Leigh Turner writer
@leighturnerwriter.bsky.social
Author ✍️ of “Lessons in Diplomacy” and inspirational speaker. Also novelist. Former British Ambo to Austria and Ukraine.
My #patrica (Patagonia to Costa Rica) trip starts in Santiago de Chile. A sprawling city surrounded by mountains. Sunrise over #Brazil; crossing the #Andes; and a first (outstanding) Pisco sour. #lessonsindiplomacy. For more, see LinkedIn or TikTok.
November 10, 2025 at 10:41 AM
My #patrica (Patagonia to Costa Rica) trip starts in Santiago de Chile. A sprawling city surrounded by mountains. Sunrise over #Brazil; crossing the #Andes; and a first (outstanding) Pisco sour. #lessonsindiplomacy. For more, see LinkedIn or TikTok.
Weighing luggage items for my forthcoming trip to Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Costa Rica. Trying to keep the weight down… Hashtag #patrica (Patagonia to Costa Rica). I like the packaging of the bracelet: “Don’t bite me please”… #writinginspiration #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok
November 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Weighing luggage items for my forthcoming trip to Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Costa Rica. Trying to keep the weight down… Hashtag #patrica (Patagonia to Costa Rica). I like the packaging of the bracelet: “Don’t bite me please”… #writinginspiration #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok
I took this video of the Russian Church in Vienna from the British residence 5 years ago. It's unique: for most of history, this view has been blocked by the German Embassy, which sits between - as now. #russianchurch #vienna #writinginspiration #lessonsindiplomacy www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJmc...
Birdsong at the Russian Church in Vienna
YouTube video by Leigh Turner Writing
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I took this video of the Russian Church in Vienna from the British residence 5 years ago. It's unique: for most of history, this view has been blocked by the German Embassy, which sits between - as now. #russianchurch #vienna #writinginspiration #lessonsindiplomacy www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJmc...
Up early for a train from Amsterdam to Bonn - where I was posted 1998-9 before moving with the German government and the embassy to Berlin in a convoy of removal vans. Lovely sunrise. I’ll be giving talks today and tomorrow (in Düsseldorf) based on my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”.
November 3, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Up early for a train from Amsterdam to Bonn - where I was posted 1998-9 before moving with the German government and the embassy to Berlin in a convoy of removal vans. Lovely sunrise. I’ll be giving talks today and tomorrow (in Düsseldorf) based on my book “Lessons in Diplomacy”.
What do you think?
My latest YouTube video addresses a key question: Can you get ti the top without working too hard? youtube.com/shorts/mvpoi...
Can you get to the top without working hard?
YouTube video by Leigh Turner Writing
youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 3:18 PM
What do you think?
Worth bearing in mind next time you feel incensed about something. Who might be trying to incense you? I've just written a thriller about the implications of this for all of us. www.bbc.com/news/article... #russia #ukraine #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy
Hand of Moscow? The men jailed for vandalism in French hybrid warfare case
Three Bulgarians are jailed for painting red hands on France's Holocaust Memorial in a suspected case of Russian "destabilisation".
www.bbc.com
November 1, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Worth bearing in mind next time you feel incensed about something. Who might be trying to incense you? I've just written a thriller about the implications of this for all of us. www.bbc.com/news/article... #russia #ukraine #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy
Busy 3 days in #Vienna: Talks at Army Museum; House of Scotland); Rotary Wien Süd; the Diplomatic Academy and Shakespeare & Co. Also Vienna Woods, Mexicoplatz, Cafe Goldegg and… 🧵 1 of 2
October 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Busy 3 days in #Vienna: Talks at Army Museum; House of Scotland); Rotary Wien Süd; the Diplomatic Academy and Shakespeare & Co. Also Vienna Woods, Mexicoplatz, Cafe Goldegg and… 🧵 1 of 2
My latest YouTube video addresses a key question: Can you get ti the top without working too hard? youtube.com/shorts/mvpoi...
Can you get to the top without working hard?
YouTube video by Leigh Turner Writing
youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:40 AM
My latest YouTube video addresses a key question: Can you get ti the top without working too hard? youtube.com/shorts/mvpoi...
Enjoying the queues, broken conveyor belts, rain and delays of a #Schipol Monday morning. But nice to head for 5 talks about „Lessons in Diplomacy“ in lovely #Vienna! PS I liked the ambitious „duty free“ limits. 110 litres of beer on a flight? As for „Grab and Fly“ as an outlet name, I despair.
October 27, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Shocking scenes from this BBC report on an attack on a nursery in #Ukraine. We should not allow fatigue with Russia's invasion to make such images routine. This is #Russia attacking a peaceful neighbour that before 2014 had never harmed a single Russian. www.bbc.com/news/article...
