Origins of the War is a long-form interview series from The Kennan Institute examining the historical, political, and intellectual origins of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Each episode features leading historians, scholars, and policymakers in conversation about the end of the Cold War, post-Soviet transformations, Russian decision making, and the critical moments that shaped the path to war. Rather than focusing on breaking news, the series provides context, evidence, and long-view analysis to help audiences understand how this war came to be and why it matters.
How did Europe navigate its relationship with Russia in the decades before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine?
In this episode of Origins of the War, French journalist Sylvie Kauffmann joins Michael Kimmage to examine European politics and relations with Russia in the years leading up to 2022.
Drawing on her experience reporting from Central and Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, Kauffmann reflects on the transformations that followed the end of the Cold War, from the Solidarity movement in Poland and the collapse of communism to the political changes that reshaped Russia and Europe.
The conversation traces how European countries developed different relationships with post-Soviet Russia and how perceptions of Vladimir Putin evolved over time. Kauffmann and Kimmage consider the choices, assumptions, and debates that shaped European approaches to Moscow before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Together, they explore what Europe’s recent history can tell us about the road to 2022 and the profound transformation of European security that followed.
Stay connected with the Kennan Institute. Join our mailing list for new analysis, events, and conversations:
https://www.kennaninstitute.org/newsletter
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20 Sept 2026
Origins of the War with Thomas Wright
Where should we look for the origins of Russia’s war against Ukraine?
Thomas Wright of the Brookings Institution joins Michael Kimmage for Origins of the War to examine the conflict through two interconnected lines of inquiry: the European context preceding the war and the evolution of U.S.-Russian relations.
Wright discusses the changing European security environment, the role of NATO, and the evolution of American strategy as tensions between Russia and the West intensified. The conversation also places these developments within a broader geopolitical landscape shaped by great power competition, U.S.-China relations, and questions about American and European cooperation.
Together, Wright and Kimmage consider how these different strands of international politics intersected on the road to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and what they reveal about the challenges facing U.S. foreign policy and European security today.
Stay connected with the Kennan Institute. Join our mailing list for new analysis, events, and conversations:
https://www.kennaninstitute.org/newsletter
17 Sept 2026
Origins of the War with Dr. Kateryna Shynkaruk
How did Ukraine navigate its relationship with Russia in the years before the full-scale invasion?
Dr. Kateryna Shynkaruk of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University joins the Kennan Institute for Origins of the War to examine the development of Ukrainian foreign policy and the underlying dynamics of the Ukraine-Russia relationship.
The conversation traces Ukraine’s experience through pivotal moments including the Euromaidan protests, Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and the years preceding the 2022 full-scale invasion. Shynkaruk explores the pressures facing Ukrainian leaders as they navigated relations with Russia and the West and sought to define Ukraine’s place in the international system.
The discussion considers how these developments shaped Ukraine’s political trajectory and what they reveal about the origins of the war, Ukrainian sovereignty, and the broader European security landscape.
Stay connected with the Kennan Institute. Join our mailing list for new analysis, events, and conversations:
https://www.kennaninstitute.org/newsletter
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