cerianbond.bsky.social profile picture

Ian Bond

@cerianbond.bsky.social

32435 Followers

10756 Following

Deputy director, Centre for European Reform, London @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social . Supporter of democracy, the rule of law, the EU & Ukraine. Opponent of authoritarianism, corruption & Putin's Russia.

  1. cerianbond.bsky.social profile picture

    Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social

    Important short thread by @patricklohlein.bsky.social on democracy & the rule of law. Majoritarian democracy without legal limits will degenerate into tyranny. Agata Gostynska-Jakubowska and I wrote a policy brief for @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social on this theme in 2020: www.cer.eu/publications...

    Lack of respect for the rule of law is not just a Central European problem. EU institutions must make defending the rule of law in all member-states a top priority.

    Democracy and the rule of law: Failing partnership?

    Lack of respect for the rule of law is not just a Central European problem. EU institutions must make defending the rule of law in all member-states a top priority.
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    Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social

    Reminder that Putin has never said he wants a trilateral meeting, had never said he would respect Ukrainian sovereignty, and has never said he wants to end the war. Not to be a downer, but the discussion of security guarantees is premature.

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  4. cerianbond.bsky.social profile picture

    Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social

    I wrote this four years ago, but I think my conclusions still stand up fairly well. The big thing I missed, because I put Putin's essay 'On the historical unity of Russians and Ukrainians' on my 'to read' pile, was that the next 'surprise' would be his attack on Ukraine; I caught up later, though!

    thismanyyearsago.bsky.social profile picture

    This Many Years Ago @thismanyyearsago.bsky.social

    HIGHLY recommended read by @cerianbond.bsky.social, "Thirty years after the coup that triggered the Soviet Union’s collapse, Russia is ruled by the heirs of the plotters, not their democratic opponents. Why?": www.cer.eu/insights/mos...

    Thirty years after the coup that triggered the Soviet Union’s collapse, Russia is ruled by the heirs of the plotters, not their democratic opponents. Why?

    The Moscow coup(s) of 1991: Who won and why does it still matter?

    Thirty years after the coup that triggered the Soviet Union’s collapse, Russia is ruled by the heirs of the plotters, not their democratic opponents. Why?

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  7. cerianbond.bsky.social profile picture

    Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social

    "For whatever reason" - how about: "because Vladimir Putin has been waging a brutal and illegal war of aggression against his neighbour"? Trump's continued belief that Putin wants the war ended is extraordinary, and has no basis in reality.

    atrupar.com profile picture

    Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com

    Trump: "A lot of people were killed last week for whatever reason. A big number. A lot of soldiers. On both sides ... I believe Vladimir Putin wants to see it ended."

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  8. keirgiles.bsky.social profile picture

    Keir Giles @keirgiles.bsky.social

    Almost 24 hours later, we're starting to get there, but it took the intervention of esteemed colleague @shashj.bsky.social to hammer it home for the BBC.

    BBC reporting starting to wonder if Steven Witkoff knows what he's talking about.
    keirgiles.bsky.social profile picture

    Keir Giles @keirgiles.bsky.social

    • and yet, despite Steven Witkoff’s apparently shaky grasp of the key issues, and his habitual failure to understand what the Russians are telling him, somehow most media are taking it for granted that he knows what he is talking about this time.
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  9. jmkorhonen.fi profile picture

    Janne M. Korhonen @jmkorhonen.fi

    Negating formidable defensive lines by “negotiations” is an old dictator tactic. Hitler used it in Czechoslovakia, Stalin tried to use it in Finland, Putin tries to use it in Ukraine.

    cerianbond.bsky.social profile picture

    Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social

    Hesitate to contradict a former FCO PUS, but the idea of giving Putin all of Donetsk to get lasting peace in Ukraine shows a lack of knowledge of Putin (who thinks UA isn't a state & Ukrainians are just Russians) & of UA's military geography (ripe for further conquest without its Donetsk defences).

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  10. bestforbritain.org profile picture

    Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org

    Hanna Hopko is absolutely right - a crucial point and rarely made.

    The calculation for Europe has changed profoundly since Feb 2022. Ukraine now has the largest and most experienced army on the continent (not to mention arms and drone manufacturing capacity). It is vital to European defence. ~AA

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