Rosemary Thomas
@rozzthomas.bsky.social
🇺🇦 Former diplomat: Eastern Europe and IHL. Ex Ambassador to Belarus. EU Border Mission in Ukraine. Here to support Ukraine and Belarus. NAFO Fella traveller.
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
Hard to imagine anyone being so foolish & ill-informed as to think Putin wants a peace deal - unless by that Witkoff meant Ukrainian capitulatn. Will we ever reach the point when European leaders accept the US is now acting against Ukraine's & Europe's interests, & they must protect themselves?
“I told the president that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal. That’s my belief. [...] And I believe the issue is is that we have two nations that are having a hard time coming to a compromise,” Witkoff told Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
November 25, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Hard to imagine anyone being so foolish & ill-informed as to think Putin wants a peace deal - unless by that Witkoff meant Ukrainian capitulatn. Will we ever reach the point when European leaders accept the US is now acting against Ukraine's & Europe's interests, & they must protect themselves?
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
France and UK will lead a working group on security guarantees for Ukraine, with the US joining for the first time
Macron announced the initiative after a Coalition of the Willing meeting. Turkey joins for its Black Sea role
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/25/m...
Macron announced the initiative after a Coalition of the Willing meeting. Turkey joins for its Black Sea role
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/25/m...
Macron launches working group on Ukraine security guarantees with UK, US, Turkey
US joins for first time as Zelenskyy prepares trip to Washington.
euromaidanpress.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:38 PM
France and UK will lead a working group on security guarantees for Ukraine, with the US joining for the first time
Macron announced the initiative after a Coalition of the Willing meeting. Turkey joins for its Black Sea role
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/25/m...
Macron announced the initiative after a Coalition of the Willing meeting. Turkey joins for its Black Sea role
euromaidanpress.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
Every time I think this administration has plumbed the depths of incompetence, it goes down another level. Will this make Putin think he should end the war? Or will it make him think that if he keeps pushing, the US will offer him even more?
"Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere."
-- Steve Witkoff, in his call to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov
Read the whole transcript of the Oct 14 call. It's amazing.
Gift link (for 7 days) ⤵️
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
-- Steve Witkoff, in his call to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov
Read the whole transcript of the Oct 14 call. It's amazing.
Gift link (for 7 days) ⤵️
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff Discusses Ukraine Plans With Key Putin Aide: Transcript
The following is a transcript of an Oct. 14 phone call lasting just over 5 minutes between Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy for peace missions, and Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin’s most senio...
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Every time I think this administration has plumbed the depths of incompetence, it goes down another level. Will this make Putin think he should end the war? Or will it make him think that if he keeps pushing, the US will offer him even more?
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
the price of populism
"By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
the price of populism
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
⏳There’s just one week left until The BEARR Trust Annual Conference on 14 November!
Join us in London or online to hear insights from grassroots organisations from the BEARR region and take part in the discussion.
🔗 Register via the link: bearr.org/2025/10/07/t...
Join us in London or online to hear insights from grassroots organisations from the BEARR region and take part in the discussion.
🔗 Register via the link: bearr.org/2025/10/07/t...
November 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
⏳There’s just one week left until The BEARR Trust Annual Conference on 14 November!
Join us in London or online to hear insights from grassroots organisations from the BEARR region and take part in the discussion.
🔗 Register via the link: bearr.org/2025/10/07/t...
Join us in London or online to hear insights from grassroots organisations from the BEARR region and take part in the discussion.
🔗 Register via the link: bearr.org/2025/10/07/t...
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
🇺🇦 "This land carries our history and our future. It shapes who we are. And every part of it is worth defending."
MFA Ukraine / Instagram
MFA Ukraine / Instagram
November 5, 2025 at 6:35 PM
🇺🇦 "This land carries our history and our future. It shapes who we are. And every part of it is worth defending."
MFA Ukraine / Instagram
MFA Ukraine / Instagram
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
Ukrainian and Moldovan authorities have identified 654 mercenaries who fought in Russian private military companies Wagner Group and Redut during a joint operation. The Wagner Group is responsible for hundreds of civilian deaths in Africa.
english.nv.ua/amp/wagner-m...
english.nv.ua/amp/wagner-m...
November 1, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Ukrainian and Moldovan authorities have identified 654 mercenaries who fought in Russian private military companies Wagner Group and Redut during a joint operation. The Wagner Group is responsible for hundreds of civilian deaths in Africa.
english.nv.ua/amp/wagner-m...
english.nv.ua/amp/wagner-m...
