Kevin Connolly

Kevin Connolly, a former BBC foreign correspondent with over 30 years of experience, delves into the tumultuous history between Russia and Ukraine. He discusses the shared roots of Kievan Rus and the imperial expansions that tied Ukraine to Russian power. Connolly recounts the significant 1954 transfer of Crimea and Ukraine's journey to independence post-Soviet Union dissolution in 1991. He also explores modern tensions, including Putin's fears of a Western-aligned Ukraine and the implications of the 2014 annexation of Crimea, culminating in the full-scale invasion in 2022.