Askold Lozynskyj, former President of the Ukrainian World Congress and an American attorney, joins The Talking Ukraine Podcast for a hard-hitting conversation about Ukraine’s current crisis, Donald Trump’s approach to Russia, and the absence of genuine American leadership at a critical moment.

We discuss Trump’s pursuit of a deal for the United States to buy Russian diesel and the implications for Ukraine and American democracy, as well as Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s continued efforts to preserve ties with Washington without compromising Ukraine’s interests. Despite mounting pressure and uncertainty, Ukraine continues to demonstrate extraordinary innovation, resilience, and a spirit that repeatedly defies expectations. Lozynskyj argues that this war is rooted in history and imperial identity: in Moscow’s vision of itself as an empire, control of Kyiv remains fundamental.

A candid conversation about Ukraine’s struggle, the consequences of a leadership vacuum at a pivotal moment, and optimism for the future of both Ukraine and America.

Diana Berg was living an ordinary life as a designer in her native Donetsk when Russia’s aggression transformed her city in 2014. She became one of the local leaders organizing and demonstrating for a united Ukraine, but her activism made her a target, forcing her to flee Donetsk. She resettled in Mariupol, only to face the same fate again eight years later when Russia’s full-scale invasion brought the siege of Mariupol.

Twice displaced from the cities she called home, Diana joins The Talking Ukraine Podcast to share her extraordinary personal story — a story of two cities, two forced escapes, and the personal cost of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

In this episode of The Talking Ukraine Podcast, Anastasia Bezverkha of the Mnozhyna Foundation discusses the evolution of Ukrainian civil society from the Orange Revolution to today. We explore the development of Ukrainian national identity, her personal decision to return to Kyiv during wartime, and the vital role the Ukrainian diaspora continues to play in supporting Ukraine's resilience and future.