Talking Ukraine Podcast

Dr. Taras Kuzio is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy. He is also an Associate Fellow at the Forum for Foreign Relations and has worked with various think tanks. Taras has written over 24 books, most recently,  “Fascism and Genocide, Russia’s War Against Ukrainians.”

In Part 1 we talk about the global dynamics surrounding the fall of Assad’s regime, the reluctance of Israel to cooperate with Ukraine, the roots of Russian sadism, and how the West missed its opportunity to defeat Russia’s army in Ukraine. 

In Episode #7 it is our pleasure to speak with one of the original American Expat pioneers in newly independent Ukraine, Jed Sunden. Jed started the Kyiv Post in 1995, the first English language newspaper in Ukraine, which continues on today. In early 2024, Jed founded the American Ukraine PAC to lobby for political support for Ukraine to the US Congress. We discuss his experiences maintaining an independent journalistic enterprise during his 15 year tenure as owner of KP Media Group, as well as the work that the American Ukraine PAC is doing today in support of “The War for Ukrainian Sovereignty".

We continue our conversation with Dr. Lada Roslycky discussing corruption within Ukraine and troubles of Ukrainian soldiers, the lack of will and duplicity from the West, and the importance of true accountablity, and the value of freedom and liberty. 

Hailing from Canada, Dr. Lada Roslycky is a Ukraine expert with esteemed academic credentials who has been living in Kyiv, Ukraine for over a decade. This gives her unique insight and perspective into analyzing Ukrainian society and the events surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In Part 1 we discuss her  her work as a Black Sea security expert, Russia's genocide, objectives and information warfare, Russian corruption as statecraft, and the overall stakes of the war. 

In episode 4 we’ll get to chat with a founder of Dignitas Fund, Liuba Shipovich. Diginitas is non-profit based in Ukraine that supplies drones to Ukrainian soldiers and develops other cutting edge military technology and training.

Petro Rondiak is a Ukrainian-American who has lived in Kyiv with his family since the 1990s. Petro has been one of the key people managing Winner Group, one of the biggest car importers in Ukraine, and continues leading Winner Group Ukraine through wartime.

We discuss building an American corporate culture automotive business in the corrupt climate of Ukraine in the 1990s, how Ukraine changed during the years of the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity, how the Russian army occupied Winner offices at the beginning of the full invasion, and how the company continues to forge ahead towards a Ukrainian victory.

Chris Hennemeyer has spent his decades long career working in warzones all over Africa. Just after he retired, the Russians invaded Ukraine, and Chris couldn't help get himself back there on the ground in order to try to find ways to be helpful. We discuss his experiences and reflections from his time in and around Odessa, Ukraine, as well as the work of his non-profit "In the Trenches" which buys supplies for Ukrainian soldiers. 

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Alexander Motyl, an American historian, political scientist, and author as we talk about Volodymyr Zelensky's recent US visit, the US presidential candidates vis a vis Ukraine, the rise of the far right in Europe, Germany's failures in historical accountability towards Ukraine, the state of Russia's economy and explore some of Motyl's creative work.