Origins of the War
Origins of the War is a long-form interview series from The Kennan Institute examining the historical, political, and intellectual origins of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Each episode features leading historians, scholars, and policymakers in conversation about the end of the Cold War, post-Soviet transformations, Russian decision making, and the critical moments that shaped the path to war. Rather than focusing on breaking news, the series provides context, evidence, and long-view analysis to help audiences understand how this war came to be and why it matters.
Episodes
Origins of the War with Constanze Stelzenmüller
How did European policy after the Cold War shape the path to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine?In this episode of Origins of the War, Michael Kimmage is joined by Constanze Stelzenmüller of the Brookings Institution for a conversation on the evolution of European policy toward Central and Eastern Europe after 1991, Germany’s role in the Minsk diplomacy of 2014 and 2015, and the broader Europ
Origins of the War with Samuel Charap
How did the post-Cold War security order shape the path to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?In this episode of Origins of the War, Michael Kimmage is joined by Samuel Charap of the RAND Corporation for a discussion on the evolution of Russian foreign policy after 2012, the European security architecture that emerged after 1991, and Ukraine’s place in U.S. foreign policy.Their conversation explores the
Origins of the War with Dara Massicot
How did the Russian military evolve from the collapse of the Soviet Union to the invasion of Ukraine?In this episode of Origins of the War, Michael Kimmage speaks with Dara Massicot of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about the development of Russia’s military after 1991 and the conflicts that shaped its modern strategy.Their conversation traces the Russian military’s trajectory thro
Origins of the War with Timothy Snyder
Michael Kimmage speaks with historian Timothy Snyder about the historical development of Ukrainian identity, Ukraine’s place in Europe, and the origins of Russia’s war against Ukraine.The conversation explores the emergence of the Ukrainian national idea, the legacy of the Cossack period, the challenges of state-building in the twentieth century, and the resilience of Ukrainian political and cultu
Origins of the War with Patrick Travers
Michael Kimmage speaks with Patrick Travers, former advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister, about the origins of Russia’s war against Ukraine and Canada’s distinctive role in supporting Ukrainian sovereignty.The conversation explores Canada’s historical ties to Ukraine, Western assessments of Russia’s motivations, the impact of Crimea and the Minsk process, Operation Unifier, and the policy choice
Origins of the War with Stephen Sestanovich
Michael Kimmage speaks with Stephen Sestanovich of the Council on Foreign Relations about the long arc of U.S. policy toward Russia, the transformation of Eastern and Central Europe after the end of the Cold War, and the historical forces that contributed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.The conversation examines the hopes and tensions of the post-Cold War era, the emergence of aut
Origins of the War with Dmitri Alperovitch
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 calcul
Origins of the War with Catherine Belton and Shaun Walker
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 d
Origins of the War with Alexander Bick
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 frame
Origins of the War with Margaret MacMillan
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 patter
Origins of the War with Ivan Krastev
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
Origins of the War with Odd Arne Westad
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, an
Origins of the War with Gwendolyn Sasse
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 s
Origins of the War with Pavlo Klimkin
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
Origins of the War with Angela Stent
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
Origins of the War with Serhii Plokhy
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 emer
Origins of the War with Ambassador Thomas Bagger
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
Origins of the War with Thomas Graham
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.
Origins of the War with Michael Kofman
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 discu
Origins of the War with Dan Fried
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 aggress
Origins of the War with Jon Finer
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 Oba
Origins of the War with Yaroslav Hrytsak
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-scal
Origins of the War with Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan
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 int
Origins of the War with Ambassador John Sullivan
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 dip
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