How 48 Ukrainian children were saved from Kharkiv kindergarten hit by Russian drone
The story of a dramatic and heroic rescue that has captured the public imagination in Ukraine.
www.bbc.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Shocking scenes from this BBC report on an attack on a nursery in #Ukraine. We should not allow fatigue with Russia's invasion to make such images routine. This is #Russia attacking a peaceful neighbour that before 2014 had never harmed a single Russian. www.bbc.com/news/article...
President #Trump’s new sanctions against Russian oil companies, are a great move. For the first time since January, Trump has introduced measures that could put real pressure on #Putin end #Russia’s war agains #Ukraine. It’s a welcome step. #lessonsindiplomacy youtube.com/shorts/lwg2c...
President Trump’s new sanctions on Russia are a great move. Here’s why.
YouTube video by Leigh Turner Writing
youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:39 AM
President #Trump’s new sanctions against Russian oil companies, are a great move. For the first time since January, Trump has introduced measures that could put real pressure on #Putin end #Russia’s war agains #Ukraine. It’s a welcome step. #lessonsindiplomacy youtube.com/shorts/lwg2c...
My (long) interview about #Russia and #Ukraine on Times Radio "Frontline" earlier today. The announcement of US sanctions against Russian oil companies is welcome. But we need a consistent long-term policy of pressure on #Putin to bring him to the negotiating table youtu.be/yUoBlMeg9fc?...
Putin’s dreams dwindle as frozen Russian assets prove he can’t outlast us | Former UK ambassador
YouTube video by Times Radio
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
My (long) interview about #Russia and #Ukraine on Times Radio "Frontline" earlier today. The announcement of US sanctions against Russian oil companies is welcome. But we need a consistent long-term policy of pressure on #Putin to bring him to the negotiating table youtu.be/yUoBlMeg9fc?...
This seems to be a legitimate story. If #China and #India significantly reduces their purchases of oil from #Russia, that could in the medium-long term reduce Moscow's ability to fund its war against #Ukraine. Next question: what will #Turkey do? www.reuters.com/business/ene... #Russiaukraine
www.reuters.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:28 PM
This seems to be a legitimate story. If #China and #India significantly reduces their purchases of oil from #Russia, that could in the medium-long term reduce Moscow's ability to fund its war against #Ukraine. Next question: what will #Turkey do? www.reuters.com/business/ene... #Russiaukraine
My recent post on why diplomacy is getting harder - taking an example of the Falklands - is proving popular: www.youtube.com/watch?v=juUE...
Is diplomacy getting harder? Why?
YouTube video by Leigh Turner Writing
www.youtube.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:02 AM
My recent post on why diplomacy is getting harder - taking an example of the Falklands - is proving popular: www.youtube.com/watch?v=juUE...
This FT report of President #Trump echoing Putin's talking points is disturbing. Unfortunately, it's consistent with Trump's record of responding to Putin's obvious disrespect of him by making pro-Ukrainian statements; then speaking to #Putin; then pressuring #Ukraine, essentially, to surrender.
/1. During a tense meeting at the White House on Friday, Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept Russia’s terms, warning that Putin had said he would “destroy” Ukraine if Kyiv refused. - Financial Times
October 20, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Reposted by Leigh Turner writer
My interview on @lbc.co.uk yesterday. Unfortunately my pessimism about the likelihood of President Trump giving cruise missiles to #Ukraine turned out to be justified as President #Putin outmanoeuvred him again. youtu.be/JuwVKHTytfU?...
Trump warns Zelensky Tomahawk missiles could escalate Ukraine war
YouTube video by LBC
youtu.be
October 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM
My interview on @lbc.co.uk yesterday. Unfortunately my pessimism about the likelihood of President Trump giving cruise missiles to #Ukraine turned out to be justified as President #Putin outmanoeuvred him again. youtu.be/JuwVKHTytfU?...
Reposted by Leigh Turner writer
My latest “hot take” on Tomahawks for #Ukraine. I don’t expect President Trump to provide them, for reasons set out in my previous YouTube video. But I think that he should. #Tomahawk #Russia #russiaUkrainewar #Lessonsindiplomacy #booktok youtube.com/shorts/fKn-7...
Should President #Trump provide Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine? Yes.
YouTube video by Leigh Turner Writing
youtube.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:53 AM
My latest “hot take” on Tomahawks for #Ukraine. I don’t expect President Trump to provide them, for reasons set out in my previous YouTube video. But I think that he should. #Tomahawk #Russia #russiaUkrainewar #Lessonsindiplomacy #booktok youtube.com/shorts/fKn-7...
My interview on @lbc.co.uk yesterday. Unfortunately my pessimism about the likelihood of President Trump giving cruise missiles to #Ukraine turned out to be justified as President #Putin outmanoeuvred him again. youtu.be/JuwVKHTytfU?...
