Selected Online Reading on Russia's War on Ukraine: Its Origins and Geopolitical Context

Ukraine: Contested Nationhood in a European Context challenges the common view that Ukraine is a country split between a pro-European West and a pro-Russian East. The volume navigates the complicated cultural history of Ukraine and highlights the importance of regional traditions for an understanding of the current political situation. A key feature is the different politics of memory that prevail in each region, such as the Soviet past being presented as either a foreign occupation or a benign socialist project.　 The pluralistic culture of Ukraine (in terms of languages, national legacies and religions) forms a nation that faces both internal and external challenges. In order to address this fully, rather than following a merely chronological order, this book examines different interpretations of Ukrainian nationhood that have been especially influential, such as the Russian tradition, the Habsburg past and the Polish connections.　 Finally, the book analyses Ukraine's political and economic options for the future. Can the desired integration into EU structures overcome the concentration of investment of power in the hands of a few oligarchs and a continuing widespread culture of corruption? Will proposals to join NATO, which garnered robust support among the populace in the aftermath of the Russian aggression, materialise under the current circumstances? Is the political culture in Ukraine sufficiently functional to guarantee democratic procedures and the rule of law?

Zelensky is the first major biography of Ukraine''s leader written for a Western audience. Told with flair and authority, it is the gripping story of one of the most admired and inspirational leaders in the world. Action-packed biography of Ukraine''s comedian-turned-President ; (...)

The 2013-2014 Euromaidan Revolution's call for justice, dignity, and liberty brought Ukraine, which had 'disappeared ' behind the Iron Curtain for decades after the horrors of World War II, into the world's public consciousness. Yet, the country was soon almost forgotten again. In early 2022, the rapid escalation of Putin's war on Ukraine has put the country back into the spotlight. Without knowing the country's past, one cannot understand its present. This anthology tackles the complex history of terror and violence in Ukraine - from the millionfold starvation of the Holodomor to the changing occupation regimes, from the 'Shoah by Bullets' to the Chornobyl disaster. Those ready to delve deeper into the checkered, painful history of the country will better understand Ukraine's current quest for independence, freedom, and democracy. The volume's contributors are Serhii Plokhii, Timothy D. Snyder, Anna Veronika Wendland, Anne Applebaum, Eduard Klein, Gelinada Grinchenko, Gerhard Simon, Irina Scherbakowa, Jan Claas Behrends, Karel C. Berkhoff, Kateryna Mishchenko, Klaus Wolschner, Nikolai Klimeniouk, Nikolaus von Twickel, Oksana Grytsenko, Ottmar Trașcă, Rebecca Harms, Sebastian Christ, Sébastien Gobert, Viktoria Savchuk, Volodymyr Yermolenko, Wilfried Jilge, Christoph Brumme, and Yevhen Hlibovytsky.

Il volume, in un costante rimando tra dinamiche storiche e attualità geopolitica, si rivela uno strumento utile per l'analisi dei complessi fenomeni che hanno condotto, nei secoli, all'odierno conflitto in Ucraina, ad oggi la più importante crisi politico-militare su suolo europeo del XXI secolo. Una lunga traiettoria che dai tempi di Erodoto giunge sino ad Euromajdan, dove l'attenta ricostruzione storica si interseca con efficaci chiavi interpretative. L'autore fa inoltre emergere un mosaico culturale di grande interesse, spaziando in modo erudito lungo i secoli, gli eventi e i popoli di questo crocevia di religioni, imperi e identità: dalla Rus' di Kiev ai cosacchi ucraini, dalle contese tra russi, polacchi e turchi sino all'era postsovietica e al processo di allargamento ad est della NATO. Un testo che costituisce un unicum negli studi di storia delle relazioni internazionali, cruciale per addentrarsi non solo nelle vicende dell'Ucraina e della sua crisi con Mosca, ma anche per una più generale comprensione degli avvenimenti di quella periferia centro-orientale d'Europa che, come Giorgio Cella sottolinea, è stata nel corso della storia del Vecchio Continente troppe volte gravemente trascurata

