Neutrality Studies

Originally published on 23 Mar 2025.The UK is clinging on by its teeth to the mantra that it will “support Ukraine for as long as it takes.” Since Trump’s public announcement that Ukraine would never become a member of NATO, and the alliance‘s Secretary General‘s admission to the same effect, it should be clear that “as long as it takes” is now well over. But, as so often, the Europeans are the last to get the message. The UK, France and some lone outposts of Empire are still serving the “boots ok the ground” rhetoric, when it has become utterly clear that this war is lost. To discuss the UK's policy towards Ukraine, I’ve got Lord Robert Skidelsky with me today. Lord Kidelsky is an Emeritus Professor of Political Economy at Warwick University, the author of a three-volume biography of the economist John Maynard Keynes, and since 1991 he has been serving as a member of the House of Lords, that is the upper chamber of the British Parliament.Lord Skidelsky‘s Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentis...My own take at the FOLLY the Europeans are going through: https://open.substack.com/pub/pascall...

Originally published on 19 Mar 2025.On March 18, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held a second phone conversation in which they discussed the US ceasefire proposal. Although European leaders tried to make it look as if this was a "take it or leave it" moment for Russia, we now understand that the USA was very realistic about this initial offer. It was nothing but a process starter and now the two teams in Washington and Moscow are working toward a realistic process that will end not only the war in Ukraine but lead to a normalisation of US-Russian relations. A surprising aspect of the readout is that the Middle East takes up more space than I had expected and that the Americans are apparently seeking Russia's help in their approach toward Iran. However, looking at the wording of the two documents, it seems that both sides are clear about the need to compartmentalise the negotiations and not connect different theatres but break the issues apart as to come to an understanding on the various bilateral issues separately. Good diplomacy finally taking place again.

Originally published on 21 Mar 2025.The best ways to support us:Donations on Patreon: patreon.com/NeutralityStudies.A subscription on Substack: pascallottaz.substack.com. Today I’m talking to John Menadue, one of Australia’s most prolific publishers and public figures. Born in 1935, John worked in Australian media, served as head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from 1974 to 1976 and was Australia’s Ambassador to Japan fon 1977-1980. He was appointed Head of the Department of Trade in December 1983. And after returning to the private sector, he became the CEO of Qantas Airline from 1986-1989.After several more positions in and out of Government, John founded influential public policy journal Pearls and Irritations at http://johnmenadue.com/ in January 2013 on which he and his colleagues have been reporting very critically on current affairs.

Originally published on 20 Mar 2025.What's the justification of Trump bombing one of the poorest countries in the world? What are the effects of using tariffs as a foreign policy tool?In the second part of this conversation, I'm once more talking to the outspoken Ambassador Chas Freeman, who among many other positions served as US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and later became Assistant Secretary of Defence back in the 1990s. He also was Richard Nixons principal interpreter during his 1972 visit to China, which lead to the normalization of US–China relations.

Originally published on 18 Mar 2025.Why is Trump being so agreeable to Russia? And why is Putin so eager to end the war through peace dealings, contrary to people's perception of him wanting to conquer Ukraine?To answer these questions and to get insight into the recent Russia-USA peace talks, today I’m talking once more to the outspoken Ambassador Chas Freeman, who among many other positions served as US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and later became Assistant Secretary of Defence back in the 1990s. He also was Richard Nixons principal interpreter during his 1972 visit to China, which lead to the normalization of US–China relations.The best ways to support us:Donations on Patreon:   / neutralitystudies  A subscription on Substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.com/Follow us also in Audio Podcast Form:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vvTf44...

Originally published on 17 Mar 2025.The best ways to support us:Donations on Patreon: patreon.com/NeutralityStudies.A subscription on Substack: pascallottaz.substack.com. Today I’ve got the great honour of talking to Michael von der Schulenburg, a German member of the European Parliament. In his youth, Mr. von der Schulenburg escaped communist rule in East-Germany, then studied in Berlin, London and Paris, after which he started working for the United Nations, including as UN Assistant Secretary-General. He served in many of the world's trouble spots, such as in Haiti, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and many more.He also wrote the formidable book “On Building Peace: Rescuing the Nation-State and Saving the United Nations”. Unsurprisingly, he is also an outspoken critic of the belligerent politics the EU and its member states are currently engaged in.

Originally published on 16 Mar 2025.For a decade the US and western media pretended to be greatly concerned about poor Syrian civilians being slaughtered by their government. Last week, 1000s of Syrians were killed point blank in mass executions by the new Al-Qaeda terrorist regime that took over the state in a Turkey-backed coup de force. And the West remains silent and complicit in this very predictable humanitarian catastrophe. Why does the USA and its European satellites still engage in sich horrible manufactured catastrophes?To get first-hand insights, I’m talking today to Dennis Kucinich a former mayor of his native Cleveland, Ohio, and a Member of the US House of Representatives, where he served from 1997 - 2013. Mr. Kucinich also ran for the US presidency in 2004 and 2008 and he has been one of the rare consistent voices against US warfare, opposing the Iraq war and later even flying to Syria together with then congress woman Tulsi Gabbard to understand the plight of the country first hand. He recently wrote an article on his Substack about the manufactured tragedy in Syria: https://open.substack.com/pub/kucinic...

Originally published on Mar 15, 2025.[Part 2 of 2] There is a serious risk that even if the political establishment of Ukraine (Parliament and Government) came to the conclusion that only a surrender could save the country from complete annihilation, the ultra-right wing with its willingness to kill their own people, might be able to seize power if the army sides with them. That is a real fear that Professor Nicolai Petro expresses in this interview. Beyond this, we discuss the future of both Russia and Ukraine as the war is drawing to a close.I’m talking again to Dr. Nicolai Petro, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island and the author of the magnificent book „The Tragedy of Ukraine: What Classical Greek Tragedy can teach us about conflict resolution“.

Originally published on Mar 14, 2025.Russia's position on the battlefield is getting better and better, but the US still insists on Moscow forfeiting its advantage to negotiate an end to the entire conflict. Why does Trump think this approach could work and what are the Russian calculations to not flatly reject this idea? To discuss these points, I’m talking again to Dr. Nicolai Petro, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island and the author of the magnificent book „The Tragedy of Ukraine: What Classical Greek Tragedy can teach us about conflict resolution“.

Originally published on Mar 13, 2025.Today I’m talking to Dr. Biljana Vankovska, who is a full professor of international relations and peace studies at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.Biljana has been serving on various academic journals such as “Security Dialogues” and “Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies”, and she‘s one of her regions most prominent Voices in international relations, talking and writing about peace and reconciliation for decades.Biljana is also a friend of Jeffrey Sachs who kindly connected the two of us.