Best Olikier Podcasts (2026)

1
Sergey Radchenko on Ukraine Peace Negotiations 47:49

Play Pause

19d ago47:49

47:49

Max and Maria spoke with Sergey Radchenko about the state of affairs in peace negotiations over Ukraine as we come to the close of 2025. They discuss the different parties' goals and positions, and how this current round of negotiations compares to the talks in Istanbul at the start of the full-scale invasion back in 2022. This conversation was rec…

1
The Latest 28-Point Peace Plan for Ukraine 26:01

1M ago26:01

26:01

Max speaks with Michael Kimmage about his immediate reactions to the new 28-point peace plan for Ukraine, and the rapid-fire diplomacy taking place in response to its release. This conversation was recorded on November 24, 2025.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
The Increased Level of Repressions Within the Russian Elite 45:48

2M ago45:48

45:48

Max and Maria spoke with Nikolay Petrov and Mikhail Troitskiy, two leading experts on the contemporary Russian elite, to discuss the current status of this ruling group inside Russia today, and why it finds itself increasingly under pressure from state security organs. This conversation was recorded on November 13, 2025. "Отцы и дѣти: Генеалогическ…

1
Russian and Ukrainian Battlefield Adaptations with Dara Massicot and Kateryna Bondar 1:04:23

2M ago1:04:23

1:04:23

Max and Maria had a livestreamed conversation in the CSIS Brack Studio with Dara Massicot and Kateryna Bondar to discuss Russian and Ukrainian battlefield adaptations and technological innovations. This conversation took place on November 5, 2025. A video recording is available at CSIS.org. "How Russia Recovered: What the Kremlin Is Learning From t…

1
The Impact of New Sanctions and Ukrainian Deep Strikes on the Russian Energy Industry with Clayton Seigle 43:04

2M ago43:04

43:04

Max and Maria spoke with Clayton Seigle about how new sanctions from the Trump administration could potentially impact Russian energy revenues. Additionally, they discussed the effects of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries. This conversation was recorded on October 23, 2025.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
The 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections 50:51

3M ago50:51

50:51

Max and Maria spoke with Leah Kieff and Vlad Lupan about the outcomes of the recent Moldovan parliamentary elections at the end of September, and why they're significant for both Moldova, and the broader region. This conversation was recorded on October 14, 2025.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
The Russia-India Relationship with Tina Dolbaia and Vasabjit Banerjee 46:21

3M ago46:21

46:21

By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
Michael McFaul on Trump, Putin, and Autocrats vs. Democrats 1:00:02

4M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

Max and Maria spoke with Stanford professor and former ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul to talk about his latest book, and where things stand today in U.S.-Russia relations. Pre-order Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder by Michael McFaul (HarperCollins, October 2025) "The Real Meaning of Putin's Middle E…

1
Jade McGlynn with an Update from Ukraine 45:01

4M ago45:01

45:01

Max had wide-ranging conversation with Jade McGlynn while she was traveling in Ukraine. Topics covered include the Ukrainian war effort, the situation behind the lines in the Russian-occupied territories, and the recent protests in Ukraine against perceived efforts by the Zelenskyy administration to limit the independence of domestic anti-corruptio…

1
Max and Maria on the Alaska and White House Peace Summits 27:20

5M ago27:20

27:20

Max and Maria give their takes on the recent efforts to negotiate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. They analyze the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska, and then the meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders at the White House. This episode was recorded on August 20, 2025.…

1
Has Putinism Failed? A Conversation with Harley Balzer and Sergei Guriev 45:42

5M ago45:42

45:42

Max and Maria spoke with Harley Balzer and Sergei Guriev about the recently released volume, Failure. Russia Under Putin. This conversation was recorded on July 17, 2025. Failure. Russia Under Putin is available now from Bloomsbury Publishing.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
Max and Michael Kimmage Catch Up on All Things Russia and Ukraine 50:35

5M ago50:35

50:35

This week, Max spoke with Michael Kimmage about the recent headlines connected to Russia and Ukraine, and what they mean for the coming months. "The Limits of Putin's Balancing Act: What the Kremlin Will Sacrifice in Pursuit of Victory in Ukraine," by Michael Kimmage and Maria Lipman (Foreign Affairs, July 2025)…

1
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Geopolitics in the South Caucasus 47:35

6M ago47:35

47:35

Max and Maria are joined by Richard Giragosian and Jeffrey Mankoff to talk about the current geopolitical moment in the South Caucasus, with a particular focus on the dynamics at play in the relationships between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. This conversation was recorded on July 9, 2025.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
Hanna Notte on What the Israel-Iran War Means for Russia 36:51

6M ago36:51

36:51

Hanna Notte returns to the show for a conversation with Max and Maria about what the most recent round of hostilities between Israel and Iran, plus the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, mean for Russia's own Middle Eastern strategy. This conversation was recorded on June 25, 2025. "Russia no longer needs Iran's help to sustain the war in …

1
Bonus Episode: The Russian Wartime Economy (Live Event Recording) 1:29:00

6M ago1:29:00

1:29:00

Max moderated a live panel discussion with Maria, and two leading experts on the Russian economy, Elina Ribakova and Vladislav Inozemtsev. The conversation focused on the findings of the recent report from the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, "The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover."…

1
A Battlefield Update from Mike Kofman 49:19

7M ago49:19

49:19

Max and Maria get another update from military expert Mike Kofman on the state of the frontlines in Ukraine. This conversation was recorded on June 11, 2025. "The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover" by Maria Snegovaya, Nicholas Fenton, Tina Dolbaia, and Max Bergmann (June 2025, CSIS.org) "Russia's Battlefield Woes in Ukraine" by S…

