In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Kyiv-based analysts Peter Dickinson and Mykola Bielieskov about the escalating Russian assault on Pokrovsk. They discuss what the city’s fate means for Ukraine’s defensive strategy, the morale of both sides, and the evolving story of the war’s perception in the West.

In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with James Sherr, Honorary Fellow at the International Center for Defense and Security in Tallinn. They unpack a week of geopolitical whiplash — from talk of U.S. Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine to sudden reversals and new sanctions on Russia. Whitmore and Sherr break down what this rollercoaster reveals about the state of the war, the shifting diplomacy around it, and Europe’s evolving stance at the latest EU summit.

In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodniuk, chairman of the Center for Defense Strategies in Kyiv. They discuss Zagorodniuk’s concept of “strategic neutralization,” Ukraine’s emerging theory of victory focused on systematically denying Russia’s ability to achieve its military objectives rather than seeking total defeat. The conversation explores how this strategy plays out across the Black Sea, ground, air, cyber, and information domains. Whitmore and Zagorodniuk also examine how recent diplomatic developments and shifting battlefield conditions could shape Ukraine’s long war strategy.

In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Laura Thornton of the McCain Institute, David Smith of the Moldova Small Enterprise Alliance, and Corina Rebegea of Accountability Lab about Moldova’s pivotal parliamentary elections. With Russia deploying disinformation, crypto scams, and even the Orthodox Church as tools of influence, the stakes extend far beyond Chisinau. The panel unpacks how this “multi-vector war” could reshape Moldova’s democratic trajectory, impact Ukraine and Romania, and alter the balance of security across Europe.

In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Michael Carpenter, Senior Fellow for Transatlantic Affairs at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and James Sherr, Honorary Fellow at the International Center for Defense and Security. They unpack Russia’s latest drone incursions into NATO airspace, the EU’s proposed “drone wall,” and Moscow’s broader sabotage campaign across Europe. The discussion explores whether these escalations mark a new phase in Russia’s hybrid war and what the West can do in response.

In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Joseph Webster, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, about the contours and contradictions of the Sino-Russian “no limits” partnership. They explore how China has helped keep Russia’s economy and war machine afloat by purchasing hydrocarbons, supplying dual-use technology, and providing economic lifelines—all in broad daylight. The discussion also examines the limits of this relationship, including its asymmetry, potential pitfalls in Central Asia, and the challenges it poses for Western strategy.

In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Max Bergmann of CSIS about Vladimir Putin’s return to the global stage. From Beijing’s military parade with Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un to a red-carpet summit in Alaska with Donald Trump, Putin is no longer isolated. We unpack what this means for the emerging authoritarian axis, the future of the West’s unity, and the impact of U.S. security cuts to Europe.

In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Anton Shekhovtsov, director of the Centre for Democratic Integrity in Vienna and author of Towers of Europa, about Vladimir Putin’s eliminationist war against Ukraine and his quest for “symbolic immortality.” They discuss how ideology, historical revisionism, and the dehumanization of Ukrainians shape the Kremlin’s motivations, and why understanding Putin’s drive for symbolic immortality is key to grasping the genocidal nature of the war. The conversation also explores evolving Russian political myths, the manipulation of culture and history, and what Europe must do to meet the security challenges of a rapidly changing world order.

In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with David Kramer, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, and Serhiy Kudelia, Associate Professor of Political Science at Baylor University, about the high-stakes Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. With the meeting unfolding as the episode was recorded, they analyze the possible scenarios—from capitulation to a Minsk 3-style ceasefire to the status quo—and explore how each could impact Ukraine, Europe, and U.S.-Russia relations. They also examine the broader strategic goals at play, the political signals from Washington, and what history might teach us about moments like this.

In this episode of The Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Michael Carpenter and James Sherr to unpack a chaotic week of U.S.-Russia diplomacy and shifting signals out of Washington. As Trump calls a surprise Moscow meeting “highly productive” and dangles the possibility of direct talks with Zelensky and Putin, the U.S. simultaneously threatens secondary sanctions and hikes tariffs on India. What’s really going on? And could the West actually engineer a Ukrainian victory if it chose to? Tune in as our guests break down the mixed messages, strategic stakes, and what it all means for Ukraine, Russia, and the West.