Lucian Kim
@luciankim.bsky.social
Senior Ukraine Analyst @crisisgroup.org, former correspondent based in Berlin and Moscow, author of new @columbiaup.bsky.social book on why Russia invaded Ukraine. Rarely seen on social media.
Worth noting is Lavrov's remark that Putin recognizes Zelensky as "de facto head of regime" and is ready to meet with him—but that when the time comes to sign any agreement, there will need to be a Ukrainian representative deemed legitimate by the Kremlin. Remember that.
August 25, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Worth noting is Lavrov's remark that Putin recognizes Zelensky as "de facto head of regime" and is ready to meet with him—but that when the time comes to sign any agreement, there will need to be a Ukrainian representative deemed legitimate by the Kremlin. Remember that.
Almost no news in NBC's 50-minute Lavrov interview, an avalanche of Kremlin talking points ("2014 coup", "Nazis") and denials "no civilian targeting", "no Bucha"). Lavrov seemed uncharacteristically nervous, twisting a paper clip for a good part of the interview.
August 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Almost no news in NBC's 50-minute Lavrov interview, an avalanche of Kremlin talking points ("2014 coup", "Nazis") and denials "no civilian targeting", "no Bucha"). Lavrov seemed uncharacteristically nervous, twisting a paper clip for a good part of the interview.
Trump's biggest problem is that he's in a rush—that's why he's so bendy on an immediate ceasefire before talks. You can hear Putin in Anchorage saying: "But you don't just want a ceasefire, you want an end to the war, just like I do!"
August 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Trump's biggest problem is that he's in a rush—that's why he's so bendy on an immediate ceasefire before talks. You can hear Putin in Anchorage saying: "But you don't just want a ceasefire, you want an end to the war, just like I do!"
In the big meeting, the Europeans' investment in Trump is paying off. Trump is gracious and warm, no trace of the hostility that caused panic in Europe in February, even as Vance and Hegseth sit in the wings.
August 18, 2025 at 8:11 PM
In the big meeting, the Europeans' investment in Trump is paying off. Trump is gracious and warm, no trace of the hostility that caused panic in Europe in February, even as Vance and Hegseth sit in the wings.
Flashes of déjà vu as Zelensky is put on the hot seat in the White House. But this time Zelensky wore a jacket, profusely thanked Trump and let him do most of the talking. It went fine. (Putin is lucky Trump didn't unleash the press on him in Anchorage.)
August 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Flashes of déjà vu as Zelensky is put on the hot seat in the White House. But this time Zelensky wore a jacket, profusely thanked Trump and let him do most of the talking. It went fine. (Putin is lucky Trump didn't unleash the press on him in Anchorage.)
European leaders are beginning to arrive at White House, starting with Ursula von der Leyen, who is probably tied with Zelenskyy as Trump's least favorite guest today. Lots of military pageantry, very short red carpet.
August 18, 2025 at 4:33 PM
European leaders are beginning to arrive at White House, starting with Ursula von der Leyen, who is probably tied with Zelenskyy as Trump's least favorite guest today. Lots of military pageantry, very short red carpet.
Lots of talk about NATO's Article 5. It's only two paragraphs long and says an attack on one is an attack on all. It does NOT say members automatically go to war against the aggressor, each can choose "such action as it deems necessary." www.nato.int/cps/en/natoh...
August 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Lots of talk about NATO's Article 5. It's only two paragraphs long and says an attack on one is an attack on all. It does NOT say members automatically go to war against the aggressor, each can choose "such action as it deems necessary." www.nato.int/cps/en/natoh...
Scant news in much-touted Hannity interview with Trump except:
-The only one-on-one chat (besides in The Beast) was after press briefing;
-Putin laid it on thick telling Trump he lost in 2020 because of mail-in ballots;
-Yes, Trump will push Zelensky to accept some sort of deal.
-The only one-on-one chat (besides in The Beast) was after press briefing;
-Putin laid it on thick telling Trump he lost in 2020 because of mail-in ballots;
-Yes, Trump will push Zelensky to accept some sort of deal.
August 16, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Scant news in much-touted Hannity interview with Trump except:
-The only one-on-one chat (besides in The Beast) was after press briefing;
-Putin laid it on thick telling Trump he lost in 2020 because of mail-in ballots;
-Yes, Trump will push Zelensky to accept some sort of deal.
-The only one-on-one chat (besides in The Beast) was after press briefing;
-Putin laid it on thick telling Trump he lost in 2020 because of mail-in ballots;
-Yes, Trump will push Zelensky to accept some sort of deal.
Always ready to stir the pot of domestic US politics, Putin gave Trump a parting gift, laying blame for the war that he started with Biden (“my previous American colleague”) and saying Trump is right that had he been US president, it never would have happened.
August 16, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Always ready to stir the pot of domestic US politics, Putin gave Trump a parting gift, laying blame for the war that he started with Biden (“my previous American colleague”) and saying Trump is right that had he been US president, it never would have happened.
After a grandiose welcome, a rather skimpy finale. Putin spoke 8 minutes, more than twice as long Trump. The fact there were no questions afterwards is an indication of how many questions remain.
August 16, 2025 at 12:38 AM
After a grandiose welcome, a rather skimpy finale. Putin spoke 8 minutes, more than twice as long Trump. The fact there were no questions afterwards is an indication of how many questions remain.
