Signals to Watch in 2026: Repression and Narrative Shifts

Anders Puck Nielsen is a military analyst and influential YouTuber based in Denmark. He specialises in naval warfare and strategy; in today’s video we are going to be talking about the Ukrainian withdrawal from Kursk, the state of NATO and repetition of Kremlin narratives coming from the White House and Trump's inner circle. ----------LINKS:https://www.logicofwar.com/https://www.youtube.com/@anderspuck https://twitter.com/anderspuckhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anderspucknielsen/https://apnielsen.info/en/frontpage/----------Georgijs Ivanovs started the Ukraine Matters channel in 2007, and it has garners 11.5 m views. He started the channel to explain the situation surrounding the war in Ukraine in simple terms. Like myself, he is not Ukrainian, nor is he a military expert. But he has been to Ukraine many times and seen it almost fully (except for Odesa region). He has a lot of good friends in Ukraine, and in fact his wife is Ukrainian, and so feels extremely connected to the invasion that scaled up in February 2022.----------LINKS: @UkraineMatters  ----------The Steel Porcupine https://www.thesteelporcupine.com/I’m proud to say that this series of ‘Ukrainian advent’ interviews is supported by The Steel Porcupine – a unique and powerful film about a country that refuses to lie down, a people who turned themselves into a fortress of needles when Russian tanks rolled in. The Steel Porcupine is an unforgettable cinematic experience that exposes Russia's campaign of extermination in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people's spirit to resist and prevail. It follows soldiers, volunteers and people who decided that survival meant resistance, not submission.Created by the makers of the acclaimed To the Zero Line, this is another film about humanity, that clearly states there is no such thing as neutrality when war crimes are being committed systematically by Russia, and on a scale in Europe only comparable to World War Two. Set to a haunting soundtrack featuring music by Philip Glass, and blending rare archival footage with original material, it is an impactful work of art and storytelling, as well as being informative.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:In this episode hosted from a secure location in Copenhagen, guests Anders Puck Nielsen & Georgijs Ivanovs join to discuss a broad array of topics focused on the geopolitical tensions surrounding the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. The discussion begins with an analysis of former US President Trump's comments on Russia and Ukraine, and segues into more complex topics like Russia's strategic aims, potential provocations by Putin, and the implications of Zelenskyy's trip to Washington. Also covered are the dynamics of NATO and US-European relations, military preparedness, and the technological advancements driven by the war in Ukraine. The episode touches on broader themes such as the ideological alignment between Trump and Putin, the existential risks facing Europe, and Russia's evolving military tactics and internal repressiveness. The conversation wraps up with predictions and strategic considerations for 2026, emphasizing continued support for Ukraine and the importance of understanding global power shifts.----------