The Political Periscope
The Political Periscope offers weekly interviews about politics, geopolitics, economy and more, from the perspective of the eastern flank of NATO, in the context of the war in Ukraine. The weekly podcast is created by Radio Wnet, stationed in Warsaw, Poland. The interviews are conducted by journalists of the Radio Wnet in Warsaw, Kiyv, Lviv, Beirut, Dublin, Vilnius, London, Taipei, Medellin, the Balkans and more. Our guests are mainly european politicians and experts in security and military.Radio Wnet is an independent media created in 2009 on the basis of the ideas of freedom and responsibility. From the very beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2014 the station provides quality information from eastern europe and concentrates on the subject of security.
Egils Levits, President of Latvia: the fact that the Russian military is all-powerful has proven to be a myth
2022-07-14 19:00:00
Interview with Egils Levits, President of Latvia. We discussed war in Ukraine. President of Latvia talked about possibility of Ukraine becoming a EU member. Moreover we talked about NATO enlargement and Russian propaganda in Latvia. The topic, which was brought up concerned possible trial in International Criminal Court in Hague regarding war crimes in Ukraine. This interview was concluded in Riga, on 19th of May, by Krzysztof Skowroński. Support the show
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Interview with Egils Levits, President of Latvia. We discussed war in Ukraine. President of Latvia talked about possibility of Ukraine becoming a EU member. Moreover we talked about NATO enlargement and Russian propaganda in Latvia. The topic, which was brought up concerned possible trial in International Criminal Court in Hague regarding war crimes in Ukraine.
This interview was concluded in Riga, on 19th of May, by Krzysztof Skowroński.
Professor Javier Gil Pérez: If China wants to stop the war, it can do it. It can stop buying any natural resources from Russia
2022-07-07 19:00:00
Professor Javier Gil Pérez from Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, a specialist in international relations and Pacific region is commenting the NATO summit, how its location in Spain affected the topics touched during the summit, the growing role of China and Indo-Pacific region in global security. We are also discussing Russian interference in Catalonian separatism, the attitude of Spaniards and Spanish government towards the war in Ukraine, NATO and the US. This interview was concluded by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz. Support the show
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Professor Javier Gil Pérez from Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, a specialist in international relations and Pacific region is commenting the NATO summit, how its location in Spain affected the topics touched during the summit, the growing role of China and Indo-Pacific region in global security. We are also discussing Russian interference in Catalonian separatism, the attitude of Spaniards and Spanish government towards the war in Ukraine, NATO and the US.
This interview was concluded by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz.
Jessikka Aro, Finnish Journalist author of a non-fiction book Putin's Trolls
2022-07-06 19:00:00
Interview with Jessikka Aro, Finnish Journalist, author of a non-fiction book Putin’s Trolls . We talk about Russian journalists who fight with Russian propaganda. Our guest says that exposing Russian propaganda and sharing awareness is the goal for each and every journalist. J. Aro explains how the disinformation works. This interview was concluded in Bratislava, on the 4th of June 2022, by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz. Support the show
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Interview with Jessikka Aro, Finnish Journalist, author of a non-fiction book Putin’s Trolls.
We talk about Russian journalists who fight with Russian propaganda. Our guest says that exposing Russian propaganda and sharing awareness is the goal for each and every journalist. J. Aro explains how the disinformation works.
This interview was concluded in Bratislava, on the 4th of June 2022, by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz.
Jaroslav Nad’, Minister of National Defence of Slovakia: We need to make from countries of NATO's eastern flank a fortress
2022-06-30 19:00:00
Interview with the Minister of Defense of Slovakia. Jaroslav Nad’ emphasizes the important role of NATO in maintaining security in Europe. He describes the Polish-Slovakian relations and underlines the importance of cooperation between the countries of NATO's eastern flank. He says that he is glad that his country is a member of NATO due to the situation in the East of Europe. He also speaks about the war in Ukraine and its possible escalation. In his opinion, Vladimir Putin will not dare to attack NATO. The Slovakian Minister of Defense hopes that Russia will lose the war it has started. The interview was concluded in Bratislava, on the 3rd of June 2022 by Krzysztof Skowroński . Support the show
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Interview with the Minister of Defense of Slovakia. Jaroslav Nad’ emphasizes the important role of NATO in maintaining security in Europe. He describes the Polish-Slovakian relations and underlines the importance of cooperation between the countries of NATO's eastern flank.
