When Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a “special military operation” in Ukraine last February what were his reasoning and his endgame? Did he want to punish Ukraine for turning towards the West by destabilizing its government, destroying its military infrastructure as well as parts of the country in its totality? Did he want to challenge the West for its perceived “unjust” world domination waging his own "just" war on this, what he often calls, “brotherly nation”? In a year since the conflict began there are still debates as to what the Kremlin’s exact motivations had been, and how far the Russian president may go to achieve his goals. Putin’s actual reasons for invading Ukraine are much less political or pragmatic than one should expect in 21st century geopolitics, but there are relevant instances of history, both czarist and Soviet, that have been driving Putin’s current actions. In this context, the events of October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which recently marked its sixtieth anniversary, provides for a useful comparison to the Ukraine crisis today.

We welcome current Friends of PUL members to attend in person. A reception will follow the live talk.