Yaroslav Trofimov, Chief foreign affairs correspondent for the Wall Street Journal and a Pulitzer Prize finalist, dives deep into the complexities of the War in Ukraine. He highlights the miscalculations of Russia and the remarkable transformation of the Ukrainian military. Discussions cover Russian propaganda, Zelensky's leadership, and the moral dilemmas surrounding the conflict. Trofimov also addresses the role of the Orthodox Church, the challenges posed by misinformation, and the implications of this war on global politics.
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insights INSIGHT
Widespread Delusion about the War
Widespread delusion existed in Moscow, Washington, and European capitals about a swift Russian victory.
This stemmed from a misunderstanding of Ukrainian societal changes, especially since 2014.
insights INSIGHT
Shift in Ukrainian Attitudes
Before 2014, many Ukrainians viewed Russia favorably, but their perspective shifted after Russia's actions in Crimea and Donbas.
This change wasn't fully recognized by Russia or the West.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Russian Miscalculations
Russian forces invading Kyiv and Kharkiv carried parade uniforms, expecting swift victory.
This demonstrates their miscalculation of Ukrainian resistance and their belief in being welcomed as liberators.
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The Siege of Mecca by Yaroslav Trofimov recounts the pivotal and often overlooked event of the 1979 uprising at Islam's holiest shrine. On November 20, 1979, gunmen led by Juhayman al Uteybi seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca, trapping 100,000 people and sparking a two-week siege that inflamed Muslim rage against the United States. Trofimov's narrative is based on interviews with direct participants and hundreds of newly declassified documents, providing a thrilling and detailed account of the siege and its long-lasting aftereffects on the Middle East and the world. The book highlights the siege's role in the emergence of modern fundamentalist Islamic threats, including the blueprint it provided for Al Qaeda[1][3][4].
Our Enemies Will Vanish
Yaroslov Trofimov
Yaroslav Trofimov's "Our Enemies Will Vanish" offers a comprehensive account of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The book delves into the initial miscalculations by Russia, the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the complexities of the conflict. Trofimov's firsthand reporting provides a gripping narrative of the war's early stages, shedding light on the geopolitical dynamics and human cost. The book explores the motivations behind the invasion, the role of propaganda, and the international response. It serves as a crucial resource for understanding the conflict's origins and its ongoing implications.
Sam Harris speaks with Yaroslav Trofimov about the War in Ukraine. They discuss the widespread false assumptions that Russia would win a swift victory, Ukrainian attitudes toward Russia, the transformation of the Ukrainian military, Russian incompetence, Russian public opinion, the Azov Battalion and the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine, the role of the Orthodox Church, conspiracy thinking and Russian propaganda, Putin’s popularity on the Right, NATO membership, the Minsk 2 agreement, alleged failures of Western diplomacy, Zelensky’s leadership, the moral clarity of the war, Russian war crimes, the new cult of WW2 victory in Russia, the numbers of casualties and displaced people in Ukraine, delays in US aid to Ukraine, nuclear blackmail, long-range weaponry, the weakness of western sanctions, the sabotage of the Nordstream pipeline, how the war might end, the complicated prospects of a Trump presidency, and other topics.
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