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, specifically, are raising concerns over a Fukushima-like nuclear disaster occurring in Ukraine, and he considers the Russians' goals through these attacks. He discuss the billions of dollars in costs to build nuclear power plants and the politics surrounding them, especially in considering how to reconstruct more resilient Ukrainian power plants. Lastly, Henry shares practical advice for the United States government and Ukraine in pursuing energy security and resilience.

Show notes: "Present Danger: Nuclear Plants in War" by Henry D. Sokolski.

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 Ukraine's incredible pushback against Russia.

Show notes: "Ukrainians and Iranians Have the Same Enemy. They Should Have the Same Ally" by Roya Hakakian. Sign up for The Eastern Front's newsletter here and enter to win Eastern Front swag here!

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 division within Slovakia especially along demographic lines. He also shares praise for Germany and the West's stalwart support for Ukraine and shares his relatively optimistic outlook on the future, despite uncertainty in Europe about future political conditions and the war's trajectory.

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 begin to consider what justice might look like after the war: Who will host the trials? Who will be tried? He also expands upon his experience as former U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to discuss US-Russian diplomacy and the need to engage in both Europe and Asia simultaneously.

Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front's newsletter here and enter to win Eastern Front swag here!

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 needed to guide German military support for Ukraine. He also discusses Europe's take on the upcoming American midterm elections, particularly how a political shakeup could jeopardize American support for Ukraine.

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 Ukrainian shipping in the Black Sea. Dr. Åslund also analyzes how the unique histories and interests of various European governments, particularly Germany, have shaped their response to the Russia-Ukraine war.

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 sanctions. Yet, Zack argues that China is unlikely to learn these lessons due to the government's highly monitored information system. Zack also delves into the Russian-Chinese relationship, the Chinese nuclear doctrine, among other topics.

Show notes:

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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 domain throughout Russia's invasion, its strategic planning and modernization efforts, joint operations conducted through NATO, and the significance of the Black Sea region to both Russia and NATO countries.

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. 

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 is effectively dragging the US into a “nuclear apocalypse.” The co-hosts also discussed implications of the Kerch Bridge's bombing, and whether recent rumors of military and political infighting in Moscow might be indicative of Russia’s inevitable collapse.

Show notes: “We Must Stop Russia’s Land Bridge to Crimea—and Destroy the Kerch Strait Bridge Now” by Iulia Joja and "Update #8: The War in Ukraine (with Fred Kagan)"