Leigh Turner Diplomacy
@leighturnerwriter.bsky.social
Author ✍️ of “Lessons in Diplomacy” and inspirational speaker. Also novelist. Former British Ambo to Austria and Ukraine.
The Leipzig Airport drone story is disturbing. A desperate Russia appears to be waging a reckless hybrid war on the territory of NATO countries without regard to the consequences. If it does not stop the risk of NATO countries being drawn into the war will increase. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Drone carrying explosives found at Leipzig airport in Germany
The drone was found near Ukrainian cargo planes before another object collided with a cargo aircraft in mid-air.
bbc.com
Incredible country, incredible job: Istanbul 2012-16. I wrote my Istanbul thriller “Palladium” here - to be published this October in Turkish, and available in English now on Amazon. For more about my views on #Türkiye, see “Lessons in Diplomacy”. #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy #diplomat #BookTok
This is a pretty fair and interesting update from @channel4tv.bsky.social's "Foursight" show - highlighting #Ukraine’s recent successes against #Russia while underlining that the war is far from won for either side. See my recent Ukraine-Russia update for more detail. www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1NJ...
Russia Ukraine war: the numbers Putin doesn’t want you to see
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtube.com
"Looking back I should have had some better judgement... I didn't realise RT was controlled by the Kremlin..." An astonishingly frank interview by Laura Loomer with the @kyivindependent.com. A tough watch in places #lessonsindiplomacy #RussiaUkraine #Ukraine #Russia www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECn_...
Laura Loomer on how she fell for Russian propaganda
YouTube video by Kyiv Independent
youtube.com
Soft power is a key element of hard power. The BBC World Service and the British Council really matter.
Gary Rawnsley@garydrawnsley.bsky.social · last wk.A compelling argument for the the UK's new PM, Andy Burnham, to take soft power more seriously than previous PMs. By Meryem Nur Küçük via @labourlist.bsky.social labourlist.org/2026/07/burn.... @labouruk.bsky.social #softpower
My new Ukraine-Russia update looks at the latest developments - notably the conversion of Laura Loomer, comments by President Tokayev of Kazakhstan and Trump’s warm words about Patriot missiles. Where are we now and what should we be doing next? open.substack.com/pub/writerle...
Ukraine-Russia update
A lot is changing in Russia's war on Ukraine. A lot remains the same.
open.substack.com
What role can the UK play in resisting #Russian aggression in #Ukraine with US policy under President #Trump unclear? There are positive signs for Ukraine. But the war is far from won for either side. My 27 July interview on Times Radio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJwy...
UK Takes Political Lead On Defending Ukraine Amidst ‘Hot And Cold’ US Support | Leigh Turner
YouTube video by Times News
youtube.com
Kyiv 2008-12. Your first job as ambassador is humbling. Here talking about social media; at the console in the Strategic Rocket Forces Museum; at a mine in eastern Ukraine; and giving an interview. More in my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”. #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy #diplomat #BookTok #careers
Interesting from #Tokayev. The #Kazakh President has opposed #Russia’s attempt to reimpose colonial control over #Ukraine ever since Russia’s first invasion in 2014, for the obvious reason that Kazakhstan shares a 4,750-mile border with Russia. Tokayev knows: if Russia wins in Ukraine, he’s next.
WarTranslated (Dmitri)@wartranslated.bsky.social · last wk.Ukraine welcomes Tokayev’s call on Putin to end the war, FM Sybiha says. Kyiv proposed freezing the front line for diplomatic talks, but the Kremlin continues to reject the move.
Interesting comments from #Tokayev. The #Kazakh President has never supported #Russia’s attempts to reimpose colonial control over #Ukraine for the obvious reason that Kazakhstan shares a 4,750-mile border with Russia and Tokayev knows if Russia wins it will only go further #colonialism
WarTranslated (Dmitri)@wartranslated.bsky.social · 2w agoKazakhstan's President Tokayev told Putin it's time to stop the Russia-Ukraine war and suggested freezing it with world powers' help. He said the conflict's nature isn't clear to many and continuing is "beneficial to Russia's opponents."
Highly interesting. I would be fascinated if anyone has any details of potential timelines for Ukraine being able to produce its own interceptors by working with Raytheon.
WarTranslated (Dmitri)@wartranslated.bsky.social · 2w agoZelenskyy stated that Ukraine, together with Raytheon, will produce interceptors for the Patriot system.
Meanwhile on Instagram… many thanks to anyone and everyone who is following me there.
