In this episode we speak about the military developments in Ukraine over the past twelve months, the upcoming Russian military offensive, the West's help to Ukraine, and why search for a diplomatic solution needs to start now.

Guests:

Colonel Markus Reisner of the Austrian Armed Forces is a military expert and a historian. He was repeatedly deployed in conflict zones and spent significant time in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Chad, Central Africa, and Mali. Markus is one of the most well-known military analysts in Austria commenting on the Russian war in Ukraine. He holds two PhDs from the University of Vienna - in history and in “Interdisciplinary Legal Studies” . He is a commander of the Honor Guard in Vienna, member of the Advisory Committee for Military History of the Scientific Commission at the Austrian Armed Forces, and member of the IIP Advisory board. He is currently serving at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt.

Hannes Swoboda is the President of the International Institute for Peace. He started his career in urban politics in Vienna and was elected to the European Parliament in 1996. There, he served as an MEP for eighteen years, including as the Leader of the Social Democratic Group in the Parliament from 2012 until 2014. He was particularly engaged in foreign, enlargement, and neighborhood policies.

Moderation:

Marylia Hushcha, researcher at the IIP

The episode was recorded on February 13, 2023