This is a conversation with Francis Farrel, an Australian-born journalist based in Ukraine, Working as a reporter focusing on the war and often reporting directly from the frontlines for the Kyiv Independent, a major Ukrainian English-language newspaper.

We talked about what the situation on the ground in Ukraine looks like, what is the strategy for 2024, how long can Ukraine last without further Western aid or whether journalists should be publishing negative stories about Ukraine in time of war. Make sure that you check out Kyiv Independent, it's a great source of news directly from the source and I also recommend following Francis on Twitter as he shares some really interesting stuff. And now, enjoy the conversation.

If you want to support the podcast, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingGeopolitics

00:00 - Intro

01:45 - Situation on the ground in Ukraine

05:29 - Ukraine's Strategy for 2024

10:51 - Is Ukraine Ready for Defense?

16:52 - Rift Between Military and Political Leadership

24:52 - Why Approval for Zelensky Is Going Down

29:07 - How long can Ukraine last without foreign aid

35:01 - What Trump Re-Election Would Mean for Ukraine

39:46 - Ukraine and Further Mobilization

47:04 - Should journalists publish negative stories about Ukraine?

54:46 - Good News from Ukraine

#7 Francis Farrell (Kyiv Independent): Ukraine's Plan for 2024 and Why It Can Still Lose the War