Combating Russian Influence in the Black Sea and Beyond (with Stefan Meister)

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. 

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined by Roya Hakakian to discuss the following: Should we consider Iran to be a part of the eastern front? Roya says yes. She analyzes the Iranian people's recent uprising through both historical and modern lenses, considering how these protests are unique and how the United States can better support their struggle for civil liberties. She then connects the current struggle in Iran to the war in Ukraine, arguing that the Iranian people took inspiration from Ukraine's incredible pushback against Russia. Show notes: "Ukrainians and Iranians Have the Same Enemy. They Should Have the Same Ally" by Roya Hakakian. Sign up for The Eastern Front's newsletter here and enter to win Eastern Front swag 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.

As Ukraine awaits US aid, it is struggling to hold back a Russian offensive that has claimed control over several settlements in Eastern Ukraine. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia welcome George Barros, Russia Team and Geospatial Intelligence Team lead at the Institute for the Study of War, to discuss the current state of the battlefield in Ukraine. Which regions are Russian troops planning on targeting in the coming months? What weapons and policies could make a difference on the battlefield for Ukraine? What does China stand to gain from Russian advances in Ukraine? Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front‘s bi-weekly newsletter here and follow us on X here.