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Russia talks peace, throws punches, and somehow does both at the same time. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down one of the most revealing weeks of the war in Ukraine and the wider geopolitical chessboard surrounding it.

As February opens, Moscow is pushing hard on multiple fronts. Russian drones strike civilian targets including a maternity hospital and a bus carrying coal miners, killing at least twelve people, all while U.S.-brokered peace talks are delayed at the last minute. We walk through what actually happened, why the timing matters, and how Russia has long used civilian pressure as leverage heading into negotiations.

The diplomatic storyline is just as important. A surprise meeting between U.S. and Russian envoys in Florida, without Ukraine present, raises serious questions about the direction of talks ahead of the Abu Dhabi meetings on February 4th and 5th. Donetsk remains the central sticking point, with Russia demanding territory it has failed to fully seize on the battlefield and branding that demand as a so-called concession. We explain why Donetsk carries outsized symbolic and strategic value for the Kremlin and why Ukraine sees giving it up as politically and militarily dangerous.

This episode also dives into one of the most fascinating developments of the war so far. SpaceX moves quickly to shut down Russian use of Starlink-enabled drones, disrupting mid-range strike operations almost overnight. We explain how commercial space infrastructure has become a battlefield variable, why this mattered immediately for Ukrainian civilians, and what it says about modern warfare when a tech company can alter combat dynamics faster than most militaries.

Beyond Ukraine, the pressure map widens. Russia expands military infrastructure near Finland following NATO's northern expansion. Balloon incursions from Belarus probe Polish and Lithuanian airspace. Unidentified drones appear over a German military base. At the same time, destructive cyberattacks hit Polish energy facilities during freezing weather, showing how cyber, hybrid, and physical pressure are being layered together.

Inside Russia, the environment keeps tightening. Western journalists face growing hostility and restrictions even as the Kremlin continues to invite them to events. Meanwhile, senior Russian officials signal confidence in eventual victory, praise U.S. leadership when convenient, and warn about the looming expiration of the New START nuclear arms control treaty. We unpack what that means for global stability and why arms control is quietly becoming one of the most under-discussed risks right now.

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Welcome to The Restricted Handling Podcast: What's Coming Up Next Week in the World - your go-to source for the sharpest, fastest, and most unfiltered look at the global events set to shape headlines from February 1 through February 7, 2026. Hosted with just the right mix of clarity, irreverence, and edge, this isn't your average international affairs rundown. If you're tired of falling asleep to dry policy talk, we've got your antidote.

This week's episode dives into 10 of the biggest scheduled geopolitical events around the globe - from Russia and Ukraine peace talks resuming in Abu Dhabi to the official expiration of the New START nuclear arms control treaty, and everything in between. Want to know why North Korea might roll out the missiles again? Why the Winter Olympics are kicking off with political fireworks before the flame is even lit? Why your gas prices might nudge up again thanks to an OPEC+ meeting? It's all here - and all verified, tight, and timely.

We break down:

• Why the Russia-Ukraine-US trilateral meeting could be the start of something (or nothing) - and why it matters anyway

• How a subtle EU oil price cap could punch Moscow's wallet right in the rubles

• The World Government Summit in Dubai - aka the Avengers assemble moment for global wonks

• The fallout from the U.S. sending ICE agents to the Italian Olympics and how Rome's trying to calm it all down

• The nuclear arms race no one wants but no one seems to be stopping

• Key interest rate decisions from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England - with global financial ripple effects

• The Milan Olympics Opening Ceremony: athletes, fireworks, and political tension dressed as pageantry

• The U.S. jobs report that could sway markets and economic narratives across the world

Plus, we're watching for likely surprises: North Korean military flexing, a possible Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit on the horizon, and signals from Washington and Moscow now that all the nuclear rulebooks are off the table.

If you care about global power plays, international drama, and how it all affects the headlines you'll be reading next week - this is the podcast episode you don't want to miss.

Tap play, subscribe, and share - because knowing what's coming up next is the best way to stay ahead of what's already blowing up.

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A weekly deep dive into the latest spy stories and intelligence updates from across the globe. We spotlight the hidden dynamics driving security crises, geopolitical maneuvering, and covert operations—all with a sharp, unvarnished perspective. From cyber threats to clandestine influence campaigns, this episode pulls together the week's most critical developments, cutting through the noise and spin. Join us as we uncover the storylines shaping tomorrow's conflicts, power plays, and intelligence battles.

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On today's episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dig into a China story that is quietly massive and absolutely worth your time. This is one of those weeks where nothing looks explosive at first glance, but the underlying shifts are real, structural, and potentially long-lasting.

We start with Beijing and the aftershocks of President Xi Jinping's decision to purge the top of the People's Liberation Army. Two of China's most senior generals are out, and the dust is still settling. What does it mean when the most experienced military voices disappear right as China is increasing pressure around Taiwan and across the region? We break down what's changed since the initial news broke and why the timing matters more than the headlines.

From there, we move across the Taiwan Strait, where politics in Taipei are getting more complicated by the day. Taiwan's opposition is pushing back on higher defense spending while reopening political dialogue with Beijing. This isn't a sudden turn, but it is an accumulation of decisions that could reshape deterrence and cross-strait dynamics. We walk through what's happening, why it matters, and how Beijing is likely reading these signals.

Maritime pressure remains a constant theme. Chinese coast guard patrols near Japan's Senkaku Islands are now so routine they barely make news, and Chinese naval vessels continue to shadow US and Philippine forces in the South China Sea. We talk about why normalization is sometimes more dangerous than escalation, and how quiet presence can be just as strategic as loud exercises.

On the diplomatic and economic front, we unpack the real outcomes of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China. The symbolism is over. The implementation phase has begun. Visa-free travel, reduced tariffs, major commercial deals, and targeted law-enforcement cooperation are all moving forward. At the same time, trust remains thin, and Washington is not exactly cheering from the sidelines. We explain how US allies are trying to hedge without triggering blowback and why that balancing act is getting harder.

Technology plays its part too. China's slow-rolling approvals for advanced AI chips, combined with growing concern in the US about personal AI tools and security risks, highlight how innovation is racing ahead of policy. Convenience, capability, and counterintelligence are colliding in ways that are going to define the next phase of strategic competition.

We also touch on the Panama Canal, submarine readiness, and why undersea capabilities quietly matter more than most people realize. None of this is about hype. It's about patterns, pressure, and power moving in plain sight.

If you care about China, Taiwan, great power competition, military command dynamics, or how economics and security are increasingly inseparable, this episode is for you. It's serious, but not stiff. Detailed, but not robotic. Think sharp analysis with enough personality to keep things human.

Listen in and stay ahead of the curve.

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Russia says it wants peace, then keeps the pressure on everywhere that actually matters. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down what changed, what didn't, and why the gap between diplomacy and reality is widening fast.

We start with the biggest update of the week. The US and Ukraine have effectively locked in security guarantees. This is not a vague promise or a future framework. It is a real plan centered on a limited European troop presence, mainly British and French forces, backed by the United States. That shift alone helps explain why Moscow reacted so sharply and so publicly. Russia rejected the idea outright, doubled down on its original war demands, and made it clear it still sees negotiations as a tactical tool, not a path to compromise.

Then we dig into the headline grabber. President Trump says Vladimir Putin agreed to a short pause on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure during an extreme cold snap. Sounds like progress, right? Maybe. We walk through what actually happened, what was confirmed, what wasn't, and why this looks more like a narrow, informal pause than a real ceasefire. Russian drones kept flying. Energy targets may have been spared for a moment, but the machinery of pressure never stopped. If you're trying to understand how Russia uses optics, timing, and ambiguity as leverage, this part matters.

On the battlefield, we zoom out instead of getting lost in trench-level detail. Ukraine is fighting a war of prioritization across a front stretching roughly 700 miles. Russia is exploiting thinner sectors, pushing in places that matter for leverage rather than headlines. Ukrainian commanders are being forced to rush elite units from one crisis to the next, containing flare ups rather than locking down terrain. The gains are limited, but the pressure is constant.

Technology is reshaping that pressure in real time. We talk about Russia's expanding use of long range fixed wing FPV drones and why logistics routes far from the front are becoming increasingly dangerous. We also cover Ukraine's direct engagement with SpaceX after evidence emerged that Russian drones were using satellite systems to extend their reach. This is modern warfare colliding with civilian tech, and it's happening faster than rules can keep up.

There's also real movement on the economic front. Sanctions are no longer just theory or paperwork. Lukoil is negotiating to sell major foreign assets, including US operations, after financial pressure made business as usual impossible. We look at why this matters beyond dollars and cents, and how it shrinks Russia's influence at exactly the wrong time.

Beyond Ukraine, Russia keeps working the gray zone. Airspace violations, pressure through Belarus, recruitment drives at universities, tighter internal control, and growing strain from returning veterans all point to a system under stress that is trying to manage risk while still projecting strength.

If you want a clear, grounded, and human breakdown of where things stand right now with Russia, Ukraine, and the broader security picture, this episode delivers. No hype. No talking points. Just the facts, context, and why they matter.

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Serbia. The Balkans. NATO. Russia. History. Power. This episode is a masterclass in how unresolved history shapes modern geopolitics.

In this episode of the Restricted Handling Podcast, hosts Ryan Fugit (former Army & CIA officer) and Glenn Corn (34-year CIA veteran, multiple-time Chief of Station) are joined by Ambassador (ret.) Anthony Godfrey, former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia and a career diplomat with nearly 30 years in the State Department and 12 years in the U.S. Navy.

Ambassador Godfrey brings firsthand experience from Serbia, Russia, Chechnya, Belarus, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, and beyond—offering rare insight into the Balkans, NATO cohesion, Russian influence, and why this region still matters for U.S. national security.

The conversation spans everything from Greenland and Arctic security to the fragile political balance in the Western Balkans, including Serbia's relationship with Russia, China, the EU, Bosnia, and Kosovo. Godfrey also shares extraordinary personal stories—from being declared persona non grata to navigating expeditionary diplomacy in some of the world's toughest environments.

Along the way, Ryan, Glenn, and Ambassador Godfrey break down: • Why the Balkans remain strategically volatile • Serbia's balancing act between the West and Moscow • Bosnia's unresolved political structure and rising risk • Kosovo as an enduring flashpoint • NATO's value—and the danger of undermining it • China's quiet economic leverage in the region • Why economic stability is the real key to long-term peace • Lessons from decades of frontline diplomacy

This episode combines hard geopolitical analysis, historical context, and unfiltered war stories—the kind of insight you only get from people who were actually there.

If you want to understand why the Balkans still matter, how Russia exploits fractures, and what the U.S. should be doing now, this episode is essential listening.

🎙️ In this episode, we cover: • Ambassador Godfrey's career across Eastern Europe and Eurasia • What it really means to be declared persona non grata • Greenland, Arctic security, and NATO cohesion • Serbia's political and economic trajectory • Bosnia and Herzegovina's fragile structure • Kosovo as a long-term security risk • Russian and Chinese influence in the Balkans • Why EU accession matters for U.S. security • Operation Halyard and forgotten U.S.–Serbian history • Why diplomacy still matters in unstable regions

⏱️ TIMELINE / CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro & Ambassador Godfrey's Background 04:30 Being Declared Persona Non Grata 10:15 Greenland, NATO, and the High North 15:00 Why the Balkans Still Matter 20:30 Bosnia's Fragile Political System 26:00 Serbia's Balancing Act: EU, Russia, China 32:30 Kosovo and Regional Stability 38:30 Operation Halyard & WWII History 45:30 Life as a Diplomat: War Stories 52:30 Final Thoughts & Lessons Learned

HOW TO FIND GLENN CORN

Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer, multiple-time Chief of Station, and current professor at the Institute of World Politics.

Institute of World Politics – Faculty Profile https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/

Great South Bay Consulting https://greatsouthbayinc.com/

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China is having one of those weeks where absolutely everything is happening at once and none of it feels accidental. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down how Beijing is running a tight two-track strategy that mixes charm offensives abroad with discipline and control at home. If you have been trying to make sense of why China can host Western leaders with a smile while purging generals, executing crime bosses, and keeping the pressure on Taiwan, this episode is your roadmap.

We start with the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's high-profile visit to Beijing, the first by a British leader in eight years. This was not just a photo-op. Trade, tariffs, visa-free travel, and migration enforcement were all on the table. China is pitching itself as the calm and predictable partner at a time when many US allies are feeling whiplash from global trade uncertainty. At the same time, UK officials were quietly using burner phones, a reminder that engagement with China always comes with a layer of suspicion baked in. Welcome to modern great power diplomacy.

From there, we move inside China, where the gloves are fully off. Beijing carried out executions of major transnational scam bosses tied to brutal online fraud operations in Myanmar. This was about deterrence, messaging, and reminding everyone who is in charge. The scams may have moved geographically, but the punishment was very public and very final.

The episode also digs deeper into the ongoing purge at the top of the Chinese military. The removal of senior generals is no longer just a corruption story. The language coming out of Beijing points to command and control failures and concerns about combat effectiveness. This is happening right as the PLA kicks off a new training cycle and ramps up long-term modernization plans. The military remains active around Taiwan and Japan, but internally it is under intense pressure to fall in line.

Speaking of Taiwan, we walk through what the latest drills actually tell us. No chest-thumping, no theatrics. Taiwan is focusing on realistic training, missile defense, drones, and fast response capabilities. China, meanwhile, keeps running naval and air operations that are starting to look less like signals and more like routine.

We also zoom out to the economy, where China's export machine is still roaring while domestic demand struggles. Ports are busy, factories are producing, but housing, consumer spending, and local government finances are under strain. Beijing seems willing to live with that imbalance for now.

Finally, we touch on the tech race. From AI chips to space-based data centers, China is pushing ahead with big ambitions while carefully managing its dependence on foreign technology.

This episode is fast-paced, sharp, and grounded in real-world details. No hype, no panic, just a clear-eyed look at how China is operating right now and why it matters. If you care about geopolitics, national security, or how power really works behind the scenes, this one is for you.

