How The West Made Putin Stronger: Alexander Vindman in Conversation

For decades, the West viewed Russia through the wrong lens, making miscalculations that emboldened Vladimir Putin and left Ukraine dangerously exposed. How did policymakers fall into this trap, and what lessons must be learned to prevent further catastrophe?

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and national security expert Alexander Vindman, in conversation with award-winning investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, offers a gripping analysis of the flawed strategies that prioritized short-term diplomacy over long-term democratic stability.

Drawing on behind-the-scenes interviews with senior policymakers across four U.S. administrations, Vindman dissects how the West’s deference to Russia, and its neglect of Ukraine, set the stage for war. As recent diplomatic tensions between U.S. and Ukrainian leadership have underscored, Western support for Ukraine remains fraught with political calculations and shifting priorities. In this timely discussion, Vindman addresses the historical patterns that continue to shape today’s policies, the dangers of appeasement, and the urgent need for a…