Marcus Walker

South Europe bureau chief, The Wall Street Journal.

[Yaroslav Trofimov @yarotrof]

Russia threatened to do this if Ukraine attacked the May 9 parade on the Red Square. After Trump’s intervention on Putin’s behalf, Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire so Russia could hold the parade. Two weeks later, Putin unleashed the ballistic missile barrage on central Kyiv anyway.

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

This summer will test whether the war is at an inflection point. My analysis with @AnaMalenko
And insights from @RALee85 @HoansSolo @AlexGabuev

https://t.co/vSY8t0eXMR via @WSJ

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

Is Ukraine winning?

It has clawed back the advantage in the drone war - and brought Russia's advance to the slowest pace in over two years.

Russia's war is going badly, on the ground and in the air - but not badly enough yet to force Putin to rethink his war aims. 1/2

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

Do popes still believe in just wars? It's complicated.

https://t.co/DOfoWVJkQ6 via @WSJ

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

A war of two hourglasses (2/2)

https://t.co/zQ4e6chgw7 via @WSJ

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

Putin is betting Ukraine's army will buckle before Russia's economy does.
Neither is close to breaking yet.
But on current trajectories - including in the slow-moving West - Putin could win his bet.

My analysis in the WSJ (1/2)

[Ulrich Speck @ulrichspeck]

The west can turn the balance in Ukraine's favor, frustrating Russia's imperialist ambitions. Yet it fails to support Ukraine sufficiently. Perfect summary by @MMQWalker https://t.co/3QYohdQkiN

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

2/2 in today’s WSJ.

https://t.co/bjqzQUC98m via @WSJ

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

How will the Russo-Ukrainian war end?
Two scenarios.
1) partition with protection.
2) partition with subordination.
Neither is close. My analysis 1/2

[laurence norman @laurnorman]

A ceasefire was attainable. Deliverable if Putin wanted. And it was measurable. Agree or face economic pain. A peace deal objective upfront is an invitation to procrastinate, delay, object and spin out diplomacy to keep fighting for months. It ain’t rocket science.

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

@J_JHelin @redbirdsglory @Tatarigami_UA He's not the origin of the problem, which is institutional, but many soldiers think he embodies it (but not him alone) - I hope the piece is clear on that. Thanks for the feedback!

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

@J_JHelin @redbirdsglory @Tatarigami_UA Our article argues that the C2 problems are institutional, not merely individual, and that the dynamic has been mostly (but not all) bad, for several reasons named in the piece. You guys know these problems well. Question is can Ukraine still repair the situation & rebuild trust?

[Yaroslav Trofimov @yarotrof]

“Syrsky remains widely unpopular with Ukrainian soldiers, many of whom see him as the epitome of the Soviet syndrome: a Moscow-trained career officer who micromanages units on the ground, delaying retreats or ordering assaults that lead to morale-sapping casualties for tree lines or other objectives with little strategic value.”
@mmqwalker @iglovett

https://t.co/7DP3gbja24

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

with @iglovett & @JSivorka, 📸by Manu Brabo

https://t.co/lF6fsA8VOW via @WSJ

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

An underdiscussed aspect of Ukraine's fight for survival: its soldiers are battling not only the Russians, but a command culture that has regressed into Soviet-style rigidity. Our report from the front lines in Donetsk, Sumy & Zap shows the frustration with Syrskyi & co 1/2

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

@TunetoCarry @drewhinshaw @JoeWSJ August

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

Really looking forward to reading the new book 'Swap' by my brilliant colleagues @drewhinshaw & @JoeWSJ on Russian espionage's 'illegals' and Putin's hostage diplomacy

[drew hinshaw @drewhinshaw]

NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

Let us tell you a story about this young girl in Harry Potter shoes–an Argentine who was set to start 6th grade last summer when she was whisked onto a CIA jet with her mom

Sophie didn’t know her family was Russian–or their place in a global shadow war

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

What's behind the disdain for Europe shown by Trump & co.?
@davidluhnow & I explore MAGA's anti-Europeanism, a front in the culture wars that goes beyond (well-earned) criticism of European policies on defense, economics and immigration.

https://t.co/Yn4bg4COCo via @WSJ

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

@Dr_ChristopherM @yarotrof @EddieGold2u - afaik, yes.
- it's not about ethnicity, which isn't a good indicator, but rather political attitudes towards Ukrainian statehood vs 'Russkiy mir'.

[Marcus Walker @MMQWalker]

@yarotrof @EddieGold2u Survey on how people in east & south Ukraine thought in early 2014. Support for Russia & separatism was limited to a minority even at its peak.

https://t.co/9zugIenr5a