Ukraine's New Era: What Kind of Country Is Emerging From War?

This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed 43-year-old General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the country's new Commander-in-Chief, replacing General Oleksandr Syrskyi in the most significant military reshuffle since Russia's full-scale invasion. More than a change in leadership, it raises a bigger question: What kind of Ukraine is emerging from this war?

In this week's episode, Jasmine speaks with Ukrainian Member of Parliament and Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly for the Council of Europe Mariia Mezentseva about how the war has transformed Ukrainian society, shaped a new generation of leaders, and strengthened the country's sense of national identity. We discuss what resilience looks like after four and a half years of war, whether Ukraine can continue balancing democracy with an existential conflict, and how Ukrainians themselves think about the path to peace.