Book Talk - A Misfit in Moscow: How British Diplomacy in Russia Failed: 2014-2019

One of the most tragic stories of recent years has been the failure of diplomacy to avert the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The reasons for this failure involve ample blame for all the parties involved. Britain, both as the closest US ally in Western Europe and the one that has taken the hardest line against Russia before and during the Ukraine War, has a special place in this story. To discuss the record of recent British diplomacy towards Russia and in the world more generally, Anatol Lieven, director of the Eurasia Program at the Quincy Institute, was joined by Ian Proud, former British diplomat in Moscow and author of the memoir A Misfit in Moscow (2023).

Download the full webinar transcript here:

[gorillabiskut]

Absolutely fascinating @49:00 ~ when he stated it didn't matter who or what party was at the head as the principles simply followed whatever was briefed to them by the permanent bureaucracy.

[flow]

Did Ukraine have NATO ambitions before 2014 and Victoria Nuland ?

[ElizabethRobb-tt]

This man is typical of our diplomatic class... He's just talking inane dribble when it suits him.
Yet he's caused part of this situation we are in. 😠

[AdilA-fy]

Good conversation but...not a deep explanation of their own assumptions...eg why believe Russia has no intention to regain nato territory, no mention of russian hybrid measures in eastern Europe, why assume Russia would use nuclear weapons if Ukraine regained its own territory rather than bluff. Play out how destructive for russian reputation or China relationship use of tactical nuclear weapons would be. Surely after Georgia 2008, Crimea 2014, the push it till they push back dimension of russian strategy...they only strength argument needs to be addressed. Ukrainian identity formation through the war not mentioned.