World Review from the New Statesman

Just days before the first round of the French presidential election, polls are showing that the far-right leader Marine Le Pen is within just a few points of overturning Emmanuel Macron's lead. What is behind her surge in support? Could she actually win the whole thing?Ido Vock, Europe correspondent, is joined by the political theorist Hugo Drochon and the New Statesman’s international managing editor Alix Kroeger to discuss the campaign. They talk about why the cost-of-living crisis could be the most important issue, and whether Macron has been too complacent.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 or €1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer.Further reading:Could Marine Le Pen really win the French presidency?A look at the polls in the French presidential election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In what could be a big year for weapons testing in North Korea, Katie Stallard speaks to Jean Lee, senior fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington DC and the former Pyongyang bureau chief for the Associated Press. They discuss the country's recent missile launches, fears that the regime could be preparing to test a new nuclear weapon, and why 2022 could see a new crisis on the Korean peninsula. If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk. Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Further reading: Kim Jong-un is just getting started (New York Times). Keeping up with the Kims: North Korea's communist monarchy. From the NS archive: North Korea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine raises the question: could Vladimir Putin attack Nato’s eastern flank? The alliance is greatly increasing its defences all along this “New Iron Curtain”.The New Statesman’s writer-at-large Jeremy Cliffe has been reporting from Estonia, where the UK has doubled its military presence. He speaks to Emily Tamkin in Washington DC and Ido Vock in Berlin about the evolution of Nato since the end of the Cold War and how it has changed since the Russian invasion. Meanwhile, Joe Biden delivered a speech in Warsaw on Saturday (26 March) to reassure Ukrainians and Nato of his continued commitment. The team discuss whether it marks a permanent shift in Washington’s foreign policy agenda or if attention will return once more to China.Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks if the presence of Syrian fighters in Ukraine and the potential presence of Belarusian troops changes the balance with regards to foreign intervention in the war. If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for 12 weeks for just £1 a week.Further reading:Emily Tamkin on Joe Biden’s ad-lib and the limit of words.Jeremy Cliffe on the new Iron Curtain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China has been walking a diplomatic tightrope in its response to Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, caught between close ties with Russia and concerns about further straining relations with the West.Katie Stallard is joined by Bonny Lin, the director of the China Power Project and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, to discuss China’s position in the conflict, and whether Beijing is beginning to adjust its approach. She also explains what the limits, if any, are to its support of Russia, and if its use of chemical weapons represents a red line.Further reading:Caught between Putin and the West, Xi Jinping faces a crucial choice on Russia. Xi could stop Russia’s war in Ukraine. Will he? The poisoned peacemaker: why China can’t abandon Putin.China backs Russia in calling for an end to Nato expansion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The intensive media coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine has rallied global public opinion behind Ukraine, while also resulting in accusations of Western bias. In London, the New Statesman’s editor-in-chief, Jason Cowley, joins Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington, DC, to discuss how coverage of the war has differed from other conflicts and the ways in which people in Russia are accessing information. The team then look at how the war is shaping domestic and international politics in Europe and beyond, and whether we are witnessing a “Zeitenwende”, meaning a turning point in history.In You Ask Us, a listener asks if Russia would have invaded Ukraine if Donald Trump was still US president, or did his behaviour towards the UN, Nato and energy pave the way for Russian invasion?Further reading:Emily Tamkin writes: Biden isn’t being ideological on Ukraine, and that’s a good thing.Jason Cowley’s book, Who Are We Now? Stories of Modern EnglandKatie Stallard argues there can be no more illusions about the nature of Putin’s rule – he is a war criminal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Russia continues its attack in Ukraine, the French election has featured little in news coverage and the public consciousness. Will this help Emmanuel Macron's hopes of winning re-election?In this episode of France Elects, Ido Vock gets the latest polling from the New Statesman’s data guru Ben Walker, and then speaks to Catherine Fieschi, the director of Counterpoint, and the Paris-based journalist John Lichfield about how the campaign is unfolding.They discuss whether Macron is all but assured victory, and whether the left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s recent surge could make him a surprise for the run-off. You can read all our coverage of the French election at www.newstatesman.com/international.Podcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for 12 weeks for just £1 a week.Further reading: Who will win the French presidential election?Europe enters a brave new world.Emmanuel Macron bids to win by positioning himself as Europe’s elder statesman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrey Kurkov, author of Death and the Penguin, speaks to Megan Gibson about life in Ukraine right now. They discuss the role of artists during war, how this conflict will change Ukrainians’ view of Russia for good, and what it will take to bring an end to the war. If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.ukPodcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for 12 weeks for just £1 a week.Further reading: Art from a nation under attackCourage and camaraderie on the Ukraine-Hungary borderThe exemplary resilience of Volodymyr ZelenskyLetter from Kyiv: While Ukraine’s oligarchs flee, my friends and I have Sunday lunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has challenged preconceptions in western Europe – and confirmed the views of many in Russia’s more immediate neighbourhood, including the Baltic states. We discuss why this was the case – and whether western Europe is still underestimating Vladimir Putin. Emily Tamkin is joined by former Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves to discuss Europe and America’s response to the war so far and why Putin miscalculated the invasion. If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk Further reading: Energy policy is a vital battlefront in Putin’s war – so let’s take away his leverage Mapping Putin’s war on civilians Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth week, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed the US Congress, calling on the West to “do more” to help Ukraine. The New Statesman’s senior editor of politics, Harry Lambert, joins Megan Gibson and Katie Stallard to talk about the pressure for no-fly zones, what the conflict might mean for how the West supports Taiwan, and how different countries are responding to the refugee crisis. Then in You Ask Us, they answer a listener’s question on the relationship between China’s leader, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin. Further reading: Exclusive polling shows Britons want Nato to send fighter jets to Ukraine.Are Britain and the West doing enough to help Ukraine.Caught between Putin and the West, Xi Jinping faces a crucial choice on Russia.Xi Jinping could stop Putin's war in Ukraine. Will he?Could Zelensky and Putin agree a Ukraine peace deal.The West must do more to resettle refugees fleeing Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, we discuss how Viktor Orban’s more pro-Russian government in Hungary has managed to distance itself from Vladimir Putin ahead of a general election in April.Emily Tamkin talks with Hungarian political scientist Péter Krekó about how Hungary’s government has reacted to the war, why it’s supported Western sanctions against Russia and how it’s left the opposition in a difficult position in the run-up to the election.If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.ukFurther reading:Péter Márki-Zay could represent the last chance for Hungarian democracyDonald Trump’s endorsement of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán makes senseCourage and camaraderie on the Ukraine-Hungary border Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.