Ukrainian Artists Centered in Oscar-Nominated Documentary 'Porcelain War'

The 2025 Academy Award-nominated documentary “Porcelain War” tells the story of Ukrainian artists Slava Leontyev, Anya Stasenko and Andrey Stefanov as they defy the Russian invasion through their art and by aiding in the war effort. In the intricately painted porcelain figurines they create and film, the artists represent how their lives used to be — and their hopes for the future. Leontyev and producer Paula DuPré Pesmen join us to talk about the film and the power and fragility of art in the face of war. Later in the hour, we’ll speak with former Ukraine ambassador Steven Pifer about the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine under the Trump Administration.

Show Highlights

The Power and Fragility of Art in Wartime

Reflecting on his art, Slava Leontyev compares porcelain to Ukraine itself: “It’s so easy to take away part of our territory, to kill our people, but nobody can completely destroy Ukrainian culture, and nobody can take away our identity.” He underscores the power of art as an act of defiance, adding, “The stories we tell through art, they are also our resistance. This is how we avoid erasure.”

Producer Paula DuPré Pesmen highlights the impact of Leontyev’s and his artistic collaborator and wife Anya Stasenko’s creations, noting that “using their language of art was a way that they could tell their story.” The film brings this vision to life by animating the artists’ figurines, with over 7,000 hand-drawn frames transforming their delicate sculptures into moving expressions of resilience. 

Ukraine’s Fight to Preserve Identity and Culture

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer notes that the war is about identity and culture, saying, “We’ve seen the Russians trying to erase Ukrainian identity, Ukrainian culture, in the areas occupied by the Russian military.” He describes these occupied territories as “a totalitarian hell.”

Leontyev strikes a similar note, emphasizing that Russia is trying to “rebuild their empire and take away our identity.” He mourns the loss of artists, actors and teachers who have been killed on the frontlines or by Russian shelling.

Trump’s Transactional Tactics: U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine 

Pifer warns of the dangers of President Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy, stating, “an overly transactional foreign policy is going to doom a lot of the goodwill the United States has around the world.” At the same time, he acknowledges Ukrainian President Zelensky’s strategic efforts to “sustain American interest” by offering access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.

Emphasizing the stakes of continued U.S. support, Pifer cautions, “If Russia wins — either on the battlefield or in a negotiation — you’re going to have an emboldened Vladimir Putin who will pose a much greater threat to Europe and to American security interests there.”

Ukraine’s Future: The Fight, the Cost and the Path to Peace

Discussing a potential negotiated settlement, Pifer identifies two crucial questions: “One is, does Ukraine have to give up land? And if so, how much territory? But second, in return, what kind of security guarantees does Ukraine receive?”

“I’m not sure at this point that Ukraine could really count on recovering all the territory lost,” Pifer says. “It would require greater manpower and a much larger stock of weapons.” However, he emphasizes the nation’s resilience, stating, “There is this will to resist in Ukraine.” While Zelenskyy may be open to negotiations, polls show that most Ukranians are unwilling to cede significant territory, highlighting the tension between the desire to fight on and the practical limitations of diplomacy.

Filmmaker Leontyev expressed hope that “Porcelain War” would serve as an inspiration: “Resistance is possible. Resistance may be successful in any situation. Resistance is available for regular civilian people.”

This content was edited by the Forum production team but was generated with the help of AI.