Located at the western edge of the Eurasian steppe, Ukraine has long been the meeting place of empires - Roman to Ottoman, Habsburg to Russian - and they all left their imprint on the landscape, the language and the people living within these shifting borders. In this authoritative book, Harvard Professor Serhii Plokhy traces the history of Ukraine from the arrival of the Vikings in the tenth century to the current Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. Fascinating and multilayered, The Gates of Europe is the essential guide to understanding not just Ukraine's past but also its future

In this fully revised and updated in-depth analysis of the war in Ukraine, Paul D'Anieri explores the dynamics within Ukraine, between Ukraine and Russia, and between Russia and the West that emerged with the collapse of the Soviet Union and eventually resulted in Russia's invasion in 2022. Proceeding chronologically, this book shows how Ukraine's separation from Russia in 1991, at the time called a 'civilized divorce,' led to Europe's most violent conflict since WWII. It argues the conflict came about because of three underlying factors-the security dilemma, the impact of democratization on geopolitics, and the incompatible goals of a post-Cold War Europe. Rather than a peaceful situation that was squandered, D'Anieri argues that these were deep-seated pre-existing disagreements that could not be bridged, with concerning implications for the prospects of resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

The world has been splintered by geopolitics and yet is still bound by inter­dependence. As competition between the world's great powers surges, multiple trends point towards the collapse of the international order. Russia's aggression against Ukraine marks a tipping point, potentially turning an already contested world into one of lasting regression on the political, security, economic, social and environmental fronts. While this scenario is not inevitable, it will take determined leadership to ward it off. This book argues that the European Union can, in cooperation with others, play a crucial role in averting a regressive world. However, doing so will require a decisive change of gear: deepening European integration while pursuing EU enlargement, enhancing all dimensions of Europe's power, and shifting from crisis management to delivering structural solutions to systemic challenges.

One of the world's most prevalent political quarrels is the current geographical state of Ukraine, along with its relationships with Russia and the European Union. With the annexation of Crimea, Russian forces have gained control over most of Eastern Ukraine, igniting a clash between the two governments and triggering the European Union, United States, and several Post-Soviet states to involve themselves in the situation. As these engagements continue to unfold, significant research is needed to examine the current state of these administrations and the tensions that continue to intensify in this region of the world. Analyzing Political Tensions Between Ukraine, Russia, and the EU is a collection of innovative research on the recent developments inside this growing geopolitical conflict. While highlighting topics including neighborhood policy, NATO relations, and Eastern partnership, this book is ideally designed for politicians, policymakers, governmental strategists, researchers, educators, journalists, academicians, and students seeking further understanding of foreign relations and the current political struggles of these European territories.

Wydarzenia kryzysu ukraińskiego stanowiły dla wielu zaskoczenie. Inni natomiast, wieszcząc upadek "jednobiegunowej chwili", interpretowali je jako konieczność wynikającą z odwiecznej rywalizacji mocarstw. Bez wątpienia jednak kryzys ukraiński przyczynił się do przeobrażenia status quo bezpieczeństwa Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej, a zmianami tymi w znacznym stopniu została objęta również Polska. Autor poprzez chłodną analizę zakotwiczoną w teorii realizmu strukturalnego i opierającą się o założenia geopolityczne ukazuje, w jaki sposób wydarzenia zza naszej wschodniej granicy wpłynęły na bezpieczeństwo Polski. Publikacja ta jest wnikliwą interpretacją polityki zagranicznej Polski kreowanej w obliczu kryzysu ukraińskiego, a także regionalnej gry interesów mocarstw. Od rewolucji Euromajdanu, poprzez aneksję Krymu i destabilizację wschodniej Ukrainy, aż do zamrożenia konfliktu autor przybliża czytelnikowi skomplikowany przebieg kryzysu, osadzając go w kontekście bezpieczeństwa Polski, wraz z rywalizacją zachodnio-rosyjską w tle.

W książce zidentyfikowano i scharakteryzowano wybrane zagrożenia kreowane przez Federację Rosyjską i oceniono ich konsekwencje dla bezpieczeństwa międzynarodowego. Przedstawiono działania Sojuszu Północnoatlantyckiego i Unii Europejskiej, jakie są podejmowane na arenie międzynarodowej, aby zniwelować te zagrożenia. Dokonano oceny konsekwencji zagrożeń dla stosunków Polski z Rosją. Monografia jest adresowana głównie do osób zainteresowanych problematyką bezpieczeństwa międzynarodowego i Polski oraz zagrożeniami kreowanymi przez Federację Rosyjską. Może stanowić cenną pomoc dydaktyczną dla studentów takich kierunków jak bezpieczeństwo międzynarodowe i narodowe, stosunki międzynarodowe, geopolityka i politologia.

This book examines the relationship between national identity construction and current foreign policy discourses on Russia in selected European Union member states in 2014-2018. It shows that divergent national discourses on Russia derive from the different ways in which the country was constructed in national identity. The book develops an interpretive theoretical framework and argues that policy makers' agency can profoundly influence the contestation between different identity narratives. It includes case studies in policy areas that are of primary importance for EU-Russia relations, such as energy security (the Nord Stream 2 controversy), the Ukraine crisis, and Russia's military intervention in Syria. Focusing on EU member states that have traditionally taken different stances vis-à-vis Russia (Germany, Poland and Finland), it shows that at the peak of the Ukraine crisis national discourses converged towards a pragmatic, but critical narrative. As the Ukraine crisis subsided and new events took centre stage in foreign policy discussions (i.e. the Syrian civil war, international terrorism), long-standing and identity-based divergences partly re-emerged in the discourses of policy makers. This became particularly evident during the Nord Stream 2 controversy. Deep-rooted and different perceptions of the Russian Other in EU member states are still influential and lead to divergent national agendas for foreign policy towards Russia. This book will be of interest to students and scholars working in European and EU politics, Russian and Soviet politics, and International Relations.

« Avec le conflit ukrainien, l'Union européenne (UE) fait face à la guerre, antithèse existentielle de sa vocation. L'Union est impliquée par son soutien militaire à l'Ukraine, par les conséquences du conflit sur ses valeurs, son économie, ses communications, son exposition aux mouvements migratoires et par le retour de la menace nucléaire. L'UE doit trouver sa place dans le nouvel ordre international en affirmant son attachement à la démocratie, au respect du droit et des frontières, mais aussi son rôle médiateur peu compatible avec un alignement inconditionnel sur les États-Unis. L'effet des sanctions et le rôle de l'énergie, passeport écologique et ressource de guerre à la fois, doivent aussi être bien mesurés. L'avenir de l'Union dépend de sa capacité à dessiner enfin une défense commune. Dès à présent, une réflexion doit s'engager sur les relations futures avec la Russie, qu'elle soit dirigée ou non par Vladimir Poutine, et sur l'incarnation d'une souveraineté européenne, laquelle pourrait prendre la forme, pour les affaires étrangères et la défense, d'une Union politique et de sécurité inspirée du plan Fouchet présenté par le général de Gaulle en 1961. »-

2022 has been the year of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine. The Russian aggression and its global consequences raise many questions for EU foreign and security policy. How did the EU react, maintaining its unity and breaking many taboos? Are the sanctions against Russia working? How did the EU respond to the weaponisation of energy by Russia? How did the EU address the consequences of Russia's aggression on the availability of food and fertilizers globally? What conclusions should the EU draw from this war for European security and defence? How can the EU, in this new geopolitical context, maintain international law and revitalise the multilateral framework to ensure cooperation on global issues like climate change? And how can the EU reinforce its engagement with Africa, the Indo-Pacific and Latin America, what some now call the "Global South"? In this book, which brings together a collection of blog posts, op-eds and speeches, HR/VP Josep Borrell Fontelles addresses these questions and other issues that dominated EU foreign and security policy in 2022.

With its attack on Ukraine, Russia's future seems almost as uncertain as its past. The largest country in the world - with the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons - has been known over the past thousand years as Rus, Muscovy, the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Thirty years ago it was reinvented as the Russian Federation. Russia is not an enigma but its past is violent, tragic, sometimes glorious, and certainly complicated. Like the rest of us, the Russians constantly rewrite their history. They too omit episodes of national disgrace in favour of patriotic anecdotes, sometimes more rooted in myth than reality. Expert and former ambassador Rodric Braithwaite unpicks fact from fiction to discover what lies at the root of the Russian story, more relevant to the rest of the world now than ever before.

Russia's controversial involvement in the conflict in Ukraine since 2014 has raised important enquiries into Russia's understanding of conflict management and its approach to contemporary European security. This book provides a timely and contextual exploration of Russia's post-Soviet legacy of conflict management in the backdrop of its interaction with Europe's system of security governance. By exploring Russia's approach from the early 1990s to the beginning of Vladimir Putin's third presidential term, the book offers a comprehensive exploration into the evolution of Russian behaviour. The book investigates whether Russia's approach has developed in accordance with the policies and practices of security governance that have emerged in the European 'experience' of conflict management. Together with extensive documentary analysis, the book employs the framework of security governance to examine Moscow's behaviour across a set of case studies situated in the European political and security environment. It offers a timely contribution to our understanding of Russia's response to intra-state conflict and its engagement with its contemporary security environment.

Few countries have been transformed as rapidly and dramatically as Russia since the end of the Communist regime. Yet the more that certain things change in Russia, the more others remain the same. The result is a political and social system of which almost every aspect is a work in progress, marked by sudden accelerations, slowdowns, turnarounds, and conundrums. This lively and innovative third edition provides a clear and comprehensive picture of Russian politics which does full justice to its changes, challenges, and paradoxes. A distinctive feature throughout is its emphasis on outlining basic facts and developments and setting these in historical contexts before moving on to critical analysis. This is the ideal text for upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate students studying Russian politics or comparative government and politics more broadly. New to this Edition: - Fully updated to cover the latest developments, including 2018's presidential election - Two chapters offering expanded coverage of foreign policy, which better balances coverage of domestic and international affairs - New content on elections, presidential power, constitutional amendments, events in Ukraine, political opposition, economic and business policies, domestic and global challenges facing Russia, and Russia's vision of the world - Accompanied by a revamped set of online resources, such as multiple-choice questions and PowerPoint slides

While the debate on the effectiveness of economic coercion is as long-standing as the reliance on sanctions as a recognised foreign policy tool, less attention has been paid to the particular case of the Russian Federation and its relationship with the neighbouring countries. Given the accumulation of recent incidents of economic diplomacy in the Eurasian region, and in view of the insistent need to refine the pool of possible determinants for effective advancement of Russia's foreign policy objectives, the following work develops own predictions and verifies them on the cases of Russian bargaining with Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. Encouraged by the existing scientific gap, this research aims to detect causal pathways leading to favourable outcomes and reveal factors, which help translate bargaining advantage into political capital. Investigation of Russia's bargaining interactions that took place within 2000 and 2013 not only found support for the limited success of coercive instruments against Kiev, Minsk and Chisinau, but also uncovered economic, regime and issue-specific attributes capable of enhancing Moscow's ability to achieve its objectives.

Russia’s use of its vast energy resources for leverage against post-Soviet states such as Ukraine is widely recognized as a threat. Yet we cannot understand this danger without also understanding the opportunity that Russian energy represents. From corruption-related profits to transportation-fee income to subsidized prices, many within these states have benefited by participating in Russian energy exports. To understand Russian energy power in the region, it is necessary to look at the entire value chain—including production, processing, transportation, and marketing—and at the full spectrum of domestic and external actors involved, from Gazprom to regional oligarchs to European Union regulators. This book follows Russia’s three largest fossil-fuel exports—natural gas, oil, and coal—from production in Siberia through transportation via Ukraine to final use in Germany in order to understand the tension between energy as threat and as opportunity. Margarita M. Balmaceda reveals how this dynamic has been a key driver of political development in post-Soviet states in the period between independence in 1991 and Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. She analyzes how the physical characteristics of different types of energy, by shaping how they can be transported, distributed, and even stolen, affect how each is used—not only technically but also politically. Both a geopolitical travelogue of the journey of three fossil fuels across continents and an incisive analysis of technology’s role in fossil-fuel politics and economics, this book offers new ways of thinking about energy in Eurasia and beyond.