Donnacha Ó Beacháin
@donnachadcu.bsky.social
Professor of Politics, Dublin City University (DCU)
Ukraine | Russian imperialism | South Caucasus | Central Asia | Belarus | Moldova | unrecognised states | Irish history, politics and foreign policy
Ukraine | Russian imperialism | South Caucasus | Central Asia | Belarus | Moldova | unrecognised states | Irish history, politics and foreign policy
Pinned
Russian imperialism didn’t start in 2022, nor is it confined to Ukraine.
My new book analyses the Kremlin’s long shadow—past and present.
Out on 24 April.
My new book analyses the Kremlin’s long shadow—past and present.
Out on 24 April.
On this week's @euronews.com episode of "Brussels My Love" we discussed the corruption scandal that has shaken the EU, Russia's war on Ukraine and the controversial nativity crib at Brussels’ Christmas market
Listen back here:
podcasts.euronews.com/euronews-bru...
Listen back here:
podcasts.euronews.com/euronews-bru...
Corruption scandal shakes EU’s diplomatic service: What now?
A corruption scandal shook Brussels on Tuesday, December 2, when the EU’s former foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, and top EU civil servant Stefano ...
podcasts.euronews.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:55 AM
On this week's @euronews.com episode of "Brussels My Love" we discussed the corruption scandal that has shaken the EU, Russia's war on Ukraine and the controversial nativity crib at Brussels’ Christmas market
Listen back here:
podcasts.euronews.com/euronews-bru...
Listen back here:
podcasts.euronews.com/euronews-bru...
Some contrast in the newspaper headlines today ...
December 3, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Some contrast in the newspaper headlines today ...
Putin's talk of being “ready for war with Europe” is Orwellian.
Europe hasn’t initiated conflict; Russia launched a full-scale invasion.
The Kremlin recasts aggression as self-defence to instil fear and undermine support for Ukraine
From my RTE 6-1 News interview ...
Europe hasn’t initiated conflict; Russia launched a full-scale invasion.
The Kremlin recasts aggression as self-defence to instil fear and undermine support for Ukraine
From my RTE 6-1 News interview ...
December 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Putin's talk of being “ready for war with Europe” is Orwellian.
Europe hasn’t initiated conflict; Russia launched a full-scale invasion.
The Kremlin recasts aggression as self-defence to instil fear and undermine support for Ukraine
From my RTE 6-1 News interview ...
Europe hasn’t initiated conflict; Russia launched a full-scale invasion.
The Kremlin recasts aggression as self-defence to instil fear and undermine support for Ukraine
From my RTE 6-1 News interview ...
A real pleasure to spend the day on our national broadcaster RTÉ covering President Zelenskyy's historic visit to Ireland.
As he made clear, nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians who have suffered so much for so long. But peace with justice, accountability and security. Not at any price.
As he made clear, nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians who have suffered so much for so long. But peace with justice, accountability and security. Not at any price.
December 2, 2025 at 8:41 PM
A real pleasure to spend the day on our national broadcaster RTÉ covering President Zelenskyy's historic visit to Ireland.
As he made clear, nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians who have suffered so much for so long. But peace with justice, accountability and security. Not at any price.
As he made clear, nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians who have suffered so much for so long. But peace with justice, accountability and security. Not at any price.
Current US-backed proposals discuss disarming Ukraine but not the aggressor, Russia, sending a chilling message far beyond Kyiv
If Europe can’t defend Ukraine it’s undermines the security of every small state that sits in Russia’s shadow
Speaking @aljazeera.com ...
If Europe can’t defend Ukraine it’s undermines the security of every small state that sits in Russia’s shadow
Speaking @aljazeera.com ...
December 1, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Current US-backed proposals discuss disarming Ukraine but not the aggressor, Russia, sending a chilling message far beyond Kyiv
If Europe can’t defend Ukraine it’s undermines the security of every small state that sits in Russia’s shadow
Speaking @aljazeera.com ...
If Europe can’t defend Ukraine it’s undermines the security of every small state that sits in Russia’s shadow
Speaking @aljazeera.com ...
Andrii Yermak’s resignation will be weaponised in Moscow and in parts of DC.
But many see it as proof that Ukraine’s institutions work - even while fighting an existential war.
My analysis on RTÉ's 6-1 News ...
But many see it as proof that Ukraine’s institutions work - even while fighting an existential war.
My analysis on RTÉ's 6-1 News ...
November 29, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Andrii Yermak’s resignation will be weaponised in Moscow and in parts of DC.
But many see it as proof that Ukraine’s institutions work - even while fighting an existential war.
