The Inside Story Podcast

Ukraine elected a president in April whose top priority was to end the conflict in the East.

More than 13,000 people have been killed during the fighting between the Ukrainian army and Russian-backed separatists.

And now for the first time since he came into office, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin.

French and German leaders are mediating the talks taking place in Paris on monday.

The so-called normandy group last met to discuss ways to end the fighting more than three years ago.

President Zelenskyy is optimistic he can bring peace to eastern Ukraine.

But his critics see him as a political novice and fear he might give away too much to end the conflict.

His opponents have been protesting ahead of the Paris meeting.

So, what's at stake for Russia and Ukraine?

Presenter: Halla Mohiedeen.

Guests:

Oleksiy Haran - Professor of Comparative Politics at Kiev Mohyla Academy.

Viktor Olevich - Lead Analyst at the Moscow-based think tank Centre for Actual Politics.

Anna Matveeva - Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King's College London.

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Greece and Turkey are at odds over a host of issues. But the latest has pushed them closer to a military confrontation.

Turkey’s signed a deal with Libya that maps out a boundary in the east of the Mediterranean Sea, but in the middle is the Greek island of Crete.

There are fears the agreement will also further complicate disputes over drilling for yet-untapped oil and gas in waters around the ethnically-divided island nation of Cyprus.

Israel and Egypt are also involved in this increasingly bitter controversy.

The maritime boundary separates what Turkey and Libya have agreed will be their Exclusive Economic Zones.

They say this gives them full rights to exploit natural resources including oil and gas.

Presenter: Halla Mohieddine

Guests

Ege Seckin, Political Risk Analyst focusing on Turkey at IHS Markit.

Matthew Bryza, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center and Global Energy Center and a former U.S. diplomat.

Anas El Gomati, General Director of the Sadeq Institute

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Strikes and protests are common in France.

However, the biggest nationwide walkout in 24 years is posing a serious challenge to the President and his plans to overhaul the pension system.

Trains and buses are at a standstill, hundreds of flights grounded, and schools closed.

Public sector workers are threatening to strike beyond Christmas to oppose changes they say will make them work longer for less money when they retire.

President Emmanuel Macron says his reforms are long overdue.

And although recent polls show seven out of 10 people want reforms to the pension system, a similar number also support the strikes.

How will Macron tackle this challenge?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Laura Slimani - Councillor in the French city of Rouen

Philippe Marliere - Professor of French and European Politics at University College London

Jacques Reland - Senior Research Fellow at the Global Policy Institute and specialist in French economic policy

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U.S. politicians are sending one of their strongest ever warnings to China over the crackdown on Uighur people.

More than a million of the muslim ethnic minority have been imprisoned in what leaders describe as 'vocational training' camps.

The government says inmates are there voluntarily to renounce so-called extremist thoughts.

However, rights groups label the 're-education camps' in Xinjiang Province as prisons, saying they're part of a systematic campaign to strip the muslims of their identity and culture.

China is condemning a U.S. bill demanding the closure of the camps, and sanctions against Communist party leaders.

Will this measure change anything for the Uighurs?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Max OIdtmann - Professor of modern Chinese history at Georgetown University in Qatar

Olsi Jazexhi - Lecturer at the University of Durres in Albania who has visited Uighar camps in Xinjiang

Andy Mok - Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is facing a crisis.

The United States, Canada and 10 European nations formed NATO at the end of the Second World War to confront what they saw as threats from the Soviet Union.

Now, with 29 members, the biggest threats to the alliance appear to be internal.

The United States, Turkey and France have recently raised concerns about military spending and NATO's role in general, with the French president calling the organisation "brain dead".

What will happen if member states can't settle their differences?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Muhittin Ataman - Director of foreign policy studies at SETA, a political think-tank in Turkey

Marko Mihkelson - head of the Estonian delegation to the NATO parliamentary assembly

Kristine Berzina - Senior fellow, German Marshall Fund of the United States

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Joseph Muscat steps down over murder of investigative journalist.