Trump warns Zelensky Tomahawk missiles could escalate Ukraine war
YouTube video by LBC
youtu.be
October 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM
My interview on @lbc.co.uk yesterday. Unfortunately my pessimism about the likelihood of President Trump giving cruise missiles to #Ukraine turned out to be justified as President #Putin outmanoeuvred him again. youtu.be/JuwVKHTytfU?...
Reposted by Leigh Turner writer
My new "instant analysis" YouTube video. Will President #Trump provide cruise missiles to #Ukraine? I hope I'm wrong. #Russia #RussiaUkraine #UkraineRussia #lessonsindiplomacy www.youtube.com/shorts/dEiEu...
Will President Trump provide Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine? No.
YouTube video by Leigh Turner Writing
www.youtube.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:55 AM
My new "instant analysis" YouTube video. Will President #Trump provide cruise missiles to #Ukraine? I hope I'm wrong. #Russia #RussiaUkraine #UkraineRussia #lessonsindiplomacy www.youtube.com/shorts/dEiEu...
Reposted by Leigh Turner writer
My latest interview with Times Radio today youtu.be/_SErDoKtmts?...
Putin under pressure as Trump set to unleash Tomahawk missiles
YouTube video by Times Radio
youtu.be
October 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
My latest interview with Times Radio today youtu.be/_SErDoKtmts?...
My latest “hot take” on Tomahawks for #Ukraine. I don’t expect President Trump to provide them, for reasons set out in my previous YouTube video. But I think that he should. #Tomahawk #Russia #russiaUkrainewar #Lessonsindiplomacy #booktok youtube.com/shorts/fKn-7...
Should President #Trump provide Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine? Yes.
YouTube video by Leigh Turner Writing
youtube.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:53 AM
My latest “hot take” on Tomahawks for #Ukraine. I don’t expect President Trump to provide them, for reasons set out in my previous YouTube video. But I think that he should. #Tomahawk #Russia #russiaUkrainewar #Lessonsindiplomacy #booktok youtube.com/shorts/fKn-7...
My latest interview with Times Radio today youtu.be/_SErDoKtmts?...
Putin under pressure as Trump set to unleash Tomahawk missiles
YouTube video by Times Radio
youtu.be
October 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
My latest interview with Times Radio today youtu.be/_SErDoKtmts?...
My new "instant analysis" YouTube video. Will President #Trump provide cruise missiles to #Ukraine? I hope I'm wrong. #Russia #RussiaUkraine #UkraineRussia #lessonsindiplomacy www.youtube.com/shorts/dEiEu...
Will President Trump provide Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine? No.
YouTube video by Leigh Turner Writing
www.youtube.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:55 AM
My new "instant analysis" YouTube video. Will President #Trump provide cruise missiles to #Ukraine? I hope I'm wrong. #Russia #RussiaUkraine #UkraineRussia #lessonsindiplomacy www.youtube.com/shorts/dEiEu...
Reposted by Leigh Turner writer
My heroine Ms N on business travellers in hotels:
‘On any given night, dozens of these men will have a craving for female company which makes a dog approaching a bitch in heat seem like the Dalai Lama after taking a couple of sleeping pills.'
From "Mr Smith Sees Red". geni.us/MrSmith
‘On any given night, dozens of these men will have a craving for female company which makes a dog approaching a bitch in heat seem like the Dalai Lama after taking a couple of sleeping pills.'
From "Mr Smith Sees Red". geni.us/MrSmith
Amazon.com: Mr Smith Sees Red: "Hotel Stories" No. 11 (The Hotel Stories) eBook : Turner, Leigh: Kindle Store
Amazon.com: Mr Smith Sees Red: "Hotel Stories" No. 11 (The Hotel Stories) eBook : Turner, Leigh: Kindle Store
geni.us
October 7, 2025 at 9:51 AM
My heroine Ms N on business travellers in hotels:
‘On any given night, dozens of these men will have a craving for female company which makes a dog approaching a bitch in heat seem like the Dalai Lama after taking a couple of sleeping pills.'
From "Mr Smith Sees Red". geni.us/MrSmith
‘On any given night, dozens of these men will have a craving for female company which makes a dog approaching a bitch in heat seem like the Dalai Lama after taking a couple of sleeping pills.'
From "Mr Smith Sees Red". geni.us/MrSmith
Visiting Manchester Grammar School to address alumni today on “How to Survive a Diplomatic Crisis”. Good discussion afterwards. Thanks to all for the invitation and participation - super afternoon. #books #booktok #lessonsindiplomacy #booksaboutdiplomacy
October 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Visiting Manchester Grammar School to address alumni today on “How to Survive a Diplomatic Crisis”. Good discussion afterwards. Thanks to all for the invitation and participation - super afternoon. #books #booktok #lessonsindiplomacy #booksaboutdiplomacy