WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE? | Diplomatic Speak with Cormac Smith, Former British Diplomat to Ukraine

What really shaped Ukraine before the full-scale invasion? How has Russian propaganda evolved, and could diplomacy ever have prevented the war?In this in-depth conversation, I sit down with Cormac Smith, former British diplomat to Ukraine, to discuss the war from the perspectives of diplomacy, strategic communications and firsthand experience.Together we explore:* Why Russian propaganda remains one of the Kremlin’s most powerful weapons.* How Ukraine transformed Western understanding of information warfare.* Whether diplomacy ever had a realistic chance of preventing the invasion.* Why critical thinking is now a national security issue.* The mistakes made by Western governments before and after February 2022.* Ukraine’s extraordinary resilience and what gives us hope for the future.Drawing on years spent living and working in Ukraine, military service, diplomacy and journalism, this is a candid conversation that goes beyond the headlines to explain how information, politics and war have become inseparable.Watch the full interview above, or if you prefer to read, the complete transcript is available below.Thank you PJ Schuster, Cris Palomino, LadyHistorian, HoldingTheLine(HTL), PaulM, and many others for tuning into my live video with Cormac Smith! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shaunpinner.substack.com/subscribe