Foreign Policy Live

Can Ukraine Win in Russia?

Ukraine has a new strategy in its full-scale war with Russia: using drones to attack deep into Russian territory and bring the war home to the Russian people for the first time. Has this put Moscow on the backfoot? What will it mean for the chances of a deal? Dmytro Kuleba, a former Ukrainian foreign minister and senior fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center, joins FP Live for a frank and realistic assessment. Plus, Ravi shares his read on the NATO summit in Ankara. Charles Dainoff, Geoffrey Fain Williams, and Robert Farley: Is Ukraine’s Decentralized Drone Innovation a Blip or a Revolution? [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/10/ukraine-drones-front-battlefield-innovation/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=dWtyYWluZS1kcm9uZXMtZnJvbnQtYmF0dGxlZmllbGQtaW5ub3ZhdGlvbg==&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] John Kennedy and Jacob Parakilas: Putin May Escalate, but Ukraine Is Winning [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/07/ukraine-winning-war-russia-zelensky-putin-kyiv-moscow/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=dWtyYWluZS13aW5uaW5nLXdhci1ydXNzaWEtemVsZW5za3ktcHV0aW4ta3lpdi1tb3Njb3c=&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Christian Caryl: Ukraine Finally Has a Theory of Victory. Will It Work? [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/09/ukraine-russia-war-theory-victory-putin-zelensky-crimea-missiles-deep-strikes-oil-refinieries/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=dWtyYWluZS1ydXNzaWEtd2FyLXRoZW9yeS12aWN0b3J5LXB1dGluLXplbGVuc2t5LWNyaW1lYS1taXNzaWxlcy1kZWVwLXN0cmlrZXMtb2lsLXJlZmluaWVyaWVz&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Paul Hockenos: The Strategy Behind the Battle for Crimea [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/02/ukraine-crimea-russia-strategy/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=dWtyYWluZS1jcmltZWEtcnVzc2lhLXN0cmF0ZWd5&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Is Trump Really Planning to Invade Cuba?

After the United States ousted Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro in January and then took out Iran’s senior leadership in the following months, U.S. President Donald Trump set his sights on Cuba, claiming that he would have the “honor of taking” the island. Michael Bustamante, a leading historian of Cuban-American relations, joins FP Live to assess the White House’s strategy and Havana’s options.  Plus, Ravi shares his read on the diverse United States seen by World Cup tourists.  Oliver Stuenkel: Washington’s Cuba Policy Is Self-Sabotage [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/30/cuba-us-blockade-sanctions-trump-humanitarian-crisis/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=Y3ViYS11cy1ibG9ja2FkZS1zYW5jdGlvbnMtdHJ1bXAtaHVtYW5pdGFyaWFuLWNyaXNpcw==&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Howard W. French: Trump Is Playing With Fire in Cuba [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/04/trump-us-cuba-policy-blockade-oil/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=dHJ1bXAtdXMtY3ViYS1wb2xpY3ktYmxvY2thZGUtb2ls&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] William M. LeoGrande and Peter Kornbluh: Is the United States on the Verge of Military Intervention in Cuba? [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/22/cuba-war-trump-united-states-castro-indictment/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=Y3ViYS13YXItdHJ1bXAtdW5pdGVkLXN0YXRlcy1jYXN0cm8taW5kaWN0bWVudA==&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Katrin Hansing: Blackouts, Food Shortages, and Water Scarcity [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/24/trump-cuba-oil-embargo-venezuela-blackouts-humanitarian/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=dHJ1bXAtY3ViYS1vaWwtZW1iYXJnby12ZW5lenVlbGEtYmxhY2tvdXRzLWh1bWFuaXRhcmlhbg==&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Geopolitics of SpaceX and Elon Musk

SpaceX’s initial public offering broke records as the largest ever and one that (briefly) made Elon Musk the first trillionaire. But just how much power should one person or one company have in space? Quinn Slobodian, a co-author of Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed, joins FP Live to argue that Musk’s network of integrated companies—from X to Starlink—amplifies not only his economic power but his worldview.  Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff: Elon Musk’s Self-Contradictory Military Policy [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/12/musk-spacex-ipo-military-policy/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=bXVzay1zcGFjZXgtaXBvLW1pbGl0YXJ5LXBvbGljeQ==&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] C. Raja Mohan: Elon Musk and the Rise of Space Capitalism [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/17/elon-musk-spacex-ipo-space-commercial-satellites-india-china/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=ZWxvbi1tdXNrLXNwYWNleC1pcG8tc3BhY2UtY29tbWVyY2lhbC1zYXRlbGxpdGVzLWluZGlhLWNoaW5h&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Adam Tooze: Elon Musk’s First Principles [https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/25/elon-musk-trump-doge-physics-principles/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=ZWxvbi1tdXNrLXRydW1wLWRvZ2UtcGh5c2ljcy1wcmluY2lwbGVz&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Deciphering the U.S.-Iran Deal

