History in the Making: The War in Ukraine
History in the Making: The War in Ukraine, hosted by Mark McNamee, offers a comprehensive look at the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Drawing on his background in Eastern European studies and professional experience, McNamee provides nuanced analysis of the region's importance. The podcast blends macro-level perspectives with personal stories to illuminate daily life under wartime conditions and the resilience of Ukrainians. Listeners hear untold stories that capture the significance of this historical moment.
Episodes
What the Head of the UN in Ukraine Is Seeing on the Ground
Military developments, diplomacy and geopolitics dominate discussion of the war in Ukraine. But behind every missile strike and frontline shift are millions of civilians whose lives have been fundamentally transformed by more than four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In this episode of History in the Making: The War in Ukraine, Mark McNamee speaks with Matthias Schmale, the United Nations R
Putin's next move: A risky mobilization or a ceasefire?
Vladimir Putin is likely approaching one of the most consequential decisions of the war and in fact of his entire reign: escalate further through another major mobilization, or accept some form of ceasefire. Or can he continue delaying that choice?
In this episode, I spoke with Russian foreign policy expert Dr. Olena Snigyr about what Putin is likely to do in the coming months and what could actua
The War Beyond the Headlines: A Chat with Francis Dearnley of Ukraine: The Latest
Today's guest is someone who has helped shape how thousands of people around the world understand this war on a daily basis. Francis Dearnley is Executive Editor at The Telegraph and one of the co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Ukraine: The Latest, which has become one of the most respected and widely followed sources of analysis on the conflict since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
One
The Deep History Behind America's Political Divide
If you've ever wondered why the US seems so divided, this conversation offers one of the most compelling explanations you'll hear.
For many outside the US (and for many it in too), American politics can seem increasingly incomprehensible. Polarization is intensifying, compromise has become elusive, and debates over America's role in the world—from NATO to Ukraine—often appear deeply divided.
In th
A Brief Update on the Latest in Ukraine and the Investment Environment
Did something a little bit different for this one. I was the one interviewed this time.
Thanks to Scott Jacobson for joining the show and asking the questions.
Covered alot in this episode to give an update on where things are at with the economy, investment environment, attacks on energy infrastructure, and what's going on in Russia. Feel like we just came out of winter and now looking ahead to t
Hope for Ukraine's Future: Speaking with 16 Year-Old Nikol Makhovka
In this episode, I was happy to host by far the youngest guest I've had on my show.
This episode is about Ukraine’s future. Not what’s happening today in the war, or the war outlook, or looking at historical drivers and context of the situation here as most of my shows do, but instead looking ahead.
As we all know, Ukraine has a severe demographic problem, only worsened by the war, leaving its fut
They Save Lives at the Front - But Who Saves Them? The Story of the NGO RePower and its Founders
It was an absolute pleasure to do this podcast - the first one I have done live, in person at my guests' office in the center of Kyiv. (Hence some of the side comments and background noise!)
I had the honor of speaking with the Co-Founders of RePower NGO, Sebastian Lindstrom and Maryna Sadikova - such inspired and inspirational people who you can't help but feel the warmth, drive, and energy flowi
US Army Veteran Finds Purpose and Meaning in Ukraine
I had the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Hendrickson, a former US Army Green Beret who spent years in Afghanistan, lost a leg, and has now devoted the last several years of his life to helping Ukraine.
As so many veterans struggle with life after service, Ryan found meaning and purpose again in Ukraine. Devoting his life to helping others who are struggling and protecting those from being harmed ha
The Story of Ukraine's Foreign Legion - a modern day Homage to Catalonia
If you want a fascinating look into the stories of why those in the West gave up their lives and came to Ukraine to fight, then have a listen to this episode. I had the pleasure of speaking with the British journalist Colin Freeman who did extensive interviews, trips, and research into the stories of foreign fighters who joined Ukraine's foreign legion. Who are these guys? Why did they join? What
The Life of a Frontline Medic
I had the pleasure of meeting Denys and other members of his brigade at the showing of a documentary The Lanterns in Kyiv the weekend before the recording of this podcast. The documentary highlighted the heroic efforts of frontline medics in saving lives, while of course putting their own lives in danger.
Their story is worth telling and listening to in order to get a better feel for life at the f
Is Russia a Fascist State? (Part 2)
Not exactly a spoiler alert, but you can likely imagine the answer provided to this question in the podcast here today.In Part 2 of this discussion, I continue my conversation with Dr. Taras Kuzio, who was on earlier this year in a great show where we discussed whether Ukraine has a Nazi problem. He is joined by Dr. Ian Garner, prominent British-born historian and specialist in Russian war propaga
Is Russia a Fascist State? (Part 1)
Not exactly a spoiler alert, but you can likely imagine the answer provided to this question in the podcast here today.
To answer the question of this podcast, I had back on the show Dr. Taras Kuzio, who was on earlier this year in a great show where we discussed whether Ukraine has a Nazi problem. He is joined by Dr. Ian Garner, prominent British-born historian and specialist in Russian war propa
A Historian's Perspective on US Foreign Policy & the State of the International Order
Always honored to have back on the show my professor from graduate school, John Harper. I was fortunate to have his class - one of the best classes I've ever taken - American Foreign Policy since 1945.
Considering the historic events going on globally, I wanted to take a step back and take the historical view of things. We discuss Ukraine but more broadly the current state of the international ord
Kidnapping Ukrainian Children: The Story Behind One of Russia's Worst War Crimes
One of the most underreported stories of the horrific crimes Russia has committed relates to what Russia has done to children. Aside from killing hundreds of children in attacks deep within Ukraine, including intentionally targeting maternity wards and kindergartens, what we’ll focus on today is the kidnapping, forced deportation, and re-education of Ukrainian children stolen from Ukrainian territ
Russia is Losing at the Front: Ukraine Takes Back the Technological Edge
I for one became super encouraged for Ukraine after doing this interview.
The last few months, and specifically the past few weeks, things have taken a turn for Ukraine on the battlefield. Ukraine has taken back more land than Russia has gained lately. Ukraine is eliminating more men than Russia can recruit. Ukraine has taken back the technological edge. And Ukraine is now winning.
Tune in to this
Documenting the horrors of Russia's invasion - a chat with the head of the UN Human Rights Mission in Ukraine
We all read in history books the horrors of World War II, and collectively said "never again". Yet here we are in Europe, and it's happening again.
Far too often I speak with those outside of Ukraine who have either forgotten about what Russia has done to innocent civilians in Ukraine or who are entirely unaware of what has happened.
To help correct that, I was motivated to do this podca
One man's fight to renounce his Russian citizenship - the story of historian Dr. Sergey Radchenko
I was honored to have back on the show Dr. Sergey Radchenko - though this time the focus of the conversation was not about history or negotiations, but instead on his own inspiring and thought-provoking personal journey.
Recently he published in the British paper The Guardian his personal journey in renouncing his Russian citizenship due to the disgust he felt at being associated as a Russian with
Building Superhumans: Olga Rudnieva on Turning Trauma into Triumph in Ukraine
If you're looking for some inspiration, listen in to this conversation with Superhumans CEO Olga Rudnieva. This one will hit your emotions.
Having helped thousands of amputees from the war, the stories of resilience and strength of Ukraine's heroes are overwhelming. How do amputees recover both physically and mentally? What keeps them going?
This show isn't about trauma - its about the dreams that
World Mine Awareness Day - A chat on Ukraine, the most mined country in the world
We recorded this episode on April 4th, the International Mine Awareness Day, to highlight the situation Ukraine is in as the most heavily mined country in the world.I had the pleasure of speaking with the head of the UN's Mine Action program here in Ukraine, Paul Heslop, on this important day. We discussed the scale of the mine problem in Ukraine, how de-mining is done, innovations in de-mining d
Is There a Red Line for Trump Voters? (Part 2)
The US has an outsized influence on world events. So much here in Ukraine and elsewhere hinges on the policies of Trump.For that reason, I did this episode to help non-Americans (but I think will be informative for Americans as well) understand the mindset of the Trump voter.In Part 1, we explored domestic issues and general perceptions. In this second part, we shift to foreign policy and global c
Is There a Red Line for Trump Voters?
