Jack Laurence

Reporter, author, doc filmmaker, bibliophile, chess nut, father of 4.

[Anton Gerashchenko @Gerashchenko_en]

Neither Putin (and Russia, which is controlled entirely by him) nor Ukraine (and its president Zelenskyy) are willing to engage in "dialogue" and "negotiations" right now. Both sides believe it is impossible at this stage and not in their interests.

Russia sees this war as an indirect war against the "collective West" led by Washington. Putin, using propaganda, presents Ukrainians as "hostages" of the West who cannot realize their real national interests and therefore cannot be a negotiating party.
A ceasefire for Russia can only be temporary and is in Russia's interests, as it will preserve resources, buy time, build up the military-industrial complex and gradually weaken Western support.

Therefore, even the most sincere wishes to stop and freeze military action (though quite clear) end up playing into Russia's hands and increasing the existential threat to Ukraine.

Many European countries are now modernizing their armies and purchasing new weapons and equipment. They rightly believe that Russia poses a real strategic threat. Indeed, it is a militarized country with imperial ambitions that has been ready for a long war with the West for years and directly threatens most countries.

It is Ukraine that is now demilitarizing Russia and destroying its army.

Yet Russia is also transforming itself in the meantime, learning, getting on the military rails, increasing production, modernizing, and looking for allies.

It is the support for Ukraine that will keep the war from spreading to other European countries. But if Ukraine is exhausted by the long war it will cease to be this deterrent force.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

@peterhowellfilm @ElvisMovie @Banshees_Movie @thefabelmans @tarmovie @triangleofsad The Oscars suck. The Baftas are a much better measure of artistic achievement in the movies.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

You have a point, Janet, but Gleeson and Farrell did not have as difficult characters to play as the winners.

[Janet Maslin @JanetMaslin]

Would it have killed you, #BAFTAs, to recognize the seasoned and obvious talents of both these fine gentlemen?

I give up. I don’t care about the rest of this Awards Season. Nothing good is going to come of it. Over and out.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

@ChrisDavidGill Leo Tolstoy

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

@sarahchurchwell Much better starting word than "adieu," but we won't see it again as THE starter.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

@JanetMaslin Given the physical problems in making a film that is underwater so much of the time, Ron Howard and his team did a masterful job of telling the story.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

@BowenBBC @bowelcanceruk Happy you made it, Jeremy. Your courage is admirable, especially working in Ukraine. You are both talented and brave--a rare combination.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

@BowenBBC @BBCr4today @ProducerKathy @DariaSipigina Back in the UK, we are admiring your courageous work on the front lines, Jeremy. Please keep your head down & keep up the great work.

[johncalia @johncalia]

What according to you was the best invention of the last 50 years?

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

@jrpsaki My guess is that you started with the same word as Wordle Companion. I did. It's the name of the saloon in NYC that was across the street from the CBS News broadcast center where I worked and where everyone from Walter Cronkite and the rest of us went for a drink after work.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

Please make sure the sound is on.

https://t.co/59QLpzhr7W

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

https://t.co/fo0UnauJb4 BRAVO, MORT!

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

Katty, it's a pleasure to see you back at work on the Beeb.

[Katty Kay @KattyKay_]

Another front row seat. And now I’ll stop gloating.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

Remember Prague 1968. The Czechs do.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

One could say that Rock got caught between a Smith and a hard place.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

Straight From The Frontline
https://t.co/9pdTT4hrKU

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

@sarahchurchwell Remember, Zelensky and his closest advisors are all show business professionals. They are putting on the most courageous reality show in history. It comes to them naturally.

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

If you were not aware of the genius of Todd Gitlin, here is an index of his essays for the New York Review of Books. As a journalist, I met him in the 1960s when he was one of the fully-involved leaders of the movement to end the Viet Nam War.

https://t.co/eWkfSeRc2U

[Jack Laurence @jackandcats]

@thegoodgodabove Living.