The United States and Iran have struck a memorandum of understanding to end the war that began in February. Will the deal last? And what does it mean for the United States, the Middle East, and the world? Ali Vaez has long been involved in unofficial dialogues with Iran and the United States, and he joins FP Live to analyze the deal. Plus, Ravi shares his read on why the cease-fire deal, despite its flaws, will hold. FP Staff: U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding: Full Text [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/17/trump-us-iran-memorandum-of-understanding-mou-deal-read-full-text/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=dHJ1bXAtdXMtaXJhbi1tZW1vcmFuZHVtLW9mLXVuZGVyc3RhbmRpbmctbW91LWRlYWwtcmVhZC1mdWxsLXRleHQ=&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Duncan B. Hollis: Is the MOU a Treaty or Not? And Why Should We Care? [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/23/us-iran-war-mou-hormuz-trump-ceasefire-treaty-congress/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=dXMtaXJhbi13YXItbW91LWhvcm11ei10cnVtcC1jZWFzZWZpcmUtdHJlYXR5LWNvbmdyZXNz&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Matthew Kroenig: The U.S. Won the War With Iran [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/23/iran-war-hormuz-oil-trump-victory-memorandum-ceasefire/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=aXJhbi13YXItaG9ybXV6LW9pbC10cnVtcC12aWN0b3J5LW1lbW9yYW5kdW0tY2Vhc2VmaXJl&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Paul Musgrave: Iran Is a Bigger Defeat Than Vietnam [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/16/iran-vietnam-strategy-defeat/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=aXJhbi12aWV0bmFtLXN0cmF0ZWd5LWRlZmVhdA==&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Will Todman: Everyone Lost the War With Iran [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/16/iran-war-trump-gulf-china-russia-israel-ceasefire-deal/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=aXJhbi13YXItdHJ1bXAtZ3VsZi1jaGluYS1ydXNzaWEtaXNyYWVsLWNlYXNlZmlyZS1kZWFs&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Daniel Byman: How the Iran Deal Sets the Stage for More Conflict [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/22/trump-iran-israel-war-oil-deal-gaza/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=dHJ1bXAtaXJhbi1pc3JhZWwtd2FyLW9pbC1kZWFsLWdhemE=&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Nik Kowsar and Alireza Nader: Ordinary Iranians Won’t See a Dime of Trump’s Money [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/18/trump-iranians-economy-irgc-corruption-memorandum/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=dHJ1bXAtaXJhbmlhbnMtZWNvbm9teS1pcmdjLWNvcnJ1cHRpb24tbWVtb3JhbmR1bQ==&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Is the U.S.-Israel Special Relationship Over?

U.S. public opinion is undergoing a dramatic shift, with more and more Americans calling for less military support to Israel. So, is the “special relationship” between the two countries over? According to an essayist in Foreign Policy’s latest print issue, the partnership has peaked—and the only way to go is down. Why is that, and how did we get here? Joshua Leifer, a columnist for Haaretz and author of that essay, joins FP Live to explore trends in the U.S.-Israeli partnership. Plus, Ravi shares his read on the proposed U.S.-Iran cease-fire deal. Paul Musgrave: Iran Is a Bigger Defeat Than Vietnam [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/16/iran-vietnam-strategy-defeat/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=aXJhbi12aWV0bmFtLXN0cmF0ZWd5LWRlZmVhdA==&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Will Todman: Everyone Lost the War With Iran [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/16/iran-war-trump-gulf-china-russia-israel-ceasefire-deal/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=aXJhbi13YXItdHJ1bXAtZ3VsZi1jaGluYS1ydXNzaWEtaXNyYWVsLWNlYXNlZmlyZS1kZWFs&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Menahem Merhavy: Iran’s Victory Is More Pyrrhic Than It Looks [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/17/iran-war-pyrrhic-victory-hormuz-oil-khamenei-regime-sanctions/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=aXJhbi13YXItcHlycmhpYy12aWN0b3J5LWhvcm11ei1vaWwta2hhbWVuZWktcmVnaW1lLXNhbmN0aW9ucw==&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Joshua Leifer: The End of the U.S.-Israel Alliance [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/15/israel-united-states-special-relationship-palestine-netanyahu-trump/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=aXNyYWVsLXVuaXRlZC1zdGF0ZXMtc3BlY2lhbC1yZWxhdGlvbnNoaXAtcGFsZXN0aW5lLW5ldGFueWFodS10cnVtcA==&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] FP’s Summer Print Issue: The End of the World as We Know It [https://foreignpolicy.com/the-magazine/?issue_id=411227090] David E. Rosenberg: Netanyahu’s Reelection Could Hinge on Outcome of Iran War [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/12/netanyahu-election-iran-war-outcome-us-trump/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=bmV0YW55YWh1LWVsZWN0aW9uLWlyYW4td2FyLW91dGNvbWUtdXMtdHJ1bXA=&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Steven A. Cook: Why the U.S. Should Wind Down Military Aid to Israel [https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/26/israel-united-states-military-aid-gaza-trump-netanyahu/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=aXNyYWVsLXVuaXRlZC1zdGF0ZXMtbWlsaXRhcnktYWlkLWdhemEtdHJ1bXAtbmV0YW55YWh1&pid=PNIhHwPfesawrtd&tpcc=fpl_pod] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]