My analysis on RTÉ's 6-1 News ...
But many see it as proof that Ukraine’s institutions work - even while fighting an existential war.
My analysis on RTÉ's 6-1 News ...
Delighted to discuss my new book "Unfinished Empire" before a large audience at Ireland’s PermRep to the EU 🇮🇪🇪🇺 - a timely conversation on Russia’s imperial project
Grateful for warm opening remarks from 🇺🇦 Ambassador to the EU and PSC Amb Luke Feeney + expert moderation by @shonamurray.bsky.social
Grateful for warm opening remarks from 🇺🇦 Ambassador to the EU and PSC Amb Luke Feeney + expert moderation by @shonamurray.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Delighted to discuss my new book "Unfinished Empire" before a large audience at Ireland’s PermRep to the EU 🇮🇪🇪🇺 - a timely conversation on Russia’s imperial project
Grateful for warm opening remarks from 🇺🇦 Ambassador to the EU and PSC Amb Luke Feeney + expert moderation by @shonamurray.bsky.social
Grateful for warm opening remarks from 🇺🇦 Ambassador to the EU and PSC Amb Luke Feeney + expert moderation by @shonamurray.bsky.social
On Newstalk this morning I pointed out that Putin’s speech in Kyrgyzstan made clear he's entrenching the Kremlin's maximalist war aims, refusing real negotiations, and signalling no intention of ending Russia's war against Ukraine.
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...
Putin says Moscow is ready for ‘serious’ peace talks | Newstalk
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ended his silence on the US supported peace proposal to reso...
www.newstalk.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:57 AM
On Newstalk this morning I pointed out that Putin’s speech in Kyrgyzstan made clear he's entrenching the Kremlin's maximalist war aims, refusing real negotiations, and signalling no intention of ending Russia's war against Ukraine.
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...
Reposted by Donnacha Ó Beacháin
Ternopil. An apartment building where russia massacred 33 people in one strike, including 6 children.
November 27, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Ternopil. An apartment building where russia massacred 33 people in one strike, including 6 children.
On RTE’s 6-1 News I noted that core issues such as territorial integrity and the post-war security architecture remain unresolved
Officials in the Baltic states repeatedly stressed to me that the outcome in Ukraine is not localised. It will shape Europe’s strategic landscape for many years to come
Officials in the Baltic states repeatedly stressed to me that the outcome in Ukraine is not localised. It will shape Europe’s strategic landscape for many years to come
November 26, 2025 at 7:00 AM
On RTE’s 6-1 News I noted that core issues such as territorial integrity and the post-war security architecture remain unresolved
Officials in the Baltic states repeatedly stressed to me that the outcome in Ukraine is not localised. It will shape Europe’s strategic landscape for many years to come
Officials in the Baltic states repeatedly stressed to me that the outcome in Ukraine is not localised. It will shape Europe’s strategic landscape for many years to come
In Berlin today for event organised by @libmod.de & @bertelsmannst.bsky.social discussing how EU states can better support Ukraine’s EU integration - even amid war.
Pleased that my briefing on Ireland’s approach forms part of the wider document.
Pleased that my briefing on Ireland’s approach forms part of the wider document.
November 24, 2025 at 6:48 PM
In Berlin today for event organised by @libmod.de & @bertelsmannst.bsky.social discussing how EU states can better support Ukraine’s EU integration - even amid war.
Pleased that my briefing on Ireland’s approach forms part of the wider document.
Pleased that my briefing on Ireland’s approach forms part of the wider document.
I spoke with Pat Kenny about the Kremlin wish list wrapped in a Trump ultimatum
Ukraine loses land, security, sovereignty
Russia is rewarded and indemnified
Europe is cut out of its own security architecture
And Trump seeks to profit from it all
www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/we-...
Ukraine loses land, security, sovereignty
Russia is rewarded and indemnified
Europe is cut out of its own security architecture
And Trump seeks to profit from it all
www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/we-...
We dissect Trump’s twenty eight point peace plan for Ukraine
Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor Politics, School of Law and Government, DCU and Author of Unfinished Empire joined Pat this morning to dissect Trump’s twenty eight point peace plan for Ukraine.
www.goloudplayer.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I spoke with Pat Kenny about the Kremlin wish list wrapped in a Trump ultimatum
Ukraine loses land, security, sovereignty
Russia is rewarded and indemnified
Europe is cut out of its own security architecture
And Trump seeks to profit from it all
www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/we-...
Ukraine loses land, security, sovereignty
Russia is rewarded and indemnified
Europe is cut out of its own security architecture
And Trump seeks to profit from it all
www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/we-...