The US has an outsized influence on world events. So much here in Ukraine and elsewhere hinges on the policies of Trump.For that reason, I did this episode to help non-Americans (but I think will be informative for Americans as well) understand the mindset of the Trump voter.In short, I have been asked the last decade living in Europe by European friends and colleagues: Who votes for Trump and wha
Iran: What comes next and how will it impact Ukraine?
I had the great pleasure in this episode in speaking with a world-renowned expert on Iran and militant Shia groups in the Middle East - and also an old friend from my Washington DC days - Phillip Smyth, to discuss the War in Iran and where it is heading. We covered it all - what does Trump do next? What does Iran do next? Will the Houthis soon cause problems for global trade on the other side
The Real Story of the Front from a War Correspondent
What is the front like these days in this new era of drones?What is the situation around Pokrovsk?Is Ukraine's biggest issue manpower or actually weapons?And did America actually support Russia to defeat the Ukrainians in Kursk?Tune in to this episode to hear the answers to this and much more from a war correspondent who has been living and reporting from the front since the start of the full-scal
Gen. David Petraeus on the War in Ukraine at its 4 year anniversary
Last week marked the 4-year anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. To mark this date, I had the great pleasure to speak with Gen. David Petraeus to do an overview of where the war is today and where it’s heading. Among other topics discussed, we focused on:Why Americans should consider Ukraine vital to US national securityHow the West/Ukraine can stop Put
Kremlin propaganda: Ukrainian Nazis - What's the truth behind it?
Does Ukraine have a Nazi problem?How pervasive is far-right nationalism in Ukraine?What is the history of the Kremlin's propaganda campaign about Ukrainian Nazis?Why does Moscow insist on calling Ukrainians all Nazis?And what about Nazism in Russia?We touch upon all of this in this very illuminating episode with Dr. Taras Kuzio, who has researched and written extensively on the topic for years.I a
Another Kremlin Lie - US biolabs in Ukraine
We delved into yet another Kremlin lie, this one a recurring theme literally for the past 60 years going back to the Soviet era - US biolabs around the word out to attack Russia. To reveal this lie, I spoke with Dr. Dmytro Stepanskyi, the head of Microbiology at the Dnipro State University. In short, this is an interesting propaganda tool by the Kremlin because they are directly accusing the US of
Trump's been in office for a year. Are we any closer to peace?
With peace talks ongoing for the past year Trump has been in office, it's worth asking: where are we with the peace process and where will things go from here?We've hit another inflection point it seems. Trump's White House is eager to claim 90% of work is done with the peace talks. The West seems to have largely aligned around their position and the US seems to believe a deal could be coming.&nbs
From Cleveland to Ukraine - how one chef decided to help many with food
It's always nice to meet and speak with like-minded, passionate, empathetic people who dedicate their lives to something bigger than themselves.And that's what this podcast was all about. I had the great pleasure of speaking with a proud Ukraine supporter, who also comes from my hometown of Cleveland! Brandon Chrostowski has travelled multiple times to Ukraine to help, not because of his heri
What has happened to the US?
I admit I departed from my usual more detached analytical style, and spoke a bit more from the heart in this one. Too much has happened and for too long to not do a podcast like this. Most of my adult life I have spent in Europe and so have gained a solid perspective on how Europeans and other non-Americans view the US and how these views have developed. I'm also asked routinely by friends an
No, the war was not about NATO. This and other myths of the war - a discussion with Dr. Branislav Slantchev
With so much disinformation about the war particularly at this moment, I felt it would be good to do a show on some of these lies. Although I was hoping we could delve into the many myths of this war, we ended up speaking primarily about the central myth of this war: the Russian lie that this is a defensive war in retaliation against the last 30 years of NATO expansion. Listen in to understand the
Venezuela - what happens next and how will it impact Ukraine?
