The Lawfare Podcast Escalation, Episode Four: The Worst of Both Worlds
Jun 3, 2025
Dive into the tangled history of U.S.-Ukrainian relations, highlighting a controversial presidential campaign and the 2008 NATO summit's high-stakes strategies. Discover the gripping political intrigue of April 2008, where personal stories collide with global tensions. Explore the transformative Orange Revolution, showcasing ordinary citizens' fight for democracy. The narrative weaves through NATO's evolving relationship with Ukraine, revealing the geopolitical complexities and Russia's assertive ambitions, all while underscoring the pressing need for Ukrainian security.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
NATO's Cold War Origins
- NATO was founded to protect Western Europe from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
- Its mission shifted as NATO expanded eastward after the Soviet collapse, placing Ukraine outside its immediate protection.
Yushchenko's Assassination Attempt
- Viktor Yushchenko, a pro-Western candidate, endured a poisoning assassination attempt during Ukraine's 2004 presidential campaign.
- The Kremlin was widely suspected to be behind the attack aimed to install the pro-Russian candidate Yanukovych.
Observers Expose Election Fraud
- Ukrainian election observers including a 19-year-old Olga Tokaryuk reported widespread intimidation and fraud in eastern Ukraine during the 2004 election.
- Massive protests erupted, leading to the annulment of results that favored the Kremlin-backed Yanukovych.