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
I’m delighted that after years of Liberal Democrat campaigning, the Government has finally agreed to make military family housing legally subject to the Decent Homes Standard for the first time.
It’s a scandal that service families have had to live in mouldy, damp and overcrowded homes for so long.
It’s a scandal that service families have had to live in mouldy, damp and overcrowded homes for so long.
October 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I’m delighted that after years of Liberal Democrat campaigning, the Government has finally agreed to make military family housing legally subject to the Decent Homes Standard for the first time.
It’s a scandal that service families have had to live in mouldy, damp and overcrowded homes for so long.
It’s a scandal that service families have had to live in mouldy, damp and overcrowded homes for so long.
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
The rise of populist right sits on an ecosystem of partisan media, platform algorithms, Kremlin amplification, and billionaire influence that normalizes radical-right ideas and scales their message beyond any electoral strength @peterjukes.bsky.social - @bylinetimes.bsky.social youtu.be/ya41IXdWnO4
Has Mainstream Media Lost Trust? The Questions Never Asked
YouTube video by Silicon Curtain
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 6:02 PM
The rise of populist right sits on an ecosystem of partisan media, platform algorithms, Kremlin amplification, and billionaire influence that normalizes radical-right ideas and scales their message beyond any electoral strength @peterjukes.bsky.social - @bylinetimes.bsky.social youtu.be/ya41IXdWnO4
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
Sergiy Stakhovsky, who once beat Federer, now flies drones for Ukraine’s elite Alpha unit striking deep inside Russia.
🧵 1/7 ⬇️
🧵 1/7 ⬇️
October 7, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Sergiy Stakhovsky, who once beat Federer, now flies drones for Ukraine’s elite Alpha unit striking deep inside Russia.
🧵 1/7 ⬇️
🧵 1/7 ⬇️
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
They lead the polls in Germany, France and the UK.
The question therefore needs to be asked. Does Europe Really Want To Save Itself?
The question therefore needs to be asked. Does Europe Really Want To Save Itself?
October 7, 2025 at 9:25 AM
They lead the polls in Germany, France and the UK.
The question therefore needs to be asked. Does Europe Really Want To Save Itself?
The question therefore needs to be asked. Does Europe Really Want To Save Itself?
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
Just sent out this post. Three and a half years after Bucha, after mass child abductions started, after nightly attacks on civilians, the political strength of parties sympathetic to Russia (which is doing these things) is growing not declining. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Does Europe Really Want to Save Itself?
We will know Sooner Than Many Understand.
open.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Just sent out this post. Three and a half years after Bucha, after mass child abductions started, after nightly attacks on civilians, the political strength of parties sympathetic to Russia (which is doing these things) is growing not declining. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
Calling all experts on Bluesky who can shed reliable light on the impacts of Brexit: I know you don’t really want to, but I think we must …
“Gully Foyle” has re-upped a November 2024 X 🧵 as a book claiming 75 “Brexit benefits”.
Let’s go through them together.
Many hands make light work. /1.
“Gully Foyle” has re-upped a November 2024 X 🧵 as a book claiming 75 “Brexit benefits”.
Let’s go through them together.
Many hands make light work. /1.
October 6, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Calling all experts on Bluesky who can shed reliable light on the impacts of Brexit: I know you don’t really want to, but I think we must …
“Gully Foyle” has re-upped a November 2024 X 🧵 as a book claiming 75 “Brexit benefits”.
Let’s go through them together.
Many hands make light work. /1.
“Gully Foyle” has re-upped a November 2024 X 🧵 as a book claiming 75 “Brexit benefits”.
Let’s go through them together.
Many hands make light work. /1.
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
🐝 WILD HORNETS RAFFLE UPDATE
✅Raised: $14,711.52 / $36K → 40.9%
🚀To go: $21,288.48 🚀
🎟 $10/entry: linktr.ee/WildHornets
🏆 35 prizes incl. signed flags,
Shevchenko ball & more
Here are some of the heroes of the 210th Assault Regiment
We are working on new PP info 🐝
✅Raised: $14,711.52 / $36K → 40.9%
🚀To go: $21,288.48 🚀
🎟 $10/entry: linktr.ee/WildHornets
🏆 35 prizes incl. signed flags,
Shevchenko ball & more
Here are some of the heroes of the 210th Assault Regiment
We are working on new PP info 🐝
October 4, 2025 at 6:29 PM
🐝 WILD HORNETS RAFFLE UPDATE
✅Raised: $14,711.52 / $36K → 40.9%
🚀To go: $21,288.48 🚀
🎟 $10/entry: linktr.ee/WildHornets
🏆 35 prizes incl. signed flags,
Shevchenko ball & more
Here are some of the heroes of the 210th Assault Regiment
We are working on new PP info 🐝
✅Raised: $14,711.52 / $36K → 40.9%
🚀To go: $21,288.48 🚀
🎟 $10/entry: linktr.ee/WildHornets
🏆 35 prizes incl. signed flags,
Shevchenko ball & more
Here are some of the heroes of the 210th Assault Regiment
We are working on new PP info 🐝
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
A Russian woman who is not afraid to speak the truth says:
“Of course, our great strategist Putin has many “achievements,” but the most outstanding ones, in my opinion, are the following.
