Ian Bond
@cerianbond.bsky.social
Deputy director, Centre for European Reform, London @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social . Supporter of democracy, the rule of law, the EU & Ukraine. Opponent of authoritarianism, corruption & Putin's Russia.
Latest entry in my “It’s a dirty job but…” gallery: Lake Como from Villa La Collina, Adenauer’s former holiday home, where I’ll be taking part in 2 days of discussions of the end of globalisation, EU-UK co-operation, the challenge of China, &c. In case of Angst, I’ll just admire the view.
October 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Latest entry in my “It’s a dirty job but…” gallery: Lake Como from Villa La Collina, Adenauer’s former holiday home, where I’ll be taking part in 2 days of discussions of the end of globalisation, EU-UK co-operation, the challenge of China, &c. In case of Angst, I’ll just admire the view.
It's a tough job, but... Bournemouth looking good. Packed @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social fringe event with @eudelegationuk.bsky.social @wendychambld.bsky.social @richardfoordld.bsky.social Malik Azmani MEP. Takeaways: the UK & EU need to work together more on defence & security. 1/2
September 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
It's a tough job, but... Bournemouth looking good. Packed @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social fringe event with @eudelegationuk.bsky.social @wendychambld.bsky.social @richardfoordld.bsky.social Malik Azmani MEP. Takeaways: the UK & EU need to work together more on defence & security. 1/2
Beautiful, moving concert by the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra at Cadogan Hall tonight.
August 29, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Beautiful, moving concert by the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra at Cadogan Hall tonight.
...as there is at another holocaust memorial in Latvia, in the dunes at Skede. I was there in 2005 when it was unveiled. The moral rupture isn't just in one or two places, alas - it has reappeared in Rwanda, Bosnia, Sudan, Ukraine, Xinjiang and Gaza, among others. 'Never again' - till the next time.
August 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
...as there is at another holocaust memorial in Latvia, in the dunes at Skede. I was there in 2005 when it was unveiled. The moral rupture isn't just in one or two places, alas - it has reappeared in Rwanda, Bosnia, Sudan, Ukraine, Xinjiang and Gaza, among others. 'Never again' - till the next time.
"It's a time of existential crisis for European democracies", David Lidington tells @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social birthday party. He warns of the end of period of history that began with US entry into WW2. Is there European political will to meet the challenges, starting with Putin's attacks on us?
February 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
"It's a time of existential crisis for European democracies", David Lidington tells @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social birthday party. He warns of the end of period of history that began with US entry into WW2. Is there European political will to meet the challenges, starting with Putin's attacks on us?
Ben Wallace: "I didn't support Ukraine for some mineral deal... We stood up for Ukraine because standing up to bullies is the right thing to do".
February 24, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Ben Wallace: "I didn't support Ukraine for some mineral deal... We stood up for Ukraine because standing up to bullies is the right thing to do".
At the London Palladium for the 'We are Ukrainians' concert. Powerful rendition of Ukrainian national anthem.
February 24, 2025 at 8:02 PM
At the London Palladium for the 'We are Ukrainians' concert. Powerful rendition of Ukrainian national anthem.
I wrote this last year, and unfortunately more or less all of it remains relevant. Key points, with Alt text, attached. The cost of allowing Ukraine to lose is much higher than the cost of ensuring that it doesn't - something which Trump seems yet to have realised. www.cer.eu/publications...
January 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I wrote this last year, and unfortunately more or less all of it remains relevant. Key points, with Alt text, attached. The cost of allowing Ukraine to lose is much higher than the cost of ensuring that it doesn't - something which Trump seems yet to have realised. www.cer.eu/publications...
Arriving in Washington on a stunning winter evening, & looking forward to a week of discussions here & at the University of Michigan on Russia, European security & what to expect from the Trump administration.
November 30, 2024 at 10:02 PM
Arriving in Washington on a stunning winter evening, & looking forward to a week of discussions here & at the University of Michigan on Russia, European security & what to expect from the Trump administration.
Maria Corina Machado wins the opposition politician award - but has to address us from her hiding place in Venezuela. Over 2000 political prisoners in Venezuela at present, following Maduro's latest stolen election.
November 14, 2024 at 10:02 PM
Maria Corina Machado wins the opposition politician award - but has to address us from her hiding place in Venezuela. Over 2000 political prisoners in Venezuela at present, following Maduro's latest stolen election.
Zahra Joya of Rukshana Media, Afghanistan, outstanding journalist - reminds us of what Afghan women are suffering, and their extraordinary courage.
November 14, 2024 at 9:53 PM
Zahra Joya of Rukshana Media, Afghanistan, outstanding journalist - reminds us of what Afghan women are suffering, and their extraordinary courage.
Zhala Bayramova, young human rights activist, fighting for the release of her sick father, imprisoned in Azerbaijan for exposing corruption there. UK & other Western attendees at #COP29 should raise his case (& fight Azerbaijani money-laundering in the UK).
November 14, 2024 at 9:48 PM
Zhala Bayramova, young human rights activist, fighting for the release of her sick father, imprisoned in Azerbaijan for exposing corruption there. UK & other Western attendees at #COP29 should raise his case (& fight Azerbaijani money-laundering in the UK).
The courage under fire award: Yuliya Navalnaya, who warns us that the number of people eligible for this award is increasing every year."We are just normal people trying to live in normal, democratic countries", but labelled as terrorists by Putin.
November 14, 2024 at 9:25 PM
The courage under fire award: Yuliya Navalnaya, who warns us that the number of people eligible for this award is increasing every year."We are just normal people trying to live in normal, democratic countries", but labelled as terrorists by Putin.
Lifetime achievement award for retiring US Senator Ben Cardin, who helped get the Magnitsky Accountability Act & Global Magnitsky Act through the US Congress. Let's hope his work survives the Trump administration & its pro-Putin voices.
November 14, 2024 at 9:06 PM
Lifetime achievement award for retiring US Senator Ben Cardin, who helped get the Magnitsky Accountability Act & Global Magnitsky Act through the US Congress. Let's hope his work survives the Trump administration & its pro-Putin voices.
Always incredibly humbling to be at the #MagnitskyAwards dinner & to hear the stories of physical & moral courage, & to remember those like Boris Nemtsov & Aleksei Navalniy who lost their lives striving for democracy.
November 14, 2024 at 9:00 PM
Always incredibly humbling to be at the #MagnitskyAwards dinner & to hear the stories of physical & moral courage, & to remember those like Boris Nemtsov & Aleksei Navalniy who lost their lives striving for democracy.
Off to Berlin today to discuss Baltic Sea regional security with Carnegie Endowment & other colleagues. Timely discussion - lots to worry about! A UK/Germany question: why doesn't the Trinity House Agreement communique mention Baltic region co-operation, when UK is framework nation for JEF?
November 12, 2024 at 9:30 AM
Off to Berlin today to discuss Baltic Sea regional security with Carnegie Endowment & other colleagues. Timely discussion - lots to worry about! A UK/Germany question: why doesn't the Trinity House Agreement communique mention Baltic region co-operation, when UK is framework nation for JEF?
The West gets drawn into talking about 'Ukraine fatigue'. A conference participant made point: we shd say we're tired of Russia & its aggression. We're not tired of Ukraine & its heroic people, who are defending the rest of Europe as well as themselves. We need to help them win this war asap. 3/END
October 19, 2024 at 1:13 PM
The West gets drawn into talking about 'Ukraine fatigue'. A conference participant made point: we shd say we're tired of Russia & its aggression. We're not tired of Ukraine & its heroic people, who are defending the rest of Europe as well as themselves. We need to help them win this war asap. 3/END
Back at Riga Castle today for #RigaConference2024. Tomorrow will be 18 years exactly since I stood here while Queen Elizabeth II inspected the Guard of Honour at the start of her State Visit to Latvia. #tbt
October 17, 2024 at 12:54 PM
Back at Riga Castle today for #RigaConference2024. Tomorrow will be 18 years exactly since I stood here while Queen Elizabeth II inspected the Guard of Honour at the start of her State Visit to Latvia. #tbt
This weekend @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social and EDAM organised the 20th Bodrum Roundtable, discussing Turkish economy; NATO's Southern Neighbourhood; the EU-Turkey Customs Union; US elections; EU elections; and AI. A tough gig, but someone has to do it... #TheBodrumRT .
October 6, 2024 at 7:37 AM
This weekend @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social and EDAM organised the 20th Bodrum Roundtable, discussing Turkish economy; NATO's Southern Neighbourhood; the EU-Turkey Customs Union; US elections; EU elections; and AI. A tough gig, but someone has to do it... #TheBodrumRT .
I didn't arrive by jetski, but I'm happy to be in Brighton for the Lib Dems conference, where I'll be chairing @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social 's fringe event with the EU Delegation to the UK, on working together for an inclusive world order.
September 16, 2024 at 9:24 AM
I didn't arrive by jetski, but I'm happy to be in Brighton for the Lib Dems conference, where I'll be chairing @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social 's fringe event with the EU Delegation to the UK, on working together for an inclusive world order.
An early celebration of American independence in London tonight. Happy birthday, America!
June 24, 2024 at 9:37 PM
An early celebration of American independence in London tonight. Happy birthday, America!
Just leaving Stockholm (not by tall ship or jetski!). Interesting visit, focusing on Baltic regional security. And congratulations to all my Swedish friends on Swedish National Day today!
June 6, 2024 at 5:50 PM
Just leaving Stockholm (not by tall ship or jetski!). Interesting visit, focusing on Baltic regional security. And congratulations to all my Swedish friends on Swedish National Day today!
A beautiful summer evening in Stockholm, before a bunch of European & US experts gather tomorrow to discuss Baltic Sea security.
June 4, 2024 at 8:45 PM
A beautiful summer evening in Stockholm, before a bunch of European & US experts gather tomorrow to discuss Baltic Sea security.
After three days of uninterrupted sunshine in Tallinn, I shall be sorry to leave at the end of the Lennart Meri Conference. Great discussions, as usual, & a lot of food for thought.
May 18, 2024 at 8:48 AM
After three days of uninterrupted sunshine in Tallinn, I shall be sorry to leave at the end of the Lennart Meri Conference. Great discussions, as usual, & a lot of food for thought.