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565. Zelenskyy’s Corruption Problem and Is History Repeating Itself in Germany?

Aug 25, 2026 · 57m

Summary

Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart discuss Andy Burnham’s first foreign trip to Kiev, analyzing Ukraine’s internal challenges, including corruption allegations and political instability under Zelensky. They examine the shifting burden of Western support as US aid declines, highlighting Germany’s critical role. The episode then focuses on the rise of the far-right AfD in Germany, exploring potential alliances with the hard left and the threat this poses to European unity and Ukraine’s defense.

Topics discussed

Intro: Burnham's Ukraine trip, German politics, and sponsors Andy Burnham's visit to Kiev and UK support for Ukraine Corruption allegations and Zelensky's political challenges Ukraine's military struggles, desertion, and procurement issues Analysis of corruption's impact on Ukraine's war effort Alistair's trip to Split, Slovenia, and UEFA interview Rise of the AfD and far-right/left alliance in Germany Threats to EU unity and normalization of extremism Global populism, rule of law, and media complicity German economy, China, and media double standards
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