Timothy Snyder: How Putin’s Lies Are Driving the War in Ukraine | The Foreign Affairs Interview

Foreign Affairs invites you to listen to its podcast, the Foreign Affairs Interview. This episode with Timothy Snyder was originally published on January 12, 2023.
Russia’s mythmaking-about its place in the world and the role Ukraine plays in its history-has made the world a more dangerous place. Russian President Vladimir Putin is the chief storyteller-and his version of events has even warped American thinking about Ukraine. Why didn’t the West react more forcefully in 2014, when Russia first violently took Ukrainian territory? Why is Ukraine’s post-Soviet history so different from Russia’s? And what can Ukrainians teach Americans about democracy?
Timothy Snyder is an expert on Ukrainian history and began warning about the dangers Russia poses long before Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine last February. He is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History and Global Affairs at Yale University and the author of several books, including Bloodlands, On Tyranny, and The Road to Unfreedom. In September, Snyder traveled to Ukraine and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
We discuss what’s at stake in Ukraine, what a Ukrainian victory might look like, and why using the word “stalemate” to describe the war is misguided.
SOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE
“Ukraine Holds the Future” by Timothy Snyder
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukrain...
Read More by Timothy Snyder
www.foreignaffairs.com/author...

[@arktseytlin]

"Russian speakers in Ukraine are a problem... for Russia". Bingo, Thimoty!

[@thefisherking78]

Snyder is brilliant. I watch everything he's in.

[@daydays12]

I agree

[@George-2115]

Yes. But, perhaps even more important is the fact that he is sane, grounded, decent and brave. So, yes, I also watch everything he's in.

[@primalamusica3]

Thank you for inviting Timothy Snyder!

[@patchso]

If you listen to just one person on Ukraine, make it Timothy Snyder.

[@zoltankessel9257]

Not good advice, listen to several sources and then make up your mind.

[@AndyT-np8mm]

It's never enough to listen to just one person.

[@Karamazov12]

The wake up call that the Ukrainians gave to us. That’s an insightfull take home message

[@WangAiHua]

Timothy Snyder is one of the few with excellent understanding of what is happening in Ukraine and RuZZia!

[@richardblock2458]

One of our few, great public intellectuals.

[@CrazyEightyEights]

Timothy Snyder is incredibly humble and well-informed. His Yale course, "Making of Modern Ukraine," is essential to understanding modern-day Ukraine.

[@tomaszpialucha2402]

Another excellent commentary from the world class historian of Eastern Europe. With love from Poland!

[@angusp5178]

Superb, thank you

[@misterwirez7731]

I could listen to Mr Snyder 24 hours a day. He's a very smart man in geopolitics.

[@barbaraseymour3437]

Delighted I came upon this. Excellent interview with world class T. Snyder. Wake up America. Stop sleep-walking…

[@727412]

People make democracy. Another simple but incisive comment from a brilliant intellect. Thank you Dr Snyder

[@christinamuzzu6414]

Reasons I am so grateful for TS: 1. He acknowledges Ukraine's agency, and reveals the colonial hangover that proxy war chatter is. 2. He reminds us that democracy is Do It Yourself, not something to be left, passively, in the hands of a few oligarchs anywhere, including our Western counterparts. 3. He is deeply ethical and empathetic to actual humans while being an intellectual giant, and not afraid to say something is wrong, or better. Surrounded by relativist Ph.D.'s who never dare take a stand on anything for fear of (gasp) offending someone's sensibilities, this is too rare. Such a gem of a person. As with Julia Ioffe, every word is invaluable food for thought, and every talk/ interview/ article on Ukraine is worth putting down whatever you are doing to give your full attention to, every time.

[@Lappland67.92]

The interviewer has done a great job!🇺🇦❇️

[@dorotasokolowski718]

Ukrainians are incredible people, my heart is bleeding for the nation and their country. Thank you so much for this brilliant interview reinforcing my view of this nation

[@teddited9682]

Professor Snyder…always interesting, informative and clear eyed…outside the box seeing Ukraine before anyone else. Very impressive!

[@andriyandriychuk]

I'm Ukrainian and I approve this message

[@alcoholfree6381]

Great thinker and speaker. Fortunately we have people like Professor Snyder to illuminate where we have been, the forces currently at play and where we might be able to go. Thanks for having him talk!!

[@Blanka1100]

Everything he says is no suprise for Russia's neighbours.

[@davidbrancaleone3039]

I welcome the fast pace clear thinking of Timothy Snyder on Ukraine. His arguments are persuasive and I only wish more journalists would draw on his geopolitical understanding so that we get fewer asking what would a Ukrainian victory look like? Or claiming that compromise is inevitable. This is high quality journalism.

[@ldhorricks]

I've listened to everything Mr. Snyder has had on offer online...and I have to say this interview is the most succinct and profound so far. He utterly destroyed the Russian UN ambassador when Russia was crying about Russophobia.

[@keithdunwoody1302]

I never tire of Professor Snyder's cogent analysis and perspective. Absolutely must listening and reading. This brutal war against Ukraine is everyone's concern.

[@stacey_1111rh]

Excellent speaker on the topic. Thank you for having him. Great stuff

[@ukaszgrzesik7231]

Thanks!

[@SteveWallis2]

Fantastic analysis - really interesting

[@stephenwinter5958]

Snyder demonstrates effectively that Ukrainian victory is one of the biggest reasons for hope in the world today and that the democratic choices of the people are worth fighting for.

[@uma_americares]

I wanted to write a comment in support of this interview so that more people could hear it :)

[@terryfox9344]

Wow! Exceptionally insightful and powerful analysis of the war in Ukraine that really is about us all.

[@gladdie10]

This is totally to the point. Bang on!

[@clancyjames585]

I read "The Road to Unfreedom". Having read that, I very much see why Timothy Snyder was not at all surprised by the invasion. Excellent interview. Keep it up Foreign Affairs.

[@cathyskitchenprescription500]

Excellent, intelligent conversation and analysis. Thank you!

[@nordantill5095]

Snyder is always brilliant and worth listening to

[@avant124]

❤from Poland:)

[@WonderMagician]

...the powerful segment on the costs for the surrender of personal agency...

[@Fu-orksGive.PEACE.achance.]

This guy is mesmerising, his analysis of Rooooshia is spot on. Slava ukraine

[@edwardfowle2404]

Brilliant interview. Let's do it again!!

[@marvinrosenau8491]

I am absolutely besotted by Dr. Timothy Snyder and how he analyses and presents his subject(s), both on paper and in video. And as a classroom instructor myself (but in a completely unrelated field, and a tad older in age, and who is also very "field oriented"), I absolutely love his passion and teaching style towards undergraduates in the schoolroom. And how he (or how he doesn't) tuck(s) in his shirt when giving lectures (e.g., the recent Yale course series on Ukraine on KZbin). I can relate! (C'mon Marci, "dress your man!". LOL!) As a second-generation-born Canadian, who's "ancestors" on both sides of my family emigrated to North America from the "Bloodlands" during the inter-war period, Dr Snyder's work is profoundly resonant to me. For the relative's who did not emigrate in the 1920's, with my immediate family and stayed behind, their story is now being told by Timothy half-a-century, and more, later...

[@royalukas8144]

I don’t know what I can possibly add to the other wonderful comments other than to say I will listen to this brilliant interview again.

[@gdbalck]

I still remember Romney saying Russia was a major geopolitical opponent during a debate with Obama in 2012. Obama’s response was incredulous and Romney was ridiculed for it till the election. It was a shock to me because it was a self evident fact to me back then. Georgia was alarming to say the least and Chechnya wasn’t that long ago at the time. Ten years later…. Party politics are sadly never principled. Trump made this crystal clear. Lost all respect for both parties because of their self serving attitude towards this issue. Leading back to Timothy’s warning of the degrading trust on western democratic institutions.

[@voloshyn]

And that's why I dropped NY times and subscribed to Foreign Affairs

[@foreignaffairs]

Thank you for being a subscriber. We appreciate it.

[@mas45890]

So interesting!thank you so much!

[@Gardengallivant]

Dr Snyder's analysis of history leaves me with so many new views even after tracking down other talks, interviews and listening to his Yale class on how modern Ukraine came about. Democracy is dependent on accurate information of our history and what is currently happening in combination with active participation to keep it functional. Dr Shore and Dr Snyder are gifted teachers and historians.

[@WangAiHua]

Excellent video!

[@liviadix1433]

Great conversation. It goes without saying that I enjoyed tremendously. And learned from it. Thanks.

[@atomm3331]

This was an incredibly astute conversation. Well reasoned and his breadth of knowledge on the topic shows with every response. As someone that follows the stories and topics of the war, I definitely learned quite a bit that deepen my understanding of the conflict. Grade A stuff.

