We were pleased to welcome a number of visitors to our meeting of 21st March and, following a meal and business, were privileged to also welcome John Lloyd as speaker. Born in Anstruther, John pursued a career as a journalist. A twenty-year career working for the Financial Times followed, having begun as an industrial reporter and labour correspondent (covering, among other things, the Miners Strike of 1984-5). He later became East European editor and then, from 1991 to 1995, Moscow Correspondent. He is a member of the advisory board of the Moscow School of Political Studies

 Presently contributing editor to the Financial Times and an Associate Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford, he has too published a number of books including his 2020 ‘Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot’ about Scottish independence.

John is also a Russian Speaker with a considerable knowledge of that country and his topic for the evening was the current conflict in Ukraine. This proved to be a fascinating insight into the more recent history of Russia, covering the events and political changes that led to Mr Putin and the regime that currently exists. It was interesting to have an educated view of the environment that led to the rise of ‘oligarchs’ and the wealth and power that a relatively small number of people have. 

We heard something of Mr Putin’s own career and his rise to power, as well as some insight to the way that Russia views Ukraine and also NATO - and how they view the balance of world power. 

It was altogether a fascinating talk, albeit one tempered with knowledge of the violence and horror  of the war in Ukraine. A great many questions were asked and an appreciative vote of thanks  was proposed by John O’Neill.