History and Politics with Dr.Brovkin

Questions:Witkoff-Kushner mission: the fallout:Its impact on Russian politicsIts impact on Ukrainian politicsIts impact on US politics Why is there talk of Ratcliff replacing Witkoff-Kushner as chief negotiatord. Impact of this mission on EU

Witkoff MissionQuestions: What were the proposals brought to Kiev?What did Zelensky answer?What does it mean?Substance of proposals:Withdrawal of Ukr forces from DonbasEntry of UN forces in that territoryRecognition of that territory as RussianNeutral statusNo membership in NATOWithdrawal from ZaporoshieNegotiation on the use of Russian languageNew elections referendumNew government and amendments to the Constitution and a treaty of peace sighed by new government unde auspeces of the UN

What are the chances for a Peace deal soon? What is behind Zelensky's threat to close Russian airspace? Who are Zelensky's rivals for the presidency? What terms is Putin likely to impose and to accept? These are the questions we shall consider today.

Putin’s Ultimate Objective RevealedTodays key topics:Ratclif'sf visit to Moscow: interpretationsUkraine winning or Russia winning argumentsRussia's new strategy and technology Zelensky and his plan of action

What Can the Coalition of the Willing Do?Questions:What do they promise?Will it help?NATO vs. Coalition of the Willing.

I pose two question in this video: 1. HOW STABLE IS ZELENSKY IN POWER? 2.WHO WANTS WHAT IN UKRAINE? How do the rivals to Zelensky, such as Fedorov and Zaluzhny propose to win the war? Why does the Western media support one or the other? These are some of the questions we consider today

Questions: The War Update. NewWhere did the Ukrainians hit, resultsWhere did the Russians hit. Results.What does that exchange of fire show?2. What do the Russian want to achieve now?Lavrov message on things to come:

THERE ARE TWO ISSUES CONSIDERED HERE. both are concerned with Putin's response to EU actions against Russia. the first is the decision of EU to seize Russian ships and tankers and to confiscate the cargo and then dispose of it on world markets. the second is a decision to move production from Ukraine to EU countries. Here we discuss Putin's response.ONE VLADIVOSTOK DECISIONS. lEGAL BASISTWO. PRIORITY TO CUT OFF EU FROM UKRAINE PORTS AND NOW RAIL LINKS RASSVET NEW CAPACITY BUT ALSO MANUFACTURING.2. EU manufacturing of drones moved to EU, Italy, F

40 days Forcing Russia To the Negotiating Table. Questions: 1What was the purpose? 2What were the means? 3What was accomplished? 4What has been the Russian Response? 5What do Trump actions show? 6 What does 1,5 billion stolen Russian money to Ukraine mean? These are the questions we shall consider today.

Episode 4: we covered 1917, 1918, Ukraine South Now EastStage 2 of the Front Line Civil WarDefinitions: What is a Front Line civil war, like US civil warGov against the people: Sherman AtlantaIn Russia BOTH: gov vs gov. Gov vs peopleSo stage one: in Russia 1918 July to 11 November Bols vs. Socialist Komuch gov.Kolchak coup d’etat Second stage.Nov. 1918 - August 1920.Within it: Kolchak offensive Nov 1918 - August 1919Denikin offensive: JUne 1919 - Jan 1920.Vrangel Jan 1920 - November 1920So Eastern Front:The Beginning: December 1918:Kochak coup Etat and first actionsArrests of SRs, British Support.Random executions, arrests of all and any labels socialists. No difference Bolsheviks Srs any socialist traitor to be shot.First Successes:December 1918. Perm Pepeliaev. Cossacks 40 trains with ammunition, requisitioned property and Gold of Russia seized.Mobilization in the Volga area. 150K armyPopulation welcoming. Tired of requisitions,My thesis: not covered in Soviet Histories.Kolchak offensive successful from Urals to Volga BECAUSE peasant rebellions. My book Lunacharsky to Lenin People wait for Kolchak.US forces in Siberia History of engagementGeneral Graves cables to State DepartmentRed Cross doctors: executions, mutilations, of priests, nobles, merchants, photos taken, Motovilikha story 102 workers shot. Red Terror documented as systematic slaughter by class principles. Kolchak Government:Atamanshchina, no gov. Local warlords, no governing, just robberyCorruption, theft, lawlessness, reports of Graves.On paper 400K army, in fact 50K fighting. The most dedicated were Workers detachments of People’s army who stayed with Kolchak.Slow collapse only thanks to huge territory.War on railroads, along railroads,Irkutsk jan 4 1920 arrested. Finished.Remnants retreat to Manchuria, San Francisco. I talked to some in 1980.Conclusion: Kolchak had a chance but blew it. Main cause hatred of socialists non-inclusive, inability to govern, no central authority.

