Origins of the War

In this episode of Origins of the War, Michael Kimmage speaks with Ambassador Thomas Bagger, German Ambassador to Italy, about the European dimensions of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The conversation traces policy thinking and strategic choices from the 1990s to 2022, examining how European governments understood the post-Soviet space, the role of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership, and the significance of the Maidan Revolution.

Ambassador Bagger reflects on the broader historical context behind the conflict and on how European leaders assessed Russian strategy and decision making in the years leading up to the full-scale invasion.

This episode provides important context for understanding the war in Ukraine through a European lens and for considering the future of European security.

In this episode of Origins of the War, Thomas Graham, Distinguished Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of Getting Russia Right, explores the historical roots of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The conversation traces the evolution of U.S.-Russia relations from the collapse of the Soviet Union through the key policy decisions and geopolitical shifts that shaped the current conflict. Graham reflects on the optimism of the 1990s, the role of NATO expansion, and the transformation of Russia’s foreign policy under Vladimir Putin.

Drawing on decades of diplomatic and policy experience, he offers a nuanced perspective on how past decisions continue to influence today’s strategic environment.

This episode provides critical historical context for understanding the war in Ukraine and the future of U.S.-Russia relations.

In this episode of Origins of the War, Michael Kimmage speaks with Michael Kofman of the Carnegie Endowment about the military and strategic origins of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The conversation examines how Russian thinking on security and power evolved from the Russia-Georgia War of 2008 to the 2014 annexation of Crimea and ultimately to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Kofman discusses Russian military planning, perceptions of NATO, and the role of great power thinking in shaping the Kremlin’s approach. The episode also explores key miscalculations, including Russia’s failure to understand Ukraine as a sovereign society with its own political agency.

The discussion provides a deeper historical and strategic framework for understanding the ongoing war and its broader implications for European and international security.

In this episode of Origins of the War, Michael Kimmage speaks with Ambassador Daniel Fried about the historical origins of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Drawing on decades of diplomatic experience, Fried reflects on the evolution of U.S.–Russia relations from the Cold War to the present, the debates surrounding NATO expansion, and the role of sanctions and diplomacy in responding to Russian aggression.

The conversation explores key moments that shaped the current conflict, including the collapse of the Soviet Union, the transformation of Eastern Europe, the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution and Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch a full-scale invasion in 2022.

Ambassador Fried also offers reflections on lessons from the Cold War, the importance of understanding Ukrainian history, and advice for future policymakers and scholars.

Daniel Fried served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs from 2005 to 2009 and is currently the Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council.

In this episode of Origins of the War, Michael Kimmage speaks with Jon Finer, former Deputy National Security Advisor in the Biden administration, about the historical roots and geopolitical dynamics behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The conversation explores how U.S.-Russia relations evolved after the Cold War and examines key moments that shaped the path to war, including the Iraq War, the Obama administration’s reset with Russia, and the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Finer also reflects on Vladimir Putin’s motivations, the diplomatic efforts that preceded the invasion, and the challenges faced by the Biden administration as tensions escalated in 2021 and early 2022.

The discussion considers the future of U.S.-Russia relations, the role of Europe in supporting Ukraine, and the conditions necessary for a just and lasting peace.

Historian Yaroslav Hrytsak joins Origins of the War to trace the deeper roots of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

From the early post-Soviet years to the Orange Revolution, the 2008 turning point in Russian strategy, the Maidan protests, and the annexation of Crimea, this episode explores how political shifts, generational change, and geopolitical tensions gradually escalated into full-scale war.

Hrytsak examines the Minsk agreements, Putin’s strategic miscalculations, and the enduring resilience of Ukrainian society. The discussion highlights how history, identity, and civil society continue to shape the future of the region.

A conversation about gradual change, strategic error, and the long path to war.

Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan joins Origins of the War to discuss the evolution of U.S.–Russia relations and the events that led to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Sullivan reflects on growing up during the Cold War, the reset policy under the Obama administration, the Maidan Revolution, the annexation of Crimea, and the diplomatic efforts in 2021 as war loomed. He offers insight into how U.S. policymakers assessed Putin’s motivations, Russia’s ultimatums, and the strategic environment facing the Biden administration.

This episode examines the intersection of history, leadership, and strategy in shaping one of the most consequential conflicts of the 21st century.

A conversation about power, perception, and the limits of diplomacy in an era of renewed great-power rivalry.

In this episode of Origins of the War, Ambassador John Sullivan discusses U.S.–Russia relations, the war in Ukraine, and the decisions that shaped one of the most consequential geopolitical crises of the twenty-first century.

Sullivan reflects on his early interest in Russia, from Cold War cultural encounters to academic study and travel in the Soviet Union, and how those experiences informed a diplomatic career spanning senior roles across the U.S. government. As U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2019 to 2022, he witnessed firsthand the deterioration of relations and the mounting tensions that led to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The conversation explores the annexation of Crimea as a critical turning point, arms control negotiations, intelligence assessments, and the challenges the Biden administration faced in engaging Moscow. Sullivan also examines Vladimir Putin’s motivations, the role of historical memory, and how domestic political pressures can complicate foreign policy decision making.

This episode offers historical context, personal perspective, and a sober assessment of how timing and misjudgments shaped the international response to Russian aggression.

Origins of the War is a series from The Kennan Institute examining the historical forces and policy choices behind Russia’s war against Ukraine.