R Phelps
@greygosling.bsky.social
Stronger In lead volunteer Tooting. #Rejoin
Donating to Ukraine since 2014.
Blue Wall destruction enjoyer
Donating to Ukraine since 2014.
Blue Wall destruction enjoyer
Reposted by R Phelps
Remarkable video report from Pokrovsk featuring drones w heavy bombs, in one case assembled and launched by a Ukrainian 18yo
www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-fr...
www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-fr...
Ukrainian Troops Battle Russia's Push Toward Pokrovsk
As Russia intensifies its effort to encircle Pokrovsk, Ukrainian units on the strategic city’s edge are under nonstop attack. RFE/RL followed Ukrainian crews holding defensive lines as they assemble t...
www.rferl.org
November 30, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Remarkable video report from Pokrovsk featuring drones w heavy bombs, in one case assembled and launched by a Ukrainian 18yo
www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-fr...
www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-fr...
I believe there may be a Robert Conquest quote relevant to this
November 29, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I believe there may be a Robert Conquest quote relevant to this
Reposted by R Phelps
a big deal on the geopolitics around Ukraine — we’ve found a Chinese drone supplier taking a stake in a Russian military supply company: www.ft.com/content/e907...
Chinese parts supplier takes stake in leading Russian drone maker
[FREE TO READ] Tie-up marks new level of co-operation between Moscow and Beijing’s military industrial complexes
www.ft.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:48 PM
a big deal on the geopolitics around Ukraine — we’ve found a Chinese drone supplier taking a stake in a Russian military supply company: www.ft.com/content/e907...
The British state has no excuse for not pulling out every stop to run in the opposite direction of dependence on the US.
6/ The rest of the US diplomatic and national security apparatus, including the State Department and CIA, is said to have been kept in the dark. US Treasury officials reportedly only learned about the details of Witkoff's meetings from their British counterparts.
November 29, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The British state has no excuse for not pulling out every stop to run in the opposite direction of dependence on the US.
Reposted by R Phelps
How is this a shock to anyone who's been paying even the most minimal attention to what Trump has been saying and his admin have been doing all year? I posted this in February, for example. Officials who simply chose not to believe it because it's all too difficult might want to rethink their career
November 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
How is this a shock to anyone who's been paying even the most minimal attention to what Trump has been saying and his admin have been doing all year? I posted this in February, for example. Officials who simply chose not to believe it because it's all too difficult might want to rethink their career
Reposted by R Phelps
November 29, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Reposted by R Phelps
HKGov being Very Normal here.
November 29, 2025 at 8:35 AM
HKGov being Very Normal here.
Reposted by R Phelps
Full video of the launch t.me/militaryruss.... Colleagues are positive it's SS-18 or Sarmat (they are quite similar). My guess is that Sarmat is more likely. A launch from Yasnyy logical after last year failure in Plesetsk. As for SS-18, it hasn't been tested for a while (2014?) so why do it now?
November 28, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Full video of the launch t.me/militaryruss.... Colleagues are positive it's SS-18 or Sarmat (they are quite similar). My guess is that Sarmat is more likely. A launch from Yasnyy logical after last year failure in Plesetsk. As for SS-18, it hasn't been tested for a while (2014?) so why do it now?
Whoops
Something happened in Yasnyy/Dombarovskiy. There is also a video and some NOTAMs t.me/militaryruss.... Looks like a failed ICBM launch. The color of this cloud doesn't look good. Not clear if it's Sarmat. There are other options: SS-18 or SS-19. Wait for more information.
November 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Whoops
Reposted by R Phelps
If a drug was having this societal effect it would be banned within a week. Across the world, politicians are - through their inaction - completely abdicating their responsibilities to civil democratic discourse.
November 28, 2025 at 12:16 PM
If a drug was having this societal effect it would be banned within a week. Across the world, politicians are - through their inaction - completely abdicating their responsibilities to civil democratic discourse.
Reposted by R Phelps
Our EU and UK leaders look incredibly foolish in hindsight for having surrendered so quickly to Trump's tariff threats.
Brazil, India and China stood firm (and maintained their dignity, unlike Europeans) and Trump backed off.
But are our current 🇪🇺🇬🇧 leaders capable of strength & dignity?
Brazil, India and China stood firm (and maintained their dignity, unlike Europeans) and Trump backed off.
But are our current 🇪🇺🇬🇧 leaders capable of strength & dignity?
Brazil offers lesson in winning the ‘Taco’ trade
Global politicians need to understand that White House policy is driven by melodrama and instinct
www.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Our EU and UK leaders look incredibly foolish in hindsight for having surrendered so quickly to Trump's tariff threats.
Brazil, India and China stood firm (and maintained their dignity, unlike Europeans) and Trump backed off.
But are our current 🇪🇺🇬🇧 leaders capable of strength & dignity?
Brazil, India and China stood firm (and maintained their dignity, unlike Europeans) and Trump backed off.
