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:
quincyinst.s3....

[@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.

[@flow963]

Did Ukraine have NATO ambitions before 2014 and Victoria Nuland ?

[@ElizabethRobb-t3t]

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. 😠

[@davidwright8432]

I think that's not only unfair, but straight out wrong. On quite a few occasions he admitted the impotence or inanity of the UK's (and by implication its master across the water) position. It seemed to me his position was realistic and better informed than the UK government's. If Washington and London took his position, the world generally would be in a far saner position.

[@himiehonor1196]

He may have, but he did not speak 🗣️ out so if we end up at war, he would arguably be complicit in the degradation that leads to war.

[@ElizabethRobb-t3t]

@davidwright8432 Sorry, but he was the main person on sanctions... only because it hadn't worked, he's speaking out. He's just a bloody hypocrite.

[@AdilA-f4y]

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.

[@Mark-sl6pw]

He starts with the basics there...
They would need several millions just to conquor and occupy all of Ukraine - they havnt go this force, and once NATO is pushed back from their most vunerable and militarised borders - what would they gain...??
War with NATO, which they could not hope to win, and which gives them a real risk of escalation that neither side could control - for zero gain (they have more than enough resources, manpower and industry already).
Both Georgia and Ukraine pushed to be into NATO, on their borders - a crazy idea and one that everyone knoweldgable in foreign policy circles knew would likely lead to war...
Latvia...?? lol