What Phillips P. OBrien thinks about optimism

@phillips-obrien · 11 positions · On ppll ↗

Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrews and author of How the War Was Won; writes Phillips's Newsletter on the war in Ukraine and on Western strategy.

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Only Phillips P. OBrien on optimism. See everyone on optimism

1 dated position, 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what Phillips P. OBrien has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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1. 23 Aug 2026

   Our readingBelieving that Trump might yet help Ukraine is not harmless optimism: it is part of a manoeuvre that buys Putin time.

   Russiawar

   Their wordsIn other words, it is not harmless optimism to act like Trump might help Ukraine, it is falling for a deadly, pro-Putin maneuver that is and will increasingly lead to Ukrainian suffering.

   ↗Weekend Update #199: Ukraine's Campaign Against Russian Oil Infrastructure Should Be The Focusphillipspobrien.substack.com 3rd of 3 in this piece