Mikko Patokallio, a Ukraine specialist at the Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, and Elisa Braun, author of the EU Influence newsletter, dive into the fallout from the US-EU breakup affecting Ukraine. They discuss the complexities of achieving peace in Ukraine, focusing on trust-building and the challenges of negotiations with Russia. The conversation also touches upon the contentious debate surrounding EU funding for NGOs, revealing the rising political tensions and their implications for civil society and transparency in Europe.