Should Europe talk to Putin?

Europe is still reeling from the recent drone incursions into Baltic airspace. In a show of solidarity, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius are in Lithuania today following last week’s drone scare. Today on the Brussels Playbook Podcast, we unpack the latest developments, including discussions about Baltic companies teaming up with Ukrainian firms to tap into their expertise in bomb-shelter construction. Also on the pod: Calls are growing for Europe to appoint its own negotiator in Ukraine-Russia peace talks, now that the U.S. has stepped back. Even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Europe to take a more active role. But not everyone is convinced — Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys and Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski have both raised concerns. Zoya and Nick break down the debate. And finally, negotiations over the EU’s next long-term budget are heating up, with some countries balking at the proposed €1.8 trillion price tag. We explain what’s driving the pushback. Should the EU spend more or less money on the next budget? Let us know what you think by sending us a message on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. And don’t forget to check out the Paris Playbook Podcast. You can listen to the trailer and subscribe here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Episoder(634)

Is Europe winning the ‘fight’? Von der Leyen’s SOTEU, one year on

When Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her State of the European Union speech last year, the backdrop was chaotic. Russian drones had just crossed into Polish airspace, Donald Trump...

11 Sep 27min

Behind Trump's push to break the International Criminal Court

The U.S. is on a public campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court. Now, it wants help from its NATO allies. During a closed-door meeting back in July, U.S. envoy to NATO Matthew Whitake...

10 Sep 17min

The EU’s Israel dilemma

Relations between the EU and Israel have been deeply strained over the war in Gaza. But the bloc is struggling to withstand the allure of Israel’s tech and missile defense prowess. On today’s show, Z...

9 Sep 16min

Kaja Kallas takes another hit

The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, wanted a group of heavyweight former leaders to come up with fresh ideas to address Europe’s defense gaps. Instead, the initiative was killed before it even launche...

8 Sep 16min

Germany's far-right bombshell

After a sweeping victory in the regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund's Alternative for Germany (AfD) could be in a position to govern the state — putting a far-right party in power in ...

7 Sep 20min

What do Spain's migrant crisis and Germany's knife-edge election mean for Europe?

The Spanish exclave of Ceuta on the North African coast is struggling to deal with a surge of unauthorized migrants. Over 70,000 arrived in a mass crossing from Morocco at the end of July, and althoug...

4 Sep 26min

Dublin tests Europe's budget red lines

At the informal General Affairs Council in Dublin today, the EU’s next 7-year budget is set to dominate the agenda. The talks are still in deadlock over the size of the money pot ... but the red line...

3 Sep 15min

The plan to shut out Europe's far right

The political center in the European Parliament is looking increasingly fragile. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart look at a proposal from two senior German MEPs for the center-right EPP and the Socia...

2 Sep 13min