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Michael Clarke is a British academic who specialises in defence studies. He was Director of the Royal United Services Institute… more

H-index: 29
Political science 78%
Sociology 14%
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
This is part of a good 2023 Russian joke during the Sweden / Finland accession issue. When God heard that all Russians automatically go to heaven, heaven applied to join NATO. (Brits & Russians do share a certain sense of humour).
antongerashchenko.bsky.social
Anton Gerashchenko @antongerashchenko.bsky.social · 1d
More nuclear threats from the Russian propagandists should Ukraine get Tomahawks.

Solovyev has said that "they [the West] will die but we'll go to heaven" at least three times in the past couple of weeks.
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Reposted by Michael Clarke

antongerashchenko.bsky.social
More nuclear threats from the Russian propagandists should Ukraine get Tomahawks.

Solovyev has said that "they [the West] will die but we'll go to heaven" at least three times in the past couple of weeks.
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
As I said last week - there will be a lot of veto activity before anything is possible on EU membership, so it will be up to bilateral relations with Ukraine and Moldova to help wherever other supportive states can. But it will be difficult.
theukrainianreview.bsky.social
The Ukrainian Review @theukrainianreview.bsky.social · 13d
🇳🇱❗️🇺🇦🇲🇩 The Netherlands is against proposal, which would allow Ukraine and Moldova to open the first chapter of the negotiations on accession to the EU, bypassing the Hungarian veto, — Dutch PM

The Netherlands refuses to change the principle of unanimity for the opening of the negotiating blocs.
4

Reposted by Michael Clarke

theukrainianreview.bsky.social
🇳🇱❗️🇺🇦🇲🇩 The Netherlands is against proposal, which would allow Ukraine and Moldova to open the first chapter of the negotiations on accession to the EU, bypassing the Hungarian veto, — Dutch PM

The Netherlands refuses to change the principle of unanimity for the opening of the negotiating blocs.
22 34 110

by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
The idea that everyone in the military must meet 'the highest male standards' echos the approach of Montgomery taking over 8th Army and Slim with 14th Army in 2WW. But that was when the military was a much simpler animal. There is only room for so much Bruce Willis now.
bsky.app/profile/mike...
mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
Michael Clarke @mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social · 15d
I can't imagine this speech has gone down well with hundreds of experienced senior officers - patronising & insulting by turns. It stressed all the most obvious military points that they will have conveyed to their novice officers and cadets dozens of times. So ill-judged.
bsky.app/profile/mili...
militarynewsua.bsky.social
🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 15d
❗️🇺🇸Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth: We have the strongest, deadliest, and most well-prepared military on the planet.
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
I can't imagine this speech has gone down well with hundreds of experienced senior officers - patronising & insulting by turns. It stressed all the most obvious military points that they will have conveyed to their novice officers and cadets dozens of times. So ill-judged.
bsky.app/profile/mili...
militarynewsua.bsky.social
🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 15d
❗️🇺🇸Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth: We have the strongest, deadliest, and most well-prepared military on the planet.
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
It will be a long road to EU membership and Budapest and Bratislava will both try to veto any progress on behalf of Putin. But Romania has a natural inerest in helping Moldova develop and a lot can be done bilaterally by many European states.
bsky.app/profile/theg...
theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 16d
The pro-European party won Moldova’s election but obstacles to join the EU remain
The pro-European party won Moldova’s election but obstacles to join the EU remain
Russia’s campaign to amplify societal distrust continues as membership talks have stalled
www.theguardian.com
6

Reposted by Michael Clarke

theguardian.com
The pro-European party won Moldova’s election but obstacles to join the EU remain
The pro-European party won Moldova’s election but obstacles to join the EU remain
Russia’s campaign to amplify societal distrust continues as membership talks have stalled
www.theguardian.com
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
Congratulations to the brave Maia Sandu and the PAS in Moldova on their convincing election win, despite a really big Kremlin campaign to get their clients back into government in Chisinau. A small piece of good news in the big picture of liberal democracy under terminal threat during our lifetime.
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
All over the world, governments have taken to branding everything they don't like as 'terrorist' because most of the legal restraints come off in the pursuit of 'counter-terrorism'. It's the sad, long term consequence of US stupidity after 9/11 in 2001 in creating a 'war on terror'. They all do it.
marikamikiashvili.bsky.social
Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 @marikamikiashvili.bsky.social · 26d
Illegitimate Speaker of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili called the daily peaceful protesters a "terrorist group."
1 3 15

Reposted by Michael Clarke

marikamikiashvili.bsky.social
Illegitimate Speaker of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili called the daily peaceful protesters a "terrorist group."
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
Most Russian refineries produce a range of oil products, including both gasoline and diesel, so in theory the Russians could run short of diesel, BUT the gasoline domestic market is much greater and more complex so is affected first. And even if diesel were short, the military will still get it.
ukrainew1n.bsky.social
ukrainew1n.bsky.social @ukrainew1n.bsky.social · Sep 5
@mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
Professor noted you said on Sky news that Ukraine strikes on refinery's won't really effect Russian army as they run on diesel. Is there a way for Ukraine to hit diesel production.
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Reposted by Michael Clarke

ukrainew1n.bsky.social
@mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
Professor noted you said on Sky news that Ukraine strikes on refinery's won't really effect Russian army as they run on diesel. Is there a way for Ukraine to hit diesel production.
1

by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
Yes. 30 a month at present, but hoping to move to 200 a month by the end of the year and then many more after that. BUT, they still need more western components, more cash for expansion, and need to disperse the production centres to protect them from Russian attacks.
maks23.bsky.social
MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · Aug 29
🦾 Flamingo missile with a range of 3,000 km is already in mass production in Ukraine, — The Economist

‼️ The publication writes that one missile will be produced per day.
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Reposted by Michael Clarke

maks23.bsky.social
🦾 Flamingo missile with a range of 3,000 km is already in mass production in Ukraine, — The Economist

‼️ The publication writes that one missile will be produced per day.
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
If only.......
24hoursukraine.bsky.social
24Hours Ukraine @24hoursukraine.bsky.social · Aug 27
☕️If you’d like to support me, I’d be truly grateful. Every coffee you buy helps us keep going.

You can contribute any amount here: buymeacoffee.com/24HoursUkraine

Thank you for your kindness and generosity!
6

Reposted by Michael Clarke

24hoursukraine.bsky.social
☕️If you’d like to support me, I’d be truly grateful. Every coffee you buy helps us keep going.

You can contribute any amount here: buymeacoffee.com/24HoursUkraine

Thank you for your kindness and generosity!
1 9 30

by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
At least one aspect of Russian barbarity - and this is open and shut genocidal policy - seems to be getting through to the US mainstream. Though I doubt it will make any difference to White House thinking.
timothysnyder.bsky.social
Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · Aug 22
One of the most terrible crimes of Russia’s terrible war.
www.newsweek.com/president-pu...
President Putin Must Return Ukraine's Children | Opinion
Ukraine can rebuild its cities, its infrastructure, and its economy. What it cannot do is reclaim the lives lost or undo the profound scars left on its youngest generation.
www.newsweek.com
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by Timothy Snyder — Reposted by Michael Clarke, Leo Lucassen, Élisabeth Vallet

timothysnyder.bsky.social
One of the most terrible crimes of Russia’s terrible war.
www.newsweek.com/president-pu...
President Putin Must Return Ukraine's Children | Opinion
Ukraine can rebuild its cities, its infrastructure, and its economy. What it cannot do is reclaim the lives lost or undo the profound scars left on its youngest generation.
www.newsweek.com
26 620 1.8K

by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
All discussions about a Ukraine peace deal and western 'reassurance forces' etc are gesture politics ahead of Trump's failure to close a deal. The European intention is to stay close to US while it zig-zags out of the war, because it matters to future fighting who Trump will blame for his failure.
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
Interesting that this man was a 100% MAGA sceptic about Ukraine a few months ago. But to his credit, he has investigated the reality of the war and had the honesty to change his opinion on it. Whether it influences Trump is, of course, another matter.
militarynewsua.bsky.social
🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · Aug 16
❗️Trump's spiritual pastor, Mark Burns, gave a restrained critique of him after his meeting with Putin:

"This is not a time for empty gestures. This is a time for bold leadership. Peace is not achieved by silencing victims or rewarding the aggressor. It is achieved by standing firm on principles."
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Reposted by Michael Clarke

militarynewsua.bsky.social
❗️Trump's spiritual pastor, Mark Burns, gave a restrained critique of him after his meeting with Putin:

"This is not a time for empty gestures. This is a time for bold leadership. Peace is not achieved by silencing victims or rewarding the aggressor. It is achieved by standing firm on principles."
10 26 130

Reposted by Michael Clarke

marikamikiashvili.bsky.social
Day 261 of #GeorgiaProtests

Today, protesters are having a Ukrainian march in support of Ukraine at the Alaska talks.

Georgian, Ukrainian, and American flags are seen.

"Victory to Ukraine! Victory to Georgia! Down with Russia's rotten Empire!"
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Reposted by Michael Clarke

publikage.bsky.social
1/ 6 civil society organisations say they received another letter from Anti-Corruption Bureau on August 11 accusing them of violating Georgian Dream’s ‘FARA’.
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
That's the general idea. Another Trump 'deadline' passes with his fierce threats replaced yet again by another huge diplomatic win, presented on a plate, to Putin. The Russians can hardly believe their luck having such a massive man-child in the White House just now.
militarynewsua.bsky.social
🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · Aug 9
❗️Putin is likely deliberately offering an unacceptable offer to Ukraine in order to delay sanctions as well as meaningful ceasefire talks and to blame Ukraine for the failure of the talks, — Institute for the Study of War
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Reposted by Michael Clarke, Beatriz Gallardo Paúls

militarynewsua.bsky.social
❗️Putin is likely deliberately offering an unacceptable offer to Ukraine in order to delay sanctions as well as meaningful ceasefire talks and to blame Ukraine for the failure of the talks, — Institute for the Study of War
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
If I were a more cynical person I might have thought that Trump's nonsensical nuclear submarine announcement served to distract attention from something else - like labour statistics, or Epstein files. Here is the non-event explained.
www.thetimes.com/article/69bc...
Why did Trump move his best nuclear deterrent? Not for strategic gain
The US president says he has deployed submarines closer to Russia — but this would only make the boats more vulnerable to attack
www.thetimes.com
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
GAZA And if you are also wondering about 'collective punishment' - that is also illegal under Art 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention (1949) and its Additional Protocol I (1977) Art 75(2)(d) & Additional Protocol II (1977) Art 4(2)(b). Also in Hague Regulation (1907), Art 50. Also in ICC Articles 7 & 8.
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
GAZA In case you were wondering, the legal provision against the forceable transfer of a population is in 4th Geneva Convention (1949) Art. 49. Also in Customary Human Rights Law, Rule 129(A) and 130. Also in International Criminal Court Statutes (1998), Art 7(1)(d) and Art 8(2)(e)(vii). Choose any.
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by Michael Clarke

mikeclarke2020s.bsky.social
US says the tariffs deal with China guarantees that critical magnets will still be available after rare earths agreement. White House suddenly found that China can coerce them more effectively with rare earths than they can coerce China with tariffs. An interesting lesson for the Trump world view.
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