0:00 Intro

0:17 Parallel

12:15 Lost battle

27:02 Endgame

36:18 Near the end

53:37 Refugees

1:00:05 Russia without Putin

We're with Ambassador Ihor Ostash for Episode 299 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/gBRk62qvHLY

We discuss Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Putin's security considerations and endgame in Kiev, and parallels to Lebanon's place under Syrian occupation and current Iranian dominion.

Our conversation includes the Ambassador's optimistic view that the Putin regime is nearing its end. We also compare the 1986 Chernobyl disaster to the 2020 Beirut port blast, and consider tipping points for regimes' influence over regional security spheres.

Ihor Ostash is the Ambassador of Ukraine to Lebanon.

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Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.