American historian Timothy Snyder is well known for his support of Ukraine. He partly explains this by saying thathe knows Ukrainians and understands what is happening here. He specializes in the history of Eastern and Central Europe. Several years ago, he became chair of the Academic Council of the “Ukrainian History: Global Initiative” project,in which nearly 200 scholars make the case for why Ukrainian history should not be viewed as a local story, but rather understood in a broader global context.
Snyder also explains his support for Ukraine through his principles and his ideas about freedom, whose expression hesees in Ukrainians and from whom he says he has learned a great deal. However, at one seminar with Ukrainian military personnel, Snyder was asked a question that made him stop and think. One of the officers asked under what circumstances he would stop supporting Ukraine, or at least regret having done so.
What did the historian answer? What did he see in Ukraine in 2026, and how does he view the interaction between theUkrainian government and MAGA? What does he think about the lessons of previous wars, tensions between Kyiv and Warsaw, and memory as a luxury? What does hemake of foreigners serving in the Ukrainian military, the new perspective on Ukrainian history, and the connection between being able to have a cup of coffee in Berlin and the frontline in Zaporizhzhia?
All this is discussed in journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk’s conversation with Timothy Snyder.
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