Russia and Ukraine: What Does Putin Want?

On February 4, 2022, the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies and the Harriman Institute cosponsored an expert panel on Russia and Ukraine.

The panel discussed Putin’s possible goals in creating this crisis and his military options should he decide to move Russian forces into Ukraine; Ukraine’s political, military and diplomatic moves to counteract Russian pressure tactics; and U.S. and European diplomatic efforts aimed at defusing this crisis.

Speakers
Peter Clement, Senior Research Scholar, Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies

Elise Giuliano, Lecturer, Department of Political Science; Director of Graduate Studies of the MA Program, Harriman Institute

Kimberly Marten, Professor of Political Science, Barnard College

Stephen Sestanovich, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor for the Practice of International Diplomacy, SIPA

[adrienpartier]

1:10:08 "There really isn't anything like [Russia's actions against Ukraine] in post-WWII history", then goes on to cite Soviet invasions of Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Afghanistan as other examples of the "evil empire's" wars of aggression against neighboring countries. On the other hand, US covert operations, economic strangulation or military interventions in its own sphere of influence, against such countries as Guatemala, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Chile, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Venezuela or Honduras, as late as 2009, really don't come to mind. There still is a level of wishful ignorance, or actual deceitfulness, in US foreign policy circles to which this fellow belong regarding US imperialism and the role of the US in the Cold War that is astonishing.

[brendanbeirne]

Remarkably little on 'what Putin wants' here. The realist perspective is completely missing; instead we get a lot of speculation about Putin's psychology. Hopefully this crisis can be resolved with a neutral Ukraine sans NATO and the West's misguided belief in liberal hegemony can be put on the shelf for a while.

[patrickmcdonough]

If the world just let's this go we would have to apologize for all those who sought justice in the Nerenberg trials.

[woodwage]

I watched another show where someone said "The West play's by the rules while Putain play's with the rules ".. what l see is, the West play's with the rules against it's own people but not aginst strong foreign powers..Look at Canada..but all over "Democracy's "..people are really tired of being run around in circles while just a few are becoming filthy rich..of course we must defend Ukraine but..afterwards let's be alittle more fair with our own people.."Democracy " will go over alot more believable..anyway..bisous a tous..

[jacquelinejackson]

Thank you for providing this information.

[davidhughes]

I hate War I hate to see countries go to war no one wins under American and I love all people

[jakelamb]

I asked YouTube, ”Putin Ukraine lecture”. I’m a historian so I hope this is based on research rather than opinion. Really looking forward to hearing and really hoping…Thanks either way!

[joeshmo]

Former Ambassador 🔊 not Khruchev nor Gorbachev

[Klopp]

How comes putin/Russia have no problem rather they helped facilitate Baltic states in joining NATO. Why is their red line only Georgia and Ukraine?

[patrickmcdonough]

Well this mystery is somehow tied to China and Taiwan.

[thbr]

so boring and main stream, same old stupid arguments

[joeshmo]

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[joeshmo]

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