Battle Lines ‘Russia-Ukraine deal impossible while Putin is alive’: ex-UK ambassador to Moscow
Dec 19, 2025
In this insightful discussion, former UK ambassador to Russia, Sir Laurie Bristow, shares his sobering views on global instability and the futility of negotiating with Putin. Drawing from three decades in the Foreign Office, he warns that a ceasefire is unattainable as long as Putin remains in power. Bristow discusses the misjudgment of Russia by the West, the need for modernized diplomacy, and the urgent necessity for the UK to adapt its strategies. He emphasizes the challenges of responding to Russian provocations and the lessons learned from Afghanistan.
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A World Of Overlapping Crises
- The world today is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous with overlapping systemic risks.
- Laurie Bristow argues this moment demands more creative and effective diplomacy than ever.
Modernise The Diplomatic Machine
- Modernise the diplomatic service structurally and culturally to meet current challenges.
- Ministers must set clear direction because foreign policy execution depends on leadership, not a 'deep state'.
From Taiwan Desk To Post-Communist Europe
- Bristow recounts starting on the Taiwan desk then learning Romanian and serving in Romania after 1989.
- His early postings shaped a long career focused on the Soviet collapse and its aftermath.