In this episode of Conversations on Groong, Dr. Anatol Lieven joins us to examine Russia’s place in a rapidly shifting global order. The discussion looks at the war in Ukraine, the state of Russia-EU relations after Viktor Orbán’s political defeat, and the uncertain trajectory of the war on Iran, including whether any real diplomatic offramp still exists. They also explore whether Russia’s relationship with Iran is truly strategic or mainly transactional, how China fits into the wider balance of power, and what all of this means for the South Caucasus, Armenia’s current path under Pashinyan, and Azerbaijan’s ambitions to turn wartime leverage into lasting regional influence.
Topics
Russia, Iran, Europe, multipolar order
Ukraine war and Russia-West tensions
Iran war and diplomatic offramps
Armenia, TRIPP, South Caucasus
Guest: Anatol Lieven
Hosts:
Episode 541 | Recorded: May 5, 2026
SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/541
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