1
The Ukrainian Economy Today with Elina Ribakova 36:53

7M ago36:53

36:53

Elina Ribakova returned to the show to speak with Max and Maria about the evolution of the Ukrainian economy since February 2022.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
Chokepoints and Economic Warfare with Edward Fishman 53:10

8M ago53:10

53:10

Max and Maria spoke with Edward Fishman about his bestselling book, Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
The State of Russia-Ukraine Negotiations with Michael Kimmage 47:23

8M ago47:23

47:23

Max and Maria welcome Michael Kimmage back to the show to provide his analysis of the ongoing U.S.-led negotiations to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. This conversation was recorded on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. "What if America Abandons Ukraine?" by Liana Fix and Michael Kimmage (Foreign Affairs, May 2025). "The Zeitenwende Is Real This Time," by …

1
Keith Gessen and Bryn Rosenfeld on How We Should Interpret Russian Public Opinion Data About the War in Ukraine 56:55

9M ago56:55

56:55

Maria spoke with journalist Keith Gessen and scholar Bryn Rosenfeld about their work trying to make sense of Russian public opinion towards the war in Ukraine, and what it means for our understanding of Russian society today.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
Russia-Ukraine Negotiations: Outlining a U.S. Strategy with Tom Wright 40:31

9M ago40:31

40:31

In this special CSIS crossover episode with Russian Roulette’s sister podcast, The Eurofile, Max Bergmann and co-host Donatienne Ruy welcome Tom Wright, senior fellow at Brookings and former Senior Director for Strategic Planning at the United States National Security Council (NSC) in the Biden administration, to discuss his recent article in Forei…

1
Drones and AI on the Battlefields of Ukraine with Kate Bondar and Sam Bendett 46:50

9M ago46:50

46:50

Maria spoke with Kate Bondar and Sam Bendett about their work on the latest drone and artificial intelligence technologies being employed on the battlefield in Ukraine. Read Kate's latest report, "Ukraine’s Future Vision and Current Capabilities for Waging AI-Enabled Autonomous Warfare" at CSIS.org.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
Rose Gottemoeller on Negotiating with Russia 33:27

10M ago33:27

33:27

Max and Maria welcomed Rose Gottemoeller back to the show, to discuss the ongoing negotiations between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. As a former American diplomat who has sat across from the Russians to negotiate international treaties, she shared her insights about what she is watching as this process unfolds. This conversation was recorded on Tu…

1
How Trump's Policies on Russia and Ukraine Are Being Received Across the Post-Soviet Space 40:38

10M ago40:38

40:38

Maria was joined by Tinatin Japaridze and Volodymyr Dubovyk to discuss how post-Soviet countries, particularly Ukraine and the states of the South Caucasus, are reckoning with the Trump administration's positions on the war in Ukraine. This conversation was recorded on Friday, March 7, 2025.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
The War in Ukraine Three Years On 1:04:29

10M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

Max and Maria sat down with Michael Kimmage and Dara Massicot for an event in the CSIS studio to discuss the three-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The conversation took stock of the current situation on the battlefield, the state of affairs within Russia and Ukraine right now, and the diplomatic prospects for the kind o…

Olikier Podcasts

1
Russian Roulette

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
Sergey Radchenko on Ukraine Peace Negotiations 47:49

1
The Latest 28-Point Peace Plan for Ukraine 26:01

1
The Increased Level of Repressions Within the Russian Elite 45:48

1
Russian and Ukrainian Battlefield Adaptations with Dara Massicot and Kateryna Bondar 1:04:23

1
The Impact of New Sanctions and Ukrainian Deep Strikes on the Russian Energy Industry with Clayton Seigle 43:04

1
The 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections 50:51

1
The Russia-India Relationship with Tina Dolbaia and Vasabjit Banerjee 46:21

1
Michael McFaul on Trump, Putin, and Autocrats vs. Democrats 1:00:02

1
Jade McGlynn with an Update from Ukraine 45:01

1
Max and Maria on the Alaska and White House Peace Summits 27:20

1
Has Putinism Failed? A Conversation with Harley Balzer and Sergei Guriev 45:42

1
Max and Michael Kimmage Catch Up on All Things Russia and Ukraine 50:35

1
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Geopolitics in the South Caucasus 47:35

1
Hanna Notte on What the Israel-Iran War Means for Russia 36:51

1
Bonus Episode: The Russian Wartime Economy (Live Event Recording) 1:29:00

1
A Battlefield Update from Mike Kofman 49:19

1
The Ukrainian Economy Today with Elina Ribakova 36:53

1
Chokepoints and Economic Warfare with Edward Fishman 53:10

1
The State of Russia-Ukraine Negotiations with Michael Kimmage 47:23

1
Keith Gessen and Bryn Rosenfeld on How We Should Interpret Russian Public Opinion Data About the War in Ukraine 56:55

1
Russia-Ukraine Negotiations: Outlining a U.S. Strategy with Tom Wright 40:31

1
Drones and AI on the Battlefields of Ukraine with Kate Bondar and Sam Bendett 46:50

1
Rose Gottemoeller on Negotiating with Russia 33:27

1
How Trump's Policies on Russia and Ukraine Are Being Received Across the Post-Soviet Space 40:38

1
The War in Ukraine Three Years On 1:04:29