How did Russia prepare for round after round of sanctions from the West, and to a certain extent evade their impacts, following its invasion of Ukraine over one year ago? Antonia Colibasanu joins John Batchelor to discuss the history of Russian sanctions going back to its annexation of Crimea in 2014, and what the future holds for the Russian economy.

What did Victory Day represent in the days of WWII and what does it represent today as Russia continues its war in Ukraine? George Friedman joins John Batchelor as Moscow prepares for its annual Victory Day celebrations, marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently canceled a 2012 foreign policy decree that committed Moscow to peacefully resolving the border crisis of Transnistria, in eastern Moldova. This further raises concerns that Russia could escalate the situation and advance on Moldova. Antonia Colibasanu joins John Batchelor to discuss the latest in the Ukraine conflict and the potential for further military operations in Moldova.