On May 15th, Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico was shot five times in an attempted assassination and, as of this recording, remains in critical condition. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia draw on Dalibor's local expertise to unpack the breaking news and its developments. What is Fico's political background and why is he such a polarizing figure? What implications does the assassination attempt have for the state of liberal democracy and political...

As Ukraine awaits US aid, it is struggling to hold back a Russian offensive that has claimed control over several settlements in Eastern Ukraine. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome George Barros, Russia Team and Geospatial Intelligence Team lead at the Institute for the Study of War, to discuss the current state of the battlefield in Ukraine. Which regions are Russian troops planning on targeting in the coming months? What weapons and policies could make...

A recent terror attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall by ISIS-K has tested Russia’s regional relations and tolerance for torture at home. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Paul Goble, distinguished senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation. What effect, if any, has the March attacks had on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategic calculus? How is Russia’s promotion of “traditional values” perceived in former Soviet Republics, particularly in Central...

On April 25th, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia hosted a special live show of The Eastern Front with Giga Bokeria, chairman of European Georgia, the pro-European, pro-Western opposition in Georgia. Together, they discuss the history of Russian incursions into Georgia and the greater security risks Russia poses to Europe. Bokeria makes the case for Georgian and Ukrainian membership into NATO and emphasizes the importance of Ukrainian victory in ensuring peace on the continent. The live show...

On Wednesday night, after months of languishing in the House, President Joe Biden signed into law an aid package authorizing $60.8 billion to Ukraine. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia break down the bill and consider its implications for the future trajectory of the war. What is the significance of the bill making it past far-right opposition in the House? Does the aid package go far enough to ensure Ukrainian victory? Could using frozen Russian assets help...

With continued uncertainty over the trajectory of the war and aid to Ukraine, European nations have begun to consider the need for a more aggressive deterrence posture. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Artur Kacprzyk, analyst in the International Security Programme at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, to discuss how NATO can capitalize on its nuclear deterrent. What does the current state of NATO's nuclear deterrence look like and how...

The Baltic states are taking the Russian threat seriously and sounding the alarm for the rest of Europe. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Minna Ålander, research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, to discuss NATO and European security. To what extent has German Chancellor Olaf Scholz acted on the promises made in his 2022 "Zeitenwende" speech? What lessons can the US learn from Baltic states vis-à-vis Russia? What does the...

As NATO celebrates 75 years of defense, Russian threats continue to gnaw at the strength of the alliance. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Strategy Initiative, to discuss where NATO goes from here. Who should be the next NATO secretary general? What more can NATO members do to effectively counter Russian misinformation? At this stage in the war, are NATO members more or less...

With no American security guarantees, European leaders are beginning to look for alternative defense partners. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia roleplay as Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, and Donald Tusk to discuss both the perils and promises of European security as they each see it. Is it a foregone conclusion that the US will withdraw from Europe? How can France and Germany navigate their disagreements over sending troops to Ukraine? Is Europe taking the...

With authoritarianism on the rise worldwide, the work of journalists has never been more important for holding rogue regimes accountable. But for that reason, it has also become increasingly dangerous. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Nicola Careem, vice president and editor-in-chief of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, to discuss how journalism has changed in this era of great powers. How do journalists navigate the harsh realities of warzone...

Iran has asserted itself on the global stage through proxies in the Middle East and by supporting Russia in its war in Ukraine. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle and Iulia welcome Andres Ilves, director of the Near East Region at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. How is Iran positioning itself in regards to Armenia and Azerbaijan? To what extent is Iran exerting influence on Russia? What regions of the world are most threatening to Iran, and how is it responding to those...

For years, Russia has employed disinformation campaigns to influence political outcomes in Western democracies. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Andrea Michalcová, director of the Center for an Informed Society. What impact has Russian disinformation campaigns had in Slovakia and the Czech Republic so far? How have these campaigns both helped and hurt Ukraine throughout the war? What can Western nations do to effectively combat Russian disinformation?...

