New changes are coming to the Eastern Front podcast, and we will be relaunching a new and improved version of the podcast at the beginning of September. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Dalibor and Iulia say goodbye to our dear host Giselle Donnelly and detail the changes that are to come for the podcast. Additionally, the hosts delve into the implications that the election may have on foreign policy. What are Kamala Harris's stances on issues important to the Eastern flank? What can we expect from a peace deal for Ukraine negotiated by a potential future Trump administration? What could the future of the NATO alliance look like under the leadership of the current candidates?

Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front‘s bi-weekly newsletter here and follow us on X here.

Though Ukraine's 'irreversible path' towards NATO membership was announced at the NATO 75 conference, a lack of more concrete actions left supporters of Ukraine feeling disappointed. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Kira Rudik, a Ukrainian member of parliament and leader of the Holos party to discuss the Ukrainian reaction to the NATO summit. What message was Russia sending with its bombing of the children's hospital? Is NATO going far enough in its support for Ukraine? How can Ukraine's security be guaranteed in the face of potential peace negotiations?

Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front‘s bi-weekly newsletter here and follow us on X here. Read the host’s newly released NATO report here.

Bulgaria is an important member of NATO's eastern flank, with a multinational battle group stationed there and a role in securing the Black Sea. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Todor Tagarev, the former minister of defense of Bulgaria to discuss his insights ahead of the upcoming NATO summit. Is NATO focused enough on its Eastern flank? What role does Bulgaria play in NATO's security? What positive developments can we expect from the NATO at 75 conference?

Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front‘s bi-weekly newsletter here and follow us on X here. Read the host's newly released NATO report here.

Facing coordinated aggression from Russia, China, and Iran, NATO must update its strategy to counter the threats facing the alliance and its allies. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia detail the plan for NATO's strategy moving forward that they outlined in their new report NATO Beyond 75: The Task That Remains Before US. How does NATO benefit US national interests? What would good strategic policy in NATO look like? Why should the US care about European security in the face of threats coming from China and Iran?

Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front‘s bi-weekly newsletter here and follow us on X here. Read the report here.

Ahead of the NATO summit, Ukraine's potential future membership in NATO and its implications for regional security is being hotly debated. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia report their insights from Dalibor's recent travels to Chisinau, Moldova and Odessa, Ukraine. How are demographic declines impacting these cities? What are the roadblocks to NATO and EU membership in countries like Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine? What alternatives exist for security guarantees to defend against Russian aggression in the region?

Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front‘s bi-weekly newsletter here and follow us on X here. Read more about the wine-making cultures of Georgia and Moldova as discussed in the episode here and here.

Since the ruling Georgian Dream party passed a controversial 'foreign agents' law in the face of mass public protests, fears about Russian influence and the future of Georgian democracy have been heightened. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Shota Gvineria, a lecturer at the Baltic Defence College and senior fellow at the Economic Policy Research Center, to discuss the current situation in Georgia. What are the prospects for a pro-Western democratic shift to occur in Georgia's upcoming election? What role should the US and the EU play in defending Georgian democracy? What can be done to contain Russian influences in Georgia and prevent the country from becoming the next Belarus?

Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front‘s bi-weekly newsletter here and follow us on X here.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Turkey has attempted to balance its relationship with Russia and its commitments to NATO. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Ozgur Ünlühisarcikli, regional director of the German Marshall Fund in Turkey, to give his insights on Turkish politics and strategy. How has Turkey approached its relationship with Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine? What is Turkey's view on further NATO expansions, particularly to Ukraine or Georgia? What does Turkish strategy in the Black Sea look like?

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Disclaimer: This episode was recorded before the Biden administration announced it would allow Ukraine to carry out limited strikes inside of Russia using US-made weapons.

In many ways, Ukraine is fighting with one hand tied behind its back as its access to weapons systems has been limited. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome Phillips O'Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews to discuss the state of the war in Ukraine and its possible path to victory. What weapons systems could Ukraine benefit from that the US has not yet provided? What obstacles stand in the way of Ukrainian victory? How are Ukrainians viewing the issue of conscription?

Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front‘s bi-weekly newsletter here and follow us on X here. Find Phillips' podcast Ukraine Russia War Talk here.