Although the attempted mutiny in Russia on June 24th was short-lived, it may have lasting consequences for Russia’s political regime, its war in Ukraine, and Europe’s overall security situation. The rebellion also put Belarus back in the spotlight, as Aliaksandar Lukashenka helped negotiate the deal heading off the crisis between Vladimir Putin and his challenger – Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russia’s private military company Wagner Group. At the same time, Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons are soon to be deployed to Belarus, which inevitably raises questions about their potential use in the war while also providing insights into the motives of the leaders who are responsible for this decision. In this episode, our guests contextualize these recent developments in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine – a conflict that is facing a new round of escalation – and discuss possible ways out of this growing dynamic of insecurity in Europe.
