This episode focuses entirely on Russia's war on Ukraine. We have reporting from inside Ukraine, news of the European response and analysis of the global repercussions.

We hear from our reporters in Moscow and Kyiv about the continued tensions over Ukraine. Our special guest is Heather Conley, the new president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, on transatlantic ties and relations with Russia.

Macron in Moscow, Scholz in Washington: How did the French and German leaders do in their diplomatic missions in the midst of the Ukraine crisis?

<p>This week, a tale of two (very different) crises: the Partygate scandal threatening Boris Johnson and the continuing tension over Ukraine. We hear from Estonian PM Kaja Kallas on the latter. And our other guest, former European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, talks geopolitics and trade.</p><p>POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Annabelle Dickson and Matthew Karnitschnig unpack a brutal week for Boris Johnson after a report about lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street leaves him battling for political survival. The panel also discusses the contrasting approaches of Britain and Germany on Ukraine and previews Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to Washington.</p><p>Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas speaks to POLITICO's Ryan Heath and David M. Herszenhorn about the Ukraine crisis and gives her perspective on Vladimir Putin's real intentions.</p><p>Former EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström shares her views on the future of big trade deals and has some sharp words of criticism when it comes to how the EU deals with China and Russia. She also recommends <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622518/the-books-of-jacob-by-olga-tokarczuk-translated-by-jennifer-croft/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this hefty piece of historical fiction</a> by a Polish Nobel Prize winner.</p><p>And the podcast crew has some recommendations of their own, this week with a sporting theme to mark the start of the Winter Olympics. Annabelle declares an interest and kicks off with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24050527-one-shot-at-glory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a children's book</a> with an uplifting theme, written by her husband (and fellow journalist). Matt suggests an "eye-opening" <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393355512" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">book</a> about the history of the Olympics. And Andrew recommends <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/489102.The_New_Lords_of_the_Rings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">another book</a> delving into Olympic corruption, written by well-known investigative journalist Andrew Jennings, who died last month.</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

We take the temperature in the Baltics amid fears of a Russian attack on Ukraine and unpack how the U.K. is handling the crisis. We also talk to conservative Polish MEP Patryk Jaki about his government's clashes with Brussels.

Roberta Metsola, the new president of the European Parliament, is our special guest. We also unpack French President Emmanuel Macron's appearance in the European Parliament and share suggestions for Angela Merkel's next job.

The coronavirus wave engulfing Europe and the West's standoff with Russia over Ukraine both feature in this episode. We also reflect on the legacy of European Parliament President David Sassoli, who died earlier this week.

We look at the big stories we expect to shape 2022 and suggest a few New Year’s resolutions for European politicians — and DOT Europe Director General Siada El Ramly talks EU tech policy.

Key European political moments of 2021 and the politics of Jesus are the main topics in our final episode of the year.

As Angela Merkel bows out after 16 years, we focus this episode on Germany's new government and its chancellor, Olaf Scholz. We also debate the growing use of "Denglish" — a hybrid of German and English — among politicians.

<p>This week: the Omicron variant and its impact on Europe's coronavirus response, our editor-in-chief on China's approach to Europe and Amnesty International's boss on EU emergency migration measures.</p><br><p>POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Rym Momtaz and Sarah Wheaton break down Europe's response to the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the debate over making vaccines mandatory and the prospects for winter as cases continue to rise.</p><br><p>Making his podcast debut is our new Editor-in-Chief, Jamil Anderlini, who <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/jamil-anderlini-politico-europe-new-editor-in-chief-2021/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">spent</a> most of his career in Asia before making the leap to Brussels. He shares fascinating insights into China's view of Europe, the changes to the country he has seen under Xi Jinping and potential future flashpoints between Beijing and the West.</p><br><p>Agnès Callamard, the secretary-general of Amnesty International, is our special guest. She spoke with POLITICO's Hans von der Burchard during a trip to Brussels this week, just as the European Commission was unveiling new measures related to the arrival of refugees and migrants on the EU's border with Belarus.</p><br><p>Programming note: The EU Confidential crew is hosting virtual holiday drinks on Monday, December 13 at 7 p.m. CET. It's a chance to meet the people behind the podcast, ask your questions and be a part of a live taping of our end-of-year show! If you'd like to join via Zoom, email us at <a href="mailto:podcast@politico.eu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast@politico.eu</a> for more information.</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg, France's Europe minister Clément Beaune and Dutch political theorist and author Luuk van Middelaar all feature in this episode. Plus, we dive into Germany's new government.

This week, we get the American perspective on European strategic autonomy and other issues facing the EU from Derek Chollet, the top adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. We also unpack the dramatic denouement of the COP26 climate conference.

In this episode, we discuss Europe's coronavirus resurgence and the escalating migration crisis at the Polish border. Plus, we hear exclusively from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen on the EU's efforts to rein in Big Tech.

The COP26 climate talks, a top European tech entrepreneur and a return to the question of whether the EU is funny all feature in this week's episode.

We preview two big weekend events: the G20 summit and the start of COP26 climate talks. We also discuss liberalism and its current struggles with British author and journalist Ian Dunt.

We talk to Péter Márki-Zay, the man chosen by Hungarian opposition parties to take on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Also in this episode, we have an update on the EU's rule-of-law battle and get you up to speed on talks to form a new German government.

On the agenda this week: The EU's plans to tackle soaring energy prices, Sebastian Kurz's resignation as Austrian chancellor and a Polish challenge to the primacy of EU law.

This week: The EU's place in the world — and the Western Balkans' place in the EU. And we dive deep into the murky world EU lobbying.

We dive into the aftermath of the German election and take a closer look at Olaf Scholz, the favorite to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor. We also unpack a new push by the EU and the U.S. to agree a common rulebook on tech and trade.

In a special show from Berlin, the POLITICO team analyzes Germany's cliffhanger election, gauges the mood in the different camps, and explores how coalition talks may play out.

We explore the defining moments of the German election campaign and debate the security-and-submarine deal between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom that enraged France.

Ursula von der Leyen's State of the European Union address and the closing stages of the race to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor are our two big topics this week.

The German election campaign's impact on EU policymakers is up for debate this week. And European Council on Foreign Relations director Mark Leonard talks about his new book, "The Age of Unpeace."

We debate whether Afghanistan's collapse moves the needle in Europe's long-running dilemma over building up its own military power. Plus, we have a discussion on a new form of loneliness among younger generations in Europe.