Ex-Reform leader Nathan Gill has just been jailed for 10.5 years for taking money to push Moscow’s line in the European parliament.
So when Nigel Farage echoes Kremlin narratives… is it sponsorship or sincerity, and which is worse?
So when Nigel Farage echoes Kremlin narratives… is it sponsorship or sincerity, and which is worse?
November 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Ex-Reform leader Nathan Gill has just been jailed for 10.5 years for taking money to push Moscow’s line in the European parliament.
So when Nigel Farage echoes Kremlin narratives… is it sponsorship or sincerity, and which is worse?
So when Nigel Farage echoes Kremlin narratives… is it sponsorship or sincerity, and which is worse?
Just arrived in Berlin for meetings on Ukraine’s path to the EU.
First thing I see? A headline that even my poor German picks up – with strong Molotov–Ribbentrop undertones.
First thing I see? A headline that even my poor German picks up – with strong Molotov–Ribbentrop undertones.
November 23, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Just arrived in Berlin for meetings on Ukraine’s path to the EU.
First thing I see? A headline that even my poor German picks up – with strong Molotov–Ribbentrop undertones.
First thing I see? A headline that even my poor German picks up – with strong Molotov–Ribbentrop undertones.
Reposted by Donnacha Ó Beacháin
More evidence that the Trump/Witkoff “peace plan” for Ukraine came straight from the Russians - it uses Russian syntax.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
November 21, 2025 at 3:58 PM
More evidence that the Trump/Witkoff “peace plan” for Ukraine came straight from the Russians - it uses Russian syntax.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
On RTÉ's PrimeTime I pointed out that the 28-point “peace plan” is nothing of the sort
Russia wins.
The U.S. profits.
Europe is undermined.
And Ukraine is carved up with no reliable security guarantees.
A surrender document dressed as diplomacy.
Russia wins.
The U.S. profits.
Europe is undermined.
And Ukraine is carved up with no reliable security guarantees.
A surrender document dressed as diplomacy.
November 21, 2025 at 3:37 PM
On RTÉ's PrimeTime I pointed out that the 28-point “peace plan” is nothing of the sort
Russia wins.
The U.S. profits.
Europe is undermined.
And Ukraine is carved up with no reliable security guarantees.
A surrender document dressed as diplomacy.
Russia wins.
The U.S. profits.
Europe is undermined.
And Ukraine is carved up with no reliable security guarantees.
A surrender document dressed as diplomacy.
Reposted by Donnacha Ó Beacháin
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
Reposted by Donnacha Ó Beacháin
The world's leaders will gather this weekend in South Africa at the G20 summit.
Trump isn’t happy with host nation South Africa but DCU's Prof Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social reckons his absence will be “damaging but not crippling”
Read in @thejournal.ie: launch.dcu.ie/4oNu4hz
Trump isn’t happy with host nation South Africa but DCU's Prof Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social reckons his absence will be “damaging but not crippling”
Read in @thejournal.ie: launch.dcu.ie/4oNu4hz
November 21, 2025 at 9:57 AM
The world's leaders will gather this weekend in South Africa at the G20 summit.
Trump isn’t happy with host nation South Africa but DCU's Prof Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social reckons his absence will be “damaging but not crippling”
Read in @thejournal.ie: launch.dcu.ie/4oNu4hz
Trump isn’t happy with host nation South Africa but DCU's Prof Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social reckons his absence will be “damaging but not crippling”
Read in @thejournal.ie: launch.dcu.ie/4oNu4hz
Leaked details of a US–Russia plan suggest Trump is seeking unilateral Ukrainian capitulation with no real security guarantees.
Europe wasn’t even consulted as its security architecture is rewritten over its head.
I'll discussed this Rachael English @news.rte.ie
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Europe wasn’t even consulted as its security architecture is rewritten over its head.
I'll discussed this Rachael English @news.rte.ie
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Attempts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine
Over the past 24 hours it's been reported that the United States and Russia have prepared a new framework peace plan. For an assessment on these developments, Professor of Politics at the School of L...
www.rte.ie
November 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Leaked details of a US–Russia plan suggest Trump is seeking unilateral Ukrainian capitulation with no real security guarantees.
Europe wasn’t even consulted as its security architecture is rewritten over its head.
I'll discussed this Rachael English @news.rte.ie
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Europe wasn’t even consulted as its security architecture is rewritten over its head.
I'll discussed this Rachael English @news.rte.ie
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
On TRT World I explained why language is political in Latvia
Soviet rule brought Russification, deportations and a major influx of Russians
By 1991, only half the population spoke Latvian
Now non-citizens who have not passed a Latvian language test face expulsion
Soviet rule brought Russification, deportations and a major influx of Russians
By 1991, only half the population spoke Latvian
Now non-citizens who have not passed a Latvian language test face expulsion
November 20, 2025 at 11:33 AM
On TRT World I explained why language is political in Latvia
Soviet rule brought Russification, deportations and a major influx of Russians
By 1991, only half the population spoke Latvian
Now non-citizens who have not passed a Latvian language test face expulsion
Soviet rule brought Russification, deportations and a major influx of Russians
By 1991, only half the population spoke Latvian
Now non-citizens who have not passed a Latvian language test face expulsion
In historic Lukiškės Prison, the Mayor of Vilnius tells us about the city's new defence plan that includes barriers to block roads and disrupt potential enemy advances, protection against drones, a network of shelters and evacuation plans.
#defendingdbaltics
#defendingdbaltics
November 17, 2025 at 9:48 PM
In historic Lukiškės Prison, the Mayor of Vilnius tells us about the city's new defence plan that includes barriers to block roads and disrupt potential enemy advances, protection against drones, a network of shelters and evacuation plans.
#defendingdbaltics
#defendingdbaltics
Looking forward to today’s discussions at #DefendingBaltics in Vilnius
The Chiefs of Defence from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania set the tone in the opening session
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the question isn’t if the region is at risk, but whether Europe can react fast enough
The Chiefs of Defence from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania set the tone in the opening session
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the question isn’t if the region is at risk, but whether Europe can react fast enough
November 17, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Looking forward to today’s discussions at #DefendingBaltics in Vilnius
The Chiefs of Defence from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania set the tone in the opening session
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the question isn’t if the region is at risk, but whether Europe can react fast enough
The Chiefs of Defence from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania set the tone in the opening session
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the question isn’t if the region is at risk, but whether Europe can react fast enough
In Vilnius to give a keynote address today at the “Not Only Putin: Russian Culture and Imperialism" conference.
A reminder that the imperial mindset long predates and outlasts any one leader.
Imperialism isn’t a glitch in the system - it is the system.
A reminder that the imperial mindset long predates and outlasts any one leader.
Imperialism isn’t a glitch in the system - it is the system.
November 14, 2025 at 9:22 AM
In Vilnius to give a keynote address today at the “Not Only Putin: Russian Culture and Imperialism" conference.
A reminder that the imperial mindset long predates and outlasts any one leader.
Imperialism isn’t a glitch in the system - it is the system.
A reminder that the imperial mindset long predates and outlasts any one leader.
Imperialism isn’t a glitch in the system - it is the system.
Heading to Lithuania to deliver a keynote address on Russian imperialism.
Organisers reassure us that “Belarusian balloon activity” has eased and Vilnius airport will hopefully not be closed again today.
A very 2025 travel advisory!
Organisers reassure us that “Belarusian balloon activity” has eased and Vilnius airport will hopefully not be closed again today.
A very 2025 travel advisory!
November 13, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Heading to Lithuania to deliver a keynote address on Russian imperialism.
Organisers reassure us that “Belarusian balloon activity” has eased and Vilnius airport will hopefully not be closed again today.
A very 2025 travel advisory!
Organisers reassure us that “Belarusian balloon activity” has eased and Vilnius airport will hopefully not be closed again today.
A very 2025 travel advisory!
Putin won’t back down now or seek real talks. Why would he?
Trump’s behaviour has emboldened him, the EU hasn’t filled the gap, and Russia’s allies - China, North Korea - sustain the war
Until Putin fears losing, he’ll keep fighting
My @euronews.com interview
www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/w...
Trump’s behaviour has emboldened him, the EU hasn’t filled the gap, and Russia’s allies - China, North Korea - sustain the war
Until Putin fears losing, he’ll keep fighting
My @euronews.com interview
www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/w...
Will Russia back down from war after further EU and US sanctions?
Moscow has denied that the latest round of sanctions by the EU and the new strict measures by Washington will have any effect on its economy or its war strategy, signalling that Russia will not back d...
www.euronews.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Putin won’t back down now or seek real talks. Why would he?
Trump’s behaviour has emboldened him, the EU hasn’t filled the gap, and Russia’s allies - China, North Korea - sustain the war
Until Putin fears losing, he’ll keep fighting
My @euronews.com interview
www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/w...
Trump’s behaviour has emboldened him, the EU hasn’t filled the gap, and Russia’s allies - China, North Korea - sustain the war
Until Putin fears losing, he’ll keep fighting
My @euronews.com interview
www.euronews.com/2025/10/23/w...