Origins of the War

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-sca...

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 in...

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...