The Foreign Affairs Interview What Putin Got Wrong About Ukraine, Russia, and the West
15 snips
May 26, 2022 AI Snips
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Russia's Perpetual Geopolitics
- Russia's foreign policy is characterized by ambitions exceeding capabilities, leading to recurring aggression.
- This pattern, rooted in a sense of providential mission and a gap between ambition and power, is a strategic choice, not a cultural trait.
Putin and the Kremlin
- While Putin's personality matters, the Kremlin's structure and Russia's historical power dynamics significantly shape leadership.
- The system selects for certain leaders and transforms them, fostering loyalty over competence among advisors.
NATO Expansion and Russian Behavior
- NATO expansion isn't solely responsible for Putin's actions; Russia's behavior patterns predate it.
- While the West made policy mistakes, internal Russian dynamics are the primary drivers of current tensions.