On this episode of The ZeroLine, host Sarah Ashton-Cirillo is joined by Jessica Berlin, Foreign Policy Analyst and Commentator. As a German-American dual national living in Germany, but who has spent time in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion, Berlin provides a fascinating perspective on the various calculations and miscalculations by not only Russia, but the US and its NATO partners. From corruption in German and its dependency on Russia oil to what Berlin describes as fundamental misunderstandings of how to deter both Russia and China, Berlin doesn’t let her patriotism color her clear view of what could have been done to prevent the invasion or to end the war quickly. She explains that our 30 years of “perceived stability” allowed us to “forget how to speak in the language of violence and power – the language dictators use to gain and hold power.” That loss of memory has enabled authoritarians to gain power around the globe – including in America. 

Timestamps:

[00:00:01] Transatlantic expert fights for Ukraine's freedom.

[00:04:11] Living in dictatorships, understanding power.

[00:07:15] Fueled dictatorships, enabled Russia expansion.

[00:10:35] German parties complicit in Russian dependency.

[00:14:12] Russia-backed right-wing party in Germany

[00:17:51] Soviet deaths, Germans unaware, NATO weak, Russia invades Ukraine.

[00:21:03] NATO failed to protect Ukraine.

[00:24:22] China's leverage over Russia: Dance with devil.

[00:28:04] Disastrous consequences for foreign policy.

[00:32:09] Disastrous Trump foreign policy: No second term.

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