Diplomatic Ed
@BBCNewsnight
author of Big Boys Rules, Generals, Rifles, Task Force Black, The Tank War, The Edge, The Skripal Files, Red Devils, trustee
@I_W_M
🚨personal news🚨I’ll be leaving the BBC at the end of May. Newsnight in its current format will end then, so most posts will go. I decided not to apply for other BBC jobs. Working there for 35 yrs has been life defining: an eyewitness to history collaborating with such brilliant…
I've just watched several videos of captured Russian soldiers. I don't re-tweet material of that kind, but they are bewildered in the face of their angry Ukrainian captors. Losses of dead and prisoners are mounting, all of this will become known at home in Russia
This is my grandfather Solomon, murdered in the Holocaust. We do not forget. Far from it, my son now bears his name, that is one way we deny evil its aims
#HMD2022
The honour of presenting
@BBCNewsnight
falls to me tonight. I have worked on the programme for 32 years, around the world, risking my life many times for its journalism. You can well imagine my feelings at cuts to our staff and budget of more than 50%
Very pleased to have interviewed two members of the German cabinet in the past 15 days. Sad though that it’s just over 8 weeks since a member of the British cabinet appeared on Newsnight.
The number of Russian battalion tactical groups (700-1k soldiers each) rendered combat ineffective in the Ukraine war so far has been reassessed at 37-38 according to a western official, leaving 90 operational. That suggests heavier losses than previously thought
Tensions are very high currently between Serbia and Kosovo, with reports of barricades going up in Serb areas of the province and clashes. It’s an evolving situation tonight but it’s possible that Serbia has upped the ante as part of a geopolitical move coordinated with Russia
Medical staff at the dedicated isolation ward of Wuhan's People's Hospital wish everyone a Happy New Year, saying: "We're here, don't worry [and celebrate Spring Festival]" - a hashtag that's now propagated online to ease the
#coronavirus
panic. #有我们在大家安心过年
The Pentagon judges that 90% of the Russian force concentrated on Ukraine's borders ten days ago has now entered the country. The first phase of their operation has happened and they are stalled. So what do they do now? 1/
The shadow war inside Russia - at least 22 incidents so far. The causes? Accidents, Ukrainian air attack, or sabotage by them? none of these are comfortable to the Kremlin
Good Lord I’m bowled over by the replies to this. You’ve brought a tear to the eye of this old bruiser! Forgive me if I don’t reply to you individually ❤️
If we had any doubt about the possible effects of this message of death and capture when it gets through to those at home, my colleague
@BBCSteveR
reports ‘access to Twitter has been severely restricted’ in Russia today
Former chair of UK National Security Council throws his weight behind Dominic Grieve in calling for the immediate publication of the Intelligence & Security Cttee report on Russia - Mr Grieve accuses No10 of sitting on the report
Dominic Grieve is right to demand publication. The Leadsom reply here “Many select committee reports are produced and the government has to respond properly. It cannot respond in haste” is irrelevant. Govt simply have to publish. Their response comes later
Ukrainian defence ministry is circulating phone numbers on social media 'for all those who lost a Russian soldier on Ukrainian soil' -to inform relatives back home of those killed or captured. A service for the desperate but also a potent infowar move
Анонс від Міністра оборони України
@oleksiireznikov
!!!
Відсьогодні з 19:00! Для всіх, у кого десь на Українській землі загубився російський солдат.
С сегодняшнего дня с 19:00! Для всех, у кого где-то на Украинской земле потерялся российский солдат.
Some Russian observers have mentioned that Putin may be planning to pattern operations closely on Nato's 1999 campaign against Yugoslavia over Kosovo. Early steps seem to confirm this: Putin's use of 'genocide' + the creation of a 'refugee crisis' by removing Donbas citizens 1/
An insider from one of the EU institutions here told me today that after UK made its initial offer here 2 weeks ago, Michel Barnier told him, 'we will have to get them to move to a Northern Ireland only backstop, but convince them that's not what's happening'
Add to this the calculation that stripping out almost the entire regular army for Ukraine could leave the Kremlin dangerously exposed (eg in North Caucasus) and the answer becomes a large scale mobilisation of reserves. Fear of this is driving many young Russians to leave 4/END
US has already sent Ukraine ONE MILLION artillery rounds -to avoid running out they are now trebling production. Production of ammo for Himars rocket launchers being doubled. After years of talking the ‘peer adversary’ talk, the Pentagon now walks the walk
By way of contrast, the Soviet withdrawal from Kabul in 1989: the last land column left in a blizzard a few days before the February deadline - just 3 journalists (including me) witnessed this, the last vehicle. The commander waved at us 1/4
Back from Brussels where, if you believe the 'they always cave at the 11th hour' mantra (I don't, just ask the Greeks) they would have to be softening their Brexit position by now in order to close the remaining gaps by the 17/10 summit. Actually EU27 stance has hardened 1/7
The Parliamentary Intelligence & Security Cttee report on Russian actions against the UK was sent to No10 on 17/10 with the idea it should be released on 28/10, before the election, but No10 has not signed it off 1/3
WATCH: the story of 331st Guards Parachute Regiment’s war in Ukraine. Told by their commanders they were ‘the best of the best’ they formed part of the failed attempt by Russian airborne forces to reach Kyiv. Meanwhile their families counted the cost
We are at one minute to midnight now in this Ukraine crisis. The failure of Ukraine/Russia talks in Berlin yesterday creates deep instability. Without a hope if further progress Russian separatists in E. Ukraine may declare independence 1/
Following the shocking Gaza hospital blast:
- Palestinian Authority leader pulls out of mtg with Biden
- Jordan then cancels the summit
- violence across the West Bank
- Hezbollah in Lebanon calls for a ‘day of rage’ on Wednesday,
That’s the crisis President Biden flies into
If assessments like those we've heard from France today, that Putin plans to occupy all of Ukraine are right, coming up with another 15 or 20 battalion groups will be inadequate anyway. As the Ukrainians estimated a few weeks ago, that's a job for 500k troops 3/
Downing St denies asking the Hungarians to veto extension. A well placed Hungarian source told me recently 'we will not break ranks with the 27', adding witheringly, 'what on earth could you give us to compensate for the harm that would do with our relations with Germany?' 5/7
There are clearly efforts going on to scrape up more combat units from Russian garrisons, and we've seen footage of kit moving west, but the invasion force already used most of their regular battalion combat groups, there's not so much left. So... 2/
30 years ago today Soviet Forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan - I was covering it for a paper but taking photos for myself, like this Russian tank driver on one of the last convoys
The report will have to be released by Tuesday at latest before current committee is dissolved, & failure to do so because of a refusal by No10 to sign it off may be seen by many as an attempt to suppress evidence of previous Russian attempts to subvert UK polls 3/3
In an Italian restaurant a stone's throw from the Berlaymont, Juncker's HQ & beating heart of the European project, staff watched cable as the
#BrexitVote
result came in - the boss let out a delighted cry of 'Forza Brexit!' or 'go for it Brexit!'
Graphic video from the Moscow theatre killers has been posted on the Islamic State Amaq platform. They murder people on camera & use religious language. Evidently uploaded before their capture. The perpetrators connection to IS & their ideology are clearly established.
Disturbing footage of
@BBCNewsnight
’s Nick Watt, being pursued by anti-lockdown protesters
@umairh
wrote recently “Britain — the gentle, wise, intelligent, expansive one — was put to the torch. It became a nation afflicted by a fever dream of nationalism”
Plea to editors commissioning those 'wither the Special Relationship' pieces: just don't.
- the average Brit already knows language & history will keep it much the same
- to the US it's 'a' SR, not 'the' SR and has been for decades
- it just makes this country look so needy
Reporting the Skripal story reminds me... we can bring you the world’s best policy experts, scientists, & analysts to explain stuff. But if you want to believe glib conspiracy theories instead because it makes you feel smart or sassy, that’s your call
Am important message- a couple of the videos circulating today of downed pilots cross the line into verbal abuse and humiliation. There’s others of RU prisoners repeating Ukrainian slogans or messages. All videos of these prisoners are violations of the Geneva conventions
Ukraine’s presidential advisor Oleksii Arestovych demands military personnel to stop filming demeaning videos of captured Russian pilots and soldiers, saying that Geneva conventions must be observed. “We are a European army of a European nation. Don’t be like Satan.”
#BeirutBlast
as we understand the sequence: in 2013 a Moldovan flagged vessel, Rhosus put into Beirut after suffering technical problems. It was en route Mozambique with a cargo of ammonium nitrate - unclear whether it was made for explosive or fertilizer use, it can be both 1/
I understand that the Int & Sec Cttee report includes evidence from the UK intelligence services concerning Russian attempts to influence the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum and 2017 General Election 2/3
These images of mobilised conscripts going to war remind me that a couple of centuries ago it was customary for Russian villagers to give the drafted men their funeral before they left
Last night's events in the Middle East show the value of allies and of long term investment in defence. Iran's capabilities - to attack with a wide variety of precision long range weapons - are considerable. European countries could not have mounted a similar defence
If you're wondering what Russian state TV is saying about this, this morning at the start of her programme, talk show host Olga Skabeyeva declared:
"The missiles were aimed at Nato instructors and the strike's objective was achieved"
It’s 20 years to the day since Afghan resistance legend (& civil war warlord) Ahmad-Shah Massoud was killed by al Qaeda operatives. Bin Laden evidently thought Massoud might prove key to western plans to retaliate for 9/11. Pic of me + Massoud in Jabal os-Saraj 1992
Following today's Commons defeat
@FabianPicardo
Chief Minister of Gibraltar has written to Theresa May asking her to revoke Article 50. "in preference to a long extension of membership of the EU or a no-deal departure from the EU"
A couple of films about a British tank regiment in WW2 that we made 7 years ago were among the most watched progs on BBC2 this week. Over the years they have clocked up several million views. Yet it's very hard to get TV like this commissioned. Pity
The most important single factor in feeding the Ukraine war is the supply of artillery ammunition (nb 152mm and 122mm for RU, those plus 155mm and 105mm for UA). I am now thinking Ukraine will get what it needs. The figures are mind boggling... 1/
My mother (90) got her Covid jab this morning, the in laws yesterday, and several other elderly or vulnerable people we know have also had it. A very impressive operation is gearing up - thanks and kudos to all involved 👏🏻
By mirroring the tactics + messages employed by Nato in 1999 the Kremlin might hope not just to troll the western alliance on a historical scale, & underline the aggressive character of Nato seen from Moscow, but to maintain that its actions were justified by precedent 5/END
While we focus on Ukraine and politics closer to home, things are becoming serious for the authorities in Iran. Unrest is spreading into groups that had hitherto stayed neutral
Dizzying day of diplomatic development in western response to Russian invasion of Ukraine:
- Germany announces big defence spending increase
- EU bans Russian outlets like RT & Sputnik
- EU & Canada announce airspace ban on RU airliners + private jets
- Japan joins SWIFT ban
It’s been an enormous pleasure working with
@KirstyWark
these last 30 years
@BBCNewsnight
and now she’s announced she’ll step down from the programme after the next general election it will leave a great gap. She’s always been enthusiastic, inquiring, clear sighted in the face of…
Remarkable how many journalists have turned last night's US briefing line that Russia has suffered 188,000 casualties in Ukraine into a claim of 188,000 deaths. Staggering really that after a year of war they can't differentiate the two
@JohnSimpsonNews
John that's quite something coming from you, so thank you. Our paths crossed in many a dusty place and we always tried to come up to your standard
I have been in a crowd pulling down statue - it's empowering, intoxicating even, & people soon go looking for another to topple. But it doesn't take long before you reach one that others feel equally strongly about protecting. That's when the problems can start.
Scale of Israel’s crisis:
- Images show Israeli women & children have been kidnapped and taken back to Gaza
- Hamas gunmen are still killing people in southern Israeli communities
- security forces were at low levels due to Jewish religious holiday, slowing response to Hamas…
My niece, who works in intensive care in this Manchester hospital, told me we need more positive stories, like this one. It occurs also that a figure for patients discharged should be part of the daily government briefing
If you haven’t seen the ‘show me you were trained by the US /NATO without telling me you were trained by them’ Taliban meme, here’s another promising example, judging by the way they carry their weapons. Who knows how many fmr Afghan security forces are now with the new masters
‘Fabric of the nation’ but for how much longer? Newsnight as we know it, a mix of studio and film items produced by its own dedicated team, is now at risk from BBC cuts
Absolutely loved this flashback of a young (and ever dashing)
@MarkUrban01
on tonight’s Newsnight. Not so many shows can use its own archive to cover a story in 2023 it first covered on the programme in 1990- fabric of the nation stuff.
BREAK: I have just interviewed Ukraine finance minister Serhiy Marchenko: he says withdrawal of some RU troops from Ukraine border may be a significant de-escalation *but* RU parliament (Duma) recognition of breakaway republics if ratified by Putin would end Minsk (peace talks)
The Covid tier debate centres on economic impacts for the next few months but has dominated political debate in recent days. While the future relationship with the EU, which will set the economic scene for years or even decades to come has hardly figured. I don't understand that
How the 331st Guards Parachute Regiment came to grief in Ukraine - your weekend long read on a Russian army airborne unit that had been told by generals it was ‘the best of the best’ and the home community that now mourns its losses
However in his Commons statement earlier today ISC Chair Dominic Grieve said "it's already been very carefully looked at by the Cabinet Office", suggesting the intelligence agencies had already cleared it. Someone familiar with ISC work tells me 10 days enough for No10 +2/2
Many of the Russian columns coming in are unarmoured - which means things like this are happening. An artillery unit destroyed while moving up - possibly by Ukrainian ambush
So far, Hezbollah, the shiite Lebanese military force, has limited its fighting with Israel, but the risks are rising. Some have speculated they will attack if Israel moves ground troops into Gaza, others that Israel itself might initiate it. Either way its very serious 1/
- the EU27 refused a British request to keep negotiating through this weekend;
- they say the gaps are too wide for the two sides to enter the 'tunnel' or pre-summit negotiating purdah;
- Merkel & Macron declined to change their diaries in order to see Boris Johnson 2/7
Neither the US let alone any other western country exercises its military on this scale - but it's what you do if you're serious about training for war
With nearly 300,000 Russian troops, 1,000 aircraft and 900 tanks, the Kremlin is mobilizing for its biggest military exercise since the height of the Cold War. And this time it's involving China, too.
If Russia goes for this Nato 'Kosplay' we can expect strikes throughout Ukraine as an instrument of coercion, thus Biden suggestion on Friday that RU would 'strike' Kyiv (not drive there), may mirror Nato actions against Belgrade + infrastructure targets like Novi Sad bridge 2/
Surely none of the 6 pharma firms under initial contracts to the EU have fulfilled their delivery schedule? All have been trying to. The Commission is irked by large-scale AZ deliveries to UK, but when it comes to Pfizer supplies to US or Israel, not so much?
Whatever one’s view of his politics
#SenatorJohnMcCain
was a totally dedicated public servant. On many occasions he gave us interviews, was open & unfailingly polite to us & constituents alike. He embodied virtues now so often lacking in politicians
As Dominic Grieve acknowledged to
@BBCNewsnight
last night, there’s a real risk the Russia report will not now be published at all. If the chair and much of the Intelligence & Security Cttee change after the election they may chose not to publish it
Thanks
@JMPSimor
. With Parl’t dissolved, it won’t now be published till Jan. Disgraceful. This must lead to change in the way ISC reports are approved. Once security clearance is given, ISC should have the same right as other Select Cttee to publish its reports!
The investigative juggernaut of federal government is being unleashed on the Capitol rioters. The lack of organic food in jail, or getting a little mace during the melee is going to be the least of their problems
BREAKING: DOJ says "we're looking at significant felony cases tied to sedition and conspiracy," charges that have prison terms of up to 20 years.
“You will be charged and you will be found," acting US attorney in DC Michael Sherwin says.
I am grateful to the United States House of Representatives, both parties, and personally Speaker Mike Johnson for the decision that keeps history on the right track.
Democracy and freedom will always have global significance and will never fail as long as America helps to…
April the first, the only day when people will critically analyse what they read online before commenting or sharing it. If only this could be pushed out to the rest of the year.
Where is the global outrage? Pakistani authorities destroying Afghan refugee camps and forcing 1.7 million vulnerable people to return. Many will face Taliban persecution, compounded by Afghanistan's economic crisis and the impending harsh winter.
#AfghanRefugeesCrisis
Our
@BBCNewsnight
studio was put out of action by a technical issue just over an hour before we went on air. The team shifted everything to a stand by studio 3 floors away and we went on air without a hitch - one of those nights to marvel at the professionalism of our team!
Quite a day
@BBCNewsnight
starting off working on story of tensions in Kosovo, then taking in the Pelosi Taiwan visit at dinner time and seeing the reports of a US drone strike in Ayman Zawahiri just before going live, ended up reporting all 3 stories. Is history accelerating?
Much Russian military on the move this weekend from armoured units pushed closer to Ukraine frontier to soldiers flown in to crew up vehicles sent west by rail in recent weeks. We are entering a period where Russia could launch a major military operation without further warning
Netanyahu declares Israel to be at war:
- Hamas gunmen are still wreaking havoc in southern Israeli communities
- hostages have been taken, reports suggesting as many as 35 Israelis
- Hamas have also paraded what appears to be the body of a dead Israeli woman.
1/2
It should be noted that the RU military build up includes Iskander missiles, kalibr cruise missiles, and squadrons of jets, all of which could be used to strike targets deep in Ukraine in an attempt to break Zelensky govt 3/
Whatever the initial cause of this the huge blast with shock wave is a secondary effect, suggesting someone was storing something extremely dangerous in a highly populated area