[@Mr.barba97]

Thanks very much ❤

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Excellent!

[@moffig1]

Very interesting interview

[@tomwaltermayer2702]

Excellent. Hope 2 million people listen to this. At the least, this is great advertising for New Haven, and puts the lie to the contention that expertise is dead.

[@bohdanlychacz363]

As usual a brilliant methodical analysis of the conflict and its underlying causes. Thank you professor Snyder.

[@kentthorsted]

Great interview.

[@jordanaus75]

I am so jealous I was not blessed with this level of intellect and cohesive astute expression

[@iloveOxmo]

Excellent interview and as always Mr Snyder delivers a very pertinent and articulate analysis on the origins and driving forces behind the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I’m also very surprised that with such an aggressive and clickbait like title this comment section remains calm and civilized. My take from this is that honest and humble discussions lead to honest and humble reactions.

[@Nicole.1828]

Excellent interview thank you

[@TaccuinoAntifascista]

Very insightful content.

[@antonomaseapophasis5142]

My change in understanding Ukraine came from three points: A store in NYC “A la Vielle Russie” had its origin in Kiev, not Moscow or St. Petersburg. While reading about the Black Sea I discovered the story of the Viking presence in Ukraine & the origin controversy about this A taxi driver who took me from Beirut to Baalbek explained that the best times for him had been in Ukraine.

[@marisabenson1222]

A hundred times yes.

[@amandadonaghey7540]

Thank you 🙏 very informative 👍

[@July41776DedicatedtoTheProposi]

I fervently do hope that Dr. Snyder sees the future correctly for a Ukrainian victory.

[@W.Khairi]

Loved the insights, Thanks alot for sharing.

[@brucevilla]

Thanks for Uploading.

[@juniorsve]

Another grrat interview by dr snyder. Thanks for the video, real pleasure.

[@joshuap9580]

I love listening to professor synder

[@TheMrCougarful]

This was a really interesting analysis.

[@tarask8611]

That's was an enjoyable conversation but it wouldn't hurt uploading it a little bit faster after it had actually happened.

[@peterellway7608]

wonderfully sensitive and expert analysis, thankyou

[@arianhrodkeltoi8104]

Very good questions, and very good answers 👏

[@dantarradellas7351]

Fantastic perspective. !

[@joels5150]

Astute observations from Mr. Snyder, giving historical and geopolitical context as to why this terrible situation has come to be.

[@DiStitt]

A healthy level of scepticism in 'the larger forces', a deep understanding of history and that notion that change takes effort, a democratic way takes effort. Malaise and decadence (getting too comfortable) is not inevitable, but it is possible. Grateful for Snyder's convictions and knowledge.

[@armiesep8710]

Love & Prayers to the Ukrainian people. I live in America. This war is one i justify. Sorry, our Government, didn't move on it much sooner, to help Ukraine. ❤

[@stageprophet]

Well done😊

[@QuixEnd]

This was one of the best interviews out of the hundreds I've heard so far

[@Lappland67.92]

Ukraine was NOT russia in 988 NOT in 2023! Ukrainians have Never been russian NOR do they EVER want to be. Ukrainians are VERY different from russians. Slava Ukraini 💙💛❇️

[@user-mc6ft8fx5z]

if he only had spoken somewhat slower, I could understand apr 80%. But really really informative! Sound was ok!

[@AndyT-np8mm]

In settings, you can change the playback speed to 0.75x.

[@Bernard-fo2qo]

Anyone who thinks Ukraine can't win probably would have thought North Vietnam couldn't defeat America in the 1960s.

[@gonejegory3345]

Can you do a video on participatory democracy?

[@seanmellows1348]

Excellent stuff here

[@MsMsmak]

Excellent. Subscribed.

[@user-kk4sj4ih3e]

It's peculiar how he mentions Republic as a thing of Ukrainian history and not the Russian one all while there were two republics in Russia in the middle ages (Pskov and Novgorod ones)

[@log85on71]

👏

[@FirstLast-gx7fj]

20022 was a huge year

[@jim2376]

As Simon Montefiore observed in his bestselling book, "The Romanovs", there was a time when 93% of Russians were serfs, essentially slaves. That social fact developed a Russian mentality. "Nobility would be defined by the privilege of owning other human beings, setting a Russian pattern of behavior: servility to those above, tyranny to those below." Montefiore, "The Romanovs", Vintage Books, 2016, page 48. The serf mentality still exists in Putin's Stalinistic dictatorship.

