During the times of the Soviet Union, was Ukraine allowed to be its own country in terms of language and culture? It goes back and forth. When they set up the Soviet Union in 1922, the initial idea is we're going to win over Ukraine. But then when Stalin comes to power in 1928, he sees a situation differently.
Vladimir Putin believes Ukraine belongs to Russia, and he used that a pretense to invade. In an episode originally released in February, historian Timothy Snyder explains why Putin is wrong.
This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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