So what now in Venezuela? Trump has put himself in dangerous territory by removing a foreign leader and now vowing to "run" the country, precisely what he has promised his MAGA support base the US under him would no longer do. What happens next? Why did he do it?And above all, how will it impact Ukraine?If history is any indicator, I'm not optimistic for how this plays out for Trump, whi
Fighting the Information War - a Ukrainian in the USA
There's an information war going on related to the War in Ukraine, and unfortunately Russia has been very successful in spreading its propaganda into the West and influencing popular perceptions and also policy-makers themselves. I thought it would be informative to have on the show a Ukrainian who recently moved to the US and what she has seen on the ground related to Americans' perspectives
The Positive Economic Impact of Ukrainians Abroad - A Chat with a Former Deputy Economic Minister
Over 6 mn Ukrainians fled their homeland after the full-scale invasion and have since settled abroad, mostly in Europe. In country after country, Ukrainians economic and financial contribution far outpaces the social support provided to them by those countries. To delve into this story, specifically as it pertains to the US, I had a very informative discussion with Oleksandr Romanishyn, a former D
How are most Russians supportive of this imperialistic war? A chat about Imperial Innocence and Victimhood
How do so many Russians either outright support this war or at least passively approve it? And what about Russians in Moscow and St. Petersburg? Do they have a more Western political culture?Can Russia ever drop its imperialistic mentality and make the country less violent abroad?To answer these questions and more, I spoke with Dr. Botakoz Kassymbekova, an expert on Russia imperialism, to dis
The critical role of electronic warfare (EW) in saving lives
What is electronic warfare (EW), and how important is it to protecting Ukraine?How does EW work to detect and jam drones?How has EW evolved during the war, and how will it develop in the future?Serhii Skoryk, Commercial Director, Kvertus, former soldier in the Ukrainian military who now leads Ukraine's top electronic warfare (EW) company. Listen in to understand the vital role EW is playing i
The Trump roller coast continues: Will the 28 (now 19) point peace plan lead to peace?
*Note that this was recorded the evening of Tuesday November 25 (Kyiv time), for publication the evening of Thursday November 27 (Kyiv time)Will we have a ceasefire/peace deal soon?How did they create this 28 point plan, and why now all of a sudden?Is the revised 19 point plan better?What is Russia's view of things?And if we get no deal soon, then what?I did my best in an almost stream of consciou
In honor of the millions of victims of the 1932-33 famine in Ukraine (Holodomor): A discussion with an expert
*Apologies for the minor disruptions in the podcast as we were cut off by power outages in Kyiv. In light of the annual commemoration of the Holodomor on November 22, 2025 (always the 4th Saturday of November), I spoke with Dr. Iryna Skubii, the Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. Her work focuses on the social history of the 1932–1933 famine, the Holodomor.Listen in to hear:Why
Battle of Pokrovsk: How problematic is it for Ukraine?
Is Pokrovsk going to fall, and if so what does it mean for Ukraine?There have been lots of doomsday scenarios arising about the loss of Pokrovsk and how it could lead to a collapse of the front for Ukraine. But is that true?Pavlo Narozhnyi, Founder of Reactive Post, an NGO that provides lethal and humanitarian support to the front since the war began in 2014, with a focus on long-range artillery b
Investing in Ukraine - what's the real story on the ground about opportunities now and in the future
In this episode, my business partner Andrew Pryma and I felt like we had to break alot of the misconceptions of the economy and business environment in Ukraine and delve into what's really happening on the ground. We speak everyday with the top Western investors in the country so have strong insight into what is actually happening, what they're seeing, how they're feeling, and how they view the fu
What the hell happened (again)? Putin intervenes, gets Trump back on his side?
Yes its extremely annoying, but we'll be ok. Trump was supposed to give the Tomahawks, but then Putin calls, and Trump again believes his friend in the Kremlin is interested in peace. And then he pushes harshly on Zelenskyi, again...And now we're waiting another few weeks, again...Yes we should be concerned, but don't worry too much. Listen in to my quick thoughts on what happened and where t
Helping the most vulnerable at the frontline - Greater Good Charities
How do we help those suffering near the frontlines in Ukraine?People need to be fed, windows need to be repaired, pets need to be saved, environments have to be protected - how to go about doing all this?Listen in to hear the stories of Greater Good Charities and their critical work in helping the most vulnerable people and animals at the front. This podcast is particularly timely considering
The Center of Defense Tech Innovation is Here in Ukraine
“Ukrainians are producing hardware at speed of software”"We are seeing something remarkable develop in Ukraine: soldier-entrepreneurs""What they're doing in procurement is like Amazon!"Nick Hawtin, Defense Tech Denmark, Nick's work has focused on technology and innovation - and especially on leveraging the interplay between researchers, startups, investors, and corporates in the Nordics for over t
NATO incursions, Trump tweets, Ukrainian strikes in Russia - what does it all mean?
Alot has happened in recent weeks so I figured to give a quick overview of things and my view as to where things are going. In brief, lots of reasons to be optimistic. But prepared for a brutal winter here in Ukraine...
To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910
To learn more, visit:https://ubn.network/
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://
The Future of Western Defense - Ukraine's Military Tech Revolution Part 2
Listen to the 2nd part of this episode.Perry Boyle, Co-founder & CEO of MITS Capital, the no.1 private investor in Ukraine's defense. Following a 35-year career in investment banking and asset management, Perry set up MITS Capital to drive capital into Ukraine's domestic defense sector. Perry serves on several boards and advisory boards in the fields of affordable housing, renewable energy, ed
The Future of Western Defense - Ukraine's Military Tech Revolution Part 1
For the next generation minimum, we will be looking back at these months and years to see how the new world of defense and security developed. And it's all happening in Ukraine - the center of Western defense.Meet the men at the forefront of this generational development in this podcast. Hear how they got inspired to develop Ukraine's no. 1 private defense investment fund, projects they are workin
Diplomacy in Historic and Turbulent times - A chat with the Greek Ambassador to Ukraine Alex Dimitrakopoulos
An absolute pleasure to do this podcast with my good friend and like-minded individual with a passion for Ukraine, the Greek ambassador to Ukraine, Alexandros (Alex) Dimitrakopoulos. Pantelis Alexandros Dimitrakopoulos is the Greek Ambassador to Ukraine. He was appointed to the position and presented his credentials in September 2024. Prior to his appointment in Ukraine, he served in various
Getting into Putin’s mind – a Psychoanalytical Assessment of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
Why did Putin invade Ukraine?Typically the answer to this question relates to geopolitical or historical reasons. However, in this episode, we delve into Putin's psychology and fundamental personal motivations to understand his preoccupation with Ukraine and willingness to unleash horrific levels of violence, sending hundreds of thousands to their deaths (and counting).To do this, I had the immens
Alaska and DC summits - what does it mean for Ukraine?
A very eventful past few days - historic summits in Alaska and DC - and felt the need to give my brief analysis of what it means and where things stand. In short, not bad and could have been alot worse. Not to mention a shocking promise by Trump. Now let's see how Russia responds (can't imagine well!)
To connect and message with Mark on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mcnamee-58950910
To learn m
A chat on all things Ukraine with a Ukraine commentator and volunteer delivering aid to frontline communities
Listen in to an informal chat on all things Ukraine - from the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska to China to Russian imperialism to the importance of Ukraine to US national security to helping frontline communities devastated by the war - with Yuri Boyechko, a Ukrainian native running an NGO since 2016.Yuri Boyechko, Founder & CEO at Hope For Ukraine, a leading nonprofit organization focus
China and the War in Ukraine: How will China's role evolve now that Trump is targeting Beijing?
