Russia has wielded one of the biggest weapons it has in its arsenal in its war against Ukraine........and it's broader confrontation against the West. Today the Russians cut off natural gas imports to two NATO countries, Poland and Bulgaria, over their refusal to pay for the gas in Russian rubles.......rather than dollars. Will the move divide NATO; and is this just the start of Russia weaponizing its natural gas exports? It was described as a scene out of a movie: an American Marine Corps veteran, held in Russia for 3 years on what were reportedly trumped up charges, was given his freedom today in a dramatic prisoner exchange. Does this hint of diplomacy mean we're closer to a peace deal in Ukraine? Ukraine is two months into its war with Russia. At the end of today's podcast we'll talk again with a member of Ukraine's parliament who says Russia can be defeated but more help is needed. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices