Brussels Playbook Podcast

EU foreign ministers are gathering in Brussels with one clear goal: to agree on a 20th sanctions package against Russia. But Hungary is threatening to block it — linking its support to a growing energy standoff with Ukraine over disrupted oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline.

Host Zoya Sheftalovich is joined by POLITICO’s chief foreign affairs correspondent Nick Vinocur to unpack what’s at stake at the Foreign Affairs Council.

Then we head north to Iceland, which could fast-track a referendum on restarting EU membership talks as U.S. President Donald Trump’s Greenland rhetoric and new U.S. tariffs reshape the political calculus in Reykjavík.

And finally, fresh transatlantic trade turbulence after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global tariff regime — only for the president to announce a new 15 percent rate. Brussels is demanding clarity before moving ahead with its side of the EU-U.S. deal.

Plus: a birthday nod at the FAC. You can reach us on our WhatsApp at +32 491 05 06 29.

**A message from Amazon: Across Europe, businesses are growing with the AWS Cloud to build innovative, scalable products. From Europe’s largest enterprises and government agencies to the continent’s fastest growing startups, learn more about how AWS Cloud is helping businesses across Europe grow at AWS.eu.**
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An air raid siren sounded as we were wrapping up our interview with the EU’s ambassador in Kyiv.

On this week’s EU Confidential, Sarah Wheaton speaks with Katarína Mathernová about what it means to live — and work — in a city under near-constant Russian threat. From bombardments, freezing temperatures and winter blackouts to EU accession hopes, we ask how Ukraine is holding up as another February anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion approaches.

Later, Sarah is joined by POLITICO’s defense editor Jan Cienski to unpack a debate gaining momentum across Europe: whether the continent needs to rethink its ultimate deterrent as long-held security assumptions begin to shift.
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The EU is taking a careful seat at Donald Trump’s first meeting of the Board of Peace — sending Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Šuica, but not signing up to the initiative. What does that say about Brussels’ strategy toward Washington?

POLITICO has also obtained a letter from nine EU countries urging the European Commission to explore the possibility of an EU fund to support cross-border abortion access — a move that could reopen one of Europe’s most sensitive debates.

Finally, the Commission wants to accelerate trade deals by giving their English versions a head start — allowing political approval to move ahead before all 24 official language translations are finalized, which would trim months off the process.

Zoya Sheftalovich is joined by Sarah Wheaton.

Please get in touch with your comments and ideas for future topics — you can reach us at our WhatsApp number: +32 491 05 06 29.

**A message from Amazon: Across Europe, businesses are growing with the AWS Cloud to build innovative, scalable products. From Europe’s largest enterprises and government agencies to the continent’s fastest growing startups, learn more about how AWS Cloud is helping businesses across Europe grow at AWS.eu.**
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The war in Ukraine is reshaping life well beyond the battlefield.

On this episode of the Brussels Playbook Podcast, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart unpack the European Commission’s new plan to support EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine — from eastern Poland to the Baltics and Finland — where investment has slowed, trade has shifted and security concerns are weighing on local economies.

They also look at Germany’s move to expand the powers and budget of its foreign intelligence agency, as Berlin reassesses how much it can rely on Washington in a more uncertain transatlantic climate.

And finally, a new poll suggests about one in five Europeans believe a dictatorship can be preferable in certain cases. Is this democratic decline — or frustration with how democracy works in practice?

Plus: the coffee saga continues. After discovering that some Brussels lattes now cost more than €5, we heard from listeners with recommendations for better (and cheaper) spots. Keep them coming — you can reach us on our WhatsApp at +32 491 05 06 29.

**A message from Amazon: Across Europe, businesses are growing with the AWS Cloud to build innovative, scalable products. From Europe’s largest enterprises and government agencies to the continent’s fastest growing startups, learn more about how AWS Cloud is helping businesses across Europe grow at AWS.eu.**
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A battle for power in the European Parliament is already underway — though quietly for now — with the midterm reshuffle a year away.

Behind the scenes, MEPs are counting votes, testing alliances and positioning themselves for the presidency and other top jobs.

On this episode of the Brussels Playbook Podcast, host Zoya Sheftalovich is joined by senior European politics editor Ian Wishart to unpack the maneuvering — and what it means for Roberta Metsola, the far right and the balance of power in Brussels and Strasbourg.

They also examine how debates over trans rights are gaining visibility in Brussels, and why those arguments are increasingly intertwined with broader transatlantic political dynamics.

Plus: Can parts of Brexit be quietly softened for British students and touring musicians?

And with latte prices creeping north of €5 in some places, Zoya and Ian want to know: Where’s the best coffee in Brussels? You can reach us at our WhatsApp number, +32 491 05 06 29 — send us your favorites.

**A message from Amazon: Across Europe, businesses are growing with the AWS Cloud to build innovative, scalable products. From Europe’s largest enterprises and government agencies to the continent’s fastest growing startups, learn more about how AWS Cloud is helping businesses across Europe grow at ⁠AWS.eu⁠.**
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