Can Trump get China to stop supporting Russia?How will the trade war with the US develop? Will China lead an axis of authoritarian regimes against the West?Has Beijing become more supportive of Russia lately?Will China be emboldened or deterred from invading Taiwan from the War in Ukraine?To answer these questions and more I spoke with former colleague Thomas Zhang, long-time China expert and
Trump's trade wars and how they help Ukraine
How will Trump's trade wars impact the War in Ukraine?What does the trade deal between the US and Europe mean for Ukraine?What about US-China trade relations and potential US secondary sanctions?And what happens to the dollar and euro?To answer these questions, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Michael Strain, a globally renowned macroeconomics and trade expert at the American Enterprise Ins
The Russian Orthodox Church and its hybrid war against Ukraine
Did you know the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is a former KGB agent and multimillionaire who made his money in smuggling?Or that its priests routinely bless the missiles, drones, and weapons used against innocent Ukrainian civilians everyday?Even other Orthodox Church leaders, not to mention Pope Francis and Pope Leo, have condemned the Russian Orthodox Church's actions. Hear how Russi
Should the US support Ukraine? Hear the answer from a veteran, a conservative, and Trump supporter
It's an unfortunate reality but its true: the primary obstacle in US politics today to supporting Ukraine comes from the Republican Party. It's been strange to see the party of Reagan hesitant to stand up to Russia and support a democratic ally in its quest for freedom. Why is that?And ultimately should the US support Ukraine?To answer these questions, I had on the show Larry Provost, a conse
What's it like being an ambassador in Ukraine during the war? A chat with Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Natalka Cmoc
Not many people know Canada has one of the largest Ukrainian populations abroad. And this fact has helped make Canada one of the most supportive countries of Ukraine in the Western world. To understand the strong level of engagement Canada has here on the ground in Ukraine, I had the pleasure of having a very engaging discussion with Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Natalka Cmoc, whose positivi
"No, Russia is Not Winning" - A chat with 4 Star General and NATO's former Supreme Allied Commander Philip Breedlove
In this episode, I had the great honor of interviewing 4-Star US General Philip Breedlove, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO. General Philip Breedlove, a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force who served as the commander of U.S. European Command, as well as the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, from May 2013 until M
What about Ukraine's domestic defense production? A chat with Ukraine's head of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA)
There's alot of talk about Western military support to Ukraine, but what about Ukraine's own capabilities?To discuss that, I had on the show Arsen Zhumadilov, the head of the Defense Procurement Agency. Arsen discussed some critical developments in Ukraine's ability to defend itself - with a particular focus on drones - while focusing on how the process works in terms of getting Ukrainian-produced
We've hit the inflection point: Trump has to make a decision on Ukraine. So now what happens?
We've hit an inflection point in the so-called ceasefire talks: What will Trump do? "Walk away" as he has threatened, continue to provide some support to Ukraine, or even "arm Ukraine to the teeth" as he and others in his team have likewise threatened. Now that he has expressed some level of anger towards Putin just in the last few weeks, should we be more optimistic? Tune in to find out.We will k
Heroic battles and horrific Russian war crimes - What happened in the first month of the war as Ukrainians defended Kyiv Part 2
This is Part 2 of my interview with Svit, where we dive into exactly what happened in Bucha and Irpin—and uncover the real story behind the Ghost of Kyiv.If you haven’t already, make sure to listen to Part 1, where we explore the critical battles just north of Kyiv that helped save the city—and the country—during those pivotal early hours and days of the invasion.You can find more information abou
Heroic battles and horrific Russian war crimes - What happened in the first month of the war as Ukrainians defended Kyiv Part 1
Hostomel, Moschun, Bucha, Irpin - these suburbs just a few kilometers northwest of Kyiv have become known around the world given what happened there in the first month of the war. From the heroic battles defending Kyiv from the Russian invaders to the unspeakable war crimes the Russians committed, hear it all from a man dedicating his life to informing the world of these victories and atrocities,
A conversation with a Bucha survivor - from life under Russian occupation to living in Europe
From Bucha to the Hague - hear the inspiring story of Yana Rudenko, a survivor of the Russian occupation in Bucha in February/March 2022, who then fled Ukraine and settled in The Hague, Netherlands. Understand what it's like to live under Russian occupation, no contact with the outside world, no internet or phone connection, no power, 24-hour martial law and the constant uncertainty over your pers
He's back! A conversation with Marijn Markus about all things Ukraine, and much more
Drones, Europe stepping up, Trump, ceasefire talks, George Orwell, why Trust is stranger than Fiction, the information war, the importance of the internet...we talked about nearly everything under the sun. My favorite quote - "Pacificism is a privilege" by a Bucha survivor commenting on the peaceniks in the West simply calling for "peace" at any cost in Ukraine. Enjoy the show with one of Ukr
The latest from the front - a conversation with a military expert
What is the outlook for Russia's current offensive?Can the front be stabilized in the coming months?And if US support is stopped, what happens with Starlink and air defense? Will European support be adequate? Ukraine's own drones? In this episode, Pavlo Narozhnyi - a renowned Ukrainian military expert - shared stories from the frontlines in the war, while also describing where the war is toda
Norway has $1.8 trillion in its Wealth Fund - will it give some to Ukraine?
