Could Donald Trump really bring peace to Europe, or is this just wishful thinking? In this week’s episode of Interference we have an eye-opening discussion into the Ukraine war from an Eastern European perspective.
Justin Stares sits down with Michal Karnowski, a journalist based in Poland who has witnessed the realities at the Ukrainian border firsthand. He shares what people in Poland, the Baltics, and surrounding regions really think. Are European elites ready to embrace peace, or are they terrified of Trump’s proposals?
From the fear of war spilling over borders to the economic collapse in local tourism, this conversation uncovers the everyday anxieties faced by Eastern Europeans. We explore the region’s complicated relationship with Russia, including the experiences of Russian-speaking minorities caught in the middle of this brutal conflict.
Hear about the emotional toll on communities, the propaganda shaping perceptions, and why many people just want to survive, rather than be dragged into the war. Michal also sheds light on how countries like Poland, the Baltics, and Romania are taking military preparedness seriously from massive defense budgets to forming strong armies capable of deterring aggression. But how does Hungary fit into this picture? And how are Polish-Hungarian relations evolving amidst the crisis?
We also unpack the controversies, such as the Nord Stream pipeline incident and the split between public opinion and official government narratives.
New Europe had the potential to save the European project from its federalist excesses – but is this another victim of the Ukraine war?