How Ukraine became essential to America’s security (with Olga Stefanishyna)
The Playbook Podcast
POLITICO
3.9 • 699 Ratings
🗓️ 24 May 2026
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Health plans work every day to shield Americans from high and rising costs by negotiating lower prices from providers and drug makers and protecting consumers against unexpected medical bills. |
| 0:11.1 | Learn more at costconnection.org. |
| 0:14.0 | Ukrainians are like a very mature political nation, not because we really wanted it, but because we have to stand up for ourselves. |
| 0:26.4 | Hello, hello, and welcome to the conversation. I'm Dasha Burns, and every week on this show, |
| 0:31.7 | I talk to the most compelling and sometimes unexpected power players in Washington and beyond. |
| 0:36.7 | And this week, I sat down with Ohas D Finisna, Ukrainian ambassador to the United States. |
| 0:42.1 | As you may know from my past conversations, I immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine as a child, |
| 0:47.2 | so this topic is personal. |
| 0:49.4 | It's been over four years since Russia first launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. |
| 0:54.4 | The Russians are ready, ready for a full-scale imminent invasion. |
| 0:59.8 | Even Keith, let's listen. |
| 1:05.1 | More than 100 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been killed. |
| 1:09.0 | Hundreds more have been wounded. |
| 1:10.9 | And in that time, Ukraine has seen varying degrees of support from the United States |
| 1:15.3 | in its effort to stave off Russia. |
| 1:17.4 | Saffanishna was in the Oval Office for the now infamous clash between President Trump |
| 1:21.8 | and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy back in February of 2025. |
| 1:25.4 | You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III. You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. |
| 1:28.4 | You're gambling with World War III. |
| 1:30.7 | You're gambling with World War III. |
| 1:33.6 | And almost one year later to the day in 2026, I interviewed Zelensky for this show. |
| 1:38.7 | Today, only United States can stop Putin. |
... |
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