After two years of intense pressure, Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is resigning over the murder of an investigative journalist.

A car bomb killed Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017, not long after she exposed alleged corruption involving government ministers and the business elite.

Yorgen Fenech, one of Malta's richest men with close links with the government, was charged last week with complicity in the murder.

Joseph Muscat's resignation follow those of his chief of staff and tourism minister, who've been implicated in the scandal.

Will this be enough to stem public anger on the case?

And will those responsible for Caruana Galizia's death face justice?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Andrew Caruana Galizia, Daphne Caruana Galizia's son.

Rebecca Vincent, UK bureau director of Reporters Without Borders.

Herman Grech, Editor in Chief of the Times of Malta newspaper.

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Germany's Social Democrats elect new leaders, putting at risk Angela Merkel's coalition government.

Germany's Social Democrats or SPD, have chosen two leaders who want to leave Angela Merkel's grand coalition.

Many of their party members say they want to focus on rebuilding support in the opposition.

The coalition between Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats and the SPD was formed last year.

The SPD's new leaders ran on a joint ticket with a promise to re-negotiate the partnership deal on issues of spending and climate policies.

Its party congress is expected to decide by next week - on whether it will continue to support Merkel.

But should the SPD decide to leave, the Chancellor has the option of leading a minority government, or form a new coalition with smaller opposition parties.

A snap election is also in the cards.

So, where does this leave Germany and Europe?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests:

Thorsten Benner - Director of Global Public Policy Institute.

Julien Hoez - Managing Director of Vocal Europe.

Matt Kvortrup - Author, 'Angela Merkel: Europe's Most Influential Leader'.

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After World War II, and facing a rising threat from the Soviet Union, a group of European and North American countries banded together and signed up to the North Atlantic Treaty.

They believed a collective defence was the best way to ensure future peace.

In the years that followed, the organisation’s membership and goals expanded – there are now 29 countries committed to protecting the security of NATO's members.

But on the alliance's 70th anniversary, some are questioning its effectiveness.

Just weeks after calling NATO 'brain dead' French President Emmanuel Macron met the organisation’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for talks in Paris.

Macron wants his criticism to be a wake-up call for the military alliance.

So what does it mean for NATO’s future?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests

John Laughland, international law consultant and professor at the University Institute of St. Pius.

Fabrice Pothier, Chief strategy officer at Rasmussen Global and former Director of Policy Planning at NATO.

Yusuf Alabarda, security analyt and retired Turkish Colonel.

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After months of violent anti-government protests in Iraq, anger has turned towards neighbouring Iran.

Demonstrators stormed the Iranian consulate in the holy city of Najaf - before setting fire to it on Wednesday.

A number of people were killed in the crackdown which followed, adding to the hundreds who've died in the last two months of protests.

It's the strongest expression of anti-Iranian sentiment in recent months - with demonstrators accusing Tehran of supporting the government they're trying to fight.

It comes after similar attacks on Iranian properties in Karbala earlier this month and in Basra last year.

So, will Iran review its role in Iraq?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests

Saad Jawad, member of the research committee of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics.

Salah Hashimi, legal adviser to the National Council for Iraqi Opposition and a senior solicitor.

Fouad Izadi, professor at the University of Tehran in the faculty of World studies.

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There had been more than 40 days of largely peaceful protests in Lebanon. But as the political stalemate continues the country is sliding into turmoil.

And in recent days the demonstrations have turned more violent. On Sunday supporters of the main two Shia groups attacked protesters in Beirut.

Unrest followed in other parts of Lebanon with various sectarian backgrounds.

Sunni leader and caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri has made it clear he's not going to form the next government, so the question remains...who will?

Presenter: Nastasya Tay

Guests:

Ibrahim Mmm-Nam-nae, political commentator

Rami Khouri professor at the American University of Beirut and Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Hasan Youness, author of 'Trends of Business' and a professor of international business management.

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