War in Ukraine: Update from Kyiv

Maksym Yali, Professor of International Relations and Head of the Center for New World Order at the National Aviation University in Kyiv, discusses the state of a Ukrainian counteroffense - we might see the main strike in an unexpected place - cracks in Russian morale - the more strikes and 'accidental' explosions in Crimea and Bolgorod the more Russians realise that 'this is not only on TV but co...

Alasdair McCallum, doctoral student at Monash University, discusses Russian civil and political opposition - and why we've seen a muted overt opposition: 'Putin's regime aims to mobilise some parts of the population and demobilise others' 'Whilst parts of society have been rendered passive... as the war continues it will be increasingly hard for these populations to stay untouched by the war... pa...

Marek Menkiszak, Head of the Russian Department at the OSW Center for Eastern Studies in Warsaw, analyzes Russia's miscalculations, misperceptions and strategic failures in the War in Ukraine.  'Russia's decision-making was driven by a mix of ignorance and arrogance... they simply do not understand the changes that have taken place over the last 30 years'  'Russians believe that the losses that Uk...

Maksym Yali, Professor of International Relations at the National Aviation University in Kyiv, discusses the mood in Ukraine on Independence Day, Ukrainian hits on military targets in Crimea and the expected mock trials of Azov defenders in Mariupol.  Follow Maksym on twitter: @maksymyali For episode updates follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer

Maria Popova, Associate Professor of Politics at McGill Univeristy, discusses Ukraine, accession to the European Union, reforms, post-Soviet thinking and the aspirations of Russian imperial restoration - "when was the window closed on Russia being able to live peacefully with independent neighbours that pursue their own foreign and domestic policies?"  Oxana Shevel and Maria Popova on Why Ukraine...

James Farwell, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, comments on implications of the Ukraine war for Turkey and Syria - as well as broader lessons for leadership discussed in James' book The Corporate Warrior - and how these might apply in the context of the current war.  James Farwell - The Corporate Warrior: Successful Strategies from Military Leaders to Win your Business Battles   Follow...

Tymofii Brik, Associate Professor and Rector at the Kyiv School of Economics, discusses Ukrainian society, the place of religion, diversity and pluralism, why there is no religious monopoly in Ukraine, and why the narrative of Ukraine as a divided society does not hold up to scrutiny. Tymofii also outlines the Ukrainian Global University iniative that he helped to establish post-24-Feb to assist U...

Christopher Faulkner, Assistant Professor at the United States Naval War College, discusses the Wagner Group: who are they? how are they connected to the Russian regime? what are their areas of operation? and what is the impact of their involvement in Ukraine?  This was a fascinating discussion that made me think about the implications of private military contractors operating in theaters of war,...

Aleksandar Matovski, Assistant Professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, breaks down the internal function of ' Popular Dictatorships ' - electoral autocracies - regimes in which authoritarian leaders need to maintain popular legitimacy to survive - and what this tells us about Putin, Russia and the war in Ukraine. Aleksandar outlines how Putin rose...

Retired four-star General of the US Air Force, General Philip Breedlove, who served as NATO Supreme Allied Commander to Europe from 2013 to 2016, discusses NATO's response to Russia's incursions into Ukrainian territory in 2014, whether weapons to Ukraine will make a difference, and what Ukraine needs for success. "Russia has kit, but lacks manpower; Ukraine has highly motivated personell but lack...

Oleksandr Kraiev, Director of the North America at the Ukrainian Prism Foreign Policy Council in Kyiv, discusses recent revelations of mistreatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and the bombing of the prison in Olenivka where Ukrainian prisoners of war were being held, as well as the response to these events in Ukraine. 'We are going to win - but we should win like Ukrainians - this was an impetus...

Brian Taylor, Professor of Political Science at Syracuse University, discusses the Code of Putinism - What are the key ideas that drive Putin and those around him? Was Putin's rise to power inevitable? Why is the war in Ukraine Putin's war?  Brian Taylor - The Code of Putinism  Brian Taylor in Foreign Affairs: The Power Struggle After Putin Follow Prof. Brian Taylor on twitter: @bdtaylor_SU For ep...

Ivan Shmatko, PhD student at the University of Alberta, and Dafna Rachok, PhD candidate at Indiana University Bloomington, discuss what we can learn about Ukrainian society from Ukraine's public health services and the treatment of vulnerable groups; how Ukrainian identity, society and politics has diverged from Russia's; conditions and forced mobilisation in occupied territories; and anticipation...

Zofia Stemplowska, Professor of Political Theory at the University of Oxford, investigates the 'NATO enlargement' argument - which suggests that NATO's inclusion of member states in Eastern Europe drove the war in ukraine - does this argument have any merit? what are its flaws? how can we better consider this issue?  Zofia Stemplowska: NATO enlargement is not to blame for Russia's war in Ukraine F...

Maksym Yali, Professor of International Relations at the National Aviation University in Kyiv, discusses the upcoming Day of Ukrainian Statehood on July 28, Ukrainian identity since the full-scale Russian invasion, Russian propaganda and conditions amongst those left in occupied Mariupol.  For episode updates follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer   

Volodymyr Dubovyk, Associate Professor at the Department of International Relations at Mechnikov National University in Odessa, discusses the recent grain export deal agreed between Ukraine and Russia, subsequent Russian missile strikes on a port in Odessa, Ukraine's motivations to sign the deal, and chances of success. Follow Volodymyr on twitter: @volodymdubovyk For episode updates follow on twi...

Michael Mandelbaum, Professor Emeritus of American Foreign Policy at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, on his latest book The Four Ages of American Foreign Policy: Weak Power, Great Power, Superpower, Hyperpower - we discussed the Four Ages; continuities in US Foreign Policy as a global power; US entry into and exit from wars; possible future trajectories; and unique aspec...

Maksym Yali, Professor of International Relations at the National Aviation University in Kyiv, discusses the possibility for a Ukrainian counteroffensive and the importance of a counteroffensive in Kherson before the Russian elections on 11 September this year.  Follow Maksym on twitter: @maksymyali For episode updates follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer 

Paul Poast, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, outlines the underpinnings of realism, and discusses the way in wich realism has been associated with the explanation that 'NATO expansion' to include states in Eastern Europe is a driver of Russia's actions. Paul - draws on realist assumptions - to provide an alternate - (and - for me - more convincing) - explanati...

Mart Kuldkepp, Associate Professor of Scandanavian History and Politics at University College London, discusses the Baltic states and the war in Ukraine: Estonia's support for Ukraine, Ukraine-Baltic relations, the extent of Russia's threat to Baltic states, and how Finland and Sweden's expected NATO accession will impact security in the Baltic Sea.  Follow Mart on twitter: @kuldkeppmart For episo...

Political theorists Avia Pasternak, Associate Professor in Political Theory at University College London, and Zofia Stemplowska, Professor of Political Theory at Oxford University, engage in a thoughtful discussion of the justifications for the imposition of sanctions on Russia. When imposing sanctions, how do we consider costs on populations versus the possibility of preventing harm; individual r...

Steven Pifer, former US Ambassador to Ukraine, and affiliate of Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation, discusses US-Ukraine relations following the breakdown of the Soviet Union, Ukraine's decision to give up nuclear weapons, key economic challenges, US support for Ukraine post-24-Feb, and Ukraine's reconstruction.  Steven Pifer - The Eagle and the Trident: US-Ukraine relati...

Michael Doyle, Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, considers liberal peace theory in light of the current war in Ukraine. What is liberal peace theory? Do democratic regimes encourage restraint? Why is economic integration not sufficient to avoid war? How important is the dimension of regime type to Russia's invasion of Ukraine? What is the importanc...

John Blaxland, Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies and former Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University, discusses the way in which the war in Ukraine will shape security in the Asia-Pacific region - John notes differences between Russia and China as global powers, India's position and this shapes relations in the Quadrilateral...

Maksym Yali, Head of Center for New World Order and Professor of International Relations at National Aviation University in Kyiv, responds to Ukrainian troops withdrawal from Lysychansk in the Luhansk region, and the political, military and symbolic signiicance of Russia's withdrawal from Snake Island.  For episode updates follow on twitter: @jessicagenauer