He says that he is glad that his country is a member of NATO due to the situation in the East of Europe.
He also speaks about the war in Ukraine and its possible escalation. In his opinion, Vladimir Putin will not dare to attack NATO. The Slovakian Minister of Defense hopes that Russia will lose the war it has started.
The interview was concluded in Bratislava, on the 3rd of June 2022 by Krzysztof Skowroński.
Atis Lejins, Member of the Latvian Parliament: The Russian aggression leads to a new worldwide security architecture
2022-06-30 19:00:00
Interview with Atin Lejins member of the Latvian Parliament. During this interview the connoisseur of international relations explains the actual tasks faced by latvian diplomats. He also mentions his estimations regarding the end of the war in Ukraine. Lejins describes the significant deterioration of German-Russian relations due to the Russian aggression. He points out the consequences of this state of affairs for the Russian economy. The latvian MP mentions as well, the role his country should play in forein politics, insisting on the need to warn other governments against taking the declarations of the president of the Russian Federation seriously. The interview was concluded in Riga, on the 30th of May 2022, by Piot Mateusz Bobołowicz . Support the show
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Interview with Atin Lejins member of the Latvian Parliament. During this interview the connoisseur of international relations explains the actual tasks faced by latvian diplomats. He also mentions his estimations regarding the end of the war in Ukraine.
Lejins describes the significant deterioration of German-Russian relations due to the Russian aggression. He points out the consequences of this state of affairs for the Russian economy.
The latvian MP mentions as well, the role his country should play in forein politics, insisting on the need to warn other governments against taking the declarations of the president of the Russian Federation seriously.
The interview was concluded in Riga, on the 30th of May 2022, by Piot Mateusz Bobołowicz.
Jaroslav Kurfürst, Representative of the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Eastern Partnership: There are still many nations in Russia that have this feeling of being colonized
2022-06-30 19:00:00
Interview with Jaroslav Kurfürst, the Representative of the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Eastern Partnership. Our guest speaks about Ukraine's application for EU membership. Among other things, he commented on the statement of the French Minister of European Affairs, who said that Ukraine still has 15-20 years to go before it becomes a member of the EU. Kurfürst speaks about the war in Ukraine and about the risk of world hunger due to the blockade of ports in the Black Sea. Another theme of the interview is Vladimir Putin, as our guest was an employee of the Czech embassy in Moscow when Putin began his presidency. The interview was concluded in Prague, on the 27th of may 2022 by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz . Support the show
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Interview with Jaroslav Kurfürst, the Representative of the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Eastern Partnership.
Our guest speaks about Ukraine's application for EU membership. Among other things, he commented on the statement of the French Minister of European Affairs, who said that Ukraine still has 15-20 years to go before it becomes a member of the EU.
Kurfürst speaks about the war in Ukraine and about the risk of world hunger due to the blockade of ports in the Black Sea.
Another theme of the interview is Vladimir Putin, as our guest was an employee of the Czech embassy in Moscow when Putin began his presidency.
The interview was concluded in Prague, on the 27th of may 2022 by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz.
Yevhen Tsybulenko, Estonian law professor, expert in international law: NATO is a zone of security and stability
2022-06-30 19:00:00
Interview with Yevhen Tsybulenko an Estonian law professor specialized in international law. The professor discusses the beginning of NATO’s military exercises in Estonia. Also, he describes the importance of Sweden and Finland joining NATO stating that it would clearly help in stabilizing and securitizing all Baltic States. Tsybulenko talked about the conditions of Russian minorities in Estonia since the war in Ukraine started and the way they are still linked to Russia. He underlined the influence of the motherland’s propaganda on these minorities as well as the strict prohibition of any pro-putin expression by the Estonian government. The Professor also discussed the way the arrival of Ukrainian refugees is managed by the Estonian government and people. The interview was recorded in Tallinn, on the 16th of May 2022 by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz. Support the show
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Interview with Yevhen Tsybulenko an Estonian law professor specialized in international law. The professor discusses the beginning of NATO’s military exercises in Estonia. Also, he describes the importance of Sweden and Finland joining NATO stating that it would clearly help in stabilizing and securitizing all Baltic States. Tsybulenko talked about the conditions of Russian minorities in Estonia since the war in Ukraine started and the way they are still linked to Russia. He underlined the influence of the motherland’s propaganda on these minorities as well as the strict prohibition of any pro-putin expression by the Estonian government. The Professor also discussed the way the arrival of Ukrainian refugees is managed by the Estonian government and people.
