Olga Bataman and Tara Reade welcome Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, for the Russian perspective on the risk of a direct conflict with Europe, America’s role in the peace talks, and the future of the United Nations.

Is Europe sleepwalking into a direct conflict with Russia? Why does Ambassador Polyanskiy say Europe has inched closer to one, and that a single incident could be enough to trigger it? And why does he argue that unpopular European leaders stay in power while leading their populations toward confrontation?

Is Washington a mediator or a source of pressure? Why does Ambassador Polyanskiy call Trump “mercurial” while describing US interests as “pragmatic”? How does he read the mixed signals — peace talks, a sanctions bill headed for Trump’s signature and a planned US base in Poland — and why does he say Russia is not counting on America’s help? And why does he say Europe and Zelensky are trying to derail the understandings reached in Anchorage?

Is there a way back? Why does he say Russia’s door to diplomacy remains open, and that the first step is a clear declaration that neither side plans to attack the other? What would a European security “equation” built together with Russia look like — and can Europe move away from a zero-sum approach toward peaceful coexistence? 

And is the UN slowly dying – or, as Ambassador Polyanskiy argues, are Western countries holding Security Council reform “hostage”?