Russian Shadow Fleet Tankers in 3 Months" This is how Ukraine - and the West - must deal with the Russian shadow fleet. The Russian shadow fleet and its oil should be ceased to pay Russian unpaid debts in arbitration verdicts. www.kyivpost.com/post/85121?u...
kyivpost.com
Ukraine Claims 300 Hits on Russian Shadow Fleet Tankers in 3 Months
Apart from Russian refineries, Ukraine also began hitting vessels ferrying Russian oil en masse in the summer of 2026.
27326
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
To voter for the republicans (=Trump) in the mid-terms can only be interpreted as a sign of stupidity or immorality or both.
57614
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Many new Ukrainian missiles: "President Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces used multiple Ukrainian-made long-range weapons during the operation, including FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, Palianytsia, Vendetta, Liutyi, Bars, Flamingo, Sichen and the previously little-known Pelican." (UBN)
2518
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Is there any US republican who is so dumb that he or she has not understood two things: 1. Trump owns the GOP. 2. Trump supports Putin. To vote for the GOP anywhere means to support Putin.
22415109
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
"US preparing 'massive' potash deal with Belarus, Trump says. Trump said that the deal would be more advantageous than buying the fertilizer from Canada." Of course, Trump prefers Lukashenko's dictatorship over Canada's democracy. Shamer on all his US supporters! kyivindependent.com/us-preparing...
kyivindependent.com
US preparing 'massive' potash deal with Belarus, Trump says
Trump said that the deal would be more advantageous than buying the fertilizer from Canada.
45414
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
KI: "69% of Russian soldiers on Zaporizhzhia front line have criminal records, Ukrainian military says. According to internal analysis conducted by the military, 31% of Russia's overall force had signed up to avoid criminal charges, and 24% were in the military to improve their financial situation."
33710
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Kyiv Independent: "Russia 'lost control' of its oil refining industry due to Ukraine's attacks, Trump says. A large number of Russian "refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission," Trump said, urging an end to the fighting." Trump defends Russia but not the US.
1437
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Kyiv Independent: "Russia's total oil refining capacity down 45% due to long-range strikes, Ukrainian military says. The assessment comes a day after major strikes on the Moscow Oil Refinery by Ukrainian drones and missiles." Trust Trump to work for Putin. kyivindependent.com/russias-tota...
kyivindependent.com
Russia's total oil refining capacity down 45% due to long-range strikes, Ukrainian military says
The assessment comes a day after major strikes on the Moscow Oil Refinery by Ukrainian drones and missiles.
25110
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Anne Applebaum: "The Trump administration has just announced a new “deal” with Greenland. It seems to be more or less the same deal that the U.S. has had with Greenland since 1951...Denmark...agreed to give the US the right to build military bases on Greenland, in the context of the NATO treaty."
1115236
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
8. No changes to foreign or defense policy are expected; Sweden’s support for the EU, NATO, and Ukraine remains firm. /4
1584
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
6. The Left Party has garnered support among Muslim voters. 7. With a substantial center-right majority—including the Centre Party—the risk of radical left-wing economic policies has likely been eliminated. Economic policy appears set to remain unchanged. /3
2332
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
3. All six other parties made marginal gains, including the three parties currently in government. 4. The Liberals secured their seats in the Riksdag by a wide margin. 5. The Moderates unexpectedly outperformed the Sweden Democrats. /2
1231
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Elections almost always hold surprises, and yesterday’s Swedish election was no exception. 1. The opposition likely won, though by an incredibly narrow margin. 2. The two major losers were the Social Democrats and the Sweden Democrats. /1
16311
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
8. Ingen förändring i utrikes- eller försvarspolitiken är att vänta. Sveriges stöd för EU, NATO och Ukraina står fast. /4
071
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
6. Vänsterpartiet har samlat på sig de muslimska väljarna. 7. Med en stor borgerlig majoritet, inklusive centern, har risken för vild ekonomisk vänsterpolitik sannolikt eliminerats. Den ekonomiska politiken verkar ligga fast. /3
161
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
3. Alla de andra 6 partierna vann marginellt, inklusive de tre regeringspartierna. 4. Liberalerna kom in i riksdagen med stor marginal. 5. Moderaterna blev oväntat större än sverigedemokraterna. /2
141
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Val är nästan alltid överraskande, vilket även gäller gårdagens svenska val. 1. Oppositionen vann sannolikt, men oerhört knappt. 2. De två stora förlorarna var socialdemokraterna och sverigedemokraterna. /1
1101
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
5. Declare Russia a terrorist state. 6. Stop voting with Russia on its war in Ukraine in the UN General Assembly. 7. Stop inviting Russia to the G20. 8. Ask his brutal friend Kim Jong Un to stop providing military support to Ukraine. /4 apnews.com/article/russ...
apnews.com
Trump calls on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian diesel, saying attacks are causing a shortage
U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian diesel, saying attacks are causing a global shortage.