But are our current 🇪🇺🇬🇧 leaders capable of strength & dignity?
A unity government, and especially binning off Syrskyi, might be a strong step forward for Ukraine, given it seems to have reached the point where the Zelensky team are unable to make the reforms necessary to keep Ukraine in the game. But the greatest moment of danger for the country since March 22.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities search properties linked to Zelenskyy’s chief of staff – Europe live
Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities search properties linked to Zelenskyy’s chief of staff – Europe live
Andriy Yermak said authorities given ‘full access’ to his apartment, and that he is cooperating with the officers, with his lawyers present
Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities are searching properties linked to president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s powerful chief of staff Andriy Yermak.
In a post on Telegram, Yermak confirmed the authorities were given “full access” to his apartment, and that he is cooperating with the officers, with his lawyers present. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:52 AM
A unity government, and especially binning off Syrskyi, might be a strong step forward for Ukraine, given it seems to have reached the point where the Zelensky team are unable to make the reforms necessary to keep Ukraine in the game. But the greatest moment of danger for the country since March 22.
Reposted by R Phelps
⚡️⚡️⚡️ Ukrainians anti-corruption authorities (NABU and SAP) are conducting searches involving the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, in the government quarter.
- Ukrainska Pravda reports
- Ukrainska Pravda reports
November 28, 2025 at 6:46 AM
⚡️⚡️⚡️ Ukrainians anti-corruption authorities (NABU and SAP) are conducting searches involving the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, in the government quarter.
- Ukrainska Pravda reports
- Ukrainska Pravda reports
Reposted by R Phelps
Why the UK budget may provide only temporary relief from the bond vigilantes, how to address Belgium's legitimate concerns over the reparation loan, and why peak Trump may not mean peak danger. My latest
Buying Time
Thoughts on why the UK budget may provide only temporary relief from bond vigilantes, how to address Belgian concerns over the reparation loan, and why peak Trump may not mean we are past peak danger
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Why the UK budget may provide only temporary relief from the bond vigilantes, how to address Belgium's legitimate concerns over the reparation loan, and why peak Trump may not mean peak danger. My latest
Reposted by R Phelps
The Brexodus continues.
“Overall, the provisional figures show 70,000 more EU nationals left than arrived, while 109,000 more British nationals left than arrived. By contrast, the net migration figure for non-EU nationals was 383,000.”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
“Overall, the provisional figures show 70,000 more EU nationals left than arrived, while 109,000 more British nationals left than arrived. By contrast, the net migration figure for non-EU nationals was 383,000.”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
UK net migration drops sharply to 204,000 in year to June - live updates
The Office for National Statistics says the fall is driven by fewer non-EU nationals arriving for work and study, and a
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The Brexodus continues.
“Overall, the provisional figures show 70,000 more EU nationals left than arrived, while 109,000 more British nationals left than arrived. By contrast, the net migration figure for non-EU nationals was 383,000.”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
“Overall, the provisional figures show 70,000 more EU nationals left than arrived, while 109,000 more British nationals left than arrived. By contrast, the net migration figure for non-EU nationals was 383,000.”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
Reposted by R Phelps
Really? If so, why didn't the Russian owners go into arbitration when the EU began using the interest on the frozen 🇷🇺 capital last year? Maybe because the plaintiff assumed that it would lose. IMHO, that decision not to sue set the precedent, not special pleading by the Euroclear custodian in the FT
Euroclear warns plan for a Ukraine loan raised from Russian frozen assets “will lead to a sustained increase in European sovereign bond spreads, raising borrowing costs for all member states” in letter to @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu seen by @bmoens.bsky.social & @lauramdubois.ft.com
on.ft.com/3M4lRHg
on.ft.com/3M4lRHg
EU’s frozen-assets loan plan risks rattling markets, Euroclear warns
[FREE TO READ] Proposal for ‘reparations’ funding for Ukraine using immobilised Russian assets would be seen as ‘confiscation’
on.ft.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Really? If so, why didn't the Russian owners go into arbitration when the EU began using the interest on the frozen 🇷🇺 capital last year? Maybe because the plaintiff assumed that it would lose. IMHO, that decision not to sue set the precedent, not special pleading by the Euroclear custodian in the FT
This is how the UK government should be speaking to the public about the US. Drop the fear, level with people.
Carney: We know that this decades-long process of our ever-closer economic relationship between Canada and the US has ended. And as a consequence of that, many of our strengths have become our vulnerabilities, particularly in those industries that are most tightly integrated with the US….
November 27, 2025 at 8:06 AM
This is how the UK government should be speaking to the public about the US. Drop the fear, level with people.
Reposted by R Phelps
Taiwan Rolls Out $40B Defense Supplemental to Fund Air Defense, Asymmetric Capabilities — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/11/26/t...
news.usni.org/2025/11/26/t...