A lot has happened since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine just over two years ago. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia reflect on events from the past two years and consider what the future of the conflict might look like. Would a second Trump administration inevitably push the war in Russia's favor? And would a Biden re-election necessarily mean more aid for Ukraine? How have the Europeans compared in their support for Ukraine? Show notes: Sign...

Just shy of the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, and in the midst of breaking news over Alexei Navalny's assassination, the focus was all on Ukraine during last week's Munich Security Conference. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Jack Janes, resident senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, to reflect on his experience at the conference. What did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy say about US delays in approving an aid...

In light of Donald Trump's recent statements encouraging Russia to attack NATO allies that have not met their spending minimums, there are growing concerns about Europe's readiness to defend itself. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Jolanta Szymanska and Daniel Szeligowski of the Polish Institute of International Affairs to discuss their new book, The European Union in the Face of Russia's Aggression Against Ukraine. Has the EU been acting with a proper...

Ukrainians living in Russian occupied territories are facing a myriad of threats, from torture and deportation to the Russification of their communities. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Karolina Hird, the Russia deputy team lead and Evans Hanson fellow at the Institute for the Study of War, to discuss her recent report, "The Kremlin's Occupation Playbook: Coerced Russification and Ethnic Cleansing in Occupied Ukraine." What tactics has Russia used in...

Continued support for Ukraine is not just important for Ukrainians; many Eastern European countries are increasingly worried about their own security. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Adrian Băluțel, the chief of staff to the president of the Republic of Moldova, to discuss Moldovan security and the security of the Eastern European region at large. To what extent does additional funding for Ukraine also support the wider region against Russian...

Despite reaching somewhat of a standstill in the war, Ukraine has made considerable advances in the Black Sea. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with Stephen Flanagan, adjunct senior fellow at RAND Corporation, to discuss the future of Black Sea strategy and its implications for Ukraine, the EU, and the US. What further military advances can we expect? What role does Turkey play in the region's security? To what extent might the US' Black Sea strategy be...

As Putin attempts to erase Ukrainian identity, keeping Ukraine's unique history and culture alive has become ever more important. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel, associate professors of political science at McGill University and Tufts University, respectively, to discuss their new book, Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States. How has Ukraine resisted Russian influence and pursued democracy? What...

There is a growing consensus among segments of the political elite that America's declining global leadership has paved the way for conflicts in Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO chief from 2009-2014, to discuss his recent efforts across Washington to advocate for sustained aid to Ukraine and US dominance in the international arena. Must there be a tradeoff between...

With Ron DeSantis suspending his presidential campaign just ahead of the New Hampshire primary, the Republican field is setting out to be a one-man show: Donald Trump. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with David Frum, senior editor at The Atlantic, to discuss the evolution of the Republican party since Trump's first term and what we can expect from a potential second Trump administration. Might Europe have to begin providing for its own defense with...

US support for Ukraine continues to remain uncertain as Congress struggles to reach an agreement on an aid package. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Jan Havránek, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic, to discuss the future of American and European support for Ukraine. Is there a growing sense of "Ukraine fatigue" in Europe? Will other Eastern European states follow Hungary's path and turn their backs on Ukraine? To what extent...

Despite battlefield gains in 2022, the last year has brought significant hurdles to Ukraine's fight against Russia. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia reflect on the past year's events and consider what might be in store for the Black Sea region—and the world more broadly—in 2024. They discuss Western will and commitment to Ukraine, the future of Zelenskyy, Russia's war plans, and Biden's re-election prospects. Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front‘s...

Despite the European Council's recent decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, the country's EU membership is not exactly a foregone conclusion. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Rikard Jozwiak, Europe reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), to discuss the potential obstacles to Ukraine's EU accession process and funding. To what extent does supplemental funding for Ukraine in the US affect EU decision-making over aid? What...