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PODCAST

The Eastern Front

Ensuring the balance of power in Europe has, since the inception of our republic, been a core security interest for the US. Today, and for the entire post-Cold War period, the challenges to the European peace have emerged along the line running roughly from the Baltic to the Black Sea. This is what we call the Eastern Front. Our goal in this podcast is to better inform the American people about what’s going on there. Join us, Iulia Joja and Dalibor Rohac every week on in our discussions on what’s

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All Episodes

37:10

100th Episode: Strategic Thinking about Europe (with...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/01/20

The Eastern Front celebrates its 100th episode with special guest Dr. Hal Brands who is a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. Brands joins Giselle, Iulia, and Dalibor to discuss changes to strategic thinking and grand strategy making in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Brands reviews World War I, World War II, the

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39:00

Reconstructing Ukraine, 1992-2023 (with Natalie Jaresko)

The Eastern Front ·

2023/01/13

Giselle, Iulia, and Dalibor are joined by Natalie Jaresko, former Finance Minister of Ukraine and current Chair of the Aspen Institute Kyiv, to discuss the financial reconstruction of Ukraine from 1992, throughout the 2022 war, and in the future. Jaresko updates the West's outdated image of Ukraine by recalling Ukraine's significant progress in instituting economic and government reforms. She recalls the events leading to Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity in 2014, highlighting unity in desiring

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42:33

A Look Inside Meduza (with Galina Timchenko)

The Eastern Front ·

2023/01/10

Giselle and Dalibor are joined by Galina Timchenko, CEO of Meduza, an independent Russian and English language media outlet censored by the Russian government. Timchenko shares Meduza's mission, which is centered around circumventing the Kremlin's information warfare by presenting factual information to millions of readers both within Russia and around the world. She also offers insights into Russian public opinion of the war and Vladimir Putin, the success of the Russian anti-war movement, Western

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38:41

Update #10: The War in Ukraine (with Frederick W. Kagan)

The Eastern Front ·

2023/01/06

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined again by Frederick W. Kagan, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of the Critical Threats Project, to discuss the latest developments on the Russia-Ukraine War. Kagan provides an overview of winter warfare on the battlefield, including the status of the Russian military's Bakhmut campaign, potential Russian military plans within the Luhansk region, Russia's withdrawal from Kherson, and the chance of a Russian offensive campaign

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38:22

The Story of "Shchedryk" (with Lydia Tomkiw)

The Eastern Front ·

2022/12/13

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined again by Lydia Tomkiw, a senior reporter at the Financial Times, for a special holiday episode. Lydia shares the origins behind "Shchedryk," the 1916 Ukrainian New Year's song which has since been adapted into the well-known English Christmas song, "Carol of the Bells." Tomkiw explains the (often unknown) context of murder, political tumult, and oppression in Ukraine at the time of the song's composition, and she and the co-hosts make parallels between the

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41:42

Emmanuel Macron Goes to Washington (with Laure...

The Eastern Front ·

2022/11/30

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined by Laure Mandeville, senior reporter for the French media outlet Le Figaro and cofounder of Conversations Tocqueville. On the eve of US President Joe Biden’s state dinner honoring French President Emmanuel Macron, Mandeville talks about France’s political, economic, and military role in Europe and growing challenges across Europe. In particular, she discusses the current state of the transatlantic alliance, including European suspicion over America’s ability to

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27:59

Narrative Wars (with Jamie Fly)

The Eastern Front ·

2022/11/25

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined by Jamie Fly, president and chief executive officer of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) to discuss how the media organization has adapted to a changing information landscape since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Although the Kremlin forced RFE/RL to close its Russia bureau, Fly shares how Russian demand for RFE/RL content has actually doubled during the war. Fly also discusses how Russia’s censorship has encouraged other undemocratic states, such as

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48:56

Considering the Future of European Security, Politics...

The Eastern Front ·

2022/11/23

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia sit down to discuss another round of current events related to the Russia-Ukraine war, including an uptick in Russian strikes against Ukrainian civilians; how new “superstar capabilities,” such as drones, could change the war’s trajectory; the importance of EU aid in preventing Ukraine from transitioning into a wartime economy; and whether Turkey could be trusted to mediate peace in the Black Sea region.Show notes: "Europe in an Age of Division" (event); "Governing the EU

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31:46

What happened in Kherson? (with Fred Kagan)

The Eastern Front ·

2022/11/21

Giselle, Iulia, and Dalibor are joined again by Frederick W. Kagan, Senior Fellow and Director of the Critical Threats Project at AEI, to discuss implications of Ukraine's successful reclamation of Kherson from Russian occupation. Fred outlines how victory was achieved and that the Ukrainian military's objective was to retake Kherson without destroying it. Fred also theorizes about what politics within elite Russian military circles might have compelled Russia to withdraw from Kherson. He notes

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29:42

Zelenskyy: From Comedian to Statesman & Leader (with...

The Eastern Front ·

2022/11/15

Giselle and Dalibor are joined by Iuliia Mendel, Ukrainian journalist and author and former Spokesperson to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine. Being from Kherson herself, she relays Ukrainians' celebration that Kherson was restored by Ukrainian forces. And, having worked with him closely, Iuliia describes President Zelenskyy's personal qualities that are largely unknown or often overlooked by most observers, and she shares anecdotes highlighting his transition

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38:40

The Zaporizhzhia Power Plant and Beyond (with Henry...

The Eastern Front ·

2022/11/09

Giselle and Iulia are joined by Henry Sokolski, Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, a Washington-based nonprofit organization focused on strategic weapons proliferation issues, to explain why Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia power plant and Russian attacks on it should be - and then remain - headline news. Henry outlines the dangers of compromised nuclear power plants and the serious implications of vulnerabilities. He explains how the Russians' attacks on the power plant,

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41:32

Special Edition: Iran on the Eastern Front (with Roya...

The Eastern Front ·

2022/11/07

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined by Roya Hakakian to discuss the following: Should we consider Iran to be a part of the eastern front? Roya says yes. She analyzes the Iranian people's recent uprising through both historical and modern lenses, considering how these protests are unique and how the United States can better support their struggle for civil liberties. She then connects the current struggle in Iran to the war in Ukraine, arguing that the Iranian people took inspiration from

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37:38

Special Edition with Foreign Minister of Slovakia...

The Eastern Front ·

2022/11/04

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined by distinguished guest and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Rastislav Káčer. Minister Káčer joins The Eastern Front to discuss Slovakia's mixed perceptions on the war, Central Europe's engagement with Ukraine, and European unity in rebuking Russia's invasion. He discusses how, although Slovakia is geo-strategically vulnerable to Russia, a poll showed that nearly 20% of Slovaks surveyed supported Russia over Ukraine, highlighting

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34:11

Justice for Ukraine? (with Dan Baer)

The Eastern Front ·

2022/11/02

Giselle, Iulia, and Dalibor are joined by Dan Baer, senior vice president for policy research and director of the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss justice for Ukraine given Russian war crimes and how the West should divide its attention and resources between Europe and Asia. Dan explains that Russia's war crimes demonstrate its weakness, particularly its inability to pursue its political and military goals without committing crimes against civilians. All

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28:03

Can Ukraine unite a Divided Europe? (with MEP Radek...

The Eastern Front ·

2022/10/26

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined by Radek Sikorski MEP, a former resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who now represents Poland in the European Parliament. Sikorski discusses how historical tensions between Poland and Germany, as well as modern political tensions between the European Union and Poland, are complicating support for Ukraine. Specifically, he argues that political factions in Poland affect Polish foreign policy towards Germany and that a European framework is

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41:41

Follow the Money (with Dr. Anders Åslund)

The Eastern Front ·

2022/10/24

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined by Dr. Anders Åslund, a leading specialist on economic policy in Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe. Dr. Åslund discusses sanctions that are both succeeding and failing against Russia and offers his take on the differences between Anglo-American and European Union sanction regimes. Furthermore, he provides suggestions for actions Western countries can take against Russia, including implementing a no-fly-zone over Ukraine and sending the U.S. Navy to defend

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32:52

What is China learning from Russia's Ukraine...

The Eastern Front ·

2022/10/19

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined by Zack Cooper, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to discuss how Russia's invasion of Ukraine might impact China's strategy towards Taiwan. Zack outlines three lessons China should be learning from Russia's invasion of Ukraine: 1) Invasions are tough and an amphibious landing would be tougher, 2) You don't get the most accurate access to information under a dictatorship, and 3) Western countries are more willing than expected to unite on

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34:39

How Romania supports NATO's Eastern Flank (with Maj....

The Eastern Front ·

2022/10/17

Giselle, Iulia, and Dalibor are joined by Maj. Gen. Iulian Berdilă, Chief of the Romanian Land Forces Staff, to chat all things concerning NATO's Eastern Flank. MG Berdilă explains how nearly two decades of US-Romanian defense cooperation has evolved to meet present needs and discusses Romania's key role as a hub of NATO activity on the Eastern Flank, including hosting a three-star command center among other joint operational efforts. MG Berdilă also briefs the cohosts on the role of Romania's land

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34:30

Special Edition with Senator Rob Portman

The Eastern Front ·

2022/10/13

Giselle, Iulia, and Dalibor are joined by special guest Senator Rob Portman, who recently returned from Ukraine, to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Congressional support for Ukraine. Senator Portman is Ranking Member on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee,a member of the Senate Finance Committee, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Joint Economic Committee.

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36:47

Analyzing the War: Nuclear Armageddon, the Kerch...

The Eastern Front ·

2022/10/13

Giselle, Iulia, and Dalibor gathered together for an internal discussion of recent events from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On the heels of President Biden’s “Armageddon” comment in response to Russian President Putin’s threats of nuclear warfare, Iulia suggested Biden had inadvertently “changed the conversation” from Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive to its potential annihilation. Dalibor opined that the comment had fostered “really unhelpful narratives” about how Ukrainian President Zelenskyy

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