Talk Eastern Europe

Former Swedish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt joins Talk Eastern Europe for a wide-ranging conversation on Ukraine, Russia, Europe's future, and the unfinished project of European enlargement.

Drawing on decades of diplomatic experience – from helping launch the EU's Eastern Partnership to serving as the first High epresentative in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Bildt reflects on the biggest geopolitical shifts...

This week on Talk Eastern Europe, we unpack major developments shaping the future of the South Caucasus and the Western Balkans.

Alexandra returns from Armenia after observing the country's consequential parliamentary elections and shares what international headlines got wrong about the vote. Was this really an "East versus West" contest? How much influence did Russia have? And why did many Armenians feel they were choosing between ...

Montenegro has long been described as the frontrunner in the European Union's enlargement process. The government insists the country can join the EU by 2028. But how realistic is that timeline?

In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Alexandra Karppisits down with political analyst Danilo Kalezić from the University of Montenegro to unpack the country's complex political reality. They discuss the growing gap between Brussels' optim...

Russia has launched another massive wave of attacks againstUkraine, raising concerns about Kyiv's air defence capabilities and the future trajectory of the war. Meanwhile, reports of a Russian drone striking a residential building in Romania have intensified fears that the conflict is increasingly spilling into NATO territory.

In this week's Talk Eastern Europe News Roundup, Adam and Nina also discuss warnings that Belarus could be ...

What has changed in Czechia since Andrej Babiš returned topower? More than 100 days into the new government, concerns are growing over democratic backsliding, attacks on public media, proposed foreign agent legislation and a sharp shift in support for Ukraine.

In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Alexandra Karppi and Nina Pániková speak with Pavel Havlíček, Research Fellow at the Association for International Affairs (AMO) in Pra...

Russia launched one of its largest attacks on Ukraine in recent months, including the reported use of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile. Meanwhile, questions are growing about the future of EU enlargement after reports of a possible "associate membership" model for Ukraine.

Alexandra Karppi and Adam Reichardt break down the latestdevelopments from across Eastern Europe, including political changes in Slovenia and a dramatic mayo...

Is Kazakhstan entering a new political era or consolidating authoritarian rule under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev?

In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe’s Deep Dive, Alexandra Karppi speaks with journalist and researcher Paolo Sorbello about Kazakhstan’s controversial constitutional referendum and what it could mean for the country’s future.

The discussion explores the restructuring of parliament, the return of ...

This week on Talk Eastern Europe, Adam and Nina discuss growing fears of escalation as drones cross into NATO territory, Lithuania issues emergency shelter alerts, and Russia deepens ties with China during Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing. They also unpack the political implications of Hungary’s new Prime Minister Péter Magyar, the possible revival of the Visegrad Group, and Russia’s latest move inTransnistria.

Fo...

Why does Warsaw look so different from every other European capital? In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Nina Panikova speaks with British writer and journalist Owen Hatherley about the dramatic history that shaped Poland’s capital – from wartime destruction and communist-era rebuilding to modern skyscrapers and experimental urban planning.

They discuss Warsaw’s modernist housing estates, socialistrealist archi...

This week on Talk Eastern Europe, Adam, Nina and Alexandra discuss major developments across the region: Christian Schmidt’s decision to step down as High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia’s scaled-down Victory Day parade, renewed talk of negotiations with Moscow, referendum politics in Slovakia and Poland, and possible snap elections in Serbia.

For the extended version of the news roundup (for patrons onl...

How has Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reshaped theidentity and political outlook of Russian-speaking communities in the Baltic states?

In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Alexandra Karppi speaks with Ieva Birka from the University of Latvia in Riga about new research on Russian speakers in Latvia and Estonia, the growing security concerns facing the region, and the challenges of social cohesion in an era of hybri...

This week, Alexandra and Nina unpack the latest political upheaval across Central and Eastern Europe from Romania’s government collapse and Kosovo’s latest election drama to Armenia’s growing European ambitions and what it all means for the region’s future.

Talk Eastern Europe is the podcast from New Eastern Europe magazine - your trusted source for in-depth analysis and expert perspectives on Central and Eas...

In this Talk Eastern Europe Deep Dive, Adam Reichardt and Nina Panikova speak with renowned Russia analyst Mark Galeotti about what is happening inside Russia today and what it means for Ukraine, Europe, and the wider global order.

The conversation explores the Kremlin’s tightening control over the internet, disruptions to platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp, and the political struggle behind Russia’s so-called “s...

This week’s Talk Eastern Europe new roundup covers a major Belarus prisoner exchange, growing political instability in Romania, and a landmark corruption verdict in Moldova – plus developments in Bulgaria and rising tensions in Kosovo.

Adam Reichardt and Alexandra Karppi break down the biggest stories shaping the region and explain why they matter.

In this episode:

– Belarus releases journalist Andrzej Poczobut in ah...

How did a choir become one of the symbols of the 2020 Belarus protests? In this Talk Eastern Europe Deep Dive interview, Nina Panikova speaks with Sasha from Volny Chor, the Belarusian choir that emerged after the stolen election and mass demonstrations against Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Volny Chor became famous for surprise public performances of Belarusian freedom songs in Minsk, singing in shopping centers, courtyards, and public squ...

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This week on Talk Eastern Europe, we look at major politicaldevelopments across the region. Bulgaria’s latest snap election may mark the end of years of instability, but what does Rumen Radev’s victory mean for domestic reform, relations with the EU, and support for Ukraine?

We also discuss French President Emmanuel Macron...

Hungary has entered a new political era. After 16 years ofViktor Orbán’s rule, Péter Magyar and the TISZA party have secured a sweeping election victory, reportedly with a two-thirds majority. What happens next?

In this Deep Dive episode of Talk Eastern Europe, host Alexandra Karppi speaks with Zsuzsanna Vegh, an expert on Central Europe and democratic resilience from the German Marshall Fund. They discuss the dramatic electio...

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This week on Talk Eastern Europe, Alexandra and Nina unpack the regional ripple effects following Hungary’s elections and what they could mean for politics across Central and Eastern Europe.

They also discuss a high-profile visit by Donald Trump Jr. in the Balkans as well as the latest from Moldova, including the country taking another...

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What is the story behind Slovakia’s most famous musicfestival? In this episode, Nina speaks with Michal Kaščák, founder of Pohoda Festival, about 30 years of music, freedom, and politics in Slovakia.

The conversation explores how Pohoda began in the 1990s during the Mečiar era, why the festival became a symbol of democracy and free expression...