Professor Robert Patman, Professor of International Relations at the University of Otago, joins Andrew Urquhart to assess the state of the Ukraine war as it heads into another winter. He describes the Donbas front as bordering on stalemate, with Russia making grinding, costly gains until a recent Ukrainian breakthrough near Lyman, while both sides escalate drone and missile strikes on infrastructure and cities in a bid to break morale.

Prof. Patman warns that diplomatic efforts, including recent Kushner-Witkoff visits, have achieved little since Putin will only accept a Russian-dictated "land for peace" deal, and flags growing fractures in European support as pro-Russian populist parties (AfD, National Rally, Reform UK) gain ground. 

He argues New Zealand has a direct stake in Russia's defeat given the precedent it sets for China over Taiwan and the Pacific, and notes rare cross-party domestic consensus, from David Seymour to Winston Peters, against Putin's invasion despite differing political persuasions.

 

Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Professor Robert Patman, Professor of International Relations at the University of Otago, joins Andrew Urquhart to assess the state of the Ukraine war as it heads into another winter. He describes the Donbas front as bordering on stalemate, with Russia making grinding, costly gains until a recent Ukrainian breakthrough near Lyman, while both sides escalate drone and missile strikes on infrastructure and cities in a bid to break morale.
Prof. Patman warns that diplomatic efforts, including recent Kushner-Witkoff visits, have achieved little since Putin will only accept a Russian-dictated "land for peace" deal, and flags growing fractures in European support as pro-Russian populist parties (AfD, National Rally, Reform UK) gain ground.&nbsp;
He argues New Zealand has a direct stake in Russia's defeat given the precedent it sets for China over Taiwan and the Pacific, and notes rare cross-party domestic consensus, from David Seymour to Winston Peters, against Putin's invasion despite differing political persuasions.
&nbsp;
Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.
For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.
Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts &amp; Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We&rsquo;ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts & Comments Podcast

Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience, chatting with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts &amp; Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience, chatting with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We&rsquo;ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.