[5] From 2014, working for The Guardian, primarily as their Ukraine and Russia correspondent, Walker has extensively covered the war in Donbas.
[2] Walker did return for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, this time writing an upbeat article about the "positive atmosphere: the street parties, the surprisingly lax police presence, the good-natured welcome from the majority of Russians, and the hot weather and cheap beer.
[14] In his time working for the Independent and Guardian, Walker frequently expressed his support for Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny.
[3][11] Walker has also been criticised for some his pro-Russian writings prior to 2022, including a 2014 article for the Guardian entitled "I can't stop dreaming about Vladimir Putin", and his positive comments on Russia at the time of the 2018 World Cup.
[18] Walker is the author of two non-fiction books, 2014's Odessa Dreams: The Dark Heart of Ukraine's Online Marriage Industry, and 2018's The Long Hangover: Putin's New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past.