Former NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson, former U.K. First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West, and Ukrainian executive Dmytro Shymkiv review the state of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The panel examines battlefield trends, the status of planned talks in Istanbul, and the effects of sanctions, drones, and nuclear deterrence on regional security. They also consider how European defence spending and political cohesion could shape the continent’s longer-term security framework.

Key Takeaways:
- Hard Truths of War — A three-year conflict has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives and crippled Russia’s economy.
- Red Lines & Dignity — Ukrainians will fight rather than accept “humiliation”; any peace must respect their sovereignty.
- Negotiation Window — Istanbul could be a genuine off-ramp—if Putin shows up and the West stays united.
- Global Stakes — Letting a nuclear power erase borders would invite chaos far beyond Europe.
- Security Beyond NATO — Kyiv needs cast-iron guarantees and Western engagement, not more paper promises.
- Economic Pressure Counts — Secondary sanctions and energy diversification remain the quickest levers to shorten the war.
- Drone-Era Battlefield — Unmanned systems are reshaping tactics, widening the front and neutralising conventional navies.