Every professional fibre in my body is screaming ‘no’ but I think the only response is to ignore those I suspect of using AI. That’s a red flag already; and I don’t have the time or skills to check the legitimacy of each application; while Admissions is swamped already.

Immigration fraud via AI-generated PhD proposals: this is going to get really old very fast.

The best thing Zelenskyy could do now is declare an immediate 24-hour unilateral ceasefire, not just on energy but everything, extendable if the Russians freeze in place and match it. Which they’ll never be able to do.

And: the title is great!

I’ve said it before and I say it again: it’s a terrific and inspiring book. Thank you for writing it.

He probably designed it as one, in a sense: in his mind, as long as Kaliningrad were Soviet, the Baltic States could never be independent. He would never have dreamed it could become an exclave in this way

Yes quite. I suspect we can all agree that Putin is the number one threat to the peace and security of the free world. Never in my life did I expect the number two slot to be held by someone like this

Hear hear one of the best handful of history books I have ever read

Which is why Trump’s efforts at (let’s be charitable and call it) ‘detente’ are so misplaced. The time for that is past. At this stage to Putin concessions look like weakness. Trump has (again) failed to understand both history and the other guy’s point of view.

Oh yes I agree but that kind of thing rarely stopped someone from trying - especially if they see no other way out

If Putin can succeed in peeling USA out - which Trump is giving him some reason to believe he might - then the balance will look much better, that’s for sure

My own view is that Putin sincerely believes himself already to be embroiled in a war with NATO. Not a Cold War: an actual conflict. So far it has not involved direct shooting between the militaries of NATO and Russia but in his mind that is most likely contingent rather than inconceivable.

Some typically farsighted and well-balanced analysis here. The scariest bit is that Putin seems to be turning to narratives of desperation to justify his rhetoric of escalation: a desperate Russia is more frightening even than a bullying one. Desperation leads to gambles.

If he hasn’t wanted to be found for 82 years, I suspect they’re going to struggle to find him now

Shameful.

All welcome!

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Honest ‘injun. Look carefully