811523
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
2. Ask Russia to stop bombing peaceful Ukrainian companies, its ports and trains. 3. Deliver Patriot missiles to Ukraine to deliver some air protection. 4. Give Ukraine anything - since January 2025 Trump has stopped ALL military and financial aid to Ukraine. /3
111325
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Trump has stopped far more diesel exports through his madhat war on Iran, which he denies. If Trump supported Ukraine he should: 1. Protest against all Russian bombings of US companies in Ukraine (Cargill, Boeing, Flex, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, etc.) /2
18520
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Once again, Trump supports Putin against Ukraine, calling on Ukraine to stop its successful bombing of Russian oil refineries. Ukraine has taken out about 30% of Russia's refinery capacity. If increased to 50%, Putin might accept calls for an energy ceasefire, but Trump works for Putin's victory.
1130092
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
"Canada has poached 48 US-based senior academics to join its top universities, in a sign of an exodus from elite higher education institutions that have come under attack by President Donald Trump’s administration." www.ft.com/content/8cc4...
ft.com
Home - Financial Times
News, analysis and opinion from the Financial Times on the latest in markets, economics and politics
713538
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Why is SCOTUS still considered a court?
88518
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Increasingly, I hear people here in Washington talk about our country as "idiocracy", presumably referring to that film. Sounds appropriate.
511016
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The new US sanctions on Iran seem to deliver more noise than impact. If the sanctions were to be effective, they would have focused on Chinese imports of oil, but they appear to touch them only marginally. This is no D-Day. mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#in...
mail.google.com
Gmail
Gmail is email that’s intuitive, efficient, and useful. 15 GB of storage, less spam, and mobile access.
87922
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
My article in Kyiv Post today arguing that it is vital for the Ukrainian economy that the Black Sea is being reopened for shipping. That is also true of grain supplies to the world. www.kyivpost.com/opinion/82649
kyivpost.com
Open the Black Sea for Shipping!
The Russo-Ukrainian War is heating up in the Black Sea this summer. The Ukrainian economy is at risk.
26321
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
My article for Project Syndicate today arguying that Putin has run out of options. Whatever he does, spend more or mobilize soldiers, will make his situation worse.. www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/r...
project-syndicate.org
Putin Has Run Out of Moves
Anders Åslund argues that the Russian leader’s only options will leave him in a worse position.
710324
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
My interview with TVP World on August 16 about Andrei Klepach's brave speech about Russia not being able to win a war of attrition against Ukraine and Russia's structural degeneration. youtu.be/PliyjPgX_vE
youtu.be
Russia is running out of money. Can Putin still win? | Anders Åslund
YouTube video by TALKING WITH TVP WORLD
0485
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
I am surprised that Americans appear to care so little about corruption in the USA. Trump's ending of the Corporate Transparency Act of 2021 is truly disastrous. His own business dealings would end his term in any other democratic country.
1920557
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
No surprise, VEB's chief economist Andrey Klepach has just been sacked. In an eminent analysis, he concluded that Russia could not win a war of attrition against Ukraine and that Russia was likely to end up in a social crisis as in 1917. news.liga.net/en/war/news/...
news.liga.net
In Russia, a state corporation's chief economist was fired after predicting Russia's defeat in the war
Andrei Klepach stated that the Kremlin would not win a protracted war of attrition against the West
311332
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
As long as Trump is US president, the whole world knows that the ideal of the US is mendacity & cruelty.
518638
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Europe (the EU including the UK & Norway) needs to rethink the war in Ukraine. Europe must aim to defeat Russia. Russia has now spread the real war to Europe. Europe must respond accordingly. The US is out or on Putin's side. Europe! Stand up for Ukraine!
720354
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Ukrainian rapper, Albert Vasiliev, intended target of alleged Russian assassination plot in Poland, media reports. He is also a US citizen. kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-ra...
kyivindependent.com
Ukrainian rapper intended target of alleged Russian assassination plot in Poland, media reports
Albert Vasiliev, also known as Kyivstoner, is a blogger, actor, rapper, and a former member of the Griby band. Russia previously accused him of orchestrating a drone attack in Moscow Oblast in coopera...
28928
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Reuters: "Ukraine has sent Russia an offer suggesting they both halt attacks ‌on civilian targets in the Black Sea, a source said, after mounting strikes on vessels and ports there raised fears over global food supplies." Russia said no immediately: meduza.io/en/news/2026...
meduza.io
Russia’s Foreign Ministry rejects truce with Ukraine in Black Sea — Meduza
Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated it “sees no grounds” for a mutual truce with Ukraine in the Black Sea.
55827
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
My interview today with Ian Masters about Putin's apparent attempt to opt for the destruction of Ukraine after he has realized that he cannot conquer it. bsky.app/profile/ianm...
bsky.app
25714
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
DTEK Oil & Gas reported that one of its gas production facilities in the Poltava region was attacked by Russian forces and halted operations as a result. (DTEK)
1274
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Ukraine: "Metinvest’s JV Zaporizhstal halted steel production following a Russian ballistic missile strike on the company’s production facilities. The attack killed seven and injured 21 workers as well as damaged energy infrastructure, coking facilities, and blast-furnace ..." (Dragon Capital)
02910
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
6. The US should finance good research and development & not rightwing extremism. 7. Government discrimination against ethnic groups or women must not be permitted. /3
3556
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
4. Billionaires should pay at least as much taxes as the ordinary middle class. That should sharply reduce the excessive budget deficit. 5. Trump's mindless & unjustified tariff war against all Western allies must stop. /2
1596
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The mid-term elections should be about: 1. US government spokesmen from the president down must stop lying and start telling the truth. 2. The corruption and active support for corruption by the president must be stopped. 3. Trump's mindless war against Iran must be stopped with minimal cost. /1
27318
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Since July 9, Russia's bombings av Ukrainian shipping around Odesa have ended shipping from Ukraine of agricultural goods, steel & iron ore, forcing the production of steel & iron ore to stop. Farming is loss-making without shipping. This is an economic disaster. kyivindependent.com/ukraine-face...
kyivindependent.com
Ukraine faces race against time as Russia chokes Black Sea ports
Smoke billowing over the Black Sea is now an everyday sight in Odesa Oblast as Russia continues to strike ports and vessels in Ukrainian waters. But it’s on land that the impact of Russia’s campaign i...
06123
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
My interview with TVP World on August 9 on the current shipping problems in Odesa. youtu.be/Me47B4nIBNA
youtu.be
Putin tightens grip on Europe's breadbasket | Anders Åslund
YouTube video by TALKING WITH TVP WORLD
0275
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
How can anybody support Trump given all that we know about him? Are there really that many morally rotten Americans?
8638773
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Why does the US support Putin's war in Ukraine in repeated UN votes, against the whole West? Trump's bottomline appears to be that he wanted Zelensky to lie about Biden's dealings in Ukraine. Alternatively, Trump wants to make money on both Russia and Ukraine. /3
916327
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Why does Trump cheat Ukraine, claiming that he will deliver Patriot missiles and then lies that he has not done so? Why did Trump invite war criminal Putin to Anchorage? What did he promise Putin there? Why has Trump never criticized Putin but even called him a genius for attacking Ukraine? /2
522140
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Incredible that some Americans still believe that Trump supports Ukraine contrary to all evidence. Why has Trump stopped all financing & arms supplies to Ukraine? Why has ignorant Putin-lover Witkoff gone to Moscow to see Putin 8 times, but never to Ukraine? /1
12393135
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
6. Through its attack on Iran, then US has exposed its Gulf allies & its own bases in the region with little defense. 7. Through his outrageous & unjustified attacks on European allies, Trump has weakened whatever remains of the Western alliance. Trump appears the greatest enemy of the West.
615323
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
4. The US has facilitated Iran's acquisition of nuclear arms out of sheer stupidity. 5. With incredible thoughtlessness, the US has wasted on minor targets its most expensive & important missiles, Tomahawks and Patriots, which cannot be replaced for years. /3
113517
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
2. Apart from wishful thinking that the Iranian regime would collapse, Trump had no strategy. When the regime did not collapse, Trump had lost. 3. The US has effectively given Iran control of the Strait of Hormus. /2
110711
Anders Åslund @andersaslund.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The US war on Iran is presumably the most stupid war in US history: 1. Trump started it for no good reason, whether to detract from the Epstein files or because he was carried away by Netanyahu. It was a lose-lose war & remains so. /1
1530487