World
Putin's seizure of Chernobyl should terrify us all
The word ‘Chernobyl’ sends a shiver down the spine of most Europeans, and with good reason: it was the site of…
A new Europe is emerging from this crisis
With every hour that Kiev holds out, the geopolitics of Europe changes more. Germany, which so values its prohibition on…
Expelling Russia from Swift would be a massive economic shock
If Russia is expelled from the Swift banking messaging system, that would be serious economic warfare against Putin. Because Thursday’s…
The war in Ukraine is not about you
In times of war and strife it’s only natural to feel anxious and worried. It’s a normal, primal reaction. What’s…
‘This is our land. This is our history’: my appeal to the people of Russia
I come today with an appeal to all citizens of Russia. Not as President. I am appealing to the people…
Tom Ford and the gross misogyny of high fashion
Tom Ford, the stratospherically successful fashion designer has recently released lipstick shades called ‘Age of Consent’ and ‘First Time’. He also produced…
The post-Soviet roots of the war in Ukraine
In his hour-long speech earlier this week setting out why he was invading Ukraine, Vladimir Putin blamed Vladimir Lenin, the…
China is tying itself in knots over Ukraine
A few hours after Vladimir Putin sent his tanks into Ukraine, Beijing announced that Russian wheat, previously barred because of…
It’s time for Germany to stand up to Russia
In his novel The Loyal Subject, which appeared on the eve of the first world war, Heinrich Mann, the brother…
Ukrainians are living through a hell on earth
‘Live long enough and you watch everyone go mad,’ the man said to me gloomily. It was around 2009, and…
Putin’s invasion has exposed the frailty of Europe’s armies
Putin’s forces are currently steamrolling Ukraine’s defences, with Russian troops circling the capital and invading from the south and east…
No, China isn’t about to invade Taiwan
I have a medal for winning the Cold War. And I’m not alone — they were awarded to all members…
Why can’t the right build its own Twitter?
Cockburn isn’t a great fan of social media. He prefers it to social distancing and social-justice warriors, but would much…
Are Russians turning against Putin?
One of the reasons why I judged — wrongly — that Vladimir Putin would not order an all-out invasion of…
Macron’s posturing as a global statesman will get him re-elected
It is bordering on tasteless amidst the horror of war in Europe to question the political impact of the conflict…
What happened to Tough Guy Joe Biden?
If you watched President Joe Biden’s press conference on Thursday afternoon, you wouldn’t know you were looking at the same…
Tom Tugendhat and the worrying rise of Russophobia
Public life in Britain has taken a dark turn over the past 48 hours. Russia’s outrageous invasion of Ukraine has…
To hurt Putin, go for oil and gas – not Swift
Both the British and the Americans have been explicit that it is the Europeans who are blocking Russia being cut…
Is Britain prepared for the cost of sanctions?
Sanctions hit both sides: this is a point that Joe Biden has made to Americans and Olaf Scholz is making…
Will the West shut Russia out of Swift?
You may never have heard of the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications — or at least not by its…
Harry and Meghan speak out on Ukraine
Amid all the gloom, a sliver of light has emerged from the rubble of Ukraine. As Sun-Tzu said: ‘In the midst of…
Will Ukraine become Putin's Afghanistan?
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace may be right that Russian troops have not succeeded in all their immediate objectives, that they…
A war 'crime': How the Russian press covered the invasion of Ukraine
What do Russians make of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine? The violence has been condemned around the world, and it seems that…
Ukraine is paying the price for the sorry state of Germany's military
The Chief of the German Army is angry. Alfons Mais’s words were coloured by evident frustration when he said that…
Why Ukrainians fear the Russians
The Ukrainian word ‘Holodomor’ meaning ‘death by hunger’ is not as well known in the West as the word ‘Holocaust’…
