Roundtable

Ukraine’s relationship with the United States has become increasingly strained, with the latest spat sparked after disruptions to Ukraine’s Starlink satellites, which are used for military operations.Zelenskyy hit out at President Trump, saying he felt betrayed and laying the blame squarely at Washington.Trump says Zelenskyy needs to agree to a peace deal, and is also calling on Ukraine to hold elections.US envoy Steve Witkoff has been meeting with both Zelenskyy in Oslo and President Putin in St Petersburg, who he called a "humanitarian" after Russia released a US hostage.Restrictions to Ukraine's use of Starshield hampered the use of drones and intelligence sharing. The US has also waived some Russian sanctions and announced a new deal to import diesel from Russia.So, has the US-Ukraine alliance reached breaking point. Will relations improve after the US midterms or is Europe now Ukraine's only dependable ally?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Erol MorkoçSpokesperson for Republicans Overseas UKJamie Shea FormerDeputy Assistant Secretary General of NATOAndrij DobrianskyPolicy expert at the Center for US-Ukrainian RelationsFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

The small Russian territory, Kaliningrad, in the Baltics is adding to rising tensions between Russia and Nato, with President Putin threatening to use "all weapons available" to protect it.The exclave is sandwiched between Nato countries Poland and Lithuania and is a heavily militarised outpost.Moscow claims it has intelligence suggesting that Nato is preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad, in a letter sent to the alliance.It warns nuclear weapons could be used if the Nato allies try to cut off the exclave.Russia says it is also reacting to Western leaders stating that they are preparing for war in three to four years.So, how serious are the escalating tensions in the Baltics and is Russia prepared to risk a direct confrontation to defend this isolated outpost?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Frank RoseFormer Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Defense PolicyLiliana SmiechDirector General for International Affairs at Ludovika University of Public ServiceMarko GasicInternational Consultant and Media CommentatorFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

The Israeli public go to the polls next week, for the first time since the war on Gaza began three years ago.The election is widely being seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership.US President Donald Trump is endorsing Netanyahu who is seeking a record seventh term in office,.Since Israel's war on Gaza and the increasing illegal settler violence in the occupied West Bank, Israel's relations with Europe have deteriorated significantly.But will Netanyahu be punished at the polls, and how likely is a shift in Israeli policy, if he is voted out?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Yossi MekelbergSenior Consulting Fellow at the MENA Programme at Chatham HouseSharon DolevHuman Rights ActivistRene WildangelFormer Foreign Policy Adviser for German ParliamentFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Spain’s housing crisis has pushed Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call a sudden snap election, after his government initially failed to get through emergency laws.Thousands have been protesting in solidarity with an 87-year-old pensioner who was evicted from her home in Madrid, where she lived for seventy years.Her rent had more than tripled after an investment firm bought her building. Sanchez tried to step in to freeze rents and protect tenants, but a hugely divided parliament blocked the move.Will Sanchez's gamble to call a snap election pay off?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Joan Roses, Professor of Economic HistoryAlberto Oliver, Former Deputy Spokesperson for Mas Madrid and Podemos PartiesSouwie Buis, JournalistFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for closer cooperation with the European Union, saying "sticking with the status quo is not good enough for Britain".He says a new deal could boost growth and tackle illegal immigration. Burnham's comments come ahead of a UK-EU summit in November, and after he stated that leaving the EU had done Britain "more harm than good".The Brexit referendum took place in May 2016, with the UK finally leaving the EU at the end of January 2020. Opposition leader Kemi Badernoch Badenoch warns Burnham is "not going to get a better deal". European leaders have welcomed Burnham’s intentions, but Brussels has made it clear, Britain can’t pick and choose which parts of Europe it wants.So how much closer will the UK get to the EU and will Brexit eventually be overturned? Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Adam BoultonPolitical BroadcasterJames LyonsFormer Head of Strategic Communications for Downing Street under Keir StarmerZoë GrünewaldPolitical Journalist

In this special episode of Roundtable, Enda Brady speaks to Husam Zomlot, Palestine’s Ambassador to the UK.Three years after Israel began its war on Gaza, Zomlot says there has been a ‘public and political shift towards Palestine’ globally.He says it is experiencing a 'South Africa moment' when global opposition towards the apartheid gathered pace.Zomlot praises the beginning of a ‘new approach’ from Britain towards Israel under Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.The UK recently imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers in occupied West Bank and last year formally recognised the State of Palestine.Zomlot says Britain has moved ‘from words to action’ as he details the global switch in sentiment towards Israel and increasing public support for Palestine, and how he is hopeful to see a Palestinian state in his lifetime.Follow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

The reconstruction of Gaza is estimated to cost $71 billion and could take up to a decade, but who will pay to rebuild the devastated region?Nearly 75,000 people have been killed in Gaza, in the three years since Israel began its war on Gaza after October the 7th.Most of Gaza's 2.1 million population are displaced and 82% of buildings destroyed or damaged.Despite a fragile ceasefire, the EU has launched its Team Gaza initiative, with an initial $1 billion for early reconstruction efforts.President Trump's Board of Peace has pledged $2.45 billion, but will it materialise and where will the rest of money come from?Is a rebuild even possible with Israeli airstrikes continuing and limited access into Gaza?Joining Enda Brady for this discussionJane KinninmontCEO at the United Nations Association UKFaten Elwan Palestinian journalist and broadcasterHugh Lovatt Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign RelationsFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his party the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are facing an existential crisis following bruising regional election defeats.The Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania election saw the centre-right CDU fail to reach the five percent threshold, for the first time in a state election since 1949. The far-right AfD won with 38 percent of the vote.Merz, who has been chancellor for just 16 months, has record-low approval ratings, but is vowing to stay on and push through unpopular reforms aimed at reviving Germany's sluggish economy.As the political centre erodes and the far-right AfD makes major gains, can the CDU recover, and how long can Merz possibly last as German Chancellor?Tabea SchaumannPolicy Analyst at the European Policy CentreWolfgang MunoChair of Comparative Government at University of RostockHajo FunkePolitical ScientistEdward KnudsenEconomic Security Analyst at RAND EuropeFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld