Origins of the War

In this episode of Origins of the War, Dmitri Alperovitch joins the Kennan Institute to examine the roots of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through a global and geopolitical lens.

Drawing on themes from his recent book World on the Brink, Alperovitch discusses the warning signs leading up to the 2022 invasion, including cyber operations, Russian intelligence activity, and the broader strategic calculations behind the Kremlin’s actions. The conversation also explores how the war in Ukraine relates to future geopolitical flashpoints, particularly Taiwan.

The discussion covers Putin’s worldview, the significance of the 2013–2014 turning points in Ukraine, and the limitations of economic engagement as a strategy for moderating authoritarian powers.

Learn more about World on the Brink:
https://worldonthebrink.com/

Follow the Kennan Institute for more conversations on Russia, Ukraine, and the post-Soviet states.

Catherine Belton (The Washington Post) and Shaun Walker (The Guardian) join Origins of the War to discuss the intelligence, strategy, and political context surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This conversation explores how U.S. intelligence forecasted the invasion, why global and Ukrainian assessments often diverged, and how intelligence shaped policy decisions before the war began.

A timely discussion on the origins of one of the most consequential geopolitical conflicts in modern history.

In this episode of Origins of the War, Alexander Bick, University of Virginia professor and former National Security Council official, joins Michael Kimmage to explore the policy choices, strategic calculations, and historical analysis surrounding Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The discussion examines:

• U.S. policy decisions prior to the invasion
• Russian strategic motivations
• Historical frameworks in policymaking
• National Security Council assessments
• The intersection of scholarship and public service

This episode provides a unique perspective on how historical training and real-world policy formation shaped the American response to one of the defining geopolitical crises of our time.

In this episode of Origins of the War, historian Margaret MacMillan joins Michael Kimmage to examine the deep historical roots of Russia’s serial invasions of Ukraine.

The discussion explores:

• The evolution of the modern nation state
• European history before and after World War I
• Nationalism, empire, and political transformation
• The legacy of Versailles and unresolved tensions
• Historical patterns that continue to shape contemporary conflict

By situating Russia’s war against Ukraine within the broader history of European state formation and warfare, this episode offers a long-range perspective on one of today’s defining geopolitical crises.

In this episode of Origins of the War, Ivan Krastev joins Michael Kimmage to examine the European political, intellectual, and strategic dimensions behind Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The discussion explores:

• The growth of the European Union in the 2000s
• Ukraine’s evolving relationship with Europe
• The significance of 2013–2014 and Maidan
• Europe’s changing relationship with Russia
• Putin’s worldview and European geopolitics

This episode provides an essential European perspective on the origins of the war and the broader historical forces that shaped it.

In this episode of Origins of the War, historian Odd Arne Westad joins Michael Kimmage to explore the deep historical roots of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine through the lens of Cold War history and global geopolitics.

The discussion examines:

• The unresolved legacies of the Cold War
• Putin’s worldview and Soviet influences
• Russia’s strategic relationship with the West
• Multipolarity, China, and emerging global powers
• How historical structures continue to shape present-day conflict

This conversation provides a global historical perspective on one of the defining geopolitical crises of the modern era.

In this episode of Origins of the War, Gwendolyn Sasse, Director of ZOIS and author of Russia’s War against Ukraine, joins Michael Kimmage to explore the deeper historical and political roots of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The conversation examines Ukraine’s evolving relationship with Europe, the political significance of Crimea, the legacy of EU enlargement, and the regional dynamics that shaped the conflict.

Topics include:

• Ukraine’s post-Soviet political development
• EU relations and enlargement
• Crimea and regional identity
• Russia’s strategic calculations
• Historical frameworks for understanding the war

A vital discussion for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the origins of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

In this episode, Pavlo Klimkin, former Foreign Minister of Ukraine, discusses the diplomatic history behind Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The conversation explores Ukraine’s early years of independence, the challenges of nuclear disarmament, and the country’s evolving relationship with both Russia and Europe. It also examines the pivotal events of 2013–2014, the long phase of “Minsk” diplomacy, and the developments in 2021 that preceded Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Grounded in firsthand experience, this episode provides a detailed look at the diplomatic and strategic context shaping the conflict.

In this episode, Angela Stent explores the origins of Russia’s war against Ukraine through the lens of U.S.-Russian relations since the end of the Cold War.

The discussion examines the open-ended nature of the 1990s, the rise of Vladimir Putin, and the key moments that shaped the deterioration of relations between Russia and the West. It also considers the impact of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the broader historical context leading to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

This conversation provides a historically grounded perspective on the political and strategic dynamics underpinning the war.

In this episode of Origins of the War, Michael Kimmage speaks with Serhii Plokhy, Professor of History at Harvard University, about the historical roots of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The conversation explores how imperial Russian narratives, particularly the idea of a shared identity between Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians, have shaped political thinking over time. Plokhy examines the emergence of Ukrainian national identity, the historical suppression of Ukrainian language and culture, and the long-standing tensions between empire and nationhood.

Drawing on his book David and Goliath: Commentaries on the Russo-Ukrainian War, he provides a historical framework for understanding the origins of the 2022 invasion and the broader geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

This episode offers essential context for understanding the war through the lens of history, identity, and competing narratives in the post-Soviet states.