Christopher Miller, Financial Times Correspondent and author of The War Came To Us: Life and Death in Ukraine, discusses the unexpected scale and intensity of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Putin's motivation for the war, the international community's lack of response, the impact of the Wagner mercenary group, and the importance of American support in Ukraine's fight for freedom.
Vladimir Putin's motivations for the war in Ukraine are to regain Russia's lost greatness and prevent Ukraine from aligning with NATO and the West.
The international community's resolve to support Ukraine may wane if their counter-offensive against Russian forces is not successful, potentially emboldening Putin to further aggression.
Deep dives
Christopher Miller's personal connection to Ukraine and the war
Christopher Miller, a Financial Times correspondent, shares his deep connection to Ukraine, where he has been living and reporting for over a decade. He witnessed the transformation of the country, from peacetime to wartime, and has developed close relationships with Ukrainians. His new book, 'The War Came to Us: Life and Death in Ukraine,' captures the stories and experiences of the people affected by the ongoing conflict.
Putin's motivations and claims about Ukraine
Vladimir Putin's motivations for the war in Ukraine are rooted in his desire to regain what he sees as Russia's lost greatness and to prevent Ukraine from aligning with NATO and the West. He aims to erode Ukraine's sovereignty and views Ukrainians as Russians who have lost their way. Putin has already annexed Crimea in 2014 and has occupied other regions of Ukraine. Despite his claims, there is little truth to his justifications for the war.
Concerns about international response and Ukraine's future
There are concerns that the international community's resolve to support Ukraine may wane, especially if the counter-offensive by Ukraine against Russian forces in the east and south is not successful. The lack of a strong response after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 has raised doubts about the long-term commitment to supporting Ukraine. If Russia wins the war, it could embolden Putin to further aggression, potentially targeting other countries such as the Baltics. The outcome of the war remains uncertain, but Ukraine is banking on continued Western support and hopes to regain momentum to force Russia to negotiate.
Christopher Miller, Correspondent for the Financial Times, discusses his book The War Came To Us: Life and Death in Ukraine. Hosts: Carol Massar and Matt Miller. Producer: Paul Brennan.