Westminster Insider cover image

Westminster Insider

War and Peace in Europe

Mar 28, 2025
42:43

With Ukraine and Russia in the throes of attempting to negotiate a ceasefire, Westminster Insider Host Sascha O’Sullivan talks to some of the leading figures on the frontline of the war with Russia.

She speaks to Finnish Minister for Nordic Co-Operation Anders Adlercreutz, who told her Finland has never stopped buying tanks and building bomb shelters, for fear of a Russian invasion, and builds resilience at every level through initiatives like media literacy to protect from ‘hybrid threats’ such as misinformation.

Lithuania Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė told Sascha Russia could be ready for a full scale invasion into her country – and NATO territory – in less than a decade. And she said Lithuanian’s were prepared for what this means: “prison, torture and deportation”.

Former NATO director of Planning and Policy Fabrice Pothier explains the risk of NATO losing it’s relevance without the U.S. as a reliable ally, and warns it could undermine any security guarantees put in place in the event of a ceasefire.

Ukrainian journalist at the Spectator Svitlana Morenets reflects on what it’s like covering a war in her own homeland – and where Ukraine’s redlines would be.

Back home in the U.K., Sascha speaks to Denzil Davidson, a former Foreign Office and No10 advisor, about Britain’s willingness to warm up it’s relationship with the E.U. and how the lack of support from U.S. President Donald Trump could open up “a serious opportunity” for British politicians to step up in Europe.

And Arminka Helic, another former Foreign Office advisor, tells Sascha that everyone in the country should stock up on enough basic supplies to last them 72 hours without electricity or water.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode