Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes The dog days of summer: Ukraine battles and diplomacy
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Sep 19, 2025 Jana Kobzova, co-director of ECFR's European Security Programme and former advisor to Slovakia’s president, breaks down the complex dynamics of Ukraine's ongoing conflict. She discusses crucial developments, including the Anchorage meeting between Trump and Putin and its implications for U.S.-European relations. The podcast explores Zelensky's fluctuating influence amid domestic unrest, public protests against anti-corruption measures, and the shifting landscape of security guarantees as European leaders strategize on deterrence and support for Ukraine.
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Ukraine Sees Escalation Beyond Battlefield
- Kyiv sees a diplomatic push and rising Russian political-military escalation as simultaneous threats.
- Russia is striking new infrastructure and hitting targets close to EU delegations, signalling broader intent.
Anchorage Reframed Russia's Goals As Land Issues
- Some in the U.S. view Anchorage as sharpening leverage by turning Russia's aims into territorial questions.
- That reframes complex motives into negotiable land swaps focused on Donetsk.
Land Swaps Won't Guarantee Peace
- Europeans and Ukrainians doubt territorial concessions would stop Russian aggression.
- Past concessions (2014) didn't prevent later escalation, so trust in land swaps is low.