Will Norway tap its massive Sovereign Wealth Fund and provide Ukraine what's needed to win the war?Norway has enjoyed both higher volumes and prices of gas exports to Europe once Russia stopped sending gas to Europe in 2022. And as a founding NATO member with a border with Russia, Norway not only has the financial capacity to help Ukraine win the war, but also the political and security motivation
He signed up to be a Storm Trooper at the front
Angel, soldier of the Ukraine Foreign Legion. Rest of his profile is unavailable in order to protect his and his family's identity.Storm troopers fulfill what are assuredly the most dangerous and difficult tasks of anybody in the military. And the survival rate is not good. What do they do exactly? What does a day look like for them? How do people become storm troopers?This week we took a break fr
A conversation with Dr. Radchenko on the ongoing talks
Please note that this episode was recorded on Saturday March 22, before ceasefire talks in Saudi ArabiaAs we enter talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine (potentially among others), its worth stepping back and understanding the historical approach to talks by the Kremlin as well as the White House. What are some of the major continuities in foreign policy between the Soviet Union and Putin
What happens to NATO, Europe, and Ukraine? A conversation with the Former Deputy Allied Commander of NATO
Please note that this was recorded on Tuesday evening, March 18 Kyiv time, so events could have developed significantly by the time of publication. Is NATO dead?Will Russia honor the ceasefire and work towards peace? Is Putin playing Trump? Can Europe protect Ukraine without the US?These are the questions of the day and the answers will define the next generation.General Sir Richard Shir
Now that Trump blew up the international order, will Europe save Ukraine?
Considering Trump's hostility towards Ukraine and Europe, and consistent concessions to Russia, we've reached an extremely worrying point in the war. Where do talks go from here? Has Europe gotten the message that they must take care of their own security? Will Europe step up to protect Ukraine? Has the US done permanent damage to its standing in the world and in its relations with Europe?Listen i
What the hell just happened in the Oval office and where are things going now?
So what happens now? Trump now has suspended aid to up the ante in the talks over the rare earth mineral deal. How will Zelenskyi respond and where will things go?This was recorded on Tuesday morning Kyiv time March 4th so hope its not out of date by the time of publication hopefully by Thursday/Friday. I remain still cautiously optimistic - the incentives remain for both sides to sign this m
As talks are set to begin, yes we should be concerned, but don't panic (yet)
Formal talks are now imminent, and US rhetoric in the lead-up to that has unfortunately caused alot of worry, and justifiably so. But it is only a start in what will be a long process. In this episode, I provided my quick view on how we should interpret what has transpired over the past week, including at the Munich Security Conference.And yes, I remain cautiously optimistic.
To connect
Can Trump's policy of "Peace Through Strength" work?
