Michael Bociurkiw
@michaelbociurkiw.bsky.social
New York Times-published OpEd writer. Global affairs analyst. Author. Sr Fellow - Atlantic Council. Former spox at OSCE & UNICEF. Founder - World Briefing report on Substack
Ukraine has earned the right to shape its own future. Washington and Moscow are denying it that right. My OpEd in the Globe and Mail
Opinion: Ukraine has earned the right to shape its own future. Washington and Moscow are denying it that right
The ‘peace process’ is barrelling out of Kyiv’s control, and that is a serious problem for a sclerotic Europe and democracy at large
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Ukraine has earned the right to shape its own future. Washington and Moscow are denying it that right. My OpEd in the Globe and Mail
Trump has defended special envoy Steve Witkoff after a leaked recording appeared to show him advising a Russian official on how to appeal to the US president. Witkoff appeared to advise Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's foreign policy adviser, on how to get on Trump's good side - BBC
November 26, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Trump has defended special envoy Steve Witkoff after a leaked recording appeared to show him advising a Russian official on how to appeal to the US president. Witkoff appeared to advise Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's foreign policy adviser, on how to get on Trump's good side - BBC
Kyiv hit by Russian missiles &drones overnight, with 6 people now confirmed dead - Mayor. Two residential apartment blocks were hit. Meanwhile, UK PM Keir Starmer says virtual "coalition of the willing" meeting of Ukraine's European allies will take place today
November 25, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Kyiv hit by Russian missiles &drones overnight, with 6 people now confirmed dead - Mayor. Two residential apartment blocks were hit. Meanwhile, UK PM Keir Starmer says virtual "coalition of the willing" meeting of Ukraine's European allies will take place today
#BREAKING Turkish President Erdogan says he will speak to Vladimir Putin tomorrow to discuss Russia’s war in #Ukraine and opening up sea and transport corridors. He hosted President Zelensky in Ankara recently #G20SouthAfrica #g20
November 23, 2025 at 12:30 PM
#BREAKING Turkish President Erdogan says he will speak to Vladimir Putin tomorrow to discuss Russia’s war in #Ukraine and opening up sea and transport corridors. He hosted President Zelensky in Ankara recently #G20SouthAfrica #g20
#BREAKING President Zelensky says #Ukraine faces a choice of losing its major partner - USA - or the country's dignity. Says he won't betray his country's national interests to Trump 28-point peace plan for ending the war, which includes many red lines for Kyiv - BBC #G20
November 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM
On the sidelines of #g20summit in South Africa, I asked EU chief @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
why it took the bloc so long to aid #ukraine and how Brussels could’ve allowed itself to get so sidelined by U.S. peace plan
why it took the bloc so long to aid #ukraine and how Brussels could’ve allowed itself to get so sidelined by U.S. peace plan
November 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
On the sidelines of #g20summit in South Africa, I asked EU chief @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
why it took the bloc so long to aid #ukraine and how Brussels could’ve allowed itself to get so sidelined by U.S. peace plan
why it took the bloc so long to aid #ukraine and how Brussels could’ve allowed itself to get so sidelined by U.S. peace plan
Preview of the day before the start of the 2-day #G20SouthAfrica leaders summit. Will they or won’t they? Will the Americans lift their senseless boycott of the gathering and send a top level delegation to take over the rotating chairmanship of the informal bloc #G20 #Trump
November 21, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Preview of the day before the start of the 2-day #G20SouthAfrica leaders summit. Will they or won’t they? Will the Americans lift their senseless boycott of the gathering and send a top level delegation to take over the rotating chairmanship of the informal bloc #G20 #Trump
What’s unfolding looks less like a peace initiative and more like the opening salvo of a Donald Trump-inspired geopolitical carve-up - with Ukraine expected to pay the price.
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri...
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri...
Washington’s “Peace Plan” Looks More Like Ukraine’s Surrender
Trump team may even lift sanctions and halt war-crimes investigations as U.S. envoys land in Kyiv pushing a secret 28-point deal drafted with Moscow. European allies blindsided; Kyiv alarmed
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:02 PM
What’s unfolding looks less like a peace initiative and more like the opening salvo of a Donald Trump-inspired geopolitical carve-up - with Ukraine expected to pay the price.
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri...
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri...
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has just arrived in Johannesburg for #G20SouthAfrica summit. Here’s my update from South Africa 🇿🇦 with a focus on events in #Ukraine and beyond #G20
My strong message to G20 leaders who are converging on South Africa for the leaders summit.
YouTube video by MICHAEL BOCIURKIW
youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has just arrived in Johannesburg for #G20SouthAfrica summit. Here’s my update from South Africa 🇿🇦 with a focus on events in #Ukraine and beyond #G20
Perhaps - just perhaps - this moment will jolt #G20 leaders out of their geopolitical stupor. Yet don’t bet on it.
Russia’s Escalation Should Be ‘Game Over’ for Putin
From the missile-drone barrage that killed at least 25 in Ternopil to laser attacks on RAF pilots, Moscow is daring the West to stay timid. The only credible answer: give Ukraine everything it needs
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Perhaps - just perhaps - this moment will jolt #G20 leaders out of their geopolitical stupor. Yet don’t bet on it.
BREAKING: Death toll in western #Ukraine city of Ternopil surges to 25, including 3 children, as a result of Russian shelling - State Emergency Service. Another 73 people were injured, 15 of them children. The worst-ever casualty number in western regions since start of war
November 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
BREAKING: Death toll in western #Ukraine city of Ternopil surges to 25, including 3 children, as a result of Russian shelling - State Emergency Service. Another 73 people were injured, 15 of them children. The worst-ever casualty number in western regions since start of war
The world can move on, with or without the United States, says G20 host South Africa #g20
“The World Can Move On With or Without the US,” Says G20 Host South Africa
Pretoria says Washington’s boycott won’t derail efforts to secure a summit declaration: “We will mark them absent and continue with the business.”
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:22 AM
The world can move on, with or without the United States, says G20 host South Africa #g20
World Briefing - G20 South Africa 🇿🇦 Edition: G20 host says all remains on track towards a joint declaration, despite US boycott. “We will mark them absent and continue the business,” Minister for International Relations said #g20
“The World Can Move On With or Without the US,” Says G20 Host South Africa
Pretoria says Washington’s boycott won’t derail efforts to secure a summit declaration: “We will mark them absent and continue with the business.”
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:45 PM
World Briefing - G20 South Africa 🇿🇦 Edition: G20 host says all remains on track towards a joint declaration, despite US boycott. “We will mark them absent and continue the business,” Minister for International Relations said #g20
Just landed in Johannesburg for #G20SouthAfrica - where there’s more questions than answers when it comes to the mysterious arrival of two plane loads of undocumented Gazans… #G20
November 18, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Just landed in Johannesburg for #G20SouthAfrica - where there’s more questions than answers when it comes to the mysterious arrival of two plane loads of undocumented Gazans… #G20
Hybrid warfare in pure form. Not large enough to trigger Article 5. Just large enough to show Russia can intrude, disrupt, intimidate inside NATO w/near-impunity. Takeaway should be: the frontline is not “moving toward” NATO, it has already reached it #G20
Russia Touches Three NATO States In A Day — And The Alliance Barely Blinks
Sabotage in Poland. Drones over Romania. A Turkish ship struck. Moscow is mapping Western weakness — in real time.
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Hybrid warfare in pure form. Not large enough to trigger Article 5. Just large enough to show Russia can intrude, disrupt, intimidate inside NATO w/near-impunity. Takeaway should be: the frontline is not “moving toward” NATO, it has already reached it #G20
Russia didn’t “accidentally” brush up against NATO this week — it engineered a stress test of the alliance. In roughly a 24-hour period, Moscow’s actions touched 3 of the alliance’s states: Poland, Romania & Turkey
Russia Touches Three NATO States In A Day — And The Alliance Barely Blinks
Sabotage in Poland. Drones over Romania. A Turkish ship struck. Moscow is mapping Western weakness — in real time.
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Russia didn’t “accidentally” brush up against NATO this week — it engineered a stress test of the alliance. In roughly a 24-hour period, Moscow’s actions touched 3 of the alliance’s states: Poland, Romania & Turkey
Tymur Mindich, a prominent businessman with links to President Zelensky & alleged ringleader of massive corruption scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector, used a luxury taxi service to leave the country for Poland hours before authorities launched raids in connection with their investigation
November 17, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Tymur Mindich, a prominent businessman with links to President Zelensky & alleged ringleader of massive corruption scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector, used a luxury taxi service to leave the country for Poland hours before authorities launched raids in connection with their investigation
A covert scheme to move Palestinians out of Gaza — with Israel allegedly facilitating flights to South Africa via the remote Ramon Airport — is drawing sharp scrutiny and prompting an official investigation in Pretoria
Alarm Over Secretive Scheme to Fly Palestinians From Gaza to South Africa
A covert scheme to move Palestinians out of Gaza — with Israel allegedly facilitating flights to South Africa — is drawing sharp scrutiny and prompting an official investigation in Pretoria
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A covert scheme to move Palestinians out of Gaza — with Israel allegedly facilitating flights to South Africa via the remote Ramon Airport — is drawing sharp scrutiny and prompting an official investigation in Pretoria
Ukrainian Businessman Embroiled In Massive Corruption Scandal Fled To Poland In Luxury Taxi: the former close associate of President Zelensky crossed UA-PL border in a Mercedes Benz hours before cops raided his home - @cxemu
www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-mi... #Ukraine
www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-mi... #Ukraine
Ukrainian Businessman Embroiled In Massive Corruption Scandal Fled To Poland In Luxury Taxi
Tymur Mindich, a prominent businessman and the alleged ringleader in a massive corruption scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector, used a luxury taxi service to leave the country, an RFE/RL investigation h...
