Sirhi Plahy, a Harvard historian specializing in Russia-Ukraine relations, discusses the historical context of Ukraine's skepticism towards Russia's peace promises. He highlights how Ukraine's 1991 independence and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where they sacrificed nuclear arms for security, have shaped current distrust. Plahy emphasizes the emotional toll on Ukrainians dealing with past betrayals and their quest for self-reliance amid challenges in international support and ongoing negotiations, painting a harrowing picture of a nation grappling with its past.