Now that we know who the US president is and more about US policy towards Russia, I brought back on the show again my professor from graduate school, John Harper. Last time we spoke late in 2024, we didn't know who would be in the White House, much less what the US policy towards the war would be this year. Now we do know, so what know? What does history tell us as we enter this inflection point i
Reasons to get optimistic about Trump's policy on the war - a chat with a DC insider
“Jake Sullivan used to give the bully (Putin) his lunch money. We’re not going to do that” - Mike Waltz, US National Security AdvisorComforting words shared on my latest podcast!Good to have a former Green Beret instead of a lawyer driving US foreign policy.I had the pleasure of sitting down with Steven Moore, a DC insider fresh off of trips to DC and Davos, where he’s gained a solid understanding
How do Russians support this war? A deep dive into Russian political culture with an expert
Approaching the 4th year of this war, polls have consistently shown that an overwhelming majority of Russians still support the war. How do Russians stay supportive of the war despite everything – not only the unending atrocities inflicted on Ukrainians but also the extreme level of Russian casualties? What is it about the Kremlin’s ideology that convinces tens and tens of millions to continu
Enough about Trump - What about Europe and its policy towards Ukraine? Part 2
And in the 2nd part of this episode, we will dive into the question: Who is set to emerge as the new leader of Europe? My guest and I have some ideas...I had the pleasure of interviewing my former colleague and Europe political and economic expert, Martin Belchev, to discuss Europe's future and its policy towards Ukraine security future in this Trump era?Europe couldn't be weaker than it is is at
Enough about Trump - What about Europe and its policy towards Ukraine? Part 1
We've heard enough about Trump, but what about Europe and its policy towards Ukraine? And what about Europe's own security future in this Trump era?Europe couldn't be weaker than it is is at the moment. Weak economies across most of the primary countries while political crises are flourishing. A leaderless Europe in political disarray now faces an aggressive Russia trying to destroy the Western or
Ukraine is Not a Part of Russia; It's a Part of Western Civilization
Did you know Kyiv is nearly 1,000 years older than Moscow?Did you know Ukrainian is far older than the Russian language?Did you know Russians can’t understand Ukrainian?Did you know Russia even stole its name “Russia” from Ukraine?In this episode, I greatly enjoyed speaking with Igor Osypenko, the director of OLOS-Foundation, which is devoted to the development and popularization of Ukrainian cult
A Christmas Special: Stories from a Soldier of the Foreign Legion
This one is a bit of a Christmas special, recorded right before the holidays and touches on a number of remarkable – perhaps mystical – moments of a soldier at war. Listen to the story of Angel (his call sign, not revealing his real name to protect his and his family’s identity), a soldier who joined the Ukraine foreign legion at the outset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. He had
Just Released after 2.5 Years as a POW - The Story of Gennady Kharchenko
2.5 years as a POW under Russian captivity. Daily beatings and humiliation. A bombing of his barracks by Russians while in captivity. And even met Steven Seagal, who challenged a Ukrainian POW to a fight...only to then back down...And now that Gennady has been released, you'll be amazed to hear what he's going to do next. Gennady Kharchenko, Soldier of Azov Battalion. Born in Zaporizhzhya, Uk
The other war in Ukraine - fighting corruption: a conversation with an anti-corruption expert
What is the corruption situation like in Ukraine and what does the future look like? Will Ukraine be successful in reducing corruption in the coming years and become more like a Western nation?In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Oleksandra Keudel, who is a renowned expert in politics and governance, about the corruption environment in Ukraine historically and where things stan
Children and the War
The psychological damage to children has been one of the most underreported stories of this horrific war here in Ukraine. How are children coping, especially those who have lost parents and other family members?In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Oksana Lebedeva, the founder of the NGO Gen.Ukrainian, which is devoted to the mental rehabilitation of children and adolescents who hav
In honor of the millions of victims of the Ukrainian famine (Holodomor) of 1932-33: A discussion with an expert
Did you know Russia starved to death at least 4 million Ukrainians in a single year?The Ukrainian man-made famine of 1932-33, known as the Holodomor in Ukrainian, is recognized by most Western nations as an act of genocide conducted by Moscow on the Ukrainian people. In light of the annual commemoration of the Holodomor on November 23, 2024 (always the 4th Saturday of November), I spoke w Tet
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