Collision: The Origins of the War in Ukraine (Michael C. Kimmage)

With detailed and thorough contextualization of both countries' geopolitical relations with the U.S. and with each other, Dr. Michael C. Kimmage (Professor and Department Chair of History, The Catholic University of America) provides a wide-ranging analysis of the Russia-Ukraine War and preceding conflicts between the two through the last decade. Beginning with a recent history of conflict across Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea, he turns to the present status of the war near the one year anniversary of the large-scale invasion, and ends with a sober and realistic set of likely future scenarios given the evidence we currently possess. Dr. Kimmage fields a few audience questions with care and relying not only on his vast research background of these countries and the Cold War, but also his time at the Department of State understanding and strategizing about Russia and Ukraine. He concludes with reasons why this conflict is crucial to world order and a reminder of its ongoing and protracted nature.
Hosted by Brandon M. Chapman (Instructor and Department Chair of Anthropology and Sociology - Rowan College at Burlington County). Recorded on February 16, 2023.