Western Miscalculation and the Core Problem of Russia's Dominance Ideology. Professor Eugene Finkelargues that debates about Ukraine joining NATO or the EU are secondary, as the core problem remains Russia's deeply rooted ideological belief that it must control Ukraine. Western powers, including the US and Southern and Central Europe, have repeatedly misread Russia as transactional and rational, failing to recognize it as a revanchist neo-imperialist power. This miscalculation led to poor decision-making and a lack of preparation. Eastern European countries, who understood the enduring Russian threat, were wrongly dismissed. The professor concludes by noting his grandfather's brave refusal of a KGB recruitment offer after World War II. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel.
1855