Why is Putin Threatening to Invade Ukraine (Again)?

December 16, 2021

Podcast Deep Dish on Global Affairs Podcast

Is the threat of a NATO expansion the core issue driving Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine, or are his concerns about legacy to blame?

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About the Episode

A major Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border has the international community concerned about the possibility of an invasion. The Atlantic Council’s Melinda Haring and George Washington University’s Maria Snegovaya join Deep Dish to explain the factors driving Russia’s threats against Ukraine, what’s going on in Putin’s mind, and why this conflict matters to the world.

Reading List

Putin’s Perspective: On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians
The Myth of Russian Decline
Russia’s Ever-Shifting Red Lines in Ukraine, Maria Snegovaya
Ukraine in the Crosshairs: Why Is Russia Surging Troops to the Border Again?, Melinda Haring

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About the Experts

Melinda Haring

Deputy Director of the Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council

Melinda Haring is Deputy Director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council.

Maria Snegovaya

Visiting Scholar, George Washington University

Maria Snegovaya is a visiting scholar at the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies and the Illiberalism Studies Program at George Washington University.

Brian Hanson

Former Vice President, Studies

Brian Hanson served as the vice president of studies at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He managed the Council's research operations and hosted the Council's weekly podcast, Deep Dish on Global Affairs.

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