The Transatlantic Debrief

In this episode, I speak with Terrell Jermaine Starr—an independent American journalist based between Kyiv and Brooklyn. Terrell speaks Russian, Georgian, and is learning Ukrainian. With over 16 years of lived experience in Ukraine, he’s a leading voice on Ukraine–U.S. relations, democracy, and life in wartime Kyiv. He also runs the popular Substack, Terrell J-Star Official. Our conversation covers the recent Russian drone attacks and their impact on morale in Ukraine, what’s needed from the EU, U.S., and NATO to sustain Ukraine’s defense, the paradox of fighting for democracy abroad while it’s under attack at home, the links between the struggles of Palestinians and Ukrainians, and how race has been weaponized in narratives surrounding the killing of a Ukrainian refugee in North Carolina. It’s a candid and insightful discussion about war, democracy, solidarity, and the narratives that shape them.