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Russian Roulette

Hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at CSIS, Russian Roulette explores the politics, history, and complex societies of Russia and Eurasia. Tune in for fascinating interviews and discussions on some of the biggest questions facing the broader post-Soviet space. Produced by Tina Dolbaia and Nick Fenton, click here to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and here to follow on Spotify.

 

Podcast Series by Max Bergmann and Maria Snegovaya

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All Russian Roulette Podcast Episodes

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Russian Roulette

Adam Entous on U.S.-Ukraine Relations in 2025

Adam Entous of The New York Times talks his in-depth investigation exploring the Trump Administration's policies towards Ukraine in 2025.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Adam Entous — January 8, 2026

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Russian Roulette

Sergey Radchenko on Ukraine Peace Negotiations

Max and Maria spoke with Sergey Radchenko about the state of affairs in peace negotiations over Ukraine as we come to the close of 2025. They discuss the different parties' goals and positions, and how this current round of negotiations compares to the talks in Istanbul at the start of the full-scale invasion back in 2022.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Sergey Rachenko — December 18, 2025

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Russian Roulette

The Latest 28-Point Peace Plan for Ukraine

Max speaks with Michael Kimmage about his immediate reactions to the new 28-point peace plan for Ukraine, and the rapid-fire diplomacy taking place in response to its release.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann and Michael Kimmage — December 1, 2025

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Russian Roulette

The Increased Level of Repressions Within the Russian Elite

Max and Maria spoke with Nikolay Petrov and Mikhail Troitskiy, two leading experts on the contemporary Russian elite, to discuss the current status of this ruling group inside Russia today, and why it finds itself increasingly under pressure from state security organs.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann and Maria Snegovaya — November 20, 2025

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Russian Roulette

The Impact of New Sanctions and Ukrainian Deep Strikes on the Russian Energy Industry with Clayton Seigle

Max and Maria spoke with Clayton Seigle about how new sanctions from the Trump administration could potentially impact Russian energy revenues. Additionally, they discussed the effects of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries.

This conversation was recorded on October 23, 2025.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Clayton Seigle — October 27, 2025

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Russian Roulette

The 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections

Max and Maria spoke with Leah Kieff and Vlad Lupan about the outcomes of the recent Moldovan parliamentary elections at the end of September, and why they're significant for both Moldova, and the broader region.

This conversation was recorded on October 14, 2025.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, and Leah Kieff — October 21, 2025

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Russian Roulette

The Russia-India Relationship with Tina Dolbaia and Vasabjit Banerjee

Max sat down with Tina Dolbaia and Vasabjit Banerjee to talk about their new CSIS paper, "Guns and Oil: Continuity and Change in Russia-India Relations." They delve into the history of the Russia-India relationship, how it's been impacted by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and what to watch for going forward.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann and Tina Dolbaia — October 7, 2025

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Russian Roulette

Michael McFaul on Trump, Putin, and Autocrats vs. Democrats

Max and Maria spoke with Stanford professor and former ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul to talk about his latest book, and where things stand today in U.S.-Russia relations.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann and Maria Snegovaya — September 22, 2025

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Russian Roulette

Jade McGlynn with an Update from Ukraine

Max spoke with Jade McGlynn while she was traveling in Ukraine about the war effort and life under Russian occupation. They also discussed recent protests over the Zelenskyy administration’s attempts to limit the independence of anti-corruption agencies.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann — September 4, 2025

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