“Rather a tragic story” - don’t let jobs destroy you. For more jobs advice, including real world stories of what diplomacy is all about and what diplomats really do, see my book “Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties” #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy #diplomat #booktok #careers
Director of Overseas Territories 2006-8: one of the most frankly terrifying jobs I’ve ever done. Here in a cockpit in the Falklands; on a RIB in BIOT; on Montserrat; and on holiday in Lundy Island. More in my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”. #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy #diplomat #BookTok #careers
Well, this is a remarkable development. For most of my life as a diplomat (1983-2021) this would have been an unthinkable development, even when the UK was still in the EU. Good to see it happening now. Or am I missing something? #gibraltar #spain #border www.bbc.com/news/article...
New era for Gibraltar with removal of border controls with Spain
It is hoped that free movement between the UK territory and Spain will provide an economic boost.
bbc.com
Good to be in #Tokyo for a few days: my first time since a short working visit in 1994, from #Moscow, just before my daughter Anna was born. The Imperial Palace remains as impressive, and as hard to visit (especially on a Monday) as ever #lessonsindiplomacy #castles
I got pushback from some people when I said anyone could become a diplomat. It’s true it depends a bit where you’re from. KEY POINT: don’t assume you can’t do it. For more background see my book “Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties”. #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok #diplomacy #diplomat
What happened in the ‘90s when a bank robber tried to hold up a bank in #Moscow, to be told there was no money? What lessons can we draw? One is that “money” is a flexible concept. Another is that not all bank robbers are very smart. Another is that 1990s #Russia was chaotic #lessonsindiplomacy
How to learn languages part 2: how “false friends” messed with my head when I was struggling to learn #Turkish in #Istanbul. To learn #languages you have to make mistakes - sometimes with comic results… #booktok #lessonsindiplomacy
"Russia isn't some utopia." Indeed not. Notably balanced BBC piece about westerners (including several dozen Brits) moving to Russia in the belief, promoted by Moscow, that the country offers a haven of conservative, "anti-woke" values. The reality is different. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The people leaving the West behind in search of the Russian dream
The BBC asks Westerners who moved to Russia if life there lives up to expectations.
bbc.co.uk
How to learn languages? It may not be what you think. In my book “Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties” I explore a bit about learning, and how I - a true language duffer - ended up learning lots of them, some to a high standard. #languages #learning #diplomacy #diplomat #BookTok
At 04.50 a.m. #Amsterdam still cool. The last all-night revellers are decanting into taxis. The Eurostar terminal is working, check-in opened on time, passport desks staffed, strangely tiny Stache coffee stall working flat out. All we need now is a train. #booktok #eurostar #writinginspiration
Political egos are often much bigger than you can possibly imagine. I’ve met a few top politicians, eg John Major, who didn’t suffer from this problem. Many more did. That in turn increases the risk of hubris. Let’s see how Andy Burnham gets on… #lessonsindiplomacy #politicians #politics #diplomat
A bit of fun for the weekend. Who knew I have a TikTok channel called “Diplomats in Trouble”, based on an unpublished and so far unavailable romantic comedy trilogy set in the years 2015-2021? The books star failed diplomat Angus Fairfax,🧵 1 of 3 www.tiktok.com/@angus.fairf...
TikTok - Make Your Day
tiktok.com
This looks significant (FT subscription may be required): giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... UK unveils prototype missiles for Ukraine with no US components
UK unveils prototype missiles for Ukraine with no US components
Low-cost, long-range weapons could be deployed as soon as this year in war against Russia
giftarticle.ft.com
Iran/US: strongly recommend this piece by Simon Gass - an actual JCPOA negotiator in the FT. Subscription may be required. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Reaching a nuclear deal with Iran will be much harder than in 2015
Reaching a nuclear deal with Iran will be much harder than in 2015
Tehran’s position has hardened and trust has declined in the years since the JCPOA
giftarticle.ft.com
The BBC on #Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow. It's hard to argue with President Zelensky's line that "We don't want this war and have never wanted it... But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too." This war could be over tomorrow if Putin withdrew #Russian troops. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Moscow comes under largest Ukrainian drone attack since start of the war
A refinery and a shopping centre were burning after almost 200 Ukrainian drones struck an area to the south-east of the Russian capital.
bbc.com
I’ve updated this post to include the impressively phlegmatic interview with the British couple on the yacht, Jane and Alan Kelvey (surely a book deal beckons?) and the efforts by both the British Ministry of Defence and the Russian MOD to de-escalate the situation. open.substack.com/pub/writerle...
The Russian Navy running scared
The Admiral Grigorievich incident shows the Russian navy is running scared.
open.substack.com
