The War, Without Illusions - with Andriy Zagorodnyuk

How can Ukraine protect itself against Russia’s ballistic missile threat? What role can Europe play, particularly through joint production? Can Ukraine develop its own anti-ballistic missile? And who is winning this war now? *** Explaining Ukraine is a podcast by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine brought to you by Internews Ukraine Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, the editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a renowned Ukrainian security expert and former deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine. *** Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. CONTENTS: 00:00 | Intro 01:18 | How should we interpret the current war situation to avoid extreme optimism or pessimism? 03:13 | Why does Putin consistently escalate, and what does this mean for Ukraine's path to victory? 05:28 | What immediate solutions can counter Russia's ballistic missile threat, including targeting mobile launchers and developing Ukraine's own systems? 06:39 | How can Europe effectively respond to ballistic missile threats by treating them as a shared European concern? 08:30 | Why do different European countries perceive the Russian threat so differently, despite the reach of Russia's missiles? 11:09 | Who is gaining the upper hand in the economic dimension of the war, and can economic pressure compel Putin to de-escalate? 19:30 | Are old technologies like ballistic missiles overshadowing new drone warfare, or is it a complex mix of capabilities? 21:18 | Should Ukraine intensify attacks on Russia's military production facilities rather than its general economy? 23:54 | Can Ukraine realistically close Russia's export capacities in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, and what historical parallels exist? 32:05 | What are the best options for Ukraine to develop anti-ballistic missile capabilities, considering international licensing and domestic production? 36:03 | How is the United States' evolving role impacting European security, and why must Europe take greater responsibility for its own defense? 43:05 | What immediate and long-term priorities should guide joint Ukrainian-European efforts to bolster defense against current and future threats?