Stephen Kotkin: What Putin Got Wrong About Ukraine, Russia, and the West | Foreign Affairs Interview

Foreign Affairs invites you to listen to its podcast, the Foreign Affairs Interview. This episode with Stephen Kotkin was originally published on May 26, 2022.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the world has contended with the stakes of the conflict, and what the war means for Russia’s relationship with the West—and beyond. Should Russia still be considered a great power? What in Russia’s past explains the mistakes it’s making today? Will unity in the West outlast the war? What is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ultimate goal in Ukraine, and is it changing?

Stephen Kotkin is the author of seminal scholarship on Russia, the Soviet Union, and global history, including an acclaimed three-volume biography of Joseph Stalin. He is a professor at Princeton University and a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. Kotkin brings formidable historical depth and a sharp sense of the current geopolitical landscape to these questions about Russia, Putin’s leadership, and Ukraine’s future.

We discuss why Russia’s capabilities too often fall short of its ambitions, why Putin underestimated the West (and why the West tends to underestimate itself), what China is learning from Russia’s experience, and what could happen next in Ukraine.

SOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE
“The Cold War Never Ended” by Stephen Kotkin

“Russia's Perpetual Geopolitics” by Stephen Kotkin

“The Fantasy of the Free World” by Shivshankar Menon

Read More by Stephen Kotkin

[rafaromanozademelmac]

As a Pole, I am always surprised and shocked how much the West does not understand this current war and its context. But this is the absolutely brilliant interview. One of the few experts who speak sense.

[kenkearns]

Excellent interview, this guy makes more sense of geopolitical issues than anyone else I have listened to.

[gnazlis]

When I see a Kotkin interview, I "thumbs up" before I even start listening... I've never regretted my decision!

[Alex-hueg]

As a hungarian (who knows a thing or two about russia) I've been constanty blown away by the amount of insights he provides.

[paulh]

Fantastic! If Dr. Kotkin had his own weekly show, I'd be the first to subscribe. Despite being almost a year old, this interview was still highly educational.

[martinarijsbergen]

Stephen Kotkin has this beautiful ability to clearly outline the big picture and always makes me feel better and I am very happy we have great thinkers still amongst us!

[Aussie-Mocha]

After every single interview with Kotkin, I have to sit back, take 5mns to evaluate everything he says. I usually end up laughing. It’s a laughter coming from a place of being overwhelmed at how comprehensively genius this man is.
Mearshiemer was the 1st person I heard talking about Russia vers west issue but when I came across Kotkin, Mearshiemer suddenly sounded like a propaganda mouthpiece.

Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

US must show some teeth right at the top. Because so far we haven’t yet convinced Putin/Russia that they can’t achieve anything.

[tabithan]

And they say liberal arts majors like historians are no longer needed. This guy is proof they are essential. This guy makes more sense than any computer programmer I've heard.

[briancase]

If Stephen Kotkin is talking, I'm listening. Thanks for bringing more of his wisdom, knowledge, and insight to us. He should be more widely known, and citizens of the US should be required to hear his analysis of history and international affairs. He can hold nearly anyone's interest!

[KellyEngstrom]

Dr. Kotkin, what a gift you are during this turbulent time. Your 'intellectual humility' makes your voice the most trustworthy one in the podcast era we live in right now.

[metmeningen]

Love to listen to this calm, wise, amiable and fair professor dr.Kotkin! Thank you!

[dixienormous]

I never miss a word this guy says. Thank you for the great conversation!

[mychalharris]

Stephen Kotkin is simply the master of interleaving historical fact with current ground truth to derive reason based analysis. That, coupled with rhythmic storey-telling creates a great listening experience.

[mikecamacho]

Stephen doesn't only parrot history, he breaks down the psychology, sociology and philosophy of that history. An unbelievable resource.

[muchamad]

As a Belarusian, I find this 83% accurate. The rest of 17% I blame on my own experience, which forms my own lense. So, it is very accurate.

[michaelk]

Gotta love this guy. Steven Kotkin is believable and extremely well informed. I just hope Western leaders listen to him.

[considerthis]

Kotkin as a historian is a joy, insightful and display of clarity amongst a large proportion of mass media ignorance, bias, prejudice, fear mongering and self interest.

[albertwalker]

So refreshing to hear reality effectively and clearly articulated.

[michaelroark]

One of the most impressive characteristics of Stephen Kotkin is his intellectual humility. Few other scholars speak about this virtue. It is refreshing.

[marycampbell]

This interview is from May 2022. I'd like to hear Prof. Kotkin's view on the situation eleven months later.