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On today's episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down one of those moments where the global picture gets smaller, sharper, and harder to ignore.

Russia's war on Ukraine is entering a phase where the noise is dropping and the real pressure points are coming into focus. Diplomacy is still happening, but it is no longer sprawling or theoretical. Everything is narrowing toward one brutal question: what happens to Donetsk. We unpack why that single region now sits at the center of US mediated talks, why neither Moscow nor Kyiv is pretending there is an easy compromise, and how that reality is shaping every other move on the board.

We also dig into the less visible but far more important engine behind Russia's ability to keep fighting. China's role is not loud, flashy, or overt, but it is essential. From machine tools to microelectronics, Beijing continues to provide the industrial inputs that allow Russia to manufacture missiles and drones at scale. This episode explains why that matters more than headline weapons transfers and how it directly shows up in the form of nationwide drone and missile strikes hitting Ukrainian cities.

Winter is doing exactly what Russia wants it to do. We walk through the latest attacks on Ukraine's energy system, what ongoing blackouts mean for civilian resilience, and why the timing of these strikes is not accidental. As temperatures plunge, pressure on Ukraine's population and infrastructure rises, creating leverage that Moscow is clearly trying to convert into political concessions.

There is also movement beyond the battlefield. European enforcement against Russia's shadow fleet is becoming more physical, less symbolic. A detained tanker might sound small, but it points to a shift in how sanctions are actually being applied. We talk about why oil shipping matters so much to Russia's war economy and why even incremental changes here can have outsized effects over time.

The episode also zooms out to look at Russia's adjustments elsewhere. From consolidating its military footprint in Syria after Assad's fall to watching its influence slowly thin in Central Asia, Moscow is making calculated choices about where it can still afford to compete and where it has to adapt. These are not dramatic collapses or bold expansions. They are pragmatic moves from a state managing limits.

Finally, we cover the darker edges of the conflict that rarely get top billing. Teen sabotage networks recruited through messaging apps. Cyber operations targeting European energy systems. New laws inside Russia that formalize the state's ability to shut down communications when things get uncomfortable. These are all pieces of the same war, even if they do not look like traditional combat.

If you want a clear, human, and unsanitized breakdown of where things actually stand right now, this episode is for you. No hype, no talking points, just a sharp look at the forces shaping Russia, Ukraine, and the wider security environment as January comes to a close.

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Step beyond the headlines and official spin to uncover the deeper realities inside Russia and China's economies. We take a close look at how Moscow and Beijing project power abroad while grappling with fragile foundations at home, from Russia's unsustainable wartime spending to China's faltering growth and anxious workforce. We cut through state narratives to reveal the costs of these economies, costs borne not by leaders, but by ordinary citizens facing higher prices and shrinking opportunities. With insights from data, policy shifts, and on-the-ground reports, we trace how these two authoritarian powers strain to maintain control, and how their choices reverberate across global markets, diplomacy, and the lives of millions.

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In RH 1.28.26 | China, we dig into a week where Beijing is tightening control at home while projecting confidence abroad, and the contrast could not be sharper. At the center of it all is the unprecedented shakeup inside the People's Liberation Army. Two of China's most senior generals, including Xi Jinping's closest military ally, are gone. The fallout is still unfolding, and we explain what the purge means for command authority, readiness, and why January timing matters more than most headlines let on.

We also track China's expanding military posture across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Aircraft carriers, naval patrols, intelligence ships, and carefully timed "routine" deployments are reshaping how power is shown without crossing red lines. From the South China Sea to waters near Japan and the Indian Ocean, Beijing is staying active, visible, and deliberate. This episode walks through where those deployments are happening and why they are not random.

On the diplomatic front, we cover the UK prime minister's high-profile visit to Beijing, the first in years, and what it says about how middle powers are navigating US-China tension. Trade talks, business delegations, and strategic hedging are colliding with serious security concerns, including long-running Chinese cyber intrusions into Western communications networks. Engagement is back, but trust is not.

Economically, China's picture is a study in contradiction. Exports are booming, the trade surplus is at record highs, and the yuan is gaining ground globally. At the same time, domestic demand remains weak, deflation pressures persist, and Beijing is leaning hard on manufacturing and external markets to carry the load. We break down how China is managing those pressures while selectively loosening controls on critical technologies like advanced AI chips.

This episode also touches on Taiwan's steady approach to readiness, how Japan is quietly managing risk near disputed waters, and why biological data and biotechnology are now firmly framed as national security issues inside China.

If you're looking for a clear, engaging breakdown of China's military, economic, and geopolitical moves without getting buried in jargon, this episode is for you. Serious analysis, delivered in a way that actually sounds human.

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