BACK STORY With DANA LEWIS Dana Lewis

On this Back Story Dana Lewis speaks to UK (Ret) Rear Admiral John Gower, who says Russia is increasing the nuclear threat level as President Putin pledged to move tactical nuclear weapons to neighbouring Belarus.

Gower also speaks about why nuclear submarines for Australia are needed, but cautions about why arming those SSNs with cruise missiles,  if indeed the U.S. proceeds with rearming it's cruise missile arsenal with nuclear warheads raises risks.

And in Kyiv, Valeriia Kolomiiets, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine for European Integration says the Wagner Group fighting for Russia, is in her view committing war crimes. She discussed the many war crimes being investigated by a European tribunal, and the Int. Criminal Court in the Hague.
 

Did Russia just mortgage the Kremlin to China?

At a 2 day summit in Moscow, Chinese leader Xi and Russian President Putin spoke of their close friendship.

Russia isolated by international sanctions because of it's bloody invasion of Ukraine, now counts on China to buy it's oil and gas and possibly provide lethal military aid.

On this Back Story Host Dana Lewis talks to U.S. Ambassador Douglas Lute, on attempts by China and Russia to upend the World order.

And Security and Russia expert Debra Cagan on Russia's nuclear threat, and how she likens China to the mafia, and the price of protecting Russia.

On this Back Story Tuft's Univ. Michael Beckley predicts China is going to take the step of providing lethal aid to Russia in it's war in Ukraine. That's despite dire warnings form Western Nations including America. 

And Kyiv Post reporter Jason Smart on the information war between Ukraine and Russia, and why opinions matter in sustaining the war effort. 

On this Back Story the Wagner Group, meddling in Africa, fighting in Ukraine, who are they? Guns for hire, unleashed by the Kremlin.   We talk to Soufan Center expert Colin Clarke. 

And from Kyiv, Life Line Charity's Paul Niland on the war in Ukraine.

Germany has finally announced it will allow Leopard Tanks to be exported to Ukraine. And the U.S. will send a token force of M1-Abrams tanks.

This potentially changes the course of the war in Ukraine from holding Russia back, to defeating Russian forces including in the Crimea. 

It's a major escalation of the conflict because Europe and America see no way out of this war, but to defeat Russia.  Escalate to de-escalate can mean many things in the months to come in Ukraine. 

Back Story host Dana Lewis talks to the former U.S. Army Commander in Europe, Ret Lt. Gen Ben Hodges who says the allies are scared to defeat Russia, but must do so.

On this Back Story, Dana Lewis has two fantastic guests.

(Ret) Major Mike Lyons is a warfare expert and says Ukraine is in trouble without a change of tactics and more military muscle. 

And a CIA Station Chief who served the U.S. for more than 3 decades, Douglas London discusses President Putin's and whether his inner circle could turn on him soon? And would Putin use a nuclear weapon, a man without morality says London.