At Belgium’s Ghent University, Thierry Baudet, the leader of the Dutch right‑wing Forum for Democracy, was the target of an assault as he arrived on Thursday evening. The incident occurred at the university where he was scheduled to give a teaching session. Reports from the Dutch Broadcasting Corporation indicate that Baudet was struck on the head by an unidentified individual.
According to the TV outlet, the assailant approached Baudet near the building and struck him with a folding umbrella. A clip circulating on social media shows the attacker shouting in Russian during the confrontation. The assailant was taken into custody immediately, and Baudet did not suffer serious injuries. He later described a visible bump on his head and proceeded with his lecture, delaying the start rather than cancelling altogether, according to NOS.
The Dutch politician has long been a vocal critic of Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. His public stance has drawn substantial criticism due to his expressed pro‑Russian views, a thread that has followed him well before the current conflict in Ukraine escalated. Observers note that Baudet often aligns with positions that challenge prevailing Western policies on military support and sanctions, contributing to ongoing debates about Ukraine, NATO, and regional security in Europe.
In a separate development, Moldovan authorities announced a decision to block access to more than twenty Russian online media outlets. The blacklist included well‑known outlets such as VGTRK, Mir, NTV, Rossiya Segodnya, REN TV, Zvezda, Vesti, and RTR‑Planeta. The move is framed by officials as part of efforts to curb disinformation and protect information space in Moldova, with implications for how regional audiences access news about Ukraine and related security issues in the broader Black Sea region.
In the realm of European security discourse, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stated reasons why Ukraine cannot join NATO under current conditions. The remark underscores ongoing debates about alliance membership, defense commitments, and the strategic calculus faced by NATO members amid the war in Ukraine and allied discussions on deterrence, alliance expansion, and regional stability. Analysts in North America and Europe continue to monitor these conversations for shifts in policy, funding, and alliance readiness that could influence transatlantic security relations.