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Putin miscalculated on Ukraine, misled by post-Cold War worldview, says Ivan Krastev

May 06, 2022

GZERO Staff

Putin Miscalculated on Ukraine | Misled By Post-Cold War Worldview, Says Ivan Krastev | GZERO World

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For political scientist Ivan Krastev, Vladimir Putin miscalculated in Ukraine — but in a much deeper way than how the invasion is playing out so far.

Why? Krastev offers three explanations in an interview with Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.

First, Putin never accepted that the Soviet Union collapsed because communism did.

Second, he thought the West is in such decline that he'd get away with it.

Third, Putin wants to fix all Russia's problems in his lifetime.

So, how does the Russian leader feel about the war so far? Krastev believes he's definitely not happy with what's going on on the ground, but views himself fighting a longer and more consequential battle with the West.

Watch the GZERO World episode: How Putin created Ukraine’s determination to resist

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Putin miscalculated on Ukraine, misled by post-Cold War worldview, says Ivan Krastev

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“The Taliban’s war is against women,” Fawzia Koofi, former Afghan parliamentarian, and women’s rights activist, told GZERO’s Tony Maciulis on the sidelines of the 2025 Munich Security Conference.

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