Taiwan Rolls Out $40B Defense Supplemental to Fund Air Defense, Asymmetric Capabilities - USNI News
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te outlined his administration’s proposal for a $40 billion defense supplemental this week that would fund an island-wide air defense system and the procurement of missiles,...
news.usni.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Taiwan Rolls Out $40B Defense Supplemental to Fund Air Defense, Asymmetric Capabilities — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/11/26/t...
news.usni.org/2025/11/26/t...
Reposted by R Phelps
Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all | Rafael Behr
Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all | Rafael Behr
Brutal economic realities are prompting a shift in Labour’s tone on Europe. But will it dare tell the whole truth about Britain’s predicament, asks Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all | Rafael Behr
Reposted by R Phelps
"Europe’s problem is not that it lacks options. It is that it refuses to use them". Jade McGlynn skewers both the Dmitriev/Witkoff plan for Ukraine's destruction, & Europe's refusal to act decisively enough to prevent disaster. open.substack.com/pub/smalldee...
Circus
Amidst the absolute chaos of a Witkoff-stamped Russian psyop-as-peace plan, discussion is filled with anger at Washington and at Moscow.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:43 AM
"Europe’s problem is not that it lacks options. It is that it refuses to use them". Jade McGlynn skewers both the Dmitriev/Witkoff plan for Ukraine's destruction, & Europe's refusal to act decisively enough to prevent disaster. open.substack.com/pub/smalldee...
British elites have a death wish latest.
The former Conservative Levelling Up Secretary and now editor of the Spectator, Michael Gove, has been selected as a judge for the 2026 Orwell Prize awards, despite his record of dodging media scrutiny and allegations of ‘stifling’ critical journalists
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM
British elites have a death wish latest.
I've frankly been amazed by the % of Tory and even v Reform curious Tory voters I know who just think the government should put up income tax, whatever the papers say. Just a disastrous own goal arriving tomorrow.
Since Labour won power, an insidious little phrase has been popping up constantly in the media: "tax raid".
So I looked into this for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social
And it turns out it once meant something completely different.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/phil-tinline...
So I looked into this for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social
And it turns out it once meant something completely different.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/phil-tinline...
Why the right wing media keeps screaming ‘tax raid’
This isn’t journalism, it’s propaganda that reframes tax policy as assault and a democratically elected Labour government as thieves
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:47 AM
I've frankly been amazed by the % of Tory and even v Reform curious Tory voters I know who just think the government should put up income tax, whatever the papers say. Just a disastrous own goal arriving tomorrow.
Reposted by R Phelps
🚨🚨New episode 🚨🚨
With Ukraine possibly days from being forced to accept a surrender deal, I spoke to @globsec.bsky.social’s Iuliia Osmolovska as well as @sturdyalex.bsky.social about where this deal came from, the latest from Geneva and where go from here.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
With Ukraine possibly days from being forced to accept a surrender deal, I spoke to @globsec.bsky.social’s Iuliia Osmolovska as well as @sturdyalex.bsky.social about where this deal came from, the latest from Geneva and where go from here.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
Ukraine Crisis: Will Trump Force Moscow's Deal on Zelenskyy?
Podcast Episode · Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell · 25/11/2025 · 55m
podcasts.apple.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 AM
🚨🚨New episode 🚨🚨
With Ukraine possibly days from being forced to accept a surrender deal, I spoke to @globsec.bsky.social’s Iuliia Osmolovska as well as @sturdyalex.bsky.social about where this deal came from, the latest from Geneva and where go from here.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
With Ukraine possibly days from being forced to accept a surrender deal, I spoke to @globsec.bsky.social’s Iuliia Osmolovska as well as @sturdyalex.bsky.social about where this deal came from, the latest from Geneva and where go from here.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
Reposted by R Phelps
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by R Phelps
QTing this not to dunk but because I think there's an important point here.
The bond markets did *not* get it wrong in the 2010s. As Martin Wolf put it then, they wanted us to borrow and spend. *Osborne* got it wrong.
So my baseline assumption is they are right now.
bsky.app/profile/adam...
The bond markets did *not* get it wrong in the 2010s. As Martin Wolf put it then, they wanted us to borrow and spend. *Osborne* got it wrong.
So my baseline assumption is they are right now.
bsky.app/profile/adam...
I guess the problem is that the bond markets are not infallible and often get things wrong, so its not just a case of getting the economics right, but also communicating that to the bond markets in a way they can understand. Unfortunately, it *does* matter what they think
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 PM
QTing this not to dunk but because I think there's an important point here.
The bond markets did *not* get it wrong in the 2010s. As Martin Wolf put it then, they wanted us to borrow and spend. *Osborne* got it wrong.
So my baseline assumption is they are right now.
bsky.app/profile/adam...
The bond markets did *not* get it wrong in the 2010s. As Martin Wolf put it then, they wanted us to borrow and spend. *Osborne* got it wrong.
So my baseline assumption is they are right now.
bsky.app/profile/adam...