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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

The key question from this report is “The BBC has asked the White House what Russia will get from the US in return for the commitment.” What concessions has #Russia made? On peace? On attacking civilians and grain ships? This seems all about President #Trump and elections www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.com

Trump announces deal for Russian diesel as Zelensky calls it a 'gift to Putin'

Ukraine's president sharply criticised the move, calling it an "investment in war that must be ended, not prolonged".

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Interesting idea; I’m not sure. I don’t know enough about whether a UK Parliament can pass a law binding future parliaments but I can’t recall such a thing.

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Ha ha! Ambassadors love to explain the policies of their governments to the governments of other countries, no matter how daft they may be.

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

France and Germany are making friendly noises. So why won’t the UK be able to rejoin the EU any time soon? Unfortunately for those of us who would like to see this happen, there are three enormous problems. #eu #rejoin #burnham #lessonsindiplomacy #membership

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Reposted by Leigh Turner Diplomacy

Graeme Downie MP @graemedowniemp.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

For years, we've rightly focused on the military and political threat posed by Putin's Russia. But there's another cost that receives far less attention. A hidden cost paid by British taxpayers, businesses and public services. It's called the Putin Tax. 🧵

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

HOW BAD WAS AND IS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN in the British Foreign Office? Includes a terrible quote from the 1930s. Full details in Chapter 15 of my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”, entitled “How to make diplomacy reflect our changing world”. #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok #diplomacy #diplomat #book

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

NEW PODCAST: HOW TO ACE INTERVIEWS. My new podcast explores “the worst interview of all time” - my first effort to get into the Foreign Office. What could I have done better? How can you best prepare for a big interview? Plenty more tips on my podcast… open.spotify.com/episode/0HDs...

78. How to ace interviews

Leigh Turner diplomacy and writing · Episode

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Reposted by Leigh Turner Diplomacy

CHAGOS ISLANDS: WHAT NEXT? The UK government faces dilemmas: US security, international law, dealing with President Trump, money and disparate views amongst the Chagossians. The Foreign Office will kick the problem into the long grass for as long as possible. #chagos #chagosislands #biot #trump

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

How to ace interviews: one of the worst mistakes of my nearly-not-career was at least a great learning experience. One of the lessons in my book “Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties”. #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok #diplomacy #diplomat #book

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Striking images from @BBC News of Last night’s Ukrainian strikes on Moscow. vm.tiktok.com/ZN863YkQU/

vm.tiktok.com

TikTok - Make Your Day

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

My new podcast is now available on Spotify (this link), Apple Podcasts, or other platforms. Comments welcome. I look at the case of a former colleague whose health was damaged by overwork. What could she have done differently? open.spotify.com/episode/3ZEc...

77. Don't let jobs destroy you

Leigh Turner diplomacy and writing · Episode

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Why Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff won’t bring peace to Ukraine. Why I hope I’m wrong. #Ukraine #Russia #ukrainerussia #russiaukraine #witkoff

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

One question is what Putin really thinks. Does he really think he’s winning the war? I’m always irritated when news organisations say “Leader X remains convinced that…” or “Leader Y believes…” They should say “Leader X continues to say that…” or “Leader Y says she thinks…”

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

BBC analysis of Modi’s call on Putin to stop the war. Steve Rosenberg links it to a recent similar call from President Tokayev of Kazakhstan. Putin will try to take no notice. But that will becoming more difficult as more people - including Russians - speak out. www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.com

Ukraine war: What to make of Modi's plea to Putin to end conflict

BBC correspondents in Delhi and Moscow look at why the Indian PM made a very public peace plea to his Russian ally.

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I've added my new "How to learn languages" podcast to my "Lessons in Diplomacy" playlist on Spotify at the link. You can find all my podcasts on Apple or wherever you listen to your podcasts. open.spotify.com/playlist/7bN...

Playlist · Leigh Turner · 16 items · 2 saves

Lessons in Diplomacy

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

My new podcast "How to Learn #Languages". Key lesson: everyone is different. If one method of language-learning doesn't work for you, try another. Never believe "I can't learn languages" - even the biggest "language duffer" can learn a language. I should know! open.spotify.com/episode/662e...

76. How to learn languages

Leigh Turner diplomacy and writing · Episode

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I attended the opening around 2009. The only suffering Russian speakers in Donetsk had in those days was listening to Beyoncé at the opening ceremony. Happy days for the people of Donetsk compared with everything that has happened since 2014.

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Diplomacy sounds privileged but in the real world there are ups and downs - for example, when it comes to housing. Even ambassadors may not find things too smart… #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok #diplomacy #diplomat #book

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Lessons in Diplomacy: How to know places. Don’t settle for “Top 10” lists. Get under the skin of a place and try to understand it more deeply. #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok #diplomacy #diplomat #book

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I've just set up a "Lessons in Diplomacy" playlist on Spotify. There's also a "Russia, Ukraine and More" playlist. If anyone can tell me how to make these playlists more visible on Spotify, let me know! open.spotify.com/playlist/7bN...

Playlist · Leigh Turner · 15 items

Lessons in Diplomacy

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Russian threats to the UK for providing weapons to Ukraine have little to do with the UK and everything to do with President Putin's alarm at the success of Ukrainian drone strikes inside Russia. #Russia #Ukraine #RussiaUkraine #UkraineRussia #lessonsindiplomacy youtu.be/u_oSNPkO_EI

youtu.be

Russian threats to UK show Putin's fear

YouTube video by Leigh Turner Diplomacy

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Reposted by Leigh Turner Diplomacy

A half-hour interview about #diplomacy on the N1 TV channel out of Sarajevo. Quite wide-ranging including crisis management, contact-building, Russia-Ukraine and much else. In English with subtitles. #diplomat #ambassador #lessonsindiplomacy www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaW8...

Leigh Turner: Davanje ukrajinske teritorije Rusiji bilo bi zeleno svjetlo za nove sukobe na Balkanu

YouTube video by N1 BiH

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

From 2024: fun summary of “Lessons in Diplomacy” from its original launch date two years ago. Still all true! It’s done better than I dared hope. #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok #diplomacy #diplomat #book

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Leigh Turner: Davanje ukrajinske teritorije Rusiji bilo bi zeleno svjetlo za nove sukobe na Balkanu

YouTube video by N1 BiH

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Being an ambassador is an immense responsibility. Here: chocolates made by friends; Brexit with Jeremy Hunt; lowering EU flag; at the UN; media; with the President at my farewell party; handing back the keys. More in "Lessons in Diplomacy”. #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy #diplomat #BookTok #careers

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

This kind of report illustrates how vulnerable democracy is to outside interference. Social media companies of course don’t care, as they make most money from the most controversial posts: #riots #belfast #southampton www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

theguardian.com

Most X accounts posting about Belfast and Southampton unrest were based outside UK

Exclusive: Analysis shows 55% of accounts were overseas – and seven of 12 most-read posts came from US

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

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...

bbc.com

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.

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

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

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

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

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

"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

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Soft power is a key element of hard power. The BBC World Service and the British Council really matter.

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

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...

open.substack.com

Ukraine-Russia update

A lot is changing in Russia's war on Ukraine. A lot remains the same.

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

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

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Many were good. I saw a lot of, and respected, David Milliband and William Hague. Jack Straw, Jeremy Hunt and Robin Cook - all good.

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

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

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

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.

Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

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

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Leigh Turner Diplomacy @leighturnerwriter.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

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.