Brussels Playbook Podcast

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Europe's balancing act on Iran Mar 02, 2026

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After a weekend of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran — and the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — Brussels is moving to coordinate its diplomatic response. EU ambassadors convened, foreign ministers met online and Ursula von der Leyen called the Defense College. But as tensions escalate across the region, is Europe shaping events — or reacting to them?

Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur unpack the EU’s balancing act: condemning Iran’s retaliation, avoiding direct criticism of Washington and trying to remain strategically relevant in a crisis unfolding beyond its borders.

Plus: Emmanuel Macron unveils his vision for Europe’s nuclear future from France’s submarine base — and in Brussels, a debate over whether 250,000 EU citizens living in the Belgian capital should get the right to vote in regional elections.

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Diplomats or disruptors — when Trump’s ambassadors get ‘rude’ Feb 27, 2026

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Ambassadors are supposed to smooth tensions, not spark them. But in recent weeks some American envoys in Europe – from Belgium to Poland and France — have found themselves at the center of very public political clashes, accusing allies of antisemitism, cutting ties with senior lawmakers, and even losing their access to government ministers.

Is this simply a more combative tone? Or does it reflect something deeper — a shift in how Washington wants to engage with Europe in Donald Trump’s second term?

Host Sarah Wheaton is joined by POLITICO’s senior correspondent Karl Mathiesen, who has been reporting on the growing diplomatic friction, and Ivo Daalder — a former U.S. ambassador to NATO under former President Barack Obama.

Together they unpack whether this is about ideology, business interests, domestic political signaling — or a broader rethinking of America’s role in Europe.

We’d love to hear from you. If you have a story about an undiplomatic ambassador — past or present — send us a message or a voice note on our WhatsApp. You can reach us at +32 491 05 06 29.

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Inside EU ambassadors' crisis 'bunker' Feb 26, 2026

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Brussels is adjusting to a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Coreper meetings — the regular gatherings of EU ambassadors — are becoming more frequent and a clear evidence of how the bloc is adapting. What was once largely preparatory now plays a central role in shaping negotiations before leaders ever sit down.

Then, the energy saga continues. The European Commission, responding to Hungary’s warnings over disruptions to Russian oil flows through the Ukrainian Druzhba pipeline, says there is no immediate supply risk and that alternative routes are available. So is this a genuine squeeze — or political leverage ahead of elections in Hungary?

And finally: former tech commissioner Thierry Breton, who faces U.S. sanctions over his role in drafting the Digital Services Act, makes his case before the European Parliament. Lawmakers largely rally behind him, framing the dispute as a test of Europe’s digital sovereignty and its complex relationship with Washington. But not everyone agrees — some argue the sanctions were predictable, given Breton’s earlier warnings to U.S. platforms.

Plus: a brushing-teeth confession from a Swedish minister.

We’d love to hear from you — tell us where and when you listen to the Brussels Playbook Podcast. Send us a note or a voice message on our WhatsApp at: +32 491 05 06 29.

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Who showed up — and who didn't — for Kyiv's big day Feb 25, 2026

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Europe marked four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion with a high-profile show of solidarity in Kyiv on Tuesday. Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa stood alongside Volodymyr Zelenskyy — but the absence of some key leaders raised quiet questions in Ukraine about who showed up, and who didn’t.

Zoya Sheftalovich was on the ground in Kyiv for the anniversary events. She joins Ian Wishart to describe the mood in the city, what was said behind closed doors, and how European leaders are discussing ways to deal with attempts by Hungary and Slovakia to block a vital EU loan for Ukraine and the next package of sanctions against Russia.

You can reach us on our WhatsApp at +32 491 05 06 29.

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Four years of war — and Hungary breaks EU unity Feb 24, 2026

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On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European leaders gather in Kyiv to signal unity and solidarity. But back in Brussels, Hungary blocks a new sanctions package against the Kremlin and a €90 billion loan to Ukraine.

Host Ian Wishart is joined by senior finance reporter Kathryn Carlson. We also hear from Zoya Sheftalovich on the train to Kyiv with Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, as she describes the mood around the trip — and how Hungary’s veto cast a shadow over the anniversary.

Plus: Aging EU buildings are showing their wear — from water problems at DG COMP to the European Parliament’s costly renovation plans.

If you work in a crumbling EU building — or have your own Brussels infrastructure horror story — send us a message or a voice note on WhatsApp: +32 491 05 06 29.

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Sanctions, tensions — and a birthday at the FAC Feb 23, 2026

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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.

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The EU’s envoy to Ukraine on war, resilience — and Nordic walking Feb 20, 2026

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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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Testing Trump’s Board of Peace Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

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.

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The EU’s plan to revive its frontline regions Feb 18, 2026

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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.

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Power play in European Parliament Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

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.

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