What makes Vladimir Putin tick? In this episode, Darina Kulaha interviews Andrew Kuchins, a leading expert on U.S.-Russia relations and former director of the Carnegie Moscow Center. From Putin’s early ambitions to the deep historical tensions shaping today’s war in Ukraine, this conversation unpacks why Western leaders still fail to understand Putin’s worldview — and what it means for the future of global diplomacy.

Topics include:

• The psychology of Putin’s leadership

• Russia’s evolving identity post-Soviet Union

• The impact of NATO expansion

• Why Ukraine is existential to the Kremlin

• What comes next for U.S.-Russia relations

Listen now on Untangling Podcast — where global issues get unpacked.