The Political Periscope

Dr Ian Anthony from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute speaks about current Russian military potential, the risk of nuclear war, European difficulties with restoring its military capabilities and his personal experience with Mikhail Gorbachev.  This interview was concluded in SIPRI's seat in Solna, Sweden on 1st September 2022 by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz. Support the show ★ Suppo...

Talis Linkaits, the minister of transport of the Republic of Latvia talks about Rail Baltica - railway that will connect the Baltic States and create new opportunities for economy and passenger movement, the importance of cooperation with Poland, especially in frames of infrastructural projects and cooperation of maritime ports and about new challenges for Latvian infrastructure and economy that a...

Jānis Bordāns, deputy prime minister and the minister of justice of the Republic of Latvia speaks about possible ban of Schengen visas for Russians and comments on the conflict around the Disciplinary Chamber of the Superior Court between the Polish government and the European Commission. This interview was concluded in Riga on 22nd of October 2022 by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz. Support the show ★ S...

Žygimantas Pavilionis, Member of the Lithuanian Seimas, former deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador of Lithuania to the US and Mexico and a diplomat for 23 years speaks about need to limit China's influence in Europe, the fall of Russia and Ukrainian perspective of membership in the European Union. This interview was conducted in the building of the Parliament in Vilnius on 18th o...

Inna Kurochkina, filmmaker, documentalist, creator of I-NEWS (Ichkeria NEWS) channel on YouTube, representative of the prime minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Akhmed Zakayev, half Ukrainian, half Russian speaks about the reminiscence of her youth in Georgia during its struggle for independence, Russian mentality and literature and how they differ from Western ones. This interview was co...

Sergej Sumlenny, German political analyst and expert, former director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s regional office in Ukraine (2015-2021), talks about Germany’s fear of technology and nuclear power and the existent lack of possibility of making deals with Putin. This interview was concluded during the second Free Nations of Russia Forum in Prague on 23rd of July by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz. S...

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Pavlo Klimkin talks about the Russian missile attack on Odessa. We also discussed what conditions are necessary for Ukraine to sign a peace agreement with Russia and whether the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people's republic can be called separatistic movements. This interview was concluded during the second Free Nations of Russia Forum in Prague on 23rd of July by...

Akhmed Zakayev, Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria is speaking about opening the second front in Caucasus, perspective of Chechen independence and the image of Chechens in the West. This interview was concluded in Prague on 23rd of July by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz.  Support the show ★ Support this podcast ★

 Interview with Dragomir Zakov, Minister of Defence of Bulgaria. During this interview our guest talks about Putin’s plan to occupy the entire coast of the Black Sea. We also discussed food crisis, NATO’s role in this war and Russian propaganda.  This interview was concluded in Sofia, on the 6th of June 2022, by Krzysztof Skowroński. Support the show ★ Support this podcast ★

 Interview with Albin Kurti Prime Minister of Kosovo. During this interview our guest answers the questions regarding war in Ukraine and the Kosovo’s point of view. He talks about Serbia and its relation with Russia. He also talks about how does the tax system in Kosovo looks nowadays.  This interview was concluded in Bratislava, on the 2nd of June 2022, by Krzysztof Skowroński. Support the show ★...

 Interview with Egils Levits, President of Latvia. We discussed war in Ukraine. President of Latvia talked about possibility of Ukraine becoming a EU member. Moreover we talked about NATO enlargement and Russian propaganda in Latvia. The topic, which was brought up concerned possible trial in International Criminal Court in Hague regarding war crimes in Ukraine. This interview was concluded in Rig...

Professor Javier Gil Pérez from Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, a specialist in international relations and Pacific region is commenting the NATO summit, how its location in Spain affected the topics touched during the summit, the growing role of China and Indo-Pacific region in global security. We are also discussing Russian interference in Catalonian separatism, the attitude of Spaniar...