Questions: 1 What is the mood of the public in Russia in view of Ukraine drone hits on beeches, cafes, festivals Omsk, civilian infrastructure. 2 How far the Russians are willing to go in retribution? 3 What means do they have that are new? 4. What do they say about Trump, Zelensky and EU leaders. Dr. Brovkin served as an Associate Professor of Soviet History at Harvard University, he is the author of numerous books on Russian History and politics. His latest book: From Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin: Russia in Search of Its identity (Routledge, London 2024) is available from Amazon and Routledge.com

This is episode three in my series on Modern Russian History that appears every Sunday. The information here is taken from my book: Behind Front Lines of the Civil War. Political Parties and Social Movements in Russia. 1917-1921 (Princeton University press). Obviously 20 minutes video is a short summary from a book of 400 pages.Dr. Brovkin served as an Associate Professor of Soviet History at Harvard University, he is the author of numerous books on Russian History and politics. His latest book: From Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin: Russia in Search of Its identity (Routledge, London 2024) is available from Amazon and Routledge.com. In addition to Issues of Contemporary Politics playlist, you can find: Russia under Yeltsin and Putin, Russia under the Communist Regime, War in Ukraine, European History and others. FOLLOW me ON X TWITTER https://x.com/BrovkinVla97791. Follow me at Vbrovkin51.substack.com and listen to my podcasts at RSS.com

What did Zelensky do on the eve of his trip to DC? What was the purpose of drone strikes on civilian targets in Russia? What consequences were engendered by Ukrainian attacks on Russian grain cargo ships? What did Putin say about the future of Western Ukraine? These are some of the questions we consider today.

Modern Russian History Series: Episode 2: Towards the Civil War in Russia. What did the Bolsheviks do when they came to power? Did they establish the power of local councils as promised? Why did they start requisition gain from peasants? Why was nationalization of industry turn into destruction of industry? Why instead of elections to the soviets they disbanded the Soviets? Why di they kill the Tsar and his family? Why did they start the Red Terror? These are some of the questions discussed in the episode. Dr. Brovkin served as an Associate Professor of Soviet History at Harvard University, he is the author of numerous books on Russian History and politics. His latest book: From Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin: Russia in Search of Its identity (Routledge, London 2024) is available from Amazon and Routledge.com. In addition to Issues of Contemporary Politics playlist, you can find: Russia under Yeltsin and Putin, Russia under the Communist Regime, War in Ukraine, European History and others. THESE WERE CONVERTED TO PODCASTS AS WELL. FOLLOW me ON X TWITTER https://x.com/BrovkinVla97791. Follow me at Vbrovkin51.substack.com and listen to my podcasts at RSS.com

Is Russia Really losingDoctorow: Russia is losing the war. Substack and Diesen showDoctorow argument Russia is losing because:1.Drone warfare. 10K drone operators can hold the front of 50: soldiers. Advance impossible. Destruction of the rear is possible. Russia: no electricity in Crimes. No transport corridor to Crimea Territory of Herson uninhabitable. Oil refineries burning. Russia has to import gasoline2.Goals of SMO not reached and not reachable.All that may amount to Russia cannot reach its goals.Doctorow says If it cannot reach its goals it lost the war.Critique:1a Drone warfare success:Yesterday 400 drones attacked Moscow. Not one reached Moscow. 1 person killed in Moscow province. 3 eounded. 3 private houses damaged from missile debris. Drones two types: 1 small Ukr made launched from infiltrators can ignite oil not much else.Long range drones made in EU. RF leant to suppress and destroy those. Geran 4: Russian optic guided drones undetectable, turbo engine not propeller, devastating on Ukr front lineRasset satellite system. Guides Russian missiles all over UkraineOffensive is possible and is unfolding.Oil shortage has been overcome now.2 Goals of SMO unreachable?Wrong: Open goal is now regime change in Kiev.Strategy has changed Because of drone warfare. It became a catalyst of change.SO: Not hit NATO, but destroy ports. Shipping, rail, bridges, gas stations, locomotives and all miliary enterprises.

This is a weekly series of presentations on the History of Modern Russia starting with the Revolution of 1917. In this episode we consider the following questions: How to explain the sudden collapse of Nicholas II? Was that a revolution or a simple collapse of the state? What were the major political parties in Russia and what did they want ? Who were the Bolsheviks, the Mensheviks, the Socialist Revolutionaries and what was the dynamics of political struggle in 1917. Why did the politics of 1917 always escalated to the extreme demands? Why were the Bolsheviks popular. Was there an alternative to Bolshevik seizure of power? If they were so popular why did the Bolsheviks lose the first free and open universal franchise elections?What did the Bolsheviks promise and could they fulfill their promises?

