Nearly four years after Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian officials and analysts look at the prospects for a ceasefire, and at the military, economic and human cost that President Vladimir Putin's campaign has inflicted on the country. They discuss the Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, intended to demoralise the civilian population, and what European allies should do to bolster its defence efforts, and to rebuild the country if there is a ceasefire.

Host Bronwen Maddox is joined by Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former Minister of Defence of Ukraine; Daryna Marchak, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture; Olha Aivazovska, Chair of the Board of the Opora Civic Network; Simon Smith, Chair of Chatham House's Ukraine Forum and Dominic Nicholls, Associate Editor of The Telegraph.

The discussion came as Chatham House hosted a conference - 'War in Ukraine: The battleground for the future of Europe'.

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Comment | Ukraine's best defence against Putin's energy war is more attacks on Russia's oil refining sector

Comment | As the US eases sanctions on Belarus, is it time for the EU to rethink its approach?

Comment | Russia and the US put nuclear testing back on the table. Is time running out for arms control?

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell.

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Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York's mayoral race this week – and other electoral successes – energized Democrats in the US and left-wing parties worldwide. The new standard-bearer of the American left is hailed by progressives as a generational shift of leadership – at 34 he will be the first Muslim mayor of New York, and one of its youngest ever.

But he faces opposition from many quarters over his plans to raise taxes on the wealthy. Not least from President Donald Trump, who has threatened to hold back federal funds from the city where he was born.

This week's podcast assesses the significance of the first major elections of Trump's second term, and what it means for the Democratic Party's chances of winning back the House of Representatives in midterm elections next November.

In the US, host Bronwen Maddox is joined by Laurel Rapp, director of the US and North America Programme, and Bruce Stokes, an associate fellow at Chatham House and a former director of global economic attitudes at the Pew Research Center. Joining from London is Stephen Farrell, head of News and Comment, who covered the 2013 New York City mayoral election for The New York Times. Read our latest: Trump's tariffs face Supreme Court challenge that could have significant consequences for presidential power Has Trump's Asia tour reassured the US's Asian allies? Kenya's conversion of Chinese debt to renminbi reflects economic pragmatism more than strained US ties

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell.

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Far-right Dutch leader Geert Wilders suffered a setback on Wednesday's elections, with centrists poised to take back power.

Rob Jetten, 38, leader of the centre-progressive Democrats 66 party, is set to become the Netherlands' youngest leader in modern history after running on the upbeat slogan 'Yes we can'. But the hard right remains influential.

To discuss the outcome, and what it tells us about Europe beyond the Netherlands, guest host Grégoire Roos, Director of Chatham House's Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes, is joined by Sébastien Maillard, a Chatham House Associate Fellow and special advisor to the Jacques Delors Institute. And, joining down the line, is Karien van Gennip, a former Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

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China's leaders' meeting confirms Xi's authority and shows technological self-reliance is now the priority

Trump and Xi won't reset the China–US rivalry, so other nations must prepare

China's economic model will continue to alarm its trading partners

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell.

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China's ruling Communist Party leadership met in Beijing to frame the next five-year-plan. Amid a trade war with the United States, they set priorities for economic policy and technology, including how to build artificial intelligence into key sectors of society.

New faces appeared and old ones vanished, with a purge of senior military officials and others as President Xi Jinping sacked some officials he had earlier promoted. As Xi prepares to meet with US President Donald Trump in South Korea, Chatham House senior research fellows Yu Jie and James Kynge join host Bronwen Maddox.

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The UK must prioritize cybersecurity or be left dangerously exposed

Sanae Takaichi sees herself as the successor to Shinzo Abe. But changes in Japan's politics present big challenges

Tanzania election: Erosion of democracy will also come at the cost of economic potential

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell.

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Beset by early ceasefire disputes between Israel and Hamas, international backers of President Trump's Mideast project must move quickly to elevate it from vague wish list to viable framework. Rapid delivery of aid, reconstruction - and security for Palestinians and Israelis – are essential. But without a political end game, it will founder.

Sanam Vakil, Marc Weller and Stephen Farrell join host Bronwen Maddox in this week's podcast from Chatham House.

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Comment | The US needs a new Iran strategy if Trump's Gaza plan is to endure

Comment | India is seeking to reset relations with the Taliban. But can this rapprochement last?

Comment | Netanyahu's concepts collapsed, one by one, as Trump piled on pressure: What next for his government?

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell and John Pollock.

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At home the US is mired in domestic dysfunction with a government shutdown now in its second week. But abroad, President Trump has brokered a deal that - although it didn't win a Nobel Peace Prize - could end the two-year Gaza war. Laurel Rapp and Max Yoeli join guest host Christopher Sabatini.

They discuss the effects of the government funding crisis and protracted political deadlock on the US economy, international investment, the military and foreign policy.

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Comment | Egypt is crucial to Trump's Gaza plan – but fears a security vacuum after an Israeli withdrawal

Comment | The rise of Reform, the AfD and RN is more than a blip – so what happens if the E3 goes far right?

Comment | Attacks on 'drug boats' are pushing the US away from the consensus on the rules of international law

Presented by Christopher Sabatini. Produced by Stephen Farrell.

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It's party conference season in Britain. Both ruling Labour and opposition Conservatives are nervous about the rise of Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK, successor to the Brexit Party.

Pollster Joe Twyman and Olivia O'Sullivan, Director of Chatham House's UK in the World Programme, join host Bronwen Maddox for this week's podcast.

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Explainer | Can the Trump peace plan for Gaza succeed?

Comment | A 'Drone Wall' is needed for Europe to defend against a new threat

Comment | Africa must strengthen continental unity to boost its global influence

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell and John Pollock.

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The United Nations is a guardian of international law, its leader assured member states this week. But President Trump questioned the point of the UN. Marc Weller and Christopher Phillips join Bronwen Maddox to assess challenges to the global order in a world of strongmen and multipolarity.

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Event | Is this a new age of nuclear proliferation?

Comment | Does the US want to weaken the UN or make it 'great again'?

Comment | A new international order is forming. Will China make it 'green'?

Comment | Recognition of Palestine can be more than symbolic if Europe and Gulf states remain aligned

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell and John Pollock.

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President Donald Trump brought AI and tech CEOs on his second state visit for a deal pledging £31 billion in investment for the UK.

Olivia O'Sullivan and Laurel Rapp join host Bronwen Maddox to discuss the politics and dealmaking behind the pageantry, on Chatham House's weekly international affairs podcast.

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Event | Global Britain meets America First: What next for the 'special relationship'?

Comment | President Trump's second state visit to the UK: What to expect

Comment | The UK must guard against new risks to financial stability coming from the US

Comment | Egypt now sees Israel as an imminent threat

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell and John Pollock.

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Are we moving into a post-American world and if so will China try to lead and set the rules for it?

In the face of American withdrawal, China senses an opportunity to shape a new world order. This week on Independent Thinking, Samir Puri and James Kynge join Bronwen Maddox to discuss the changing nature of the international order.

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Event | Interview and discussion with Isaac Herzog, President of Israel

Comment | It may take a generation for a stable new world order to emerge

Comment | Syria's parliamentary elections: A turning point or another top-down exercise?

Comment | Why ending the war in Sudan should be a higher priority for the West

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.

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