Russians think Americans are insincere for smiling so much; Americans think Russians are grim for not smiling enough. No surprises yet.
August 15, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Russians think Americans are insincere for smiling so much; Americans think Russians are grim for not smiling enough. No surprises yet.
Putin looks quite tickled to be in the belly of The Beast.
August 15, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Putin looks quite tickled to be in the belly of The Beast.
Putin just walked down the longest red carpet of his life to meet Trump, standing and clapping in front of AF1. They then get into Trump's car together. Unbelievable.
August 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Putin just walked down the longest red carpet of his life to meet Trump, standing and clapping in front of AF1. They then get into Trump's car together. Unbelievable.
Before meeting Trump, Putin gets all his ducks in a row, so to speak. All of these readouts of phone calls refer to his meeting with Witkoff and solving the "Ukraine crisis" or "situation surrounding Ukraine." en.kremlin.ru/events/presi...
August 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Before meeting Trump, Putin gets all his ducks in a row, so to speak. All of these readouts of phone calls refer to his meeting with Witkoff and solving the "Ukraine crisis" or "situation surrounding Ukraine." en.kremlin.ru/events/presi...
These so-called stumbling stones, which can be found on streets all over Berlin, are warnings from the past. The Lewins thought Germany was their home until one day they were told by the government to get out. They were among the lucky ones—and made it to America.
July 20, 2025 at 12:08 PM
These so-called stumbling stones, which can be found on streets all over Berlin, are warnings from the past. The Lewins thought Germany was their home until one day they were told by the government to get out. They were among the lucky ones—and made it to America.
Fortunately I am not the only one. On an unobtrusive street corner is a makeshift memorial to the Lewin family—mother, father, daughter—who lived here until 1941, the year the Nazis began the mass deportations of Jews from Germany.
July 20, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Fortunately I am not the only one. On an unobtrusive street corner is a makeshift memorial to the Lewin family—mother, father, daughter—who lived here until 1941, the year the Nazis began the mass deportations of Jews from Germany.
When I walk through Berlin, where I lived for more than a decade as a journalist, I often wonder: Who lived in all these buildings and how did they experience the rise and fall of the Third Reich?
July 20, 2025 at 12:06 PM
When I walk through Berlin, where I lived for more than a decade as a journalist, I often wonder: Who lived in all these buildings and how did they experience the rise and fall of the Third Reich?
Merz did his homework and gets an A+ for his Oval Office performance. He correctly identified the key to surviving the White House press scrum: let Trump do all the talking. (Presenting Trump with the gold-framed birth certificate of his paternal grandfather also helped.)
June 5, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Merz did his homework and gets an A+ for his Oval Office performance. He correctly identified the key to surviving the White House press scrum: let Trump do all the talking. (Presenting Trump with the gold-framed birth certificate of his paternal grandfather also helped.)
Putin's reaction to the Trump call is short but revealing. Putin wants to negotiate a memo on a "potential future peace agreement." Read the fine print yourself, talks could stretch indefinitely as the Russian army grinds on:
May 19, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Putin's reaction to the Trump call is short but revealing. Putin wants to negotiate a memo on a "potential future peace agreement." Read the fine print yourself, talks could stretch indefinitely as the Russian army grinds on:
Before Trump, any improvement in US-Russia relations hinged on a just, sustainable peace for Ukraine. The decoupling of bilateral relations from the war is symbolized by the emergence of Steve Witkoff as Trump's Russia envoy—and is already a significant victory for Putin.
April 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Before Trump, any improvement in US-Russia relations hinged on a just, sustainable peace for Ukraine. The decoupling of bilateral relations from the war is symbolized by the emergence of Steve Witkoff as Trump's Russia envoy—and is already a significant victory for Putin.
Thrilled to present my book on the origins of the Ukraine war at Washington's iconic Kramers bookstore on Wednesday, March 12, at 7pm. Officially tickets are sold out, but come anyway for no-shows—or if you don't mind standing!
March 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Thrilled to present my book on the origins of the Ukraine war at Washington's iconic Kramers bookstore on Wednesday, March 12, at 7pm. Officially tickets are sold out, but come anyway for no-shows—or if you don't mind standing!
Just back from Ukraine, I spent a couple of days roaming the halls of Congress. Many Republicans are still sympathetic to Ukraine. But America’s polarization runs so deep that open support might appear to cross the White House.
March 8, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Just back from Ukraine, I spent a couple of days roaming the halls of Congress. Many Republicans are still sympathetic to Ukraine. But America’s polarization runs so deep that open support might appear to cross the White House.
There are still Republicans in Congress who support Ukraine, it’s just that most of them have started speaking in whispers.
March 5, 2025 at 8:16 PM
There are still Republicans in Congress who support Ukraine, it’s just that most of them have started speaking in whispers.
Salü Switzerland! This Monday I'll be in Lausanne presenting my new book on the origins of Russia's invasion of Ukraine! See you @unil.bsky.social on 3 March at 4:15pm! I look forward to a very timely discussion.
March 2, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Salü Switzerland! This Monday I'll be in Lausanne presenting my new book on the origins of Russia's invasion of Ukraine! See you @unil.bsky.social on 3 March at 4:15pm! I look forward to a very timely discussion.