Introduction

Bohdan Krawchenko, author of works on Ukrainian politics and history, talks to Suzi from the University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan about the potential disaster on the Russian-Ukrainian border—and looks at the bigger picture of Putin’s government in Russia. We talk about what is driving Putin’s actions and what is at stake in the dangerously escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Is this geopolitical gamble with the West aimed at negotiating with the US to keep NATO at bay—or is it about increasing domestic political support at home, where grievances are rife about the lack of democratic rights and growing inequality?