Russia-Ukraine War Ground Truth (ft. Analyst Michael Kofman) | Swedish Spies, Iran Pause, AI Fears

Is the Russian military actually losing ground, or adapting faster than Western allies realize? Fresh off a tour of the Ukrainian front lines, Senior Fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Michael Kofman offers a sober assessment of how Russia’s military has changed and what that means for the future of the war. Kofman examines the lessons emerging from Ukraine’s battlefield experience, the rapid expansion of Russian drone capabilities, and why traditional Western advantages in air power may no longer be enough to counter a Russian military that is learning and adapting in real time. He also explains what recent exercises involving Ukrainian forces reveal about NATO’s preparedness and why Western militaries still have significant work to do to meet the Russian threat of tomorrow.

Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host Kate McCann unpack the latest and most significant developments in geopolitics, from the changing nature of the Russian military and the lessons of the war in Ukraine to the wider strategic challenges facing the West.

In this episode:

(02:13) Sweden to Launch Its Own MI6

(06:01) Trump Hyperbole and Iran

(09:18) America’s AI Skepticism

(12:26) Interview with Michael Kofman

(13:10) State of the Ukrainian-Russian Frontlines

(15:30) Russian Military Goals vs. Means

(19:43) Russia’s False Picture of Success

(23:17) Evolution of Warfare on the Frontlines

(28:58) Assessment of International Response

(33:18) Patriot Missile Licensed Production Timeline

(37:02) Changes in Ukrainian Defense Leadership

(43:28) Corruption, Procurement, and Funding in Ukraine(

48:58) Russia’s Threat Post-War(54:50) Ukrainian Morale on the Frontlines\(57:18) Defining the Front Line of Fighting

(01:00:21) One Decision to Watch

(01:02:47) Takeaways, Audience Comments, and Wrap Up

Show Notes: 

• The Next Russia Threat: Moscow’s Military Power After Ukraine | Foreign Affairs: www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/next-russia-threat-michael-kofman  

Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and co-host Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio).