Richard Sakwa is Professor Of Russian And European Politics at the University of Kent.\nHe has written books about Russian and eastern European communist and post-communist politics. Richard was a participant of Valdai Discussion Club, as well as an Associate Fellow of the Russia And Eurasia Programme at the Royal Institute Of International Affairs. He is also a member of the advisory boards of the Institute Of Law And Public Policy in Moscow.\nRichard\u2019s conversation with me covers a lot of ground, including the history of Russia and Ukraine; the complexities of Ukraine\u2019s national identity; why Putin is not interested in Ukraine; why Biden and NATO are at fault; Ukrainian government\u2019s deliberate aggression towards its own people; why Putin\u2019s 2022 invasion of Ukraine is understandable but a strategic blunder; the current conflict\u2019s impact on the West.\nIf you listened to my podcast with Russell Bentley, then I strongly recommend that you listen to this one with Richard.\nPlease support my work.