Nigel Gould-Davies

Professor Higashino Atsuko, Professor James D.J. Brown, and Dr Nigel Gould-Davies discuss Japan's response to the Russia-Ukraine war, possible military aid to Ukraine, Japan's support for post-war rebuilding, defense and energy policy, challenges faced by Ukraine, Japanese firms in Ukraine, Japan's energy vulnerabilities, Sino-Russian relationship complexities, trade relations with China, book recommendations, and addressing misconceptions about Japanese interests.

Nigel Gould-Davies, Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia at IISS, unpacks rapidly shifting dynamics in the Russia–Ukraine war. He discusses why escalation now looks more likely, Ukraine’s new technology-powered strategy and operational gains, Russia’s weakening recruitment and mobilization problems, and Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy and revenue lifelines.

In this engaging discussion, Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and former UK diplomat, highlights Russia's shifting strategy in the Ukraine war. He argues that Moscow is losing its time advantage, prompting a more aggressive stance. Gould-Davies explores how Western support for Ukraine and Russia's economic strains are shaping the conflict's trajectory. He also critiques Putin's missed diplomatic opportunities and assesses the implications of NATO's military commitments for Europe's security.