Why the West Misread Putin for Decades—and What Russia’s Next Move Could Reveal Now

Russia’s relationship with its neighbours has evolved from uneasy dominance into open aggression—but was this outcome inevitable? Russia expert James Nixey(Acting Head of Research at SCEEUS and EPIK) explains what meeting Vladimir Putin revealed, why Western engagement failed, and how Moscow’s refusal to recognise its neighbours as sovereign states led to war. The episode also examines Ukrainian victory, Russia after Putin, relations with China and the long-term strategy Europe must adopt.👉Check out our research and analytical services at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://insights.kyivindependent.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👉Follow us on social media!⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter/X⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/KI_Insight⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/ki-insights.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyivindependent-insights/about/?viewAsMember=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#Russia #Ukraine #VladimirPutin #UkraineWar #Geopolitics #EuropeanSecurity #NATO #Kremlin #ForeignPolicy #KIInsights