On February 24, 2022, the world watched in shock as Russian missiles rained down on Ukraine. What was supposed to be a swift takeover turned into a brutal war that has reshaped global politics. Two years later, Ukraine is still fighting, but as the 2024 U.S. election approaches, Western support is at a crossroads. Will political shifts and war fatigue give Vladimir Putin the upper hand?

In this episode, we explore:

The invasion that changed everything – How Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine defied global expectations and why Kyiv didn’t fall in three days as many predicted.

Ukraine’s resilience – The fierce defense of Kyiv, Mariupol, and Bakhmut, and how President Volodymyr Zelensky became a wartime leader with his famous words: “I need ammunition, not a ride.”

The power of Western aid – How U.S. and NATO support, from HIMARS to Leopard tanks, turned the tide—and whether shifting politics in Washington and Brussels could jeopardize Ukraine’s future.

Economic warfare – Did sanctions cripple Russia’s economy as intended, or did Moscow find ways to adapt? How did Ukraine’s drone strikes and naval attacks reshape the battlefield?

The next phase of the war – With the fight now reaching Russian soil, what does this mean for Putin’s grip on power and the future of global security?

America’s role in 2025 – Trump’s resurgence and rising isolationist policies could cut Ukraine off from vital aid. Will the West stand firm, or will political division hand Putin an unearned victory?

This is more than just a war—it’s a defining moment in modern history. Tune in to understand why Ukraine’s fight still matters and what the future may hold.

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What happens when history unfolds in real time, shaping the world we live in today? As Ukraine once again dominates global headlines—this time thanks to Donald Trump reigniting debates about U.S. support—understanding the roots of the conflict has never been more important. This episode dives into the pivotal events that led to Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, tracing back to a war that had already been raging for years in the Donbas.

We pick up where we left off in Episode 1: Crimea had just fallen to Russia in what seemed like a seamless takeover. But if Crimea was the appetizer, eastern Ukraine was the main course—a conflict far bloodier, messier, and deeply personal. In April 2014, armed groups took over government buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk, declaring independence from Ukraine. Suddenly, neighbors were on opposite sides, families were torn apart, and war became an everyday reality. Unlike Crimea, where Russia’s tactics were subtle and swift, the Donbas saw open conflict erupt, with Ukraine determined not to lose more territory without a fight.

This episode explores:

The Rise of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics – How pro-Russian separatists, backed by Moscow, turned eastern Ukraine into a war zone.

The Social and Psychological Costs of War – How communities that once lived in peace became bitterly divided, with language, identity, and loyalty turning into battlegrounds.

Russia’s Most Powerful Weapon: Disinformation – How propaganda shaped perceptions, twisted facts, and fueled hostilities on both sides.

The Comedian Who Became a Wartime Leader – The rise of Volodymyr Zelensky, from TV star to president, and how he found himself at the center of an existential crisis for Ukraine.

The Final Countdown to Invasion – The eerie moments before February 24, 2022, when the world watched, knowing war was imminent but hoping it wouldn’t come.

If you want to understand how we got to this moment, why Ukraine’s fight matters beyond its borders, and what history teaches us about conflicts that begin in the shadows before exploding onto the global stage, this episode is for you.

Listen, learn, and share—because history isn’t just about the past. It’s about making sense of the present.

With Trump once again dragging Ukraine and Zelensky into political debates, the Ukraine crisis has re-entered the global conversation. But to truly understand what’s happening today, we need to rewind to 2014—a year that changed the course of modern geopolitics. Before the full-scale invasion of 2022, there was the Maidan Revolution, a corrupt president’s downfall, and one of the smoothest territorial grabs in history: Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

This episode unpacks the origins of the conflict, starting with Ukraine’s impossible balancing act between Russia and the European Union. When President Viktor Yanukovych suddenly ditched an EU trade deal in favor of a Russian bailout, Ukrainians took to the streets in protest. The government’s violent crackdown only fueled the revolution, leading to Yanukovych’s dramatic escape in the dead of night. But while Ukrainians celebrated their victory, Putin saw an opportunity—and within weeks, Russian forces had taken Crimea without firing a shot.

We’ll break down:

Ukraine’s East vs. West dilemma – Why the country has always been caught between Russia and Europe

The Maidan Revolution – How student protests escalated into a full-blown uprising

Putin’s Crimea Playbook – The military deception strategy (“maskirovka”) that caught the world off guard

The West’s response (or lack thereof) – Why sanctions failed to deter Russian aggression

The Road to War – How these events set the stage for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine

If you love history podcasts like The Rest Is History and Revolutions, you’re in the right place. The Ukraine crisis didn’t start in 2022—it started here. And if we want to understand what happens next, we need to understand how it all began.