[@blechtic]

"20 thousand 22"? Is he a time traveler?

[@deborahferguson1163]

Appreciate these interviews but the interviewer spends way too much time asking his questions.

[@afriedrich1452]

@ 15:18 "On the contrary, in 2014, the Russian speakers in Ukraine were free to say what they wanted to say, whereas Russian speakers in Russia were not, and one of the reasons why Ukraine was a problem for Russia was precisely that - you had free exchange of views in Russian, right? So, it was never, "Russia's going to invade to protect Russian speakers," and it was always, "Russia's going to invade to suppress Russian speakers," because Russian speakers in Ukraine are a problem for Russia.

[@steveaustin5344]

5 minute crafts is another fascinating part of the story.

[@Jacob-df5hr]

Mr. Snyder, I have consumed mountains of news about the Russia - Ukraine conflict, and you are only the second person I've heard talk about the existential political threat Russian autocracy faces from Russian speakers in a hypothetical western oriented Ukraine. The other was Vlad Vexler. I think you two have the right of it. I don't think the invasion is rational without this motivation, because the cost/benefit just doesn't work out otherwise.

[@petergvanerp]

Professor Snyder, in discussing the Crimea, implied it was the only place in Europe where control of land was wrested from the "Legal" owner. He seems to have forgotten the example of Kosovo.

[@vbcountryboy]

Loved that someone else called out Russian pro Hamada in Ukraine in 2014. I saw those lies planted 2008-10 living in Kyiv. I wish more had listened.

[@brentl4048]

I wonder what Timothy Snyder thinks of the law that was passed in Ukraine after 2014 making it a criminal offence to publish historical writings that disagree with Ukraine's "official version of history." Not a particularly scholarly or democratic approach to history.

[@Vsebudedobre]

Glory to Ukraine 🇺🇦, glory to heroes of Ukraine 🇺🇦 ! I am Ukrainian living in Sweden. So happy to get the link to course “Making of Modern Ukraine” from my believe me or not friend from Russia, scientist and doctor, who had to flee from Moscow because of this terrible war and disaster atmosphere inside the country with all these lies and repressions agains those who are trying to protest. Started to listen to the course, I am in the middle and I think this is best course I ever heard!!!!! I knew most of the facts which are told, but it is important for me to understand how Russia twisted historical facts to mislead people inside the country and convinced them to believe into completely opposite to the truth things. My son who has Russian wife and was staying in Russia also left this insane country with his wife. We can’t meet and he is stuck in the third country. I have two relatives at front fighting for Ukraine and our future, two more are stitching wounds of those who happened to be lucky not to die in battles. I spent more than a year trying every day dry hard to convince many Russians that their government is war criminal, absolutely useless. I lost almost all friends from Russia, those who are normal are already outside of the country or trying to find a way to get out. I lost hope that it is possible to heal this people and their society, I do not see humanity left there.

[@Gibbsian36]

Timothy Snyder is always interesting to listen to, he's exceptionally knowledgeable about Ukraine, and he's very much on what I regard as the good side in this war. But he's also a weirdly undisciplined thinker. He insists that Ukraine must be approached as a nation in its own right, but he also repeatedly frames the discussion in terms of domestic US politics, where he obviously has a huge axe to grind. At 28:50 he even makes the bizarre statement that "the whole notion of 'winning' in some way has been captured by Trump". Really?

[@ethanstein4821]

With all due respect. This is a great discussion with some great insights. However early in the discussion Prof. Snyder named dropped Hegel. This is not the first time I have heard him do this, in an effort to quickly reference Hegel's theory of history. I would point out the Black Earth lecture at Brown six years ago. If you look at the comments, Prof Snyder is losing people with this way of explaining things. The comments section is full of confused people. To someone who is not familiar with these philosophers it sounds quite odd, and causes people to lose your theory. Thanks.

[@medicuswashington9870]

Might makes right. Russia now has enough might to be right. Madness made real is the strategy to lose. The Minsk agreement duplicity is a wrong. Successful Communist China will not allow Russia to lose the special military operation in Ukraine.

[@webersteve1547]

I'm always amazed how biased US opinion are. They live in their bubble and believe they are livibg in the best of all worlds

[@Sabu113]

Hrm. I found him relatively insufferable insofar as his analysis felt more like an activist than a dispassion social scientist

[@MrMSalexanderMK]

BS net

[@tilewiz4606]

What about Biden lies? Zelensky lies?