As Ukraine peace talks stall, can Europe step up in its defence? Independent Thinking podcast

Chatham House analysts discuss the state of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks, and whether Europe will step up to provide the weapons and military support that Ukraine needs. They also examine how the Russia-Ukraine conflict fits into the wider superpower competition between the US, Russia and China.

Audio

Published 20 February 2026 — 35 minute listen

Negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war do not appear to have made significant progress. In the meantime, the focus of US President Donald Trump’s ‘lighthouse diplomacy’ appears to have switched to Iran.

Joining host Bronwen Maddox are Grégoire Roos, director of Chatham House’s Europe, Russia and Eurasia programmes; Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum; and Natalie Sabanadze, Senior Research Fellow with the Russia and Eurasia Programme.

This episode comes as we look ahead to two major upcoming Chatham House events: a conversation with General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, and our annual Security and Defence conference.

Both events are now fully booked for in-person attendance, but audiences will be able to watch General Zaluzhnyi’s appearance and some of the defence conference events online.

Full details are available on our events page.

About Independent Thinking

Independent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists, and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.

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