EVEN in times of international crisis there is room for humour and mockery – at least there is on Twitter, where David Cameron's "on the phone to Obama" tweet last night prompted a slew of responses poking fun at his efforts to appear statesmanlike. The British PM posted what looked suspiciously like a selfie of himself discussing the Ukraine situation on the telephone with the US President, along with a message declaring: "We are united in condemnation of Russia's actions."
I've been speaking to @BarackObama about the situation in Ukraine. We are united in condemnation of Russia's actions. pic.twitter.com/7Rk2k8iOIK— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 5, 2014
.@David_Cameron @BarackObama Hi guys, I'm on the line now too. Get me up to speed. pic.twitter.com/xhmJG5KpxT— rob delaney (@robdelaney) March 5, 2014
Before long Patrick Stewart, a former captain of the USS Enterprise and a dab hand at intergalactic crisis management, was offering his services, via a tub of Wet Ones.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
.@robdelaney @David_Cameron @BarackObama I'm now patched in as well. Sorry for the delay. pic.twitter.com/elLQcKcV3w— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) March 5, 2014
From there the conference call rapidly expanded, with more and more Twitter users joining in, and adopting a variety of different devices to do so.
@SirPatStew @robdelaney @David_Cameron @BarackObama Ok, guys, thanks for holding. pic.twitter.com/ih36KWU3Tb— Michael Moreno (@MacMoreno) March 5, 2014
@MacMoreno @SirPatStew @robdelaney @David_Cameron @BarackObama Sorry I'm late to the call. What'd I miss? pic.twitter.com/gOj4WMO2eu— Yuri Lowenthal (@YuriLowenthal) March 6, 2014
@YuriLowenthal @MacMoreno @SirPatStew @robdelaney @David_Cameron @BarackObama @taraplatt can you repeat that 1st part pic.twitter.com/LU7pw3g1Ui— Sean Bonner ? (@seanbonner) March 6, 2014
Inevitably things got more and more surreal, until even the man at the centre of the crisis, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, made an appearance, along with an ostrich.
@SirPatStew @MacMoreno @robdelaney @David_Cameron @BarackObama CAMERON, YOU FOOL -- THIS ISN'T THE WHITE HOUSE! pic.twitter.com/BOpu8jJ3V6— Vladimir Putin (@jesse_hamm) March 6, 2014
-
A foodie guide to EdinburghThe Week Recommends Go all-out with a Michelin-starred meal or grab a casual bite in the Scottish capital
-
Political cartoons for December 24Cartoons Wednesday's political cartoons include Christmas in Greenland, grinchflation, and California floods
-
Is there a Christmas truce in the Starmer farmer ding-dong?Today’s Big Question There’s an ‘early present’ for farmers but tensions between Labour and rural communities remain
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Is Europe finally taking the war to Russia?Today's Big Question As Moscow’s drone buzzes and cyberattacks increase, European leaders are taking a more openly aggressive stance
-
Pushing for peace: is Trump appeasing Moscow?In Depth European leaders succeeded in bringing themselves in from the cold and softening Moscow’s terms, but Kyiv still faces an unenviable choice
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Ukraine: Donald Trump pivots againIn the Spotlight US president apparently warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Vladimir Putin’s terms or face destruction during fractious face-to-face
