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Bad plans come unstuck with Hanna Shelest & Iryna Krasnoshtan
53:25|According to Wikipedia, 28 is “approximately the number of grams in an ounce, and used as such in commercial trade.” This may explain why there were 28 points in the US plan to end Russia’s war on Ukraine: it was drafted by people interested in commerce and trade, and the US stands to gain some US$ 300 billion from this deal. However, the US financial gain is the only original element in the plan, the rest being a list of Russian demands denying Ukraine sovereignty by taking land from it, defining its military, its constitution and its elections, and forcing cultural and religious issues upon it.That this draft was cooked up by US forces friendly to Russia is common knowledge, but that does not make the event, let alone the plan, less of an abomination: Ukraine was treated as no more than item, while the EU was not consulted — despite being listed as liable to underwrite much of the programme. At base, this is a plan to reward aggression and the taking of land by force while imposing penalties upon those who object.To understand what exactly is wrong with the proposals, and where Ukraine goes from here, Ilana Bet-El is joined by two true women leaders: Dr Hanna Shelest, Director of Security Programmes at the Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism (https://prismua.org/en/)", and Iryna Krasnoshtan, Programme Director at the International Center for Ukrainian Victory (https://ukrainianvictory.org/). With the facts at their fingertips and the passion of fighters, this conversation explains what is at stake for the world as well as Ukraine.This episode was recorded on 27 November 2025ChaptersDissecting the 28 point “peace proposal”The international dynamics of the war in UkraineWhy Ukrainians and Europeans are left out of the conversation?What would a Ukrainian peace plan look like?MentionsUkraine Analytica Ukraine Institute28 point planWashington roiled by leaked transcript of Witkoff-Ushakov callAgathe Demarais article on the US-Russia Plan , De Wever Overstates Belgium's RisksFollowIryna Krasnoshtan LinkedIn Hanna Shelest LinkedInIlana Bet-El Women Leaders Instagram & YouTubeELNCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat
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21. Ukraine inside and out with Kristina Zeleniuk and Kim Barker
43:40||Season 2, Ep. 21A long war is unimaginable to people in the developed world. Since WWII, most states in Europe have not experienced conflict in their lands, barring the Balkans in the 1990s, and the US has never really lived through such a reality, apart from the bombing of Pearl Harbour in December 1941 and the attacks of 9/11. And while some parts of Africa are mired in conflict as indeed is the Middle East, it is the success of the postwar order that war is largely not an ongoing backdrop to life across the globe.And then there is Ukraine: invaded in 2014 by Russia, that illegally annexed the Crimea then sent its “little green men” into the Donbas, where there has been fighting ever since. Then came the full scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Incredibly, Ukraine repelled most of the Russian invaders, but a deadly front line was established alongside ongoing vicious Russian attacks on cities and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.How do you understand these events as a journalist inside Ukraine, trying to report the truth while not exposing your state at war? How do you cover these events as an international journalist, seeking the real story without endangering people? And what happens to truth and journalism in a long war in which civil society is a strong player and corruption rears its head?To answer these and many other questions Ilana Bet-El is joined by Kristina Zeleniuk of website TSN and Kim Barker of the New York Times. A fluid, fascinating and funny conversation with passionate journalists.This episode was recorded on 13 November 2025ChaptersThe call for journalism: passion and purposeNavigating journalism in a war zoneThe current state in UkraineThe impact of corruption scandal on Western supportThe critical role of Ukrainian civil societyMentionsTSN websiteDmytro KhyliukThe Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and PakistanWhisky Tango FoxtrotArticles on the corruption scandal: NABU & CNNFollowKim Barker New York TimesKristina ZeleniukIlana Bet-ElInstagram @women_leaders_podcast & YouTube channelELN websiteCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat
20. Talking about a revolution with Janice Stein
39:57||Season 2, Ep. 20There are many aspects to our current events: trade wars, international realignments weakening democracies, strengthening autocracies, social discontent, wars kinetic and hybrid, a faltering international system and much more. Each element may be explained individually but taken together they add up to no less than a revolution: a change so fundamental that even after the wheels stop spinning there will be no return to the previous ways.Professor Janice Stein, founder of the Munk School of Global Affairs and one of the most fascinating experts ever on wars and global affairs joins Ilana Bet-El in a deep, fast moving and incredibly informative conversation on our age of revolution. From the US to China and Europe, and from the past to the future -- this episode explains how and why the world is in such turmoil.ChaptersWhat are the challenges in global trade and economy?Canada’s economic strategyThe crisis of developed democraciesThe real European Union's strugglesThe role of experts and public trustMentionsMunk School of Global Affairs & Public PolicyLawyers vs. engineers: Dan Wang sees U.S.-China dynamics in a new paradigmErza Klein, AbundanceIlana Bet-El & Rupert Smith, Le Grand désenchentement: Vivre à l'ère d'insécuritéTracy Chapman, Talkin Bout A RevolutionFollowJanice Stein Munk School of Global Affairs & Public PolicyIlana Bet-ElInstagram @women_leaders_podcastWatch this episode on our YouTube channelOur partner European Leadership Network Twitter LinkedIn Facebook, websiteCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT
19. Mired in the Middle East with Tahani Mustafa & Miriam Rosman
43:08||Season 2, Ep. 19As most international mediators know, Israel-Palestine is a conflict to avoid. Intellectually, it should be solvable, but in reality it is intractable.In this episode we bring together a Palestinian and an Israeli — Dr Tahani Mustafa of the ECFR and Dr Miriam Rosman of the Dvorah Forum — hoping to move beyond intractable, due to the Gaza ceasefire. It has heralded much hope for a better future, alongside deep confusion as to what such a future can and should hold. However, the discussion ended up reflecting the absence of trust, empathy, or understanding on both sides.This is an important and passionate episode that highlights the significant challenges in even establishing a common starting point for dialogue, let alone negotiation. From history to reality and from humanity to sympathy, there is a long way to go in creating the conditions for negotiation between Israelis and Palestinians.This episode was recorded on 16 October 2025ChaptersDiverging perspectives on the ceasefireIs any path forward?Building trust over traumasFollowTahani Mustafa LinkedIn, European Council on Foreign RelationsMiriam Rosman LinkedIn, Dvorah ForumInstagram @women_leaders_podcastWatch this episode on our YouTube channelOur partner European Leadership Network Twitter LinkedIn Facebook, websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT
18. China watching with Lauren Gloudeman
43:39||Season 2, Ep. 18Donald Trump is everywhere: at the UN General Assembly, at special press conferences, at meetings of his military leadership and in the White House - condemning Europe and climate change one day, announcing a Gaza deal the next, doubling down on tariffs the third, doing nothing about Russia throughout. In the meantime the US seems to be ever more in turmoil, with the Federal government shut down, a sliding economy, intense political and social division.China is seemingly enjoying the show, lapping up the Global South and assembling world leaders for international meetings and a vast military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. Backing Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, it is clearly happy to pick up world leadership as the new US seemingly sheds most vestiges of it. Yet all the while it is also negotiating a trade deal with the US, flooding the global market with over production and watching its own economy in turmoil.So what is China really doing? Can it survive the tariffs? Can it pick up where the US leaves off or is it just part of the turmoil? Lauren Gloudeman, Director, China at Eurasia Group joins Ilana Bet-El to talk through the current China challenge in all its aspects. A deep and interesting conversation with someone who knows people, language and culture!This episode was recorded 30 September 2025MentionsEurasia websiteLauren’s previous episode “Trade Wars”Trump at the UNGA - China commitments at the UN Climate conferenceOther episodes “China, the world, and power” “China All Around”ChaptersUnderstanding China's role in global affairsTrump's objectives with ChinaHow China's economic is doing?China's relationship with RussiaIs it a new Cold War between China and the West?FollowLauren Gloudeman LinkedInInstagram @women_leaders_podcastWatch this episode on our YouTube channelEuropean Leadership Network Twitter LinkedIn websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat
17. The driving force of development with Susan Brown
44:51||Season 2, Ep. 17International development has come to an end, according to some economists. Be it the sudden closure of USAID earlier this year, the shift of EU and NATO states to defence spending, or the populist inspired interest in isolationism, the inclination to fund others is diminishing.However, development is not just about foreign aid: it is also about allocating the means to improve the one that benefits all. Whether the national eradication of disease or international drives towards better governance and prosperity, the core idea is not charity. So, what actually is development? There can be no better person to explain and explore the wide and complex world of development and its core international function than Susan Brown, United Nations Assistant Secretary General at the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and head of its advocacy efforts. A woman with incredible experience in the international world, she brings in-depth knowledge, common sense and a lot of wit to the core needs of the world.This episode was recorded 17 September 2025MentionsUNDPAdam Tooze, The End of DevelopmentWomen not rescued in Afghanistan earthquakeChaptersCurrent challenges facing the UNUnderstanding development and differentiating it from humanitarian aidUNDP's budget and funding sourcesThe future of UNDP and global developmentEngaging corporates in developmentFollowSusan Brown UNDP website & X/TwitterInstagram @women_leaders_podcastWatch this episode on our YouTube channelEuropean Leadership Network Twitter LinkedIn Facebook, websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT
16. Trump 2 and US reality with Jodi Rudoren
46:52||Season 2, Ep. 16The summer is over but it has hardly been a period of repose and relaxation: the world has continued in its turmoil, not least at the behest of the US. In moves that have often baffled traditional US allies, the current Trump administration has made brash moves claiming to be about Making America Great Again (MAGA) but which ultimately seemed to signify US retreat from global leadership. From attacks on science and education within the US to courting Vladimir Putin while alienating the EU, Canada and other western allies, it seems as if the current US administration is intent upon making real China and Russia’s wish for a multipolar world without a second, or indeed any thought.How do these changes manifest within the US? Is the external perspective even registering? Does it matter? And why does the Democratic Party seemingly find it so difficult to muster a response? To broach these questions and so much more Ilana Bet-El is joined by Jodi Rudoren, Editorial Director of Newsletters at the New York Times — and to be clear, there are 100 newsletters that reach over 17 million people! — in a lively and probing discussion into life, politics and ideas in the US in the second Trump administration.This episode was recorded on 4 September 2025MentionsJodi’s episode last SeptemberNewsletters at The New York Times: The Morning & DealBookFilm: I’m still hereChaptersThe current state of US Politics and newsThe erosion of trust in political systemsThe Democratic Party's struggles and future directionsEveryday life amidst political turmoilPerceptions of global enemiesThe Israel-Gaza situationGlobal leadership dynamicsFollowJodi Rudoren LinkedIn & X/TwitterInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur new YouTube channel Our partner European Leadership Network Twitter LinkedIn Facebook, websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT