365. Darkness in Kyiv and the Duel for Greenland

Battleground

Goalhanger

History

4.5 • 820 Ratings

🗓️ 23 January 2026

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse explore a week of geopolitical upheaval that marks a potential "1938 moment" for the modern world. One year into Donald Trump’s imperial presidency, the duo discusses the stunning ultimatum issued to eight European NATO allies: accept a massive tariff hike or facilitate the American purchase of Greenland. Roger weighs in on whether NATO can survive this direct threat to member sovereignty and the unprecedented refusal of the U.S. to rule out conflict with Denmark. The conversation shifts to the "Donroe Doctrine" and the strategic importance of the High North. Patrick explains why this obsession with the Arctic might inadvertently pit Trump against Putin, potentially shifting the Kremlin from an admired friend to a strategic foe—a rare "bright spot" for a struggling Ukraine. Meanwhile, they report on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Kyiv, where a million residents remain without power in sub-zero temperatures. Interested in supporting Insulate Ukraine? Check them out here: https://www.insulate-ukraine.org/ourwindow If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to Battleground with me, Patrick Bishop and Roger Morehouse.
0:17.8	It's been a year now since Donald Trump launched his imperial presidency, and every day
0:22.6	brings a new shock to the old order that prevails before he took power. He's due to deliver
0:28.2	another one today where he addresses the World Economic Forum, packed with European leaders,
0:33.8	at the annual meeting in Davos. This is hard on the heels of his threat, almost unbelievable,
0:39.5	to slap 10% tariffs on all exports of goods to America from eight European NATO allies,
0:46.8	including Britain, Germany and France, starting next month, rising to 25% in June,
0:52.6	quote, until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total
0:58.1	purchase of Greenland, of course, that's by the USA. Now, this will be on top of existing tariffs,
1:05.5	10% for Britain, 15% for the EU. So if Trump is as good as its word, UK exporters to America will face
1:12.9	penal 35% tariffs from early Summers and the main European Union exporters and even more
1:19.9	crippling 40%. So that news the trade deals, both the UK and the EU hammered out with
1:26.1	the Trump administration last year simply aren't worth
1:29.0	the paper. They're written on and indeed it seems the EU is ready to suspend the deal in
1:35.0	retaliation. Here the first sign that the Europeans have finally decided that flattery and
1:40.3	falling gets in absolute nowhere with Trump.
1:44.7	Well, it's already a pretty sort of heated environment.
1:49.0	He'll be arriving in.
1:49.9	Trump has warned his Davos audience in advance that there's, quote,
1:54.1	no going back on his threats to take control of Greenland.
1:59.1	Now, Trump makes threats all the time, of course, and often
2:02.1	he doesn't follow through. But this is a particularly vehement one, and I think he'd find it
	...

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