Welcome to Spycast, the official podcast of the International Spy Museum.

I'm your host, Sasha Inber, and each week I take you into the shadows of espionage, intelligence, and covert operations across the globe.

The United States and Ukraine have had a long, complicated history.

It's a relationship that has been defined by just as much partnership and collaboration as

hesitation and disagreement.

This dynamic is laid bare in the seven-part podcast series Escalation, produced by our partners at Goat Rodeo with the National Security Publication Lawfare.

The series features accounts of high-stakes nuclear deals, tense diplomatic summits, and a presidential impeachment scandal before taking us into the

largest land war in Europe since World War II. Last week, I moderated a panel discussion on

the twists and turns in the Washington-Keeve relationship. It included Escalation's co-hosts,

Ukrainian journalist Anastasia Lapotinaina, and Law Affairs Managing Editor, Tyler McBrion.

We were joined by retired Brigadier General Kipling Kaler, a former defense attache to Ukraine, and former National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horn,

who executed operations to declassify intelligence on Russia's plans to invade Ukraine.

We discussed moments of pride and regret, Russia's brutal designs on Ukraine,

and what the future holds for all three countries.

All right. So good evening. Welcome to the International Spy Museum to escalation, tracking the

U.S.-Ukraine relationship. I'm Amanda Olki, the director of Adult Education here at the museum.

I am just so delighted with the amazing panel that we have for you tonight.

It is inspired by Escalation, the new narrative podcast series from Lawfare and Goat Rodeo.

This is a really great collaboration for us because the

conversation will be moderated by our very own spycast host, Sasha Ingber.

All right, just double checking everybody can hear me okay? And thank you so much to Amanda and Max.

You know, right now, while we are all sitting here, a barrage of Rusen missiles are hitting Keev.

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