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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

SCOOP: Ukraine planned to swarm Moscow airports with AI-guided drones this year. The operation, code-named “M&Ms,” sought to force Putin to negotiate a truce. The plan stalled in July after the firing of its mastermind, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

theatlantic.com

Ukraine Planned to Swarm Moscow Airports With AI-Guided Drones

The stalled operation, code-named “M&Ms,” sought to isolate Russian elites and force Vladimir Putin to negotiate a truce.

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Imagine how it felt for Ukraine's ambassador to the US to see Putin on the red carpet with Trump in Alaska. It produced a “very physical fear," she told us. "Much more terrifying than living in Ukraine under bombs.” Our interview with Olha Stefanishyna www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

“I cannot really pretend like I’m doing a great job here, having fun, while my family is under threat,” Ukraine's ousted ambassador to Washington, Olha Stefanishyna, told us through tears before she went home last week to face corruption charges. Her exit interview out today @theatlantic.com

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Reposted by Simon Shuster

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 07/08/2026

The White House, fearful of Kremlin retaliation and worried about a shortage of munitions, has left Kyiv to face another winter of Russian bombardment, Missy Ryan and @shustry.bsky.social report.

bit.ly

Ukraine’s Fleeting Turnaround

The chorus of optimism has quieted on several fronts, including Zelensky’s struggle with corruption and his relations with Trump.

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Since he was fired last month, Ukraine's defense minister has asked Elon Musk several times to help Ukraine destroy Russian missile launchers. Musk refuses. "Elon keeps saying it’s time to make a deal" with the Russians. New report on Ukraine's fading momentum @theatlantic.com

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

If Trump doesn't want to send Patriot missiles, Zelensky offered an alternative on Tuesday: Convince Elon Musk to help Ukraine hit the launchers inside Russia. “Instead of shooting down the arrows, we would strike the archers." Exclusive @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

When Zelensky fired his defense minister, he also lost his best contact to Elon Musk. This week, Zelensky wanted to ask Musk for an urgent favor during his trip to DC. But the billionaire declined to meet him. Exclusive @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

theatlantic.com

Zelensky Asked Trump for a Favor From Elon Musk

Ukraine wants to start using Musk’s Starlink to target ballistic-missile launchers inside Russia.

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

My latest, on the knowledge gap inside the White House, and how it became an obstacle to peace in Ukraine. "They’re not read-in on a lot of the background,” one official says of the administration. “Like they know everything and don't want to hear anything," said another. time.com/7287693/trum...

time.com

Trump Discovers the War In Ukraine May Be Too Complicated to Fix

Frustrating Zelensky and the Europeans, Putin continues to exploit gaps Trump's knowledge.

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Background Briefing with Ian Masters @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

We’re joined by @shustry.bsky.social for an update on the White House’s peace talks to end Russia's war on Ukraine following Saturday's meeting in the Vatican between President Trump and President Zelensky on the sidelines of the Pope's funeral. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

soundcloud.com

On Sidelines of Pope's Funeral, Zelensky Meets With Trump to Discuss Peace Plan/Giveaway to Putin

Background Briefing goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard elsewhere in American media. Background Briefing features international and national news, ex

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

In our interview on Friday, President Zelensky opened up for the first time about his argument with Trump in the Oval Office, and where the peace process goes from here. An honor and a privilege as always to talk to him, all the more so at this critical point in the war. time.com/7270880/zele...

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Nancy @plaintanjane.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

“The biggest problem is morale,” he added, as the armed forces of Ukraine are being left to fight without some of their best weapons systems, not as a result of Russian attacks but American pull backs. “It’s really causing an advantage for the enemy on the front line.” @shustry.bsky.social

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

New genetic research shows about half of all people on Earth descend from one nomadic warrior tribe, the Yamnaya. They emerged from what is now a village in Ukraine, currently occupied by Russia. t.co/lLBl8Ianoc

t.co

https://www.wsj.com/science/the-ancient-horsemen-who-created-the-modern-world-ba4b314d?st=U2gGPW&reflink=article_copyURL_share

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

“As a result of this pause, there are hundreds of dead Ukrainians..." On the U.S. decision to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine after the Oval Office blow-up. My latest from Kyiv @TIME time.com/7265679/sate...

time.com

Hundreds Dead: Inside the Trump Ukraine Fallout

The US intelligence pause has undercut supply lines to Kursk, cut satellite imagery and tanked morale.

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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Incredible dispatch from TIME's @shustry.bsky.social, who literally wrote the book on Zelensky and was in Ukraine as news broke of the White House shouting match time.com/7263232/kyiv...

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

The weirdest thing about Musk and Trump's support for the AfD in Germany is that the party is deeply anti-American. “If they actually read the AfD platform, they would see that it’s all, like, ‘Go, China, go!’” @benediktfranke.bsky.social told me. time.com/7260499/alic...

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

The far-right is set to double its support today in Germany's elections. Its leader traces her views on immigration to the public pool in her hometown, where she recalls Muslim boys harassing German girls. "It was quite painful for us." NEW profile of Alice Weidel: time.com/7260499/alic...

time.com

Far-Right AfD Rises in Germany, Boosted by Trump Backing

A pivotal endorsement from Elon Musk came in the form of a tweet: “Only the AfD can save Germany.”

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

I asked Alice Weidel, the leader of the far-right in Germany, how she would talk to her sons about World War II. Her 12-year-old recently began to ask about it, and she struggles to find the answers. "I start very early in German history," she says. time.com/7260499/alic...

time.com

Far-Right AfD Rises in Germany, Boosted by Trump Backing

A pivotal endorsement from Elon Musk came in the form of a tweet: “Only the AfD can save Germany.”

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

When she saw how Trump and Musk are backing the far-right in Germany, the EU's top diplomat, @kajakallas.bsky.social, was reminded of Russia election meddling. “At least the Americans are very public about this,” she told me. “The Russians say, Well, it wasn’t us.” time.com/7260499/alic...

time.com

Far-Right AfD Rises in Germany, Boosted by Trump Backing

A pivotal endorsement from Elon Musk came in the form of a tweet: “Only the AfD can save Germany.”

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Reposted by Simon Shuster

Devon Heinen @devonheinen.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Important long-form story by TIME's @shustry.bsky.social about #AliceWeidel. #Weidel is the leader of the neo-Nazi, #FarRight German political party #AlternativeForGermany, or #AfD. Sunday is the nat'l #GermanElection. AfD is expected to do very well. #Musk has been supportive of AfD. #Germany

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Esben Ridder @esbenridder.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Would be curious to hear thoughts from @noclador.bsky.social on the "horseshoe" group of countries mentioned here and how it could/should begin to address the NATO weaknesses in the region, incl. GIUK

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Her call with Donald Trump was called "horrendous" in January, when Trump demanded Denmark give up control of Greenland. In her first interview since the call, Danish PM Mette Frederiksen told me about Trump, NATO and Ukraine: "The world is on speed." time.com/7259818/excl...

time.com

Denmark’s PM Opens Up About Fiery Trump Call Over Greenland

In an exclusive interview, Mette Frederiksen discusses the incident and new transatlantic tensions over NATO and Ukraine.

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Why do Trump and Musk seem to adore Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany's far-right party AfD? She told me all about it in an interview this week. It started with a fire at Musk's factory near Berlin. It will culminate in tomorrow's elections. time.com/7260499/alic...

time.com

Far-Right AfD Rises in Germany, Boosted by Trump Backing

A pivotal endorsement from Elon Musk came in the form of a tweet: “Only the AfD can save Germany.”

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Punctured Lines @puncturedlines.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

2025 Books by Post-Soviet Authors -- Thanks to @sashavasilyuk.bsky.social for keeping track of all the upcoming 2025 books by immigrant writers from the former USSR, writing in English and publishing in the US. Take a look -- it's quite a bounty of riches! Authors include: @shustry.bsky.social,

A screenshot from the website PuncturedLines.com. A banner with old manuscript and samizdat pages at the top followed by the website content below. The opening post lines read:

2025 Books by Post-Soviet Authors
February 11, 2025 ~ Sasha Vasilyuk ~ Edit"2025 Books by Post-Soviet Authors"
2025 is going to be a big year for books written by immigrant authors hailing from the Soviet Union who now call North America home. Since 2021, I’ve kept a running list of books coming out from our community as a way to keep tabs and, frankly, because no one else was doing it. Last year, when my own debut novel came out, there were only 7 books out from our community, a couple of them paperback editions of 2023 novels. This year, however, we have twelve new titles, plus three books–including my own–being released in paperback. A recent record! I imagine the war in Ukraine might have had something to do with this increased output as several of the authors below engage with the war and the resulting refugee crisis.

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

"Mr. President, do you have any reaction to the new TIME Magazine cover that has Elon Musk sitting behind your Resolute Desk?" Trump: "Is TIME Magazine still in business? I didn't even know that." (TIME interviewed Trump for his last cover story 2 months ago.) time.com/7213409/elon...

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Simon Shuster @shustry.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

My new TIME cover story feels like a good place to start posting on this platform. "A Thousand Cuts," about Elon Musk's war on Washington Written and reported with Brian Bennett and our brilliant colleagues at the DC bureau time.com/7213409/elon...

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