We welcome Inna Melnykovska from the Political Science Department at Central European University. She is an expert on state business relations and crony capitalism in Eastern Europe. (01:50) - The direction of Inna’s research (06:00) - Political pluralism and the competition of big business in Ukrainian politics (08:50) - Putin and Ukraine’s competitive oligarchy (10:14) - The similarities and nuances between Russia and Ukraine (12:15) - President Zelenskyy’s fight against crony capitalists - the good and the bad (17:35) - Zelenskyy’s ties to oligarchs and the problems with complete de-oligarchization (21:00) - Putin’s motivation to invade Ukraine (26:54) - The relationship between Russia’s economic elite and Putin’s inner circle, and efforts of western sanctions (39:08) - Inna’s advice for western policies on sanctions and Russian businesses and elites (43:05) - Long term effects