Maksym Skrypchenko, President of the Transatlantic Dialogue Center, joined Jana Kobzová, Co-director of the European Security Programme and Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, on “Russian Roulette,” the podcast series of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Hosted by Max Bergmann, the conversation examined how growing uncertainty in U.S.–Ukraine relations is affecting Ukraine’s defense, civilian resilience, and prospects for peace.
A central theme was the erosion of trust between Kyiv and Washington. The discussion addressed the easing of U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel, alongside Ukrainian allegations that Washington had withheld intelligence on ballistic missile launches and restricted access to Starlink and Starshield. The guests explored what uncertainty over these critical capabilities means for Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and plan ahead.
Against this backdrop, the guests noted that Ukraine continues to frustrate Russia’s territorial ambitions on the battlefield. They described Moscow’s attacks on civilian energy and water infrastructure as a “genocidal campaign of terror” intended to break public morale. While warning of a difficult winter and possible localized blackouts, the discussion emphasized Ukrainians’ continued determination to resist — a stance described as “sober defiance.”
The conversation also examined the limitations of current diplomacy involving U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The guests questioned whether economic incentives could persuade Moscow to end the war, arguing that an approach focused on commercial benefits fails to account for the ideological motivations behind Putin’s aggression.
Finally, Skrypchenko and Kobzová discussed Europe’s growing responsibility for Ukraine’s financial and military support. With U.S. alignment no longer taken for granted, European partners are investing in more independent defense and communications capabilities. The conversation highlighted why reliable support matters: Ukraine’s resistance continues, but uncertainty among its partners increases the cost of sustaining it.
Watch the full discussion on CSIS’s “Russian Roulette” via the link.