He replaced truth and reality with wild propaganda.
“Of course, our great strategist Putin has many “achievements,” but the most outstanding ones, in my opinion, are the following.
He replaced truth and reality with wild propaganda.
October 4, 2025 at 3:19 PM
A Russian woman who is not afraid to speak the truth says:
“Of course, our great strategist Putin has many “achievements,” but the most outstanding ones, in my opinion, are the following.
He replaced truth and reality with wild propaganda.
“Of course, our great strategist Putin has many “achievements,” but the most outstanding ones, in my opinion, are the following.
He replaced truth and reality with wild propaganda.
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
The future of Moldova is in Europe! 🇪🇺🇲🇩
On this historic step forward, the people of Moldova have chosen the path of democracy, hope and opportunities.
They have chosen Europe.
Europa este Moldova. Moldova este Europa.
On this historic step forward, the people of Moldova have chosen the path of democracy, hope and opportunities.
They have chosen Europe.
Europa este Moldova. Moldova este Europa.
September 29, 2025 at 7:26 AM
The future of Moldova is in Europe! 🇪🇺🇲🇩
On this historic step forward, the people of Moldova have chosen the path of democracy, hope and opportunities.
They have chosen Europe.
Europa este Moldova. Moldova este Europa.
On this historic step forward, the people of Moldova have chosen the path of democracy, hope and opportunities.
They have chosen Europe.
Europa este Moldova. Moldova este Europa.
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
Ming Campbell was a dedicated public servant and a true Liberal giant.
His principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom.
But more than that, he was an incredibly warm and caring friend and colleague.
We will miss him terribly.
His principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom.
But more than that, he was an incredibly warm and caring friend and colleague.
We will miss him terribly.
September 26, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Ming Campbell was a dedicated public servant and a true Liberal giant.
His principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom.
But more than that, he was an incredibly warm and caring friend and colleague.
We will miss him terribly.
His principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom.
But more than that, he was an incredibly warm and caring friend and colleague.
We will miss him terribly.
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
President of Finland Alexander Stubb:
"When we look at war, there are elements of it that are brutal, vulgar, and unethical. But the kidnapping of children, I think, goes beyond all of that. And we have to think that it's not only about the children being abducted⤵️
"When we look at war, there are elements of it that are brutal, vulgar, and unethical. But the kidnapping of children, I think, goes beyond all of that. And we have to think that it's not only about the children being abducted⤵️
September 26, 2025 at 10:23 AM
President of Finland Alexander Stubb:
"When we look at war, there are elements of it that are brutal, vulgar, and unethical. But the kidnapping of children, I think, goes beyond all of that. And we have to think that it's not only about the children being abducted⤵️
"When we look at war, there are elements of it that are brutal, vulgar, and unethical. But the kidnapping of children, I think, goes beyond all of that. And we have to think that it's not only about the children being abducted⤵️
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
🙂🇬🇧❤️ @magicgareth.bsky.social @adilray.bsky.social @blokeonwheels.bsky.social @ehijacked.bsky.social @rozzthomas.bsky.social @ghizzybear.bsky.social @jenniferbeworr.bsky.social @markhamillofficial.bsky.social @mrjohncrace.bsky.social @hopenothate.org.uk
Our flag does not belong to one creed or to one race. It belongs to one people, the British people.
We will not let our flag be used to intimidate.
We will not let our flag be used to intimidate.
September 21, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
🔴 NEW 🔴
Nigel Farage plans to hand a massive fracking windfall to a Trump donor.
Reform's policies would allow Lincolnshire to be drilled by a firm whose boss has given money to the past two Trump campaigns.
📝 @desmog.com scoop 👇
Nigel Farage plans to hand a massive fracking windfall to a Trump donor.
Reform's policies would allow Lincolnshire to be drilled by a firm whose boss has given money to the past two Trump campaigns.
📝 @desmog.com scoop 👇
Reform Plans to Hand Fracking Windfall to Trump Donor
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK would allow a fossil fuel company owned by a Donald Trump donor to open up a huge fracking site in Greater Lincolnshire, DeSmog can reveal. Andrea Jenkyns, Reform’s mayor in t...
www.desmog.com
August 27, 2025 at 3:47 PM
🔴 NEW 🔴
Nigel Farage plans to hand a massive fracking windfall to a Trump donor.
Reform's policies would allow Lincolnshire to be drilled by a firm whose boss has given money to the past two Trump campaigns.
📝 @desmog.com scoop 👇
Nigel Farage plans to hand a massive fracking windfall to a Trump donor.
Reform's policies would allow Lincolnshire to be drilled by a firm whose boss has given money to the past two Trump campaigns.
📝 @desmog.com scoop 👇
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
Excellent piece by @anandmenon.bsky.social:
Politically acceptable UK racism is rising, even under La...
As I wrote these words last autumn: “We have made progress... even though that progress remains fragile and insufficient”, little did I realise just how ...
observer.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Excellent piece by @anandmenon.bsky.social:
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
Monday morning podcast re-up: peace in Ukraine (remains distant), Foreign Agenting in Russia (Putinism betraying its partisans) and three books on Ukraine (illuminating how we think of the war)
In Moscow's Shadows 213: Foreign Agents in Russia, Foreigners in Ukraine...
The frozen peace process, what the case of Sergei Markov says about 'late Putinism', and what 3 recent books tell us about how we discuss and think about the war in Ukraine... www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...
The frozen peace process, what the case of Sergei Markov says about 'late Putinism', and what 3 recent books tell us about how we discuss and think about the war in Ukraine... www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...
In Moscow's Shadows 213: Foreign Agents in Russia, Foreigners in Ukraine... - In Moscow's Shadows
After a brief comment on the frozen peace process, I look at the case of Sergei Markov, voluble Kremlin loyalist, who has just been declared a Foreign Agents. What's going on - he seems to have been c...
www.buzzsprout.com
August 25, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Monday morning podcast re-up: peace in Ukraine (remains distant), Foreign Agenting in Russia (Putinism betraying its partisans) and three books on Ukraine (illuminating how we think of the war)
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
Perspectives from a European millennial on growing up "in a Europe where Russia was largely irrelevant and the whole continent was becoming accessible in completely new ways, thanks to the free mobility granted by the Schengen system. [..] War? It seemed like a very far-away phenomenon"
This week on the Europe Dispatch with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social, I wrote some more personal reflections on how things look like for my generation of Europeans who are facing war in our time, on our continent.
We got to grow up in a bubble but Russia remained a needle that burst it.
We got to grow up in a bubble but Russia remained a needle that burst it.
War In Our Time
In this week's Europe Dispatch, Minna Ålander reflects on Europe's Russia problem.
open.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Perspectives from a European millennial on growing up "in a Europe where Russia was largely irrelevant and the whole continent was becoming accessible in completely new ways, thanks to the free mobility granted by the Schengen system. [..] War? It seemed like a very far-away phenomenon"
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
A reminder: Asylum seekers are in hotels because of a huge application backlog that the gov't must work through. Robert Jenrick - now, bursting with creative solutions - processed applications slowly ***on purpose*** as a deterrent.
Here he is, as Immigration Minister two years ago, saying so. ~AA
Here he is, as Immigration Minister two years ago, saying so. ~AA
August 20, 2025 at 12:18 PM
A reminder: Asylum seekers are in hotels because of a huge application backlog that the gov't must work through. Robert Jenrick - now, bursting with creative solutions - processed applications slowly ***on purpose*** as a deterrent.
Here he is, as Immigration Minister two years ago, saying so. ~AA
Here he is, as Immigration Minister two years ago, saying so. ~AA
Reposted by Rosemary Thomas
🚨 BREAKING - 🇬🇧 Britain is boosting its cadet forces by 40,000 and Air Cadets will now receive drone training as the systems become essential tools in modern warfare.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/40000-more-c...
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/40000-more-c...
40,000 more cadets by 2030 as youth set for drone training
BREAKING - Britain is boosting its cadet forces by 40,000 and Air Cadets will now receive drone training as the systems become essential tools in modern warfare.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
August 20, 2025 at 12:40 PM
🚨 BREAKING - 🇬🇧 Britain is boosting its cadet forces by 40,000 and Air Cadets will now receive drone training as the systems become essential tools in modern warfare.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/40000-more-c...
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/40000-more-c...