Vitalii Portnikov, at The Blogs

Jun 4, 2024, 5:43 PM

The First Jewish Person at the Helm of Mexico

Not long ago, Mexican scholar and activist Claudia Sheinbaum was the first woman and first Jewish person to hold the position of mayor of the country's capital. Now she has become the first woman and first Jewish person to...

May 30, 2024, 6:46 PM

The Long Wars of Our Time

When terrorists from Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 of last year, many thought it was a classic local conflict that would end within days or weeks with a ceasefire and the exchange of Israeli hostages for imprisoned Hamas...

May 26, 2024, 5:18 PM

Biden in a Middle Eastern Trap

The political fortunes of US presidential candidates are often shaped by domestic issues. American diplomats are accustomed to patiently explaining to foreign politicians that American voters prioritize economic interests over foreign policy stances. This is why, in the months...

May 21, 2024, 12:19 AM

President Raisi: Friend of Russia, Enemy of Israel

Commentators reflecting on the death of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi often emphasize that he was not the true head of state. They remind us that the real leader of Iran is Ayatollah Khamenei, and any president is merely an...

May 6, 2024, 6:45 PM

Putin: Winner of the Gaza War

One of the analysts from the French publication Le Monde dubbed Vladimir Putin the "primary victor in the Gaza War." Perhaps for some, this characterization may seem like a significant exaggeration. However, as early as the spring of 2022,...

May 2, 2024, 8:04 PM

Beijing challenges Washington in the Middle East

My YouTube blog is about how China is challenging America in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Apr 16, 2024, 2:01 PM

De-escalation and Impunity

President Joseph Biden of the United States and other Western leaders are urging Israel not to retaliate against Iran. They deem it a victory simply that Israel and its allies successfully repelled the attack. However, Israel's response could trigger...

Apr 13, 2024, 10:53 PM

Ukraine: A Testing Ground for Iran

At the onset of Russia's war against Ukraine, when Russia began to extensively deploy Iranian drones not only on the battlefield but also to destroy civilian infrastructure, I warned my Israeli colleagues that this was not just about aiding...

Mar 10, 2024, 3:19 PM

The Pope and the ‘White Flag’

Quotes from Pope Francis in a recent interview, where he calls for negotiations to end conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, exemplify the double standards that have become the hallmark of policies in the so-called 'global South' —...

Nov 4, 2023, 10:31 AM

President Zelensky’s visit to Israel

The impending visit of Ukraine's President to Israel, scheduled for the upcoming week, may very well be deemed one of the most pivotal political events in recent memory. It distinguishes itself from the typical visits by prominent Western leaders...

About Me

Vitalii Portnikov is a Ukrainian publicist, writer, TV presenter and member of the Ukrainian PEN. He is also an author and renowned journalist working in democratic media in Central and Eastern Europe for more than three decades. He is the author of hundreds of analytical articles in Ukrainian, Belarusian, Polish, Russian, Israeli, Baltic media. He hosts television programs and his own analytical channels on YouTube. He is currently broadcasting at the office of the Espreso TV channel and continues to cooperate with the Ukrainian and Russian services of Radio Liberty.