In this discussion, Serhiy Kudelia, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Baylor University and author of a key study on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, shares insights from his extensive research. He unpacks the conditions that allowed separatist sentiments to flourish in Donbass while examining the roles of local actors versus Russian intervention. Kudelia discusses the complexities of regional identities, contrasting local perspectives during pivotal events like the Euromaidan revolution, and the challenges of executing the Minsk Agreements amid geopolitical tensions.