Interview with Jessikka Aro, Finnish Journalist, author of a non-fiction book Putin’s Trolls .  We talk about Russian journalists who fight with Russian propaganda. Our guest says that exposing Russian propaganda and sharing awareness is the goal for each and every journalist. J. Aro explains how the disinformation works. This interview was concluded in Bratislava, on the 4th of June 2022, by Piot...

Interview with Simona Cojocaru, the Secretary of State in the Romanian Defense Ministry. Cojocaru explains the Romanian preparations for the leadership summit of the Bucharest Nine emphasizing on the lately gained importance of these types of summits.  Our guest explained as well how  NATO’s presence should be increased on the Eastern flank of the organization, specifying that Romanians expect dec...

Interview with Balazs Orban member of the National Assembly of Hungary. Orban underlines the support of his country for Ukraine in the ongoing war as he distinguishes himself by exposing a different vision of the war’s ending.  Orban explains as well why the sanctions on Russian gas won’t bring any positive outcomes. He also emphasizes the importance of a united EU stating that the alliance should...

Interview with Ben-Oni Ardelean, vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lower House of the Romanian Parliament. He sums up the summit of the Bucharest Nine and speaks about the need for NATO enlargement. He also comments on Turkey's position regarding Sweden and Finland joining the alliance. He also speaks about the war in Ukraine and how it affects Romanian security. He pointed out...

Interview with the Minister of Defense of Slovakia. Jaroslav Nad’ emphasizes the important role of NATO in maintaining security in Europe. He describes the Polish-Slovakian relations and underlines the importance of cooperation between the countries of NATO's eastern flank. He says that he is glad that his country is a member of NATO due to the situation in the East of Europe.  He also speaks abou...

Interview with Elena Poptodorova former ambassador of Bulgaria in the US. Our guest compares Bulgaria’s actual situation with the one that took place 30 years ago, when the country was fighting for a NATO membership. She underlines that the Russian aggression on Ukraine has brought Bulgaria back to fighting on its own battlefield.  Poptodorova also mentions the profound division of Bulgaria’s publ...

Interview with Velizar Shalamanov, former Bulgarian minister of defense. Shalamanov describes the difference between the position of the Bulgarian government, and the people’s views regarding the support for Ukraine as well as the President’s ambiguous statements. He emphasizes on the peoples’ division due to a very active and effective Russian disinformation campaign. Shalamanov underlines the im...

Interview with Yevhen Tsybulenko an Estonian law professor specialized in international law. The professor discusses the beginning of NATO’s military exercises in Estonia. Also, he describes the importance of Sweden and Finland joining NATO stating that it would clearly help in stabilizing and securitizing all Baltic States. Tsybulenko talked about the conditions of Russian minorities in Estonia s...

Interview with Jaroslav Kurfürst, the Representative of the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Eastern Partnership.  Our guest speaks about Ukraine's application for EU membership. Among other things, he commented on the statement of the French Minister of European Affairs, who said that Ukraine still has 15-20 years to go before it becomes a member of the EU. Kurfürst speaks about the war...

Interview with Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy minister of Energy. He discusses the situation of European countries dependent on Russian energetic resources. He considers the Kremlin as an unreliable partner that is able to play its European business associates. V. Milov warns Western countries on their future collaboration with Moscow regarding energetic resources.  Finally, the consequen...

Interview with Alar Karis, president of Estonia. Our guest speaks about the war in Ukraine and its possible scenarios. The only end-of-war scenario he is considering is a Ukrainian victory. He also speaks about the Estonian help for Ukrainian refugees and the military support his country provides to Ukraine. He states that Western countries must get involved in the war in Ukraine and provide help...

Interview with Atin Lejins member of the Latvian Parliament. During this interview the connoisseur of international relations explains the actual tasks faced by latvian diplomats. He also mentions his estimations regarding the end of the war in Ukraine.  Lejins describes the significant deterioration of German-Russian relations due to the Russian aggression. He points out the consequences of this...