The interview was recorded in Tallinn, on the 16th of May 2022 by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz.
Elena Poptodorova, former ambassador of Bulgaria in the US: Even if Putin is replaced Russia won’t change much
2022-06-30 19:00:00
Interview with Elena Poptodorova former ambassador of Bulgaria in the US. Our guest compares Bulgaria’s actual situation with the one that took place 30 years ago, when the country was fighting for a NATO membership. She underlines that the Russian aggression on Ukraine has brought Bulgaria back to fighting on its own battlefield. Poptodorova also mentions the profound division of Bulgaria’s public opinion as an issue and the way it influences the government’s support for Ukraine. A short comparison has been made with Serbia in geographical terms and the way it influences the relation to Russia. She also expressed herself on her country’s lack of a strong political foundation, emphasizing on the importance of solidifying the rule of law and the judicial system linking its frailty to its historical origins. Our guest also mentioned the evolution of Russian political communication since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, in particular Lavrov’s interventions. Finally, Poptodorova emphasized on the importance for Western leaders to comprehend the Russian logic in order to be able to think in a similar way. The interview was recorded in Sofia, on the 6th of June 2022 by Krzysztof Skowroński . Support the show
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Interview with Elena Poptodorova former ambassador of Bulgaria in the US. Our guest compares Bulgaria’s actual situation with the one that took place 30 years ago, when the country was fighting for a NATO membership. She underlines that the Russian aggression on Ukraine has brought Bulgaria back to fighting on its own battlefield.
Poptodorova also mentions the profound division of Bulgaria’s public opinion as an issue and the way it influences the government’s support for Ukraine. A short comparison has been made with Serbia in geographical terms and the way it influences the relation to Russia.
She also expressed herself on her country’s lack of a strong political foundation, emphasizing on the importance of solidifying the rule of law and the judicial system linking its frailty to its historical origins.
Our guest also mentioned the evolution of Russian political communication since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, in particular Lavrov’s interventions. Finally, Poptodorova emphasized on the importance for Western leaders to comprehend the Russian logic in order to be able to think in a similar way.
The interview was recorded in Sofia, on the 6th of June 2022 by Krzysztof Skowroński.
Balazs Orban, Member of the National Assembly of Hungary: Hungary hosts second largest number of Ukrainian refugees
2022-06-30 19:00:00
Interview with Balazs Orban member of the National Assembly of Hungary. Orban underlines the support of his country for Ukraine in the ongoing war as he distinguishes himself by exposing a different vision of the war’s ending. Orban explains as well why the sanctions on Russian gas won’t bring any positive outcomes. He also emphasizes the importance of a united EU stating that the alliance should focus first on ending the war rather than integrating Ukraine in current coalitions. The interview took place in Budapest, on the 13th of June 2022 by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz . Support the show
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Interview with Balazs Orban member of the National Assembly of Hungary. Orban underlines the support of his country for Ukraine in the ongoing war as he distinguishes himself by exposing a different vision of the war’s ending.
Orban explains as well why the sanctions on Russian gas won’t bring any positive outcomes. He also emphasizes the importance of a united EU stating that the alliance should focus first on ending the war rather than integrating Ukraine in current coalitions.
The interview took place in Budapest, on the 13th of June 2022 by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz.
Vladimir Milov, former Russian deputy minister of Energy: Russia is an unreliable partner
2022-06-30 19:00:00
Interview with Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy minister of Energy. He discusses the situation of European countries dependent on Russian energetic resources. He considers the Kremlin as an unreliable partner that is able to play its European business associates. V. Milov warns Western countries on their future collaboration with Moscow regarding energetic resources. Finally, the consequences of the sanctions put on Russia are partially mentioned, in particular those linked to the import decline of new technologies that may impact the quality of life. The interview was recorded in Bratislava, on the 3rd of June 2022 by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz . Support the show
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Interview with Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy minister of Energy. He discusses the situation of European countries dependent on Russian energetic resources. He considers the Kremlin as an unreliable partner that is able to play its European business associates. V. Milov warns Western countries on their future collaboration with Moscow regarding energetic resources.
Finally, the consequences of the sanctions put on Russia are partially mentioned, in particular those linked to the import decline of new technologies that may impact the quality of life.
The interview was recorded in Bratislava, on the 3rd of June 2022 by Piotr Mateusz Bobołowicz.