www.rferl.org
November 16, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Ukrainian Businessman Embroiled In Massive Corruption Scandal Fled To Poland In Luxury Taxi: the former close associate of President Zelensky crossed UA-PL border in a Mercedes Benz hours before cops raided his home - @cxemu
www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-mi... #Ukraine
www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-mi... #Ukraine
At night, Russia launched an "Iskander-M" missile and 176 drones at Ukraine. In the Odesa region, critical energy infrastructure was hit - including a solar power plant. This is the first known major Russian hit on a renewable energy plant
November 16, 2025 at 9:57 AM
At night, Russia launched an "Iskander-M" missile and 176 drones at Ukraine. In the Odesa region, critical energy infrastructure was hit - including a solar power plant. This is the first known major Russian hit on a renewable energy plant
Sadly this may be a little, too late. Immense reputational damage has been done - to the Zelensky brand and to brand #Ukraine. Will Kyiv demand that ringleader of the latest scam, Timur Mindich, be extradited back to Ukraine to face justice?
Zelensky vows energy sector overhaul after $100m corruption scandal
State-owned energy firms will be fully audited and new management brought in, the Ukrainian PM says.
www.bbc.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Sadly this may be a little, too late. Immense reputational damage has been done - to the Zelensky brand and to brand #Ukraine. Will Kyiv demand that ringleader of the latest scam, Timur Mindich, be extradited back to Ukraine to face justice?
Before we head to S Africa for our on-the-ground #G20 coverage, I’m unpacking a turbulent week in #Ukraine — from intensifying Russian strikes to a corruption scandal that threatens to harden the donor climate at the worst possible time
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri... #G20SouthAfrica
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri... #G20SouthAfrica
World Briefing Plus: Ukraine Under Pressure: Corruption, Donor Fatigue & the Road to G20
As the Zelensky government reels from a widening corruption scandal — and Western patience thins — I break down what this means for Ukraine’s war effort and for global diplomacy ahead of the G20
open.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Before we head to S Africa for our on-the-ground #G20 coverage, I’m unpacking a turbulent week in #Ukraine — from intensifying Russian strikes to a corruption scandal that threatens to harden the donor climate at the worst possible time
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri... #G20SouthAfrica
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri... #G20SouthAfrica
World Briefing: Asia Edition - As rolling blackouts deepen in #Ukraine and missiles pound the grid, allegations now suggest that more than $100 million meant to protect power plants — including nuclear facilities — was siphoned away
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri...
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri...
November 14, 2025 at 12:56 PM
World Briefing: Asia Edition - As rolling blackouts deepen in #Ukraine and missiles pound the grid, allegations now suggest that more than $100 million meant to protect power plants — including nuclear facilities — was siphoned away
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri...
open.substack.com/pub/worldbri...
Latest update from #Ukraine: fierce Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv has claimed lives of at least 4 people and injured 25. Seven buildings on fire & Embassy of Azerbaijan damaged. In all: 430 drones + 18 missiles - officials
November 14, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Latest update from #Ukraine: fierce Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv has claimed lives of at least 4 people and injured 25. Seven buildings on fire & Embassy of Azerbaijan damaged. In all: 430 drones + 18 missiles - officials
At least one dead and 24 injured in a massive Russian attack on Kyiv overnight, according to officials. Several multi-floor apartment buildings hit. The heating network has been further compromised as nighttime temperatures hover just above freezing. Odesa also targeted #Ukraine
November 14, 2025 at 4:36 AM
At least one dead and 24 injured in a massive Russian attack on Kyiv overnight, according to officials. Several multi-floor apartment buildings hit. The heating network has been further compromised as nighttime temperatures hover just above freezing. Odesa also targeted #Ukraine