What does international law owe to Ukraine´s deported children? Why is Russia’s forced transfer of Ukrainian children a defining issue for global justice?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Ukrainian international legal experts Dr. Yulia Ioffe and Dr. Kateryna Cherepakha join Dr. Paul R. Williams to discuss the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-occupied territories—a policy many argue constitutes genocide.

They examine the strategic, ideologically motivated nature of the deportations: re-education, forced adoptions, name changes, and the erasure of Ukrainian identity. The conversation highlights how this tactic not only breaks international law but also threatens the integrity of the rules-based international order.

Drawing on their legal and advocacy experience, Ioffe and Cherepakha reflect on the limits of current enforcement tools, the urgent need for repatriation and reintegration, and how the international community must close accountability gaps. They also explain how the legal response to these crimes could shape the future of child protection in armed conflict more broadly.

🎧 Tune in for a timely discussion on genocide, international law, and the moral and legal imperative to return Ukraine’s children.

What does it take to negotiate peace when your opponent uses diplomacy as a tool for delay and manipulation? What lessons can we draw from the Minsk process to design a more durable peace in the future?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Ukrainian lawyer and mediator Yuna Potomkina joins Dr. Paul R. Williams to reflect on the shortcomings of past negotiations and the essential principles for shaping future peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Drawing from her experience as Adviser to the First Deputy Head of Ukraine’s negotiation delegation at the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk (2020–2022), Potomkina explains why peace agreements without enforceable guarantees fall short—and why justice cannot be sidelined.

She unpacks the risks of rushed or externally driven negotiations, and makes a compelling case for Ukrainian-led, legally sound, and strategically aligned peace efforts.

The conversation highlights how mediators must navigate asymmetry, protect Ukraine’s red lines, and ensure accountability is non-negotiable.

🎧 Tune in for a powerful discussion on justice, strategy, and designing a peace process that can stand the test of time.

What do negotiations look like when one party to peace talks never intended to negotiate in good faith? What can we learn from peace talks that didn’t lead to peace?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, former Danish diplomat Ivan M. Nielsen joins Dr. Paul R. Williams to reflect on his role as Denmark’s Special Envoy to the Syrian Opposition during the UN-backed Geneva peace talks.

Nielsen offers an insider's view of the Geneva process, describing how the Assad regime went through the motions of negotiation while continuing attacks on civilians—with Russia’s backing. He discusses the complex dynamics of engaging with a fragmented opposition, the structural challenges posed by the UN framework, and the difficulty of maintaining a meaningful diplomatic process under asymmetrical conditions.

Drawing on his experience in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Africa, Nielsen shares core lessons that are important for both Syria and other post-conflict states. Nielson offers us a cautious but enduring message of optimism about Syria’s long road ahead.

🎧 Tune in for an insightful and thoughtful discussion on diplomacy, accountability, and the struggle for peace in Syria.