Will Zelensky Survive Defence Minister Ouster?What we shall consider:1Who is Fedorov?2 What is he credited with accomplishing?3 Fact check: Did it really work? 4 Why Zelensky ousted him?5 Who supports Fedeov inside Ukraine and outside?Political consequences

Coalition of the the Un-Willing (July 13 Meeting)Macron reports highlight these priorities:Air and missile defense boost — More Patriot interceptors, accelerating Franco-Italian SAMP-T deployment, and advancing joint European-Ukrainian production of alternatives (including Ukraine’s FREYA system).Anti-ballistic cooperation — Joint development and funding for systems like FREYA (a cheaper, mass-producible Patriot analogue using Fire Point’s FP-7.X interceptors).Security guarantees framework — Planning for post-ceasefire measures (multinational force, monitoring, etc.), though deployment is conditional on a ceasefire.Longer-term military support — Sustained aid packages, training, joint production, and exercises.Broader Coalition Commitments (from Recent Paris Declarations – Still in Force)

Is Ukraine really winning as Macron asserts? What is the political objective of this narrative? Are devastating hits on Kiev Putin's answer to that claim? Are the Russians about to attack drone manufacturers in Europe? Are we on the eve of yet another major escalation of the Ukraine war? These are some of the questions we shall discuss today. Dr. Brovkin served as an Associate Professor of Soviet History at Harvard University, he is the author of numerous books on Russian History and politics. His latest book: From Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin: Russia in Search of Its identity (Routledge, London 2024) is available from Amazon and Routledge.com. In addition to Issues of Contemporary Politics playlist, you can find: Russia under Yeltsin and Putin, Russia under the Communist Regime, War in Ukraine, European History and others. THESE WERE CONVERTED TO PODCASTS AS WELL. FOLLOW me ON X TWITTER https://x.com/BrovkinVla97791. Follow me at Vbrovkin51.substack.com and listen to my podcasts at RSS.com

Putin Considers War OptionsThe Challenge:New factors: 1.Long range missiles developed by UK for Ukraine. 800-900 km Ukraine is just a cover. British production

Most mainstream media assert that Ukraine is winning the war. They all refer to drone strikes on oil facilities as proof. I argue here that the West has already lost this war. Russian offensive is gaining speed and no drone deliveries to Ukraine cam stop it. Russia has an overwhelming advantage over European NATO in just about every branch of military hardware.How did this war begin? How do the Russians regard Ukraine? Why was Putin reluctant to get into a fight? Why was Russia slow in initial phases of the war. We shall discuss these and other questions in this format of an interview with a British broadcaster.Dr. Brovkin is an American historian of Russia, now retired, who served as an Associate professor of History at Harvard University, the author of many books on Russian history. His latest book: From Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin (London. Routledge 2023) available on Amazon and other platforms.

This is the interview I gave for the British audience. The questions are all historical: Why did Putin come to power? Why did the Soviet Union collapse? Was the SU backward and in what? Why is Putin feared or hated in the West?

Two issues addressed todayZelensky Belarus BubbleZelensky info war propaganda on the eve of NATO summit.Sequence of events: relay stations threat to destroy . Zelensky "We will destroy ourselves." Putin Lukashenko meeting, Security Council Russia meeting.Response: Belarus stands with Russia. Russia will defends Belarus,Russian troops to enter Belarus. Unified State framework.

Many observers such as Gilbert Doctorow and others suggest that Putin is slow to respond and that his conduct of the SMO is too cautious and thus ineffective. Here I offer a different interpretation and suggest that the way the war is conducted has changed profoundly in view of the latest decisions of G7 and in view of the Ukrainian drone strikes

Here I discuss what Putin intends to do answering his critics that the Special Military Operation is not going as fast as one could expect. This is based on his speeches in mid-June 2026 for the Russian audiences, specifically speaking to the officers and soldiers serving at the front line and to the state officials and governors in central Russia

Intro: what’s new: a. New decisions of Security councilResponse to drone attacks on RussiaResponse to EU summitRow between Ukraine and PolandDrone attacks on Russia: intensification. In the hundreds. Yesterday attack on Kerch ferry, Crimea, no gas in Cremia, Trucks must go hundreds of km around. Federov: make an island of crimea.Russian response: 15000 production a day. A new drone Molnia, faster and heavier; news strategy: Rassvet satellites, destroy on the ground infrastructure for targeting. destroy logistics of NATO, reception centers, drones storage, drone shipments, recruitment ceters, factories. Energy infrastructure.Latest: FAB heavy bombs, iscander missiles, factories in Kiev, Kharkov, roads, logistics, hundreds of hits every day.Nestern coverage: houses hit, casualties few one three four, amazing after hundreds of hits. Konstantinovka taken, Liman taken, two cities leftNew war gloves off.Ushakov: we want victory, no more Anchorage agreements.

Will the Memorandum of Understanding last? Who opposes it and why? Will JD Vance be seen now as a proponent of the peace deal?